Tag Archives: satan

Revelation

Revelation 9

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In chapter 8, we read about the blowings of the first four trumpets of God, in which each signal and announce the next stage of the end times. We are then told that there are three woes about to come. In chapter 9, we will see the ushering-in of these first two woes, which will be a time of troubles and tribulation never before seen on earth.

(Revelation 9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

As the fifth trumpet is blown, a star will from from heaven, which is the spiritual influence of satan on earth, and this will be stronger at this time than ever before. He will also be given the key to the bottomless pit, which is where his fallen angels, those who made the decision to attempt to thwart God’s plan and come to earth to wreak havoc for Him on two separate occasions in the past, are currently held. With satan being given the key to this holding place, he is being given partial and temporary control once again over them for the ultimate good of God’s purpose. Later in Revelation, we will learn what this ultimate good is.

This 5th trumpet announces the first half of the tribulation.

(Revelation 9:2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

With this key, satan opens up the bottomless pit to release these demonic beings physically. Up until now, since they have been under lock and key as we are told in Jude, they have only been able to have a mild spiritual presence and influence on earth, but now they will be free to roam. However, they will not come to earth immediately upon their escape. They will first begin a war in heaven against God’s angels for the first half of the tribulation, which in totality is known as the hour of temptation.

(Rev 12:6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

(Rev 12:7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

(Rev 12:8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

(Rev 12:9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

(Rev 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

(Rev 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

(Rev 12:12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

This woman in verse 12:6 represents God’s elect, the children of Israel (not to be confused with the nation of Israel in the Middle East), and they are about to head into the wilderness (which brings to mind the story of Moses and his people), in which God will take care of His elect and make sure they stay safe. This wondering in the wilderness of the second half of the tribulation was originally told to be 1230 days (3 1/2 years), before the timespan was shortened per Jesus, and this 1230 days corresponds to satan’s time on earth as antichrist, and is written there to remind us of this time period. Once the fallen angels are released, there will be war in Heaven, in which they will battle God’s angelic army, but they will not be able to defeat God, and Michael, one of God’s archangels, will cast satan and his cronies down to earth for the final half of the tribulation as part of God’s plan to test those on earth. This casting down will happen after the 6th trumpet, as we will find out in the next couple chapters.

Satan will be given a short time here on earth to deceive the world into leaving God and worshiping him instead. He will claim to be God and perform many miracles, but only those who truly know Jesus and His Word will be able to overcome satan’s deception.

(Rev 8:1) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

In this verse of chapter 8, the seven seals have just finished being opened, signaling the vision of the seven trumpets to start for John. This can be confusing because the seals, like everything else in the Bible, have different levels of meaning. This does not mean that the trumpets start being blown after the 7th seal is opened because that would be mixing the levels of understanding. For our purposes here, we are talking about the actual chronological events of the trumpets. The seals, in the sense that they represent understanding of the end times, mean understanding of the last generation, and the 7th seal is the understanding of the events of the tribulation, including the trumpets.

When the 7th seal was opened in chapter 7, leading into verse 8:1, there was finally silence in Heaven for one half hour, half of the tribulation, because after the war between the angels in Heaven, satan and the fallen angels are to be cast down to earth for the second half hour of the tribulation. Once this happens, Heaven will finally be silent for that second half, as we are going to enter a period of testing no one has ever experienced.

(Revelation 9:3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Out of this pit, first comes smoke, which is the deception of satan that attempts to obscure and cover the light of God’s truth, just as smoke can extinguish the daylight. This smoke, in the first half of the tribulation, really begins to cover the earth, as the deception of the tribulation is begun. While these demons are physically still in Heaven, their spiritual influence will be all over the earth with satan’s, and this influence brings about the one world political system. This will prepare the world for the next step of the plan so the people are ready to accept him as their savior instead of Jesus.

This is one of the locust armies forecast by Joel the prophet in the Old Testament. The first is the “gnawer” stage, which is the kenites gnawing away at our freedoms. Second is the “swarmer” stage, the arab muslims swarming the world to attempt to attain world dominance. The third is the “devourer,” which are the fallen angels devouring men from the inside out. And the Fourth, and final stage, is the “consumer,” in which satan and his fallen angels are on earth physically in person. With this 5th Trump, we are at the “devourer” stage.

They will be like scorpions, which devour their prey by stinging and first digesting their victims from the inside, before sucking and consuming those digested innards. These demons will be preparing man by turning his mind into mush before they arrive in person to spiritually consume those they have deceived. This smoke of deception will be their sting.

(Revelation 9:4) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The grass here emphasizes the frailty of flesh mankind and the green things are those who are spiritually healthy, the bride of Christ, and those trees are people. The demons are commanded by God not to hurt anyone on earth until those chosen by God are sealed with understanding the Holy Spirit would give them to lock away in their minds.

(Rev 7:1) And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

(Rev 7:2) And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

(Rev 7:3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

(Rev 7:4) And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Chapter 7, the 6th seal, details the sealing of God’s chosen before the arrival of antichrist, who is satan, on earth. The sealing will protect those sealed from falling to satan’s deception and worshiping him, which would have otherwise caused them to receive the mark of the beast. Everyone on earth will have either the Seal of God or the Mark of the Beast in their minds.

(Revelation 9:5) And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

Those without the Seal of God will be tormented during this time by the full-strength lies of satan. Not only that, but in a few chapters, we will see the fate of those who receive the Mark of the Beast as the 7 angles pour out their vials.

(Revelation 9:6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

This is twofold in the sense that those who are deceived will believe satan is God, and they will want to leave they earth and be with him in a spirit form, but when they receive the initial punishment for their transgressions, they will be suffering as they never have before, but yet they will still not repent. They will believe they are doing what God wants them to and will not understand why they are suffering. They have chosen to ignore God’s Word, which is why they are so easily deceived.

(Revelation 9:7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

These locusts are doing battle here on earth, but they will soon be here in person and will battle like they’ve never done before. They will assume the role of spiritual leaders peddling a false doctrine, that only appears to be the doctrine of God to most in the world. But it is not really the pure gold from Jesus, and those who study His Word thoroughly will know the difference. They will seem to be people, and will appear not only harmless, but benevolent.

(Revelation 9:8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

They will appear to be beautiful and angelic and good to those that are unlearned, but they are actually ferociously evil and ready to destroy souls. These demons will fool you with their gentleness and kill you with kindness.

(Revelation 9:9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

Breastplates were the attire of the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament, meaning that these fallen angels will pretend to serve God, but the breastplates that they would wear are not of gold, they are of iron. This iron construction calls to mind the iron used in the idol made by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3, in which the iron represents the demonic fallen angels that will intermix with the men, which are the clay. The wings they have here are the protection of satan, which is only superficial because God allows them all to do what they’re doing to accomplish His plan. He could wipe them out at any time if He wanted to, yet He uses their evil for the benefit of us all in the end.

(Revelation 9:10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

As we are told by Jesus, He shortened the time of the tribulation, both the first and second halves. Originally the tribulation was told to be 7 years, meaning spiritual completion, and was in two 3 1/2 month halves. But the length of the shortening we are given is 10 months, the same as the length of the flood in Noah’s time, with two 5-month halves. This is the first half, and people are being prepared by the scorpions by being turned to mush, as preparation from the second half, when the evil ones are here to take control of the world, de facto.

(Revelation 9:11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Of course, as we now know, their leader is satan, the destroyer (Apollyon). He is given the key and is the one who releases them from the pit at the right time.

(Revelation 9:12) One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

The 5th trump has been the first of the three woes about which we foretold about in chapter 8. We are about to enter into the Second Woe, which will be worse than the first.

(Revelation 9:13) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Those four horns of the altar of God are those who have power under God. They are the four archangels, who are like God’s main generals.

(Revelation 9:14) Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

As the 6th trumpet is blown, satan’s counterparts to God’s archangels are released in the middle east, at the Euphrates, the symbolic boundary between the ways of the heathens in Babylon and the ways of God’s people. The ways of Babylon are about to spread completely to the remaining part of the world as the religion of Mystery Babylon, the one world religious system of satan.

(Revelation 9:15) And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Satan’s four generals have been held in place for this very prophetic time. They are coming, hoping to deceive the rest of the world which has held out its allegiance, including God’s elect which have not faltered. Of course, since God’s elect have been sealed, they will continue to hold strong.

(Revelation 9:16) And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

This is an idiom meaning they will be innumerable.

(Rev 9:17) And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Again, these beings are ready to tear people’s souls to pieces. They will have a false gospel, and their deception will cover up the light of God’s truth.

(Rev 9:18) By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

Those who have not yet submitted to this world system, but do not have God’s Seal, will finally whore after satan and receive the Mark of the Beast, as satan’s deception convinces them.

(Rev 9:19) For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

The authority they are given for deception is by their words, and is able to poison the minds of those who would allow themselves to be stung. They are just as evil as the old serpent, satan, and will do whatever is necessary to accomplish their objectives.

(Rev 9:20) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

(Rev 9:21) Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Those who are not physically harmed in this time, yet who don’t have eyes to see and ears to hear God’s truth, and are victims of this deception, will not repent: They don’t even know enough to realize how wrong they are.

This is the reason we study God’s Word. We don’t want to fall victim to satan. Though these people will be satan’s victims, they will still be held accountable for their inadequacy. Study and prepare so that you will be one that will please God.

God bless.

 

Topic Discussions

The Ark of Truth

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You may have heard or even read the story of Noah’s flood, but have you given thought to what the events of this flood are teaching us for the end times? As we know, everything in the Bible has not only the basic lesson taught on the surface, but also a deeper lesson we are to gain from it, three levels in fact.

The deepest levels of knowledge in the Bible always apply to the last generation in particular, the generation of the fig tree. The story of Noah is no exception to that rule.

We are told in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 that the end days will be as in the days of Noah.

(Mat 24:37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Mat 24:38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

(Mat 24:39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The story of Noah picks up when angels were coming down from heaven, at which point they became fallen angels not only because they came down from heaven, but that they also decided to contradict God’s natural plan for us.

(Gen 6:1) And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

(Gen 6:2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

(Gen 6:3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

(Gen 6:4) There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God (nephilim) came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men (gibborem) which were of old, men of renown.

(Gen 6:5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

These fallen angels, nephilim in the Hebrew (fallen ones), came to earth and saw those souls who had been born as women and decided they would like to take advantage of them. As a result, offspring were born and these offspring were mighty men, called gibborem in the Hebrew, many of whom were giants in stature, as well as giants of intellect, strength and so on. The Bible uses the term giant and we know that is true much of the time because, later on, Goliath and many other biblical giants of stature were born, but this doesn’t mean that all gibborem were giants in terms of height, as the term gibbor simply means ‘mighty man’.

These gibborem were literal offspring of the sons of God, the angels who came down to earth refusing to be born as flesh babies without recollection of the world that was, and, just as the nephilim had no respect for God or His plan for us, neither did they.

(Gen 6:6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Both these nephilim and these gibborem brought nothing but wickedness to the earth and to us as mankind. They had intermingled with almost everyone, and God was disgusted by it, to the point that He deeply regretted that He had to place us in these corruptible, weak flesh bodies. But He also knew that was the way it had to be because that is what He had predetermined as the best course of action after satan’s rebellion.

(Gen 6:7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

God was going to send this flood to destroy all of the fallen angels, and those who had mixed with them and their offspring.  All those who did not follow in God’s ways would be wiped off the map.

(Gen 6:8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

(Gen 6:9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Although God saw nothing but utter wickedness, there was one man and his family that had stayed true to God, and had not intermixed with these sons of God, and that man was Noah.

Generation, in this verse, is ‘dor’ in the Hebrew, which means posterity or lineage. This simply meant that Noah’s pedigree remained pure because he didn’t mate with the sons of God.

Noah was a representation, for the end times, of God’s elect, including the 144,000, because he was righteous. Just as in the days of Noah, the end times currently has an influx of another group of fallen angels, which has long preceded the flood just like in Noah’s time (This is the third influx. The first would be destroyed in Noah’s flood, and the second is the origin of Goliath and his contemporaries).

The end times has its own flood, however God told us He would never again destroy the land with a flood of water. The flood of the end times is the flood of lies from satan’s mouth, which is so deceptive and convincing that it will sweep away anyone without an excellent understanding of God’s Word. This flood occurs during the Tribulation by way of antichrist and his lieutenants.

(Rev 12:15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

 

(Luk 17:26) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

(Luk 17:27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Those who do not care enough for the Lord to study and understand His message to us will be taken and swept away in this flood and will become spiritually dead, until they receive a chance to fix it in the Millennium.

(2Th 2:7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

(2Th 2:8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

(2Th 2:9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

(2Th 2:10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(2Th 2:11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

(2Th 2:12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

God will allow these people to be deceived because they do not truly care for Him enough to take what He says seriously. They will learn from the deception and delusion they receive by being swept away by the flood during the tribulation, but it will be a long, hard road for them get into God’s good graces.

(Mat 24:39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Mat 24:40) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

(Mat 24:41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The ones who are not swept away by this flood will remain working in God’s field and grinding at His mill until the end at the return of Jesus.

(Mar 13:11) But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

(Mar 13:12) Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

(Mar 13:13) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We are to remain strong to the end and not be swept away by this flood that will be coming from antichrist and through his henchmen dressed as godly servants. But how are we to do this when we are told that the entire world will be deceived? Well how did Noah remain safe through his flood?

God told him to build an ark.

(Gen 6:11) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

(Gen 6:12) And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

(Gen 6:13) And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

(Gen 6:14) Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

(Gen 6:15) And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

(Gen 6:16) A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

(Gen 6:17) And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

(Gen 6:18) But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

This ark is our Ark of Truth, and it will keep us afloat during the tribulation. It will keep us floating above the ways of the world, which are represented by the seas throughout the Bible. It is pitched, or sealed, with God’s Word.

Do you remember when Jesus walked on water, and when the disciples saw Him, He called out and Peter stepped out of their boat to walk on the water himself? This is also part of this lesson. This ark will keep us above the ways of the world and the filth it contains in the end times, but even if we step out and into the world, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will not sink into those disgusting ways. What happened when Peter took his eyes off Jesus? He sunk right down.

So, we must build this ark and board it too. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, and we will be able to come to Him at His return with a clean conscience and a white robe.

Of course there is much more to this lesson for the end times, but we can discuss that in future articles.

God Bless

Reference Notes

Rebellion of Satan

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At one time, during the First Earth Age, when we were all spiritual beings that most people call angels, and all was peaceful (Job 38:7), Satan was the most beautiful and powerful of God’s angels; he was created to be the cherub that guarded the Mercy Seat. However, due to the fact that God created all of His children with free will, Satan developed pride and arrogance, and decided he was worthy of being worshiped, and not only that, but he decided that he was more powerful than God. So, because of this self-exaltation, he decided to lead a rebellion against God, and set up a hierarchy (Rev 12:3) similar to the one he will influence during the Tribulation, and take as many of God’s children away from Him as he could (Isa 14:12-14, Eze 28:14-17, Rev 12:3-4).

When this rebellion began, some of God’s children immediately took a stand for God and against Satan (Rom 8:26-39, 11:2-5, Eph 1:4-5). Then there were some who took a direct stand against God and for Satan (Rev 12:4). Aside from those two groups, we can deduce (because those who followed God He made His elect who cannot possibly stray from God, and those who immediately followed Satan were his most loyal who willingly became fallen angels who are sentenced to be destroyed, as they have chosen their destiny) that there was a third part who were lukewarm and could not decide who was worthy of their allegiance, but because of their indecision, were mostly deceived by Satan. This third group were essentially on the fence, and for the most part still are to this day until they care enough to decide to get off the fence and take a stand, either for God, or Satan.

As a result of this rebellion, God split eternity, eternity past from eternity future, and cleared off the earth and recreated it to insert the age we currently occupy, the Second Earth Age, and He mandated that each of us be born once in the flesh, through the womb of a mother (Heb 9:26-27). We would be born without memory of the world that was in the First Earth Age (2Pet 3:4-5), and this would be a test to each of us, in this controlled scenario, whether we would choose to follow God, or Satan by default (or even by choice) (Gen 1:2-31, Psa 104:5-14, Jer 4:22-27, 2Pet 3:5-9).

Because of the free will, which God gave each of us, there were some who chose not to be born through the womb, but instead continue to rebel against God’s will (Gen 6:1-4, Jud 1:4-6) and follow the same path that Satan took during this age. Of course, God also had His most loyal followers whom He chose from the time of the rebellion, and to these God would give a very important role while on earth in the flesh (Jer 1:5, Rom 8:28-30, 9:9-21, 11:2-5).

Our whole existence here on earth in these flesh bodies is a direct result of the Rebellion of Satan, and all of what we see and read in the Bible has a very specific part in God’s plan, which will ultimately end in an ideal Kingdom of Heaven led by God in His full glory after the Millennium.

 

Reference Notes

Mark of the Beast

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The Mark of the Beast is often misunderstood as a physical mark (or chip) placed on people, during the time antichrist is on earth, for those who worship antichrist and his system. However, that is an assumption based on misunderstanding of scripture.

The Mark of the Beast will be dealt to most of the people on earth (Mat 24:24, Rev 7:3-4, 12:9-15, 13:11-16) while antichrist is here because they will have been deceived into worshiping him and his system (Rev 14:9), and they will have served him because they will believe he is the Messiah. This mark is not a physical mark because it is based on what people feel in their hearts; and therefore it goes much deeper than a physical trait. No one can hold us down and force us to feel something in our hearts and therefore a physical mark cannot change our minds. God cares more about where our loyalties lie, than what someone has made us do to ourselves physically.

This mark is in one’s forehead and in one’s right hand (Rev 13:16), and these terms are symbolic. The mark that is in people’s foreheads is in their brains, and it is those people’s belief that antichrist is the Messiah or God, which he will claim to be. This is the mark of deception that is brought forth in the flood of lies from satan’s mouth (Rev 12:15). The mark in the right hand represents someone’s works in serving the system of antichrist, and doing his will. The right hand in biblical times was always symbolic of power or work.

The Mark of the Beast is mutually exclusive with the Seal of God, meaning that everyone on earth will have either the mark or the seal. The Seal of God is protection against the torment that those with the Mark of the Beast will suffer (Rev 7:3, 9:1-11, 14:9-11,16:1-4, 8-14, 17-21). Those with the Mark of the Beast will continue to be plagued through the tribulation unless they wake up and repent, and turn against antichrist (Mar 3:28-29, Luk 21-12-19, 1Jo 1:9, Rev 16:1-4, 8-14, 17-21) before Jesus returns.

Those without the Mark of the Beast will not be allowed to buy or sell (Rev 13:17), and that can be accomplished by many ways even though the mark is not a physical mark. One such way as there may be a card issued to those who have proven their loyalty to antichrist when they have worshipped him, but that card would not be the mark. God’s people will be provided-for none-the-less because they will remain faithful to Jesus Christ and not fall for antichrist.

The only way to avoid receiving the Mark of the Beast is to read, study, and understand the Bible (2Th 7-12, 2Ti 2:15, Rev 7:1-4), as even many professing Christians will be deceived, along with the rest of the world (Mat 24:22-24, Mar 13:20-23, Rev 12:9-15, 13:11-14), because they don’t care enough for Jesus to pick up God’s Word and read it. Those people who will be sealed by the Holy Spirit as protection are those who know and love Jesus Christ and His Word (2Ti 2:15, Rev 7:3-4), as He is the Living Word, and this sealing will be accomplished before antichrist arrives (Rev 7, 9:1-12).

The receiving of the Mark of the Beast does not condemn someone to die in the Lake of Fire, however, they will be in danger of this sentence (Rev 20:4-6, 11-15) if they do not repent and turn back to and serve Jesus Christ once they realize what they have done. Those who do not do so by the time Jesus Christ returns will have a chance in the Millennium Kingdom to be taught and disciplined to learn the ways of God and forsake their selfish ways (Eze 44, Rev 20:1-6). During this time, they will be considered spiritually dead (Eze 44:23:25, Rev 20:4-6, 12-13), and at the end of the Millennium, they will be tested one last time (Rev 20:7-9), and if they fail this test, after the Great White Throne Judgment, they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15). If they instead pass and are found in the Book of Life, they will be granted eternal life at that time (Rev 20:5, 21, 22).

If someone is truly saved by Jesus Christ, though they may be deceived when antichrist is here, they will overcome in the Millennium, or perhaps before, because they love Jesus Christ and they will do what it takes to make it right (Rom 1:16, 11:23-27, 1Ti 2:10). The only way to salvation is to accept it through Jesus Christ (Joh 14:6-7, 1Th 5:9, 1Ti 2:10, 3:15), and our lives will reflect that salvation if we are truly saved (Tit 2:7-15, 3:1-8, 14-15, Jam 2:14-26, Rev 2:4-5, 20:11-13).

For more information check out the article, RFID Chips Short Circuit Salvation???

Topic Discussions

Is Satan on the earth now?

Going to take a break from John his week to answer a question that has come up a few times and I have seen it answered a couple of different way. Does Satan walk the earth today?

We know that Satan has been on the earth. He was with Adam and Eve in the garden. In Job God asks him where he’s been.  Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  Later on, the Gospels tells us how, when Christ was in the wilderness fasting for forty days, that Satan came to tempt him.

So he’s been here before and some argue that nothing has changed and that he is only waiting to reveal himself at the start of the tribulation using this scripture as their proof:

2 Thessalonians 2:3:  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Others say that Satan was banished from the earth when Christ ordered him to get behind him which puts him behind the throne of God. They use this scripture as their reference:

Luke 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6: And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7:  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (4:8)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

So naturally Satan is tempting Christ and Christ isn’t falling for his crap, but does this stop Satan? Is he suddenly banished? Let’s read on to find out.

Luke 4:9  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12:  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13:  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Seems to me that the temptations continued and the devil left when he ended the temptation.

Well you can say that Christ was still on earth and wasn’t sitting next to God on the throne yet. OK, I don’t have a problem with that. Christ does have power over him, but it says he departs for only a season thus he isn’t locked up anywhere. Next we find he isn’t in physical form. He has entered Peter.

Mar 8:31  And he (being Christ) began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again 32: And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. (8:33) But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

So does this mean that Satan isn’t allowed here in physical form? That now he can only enter the hearts and minds of those who have carelessly let him in? Well the bible doesn’t tell us of another time of him being on earth until the tribulation, but is that all there is to it? No. Christ has foretold us all things and this isn’t any different.

John 12:28  Father, glorify thy name. (Christ speaking) Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29:  The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30:  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31:  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Who is the prince of this world? Satan of course.  Did you ever wonder why this flesh age is so crappy? This isn’t God’s kingdom friends. This is Satan’s little playground and for those of you who didn’t know, the reason God allows it to run on the way that it does is so that we can all learn at the deepest part of our souls that if you don’t do it God’s way it leads to nothing but crap.

The word now in English makes you think at that very moment, but read on.

John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33:  This he said, signifying what death he should die.

He meant Now, as in the very moment He died and defeated death, Satan was judged and cast from the earth.

Great so does that mean we are done with him? Unfortunately no, Satan wants to be God. Go back to 2 Thessalonians 2 if you don’t believe me or check out Isaiah 14 and move on down to verse 12. So what does that tell us? It tells us that everything God does, Satan will imitate. Christians understand that God comes in three forms, the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.  Man, who was created in the image of God, too has three forms. Don’t believe me? Do we not have a mind, body and soul? Of course we do, all of God’s children do, and Satan isn’t any different.

We know Christ is coming back. Well guess what? So is Satan.

So where does that leave us right now? Let’s see what Christ said after the crucifixion:

John 16:5:  But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?  6:  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.  7:  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  8:  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9:  Of sin, because they believe not on me;  10:  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11:  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

We don’t see Christ walking the earth just as we don’t see Satan. We have The Comforter a.k.a. The Holy Spirit, but we also have Satan’s spirit working in this world and he is the prince of it and how do we know this?

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

In conclusion, Satan has three parts, mind, body and soul. Satan has been on the world in physical form, but since Christ conquered death on the cross, only Satan’s spirit is able to roam among us until, as we see in Revelation 12, Michael and his angels kick him out of heaven and out onto the earth.