ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 363 - 2 John - Revelation 14 (The Mark of the Beast)
(To View Past Posts Click: http:/tonyvicreyes1-yearbible.blogspot.com/ )
"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb." (Revelation 14:9-10)
It would be safe to say that the typical person reading or hearing about the antiChrist, also called the beast, probably thinks that even if this whole thing about the end of the world is true, it is so far into the future that it doesn't really apply to them. Well, I got news for them, everything written in the Bible applies to every person who ever lived from the time of Adam and will apply to all people until God makes a new heaven and a new earth.
In our text above, three angels were sent by God sometime during the seven-year Great Tribulation that is to come upon the earth in the last days in order to orally warn those who still have not received the mark of the beast either on thier forehead or their right hand to refuse to do so but rather receive the Holy Spirit who is the true mark or seal of God that saves sinners.
Someone might say, "If ever I'm still alive at that time, I will never receive the mark of the beast." That's good for him and I truly wish him all the best; however, what every person who is alive today must understand is that unless a person receives the Holy Spirit by repenting of his sins and trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross as full payment for his sins, he will not enter heaven but instead end up in hell where those who will receive the mark of the beast will also go. Jesus said:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life... He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.(John 3:16,18)."
Salvation has always remained the same from the start of human history and it has always come down to a choice that every person must make, that is, either to worship the Creator God or worship the many images of the beast including false religions, worship of self and temporal things like money, power, relationships, etc., and in the last days, worshipping Satan himself and his anti-christ.
There is no such thing as being neutral as far as choosing between Christ and others. A non-decision is tantamount to not choosing Christ and therefore not having the Son of God in your life. Jesus leaves no room for doubt as to the fate the indecisive person:
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36."
No comments:
Post a Comment