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;
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.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Most people that I know (okay, probably ALL people I know of) interpret this passage in a secular way. That is, they do so from an earthly standpoint and put earthly limits on things. I imagine that is because:
a)they are simply reasoning with their minds so they compare physical things with physical and try to make them spiritual. [I know this is all too common. I have been guilty of it countless times and am probably guilty of it more than not. It’s something that needs to change. We need to compare spiritual things with spiritual. And we know that the natural man doesn’t receive spiritual things. But at least recognizing that it doesn’t is a start.]
AND
b)think that if they are to understand the passage, then they must be somewhat immune from it applying to them (in this case, the falling away and deception by this “man of sin”).
If, instead, the mind didn’t put any limitations or a priori restrictions on the text, we might have a clue as to what is really being said. So to break down the important part that will inform the rest of the text, consider only the 4th verse. There are 3 important aspects to this.
1. To whom is Paul talking? He has been sent to the Gentiles and his ministry has been (as far as I know) exclusively to the Gentiles. And given that this is an epistle to a church in Thessalonica, the passage here is clearly to those who are not of Israel. As such, his terms are to be understood in that way.
2. Realizing that, what can we say about the term “the temple of God”? In ALL instances (4 total) where Paul uses that phrase (1 Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 6:16 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4), it is clearly in the spiritual sense. There is never any building in view when Paul speaks of “the temple of God”. There is no reason this case should differ from the others. We might even note that Jesus used the term to apply to His body in prophesying His crucifixion and resurrection (Matthew 26:61). Were we to look at Revelation, we would probably be justified (I speak only from a point of reasoning - this must be revealed to anyone who wants to know) in reading it that way again. Revelation 21:22 speaks of a physical temple not appearing but God being the temple thereof. Also, we read (e.g. in Revelation 15) of God entering heavenly places as being prophetical of things happening to the church - not to a building. The book, after all, IS a “revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him”. And Jesus referred to His body as the temple of God.
Even if we were to assume that it were possible - though I don’t believe we can as evidenced by the things here written - to assume “the temple of God” were a physical temple in physical Jerusalem for the purposes of this passage, how is it that such a thing would matter to non-Israelite or non-Jewish believers in a risen Christ? How would such an act show that he is God? And the position that this is only for those after some “secret rapture” is untenable because Paul is using this to show the believers in Thessalonica that THIS (in this passage) is to happen BEFORE the day of the Lord. In other words, Paul is clear in letting them know that if they are to live to the day of Christ, they must FIRST see this happen.
Again, let us reiterate, this begins to fulfill the deception that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22. It is deception that transcends man’s intellectual capacity even to comprehend on its own. That’s why it is only by the grace of God that the deception does not come upon the elect. For, even if unregenerate men were told of the deception ahead of time (which all men are in scripture), in clear terms, they would not be able to escape it without the Sovereign Grace of God. Such is the deception that would deceive even the very elect.
3. We now look at the verse from the standpoint of worship. We understand that the temple of God goes beyond the physical (though we can’t say there won’t be different physical outworkings of it). So, in looking at what Paul says about this man of sin being worshipped, we must notice how emphatic Paul seems to be. This “man of sin” exalts himself above all that is called God OR WORSHIPPED! How much more all-encompassing can Paul be? I can see how some would say this refers to a global religion. And, in some ways, it is true. But the way it is presented is always very fleshly, very natural. This is to be expected from the natural reasonings of men that have some understanding of scripture. But unless they can compare spiritual things with spiritual, they are just as prone to succumbing to the delusion of the global religion that they themselves teach. What are we coming to? We are coming to this:
The delusion and deception that embodies a so-called one-world religion is far beyond what any man has the capacity to imagine. Man thinks in terms of clear dividing lines between things. Buddhism is not Christianity. Islam is not Confucianism. Black is not white. Men are not women. All these things are true. Very true. But they are also very natural. The heavenlies are full of powers and principalities and it is against them that we war. If we make the war against something that we can see, then we have ceased to be spiritual. We don’t fight against men - even the men that may be part of evil plans. Our struggle is with the wickedness in high places that inspires men to rebel against their Creator. So when we are told that someone sits in the temple of God, showing himself to be God, we are speaking of a change that is imperceptible to any who have not the Spirit of God. But it underscores a time when ALL true faith is being copied by a “man of sin”. Not a single man walking this earth, but a deception that covers the entire earth. It is as though one day any man can pray and the prayer is delivered to the Most High - but the next day, those same prayers are delivered to the imitation, the ANTICHRIST. The change is not so much in the earthlies (though it comes) but primarily in the heavenlies (which ultimately affects the earth).
Before you discount this as mere fancy or ridiculous (I know, in some ways, it may sound odd to most of you if not all that read it), consider the way the verse reads. One more (not insignificant) indicator of all this being a spiritual prophecy is the small phrase “so that”. It isn’t written that the man of sin sets himself up in the temple of God “so that” he is worshipped. That would be how we would expect it to read if the temple were a physical temple. No. Instead Paul tells us that he exalts himself above all that is worshipped “so that” he, as God sits in the temple of God. This is not a man pretending to be God by being in a temple. This is a spirit wanting to deceive the nations and rob men of the gift of salvation and fellowship with God by making them worship him. And BY DOING THAT, that “man of sin” enters into the temple of God and shows himself to be God.
The deception is mind boggling. Even knowing that it were to happen, what defense does a man have if he doesn’t know God? Even if he believed what was said, how much more important is it that that man seek God with ALL of his heart and mind and soul and strength and not be attached to ANYTHING that might hinder him. How important is it that he turn over every rock, search out every statement, try every spirit, be absolutely sure of everything that is proposed to him in the name of the Holy One of Israel - lest he instead allow himself to be taken in by the spirit of Antichrist. The world cannot know the difference because they do not know God. The believer is the target. The believer who doesn’t put all his trust in God and who leans on his own understanding will be deceived. The deception is in the heavenlies. Miracles in the natural are nothing in themselves. The men who followed miracles when Jesus walked the earth wound up leaving off following the Savior. So miracles as a sign are only as good as what they point to. And unless we know to what they point, they are just another physical occurrence.
This Antichrist goes beyond the Papal power (though the global religion that can be seen in the natural certainly does center much of its power in the Vatican). It is more than just the Eastern Mysticism that has so much of India in its demonic grasp (though the Eastern influence seems to grow daily - see Ezekiel 8:16, for example as pointing to what seems to be that same spirit) but it can be seen in the church in things like so-called “Christian Yoga” (which any real yoga teacher will tell you is a total contradiction). It transcends the Anti-God spirit of communism (though this darkness is still prominent in places like China and Russia and growing here). It is even far more than the darkness of self-mastery that is delivering most of the Western world to total destruction. The spirit of Antichrist exalts himself SO THAT he is worshipped. In various ways and forms, the natural religions and beliefs of a people are used against them so that they are blinded against the Truth of the gospel. The North American church is blinded because it adopts a spirit of ecumenism and takes on the traditions and trappings of Roman Catholicism but also because it bears a spirit of pride. And pride goes before destruction.
That leads me to what I think is the final thought I have on this passage as it relates to us today. The scriptures are replete with messages that declare that the humble man will be exalted. They abound with lessons on the wisdom of the wise of this world being as foolishness to God - and the wisdom of God being as foolishness to the world. It doesn’t take much to see the excesses that the church in North America has engaged in. But the most heinous and destructive one is that of pride. Satan exalted himself in his heart and said “I will ascend and be as the Most High”. Adam, in taking Satan’s counsel, did the same. Satan’s temptation of Jesus was always aimed at exalting either himself or the flesh and bringing down the glory of God. In all cases, Jesus rebuked Satan with a scripture that reflected the humility which accompanied His entire ministry. The result was that the devil fleed. Merely by rejecting pride did the Lord win the battle over the enemy. The AntiChrist exalts himself by any means. By miracles, by externalities, by deceptions.
And the spirit of pride that is at the heart of the “man of sin” (which should be clear is not a single being, but a type of man which is a follower of AntiChrist), infects the church when men prophesy great things that are false and that false prophet is not dealt with properly. Pride infects the church whenever false doctrine is allowed to perpetuate and grow - thus leading many away from the truth of the gospel. Pride infects the church whenever man’s ideas about spiritual things are given the pulpit. Pride infects the church whenever the church is more concerned about itself (money, numbers, activities etc…) than it is about the glory of God. All these things bring dishonor to the name of the Lord. And repentance is never an option to the proud. That’s another mark of pride (and a cause) - that sin is diminished in importance and repentance is made secondary. It isn’t altogether done away with, but it becomes a trite phrase or a fleshly effort. Today, in the church, self-esteem is one of the factors in ministry. If we realized what the bible said about how we should esteem ourselves - and actually did so (with a mind to mourning over our sin), we would stay as far away from that notion as possible. Sure, it is possible to revel in one’s own dishonor - and that is done - but far more prevalent is not wanting to do anything to harm one’s self image. That is idolatry.
This has become more than just a short exposition on a verse or two. But I want to make sure the central thought is clear:
The setting up of this man of sin in the temple of God is a heavenly thing that is imperceptible in earth as natural effects go. But it results in mass deception and perversion of the truth so that even supposed believers follow a lie. The lie is that man of sin that causes men to worship him. And why is it so deceiving? Because he (it?) is in the very place God “usually” is. And in taking God’s place, the whole world (save the elect) is deceived into following him instead of the True God. There is no easy natural way to tell the difference - but rather it is necessary that a man humble himself and examine the very foundations of his faith and that nothing of his own life go unexamined. The soul is at stake and nothing in the flesh can be trusted to follow or even be inclined to follow the truth.
And if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The implication is “nothing”. The foundations are critical so that if they are gone, no matter how “good” the person who rests upon them, they have no hope.
But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Genesis 15:16
When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Matthew 16:2,3
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
I Timothy 4:1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
II Timothy 3:1
It struck me the other night that what Jesus said above (in Matthew 16) was strikingly simple yet illuminating. Too many times I’ve read scriptures that deal in prophecy and/or prophetic events and found myself responding with a form of fear that underlies (more often than not) a sense that man’s interpretation of prophecy and application to present day events seems somewhat arbitrary. That is to say that when Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens, the powers of heaven being shaken etc…, there isn’t an automatic response to place that in the context of the prophecy. But Jesus Himself seems to say fairly clearly that “signs”, when from God, are very purposeful and have great context into which they can be placed.
So in dealing with prophecy, it is well to remember that all signs have more purpose than simply to be a marker. God’s dealings with Daniel’s people was marked out by the commandment to rebuild their city and temple on the one end (beginning the 70 weeks) and the ending of oblations and the making of desolate the temple on the other end (completing the 70 weeks). These are not just arbitrary markers but pertinent to Daniel, his people and God’s dealings with them. They are tied up with God’s dealings in a very intimate way. So to make the desolation of the temple a yet future event seems to me to be wrong because, partly, it is arbitrary. God has not permanently cast away the Jews, but the times determined upon them have been determined and completed (as I read it). The purpose of the times visited upon the Jews was made clear - and, with the completion of fulfillment of these purposes, the temple sacrifices are made redundant. Thus, the desolation. Now, with Christ ascended, God’s dealings with ALL men are based upon Christ and not sacrifices. Thus, to see the end of the 70 weeks as anything but already fulfilled nearly 2000 years ago is to make some future desolation more significant than the destruction and desolation upon Jerusalem of 70AD. And in so doing, it subtly legitimizes the continued animal sacrifices when it is obvious to all believers that God no longer deals that way. The Jews being a sign of that - partly in that they rejected the perfect sacrifice so that the world would know Him - only goes to support the interpretation that the completion of the 70 weeks was at a critical time with respect to the Jews and to ushering in righteousness etc…And that it happened in 70AD after 70 weeks of years on the heels of 70 years of captivity is only another mark that these things are all related.
But what significance is there of a future desolation?
Jesus wanted men to be sure that signs given are for the benefit of those who can receive them. Those that just look arbitrarily for signs that meet all the superficial criteria of prophecies are prone to either having an overabundance of possible “fits” to prophetic identifications or not finding anything and missing the sign that was intended. An example of overabundance of “fits” is the multiplicity of interpretations of the Mark of the Beast. People have speculated everything from VISA to Nero, to Ronald Reagan to Bill Gates to a computer in the EU - all of which fit superficially, but none (save possibly Nero) of which fit the context of the prophecy and fit the application of the sign. An example of not finding anything and (possibly) missing the sign(s) is the entire futurist scheme - notably with application to the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks. Or even much of the book of Revelation. Arbitrary, superficial application of prophetic signs as mentioned in scripture are bound to lead into confusion unless the prophecy as a whole and its intention are considered.
When Abraham was told that his posterity would inherit the land of Canaan, he was also told that things would have to be accomplished before that could take place. Most notably, the iniquity of the Amorites would have to “come to the full”. That is, the Lord was telling Abraham that his descendants would have to find themselves in a spiritual position that enabled them to overcome their enemies in the land of Canaan. Until then, their iniquity would require much of them (400 years in bondage in Egypt, for one) before they could even approach the promised land.
So, too, are the end times spoken of. The time of the end is a time of great peril. It is a time that is characterized primarily by attributes of men rather than political, military and economic situations. Twice, in his letters to Timothy, Paul speaks of the end times as being highlighted by the accented evil of men come to FULL FRUITION. Just as the Israelites could not possess the promised land until the Amorites filled up their cup of iniquity to overflowing, so too are the people of God told that their possession of the land and fulfillment of many “wrapping up” prophecies are dependent upon the marked division between the faithful and the faithless. As one who sees the bodily return of Christ being referred to here, I find that it is a SIGNIFICANT SET OF SIGNS that Paul has shown to Timothy. The disciples already asked Jesus what the signs of His coming and of the end of the age/world were to be. Notice that Jesus spoke FIRST of earthquakes and famines and wars and said that the end was not yet. He, as I see it, was telling the disciples that natural disasters were to continue to happen and disasters would continue to occur. But when He gets into the REAL signs that lead up to Him saying “When you see all these things, know that it is near…”, it is overwhelmingly a list of the abundance of the appearance of iniquity. False Christ, false prophets, deceitful signs, tribulation, men mourning - all these things support Christ’s summation that one knows harvest is near when the fruit is on the trees (though notice that THE Great Tribulation is discussed in Matt 24:21,22 as NOT being at the end - for the VERY NEXT VERSE has Jesus saying “THEN, if any man shall say unto you Lo there He is…etc….” that it is NOT to be believed. His return is NOT YET. It even looks like it is AFTER the Great Tribulation - so called - that the prominence of AntiChrists is to take place.). In other words, the increase of iniquity is a sign - a direct consequence of something that brings about Christ’s return. This concept is so important, that Jesus - after speaking plainly - uses two parables. First of the fig tree. Then of the evil servant.
So what is Jesus saying is the importance of the fruit that brings about Christ’s return? We can look at all the fruit that is detailed in I Tim 4 and II Tim 3, but what do these things say? I believe we can investigate this to see what the purpose of Christ’s return - and the timing of it - is. Returning to Genesis, we find that Israel was refused entry into the Promised Land until after 400 years in Egypt AND THEN 40 years in the wilderness. We are told that they could not enter in because of their unbelief. So what did God do? He essentially waited around and tested Israel while an entire generation passed along and a new generation was prepared. One that would not grumble and complain, but realize the immensity of God’s provision and enter in gladly and in faith (okay…so that didn’t exactly work out immediately, either!). The Lord was using that time to separate to Himself a people that were faithful to Him. He is doing so today. He told the disciples to let the wheat and the tares grow up together and, in the end, He would separate them. He has a purpose for allowing iniquity to show up. Not because He desires iniquity but because there is something much deeper at work that man has little or no control over. He is showing up the sons of righteousness and the sons of iniquity. He is forming, vetting, reforming, honing, burning, testing, proving and reproving those that claim to be His. His return, then, is for the final separation - faithful from hypocrite. His purpose in delay, then is for formation, separation and strengthening. For beneath it all is a great spiritual activity that goes beyond all we can even conceive.
As such, the times of the end should be primarily concerned with spiritual activity rather than physical. Yes, there will be physical outworkings of things - signs in the earth. The powers of heaven will be shaken, but the importance of that is to be found in its significance, its context and its relevance to the signs it is foretelling. The powers of heaven are spiritual forces. They are great dominions and principalities that, no doubt, have physical extensions. The woman riding the beast, for example, is identified with the Catholic Church. Not so much for her externalities, but for the spiritual harlotry that characterizes her dealings. She has dealt in the traffic of men’s souls and has committed fornication with the kings of the earth. All primarily spiritual at heart - but with physical and doctrinal extensions that can be directly measured. Such great influence she has had over all nations - even today she has political clout in every nation even as a primarily religious entity! Revelation 18 reveals how her iniquity comes to the full and she is rewarded for her unbelievable evil. So it is that all are warned to stay as far away from her for then men become partakers in her sins and ultimately her judgment. Though we need to remember that things said of her were also said of Jerusalem - all the righteous blood from Abel to Zechariah was to be demanded of Jerusalem and all the blood of the prophets and saints and all that were slain upon the earth. Oh, such great harlotry to be responsible for all blood! This, surely, is a spiritual principal being found in some entity. For she had traffic with all kings - all nations - of the earth. If that be so, then it must be seen that the principle of the harlotry is important. Maybe even more significant than JUST the Roman Catholic church. While she may be the main extension of this in the natural world, it would be no exaggeration to say that the spirit that energizes the harlot church extends beyond denominational borders. But the main point is that it is all mainly spiritual in importance. I don’t say there isn’t physical realization of these things - nor that they may be the cause of great political, economic or military events, but if we are to get to the real importance of prophecy, it is to be found in the nature and detail of the sign.
Christ is returning - in that I believe 100%. But the distress of nations is a secondary byproduct of that which Christ is now (and has always) been doing in the assemblage of His Kingdom throughout the ages. If we do not recognize that He is now making up His jewels, we will put it off till future and limit it mainly to an external event. But if we realize the importance of the signs, the significance of His return and the purpose of His Kingdom, it will be the spiritual aspect and its physical outworking that will form our greatest concern. In that is to be found the crux of the matter of the signs of the times. We are not looking for a physical happening - thought it be physical - but we are looking for a victory and a marked manifestation of the spiritual triumph that was completed in Christ 2000 years ago and continues to require something of men that name themself as His. The reformers recognized this and they, by their spiritual warfare and perseverance, helped deal Babylon a blow that will never be forgotten - and from which she may never fully recover. If we, today, were to worry less about what’s going to happen and more about what the spiritual state of the church, nation and world is, we would be far more in tune with the purposes of God and the progression of His Kingdom - even unto the return of Christ. Which return has great spiritual importance yet men look mainly to its physical outworking.
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Genesis 11:1
Moses penned those words to describe the situation in the wake of the flood and this particular chapter (dealing with the Tower of Babel) followed a specific people that were to form the Babylonian Empire. The descendants of Ham - specifically Nimrod - began a great empire that apparently attracted most of the other descendants of Noah. I say that because the division of speech and the unity of language prior to that was global. All the earth was (according to scripture) being repopulated by the descendants of Noah and his sons. So whatever they spoke, it seems logical to believe that that is what the great majority of the earth spoke. And it seems logical to believe that that is what was spoken in the plain of Shinar where many gathered to work together - towards a common goal of reaching heaven on their own and making a name for themselves. And God doesn’t seem to disabuse anyone of the notion that they were capable of doing so. Just what exactly that meant is not perfectly clear to me since we have today no fantasy about being able to reach heaven with a tower. Making a name for ourselves is another story…
Babylon made a name for herself and was allowed to perpetuate even in the scattering of peoples. In fact, it was to become a prominent foe to Israel after they were brought out of Egypt. One such example is the message of Jonah to Nineveh. It was a great city in the Babylonian Empire and would eventually take the Southern House of Israel captive. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He? The very people that Jonah wanted wiped off the face of the earth would eventually carry Jonah’s people into captivity! From human perspective, it would have been better to allow them to be destroyed, but instead Jonah is a somewhat unwitting participant in the preservation of the people who would eventually conquer Judah! So the Lord’s plan is something that men cannot easily distinguish - especially in the time that it is being carried out. I don’t believe today is any different.Mention the word “Globalism” and a whole host of ideas spring to mind. I would venture to say that most people cringe at it to some degree. It elicits thoughts of massive, impersonal corporations that care only about profits, expanding their empires across the earth and care nothing about the individual. Nationally, it conjures up thoughts of unity, the diminishment of the individual in favor of the nation and national sovereignty being eroded to the point of nothing. Personally, I think the corporate side of things is overblown. Remembering that individuals are required to run corporations (and nations!) and that profit can only be earned when those other individuals (called consumers) actually buy from the global corporations should serve to put it into some perspective. That the companies and the nations often have ulterior motives and hidden agendas that wind up being funded by unsuspecting consumers and taxpayers is certainly a concern. And the erosion of individualism and national sovereignty is also something to be worried about. Communism, the tower of Babel and “unity” in a global, humanistic sense are very real dangers.Yet, while all these things loom large on the horizon, and while there are (no doubt) many diverse conspiracies to separate you from your money, your individual identity and your national sovereignty (as a citizen of country X), I think this gets overplayed in the media today. Everywhere you turn - especially in the circles of end time prophecy and its expositors - there is doom and gloom forecast. There are predictions of unbelievable nuclear wars, depressions that make 1930 look like an economic hiccup, big brother watching you, listening to you and making sure you can’t do so much as cross the street without asking permission. I’m not here to dispel the “fact” that these things are being perpetuated. The Mark of the Beast, while I believe it to be more metaphorical than a literal mark, is a very real danger for anyone to take. And I don’t see that this is a unique time such that someone 500 years ago was incapable of taking it. But whether it is literal or metaphorical, there is still no difference made in what I am trying to address. And I am not trying to say “The sky isn’t falling” or “Things are no worse than they have ever been” because, naturally speaking, I believe they ARE worse. But I believe far too many people - especially those that have large radio and/or tv audiences - are missing the point in a very dangerous way. The key is in one of the epistles - 2 Timothy 3, to be exact.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Timothy 3:1Okay. So you may be asking what the big deal is about this verse. After all, it’s exactly what you hear wherever you go. Wars, depressions, invasions, communism, no privacy, conspiracies….all these things serve to support this contention, don’t they? If they did, I wouldn’t be writing this little essay. Let’s read on.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:2-7
That first word in the passage is critical. “For…” indicates that the writer is expanding on his opening statement. Paul is telling Timothy, quickly and succinctly, that the times of the end (define them how you will) will be perilous. times. And the second verse through the seventh is a description of that peril. Not one mention of anything resembling a political ideology, nuclear war, global conspiracy or economic mandate. Not one warning against men’s ploys to enslave others in political, economic or legal bonds. Instead, a clear description of a type of man. A man in the sense that it is a set of qualities that will be found - to a greater or lesser degree - in “men” (the second word in verse 2) that will be around in “the last days”. And what will their existence mean? “Perilous times”. Read the list of qualities - they are fairly self-explanatory - and get a picture of society run and participated in by men that are like this. See what warnings the Lord is most concerned about as you peruse this passage. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy (4:1) says that the Spirit of God is very clear about what to expect in the “latter times”. Another clear warning from God. About what? Politics? RFID chips? Global agendas? No.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now, one could argue that things like Communism, Globalism etc… are doctrines of devils. And one might well point out that the men who form such doctrines or ideologies are likely under that demonic influence and, thus, are more proof that we need to avoid Globalism and other end times dangers. Were you to do that, you would be missing the point. You would be pointing at deceived, fallen men and pinning the doctrines of devils more on them than on the devils. You would be putting man as the main conspirator and placing God further in the background than He needs to be - especially in perilous times like these! To do so is not to heed the clear word given to Isaiah here :
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:9-13
I’d underline select portions of this passage, but the whole thing is extremely appropriate to the topic at hand. First, God speaks through Isaiah saying that men that take counsel together will not succeed. Plain and simple. The end that they find will be one of dire judgment and none should desire their place. And God is with those that withstand evil. He is with those that simply refuse to conspire together. And the second verse (v.10) is the Lord’s clear word to Isaiah (and to us) that we are not to get caught up in conspiracies. They are dangerous. The Lord does not say they are nothing, but that they are to be avoided. But it appears He goes further when, in verse 11, He puts another context on verse 12. Verse 12 says (among other things, in context) that for one to fear a conspiracy (or a gathering of counsel against that which is revealed as good and Godly) is pretty much as bad as being an accomplice to that conspiracy because it lends credence to its operations. More importantly, it serves another vile purpose - for man to take his eyes off of God. And when he does that, he is just as likely to become a part of a conspiracy as he is to merely fear a conspiracy. We should, instead, let all our fear, reverence and concern be laid up to God Himself. Let Him be our fear, our dread, our focus. Not the conspiracies of men - though they seem to be hinted at in prophecy. We must be like David who wrote this :
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Psalm 27:1-5
Remember, the warnings of perilous times are attached to characteristics of man and his behaviour, not on his conspiracies, agendas and ideas. While they may be evil, wicked and ill-advised, the real peril is in the nature of man. In the eyes of the Lord, a covetous boaster is a perilous thing. In the eyes of the Lord blasphemy, disobedience, lack of trust, not keeping one’s word and high-mindedness are all of greater danger than the global agendas of multinational corporations. Why? Because erosion of national sovereignty can, of itself, have little eternal effect - while continued depravity (which is described in Paul’s letter to Timothy) absolutely has great eternal effects. What is the picture of a man who is in perfect peace? What is the picture of a man who is not concerned about taking the mark of the beast - whether literal or metaphorical?
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 26:3,4
If a man has all the qualities of godliness, will having a microchip implanted beneath his skin change the Lord’s judgment of that man? If the Lord has told him to stay away from that chip, absolutely. Disobedience is one of the marks of peril Paul mentioned. Will the Lord judge a man harshly because he was a member - even the CEO - of a massive multinational global corporation? If that man, before the Lord, bore all the qualities of uprightness, does that count for nothing?
Let us return to Genesis 11 for a moment. Why did God confound the speech of man at the plain of Shinar? Was it simply because they built a huge tower (or were in process of it)? No. It was, primarily, because they wanted to make a name for themselves. Unity is a powerful force. If many act in unity, there is very little that can be done about it. But if that unity is enacted with a vision to self-rule, then it is very destructive. Yes, globalism seems to be rebuilding the tower of Babel brick by brick and it seems very close to completion. Yes, man’s exaltation of self and his innate power and (ugh) “godness” (as well as “goodness”) are nasty things. In fact, THAT is one of the marks of peril (lovers of themselves….having a form of godliness but denying its - that is, God’s - power). So why have men focused on the side issues instead of the heart of the matter? I’m not sure, but I think it’s because the conspiracies that tend to drive the numerous end time ministries would lose their teeth as men began to see the REAL conspiracy - the Satanic ploy to win men’s hearts - that many of those ministries unwittingly contribute to!
And if you understand what I am trying to get at in this message, you will understand when I say that even those end time ministries that take time to make a salvation appeal (because those that know Christ will either be kept from all the tribulation supposedly coming on the earth or that they will at least have an eternal home even if they have to endure economic and military calamity) are missing the point. They aren’t being deceptive, but their appeal for salvation (after warning about the mark of the beast, the coming war etc….) is based upon the conspiracies (or “confederacies”) of men and so they are not appealing to men based on GODLY fear (or creating Godly sorrow that leads men to repentance). Godly fear comes only when men realize their lives do not in any way come close to meeting God’s standard. When men fear the judgments of God because of their flouting of God’s laws and their rejection of Christ, then the fear of God has begun to tear away the unGodly foundations of those lives and build one that is fixed firm in Him and Him alone. But an appeal for man to come to God because of the calamities of politics, economics and war that are coming on the earth are usually more destructive than helpful. True Godly repentance comes from true Godly sorrow which is brought on by true Godly conviction about truly (and fully revealed) unGodly natures. Not from man’s threats.
Again, I’m not trying to say we should embrace globalism, ecumenical movements, the European Union etc… I don’t like Globalism primarily for its Babelish character and to become involved in it in any active way is to certainly run a risk of turning from God. But the scriptures are chock full of defining characteristics of men that please the Lord. And I am absolutely convinced that if a man were to find himself more worried about being Godly than avoiding becoming a Globalist, that he would, in the end, avoid all things (naturally) that displease the Lord. In closing, David has a chapter that I think finds 99.99% of the world guilty of ungodliness. Let’s concern ourselves more with how we appear in God’s eyes and less about how the plans of the heathen will affect us. If we trust in Him, we will be unmoved.
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15
The New American Standard Bible has a good translation of this, too:
1O LORD, who may abide (A)in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your (B)holy hill?
2He who (C)walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And (D)speaks truth in his heart.
3He (E)does not slander with his tongue,
Nor (F)does evil to his neighbor,
Nor (G)takes up a reproach against his friend;
4In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who (H)honors those who fear the LORD;
He (I)swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5He (J)does not put out his money [a]at interest,
Nor (K)does he take a bribe against the innocent
(L)He who does these things will never be shaken.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 15:5 I e to a fellow Israelite
Cross references:
- Psalm 15:1 : Ps 27:5, 6; 61:4
- Psalm 15:1 : Ps 24:3
- Psalm 15:2 : Ps 24:4; Is 33:15
- Psalm 15:2 : Zech 8:16; Eph 4:25
- Psalm 15:3 : Ps 50:20
- Psalm 15:3 : Ps 28:3
- Psalm 15:3 : Ex 23:1
- Psalm 15:4 : Acts 28:10
- Psalm 15:4 : Judg 11:35
- Psalm 15:5 : Ex 22:25; Lev 25:36; Deut 23:20; Ezek 18:8
- Psalm 15:5 : Ex 23:8; Deut 16:19
- Psalm 15:5 : 2 Pet 1:1
One more thought. The fear that is created by many of the futurist, end time scenarios - and, more specifically, their expositors - comes from unbelief. Such fear is not a mark of one who inherits the kingdom. Along with those that worship the beast or his image, both the FEARFUL and the UNBELIEVING are cast in to the lake of fire (Rev 21:8). This is contrasted with those that overcome and inherit all things. Upon this, Godly fear can be founded - for it is His judgment. Fear God, not man. For this is the beginning of wisdom.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
……
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel 9:24, 12:8-10Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:3
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:10
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:19-21
The intent of this writing is not, primarily, to convince the reader of historicism in any fashion, but rather, to express a belief in a form of historicism with many of its scriptural roots. This is not offered in the form of proof, but as an expression of the spirit of the letter as found in the scriptures regarding prophecy and eschatology. There is support provided, but nothing that could be considered rigorous “proof”. But then if we are to accept John’s words, the only “proof” of truth comes from the Holy Spirit (I John 2:27).
The Nature of Prophecy
It may be well to consider, first of all, some basic groundwork before entering into a discussion as to the specifics of particular interpretations of prophetic utterances in the bible. For without the proper foundation, the entire topic might as well be treated as a work of fiction - as that is exactly what it would be. Just as there were men called prophets in bible days who prophesied according to their own hearts, so it is that we can just as easily interpret according to our own hearts. That is the wrong ground for prophetic interpretation and it underscores the necessity of approaching prophecy with a reverence for its Giver.
And that is the main issue on the nature of prophecy. Prophecy is, first and foremost, the expression of God through a vessel regarding a certain matter - whether it be past, present, future or regarding the condition of one’s heart. It is simply God speaking. If we remember that, and continue to keep that as the basis for our understanding, we cannot stray far from the truth. And where we have missed the mark, it will be easy enough for us to find the truth because we have a solid foundation on which to build. Which leads to the second key to all prophecy….
The Focus of All Prophecy
While it may not be apparent from reading individual prophecies or parts of prophecies, the focal point of all that God spoke, speaks and will speak is in His Son - Jesus Christ. That was the theme of the entire Old Testament. That is the expression and fulfillment of the gospels. And that is the whole reason that there is a church to receive prophecy - Jesus Christ Himself. Not all prophecies mention Jesus. Not all prophecies even seem to refer to a person of Jesus, but all prophecy is given with Jesus Christ in mind. If He is the only Way to the Father, the uttered and expressed Truth of God (the Word) and the Life Abundant, then prophecy, without Jesus in mind, is a resounding gong to our ears. No man comes to the Father but by Jesus Christ, so any Words the Father has for us also come by Jesus. It is Jesus Christ and the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead that must be the medium of the prophetic. Not mere words on a page.
So if we expect prophecy simply to be a way for us to know the future, we will fail and be worse off than if we knew nothing. We will fail because the Lord is a God who hides Himself and is revealed only to those that seek HIM. Sure, there may be hints at things to come that the keen mind can pick up on, but the mind that seeks to know things that only the omniscient God knows is building another tower of Babel - attempting to reach the heights of God’s knowledge and understanding in one’s own effort and ambition. That leads to nothing but confusion in the end. Knowledge of the things of God can never be divorced from relating to God - knowing Him personally - without entering into a form of spiritual adultery. The thrill of knowing things (possibly ahead of time) without being joined to the one who alone can reveal those things. These may be strong words, but they are cautionary in nature. For to enter unworthily into things that even the angels desire(d) to look into is to bring Christ down. It is a pathway to spiritual pride which leads to destruction.
We need not say any more about this except that prophecy is a wonderful thing to search out. It is the very thing God moved men of old to speak of - often without them understanding what they themselves were saying - and longs for us to hear with spiritual ears. Only let us approach it on His terms, in His way, for His glory. Then will we be pleasing in our approach. And it was said of very few men in the scriptures that they were beloved of God. But two very notable figures were called “beloved” or “loved” - Daniel and John. Both of whom received Revelation by the will of God for the edification of men to come after them. So if we approach Him as recognizing the proper place of prophecy, we have made a good start towards understanding the will of God and knowing more of His plan and purpose in both the nations and the lives of individuals.
With that said, it may be useful to say something briefly on….
Revelation and Time
This is a topic that can be taken to great depths and lengths - even becoming a book on its own. It can be dealt with spiritually and also very mathematically. It inspires the imagination and befuddles the greatest minds. It shows the immensity and grandeur of God and serves to make the dimension we dwell in seem so weak and insignificant. The apostle Paul did say we were made subject to vanity (or futility) by reason of God’s hope, so it seems as though the futility of corruption, decay and all that goes with fallen man living within the confines of time and space is just another testimony to God’s purposes. In other words, the futility we experience is linked to the corruption inherited at the fall. And the corruption we inherited at the fall is best understood as being inevitable change for the worse (i.e. death) that starts its process from the day we are conceived and doesn’t end until we draw our last breath - in other words, the entire span of our lifetime.
Without getting too technical, I hope to simply express what is meant by Revelation and how it “interacts with” or affects time (the way we see things) - and, thus, a dim reflection of how we can understand the way God sees things. He doesn’t reckon time like we do. A thousand years to us is like no time at all to Him - but then so is a single moment in time. In a “moment”, He can look through all of history and see all that has happened and all that will happen as a single whole. It doesn’t have to unfold before Him in time as it must with us. That is the basic idea of revelation.
Revelation is an unveiling. It is a revealing of something previously hidden. History is one long revelation. From the moment God said “Let there be light”, things started to unfold. Things started to happen. What was spoken into being in an instant took a day (if you take the bible’s Creation account literally) to be revealed. After a day, that which God spoke into existence was realized. But from God’s perspective, it was all fully realized before it was revealed. From our perspective, though, it had to be revealed before we could see it as a whole - as the “Creation event”. Whether the Creation took 7 days or millions of years doesn’t change this fact - that God spoke the world into existence and that it took time for it to be realized, seen, viewed, understood, grasped etc… here on earth.
When we can understand that all of history is a revelation of sorts, and that God is Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow (eternity), it is no stretch to see that God has a plan for all of history and that it is all an unveiling of His purpose and plan being worked out on the earth. When we look at the book of Daniel, we will examine an image. That image is one figure. We can relate to a figure, a statue, a picture or some such thing and see it all in a short period of time. If it is small enough, we might even be able to see it all at once. That’s how God saw this image even though it is obvious, from the prophecy and vision that Daniel was given, that man needed several hundred (indeed more than 1000) years of history to see all that the image represented.
God is Lord of all history and all time. There is no time where the unfolding of history (whether prophesied or not) is simply a random event that has no importance in the grander scheme of things. All history is a further revelation, in time, of heavenly things that pertain directly (however minutely) to the outworking of God’s plans in our realm and our lives. Revelation, then, is easily seen to be God’s expression to man of heavenly things seen from a heavenly perspective, but expressed in a way man can relate to. Just as Jesus had to use parables to relate the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel while He was on earth, so does God use images, metaphors and things we can understand in visions and prophecies. This way, the message is conveyed to those who have ears to hear and hidden from those who cannot compare spiritual things with spiritual (I Corinthians 2:13).
If we look at Genesis 3:15, we see God declaring something powerful. Just as it would have been necessary to wait through a day to see a portion of the creation being manifested (yet God spoke it into existence instantaneously), Eve is told something by God that she won’t even live to see. God is talking to the serpent, but as we will soon see, Eve knew she was “the woman” :
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15
God had in view something that we could probably only understand as a picture. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this prediction was worth several thousand years of history. Because that’s how long it took us to visibly see the fulfillment of what, to God, was already accomplished. Indeed, the very crucifixion of Christ was fixed from the foundations of the earth (Revelation 13:8). But again, here we have the prophetic in play. God saw it just as clearly as we could see a statue we had crafted with our hands - before showing it to the world. Not only would we be able to see the statue all at once, but we would know every detail of it because we had crafted it.
Eve even partook in the prophetic when she said “I have gotten a man from the Lord” (Genesis 4:1). Without realizing it, she confirmed God’s promise (above) as being true. She prophesied something marvelous! But, as with many prophecies, they don’t work out as man thinks they should. We read what God has said through His prophets and have ideas, but fail to see the bigger picture - the whole thing being unveiled - and thus miss the meaning and intent of prophecy many times. Eve could be forgiven her mistaking that prophecy because she was used to hearing from God directly. But, having fallen, she was in a realm where things were much darker to her. She was seeing through a glass darkly. While what she said was absolutely true, God’s fulfillment of it was far more complete and satisfying when His Son was revealed in the flesh 2000 years ago. Even the major prophets didn’t often know what they were saying. Of them it was said :
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
I Peter 1:11,12
The importance of that passage is largely that the Spirit of Christ - the fulfillment of the Lord’s plan that was complete in Him from the beginning of the world - did not reveal even to His own prophets the fullness of what He was saying. These things were to be revealed by His Spirit, in His time and in His way.
Who {Jesus Christ} gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
I Timothy 2:6
This is all leading to the understanding that history is unveiled over time (as we all know). It is a revelation of God’s - but the details of the revelation that God has is only for those who have eyes to see. All the unfoldings of history are in the Lord’s hands. He sets up and puts down whomsoever He wills. Even the most powerful, notorious king of Babylon was brought low so that he proclaimed the Sovereignty of the Lord of the ages! Knowing that, it is foolish for us to think that history - especially the history of God’s elect - does not proclaim the revelation of God and of Jesus Christ. It is all the workings of spiritual powers and principalities in accordance with the Lord’s allowance and if we recognize His hand in all that occurs, it will be marvelous in our eyes! Indeed, the Revelation of Jesus Christ will be seen to be an (apparently) unending progression towards the consummation of all things in Him! It will be seen to be His victory as revealed in and through the annals of recorded events that are significant to His people!
God is the God of all history and His revelations bear that out.
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Luke 17:20-25
There are many principles at work in this passage. Not the least of which is the nature of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom should arrive. Jesus had already preached the Kingdom and they weren’t satisfied with His words. But why should they ask any further? At the very least, it should be said that they recognized His authority and a part of them was drawn to Him. But they would never outwardly acknowledge Him! All their focus was on the external. So their external rejection of Christ but their inward drawing to Him only served to underly the hypocrisy that ruled their lives. But if we are hasty to look down our noses at them, let us examine ourselves first. How ready are we to boldly proclaim Christ in public? How often could we answer with boldness and confidence and assurance the questions and accusations of those that do not believe? Are we always ready to give an reason for the hope that is within us? A lively hope is what it is supposed to be, but if not, what hope can we offer others? If our faith is merely internal and not worked out to become a visible faith, will it not be justly said that we have been ashamed of Christ? We are more like the Pharisees, very often, I think, than we care to admit or see.
The Pharisees were only concerned with outward appearances. They wanted a physical kingdom, they wanted external rule without the heart being changed. They wanted the only measure of faith to be what is seen. Their external lives only served to show that their inward selves were rotting carcasses. So when Jesus told them that the Kingdom was not outward but inward, I wonder if they were incensed at this. Just more fuel for the fire that was kindled within the minds and hearts of the religious of the day.But it is also worthy of noting that, once again, Jesus spoke more clearly and directly to the disciples. The quest for knowledge that drove the Pharisees was one which Jesus would not cater to. He would always answer them, but never one that would satisfy them in the way they asked the question. The one time that they even came close to getting such a straight answer, Jesus told them why He
wouldn’t answer them (on the question of John’s baptism). From then on, I think they knew they were in for an uphill battle. But notice the difference in the depth of answers. Jesus tells the Pharisees basically that the Kingdom isn’t visible. Not much else. Those in the Kingdom, He says, will not point to it physically, but recognize it within. But to the disciples, He gives the same line “Lo here! Lo there!” - warning that this is exactly what men will say to them! The very men who would say that, He has already told not to - and the men who know what the Kingdom is (to some degree) He is telling that men like the Pharisees will tell them where the Kingdom is! Prophetic, in some sense, this picture goes even further to illustrate the fact that Jesus knew the hearts of men inside and out. Men who don’t know the Lord as disciples will ultimately decline to the point of being like the Pharisees. There really isn’t, in the final analysis, any middle ground. One either walks with God and continues to walk by faith or falls back to the life of sensual reliance - walking by sight.
With that in mind, Jesus went on to exhort the disciples to walk by faith. The Kingdom was not an outward thing, but the King would have His day. But before that, those who were to be His followers were to experience many things that would tempt them to walk by sight instead of by faith. They would be surrounded by those who would scoff or fall into the temptation of following their own lusts (as Paul would say “…whose God is their belly…”) and senses while holding to a farce of a relationship with God. Not that men shouldn’t anticipate the Lord’s coming, but that coming will be nothing good if we aren’t girded with faith and walking daily in it. It is required of men that follow God (as disciples) to forsake all (including their own sensual leadings) and obey Him. To walk in places of desolation, poverty, outward emptiness and danger is a sign of walking with God. This is an honor He gives His truest saints. They know that through much tribulation must the Kingdom be entered. And when one enters the Kingdom, it is a citizenship none other can take away. It is something that others may want to have, but will be refused because they refused to follow God on HIS terms and do what HE desires and endure things HE allows. That’s why Jesus didn’t approach His church in a “seeker-sensitive” manner. He knew the difficulties that a servant of the Most High would face and Christ’s call was really just a first screening. If men couldn’t handle His teaching and preaching, they CERTAINLY couldn’t handle a life of following Him!
In a day where Christianity is plagued by sensual men following their own lusts and making great promises of physical benefit, the church needs men who are willing to endure battle scars of the spirit, total humiliation of the flesh (by God’s hand) and walking in the power of God such that men don’t connect the power with the servants, but with those that the servants serve. We need to forsake all - otherwise, as Christ said, we cannot be His disciple. It is not an arbitrary requirement, but one made because anyone who has any claim on anything of himself or his own wants is incapable of fulfilling the role Christ has and, thus, entering the Kingdom. The cross is an offense and men want to make it secondary. But when that happens, the flesh is given a second chance. Such a deadly mistake! Unless we die daily and walk the difficult road that God has, we are only feeding flesh. The cross is a positive message, but to the flesh it is hateful. There is no having the cross and the flesh, too. You must make a choice. And if the cross is chosen, there will be times of seeming total abandonment by God. But in those times, if faith is clung to and God’s Word remembered and entrenched in the heart, it becomes possible to persevere through the “abandonment”. And at the other end one finds that God was allowing the senses to be tested. Do we trust them or Him? And if the answer, as evidenced by persevering through the desolation, is Him - then we find new strength for the journey. And, in the end, a reward in heaven that far outweighs ANY blessing we can receive here on earth.
Jesus was telling the disciples that this was part of their lives - and not to give in to the temptation to believe the senses over His Word.
Do not lay up treasure for yourselves here on earth, but let your treasure be unseen and promised by the Faithful and True. Seek a crown of glory that may be cast at His feet - not a life of ease that is of no use to Him or His Name. It is a costly life, but one that has great recompense of reward to him that perseveres to the end.
This blog has turned into something a bit longer than it seemed to be originally. The entire thought takes about 3 seconds to complete in my mind, but as I write, it just seems to develop and more scriptures apply in ways I never realized. So I do apologize for the length.
On to Ezekiel 9.
I hope no one is going to be too disappointed when I don’t have a grand unveiling or big thought that no one ever thought of before. It’s really just all in scripture. And it’s not a single thought. It’s a whole host of ideas and principles and prophecies that intersect to make the modern conception of the mark of the beast (as I see it) to be far too superficial. Ezekiel 9 is really just the icing on the cake - showing the application of a mark in the forehead to be an allegorical thing rather than a very physical thing. It is entirely possible that there may be a physical outworking of such a mark, but the mark itself is, I believe, far greater than any tattoo, card or microchip.
I see chapter 9 as being where the rubber hits the road. This is where the action happens and all that leads up to it (revealing of idolatry, visions of abomination and prophecy of judgment) is culminated in something immense. Surely that description fits the scene in Revelation 13. We have the idolatry (beast and false prophet forcing worship of beast and/or image), we have the actual abominations being carried out (all the world worshipping the beast - v12) and we have the mark being placed in the foreheads (vv15-18). The actual carrying out of judgment doesn’t take place until the next chapter or two. But it is all in place for the judgment to be carried out. And so it is in Ezekiel 9. I’m going to treat this chapter a little differently and just step through it making comments along the way - instead of selecting key verses.
He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
Ezekiel 9:1-3
Wow! A vision of six men doing a work. Obviously a heavenly vision of things taking place in an unseen manner, but with (as we will see) very visible after effects. The Lord is preparing for judgment. Terrifying, really. When the presence of the Lord draws back, it is something of which no good can be immediately seen. Though judgment may be unto correction, that correction in which the Lord withdraws is awful and not in any way to be sought. The urgency is such that even the LORD is yelling (v 1)! Those that have charge over the city - the guardian angels, so to speak, of the city are being called to do a work that will lead to great destruction. If Israel had seen the things going on in the heavenlies and the preparation for slaughter, would they have gone to other gods? Would they, knowing the terror of disobeying God have done the things they had done? Let us consider our own relationship to God and where He dwells. Is He dwelling in our hearts? Is He withdrawing? Are the conditions being prepared for awful judgment or can we yet turn back and maintain the covering He has over us? Or, can we with confidence say that “The Lord is my refuge.”. As a nation, that seems hard to assert. But if individuals turn that way, then it can be so again. If we were to see what rebellion does, would we be so quick to allow it? To embrace it? To forget God? This preparation is so much like the calm before the storm. There is no turning back now and only disaster lies ahead. Oh, such an awful portending! All six men that have charge over the city are now prepared with weapons of slaughter - to use UPON the city. And one of them was clothed in linen - with an inkhorn in his hand. His job was to be very important. A matter of life and death for many - very literally. Linen, apparently, connoted a priestly office. And Daniel (10:5; 12:6,7) identifies it with Michael the Archangel specifically. Yet this one in linen who had a pen also had a weapon of slaughter. It is somewhat reminiscent of the scene in Egypt when all those that had the blood of the Lamb on their doorposts were passed over by the Angel of the Lord. There is something here in separation. There is something here in an invisible realm that HAS TO go beyond a physical card or mark. And so, let us go on to the verse that probably is the key - if there is one - in showing the spiritual nature of the mark.
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Ezekiel 9:4-6
How utterly awful. Swift, terrible justice. Brutal and unyielding. The holiness of God erupting in vengeance for prolonged and stiffnecked idolatry. And what is the dividing? There is a MARK put in the FOREHEADS of those that are to be spared. Yes, inverted from the Revelation “mark”, but the principle is transparently the same. We would expect that. The mark is one of identification - thus the identification with God is one of ultimate preservation whereas the identification with the beast in Revelation is one of ultimate judgment by God. But should we be surprised at this? Not at all. The mark and the seal are closely connected. A letter, in days gone by, was sealed with a mark. It was sealed in wax (or some such sealant) and stamped with a mark that was unique to the owner. Kings used it in sending messages to show who was sending the message such that the messenger bore the same authority of the King. This is nearly the identical meaning of the word “apostle”. An ambassador with the full authority of the King. So the seal and the mark, together, show ownership and identity. Though it may not be necessary, I include here a couple examples of the ownership of God being shown in the form of seals :
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
I Corinthians 9:1
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 1:21,22
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption
Ephesians 4:30
All this is just to belabor the point of sealing, marking and identification. It is a matter of allegiance and servitude and lining up with. In short, it is a matter of worship. And it is clear what sets these marked in Ezekiel apart from the rest. They sigh and cry for the abominations done in Jerusalem. These are they that are so aligned with God that all that is done of idolatry grieves them as it grieves God. They have not gone after strange gods and have not gone into idolatry. They are not perfect, but the heart of their worship is pure and single - it is God Himself. So when examining the mark of the beast, to put it to a very superficial thing is missing the point. For without the worship, what does a piece of paper, a card or a microchip mean? The closest physical analog I can see is found in ancient Rome (surprise!). The Caesar demanded worship. He had set himself up as a god. Granted, he wasn’t in the church, so he could not be considered antichrist in a technical sense, but he certainly did demand worship. And anyone who wanted the ability to literally buy or sell had to simply say that he was their lord. No more no less and a paper was given them that allowed them to buy and sell. Needless to say, many Christians refused to do so and they were not only not allowed to buy or sell, but often killed in horrendous ways. The name of the paper escapes me, but I can certainly find the reference if needs be. All that is to say that there is a physical analog, but in that case one can see the spiritual connection. So to assert that, for example, VISA or some National ID card is worshipping the beast (ignoring the identity of the beast with a specific ruling agency) is to omit the spiritual aspect - or at least risk doing that. If, by taking some such card or identity etc… I am worshipping anything but God then, yes, absolutely. It is NOT to be taken. But too many identities of the mark are taken too lightly or too superficially and without any sort of thought and understanding. Again, there may be things that would identify one with a work reminiscent of Babel. This, too, is to be avoided. My personal feeling is that the United Nations is a Babylonish entity and any notable allegiance with it carries serious consequences. Certainly giving national sovereignty away in favor of UN action is wrong. So I don’t say that end-times people are off and should simply preach spiritual principles. But we must also be careful that what is being preached and taught about prophecy is spiritual - no matter how much the means may SEEM to serve scriptural ends.
One other remark about that passage. Notice in verse 6 the phrase “…begin at my sanctuary…”. How clearly this is echoed by Peter in his letter :
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
I Peter 4:17
If the parallel with the scene in Ezekiel 6-9 is not apparent, it is because one still cannot see the spiritual principle undergirding the mark, idolatry and subsequent judgment.
And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Ezekiel 9:7-11
As the short chapter closes, not even the pleas of the prophet can stay the Hand of God any. The command has gone forth, the Lord has removed Himself, the decree issued, the preparations made and the slaughter completed without any reserve. It is not something that pleases the Lord to do, but it is a necessary thing. It is something that is required of an obstinantly perverse and wicked (because idolatrous) people to answer for their spiritual harlotry. Again notice that verse 8 is speaking of blood in the land and perverseness. But the heart of it is not that, the heart of it is very spiritual. It is idolatry set up in the very place where God should be. So we should expect that any such like prophecy of someone setting themselves up in the temple of God showing themselves to be God would not be simply a politician or philanthropist demanding tribute, but such a deep, penetrating deception that what and who is worshipped is replacing God even to being evidenced in the very inner circles of faithful men. It is not, in its time, a blatant contradiction of the truths of God, but a seemingly good movement or belief that gradually shows the true fruit of its existence. Over time, gradually, by flatteries, signs and wonders is the temple corrupted as wolves in sheep’s clothing enter and beguile the simple. And the strong man is bound while those with smooth tongues pervert the gospel ever so slightly. And years later, when the iniquity of such perversion has come to the full, the blood of martyrs is evidenced as proof of the treachery of what once seemed so innocent. The beast has deceived many along with the false prophet and because of the powers of deception continues to blind the eyes, hearts and minds of far too many. Her name is Mystery Babylon and she is false religion riding in the guise, alternately and often at the same time, of national and spiritual authority. When false religion in any form creeps into the church it immediately begins its work. And not until it is too late is it recognized by many. Those that would point out its cancerous influence are quickly and harshly (like the prophets of old) ignored and persecuted. When it comes to the full, God must deal with her swiftly and harshly. So in one day is she dealt a crushing blow that wipes her out and staggers the dwellers on the earth. Those that partake of her harlotries are devastated and will find judgment for their idolatry. But those that come out of her, I believe, are those of whom it is said :
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:2-4
Is this not manifestly the identical character of those that sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of the temple of God?
Having put this up, I anticipate the possible need for a 4th part - focusing entirely on that last passage. But that’ll have to wait a bit.
I suppose the setting up, which I’ve already done, is the hardest part. Really, the rest sort of flows from that setup. Realizing that the Lord’s judments come upon Israel mainly for their backsliding at heart, and that the result of that is all the external things (unfair practices, partial judgments etc…). So when we read of God’s “complaints” through His prophets of what is wrong with Israel, and there are things that seem very external, this series of chapters, I think, gives a hint to the literalist that one needs to be careful just how restrictive and literal they are. God’s complaint is clearly with Israel’s idolatry (Chapter 6) and the indictment in chapter 7 speaks of a universal (all Israel) application. The buyer, the seller - all sorts of transactions (monetary, spiritual, emotional etc…) are covered. All men are gone to other gods and so all their dealings in life are affected (read 7:12,13 again). So what has chapter 8 to add?Ezekiel now has a vision of what is going on. What is at the root and what idolatries does God see and what does He say is the source of all Israel’s backslidings? Not only that, but can we see that God uses some very natural, “every day” terms to speak of Israel’s spiritual harlotry? I am going to all this trouble to show that
a) God’s anger is primarily directed at man’s spiritual wandering because all other things in his life flow from that (not “are separate dealings”) and
b) With something of the magnitude of the Mark of the Beast, set as it is in the context of eschatology and THE beast and THE False Prophet (note the further “religious” setting - a prophet is first of all the mouthpiece of God, not an economist) we must be aware of God’s dealings and their basis. So when we find some rather worldly terms (”buy and sell” for example) set in the backdrop of a beast and false prophet, we need to know how literal to be.
So what is God angry at? This requires very little of my commentary to convey what I am trying to convey. Read the following verses in chapter 8 and see if it isn’t clear.
First, and maybe most important, is verse 3:
And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
Ezekiel 8:3
Recall what is said in Revelation regarding the beast :
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:15
The beast had an IMAGE. Without the hype of end-times speculation, an image could easily be seen for what it is - an image of idolatry (as confirmed in Ezekiel 
. I speak of hype because I’ve heard men speculate that the image is only possible now because of television. But recall what happened in Daniel - Nebuchadnezzar made an image :
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:1-6
Note a few things. ALL men (rich, poor, great, small - see v 2 of this passage) were required to worship this image.
Nebuchadnezzar had ALREADY had his dream about the image - of which he was the head of gold (Dan 2).
Daniel, in a later vision (Dan 7) has a vision about beasts - which are analogous to the image that Nebuchadnezzar saw.
So we actually have a beast (Dan. 7) and the image (Dan 2).
THIS IS SPECULATION, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE AN IMAGE OF THE IMAGE HE SAW IN HIS DREAM. AFTER ALL, HE WAS THE HEAD OF GOLD AND HADN’T HAD HIS HUMBLING EXPERIENCE OF MADNESS YET (Dan 4).
Taken together, we have the beast, the image and the forcing of all to bow down to the image (of the beast?) on pain of death (Dan 3:6).
I’m not about to speculate on specifics, but read again Rev 15:15-18. Consider the comparisons and see what Nebuchadnezzar was doing and see if there isn’t comparison there. See, then, what was going on in Ezekiel 8.
And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Ezekiel 8:3,4
So the seat of the image of jealousy is where God was supposed to dwell. This was why God executed judgment. That which was supposed to be HIS place was taken by other gods. Remember Paul’s declaration in his letter to the Thessalonians ?
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.
II Thess 2:4
That which is of interest is that which takes the place of God. That which is an impostor (otherwise, what does it mean that men were deceived into worshipping the beast - Rev 13:13,14). This is not some military. Men are not replacing God, subtly with a nation, but with something far more deceitful.
And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
Ezekiel 8:9,10
The temple of God is littered with the creation, not the Creator!
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
This state is deplorable and anyone who recognizes it in themselves or in others or in nations is well advised to sound the alarm - seek repentance without reserve. For the results are drastic. Rome knows this. Israel of old knows this as we are seeing. But nothing regarding foolish military decisions or egotistical dictators or money-grubbing corporations or national IDs. Everything is spiritual in nature. That’s because (at the risk of being overly repetitive), that is what God looks at. If men do with God as they ought, then all things work well for them. But if not, life eventually becomes one big calamity (internally and externally). Read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 for confirmation of this. Or, according to Paul, all things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose. HIS PURPOSE. How much more spiritual can you get!
And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
Ezekiel 8:11,12
Apparently, 70 was the number of men in the Sanhedrin or chief council of the nation (see Matthew Henry on this verse). This part is about as close as I am going to get to involving the government in the Mark. While I concede there may be more to it, I see the influence of a governing body and its commitment to God as vital to the strength and health of a nation. There are, no doubt, many more who would agree with me. The United States, for example was founded by men who were more or less Godly in their outlook. Yes, there were some great differences in theology and practice, but the foundations were built (as all founding fathers attested) upon the bible and the great principles therein. Even Benjamin Franklin - a practicing (?) agnostic - called for prayer at one of the Constitutional Conventions. The basis of their work was, indeed, grounded in recognizing the pre-eminence of the God of Israel. Say what you will about Deism etc…, but God was still the image of jealousy even in government. Not so today where atheism is virtually legislated and faith is secularized to the point of impotence. The men in government - in authority - in a nation are put there by God and God demands something from them. If they follow Him, the whole nation reaps the benefits - regardless of the leaders faults, failures and humanity. If, however, government largely ignores God, and, as the 70 “ancients” did, believe God more or less abandoned the earth, they have forgotten Him.
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:23,24
Note the mention of jealousy here and compare with the seat of the image of jealousy.
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
Job 8:11-18
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Psalm 9:17
I do not say that the physical government has nothing to do with a people’s prosperity - physical AND spiritual. But the blame must also fall upon the individual. If a people are deceived, they cannot simply blame their authorities. They have loved their sin (according to Paul) so God gave them over to it. And along with sin and rebellion goes confusion. Confusion that makes good and evil seem as one. This, to me, sounds like today’s Western society. What’s right for you may not be right for me. Relativism. Confusion. Every man doing what is right in his own eyes. God is certainly not on the throne. Can it be worse? Apparently.
He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Ezekiel 8:13,14
Foreign gods. Tammuz was a Babylonian god. A god taken from a foreign bestiary! Can it get worse?
Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Ezekiel 8:15,16
Foreign gods not only mentioned in external faith, but penetrating a more holy part of the temple. In the inner court between the porch and the altar was where the priests made intercession for the people.
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Joel 2:17
Notice the reference to “Where is God?” again? These abominations are piling up. They are filling the entire house of God. There isn’t a place in the temple where there isn’t an abomination. First, through a hole in the wall, Ezekiel sees a door. He enters and sees the beasts and idols. And before them the “ancients” claiming God forgot them and offering incense (prayers to idols v12). Then the door of the gate into the inner place (?) revealed foreign gods being sought with tears. Finally, the inner court had men worshipping the sun! I’m not sure, but the image of jealousy that was in the north gate of the altar may actually be further inside the temple - but that I can’t clarify. What’s important is that the temple is rife with abominations of idolatry. These are the sources of all Israel’s troubles.
Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
Ezekiel 8:17
A superficial reading would have led one to speculate that just because men start wars or are violent, God is angry. But a full reading reveals that the source of external conditions is spiritual condition. That doesn’t diminish the external, it just means that God sees the hearts and knows the REAL reason for failure (and success). That also doesn’t mean that followers of God are going to be prosperous in externals. It simply means that a nation that follows God will have great peace and reap great rewards that the idolaters can never find.
So, too, can the references to the mark of the beast in Revelation 13, I believe, be thought of in a far more spiritual than physical light. And there may be many that agree more or less with what I’ve said thus far. But chapter 9 has a further parallel that, in my mind, really sets the real mark of the beast apart from what it is commonly thought to be. It’s really an interesting chapter, so I’ll finish this up in the third section.
Now that I’ve got your attention, let me add a disclaimer. You
may be very disappointed in the end. Because the purpose of my thread is not to narrow down the list, but to build a foundation upon which the Mark can be determined. I had debated putting this in the articles section, but I want, as much as possible, to avoid any appearance of teaching in the biblical sense of the word. You may well learn something here, but I believe this is such a volatile subject that anything I write may well be misconstrued, taken as gospel or totally trashed. The only words that you can take as 100% true and reliable are those of scripture. I can’t go as far as saying this is a revelation from God - though it is possible it may be, I leave it to the reader to discern for himself. I will not say “Thus sayeth the Lord”. I will, however, say that this is the only scriptural framing of this topic that I have ever read (or remember reading). Most others inject a lot of their own opinions based upon one scripture (that in Revelation) but fail to search all the scriptures to see if there is anything that might help interpret the Revelation. One firm belief I have is that the Revelation of John contains many things that are very difficult to understand because they are hidden in allegory, metaphor and parable. They are heavenly representations of spiritual and earthly things that don’t necessarily line up with our expectations and interpretation. So I believe interpretation of symbols is to be found in other scripture. And the only interpretation I can find that deals with this topic in any relevant way is hardly ever mentioned. Not that it hasn’t been, just that I have never seen this treatment of it. If anyone knows of a similar treatment, I would love to read it.With that, let me show you what I see.First, the passage that is most directly and logically applicable is the one in Revelation that says this :
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 13:16-18
My first observation is that this passage - like most of Revelation - is couched in some strong imagery and deals with things that conjure up great thoughts. It is apparent this is a matter of great import and a result of some serious heavenly warfare. That very fact should introduce some sobriety into our consideration of the passage and cause us to fear lest we entertain too seriously things that are merely a product of ignorant fear and not studied and reverent understanding. First, the beast (from whom the mark comes) should be scripturally interpreted. I think it is safe to say that Daniel’s visions clearly render a beast as an empire or reigning power on earth. Don’t worry about who the beast is, at this point, but just be satisfied that the beast is a ruling power of some sort. Connected with that is the declaration that no man could buy or sell without the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. This implies a great control of some sort over the daily lives of those under this beast. This mark is a matter of daily importance. So we must be able to know what this is! And the wisdom imparted to that end is that the number of the beast is 666. Many different candidates fit that wide-open criterion. So the context is vital in at least narrowing down exactly who it is.
But first, what can we say about the seriousness of taking this mark? Many expositors simply look at the passage and show to what degree this mark is used to control men - even to the point of killing them that don’t worship the beast. But this, in my estimation, is where many make a significant error. Look at what is said about this only 3 chapters later :
nd the first went, and poured out his