The identity of the antichrist in 5 verses

[dianegcook]

Hi Diane. I'm curious as to how you interpret the "buy and sell" aspect of the Mark. I've heard before an interpretation that we hold money in our hand and think about money with our mind, but that interpretation seems to ring rather hollow in light of recent developments in world banking. Cashless banking is becoming more and more common and there is a definite trend toward microchips being placed in the hand as the next big thing.

For a world which believes it cannot live without money, the control of buying and selling amounts to de facto control over the world. But in the end it's not really money or microchips which the AC cares about. These things are just tools to turn people away from God.

It is our fear that he will exploit; fear of living without money; fear of what we will eat, drink or wear if we don't have the means to buy/sell. The real insult (to God) with the Mark is that people have been conned into believing that it is money which sustains their life rather than God. It's the same thing Jesus preached about in his sermon on the mount when he said we should not allow worry about material things stop us from working for love (i.e. seeking first the kingdom of Heaven) (Mattew 6:24-34).

Hi John
I see the mark on ones forehead, their mind, beliefs.
Right hand, means power, their works

The Parable of the 10 virgins Matt 25:1-12
5 foolish
5 wise
5 wise had oil, which represents, the anointed, spiritual truth
5 foolish had no oil, spiritual truth.
Verse 9,10
Go ye rather to them that sell and buy...
While they went to buy, the bridegroom came and shut the door, then the foolish said, Lord open to us.
He answered, I know you not.

They went to the wrong Christ for their anointing.
They had worshipped him, thinking he was Christ.
Deceived.

Rev.13:17
And no man might buy or sell, save he have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

God will take care of His own.
Barter system, or manna, or however.


Just don't go for the wrong one, you will be a harlot, no longer a virgin bride, wait, for the True one, less you be found naked and ashamed

Rev.17:5
Upon her forehead, was a name written, Mystery Babylon (confusion) the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.
That will be in your forehead, mind, your beliefs.

As in verse 4 the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, (royalty, priestly) and deck with gold and precious stones, and pearls. (Riches)
Cup full of abominations, and fornication.
No longer a virgin, fornicators.

My belief

 

[childeye]

The irony is that the "secret rapture" teaching IS meant to facilitate preparedness, in the sense that Jesus could return at any moment and so we need to be prepared at any moment. Tomorrow could be too late. An hour from now could be too late.

However, the same kind of preparedness it takes to meet Jesus at any moment is the same preparedness it takes to get through the tribulation or to deal with any of life's problems. The opening line of the Revelation describes it as a Revelation of Jesus to his servants. I don't think we need to be looking for suffering, but I do wonder if a desire to avoid suffering is really consistent with what it means to be a servant.

If someone asked me if I was prepared to meet Jesus, I would say yes, if I perceived their sentiments were a threat to kill me. However,I am not actually sure I am ever prepared for Christ face to face. I do think I know him, but in all humility, it is he who must say he knows me. Therefore, I don't know what it takes to qualify as worthy to escape suffering. As pertains to suffering, or avoiding suffering, I can appreciate your sentiments. "Suffering"; I am not wanting to suffer by honest admission. Nor do I desire to see others suffer, since empathy causes their suffering to also become my suffering. And yet I would rather suffer if that is God's will and serves Him. And I'd rather suffer than not have empathy. The greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart soul and mind. Consequently, every lie ever invented would ultimately serve to undermine such a Love towards God. Love isn't easy. Faith is necessary to perservere. Only in God is their hope.

 

[childeye]

Hi John
I see the mark on ones forehead, their mind, beliefs.
Right hand, means power, their works

The Parable of the 10 virgins Matt 25:1-12
5 foolish
5 wise
5 wise had oil, which represents, the anointed, spiritual truth
5 foolish had no oil, spiritual truth.
Verse 9,10
Go ye rather to them that sell and buy...
While they went to buy, the bridegroom came and shut the door, then the foolish said, Lord open to us.
He answered, I know you not.

They went to the wrong Christ for their anointing.
They had worshipped him, thinking he was Christ.
Deceived.

Rev.13:17
And no man might buy or sell, save he have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

God will take care of His own.
Barter system, or manna, or however.


Just don't go for the wrong one, you will be a harlot, no longer a virgin bride, wait, for the True one, less you be found naked and ashamed

Rev.17:5
Upon her forehead, was a name written, Mystery Babylon (confusion) the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.
That will be in your forehead, mind, your beliefs.

As in verse 4 the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, (royalty, priestly) and deck with gold and precious stones, and pearls. (Riches)
Cup full of abominations, and fornication.
No longer a virgin, fornicators.

My belief

Since the fall of man, there probably have always been men who contrive ways to get other men to do their work for them. Money is a good means for doing exactly that without being noticed. I've always viewed the mark of the beast as a computer chip to buy or sell. The beast being a false image of god, at the top of a one world economy, Babylon being where all things are bought and sold including the souls of men. Will men sell out their brethren/God/empathy by fearing for their own survival? It can be said that this has happened since man first met Satan. It makes sense that the mark would culminate in a single sign of commonality with Satan.

 

[Jim Parker]

First we see the verse that unravels the bible -

Revelation 13:18 "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."

Who had wisdom and understanding?

1 Kings 3:12 "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."

2 Chronicles 1:11-12 "
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

Who had the number 666?

1 Kings 10:14 "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,"

God gives it to us again just in case we missed it and was asleep.

1 Chronicles 9:13 "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;"



Thus the beast was a MAN (KJV), and that man was king Solomon.

1 Kings 3:12 "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

According to that King Solomon will return. As the great king, the antichrist, the man of sin.

The use of numbers in Jewish literature was common. For example, at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, there is a genealogy that divides history from Abraham to Christ into three sections of fourteen generations each. It isn't meant to be an accurate genealogy. The triple use of the number 14 has a specific purpose. 14 is the number of David's name. The ise of the three 14's is to convey the point that Jesus is the son of David, the promised Messiah.
666 is the number of emperor Nero's name. He was the Roman emperor at the time of the writing of the Apocalypse.

 

[dianegcook]

Since the fall of man, there probably have always been men who contrive ways to get other men to do their work for them. Money is a good means for doing exactly that without being noticed. I've always viewed the mark of the beast as a computer chip to buy or sell. The beast being a false image of god, at the top of a one world economy, Babylon being where all things are bought and sold including the souls of men. Will men sell out their brethren/God/empathy by fearing for their own survival? It can be said that this has happened since man first met Satan. It makes sense that the mark would culminate in a single sign of commonality with Satan.

Good evening childeye
Could be, but it would have to be voluntary.
If I have to go to the hospital, being put under, and they implant that chip, it wouldn't be fair.
That is why I believe it has to be ones belief system.
You have to accept it.
You are correct, I believe it is a _One World, political, economic, religious and educational system, 4 hidden dynasties.

Sell out their brethren?
Could be

Matt.24:9,10
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, (spiritually) and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake.
And many shall be offended , and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Mark 13:12,13
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, (Satan) and the father the son, and children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake, but he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

You had good thoughts, enjoyed it

 

[reba]

This is all the Scriptures have to say about antichrist. Reading these verses in context would be best...

1Jn_2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn_2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn_4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichris

 

[dianegcook]

This is all the Scriptures have to say about antichrist. Reading these verses in context would be best...

1Jn_2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn_2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn_4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichris

Amen
The spirit of Antichrist.
1John 4:4
Ye are of God , little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Eph.2:2
Wherein time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

 

[john darling]

Hi John
I see the mark on ones forehead, their mind, beliefs.
Right hand, means power, their works

Hi Diane. I'm curious if you would be willing to take a microchip in the hand for the purpose of buying and selling. It is my experience that a lot of people will convince themselves that a microchip in the hand isn't spiritual or religious enough to be the Mark and so they will accept it as just another step in the evolution of money, from Gold coins, to coins of lesser value, paper money, cheques, credit cards, smart cards, online banking, phone banking etc...

Since refusing the microchip will be the sake as refusing to buy/sell it will take a fairly strong conviction to resist it.

Could be, but it would have to be voluntary.
If I have to go to the hospital, being put under, and they implant that chip, it wouldn't be fair.
That is why I believe it has to be ones belief system.
You have to accept it.

Taking a microchip implant in the hand will be voluntary. There will be no need to force anyone to take it, because their own fears of living without money will cause them to take it. Everyone will have a choice not to take it, but the consequence will be that they can no longer buy and sell.

And the process to receive a microchip in the hand is much simpler than you've suggested. There is no need to be "put under" or even to go to a hospital. It's injected into the hand using a syringe and possibly a local anesthetic, although the chips are becoming so small these days that even a bit of pain relief may not be necessary anymore. The process can be completed within minutes.

Banks could easily set up sections within their buildings for this purpose, hiring trained nurses to administer the chip right there on the premises. There is A LOT of profit to be had by the banks in the form of increased transaction fees from these microchip implants, so you can believe they want this new system badly.

I was recently in South Africa where one of the banks promoted a new cashless money system based on a character named Steve. Steve was a guy who only used cash to buy. He was clumsy , nerdy, unattractive and just generally a bumbling oaf. The catch phrase was, "don't be a Steve".

All over the world there are movements toward this new cashless system where transactions are processed via microchips whether it's through computers, cards, phones or chips in the hand. I'm currently in the UK and they are just coming out of their winter I friend told me that only a couple of months ago during the colder times, one grocery store was offering gloves with a microchip inside of it (linked to their account) so that people could still pay for their food without getting their hands cold. They just wave the glove in front of a scanner.

At the beginning of this year an entire office block in Sweden agreed to be chipped as an experiment. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31042477.

This is happening. Microchip implants will become the new currency. Cash money will become outdated and obsolete, just as we cannot take money from a hundred years ago into the shops because of newer currency replacing it.

God will take care of His own.
Barter system, or manna, or however.

Agreed. This is what Jesus taught about all throughout the gospels. In matthew 10 he sends them out to preach, but tells them not to take money, food, extra clothing etc for their journey, because the "laborer is worthy of his hire". In other words, he wanted them to see first hand that God will take care of them if they go out seeking his kingdom first.

Then in Luke 22 he addresses this same issue: LK 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

While this teaching is the answer to the Mar, it is not exclusive to the Mark. It is a lifestyle that God wants us to live everyday as part of the values of his kingdom.

 

[john darling]

Since the fall of man, there probably have always been men who contrive ways to get other men to do their work for them. Money is a good means for doing exactly that without being noticed.

Interesting point.

The beast being a false image of god,

Another interesting point. The Beast acts as a counterfeit and so too is his Mark a counterfeit. It offers provision of material needs via buying and selling, but the kingdom of Heaven works on principles of sharing.

It makes sense that the mark would culminate in a single sign of commonality with Satan.

yup.

Therefore, I don't know what it takes to qualify as worthy to escape suffering.

I think it depends on what we mean by suffering. What some people see as suffering others may see as discipline or duty. The 144k mentioned in the Revelation are spared from the stinging insects, but they still go through the great tribulation.

People who are leaning now to live by faith, depend on God for provision rather than money etc will still go through the tribulation, but their efforts to prepare ahead of time will spare them from the suffering that will come to those who did not prepare.

It's a bit like Jesus talked about being killed for his sake, but not a hair of our heads wil be harmed. "Escape" doesn't need to be absolute to still be a comfort.

And yet I would rather suffer if that is God's will and serves Him. And I'd rather suffer than not have empathy.

I think this is probably the most significant part of your post. We can endure a lot if we believe it's being done for God's sake. Something that seemed like suffering can take on a whole new perspective if we believe it's God's will.

I've enjoyed your posts, childeye. Keep'em coming.

 

[dianegcook]

Hi Diane. I'm curious if you would be willing to take a microchip in the hand for the purpose of buying and selling. It is my experience that a lot of people will convince themselves that a microchip in the hand isn't spiritual or religious enough to be the Mark and so they will accept it as just another step in the evolution of money, from Gold coins, to coins of lesser value, paper money, cheques, credit cards, smart cards, online banking, phone banking etc...

Since refusing the microchip will be the sake as refusing to buy/sell it will take a fairly strong conviction to resist it.



Taking a microchip implant in the hand will be voluntary. There will be no need to force anyone to take it, because their own fears of living without money will cause them to take it. Everyone will have a choice not to take it, but the consequence will be that they can no longer buy and sell.

And the process to receive a microchip in the hand is much simpler than you've suggested. There is no need to be "put under" or even to go to a hospital. It's injected into the hand using a syringe and possibly a local anesthetic, although the chips are becoming so small these days that even a bit of pain relief may not be necessary anymore. The process can be completed within minutes.

Banks could easily set up sections within their buildings for this purpose, hiring trained nurses to administer the chip right there on the premises. There is A LOT of profit to be had by the banks in the form of increased transaction fees from these microchip implants, so you can believe they want this new system badly.

I was recently in South Africa where one of the banks promoted a new cashless money system based on a character named Steve. Steve was a guy who only used cash to buy. He was clumsy , nerdy, unattractive and just generally a bumbling oaf. The catch phrase was, "don't be a Steve".

All over the world there are movements toward this new cashless system where transactions are processed via microchips whether it's through computers, cards, phones or chips in the hand. I'm currently in the UK and they are just coming out of their winter I friend told me that only a couple of months ago during the colder times, one grocery store was offering gloves with a microchip inside of it (linked to their account) so that people could still pay for their food without getting their hands cold. They just wave the glove in front of a scanner.

At the beginning of this year an entire office block in Sweden agreed to be chipped as an experiment. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31042477.

This is happening. Microchip implants will become the new currency. Cash money will become outdated and obsolete, just as we cannot take money from a hundred years ago into the shops because of newer currency replacing it.




Agreed. This is what Jesus taught about all throughout the gospels. In matthew 10 he sends them out to preach, but tells them not to take money, food, extra clothing etc for their journey, because the "laborer is worthy of his hire". In other words, he wanted them to see first hand that God will take care of them if they go out seeking his kingdom first.

Then in Luke 22 he addresses this same issue: LK 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

While this teaching is the answer to the Mar, it is not exclusive to the Mark. It is a lifestyle that God wants us to live everyday as part of the values of his kingdom.

Hi John
I am working on it, lol.
I owe nothing on my house, owe nothing on my cars, no credit cards, just cash.

We do have a lot of squirrels around here, lol.
I have rice and dry beans saved up, they keep better, Romane noodles.

I believe the trib. will only last 5 months, as in Rev.9:5
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but they shall be tormented 5 months, and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
But as in verse 4, only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Things in Rev. are mostly symbolic.
Scorpion bite, it paralyze their victims, no back bone, turn to mush, suck them in, turn backbone to mush.
They have no stomach.

Matt.24:22,24
And except those days should be shorten, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shorten.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Don't get sucked in by them!

 

[john darling]

I am working on it, lol.
I owe nothing on my house, owe nothing on my cars, no credit cards, just cash.

Hi Diane. Nice. I'm happy to hear that. I'm assuming (based on your answer) that you would not take a microchip implant, even if it means you cannot buy/sell without it.

I have rice and dry beans saved up, they keep better, Romane noodles.

That's interesting.

I believe the trib. will only last 5 months, as in Rev.9:5
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but they shall be tormented 5 months, and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
But as in verse 4, only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

I'm fairly sure this 5 months thing is specific to the stinging insects. There are several references to a period of 3.5 years which is also described as 42 months and 1260 days in reference to the trib.

Things in Rev. are mostly symbolic.
Scorpion bite, it paralyze their victims, no back bone, turn to mush, suck them in, turn backbone to mush.
They have no stomach.

While I agree there is a lot of symbolism in the Rev, It talks about these things hurting people. I don't really have an interpretation for what they are but I think they will be a literal, physical thing which happens on the world.

 

[Obadiah]

I understand the Mormons are quite big on teaching all their members to have a 3 month minimum storage of supplies stashed away.

 

[n2thelight]

So you are saying Judas Iscariot is NOT lost?

John 17:12 (AV)
12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

The subjects were only God the Father, Jesus, and the disciples. He made no oblique inclusion to some other individual who is the angel of the bottomless pit. That is quite a stretch. Wow.

And the ultimate conclusion of your interpretation of the verses you quoted would be that only the angel of the bottomless pit was lost and that universalism is true... and it most definitely is not. John 3:16-18.

Revelation 20 (AV)
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Where did two verses of scripture indicate Satan went to inhabit a human being?

Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:3 / John 13:26-27)!

And I did not say Solomon was the angel of the pit or the antichrist but was a type / ante-type.

Judas repented

Matthew 27:3 "Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"

 

[dianegcook]

Hi Diane. Nice. I'm happy to hear that. I'm assuming (based on your answer) that you would not take a microchip implant, even if it means you cannot buy/sell without it.



That's interesting.



I'm fairly sure this 5 months thing is specific to the stinging insects. There are several references to a period of 3.5 years which is also described as 42 months and 1260 days in reference to the trib.



While I agree there is a lot of symbolism in the Rev, It talks about these things hurting people. I don't really have an interpretation for what they are but I think they will be a literal, physical thing which happens on the world.

If it is a one world, religious, political, economical, educational system, then no, I will not take a chip, but it could be something else.

5months?
Yep, He shorten the time.
Rev.9:
Satan and his angels come here.
There came out of the smoke, locust,
Not ordinary locust, it was commanded them not to hurt the grass, neither any green thing, any tree, but only those which have not the seal of God.
Locust eats green things? Right

They had crowns on their heads like gold, (claim to be royalty), and their faces were as faces of men.
They had hair as the hair of women (gentle) and their teeth were as the teeth of lions (rips and tears), and they had breast plates, (priest), the sound of wings of chariots.
I haven't come across any locust like this, lol.
They had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails, their power was to hurt men 5 months.

Hurt men spiritually.
Deceives them.
Satan was king over them.
Verse17; having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone, the head of the horses were like lions,
Out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
False priest, blow smoke, deceive, lies.
By these three was the third part of men killed, (spiritually) by the fire, smoke and brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

As in Matt.24:, Mark 13:; and Luke 21:And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Shall arise false Christ, and show signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Except those days be shortened, there should be no flesh saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

As the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
Fallen angels, Sons of God, Gen.6:
They are coming back, as Rev.9: refers to.
Even in Rev.12:9
Satan and his angels kicked out.
Cast to earth.
15; the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood, that the remant might be carried away of the flood.

Again lies, deceit, out of his mouth, that rips and tears your soul and spirit.

My interpretation :yes

 

[dianegcook]

I understand the Mormons are quite big on teaching all their members to have a 3 month minimum storage of supplies stashed away.

I didn't know that, but common sense should tell you that you should have some extra food on hand, power outages, hurricanes or any emergency situation.

Good for them!

 

[JohnD]

Judas repented

Matthew 27:3 "Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"

Wow.

The Bible says:

Matthew 26:24 (AV)
24The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

It is more likely (given this verse and Acts 1:25b) that repentance was a change of heart only in a change of strategy to oppose God. He (the devil in Judas) realized he played right into the plan of God, so he tried to stop the crucifixion by trying to recant his betrayal / testimony. And when he failed (since the priests were so corrupt) he flew into rage.

Perhaps you should rethink your position here.

 

[JohnD]

This is all the Scriptures have to say about antichrist. Reading these verses in context would be best...

1Jn_2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn_2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn_4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichris

The antichrist is of course an English word from a Greek translation for false messiah. He is known by many names. The man of lawlessness. The man of sin. The son of perdition. The worthless shepherd. The beast.

Meaning no disrespect, Reba, but focusing in on only one of the actual word names / descriptions rather than the over all context of scripture and the many differing references to the same individual is a tactic the Jews who reject Jesus as the Messiah use to counter the Old Testament prophecies about him.

I am saying only be careful.

Just as there were / are many messiahs (small "m") which do not preclude the ultimate Messiah, many antichrists do not mean there is not an ultimate Antichrist.

 

[JohnD]

I understand the Mormons are quite big on teaching all their members to have a 3 month minimum storage of supplies stashed away.

Part of this stems from their beginnings in Utah (an extremely inhospitable environment which they were driven to). God had compassion on them the same way he does all unbelievers. But the lessons learned in their dire predicament is a lesson we all should heed. It's been many generations since most of us had to do without. Even the recent financial collapse had a very soft impact compared to 1929 for example.

 

[john darling]

If it is a one world, religious, political, economical, educational system, then no, I will not take a chip, but it could be something else.

Yes, it will be an economical system. The prophecy says it will be used for buying and selling. Lots of people want to say they will never take a microchip in their hand for the purposes of buying and selling, but when the crunch comes, they almost certainly will.

Microchip implants will happen. The entire banking industry is moving in that direction. Here is a recent example. http://www.barclaycard.com/news/innovation-contactless-gloves.html . They actually use a glove with a microchip in it. They've also developed scannable wrist bands.

This kind of technology is being experimented with all over the world and slowly, step-by-step, it is being implemented. The only force which will be used in this process will be a person's own dependence on money, which is the entire point of the Mark in the first place. If you want to pay the bills, you will take the chip.

The same conviction necessary to reject the Mark is the same conviction that it takes to live by faith right now.

Prophecy has had such a bad reputation for the past several hundred years; people making false predictions, using it to prop themselves up, using it to tear others down. People with signs like, "the end is nigh" are almost always portrayed as crazies.

Failed predictions give the appearance that prophecy will never actually happen. Generations have claimed it will happen in their lifetime and when it didn't more and more disillusion was heaped on the entire idea of prophecy ever being fulfilled.

We argue back and forth over the various points until it appears that no one really knows what is what and the only point of prophecy is to start an argument.

But a time will come when the prophecy really will be fulfilled and the Mark of the Beast prophecy is taking shape now. It's actually happening. A mark on the had for buying and selling.

I think it is at least part of the "Great Deception" that most of the world (including professing Christians) will choose not to see this. Because it will cost them something personally (i.e. no more buying/selling) they will instead look for something overtly religious, like a scar specific to worship or some other such symbol. Even here on this forum, I hardly see anyone saying anything like, "ok if we can't buy or sell, what will we do? How will we survive"?

The microchip will, instead, be seen as just another step in the evolution of money and since the majority of professing Christians believe they cannot live without money, they will convince themselves there is no problem.

I am reminded of this passage from Matthew 13:
MT 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

MT 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

MT 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

We're not even talking about a parable with the Mark. It's a straight forward prophecy about an economic system used to control the world and turn them away from faith in God by putting their faith in the AC to provide for their needs (i.e. buying and selling with the Mark). The evidence clearly shows the accuracy of the prophecy and yet something is still stopping people from hearing or seeing it.

 

[reba]

The antichrist is of course an English word from a Greek translation for false messiah. He is known by many names. The man of lawlessness. The man of sin. The son of perdition. The worthless shepherd. The beast.

Meaning no disrespect, Reba, but focusing in on only one of the actual word names / descriptions rather than the over all context of scripture and the many differing references to the same individual is a tactic the Jews who reject Jesus as the Messiah use to counter the Old Testament prophecies about him.

I am saying only be careful.

Just as there were / are many messiahs (small "m") which do not preclude the ultimate Messiah, many antichrists do not mean there is not an ultimate Antichrist.

So out goes the idea of using literal reading to grasp Scripture?
One of the reason my views have changed..