"The Mark of The Beast"
As I read through this thread it appears to me as a whole there is little understanding of the “Mark of The Beast” with respect to the objectives of God during the tribulation.
It is said that nobody can understand any one apocalyptic prophecy (the seventeen found within Dan., & Rev.) without understanding how they all support and harmonize to form one big cohesive picture. The “Mark of the Beast” is just one peace of that puzzle.
First one should understand that the start of the Tribulation awaits God’s appointed time. Is does not depend on the actions of man, as many assume to spread the gospel to all the world, and then the end will come. It is true however, that the end will come once the gospel is heard throughout the whole world. But it will be by God’s doings, not man’s. God has also predetermined that the tribulation will only last 1335 literal days. (Dan. 12:9-13)
God will personally select 144,000, servant prophets, men, women of all ages, to speak the words He gives them to speak, they will be selected from all cultures and religions, and speak within their culture and religion that they must worship God the Father and Jesus Christ. (Rev. 7:1-3) The sealing of these prophets is when God removes their carnal nature and gives them a “un-fallen nature”, so that they can perform the the task that God will require of them during earths darkest hour under the most difficult times the world will have experienced. These are the “first fruits” (Rev.14:4) of the great harvest that will be gathered in during the tribulation. (Rev.7:9-14)
God has designed the events of the tribulation for judging the living, because at the predetermined time of His return all the living must have made the choice whether they worship Him, or Satan. There will only be two groups of people, those who have chosen to worship Satan and have received the “ Mark of the Beast, or those with the seal of God, who have chosen to worship God.
To get the attention of everyone and to force everyone to make a decision as to who they shall worship, God is going to end life as we know it in one day by sounding the first Trumpet, followed by three others in quick succession. These are literal world wide events. (Rev. 8:7-12) The four angles of Rev. 7:2,3, which were told not to “Harm the Land, sea or trees”, until…, are the same angles who blow the first four trumpets of Rev. 8, which bring destruction upon the earth. The tribulation begins with the opening of the fourth seal of (Rev. 6:8).
During the sounding of the first four trumpet judgments which will span a very short time span, and harming a third of the earth, and killing a fourth of earths population, not to mention the injured, (Rev.6:8) God will get the undivided attention of all. At this time the first of four messages delivered, by His, “Servants the Prophets/ 144,000”, is, “ Fear God, and give Him Glory, because the hour of His judgement has come.” (Rev.14:7)
It is because of these “Trumpet Judgements”, which has put the world into a survival mode, Which causes the, “beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horn, and seven heads, of Rev. 13: 1, to emerge. This will be a world wide crisis, political (ten horns) and religious (seven heads with blasphemous name) coalition, formed to stop the wrath of God, least the whole world be destroyed. This church/state coalition is later called, “Babylon”, in Rev., and Satan gives this “Beast” his power for 42 literal months. (Rev.13:3,4)
At the opening of the fifth trumpet, (also the first woe) two and a half literal years into the tribulation, after which time the living have had ample time to hear the gospel being preach by God’s, “Servants/prophets/144,000”, God will release Satan from the Spirit realm so that he and his demons can appear in the flesh before mankind. God is sending the wicked this delusion because they refused to believe His servants the prophets. (2Thess. 2:9-12) God gives them five months to torture anyone not having the, “Seal of God” in their foreheands (Rev. 9:5).
After the five literal months pass the Sixth trumpet sounds and God allows Satan and his demons to, “kill a third of mankind”, (Rev. 9: 13-21) This is where the, “Mark of the Beast,” fits into the big picture. It is Satan’s literal mark/ tattoo (666), on the right hand of the wicked who refuse to worship God, and Satan’s name will be a literal tattoo in the foreheads of his lieutenants. This will be required in order to buy and sell when food and provisions will be life threatening.
All of these events God has predetermined for the purpose of separating the wheat/righteous from the tares/wicked during the tribulation. The living during this time will past judgment upon themselves either by receiving the “Seal of God, or the Mark of the Beast,” as opposed to those who have died before this time will be judged out of the, “The books of Record/Deeds.
When the Seventh trumpet sounds, the heavens are opened and the “Ark of His Covenant /Ten Commandments,” is revealed within heavens temple. This brings God’s offer of salvation to and end. God reveals His Covenant to all who remain on earth. The righteous will be comforted, and the wicked will know why they alone will be recipients of God’s seven last plagues, or bowl judgements, which are to come. Poured out without mercy on those having the, “Mark of the Beast”. At the end of the seven last bowl judgements Christ returns to gather in the harvest of righteous individuals, and raises the righteous dead and takes them to heaven to rein with Him there for a thousand years.
I hope this thumb nail version of closing events as it encompasses the “Mark of The Beast”, brings into focus the bigger picture and a better understanding of God’s plans to rescue man from this world of sin.
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