The Mark of the Beast

A few weeks ago, I stopped at McDonald’s after spending part of the afternoon passing out gospel tracts. Because the cashier line was long, I used a self-serve kiosk to pay for my food. I was a bit surprised when noticing the order number on my receipt was 666. Just about everyone knows that number is associated with the Antichrist as mentioned in Revelation 13…

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

While many Bible prophecy followers believe the mark will be a microchip, it could also be a tattoo. Until a generation ago, tattoos in Western countries were mostly seen on military men. Nowadays, both men and women from all walks of life have them. It’s possible the mark could be a bar code or some other symbol permanently stamped on people’s hands and foreheads. As a “pre-trib” believer, I don’t expect to be around when the actual Mark of the Beast becomes mandatory. 

Some Christians have tried “pinning the tail on the Antichrist.” During World War II, many were convinced Adolf Hitler was the Antichrist especially since Germans used money called “marks.” When Ronald Wilson Reagan was president, some suggested he was the Antichrist since his first, middle, and last names all had six letters each. Others have claimed King Juan Carlos of Spain (who’s no longer in power) or Barack Obama will be the Antichrist. The identity of the Antichrist won’t be revealed until he signs a seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).

There used to be a well-known highway numbered 666 located near the Four Corners section of the southwestern United States. Route 666 was often referred to as “Devil's Highway.” That highway has since been renumbered 491 mainly because people kept stealing road signs numbered 666.

During the early 1990s, I was in a Toastmasters group that met at a hospital. People using the parking lot needed to enter the code “6606” to exit an automated gate. Occasionally someone would jokingly say, “Don’t forget the zero.” 

One shouldn’t be worried if they receive a piece of paper that happens to bear the number 666. The mark of the beast indicates worship of the Antichrist only if stamped on someone’s right hand or forehead. If I was issued a phone number or license plate with three consecutive sixes, I’d probably request a change. Either way, my faith in God is greater than any number.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

The End of the World...Two Years Later

Remember the hoopla about the end of the world that was supposed to occur on December 21, 2012 (according to some people’s interpretation of the Mayan calendar)? Of course that didn’t happen. Those of you reading this are still alive and breathing.

Three years before that, the motion picture “2012” was released. It was well produced but biblically inaccurate since the movie showed the whole earth flooded by a great tsunami. God promised in Genesis 9:11, “...never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” In addition, the world will suffer through a seven-year tribulation period before the return of Jesus Christ. Some believers think we are in the tribulation right now. That won’t begin until the antichrist signs a seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).

One noteworthy event happened for me on “doomsday.” I had returned to my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota for the holidays and stopped to see my mother who was recovering from a stroke. For over 20 years I had prayed for her to come to know the Lord. After talking with Mom for a while, she agreed to let me lay hands on her and pray for her health to improve. Then I got to lead my mother in a prayer to receive salvation. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Later that afternoon I went evangelizing in downtown Fargo. I walked the streets offering gospel tracts to people while wishing them a Merry Christmas. Most of them accepted a tract from me. Three men took time to pray to receive the best Christmas gift of all...eternal life through Jesus Christ!

The Lord has tarried His return because He wants more people coming into the kingdom of God. So until we die or go up in the rapture, let’s continue to be about our Father’s business.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” - Matthew 24:36 

Majoring on Minors

I have a friend who for a long time was a “pre-trib” rapture believer and talked of debating an outspoken “post-trib” minister he allows to have meetings in his home. Having been to one of those meetings, I kept discouraging my friend from trying to correct this minister who wasn’t apologetic after I pointed out the inaccuracy of one of his claims.

Then last month following a church service, my friend announced he now believes the church will be raptured “mid-trib.” When I gave a reason why I cannot agree with him on that, he got out his cell phone and was about to call someone to help defend his newly-embraced doctrine. Fortunately that got interrupted when my friend was called forward by two altar workers to receive prayer. I then quietly slipped out of the church.

It’s one thing for Christians to reason together so we can all grow in knowledge of the Scriptures. Unfortunately, some focus on promoting doctrines that have no effect on people’s eternal destinies. Occasionally when I’m out evangelizing, individuals ask questions like “How were you water baptized?” or “Which Bible translation do you use?” Most of these people are already set in their beliefs and not open to correction. As a result, they try wasting my time if I don’t share their viewpoint. It reminds me of what Jesus called the Pharisees in Matthew 23:24: “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

One motivational speaker gave this key to success: “We can no more afford to spend major time on minor things than we can to spend minor time on major things.” Let’s keep the main thing the main thing and focus on preaching the gospel. 

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Rapture Bashers

In response to this weekend’s release of the “Left Behind” remake starring Nicholas Cage (which I haven’t seen yet at the time of this writing), my Facebook News Feed has been flooded with negative comments. Many of which were posted even before the movie hit the theaters! 

The criticism of “Left Behind” has mostly been about it depicting the aftermath of the rapture. Some Christians believe there won’t be a rapture at all. One Facebook friend went so far as to label those who preach a pre-tribulation rapture “heretics.” That’s a strong accusation considering that would include Tim LaHaye (the co-author of the original “Left Behind” series), Perry Stone, John Hagee, Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe and numerous other men of God.

For the sake of time and to discourage online debates on the subject, I will avoid explaining in this article why I believe in a pre-trib rapture of the church. However, I need to point out a few things to any rapture bashers reading this. First, not all pre-trib believers are passively waiting around to escape the tribulation. Jesus said in Luke 19:13 (KJV), “Occupy till I come.” We should expect the Lord to return at any moment but be prepared to live out the rest of our lives on this earth. 

Secondly, belief in a pre-trib rapture is not an endorsement to live an unconsecrated lifestyle. If anything, the pending rapture should motivate Christians to pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Imagine how embarrassed you would feel if the Lord returned while you were getting drunk in a bar or sleeping with someone that wasn’t your spouse. Those sins might cause professing believers to miss the rapture.

One of the weakest reasons critics denounce the catching away of the saints is because the word “rapture” isn’t found in the Bible. The word “trinity” isn’t in Scripture either yet most Christians agree the Godhead is a three-part being (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The word “Bible” is also not part of God’s word but can be found on the cover and added notes by the translators.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” The word rapture originated from the Latin word “raeptius”, which was translated from the Greek word for “caught up” (“harpazo”) in verse 17. Harpazo means "to carry off," "snatch up," or “take away.”

Another popular argument against the rapture is that Christians in years past have suffered and been martyred for their faith. That’s poor reasoning when you consider there are believers today (mostly in the 10/40 Window) being imprisoned, tortured, and even beheaded. Whether or not the Lord continues to tarry, I believe we will see increased persecution in the U. S. and other Western nations. 

For those of you who strongly feel the modern-day church should go through the tribulation, why not set an example right now? You could move to a Muslim-controlled country and show the rest of us how we should respond to real persecution. 

As for myself, I will not let rapture bashers rob me of the crown available for those who long for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). In the meantime, I will continue preaching the gospel here in America and wherever else the Lord sends me until I die or hear the trumpet call to heaven. I also pray the new “Left Behind” movie will be used as a tool to bring many sinners to salvation before the Second Coming. 

Maranatha!

“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” - Titus 2:13

The Antichrist is Coming

Not long after committing my life to the Lord in 1991, I developed an interest in end-time prophecy. One thing that helped me learn more about the subject was a series of films produced by Mark IV Pictures. The first of which was the 1972 release “A Thief in the Night.”

As I’ve become friends with Christians from different denominations, I found out about the varying beliefs out there on how end-time events will pan out. Among the doctrines I’ve heard taught is that we are either in the tribulation, it’s already happened, or there is no tribulation. Yet the Bible talks about a world ruler who will emerge before the return of Christ. Even non-believers know about this man called the Antichrist. 

1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” The Greek word for antichrist is antichristos which means “the adversary of the Messiah.” Other verses in John’s epistles make it clear the Antichrist and the spirit of the antichrist are two separate entities...

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” - 1 John 2:18

“and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” - 1 John 4:3 

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” - 2 John 1:7

The Antichrist is referred to by other names in Scripture. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 calls him “the man of sin” and “the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 identifies him as “the lawless one.” Many verses in Revelation refer to him as “the beast.” Among the most well known are in chapter 13 verses 16 and 17...

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

The identity of the Antichrist won’t be revealed until he signs a seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27). Nevertheless, some Christians have tried pinning the tail on the Antichrist. One woman I know believes Barack Obama is the Antichrist. While I don’t agree with her assertion, I do agree some of the President’s policies such as ObamaCare are setting the stage for the Mark of the Beast system. There are reports that a microchip connected with this health care plan will someday be inserted in people’s right hand or forehead. As a “pre-trib” believer, I don’t expect to be around when the actual Mark of the Beast becomes mandatory. 

Regardless of your eschatological beliefs, I exhort you to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission instead of defending end-time doctrines that might differ from mine. Jesus said in Luke 19:13 (KJV), “Occupy till I come.” The only thing we can take with us to heaven is souls.

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” - Matthew 12:30

The Day of the Lord

While in New York City late last year, I saw other preachers there passing out tracts, open air preaching, and displaying banners. It’s encouraging to see more of God’s people reaching out to the lost. Unfortunately, some of them are really off with their doctrine. At a subway station, I encountered one woman with literature claiming God’s judgment was coming upon the world on May 21st, 2011. When she tried handing me a brochure, I asked her, “Doesn’t the Bible say, ‘No man knows the day or hour of the Son of Man’s return?'” This woman replied, “That was for the church age” and wanted to debate doctrine with me. I opted to walk away. As Titus 3:9 says, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.”

Two days ago I read an Associated Press article about other Christians led by a radio broadcaster named Harold Camping proclaiming the rapture of the church will happen on May 21st. One follower named Allison Warden (pictured here) said, “We're hoping people won't take our word for it, or Harold Camping's word for it. We're hoping that people will search the scriptures for themselves.”

I’ve already done so, Miss Warden. While we are to recognize the signs of the end times, Scripture make it’s clear the Lord’s return will happen unexpectedly…

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” - Matthew 24:42

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Matthew 24:44

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” - Matthew 25:13

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:2

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:10

The rapture could happen any day including May 21st of this year. But don’t be surprised if there are many disappointed believers still on earth on May 22nd. Miss Warden went on to say, “If May 21 passes and I'm still here, that means I wasn't saved.”

Miss Warden, we are saved solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not by predicting the date of His return.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9