“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
There’s a lot of talk right now about Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates and his ID2020 proposal to vaccinate and provide a digital ID that will track everybody across the world. For those people who are always on the hunt looking at what technology may eventually turn into Revelation 13’s the Mark of the Beast, they’re now exploring ID2020 as a potential candidate.
Where you place the timing of the Rapture of the Church as it relates to the Tribulation really affects how much people fear they may accidentally or forcefully take the Mark.
Take for instance a young man who visited my church’s Bible study. In the middle of the lesson, he just exploded in panicky excitement, fervently exhorting us that when the time came to be beheaded by the Antichrist, to just put our heads in the guillotine and proudly have them chopped off for Christ. Or, during another lesson, in the same fervor but with an opposite exhortation, a visiting gentleman from India implored that Christians play along and even deny Christ to protect themselves, erroneously adding that Jesus would forgive the denial.
Or, how about the story about a group in West Virginia who actually fought and won an exemption from the state’s requirement that driver’s license photos be stored in a government digital database because they thought they’d then be participating in getting the Mark of the Beast.
One of the members of the group, a physics teacher, even refuses to wear barcodes on name badges or allow his kid’s pictures in their school yearbooks because of fears the pictures will end up in the Amber Alert database.
These folks fear that Christians today — the Church — will be living during the prophesied 7-year Tribulation. And so, they comb the news daily wondering which charismatic leader is the Antichrist. Or, they stockpile food, water, precious metals, and survival gear in some backyard bomb shelter. And, they lose a lot of sleep fearing they may have already accidentally taken the Mark of the Beast.
Bear in mind, accepting the Mark of the Beast is not something to be taken lightly. It’s as bad as that atheist group online who is collecting initiation videos from people blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The end result of doing either of these is eternal separation from God and banishment to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 14:9-10).
But, Revelation 13 gives us enough information for a person to know when they have taken the Mark.
For one, the Antichrist would have to be ruling the world. Since he’s not at the time, you’re good.
Secondly, since the Mark is the Antichrist’s key to controlling the world economy, and Christians are currently buying and selling, you’re good.
Thirdly, the Mark is very visible on (not in) either the right hand or forehead and is easily recognized as either the name or number of the Beast. Since the Apostle John couldn’t read barcodes, for who can, don’t fear them. Since earthquakes and meteors aren’t leveling the planet and rivers and oceans aren’t turning red, then the time is not right for the Mark, so you’re good.
When it comes time to decide to accept the Mark, you would know more clearly than was ever known which side you were choosing — God or Satan. The Mark, pure and simple, is allegiance to Satan. Nobody will be tricked into taking it. You would know.
Now, if you happen to be reading this after the mass disappearance of Christians from this earth in an event called the Rapture, then yes, heed Revelation 13’s description and DO NOT take the Mark, for it will mean great physical suffering while on earth and eternal damnation to the Lake of Fire.
But, if you’re a Christian and waiting on the Rapture, then please stop fearing that ID2020 or microchips or barcodes or vaccinations are the Mark of the Beast.
Relax, and trust in God.
As God comforts us in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
