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Apostle Don Meares
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the Earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the Earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the Earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the Earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the Earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 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 [b]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.
There are three different positions for understanding the last days. In the context of eschatology, there are three major positions: pre-millennialism, post-millennialism, and amillennialism.
Pre-millennialism literally interprets biblical prophecies, including the Book of Revelation. It teaches that a series of events will occur before Christ’s thousand-year reign on Earth. These events include the Rapture, the seven-year tribulation, Christ’s second coming, the battle of Armageddon, and then the establishment of Christ’s rule.
On the other hand, post-millennialism suggests that the Church will triumph and bring about a golden age on Earth before Christ’s return. It interprets prophecies allegorically and believes believers will enter eternity or heaven when Christ returns. Another position, amillennialism, denies a future earthly rule of Christ and takes a non-literal approach to prophecy. It sees the events described in the Book of Revelation as symbolic and believes they are unfolding throughout church history.
God’s Word is the standard for interpreting eschatological events. We here at Evangel Cathedral take the pre-millennialist position, believing in the Rapture, the tribulation, Christ’s second coming, the battle of Armageddon, and a thousand-year reign on Earth. In these last days, it is crucial to rely on the Bible. With everything we see, hear, and witness, we must be cautious against personal revelations, dreams, or visions that add or subtract from Scripture. We need to be discerning. As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are to prioritize the Bible over other sources of information.
We must maintain biblical integrity and purity in all aspects of life and ministry. We must emphasize the authority of Scripture and strive to avoid adding or subtracting from it.
What we need to know about the mark of the beast
The tribulation will begin after the Rapture of the Church, and an unholy trinity comprising of Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet will be revealed during that time.
The unholy trinity aims to establish five political agendas: a one-world government, a one-world leader (the Antichrist), a one-world monetary system, a one-world religion, and a one-world military power. These agendas are already at work in the world today. In these last days, all political systems are becoming corrupted to pave the way for the Antichrist’s global leadership.
Revelation 13:11-18 describes the false prophet and the mark of the beast. Deception is Satan’s greatest tool. This is why we must caution against putting hope in government leaders or worldly movements and instead fully put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. We must be more faithful in coming to the House of God in these challenging times. Dwelling in the Lord’s House will offer us spiritual protection and train us to align with biblical teachings that will equip us in the last days.
Here are five things we must know about the mark of the beast.
One: It is a literal and visible mark
The mark of the beast is not something hidden or injected under the skin but a literal and visible mark on the skin itself. It will bear the number 666, signifying the Antichrist’s authority and deception.
Two: Its numerology and symbolism
Numerology holds significance in understanding eschatological symbolism. The number seven represents perfection and wholeness associated with God. Conversely, the number six represents man and carnality. The mark of the beast, 666, symbolizes the Antichrist’s claim to divinity, contrasting Jesus’ superiority represented by the number 888.
Third: It means loyalty to the Antichrist
The mark of the beast serves as a sign of allegiance and devotion to the Antichrist. It represents loyalty to his authority and control. Possessing this mark will grant access to commerce and societal participation during the tribulation period.
Fourth: The mark’s economic implications
While the mark of the beast does have economic implications, its primary significance lies in loyalty to the Antichrist rather than the monetary aspect alone. Loyalty and devotion to the Antichrist will be the defining factor for accepting the mark, and refusing it may result in persecution or even death.
Fifth: Why we need to discern false teachings
Discerning false teachings and conspiracies regarding the mark of the beast is crucial. We must be wary of false interpretations linking it to specific technologies, vaccines, or hidden means. This kind of information that we receive should be approached with caution. The mark of the beast is distinct and should not be equated with unrelated developments or events.
Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ must devote themselves to carefully studying biblical prophecy. We have to be cautious against unsupported teachings and interpretations that deviate from the clear teachings of Scripture. There is a need to learn to discern between what is clearly stated and what is left to personal interpretation.
In these times, we must believe that God hasn’t changed, and it is still true that He wants His people to prosper (3 John 1:2). This is why we have to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord.
Before the pre-tribulation, the Rapture will happen. The Church will be kept from the hour of testing, which refers to the tribulation period (Revelation 3:10). The Rapture is not a second coming of Christ to the Earth. Instead, believers will meet Jesus in the air, and He will take them for the judgment of their works (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Meanwhile, Revelation 7 refers to tribulation saints, not the Church. This supports the idea of the Church being taken out before the tribulation. We must understand that the Church, as the bride of Christ, will not go through tribulation because Jesus desires a pure and spotless bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). But there is a difference between the tribulation and the persecution that people will experience in the church age and the future tribulation period, as Revelation describes.
Now is the time to come to God
God reminds us through Hosea 14:4:
“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him.”
Unconditional love and healing are available to us. Whether you have strayed from the faith or consider yourself faithful, God calls us to come to Him. Our loving God invites us, regardless of our past experiences or mistakes to return home and seek salvation and restoration through His grace. Let us humble ourselves, confess our sins, and seek God’s mercy, for it flows abundantly in His altar.
You can view the complete message titled “The Mark of the Beast: 666” here:
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