Illumination from the Word of God
Let’s be careful about the proper use of the Scriptures as we carry on our discussions. None of us really knows what God wil ultimately do, so we can only be dogmatic about what the Word specifically says. This page will bring us back to the truth of the text, and it will be a handy reminder that we are ultimately responsible to know and DO what He tells us. The rest is simply controlled by wisdom. Pray for lots of wisdom and endurance in these Last Days!
The Scriptures here will eventually be organized by their location in the Bible, but for now I’m only listing the ones that I’ve written blogs about.
Why God Allows Disasters:
Jeremiah 6:16-21
Thus says the Lord,
Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,”Where the good way is, and walk in it;
and you shall find rest for your soulds.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
And I set wathcment over you, saying,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
“Therefore hear, O nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
“Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people,
The fruit of their plans,
Because they have not listened to My words,
And as for My law, they have rejected it also.
“For what puproses frinakincense come to Me from Sheba,
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”
Therefore, thus says teh Lord,
“Behold, I am laying stumbling blocks before this people.
And they will stumble against them,
Fathers and sons together;
Neighbor and friend will perish.”
References to the Mark of the Beast
Revelation 13:16-18
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the MARK, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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.
Revelation 14:9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his MARK in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the MARK of his name.
Revelation 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his MARK, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Revelation 16:2
And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the MARK of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the MARK of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 20:4
And 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. Notice. In these eight verses, the MARK is referred by:
Rev 13:16 “a mark”
Rev 13:17 ” the mark”
Rev 14:9 “his mark”
Rev 14:11 “mark of his name”
Rev 15:2 “his mark”
Rev 16:2 “the mark of the beast”
Rev 19:20 “the mark of the beast”
Rev 20:4 “his mark”
Very important: Notice how the mark is personally associated, representative or symbolic of the beast or antichrist:
Three times (14:9, 15:2, 20:4) it’s called “HIS mark”.
Two times (16:2, 19:20) it’s called “the mark OF THE BEAST”
One time (14:11) it’s called “the mark of HIS Name”