You may have come across the concept of the “mark of the beast” in your religious studies.
As a child, I learned about it in church, where my mother and various pastors, including Bishop Milton Hawkins and John Hagee, regularly discussed and preached about it. While different religious leaders may focus on different aspects of the Bible, the mark of the beast is mainly mentioned in Revelation 13.
The identity of the beast, however, is a subject of much speculation and debate. Some believe it to be Satan in physical form, while others see it as the antichrist, a servant of Satan.
Regardless of personal opinions, the beast is said to appear shortly after the rapture of the Saints.
Revelation 13:1 starts out with “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” From previous teachers that I have heard, the 10 crowns are countries or kingdoms that will form alliances with the beast on that day.
It is important to be prepared because you do not want to get left behind, depending on your particular view of when the rapture will occur.
Those who are left behind are not Christians. They more than likely had an opportunity to become saved but turned the other cheek and followed other religions or procrastinated.
If you follow any ministries especially some of the ones on television, you know that the mark of the beast represents a few things. Those who are left behind will have the option of taking a mark of the beast in their forehead or hand.
This will enable them to obtain food or buy and sell etc. You do not want to take this mark. I do not care how desperate you get for food. You can survive without it. This mark also makes you ineligible to go to heaven.
That is why it is important that people are educated about the mark of the beast and that it is not relegated to science fiction. You will also hear reference to the Antichrist or the mark of the beast. These are in the same family.
I’m curious about a few things. Please don’t be offended by what i say…the only thing that matters is knowing the truth as established by the Word of God…the Bible, so it’s not about what you or i want to be true…it’s what the scriptures say.
that said, I noticed that your statements are all qualified as information that you were taught or exposed to in the presence of others.
the beliefs of others have no bearing on the veracity of a thing. the Word of God proves itself with itself. You cite Revelation ch 13, but say that your information came from listening to your mother and various preachers.
Not once did you cite Scripture to support your premise.
You stated
” Revelation 13:1 starts out with “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” From previous teachers that I have heard, the 10 crowns are countries or kingdoms that will form alliances with the beast on that day.”
this prophecy is explained in the text of that chapter. They are 10 kingdoms.
the point i’m trying to make here Brother, whom i love in Christ, is that You will find that you can access and understand biblical truth directly from the Bible itself. When YOU study the Word, and rely on Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants you to understand…you will understand. and you will find that you can trust what you learn this way by finding that the rest of the Scriptures support that thing youve learned.
let me say this too…
There is no rapture. it is a false teaching. You will discover this quickly when you begin to read the Word for yourself and like the Word says…
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!!!
…david