free masons and the mark of the beast

[DaveW]

Once again with this kind of thing people have a habit of making categorical statements where no such statement can be made.

By all means speculate about the nature of the mark etc and what form it might take, but to state categorically that (in this instance) the mark is some form of computer chip, is going beyond what the Bible says.

This is Sooooooooooooo common when it comes to prophecy, but soooo dangerous.

Of course there is the aspect that the writer is describing as best he can something that is totally foreign to him, but for us to then make statements with certainty is just dangerous - maybe what he is describing is something that is totally foreign to us also.

But we know for certain that people will willingly and knowing take the mark, so it is not today's credit cards as some have put it, and if the cards are replaced by a chip that is implanted (as it seems certain will happen widescale because it is already being tested small scale) then we have to keep in mind that it is a knowing submission to the mark, as a recognised submission to the anti-Christ.

If then the chip implanted is done so without any sort of reference to allegiance to the Anti-Christ, then IT IS NOT THE MARK...….

[Jerry]

Good points, Dave. I think we can safely say that the mark will be some kind of tattoo or brand though, as the word “mark” in the book of Leviticus is referring to tattoos that God’s people are forbidden to get. If modern professing Christendom would actually obey the whole Bible then they would choose not to be like the world and not get any tattoos (marks) on their bodies, reinforcing to the world that true believers have no part in that practice - and when the antichrist and his system appear on the scene, some in the world will be thinking, “Hey wait, this is what those Christians were warning us about. Maybe I should think twice before rushing to join the rest of the world and getting this mark, number, etc.”

Regardless of how technology fits in with the mark (and yes, I do believe there will be a chip or some kind of biometrics involved to track buying and selling, etc.), the book of Revelation makes it very clear that receiving the mark will be a personal choice to worship (profess allegiance to) the antichrist and the power behind him (Satan). There will be no taking the mark as a pretense or as a disguise or being forced to against their will (as Tim Lahaye and Hal Lindsey, and some others would have us believe could happen). 

[robycop3]

11 hours ago, Jerry said:

Yup, that’s what happens after the rapture of the church - the true believing church will not be around, so the antichrist’s activities as described in the book of Revelation will be free to unfold.

 CORRECT!

  The tech for such a microchip implant exists now. You likely saw where two different businesses offered to implant such chips upon their employees to facilitate their opening electronically-locked doors in their HQs, but virtually all those people refused to be implanted. However, after the rapture, the opposition to the "mark" will be nil, and the "beast" will hawk it as a replacement for cash or cards, citing it to be loss-proof or theft-proof. Then, of course, his sidekick the false prophet will make it the law.

[robycop3]

  I believe that, when Jesus prophesied those events, or had one of His angels prophesy some of them to John on Patmos, he generally used terminology that His immediate audience could understand. Of course Jesus knew "falling stars" were meteors, but He used the common term His disciples understood. same for John and the "mark". I believe it'll be some sorta microchip, as a tattoo could be easily erased or duplicated.

 

  As for the "seal" upon the 144K Israelis at that time, it will be issued by GOD, while the "mark of the beast' will be issued by MAN.