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By from on 12/15/2010
(legalese)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Have we already accepted the Mark of the Beast?
"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, and that no one may buy or sell except on who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
Rev. 13:16&17
It's almost difficult not to draw parallels between what's going on the world these days and the events described in Revelation. I'm not saying that the end is near...it is, relatively speaking... or...at least I hope so, but I'm not well-schooled enough or sure enough to suggest that we're nearing the end of the world as we know it. We might be, but only God knows for sure. (Matthew 24:36-44) All I'm saying is that thing are getting pretty bad. In fact, sometimes it's hard to imagine that things could get worse, but they can and they will, despite what the secular humanists would have us all believe.
So have we already accepted the Mark? I'd submit that it's at least possible. One could make the argument that Social Security is a manifestation of the mark. Think about it. Without providing your SSN, you can't buy a house, a car, or almost anything on credit, nor can you get a credit card. Your bank probably has your SSN, and required you give it to them even to get a debit card to spend money you have in "your" account. Your cell phone company, your cable or sattelite provider, and your telephone company probably have your SSN, as does your employer.
There are (increasingly frequent) periods of time when I really feel like "chucking it all" and rejecting most of what the world has to offer. Sometimes, I think the Amish have the right idea. If I had the money to buy a piece of ground and build a home, barn and outbuildings, and support my family by growing and raising my own food, I'd like to think I would do it.
...But great is the temptation to remain a 'friend' of this world. I am writing this on a computer that I bought on time. Yes, I paid it off quickly, but didn't pay for it all up front. I 'own' three cars-only one of which I 'own' outright. I have two mortgages on 'my' home. I am accessing the internet via a fairly expensive high-speed connection. I have a SSN, so does my wife, so do my kids and almost everyone I have ever known. Are we all marked? I hope not.
The Scriptures seem to identify only one 'unpardonable sin' and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I interpret that to mean denying God. In a sense, we do that every day in the choices we make. It's important that we prayerfully consider all of our choices. God knows our hearts, so we must keep our hearts soft and turned toward Him at all times-even when it means going without and enduring "hardship." I hope I am strong enough to someday say "Enough!" and truly live for the Lord. In the meantime, I hope His mercy and grace extend and that somehow, He is working all bad things for our good, as He has done so often.
Rev. 13:16&17
It's almost difficult not to draw parallels between what's going on the world these days and the events described in Revelation. I'm not saying that the end is near...it is, relatively speaking... or...at least I hope so, but I'm not well-schooled enough or sure enough to suggest that we're nearing the end of the world as we know it. We might be, but only God knows for sure. (Matthew 24:36-44) All I'm saying is that thing are getting pretty bad. In fact, sometimes it's hard to imagine that things could get worse, but they can and they will, despite what the secular humanists would have us all believe.
So have we already accepted the Mark? I'd submit that it's at least possible. One could make the argument that Social Security is a manifestation of the mark. Think about it. Without providing your SSN, you can't buy a house, a car, or almost anything on credit, nor can you get a credit card. Your bank probably has your SSN, and required you give it to them even to get a debit card to spend money you have in "your" account. Your cell phone company, your cable or sattelite provider, and your telephone company probably have your SSN, as does your employer.
There are (increasingly frequent) periods of time when I really feel like "chucking it all" and rejecting most of what the world has to offer. Sometimes, I think the Amish have the right idea. If I had the money to buy a piece of ground and build a home, barn and outbuildings, and support my family by growing and raising my own food, I'd like to think I would do it.
...But great is the temptation to remain a 'friend' of this world. I am writing this on a computer that I bought on time. Yes, I paid it off quickly, but didn't pay for it all up front. I 'own' three cars-only one of which I 'own' outright. I have two mortgages on 'my' home. I am accessing the internet via a fairly expensive high-speed connection. I have a SSN, so does my wife, so do my kids and almost everyone I have ever known. Are we all marked? I hope not.
The Scriptures seem to identify only one 'unpardonable sin' and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I interpret that to mean denying God. In a sense, we do that every day in the choices we make. It's important that we prayerfully consider all of our choices. God knows our hearts, so we must keep our hearts soft and turned toward Him at all times-even when it means going without and enduring "hardship." I hope I am strong enough to someday say "Enough!" and truly live for the Lord. In the meantime, I hope His mercy and grace extend and that somehow, He is working all bad things for our good, as He has done so often.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Farewell 2009
Another year has come and gone. The Lord has given us a little more time to get things right here on Earth. How much more? Who knows? The Mayans gave us two more years, but despite their predictions, and the fact that things are getting pretty bad, I don't think that's it. The scriptures tell us that no man shall know the hour of the Lord's return. Bottom line: People get ready.
What if 2000 had been the beginning of the end? What if there will be some cataclysmic Thundarr the Barbarian/Armageddon/Deep Impact kind of cosmic event? Will you be ready for what comes next?
There's a bumper sticker that says: "If you've been living like there's no God - You'd better be right!" For many people, that's exactly it. They are sure they're right. Their intellect, their 'wisdom' gets in the way of their faith. No, that's not really it. Their 'wisdom' supplants their faith. They have faith only in that which they can touch, see, and hold in their hands. If that last statement calls to mind the attitude of those who created graven images, well...good. We may not have "idle hands" but in a sense, we have "idol hands." In fact, I think perhaps there is something to the YouTube video entitled "Satan's plan." In a nutshell, the enemy wants to keep us busy. Too busy to have a real relationship with Christ. Too busy to spread the Word. Too busy to realize that the world is quite literally going to hell. Too busy to get ready. Another bumper sticker comes to mind:
R U E
Are you (red 'e') ready?
What if 2000 had been the beginning of the end? What if there will be some cataclysmic Thundarr the Barbarian/Armageddon/Deep Impact kind of cosmic event? Will you be ready for what comes next?
There's a bumper sticker that says: "If you've been living like there's no God - You'd better be right!" For many people, that's exactly it. They are sure they're right. Their intellect, their 'wisdom' gets in the way of their faith. No, that's not really it. Their 'wisdom' supplants their faith. They have faith only in that which they can touch, see, and hold in their hands. If that last statement calls to mind the attitude of those who created graven images, well...good. We may not have "idle hands" but in a sense, we have "idol hands." In fact, I think perhaps there is something to the YouTube video entitled "Satan's plan." In a nutshell, the enemy wants to keep us busy. Too busy to have a real relationship with Christ. Too busy to spread the Word. Too busy to realize that the world is quite literally going to hell. Too busy to get ready. Another bumper sticker comes to mind:
R U E
Are you (red 'e') ready?
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