Is Trump the Anti-Christ? (Part 9)

 

7. Mark of the Beast

SLIDE 7 OF 8

In ancient cultures, slaves often received a mark, symbolizing who owned them. The Old Testament Law instructed people choosing to remain enslaved (or a bondservant) to wear an earring in one ear (Exodus 25:5-6).

Recognizing the Antichrist involves understanding the ominous mark of the beast, a tangible manifestation of allegiance to the Antichrist, with profound implications for those who accept it.

Revelation 13 describes how the beast, representing the Antichrist, causes all people to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16-17). This mark serves as a means of control and identification, distinguishing those who belong to the Antichrist's kingdom from those who do not. Those who refuse to worship the beast or receive his mark face severe consequences, including economic exclusion and persecution (Revelation 13:15-17). This coercive measure compels individuals to pledge allegiance to the Antichrist under threat of dire punishment.

For Christians, we have been bought by Jesus’ blood, at a price, from death to life. God is our Father and Lord, who gave us his life. We owe allegiance to no one, especially not a man who opposes the God who abundantly loves us and saves us for eternity. As with the persecution above, this will be a difficult time for Christians, threatening our food and provision. However, Jesus promises that if we seek God’s Kingdom and righteousness, then he will provide all we need (Matthew 6:33). Unbelievers, Jesus says, worry about provision. Let us refuse to be manipulated by food and clothing when our Father owns everything.

(Source: Crosswalk.org)

Photo Credit:©GettyImages/rep0rter

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Perhaps this sign is the scarcest one of all. 

Or it will be when the Beast makes an

entrance on our earth at that time.

But who exactly is the Beast?

Human?

Non-human?

There will be one more installment

(tomorrow)

in the particular post.

After that, I will try to answer that

question for us.

So stay tuned for that. 

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8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:8-11

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Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I did get rid of the headache yesterday, and praise God for that. I don't usually get headaches that are that bad. And the ones I do get usually respond to aspirin fairly quickly. That one didn't. So, I believe that perhaps God answered the prayers of friends who were praying for me. If you were one of those friends, thank you so much! I was so relieved when it was finally gone. 

God bless you all!

Revelation 2:5-7

 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

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Critique and Call to Repentance

Despite their commendable deeds, Christ reproves them for forsaking their first love—the passionate devotion and heartfelt commitment they initially had for Him (Revelation 2:4) BibleGateway.com+1. He warns them to repent and return to their original works, emphasizing that failure to do so will result in the removal of their "lampstand," symbolizing the loss of their spiritual influence and witness (Revelation 2:5) BibleGateway.com+2.

Spiritual and Historical Context

Ephesus was a major port city and religious center in Asia Minor, known for commerce and the temple of Artemis. The church there faced pressures from surrounding pagan practices and false teachers, which may have contributed to their waning love despite their doctrinal vigilance (Revelation 2:1-5 commentary) Bible Hub. The passage serves as both a warning and encouragement, illustrating that faithful works alone are insufficient without love and devotion to Christ.

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Hello, Friends

Today's post has to be fairly generic.

Not that God's word is generic. 

Because it is the most important part. 

But I woke up this morning at 5 am with a terrible headache. And no matter what I have done, I have not been able to get rid of it.

And so as not to make it any worse, 

I'm staying off my computers today as 

much as possible.

I plan to be back here, Lord willing, with the usual post tomorrow, which I wanted to work on for today. 

I hope and pray your day is a blessing for you.

Thanks for coming by.

Is Trump the Anti-christ? (part 8)

 

6. Persecution of Believers

SLIDE 6 OF 8

Since the Antichrist requires everyone to worship him and uses his military and political power to oppose worshipping Yahweh, he will punish and persecute those of us who bow to God. Revelation 13 teaches this persecution as a deliberate and systematic effort to suppress and eradicate those who hold fast to faith in Christ.

Revelation 13 describes how the beast, representing the Antichrist, makes war against the saints to overcome them (Revelation 13:7). The Antichrist orchestrates this persecution as part of his campaign to assert dominion over all peoples and nations. We must be prepared to endure suffering and persecution for the sake of their allegiance to Christ, as warned in Revelation 13:10.

The Bible teaches us important truths to help us endure this persecution. First, we gain rewards for enduring persecution. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me,” Jesus says in Matthew 5:11, as part of the Sermon on the Mount. We identify with Christ since he also suffered violence and persecution for speaking the truth and honoring only his Father. And we will share in his reward.

Second, these persecutions won’t last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). God will save and redeem his people (Isaiah 4)

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1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love

Revelation 2:1-4

In these verses, Jesus instructs John to write to the angel of the church in Ephesus, emphasizing the importance of the message (Rev 2:1) stepbible.org+1. He begins with a description of Himself that highlights His authority and divine knowledge, showing that He fully knows the deeds, labor, and perseverance of the believers, as well as their ability to discern truth from falsehood (Rev 2:2-3) stepbible.org+1.
While the Ephesians are praised for their faithfulness, hard work, and doctrinal integrity, they are rebuked for losing the passionate love they had at first for Christ and for one another (Rev 2:4) stepbible.org. Jesus calls them to repent and return to their initial devotion, warning that failure to do so could result in the removal of their lampstand, symbolizing the loss of their status as a faithful church (Rev 2:5) stepbible.org+1.
The passage also references the Nicolaitans, a group associated with idolatry and immorality, indicating that the church must remain vigilant against false teachings and corrupt influences (Rev 2:6) stepbible.org. Overall, these verses combine commendation, correction, and a call to renewed love and faithfulness, illustrating the balance of grace and accountability in Christ’s message to His churches.

(Source: Crosswalk.org)

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Have you ever "lost your first love?"

That is the fire for Jesus Christ when you were first saved.

I know I did. 

I didn't exactly leave Christ.

Nor did I deny Him.

But life had come along,

presenting daily living situations.

Good and not so good.

They stole that fire from me.

Until things got so bad one day,

that I knew I had to repent

and get close to Him again.

That is what I believe these verses mean.

He gave me a second chance.  

But during the Tribulation,

there may be many people 

that find themselves in the same boat.

Will their time run out?

I don't know. 

And I sure don't want to be one who finds out.

The best way to know for sure

is to miss those days altogether. 

May God have mercy on us, Friends.

Thanks for coming by.

Have a blessed day.

Is Trump the Anti-Christ ( part 7)

 

5. False Miracles

SLIDE 5 OF 8

When Jesus appeared publicly and began his ministry, he performed miracles, like healing. The Antichrist will do false miracles to claim himself as a messiah, further deceiving many.

Scripture warns us of false prophets who perform signs and wonders to deceive, as mentioned in Matthew 24:24. These false miracles validate the Antichrist’s counterfeit claims, enticing individuals to follow him instead of the true God. The book of Revelation describes the Antichrist's associate, the false prophet, who performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men (Revelation 13:13). These false miracles serve to lead people to worship the Antichrist and receive his mark (Revelation 13:14-15).

However, Jesus never performed a miracle to draw attention to himself. Again, even though he alone is worthy of worship, he often healed a person and told them to keep quiet. The act of compassion and obedience satisfied Jesus. He had rejected worldwide fame in the wilderness when Satan tempted him. In contrast, the Antichrist uses these supposed supernatural events to draw attention to himself and gain more earthly power.

As Christians, we must test the spirits to see if they are from God, as 1 John 4:1 cautions us, and remain rooted in Jesus. Jesus alone can keep us faithful to the end.

(Source: Crosswalk.org)

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16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Revelation 1:16-20

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An Anti-Christ will appear during the tribulation to deceive people.

But make no mistake. 

There are already plenty of them here now.

God does perform miracles today just as He did when He walked the earth. But we must be careful because so many are fake. And they come from false teachers that try to convince their followers of them who will give money because they think the miracles are real. Don't just believe these people without really knowing who they are and comparing them to what the Bible says. God's Word is our best resource to know. Jesus did not have to get the people of His day hyped up to heal people in a church setting, for example. And this happens in many churches today because these people do not care about the people who come to their church. They want to extract the money from your wallet to load it (and I do mean load it) into theirs. 

There is one so-called female preacher who told her congregation that she was not going to "bless anyone" until they started to bring their seed offerings up to her. 

Did Jesus do that? Absolutely not. And that was just downright sickening to me. And it should be to all Christians. But many people are deceived and give as much as they can to get her worthless blessings. Whether they can afford it or not.

If she doesn't repent of this kind of hogwash, one day, God will tell her that He never knew her. 

That is just one example. There are many so-called healings that have never been documented, promises for riches that have never happened, and more.

Jesus told us himself that these false teachers, etc., had already come into the world in His day. And there were many more to come.

And Friends, they are here. Many of them. We have a mandate from our Lord to be ever watchful for them, so that we don't fall into following the evil they are doing.

Does God heal today? Yes. Does he perform miracles today? Yes.

But His are not fake. And He doesn't promise them to everyone who gives to a ministry that wants your money first before you can expect your prayers to be answered.

Thanks for coming by today. God bless you!