Within western Christianity the concept of an antichrist is often linked to the political views of those within the church. This is especially evident among evangelicals. Many think of an antichrist as a world leader, a politician, or possibly a wealthy person who uses their wealth for evil and political purposes.

These ideas are often the breeding ground for conspiracies, false prophecies and belief that there is a deep state influence among those who have differing political views. Such ideas often create fear and hysteria, and have led some sincere people to do foolish things as they engage in a kind of “political/religious holy war”.

Does the Bible teach us to embrace such ideas about antiChrist? Notice that I did not say “the antichrist” but, antichrist. This is because the Bible mentions antichrist and antiChrists (pural), but never once does the Bible use the description of the antiChrist.

Why is this important?

It is important because we must approach any truth in scripture from the clear texts which mentions the truth we are seeking to correctly understand. It is from the clear texts that we glean understanding from the not so clear texts. Yet many attempt to cast interpretations on unclear texts while completely ignoring what is said in the clear texts. When our interpretations of unclear texts are not aligned with what is revealed in the clear texts, we can be sure that our interpretations are very bad at best.

The clear texts which specifically mention an antiChrist have nothing to do with anyone outside the church (i.e., the household of God). In every instance it is always a reference to apostasy within the church. Thus apostasy within the church should guide our understanding regarding antiChrist.

In scripture, the apostle John is the only writer who uses the term antiChrist. He uses it three times in his first epistle and once in his second epistle. Each time it has to do with apostasy. If we rightly understand John’s message about antichrist, we will better understand Paul’s reference to apostasy and the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians.

So with that said, lets begin with John’s first epistle:

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. ~ 1 John 2:18-24

Notice that John is not warning his audience against political leaders or influential wealthy people in the world. He is warning them against those who come from within – “they went out from us, but were not all of us.” In his letter to the Galatians, Paul mentions false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily (secretly) to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage (Galatians 2:4). Peter warns that there would be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ~ 2 Peter 2:1-2

In John’s mention of those who went out from us, and Paul’s mention of false brethren, and Peter’s mention of false teachers, there is deceit and falsehood involved. This is what antiChrist is – it is the deceitfulness of false Christianity and apostasy from the truth which leads those who are seduced away from the truth in Christ.

In his second epistle, John says, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” ~  2 John 2:7

Notice that John specifically references deceivers against the gospel as being antichrist.

John continues: Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. ~ v. 8-11

Again, John is not referring to politicians in the world, he is referring to deceivers in the church who have crept into the household of God to lure God’s people away from the truth in Christ. If we would simply give this some thought, we would remember that the theme of warnings against apostasy runs throughout the entirety of the New Testament. In the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus repeatedly warned against such deceivers and the New Testament writers repeatedly warn also. 

Consider that John says in his first epistle, “as ye have heard that antichrist shall come”. What had they heard? Nowhere in scripture can we trace that they had heard that a political leader would be an antichrist. However, we can see over and over again the repeated warnings in the New Testament to be on guard against false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers who lead God’s people into apostasy.
And this line of thinking matches John’s description of antichrist.

Notice again John’s use of the word antichrist in his second epistle: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ` 2 John 2:7

Notice that in his second epistle, John uses the description, antichrist, as a reference to deceives who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. What does it actually mean in John’s writings that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?

Jesus Christ coming in the flesh is a reference to God manifested in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul refers to this as “the mystery of godliness” (1 Timothy 3:16). It is important to point out that John opens his first epistle claiming that Jesus is the eternal life which was with the Father from the beginning, and Jesus is the one through whom we are called into fellowship with God.

In his warning against the many antichrists, John says, Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ~ 1 John 2:24-26

John’s statement “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you”, is a reference to the many antichrists which he mentions just a few verses earlier.

John continues:

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. ~1 John 2:27-29

John mentions the anointing (a reference to the Holy Spirit) in context to the truth of Christ abiding in us. Interestingly, one of the tactics of modern day false teachers is their continual misrepresentation of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

The real Holy Spirit from God causes God’s people to be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ and in him alone! The Holy Spirit exalts Christ and glorifies him. The one who truly has the Spirit of God leading them will find their joy in fellowship with Jesus and the Father in accordance with the gospel.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. ~ 1 John 1:3-4

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: ~ 1 Peter 1:8

It is Jesus who brings joy that is full of glory to our lives and this is how we know the Spirit from God.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1-3

First, notice that John says we are to try the spirits. How do we do that? By the message they bring. The more we are grounded in the message of Christ given to us by the apostles (not those claiming to be apostles in our time but the apostles appointed by Jesus) who gave us the New Testament. John is adamant about this when he says:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; ) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ~ 1 John 1:1-3

Our fellowship is with the one that his apostles declared to us.

Peter says something very similar when he says, For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ~ 2 Peter 1:16

After Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, Peter gathered the disciples together to select Judas’s replacement because the scripture had declared of Judas, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. ~ Acts 1:20

From this scripture Peter concluded,  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. ~v. 21-22

Since the inception of the church, there has been a need for the true witness of Christ because of impostors who bring another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel other than the one delivered to us by those whom Jesus chose.

Consider that Jude begins his epistle by saying, Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Jude 1:3-4

Those who are antichrist do not deny a concept of a Jesus created in their deceiving, another Jesus of another spirit, and another gospel. They deny the original, who is the Living Christ and the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God.

Shortly after Peter mentions that they were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16), he tells his audience that the holy scriptures are a more sure word of prophecy and that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation.

But what does it mean that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation? I will get to that in a moment, but before I do, allow me to point out that Peter goes on to say that the prophecy of the scriptures did not come from the will of men, but holy men of God spoke as they moved by the Holy Spirit.

It is in this context that Peter writes, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ~ 2 Peter 2:1-2

False teachers do not testify of Jesus. They testify of themselves and of another gospel. They claim to have spiritual revelation from the Spirit as they twist scripture to support their claims. They employ private interpretations to seduce and make merchandise of God’s people. They spawn damnable heresies which ultimately deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

John tells us to try the spirits. False prophets, false teachers, false apostles, are all antiChrists. They will not stir your heart for Jesus. They will not lead you to have your entire affection set on Christ your Savior. An antichrist will always make himself a kind of mediator so that you follow him and not Jesus. Believing that Jesus Christ has come is the flesh is much more than an acknowledgment of a man named Jesus who came into the world. It is the entire message of the gospel that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, and God is revealed to us in Christ, and the Father has made Christ alone to be to us his wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

Finally, notice that John uses very similar language in chapter 4 as he does in chapter 2

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  ~1 John 2:18

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ~ 1 John 4:3

In John’s writings antichrist is apostasy, deception, and the falsehood of seducers who lead God’s people away from the true faith in Christ.

What about Paul’s man of sin? That will have to wait till my next post on this topic.

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. ~ Philippians 2:25-30 

Praying for God’s mercy has become my go-to so often when I pray for others who are in trouble. In the text above Paul refers to his dear friend, Epaphroditus, who was very sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on Epaphroditus and healed him. Not only was God merciful to Epaphroditus, but God was also merciful to Paul. Paul says, God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Death affects more than the one dying. Death also affects family and friends by the sorrow it brings. It’s important that we understand that even as Christians we still need God’s mercy. The writer of Hebrews encourages us that because Jesus, who was tempted at all points like we are, is at the right hand of God, we should come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  ~ Hebrews 4:16

We all know that we are dependent on God’s grace, but let us not forget God’s mercy because we need it just as much. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people appealed to God’s mercy in times of trouble. Mercy is not just for the sinner, it is for the saint as well, and we all need God’s mercy in our lives especially in times of crisis.

Nothing expresses humility in prayer like the plea for mercy, and when we seek God’s mercy we are humbling ourselves and appealing to God’s kindness and compassion to meet our needs.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy… ~ Psalm 33:18

A common habit used among some evangelical Christians is to describe the place of God’s throne is “the throne room”. However, the Bible never uses this expression to describe God’s throne. It is entirely made up by people and not scriptural at all.

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? ~ Isaiah 66:1

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? ~Acts 7:48-50

There are many scriptures in the Bible which speak of God’s throne, and never is his throne confined to a “room”, so please stop it with this vernacular if you have the habit of referring to the place of God’s enthronement as “the throne room.”  God is enthroned in majesty in the heavens, not confined to some room in the heavens.

Let your beliefs about God and Christ, who is seated at God’s right hand be aligned with the revelation given to us in the scriptures.

I recently received a very good question in response to my article on Kat Kerr. I have decided to answer it publicly. Hopefully it will be helpful for those who want the truth. Here is the commenters response to the article:

Hello, I have read your post. It seems your main argument is about SEEING GOD. And it’s clear from your standpoint that no one can see God.

The first thing I would like to understand is, what is SEEING GOD in this context? Is it about seeing all the details of his face? If a man sees the form of God in his brilliance, can we say he has seen God or he hasn’t?

Like if a man stands before God’s throne, and he beholds the brilliance of his essence, is this enough for us to say he has seen God or not?

So help me define well the context in which we are looking at the aspect of SEEING GOD. Thank you.

Here is my reply:

Thank you for the comment, and that is a very good question. Before I answer it I want to say there are many reasons why Christians should reject Kat Kerr’s claims but the most obvious one ought to be her claims of having seen God. 

There were instances in the Bible where people saw God (his form, and/or his glory), not many but only a few, and no one saw his face. I will address this momentarily, but before I do, consider the following:

First, the fact that only a few in scripture had such encounters with God ought to be an indicator to us that such experiences are rare.

Secondly, those who had such experiences with God did not have recurring experiences like Kat Kerr claims to have. Unfortunately, it’s becoming all too popular among false teachers to boast of trips to Heaven. One of them claims to have been to Heaven some ridiculous amount, something like 700 times or so.

Thirdly, those in scripture who had such experiences were deeply affected by God’s glory and power. Their experiences were holy and sacred, unlike today’s false teachers who describe Heaven like a mystical Candy Land or Disney World. The descriptions by Kat Kerr and others who make such claims are in stark contrast to those who had encounters with God in scripture. There is absolutely nothing they have in common.

Fourthly, heavenly experiences in scripture were according to God’s sovereign will in contrast to today’s Heaven travelers who profit from their tales speaking as if they can take off and go to Heaven any time they want to. In fact I recently watched one among them teaching people how to have Heavenly trips.

Now to answer your question. In scripture there were people who had visions of God, but never once does any of them see God’s face. When Moses asked God to see his glory, God specifically said to Moses, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. Notice that God uses the expression see my face and see me interchangeably. This holds true throughout the entirety of scripture, as no one has ever looked on the face of God except his only begotten Son, Jesus.

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ~ John 1:18

It might be of some help to mention that not even Jesus ever mentioned what God looks like. If anyone is qualified to tell us what God looks like, it was Jesus, and he never did.

There is not a single place anywhere in scripture that describes God’s face, and no one who had a vision of God ever described his face, or even claimed to have seen his face. A case could be made that doing so is forbidden by the second command “thou shalt make no  graven image”, yet Kat Kerr claims she could draw a picture of God’s face from her photographic memory if she were an artist. She is lying.

Consider that if God himself said to Moses “no man can look on my face and live”, and no one in scripture, not even Jesus describes what God’s face looks like, then who is Kat Kerr to claim she could draw the face of God because of her photographic memory? This is the kind of question that Christians should ask rather than being gullible and believing this woman. There is an atheist who has a blog who refuted this woman’s claims with scripture. It truly is shameful when an atheist will take the time to appeal to scripture to refute the lie of a false teacher while a sect of Christians will not, but would rather believe a lie over the scriptures.

I have have an article addressing the visions of God that I will link below:

https://rootedandgroundedinchrist.com/2021/07/25/what-does-the-bible-teach-about-visions-of-god/

To read my original post Kat Kerr post follow this link:

https://rootedandgroundedinchrist.com/2021/01/20/kat-kerr/

There are many unscriptural ideas that people have regarding the mark of the beast. These ideas often circulate on social media sites and are steeped in conspiracies. Its unfortunate that many times well-meaning evangelicals are responsible for the spread of such false doctrines about the mark of the beast. In this article I want to briefly address some of the more prevalent ideas circulating in our current climate.

Since the current mark of the beast frenzy surrounds the covid 19 vaccines, the examples I am sharing in this article are comments from social media regarding the vaccines being the mark.

THE BEAST SYSTEM

Many have bought into the idea that there is a “beast system” that we must avoid at all costs. One person said the following about the covid vaccines:

“…it’s setting things up perfectly so when the time comes to accept the mark they will already be prepared and mentally just go with it.” 

Another person said this:

“No it’s not the mark, yet. What we’re seeing is how easy it will be to convince the masses when the true mark comes.”

The idea of brainwashing people so that they will succumb to the mark of the beast is not scriptural at all. In scripture there is no system set up which leads people like sheep to the slaughter to receive the mark of the beast. In scripture an authoritarian ruler arises declaring himself to be God and demanding worship before there is ever a mark. Only after a second beast arises which is loyal to the first beast is a mark implemented by the second beast. In scripture, only those who hate God and refuse to repent of their wickedness show allegiance to the beast and take his mark because they worship him.


GLOBAL LEADERS CONSPIRING

Another example of a false dichotomy about the mark of the beast is idea that globel leaders are working together to control the population.

Notice how this comes through in the three comments below:

Its the beginning…they’re observing global behavior …that’s why the plandemic..and now pushing vax mandates… All ties into the NWO…and their evil plan. The Mark of the Beast.

I take it as a trial for the mark and it’s proving to be successful. Talk about setting the stage

This is exactly the conclusion I have come to. They are conditioning people and setting the stage for the antichrist.

Contrary to these comments, the mark of the beast is not the result of global leaders working together to control people. The beast of the book of Revelation is a singular individual and the mark of the beast corresponds with the name and number of the name of the individual whom the apostle John sees in a vision  as “a beast”.

The scripture says, 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 13:18.

The beast of the book of the Revelation is an individual (an authoritarian ruler), and the mark corresponds with his image and the number of his name. The Bible warns us to be wise regarding this, yet so many are foolishly believing that the mark of the beast is a result of the formation of many gobel leaders working together to control people.


SUSPICION

For many, suspicion drives their understanding more than truth and facts. This comment below demonstrates how many think regarding the mark of the beast:

I guess I can’t say unequivocally that it isn’t, so I’m steering clear.

This is a classic example of the fear that is rampant with so many people who want to “steer clear” just in case it’s the mark. Such notions fester the beliefs that a person can unknowingly take the mark of the beast and be condemned to eternal damnation even though they may love God and want to serve him. In scripture there are clear warnings about what the mark is and not to take it, and absolutely no one takes it unknowingly.

The notion that someone could accidentally take the mark of the beast and be damned to eternal punishment when they had no intention of doing wrong is completely foreign to the teachings of scripture, and the prophecy given to the apostle John in the book of the Revelation. Those who believe that people who have been vaccinated for health reasons have received the mark are dishonoring the the character of God and the faith in Christ. If you think that a servant of God can unknowingly take a mark and be condemned to eternal damnation, you have become like those that the apostle Peter describes when he speaks of those who turn the scriptures to their own destruction.

It is shameful that any christian would believe such nonsense.


THE TRAP

Then there are those who think the mark of the beast is an evil trap to deceive the ignorant. this idea runs close to the last one mentioned above. Notice how it comes through in the following comments:

I agree, I think it’s a test run of sorts.

It’s conditioning.

True, it is the precursor to the mark.

Work’s like a trap, from the beginning

YEP! And if we comply…it will lead to the mark!

Could be a trial run

Again, there is no text anywhere in the book of the Revelation that reveals that the mark of the beast is taken by ignorant people who were conditioned to blindly follow whatever global leaders tell them to do.


OVER SPIRITUALIZING

The beast that the apostle John saw in a vision was symbolic of a real person and should be rightly interpreted to be understood correctly. Here is one example of over spiritualizing:

The body is the temple. This is the abomination that maketh desolate.

Notice that this commenter joins two separate things from scripture to come up with a “spiritual” conclusion. First, he says “the body is the temple”. The Bible teaches that our bodies as believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ. The Bible does not teach that the human body is a generic temple. Our bodies as members of Christ are God’s temple because His Spirit dwells in us. Secondly, this commentator mentions the abomination of desolation in a fashion that isn’t aligned with scripture.

In scripture, the abomination of desolation specifically refers to the desecration of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D., and Jesus told his followers this:

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day… ~ Matthew 24:15 -20

Notice that all the details and terminology is specifically related to the Jewish people of that generation. The abomination of desolation, spoken by the prophet Daniel stands in the holy place. What holy place? The one in the temple. This entire dialogue began when Jesus’s disciples commented about the splendor of temple, to which Jesus responded by prophesying its destruction, saying, not one stone would be lifted upon another that shall not be thrown down. ~ Matthew 24:2

The holy place is a reference to that first century Jewish temple. Jesus also mentions Judaea, the nearby mountains, the Jewish style homes, and the Sabbath. These words are in a Jewish context regarding God’s judgment on the temple and not in a Gentile or United States of America context.

Finally, Another commenter expressed their suspicion of the mark overtaking people like sheep lead to the slaughter in this way:

No, but when they flip that 5 G switch, it will dumb them down and cut that connection to God, enough that they will accept the mark willingly.

In the book of the Revelation, the mark of the beast is not a form of mind control given to the brained washed. It is a mark given to those who hate the living God and worship the beast which is a man who is an authoritarian ruler claiming to be God. Those who take the mark do it because they willingly reject God and refuse to repent of their sins. – “and they repented not to give him glory.” ~ Revelation 16:9

Repentance, or refusing to repent is a willful decision. Those who took the mark in the book of the Revelation were the unrepentant who aligned themselves with the blasphemous beast – a man who is an authoritarian ruler, claiming to be deity.

In closing, I want to say the following. There was a person who informed me that they felt sorry for me after I communicated to them that I am vaccinated and I love God and worship and bless his holy name. Their belief that the vaccine is the mark of the beast carried more weight in their response to me than the fact that I love God and worship God. When you embrace an ideology that unsuspecting Christians who love God can unknowingly take the mark of the beast and be doomed to eternal damnation even though they love God, something has gone terribly wrong in your thinking and understanding of God, Christ, and the gospel.

If this is you, it is you that have been deceived, and not those taking the vaccine.

The hysteria over the covid 19 vaccines is off the chain, and there are many people who are convinced that it is the mark of the beast, or at the very least a precursor to the mark. Some refer to it as part of the mark of the beast system, as if there is such a thing, but what is the mark of the beast according to the Bible? For the answer we ought to consider the narrative in which we find the mark of the beast in scripture.

The first mention of the mark of the beast is found In Revelation 13 where we find that there are two beasts which rise to power. The first beast is recognized by everyone and is worshipped. He gets his power from the dragon, who is Satan. Both the dragon and the beast are worshipped, and the beast openly blasphemes God. He is permitted to have authority over all nations for 42 months. His coming to power and having authority over all nations and being worshipped by the nations happens before any mark (of the beast) is established.

This beast is an authoritarian ruler who comes to power and is worshipped but he does not cause anyone to receive a mark. The mark is only established after a second second beast arises.

The second beast exercises the same authority as the first beast and causes the people to worship the first beast. He performs great signs in allegiance to the first beast. The second beast makes an image of the first beast and causes it to speak so that the image of the first beast causes those who would not worship his image to be slain. The image of the first beast is a key component to understanding the mark of the beast. 

In this context the second beast causes everyone to take a mark showing their allegiance to the first beast. This mark does not exist when the first beast only is in power. It comes into being after the second beast arises to prominence and exalts the first beast as a god to be worshipped. We are then told, “This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” ~ v. 18

The first beast is a ruler, and the second beast continues to promote the dominance of the first beast. This fits like a hand in a glove with Nero Caesar and his successors in the first century near the timeframe of the destruction of the temple. But let’s assume it’s not Nero so as to  address the fears that people have that the covid 19 vaccine is the mark.

The mark of the beast does not precede the beast. If there is no first beast (an authoritarian ruler claiming to be god), who has been worshipped by all nations, there is no mark as of yet. The mark only comes into being after the second beast comes to power.

The mark of the beast has nothing to do with fighting viruses in order to save lives. It has everything to do with allegiance to an authoritarian ruler who is revered as a god.

Unfortunately, too many people have end time beliefs about the mark of the beast that are predicated on conspiracies using proof texts rather than diligent study of God’s word. For example they think the mask and/or vaccine mandates set forth by some businesses and institutions qualify as the mark because one of the details in scripture is that “no man could buy or sell” without having received the mark. Such eisegesis (reading into a text one’s own ideas) truly lacks understanding and critical thinking.

If a grocery store, a restaurant, or any other business requires masks or vaccinations, it is for health and safety reasons, not for allegiance to a ruler who claims to be God. The real truth is there has never been a time in history when it has been so easy to purchase goods without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. In fact, the pandemic has caused businesses to seek more ways to sell their goods and services in order to stay in business and make a profit. Rather than looking for ways to restrict consumers from doing business with them, they are adapting and providing more options for consumers to purchase their products.

You can purchase restaurant food, groceries, household products, and just about anything your heart desires straight from your computer, iPad, or cell phone. Many businesses even provide curbside pick-up where they will deliver your purchases straight to your vehicle. Again, there has never been a time when making purchases has been so easy. Businesses are not stopping people from buying their products, and the businesses which regulate who enters their facilities do so for health safety reasons. Such easy online purchasing would not exist if the vaccine qualified as the mark of the beast.

Conspiracy driven interpretations of scripture cripples one’s ability the correctly understand the truth of scripture. It also undermines the validity of our faith in the eyes of the world. When Christians claim that there is a ““mark of the beast system” in which people can unknowingly take a mark which causes them to be condemned in the eyes of God they bring a reproach on the gospel. In scripture, those who received the mark of the beast do so because they willingly oppose God.

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” ~ Revelation 14:6-13 

If one would simply study the scriptures and think critically and with clarity, they would immediately eliminate the covid vaccination from any potential of being the mark. The vaccine is not the number of a world ruler demanding worship. The fact that there are many God fearing people who have been vaccinated and continue to love God, worship God, and serve God after being vaccinated ought to give people a clue.

No one in scripture who takes the mark takes it accidentally, and no one who takes it wants to serve the one true God. Those who receive the mark have rejected God before taking the mark.

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 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. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. ~ Revelations 16:1-11

The mark of the beast has to do with apostasy against God, and refusing to repent. It has absolutely nothing to do with a humanitarian act to combat a deadly virus. Those who claim that a person who takes the vaccine for health reasons are unknowingly condemned by God for taking the mark of the beast are demonstrating that they have no understanding of God’s character. God gave his only begotten Son to save sinners. He doesn’t damn those who take a vaccine to protect themselves and others from a deadly virus.

The idea that the vaccine is the mark of the beast is truly a false doctrine that opposes the gospel and the revelation of God in Christ. If you are Christian and you are peddling such conspiracies, you need to stop it. You are not thinking critically, nor are you studying so as to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needed to not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If you have read to this point and have a few extra minutes, I invite you to click on the link below (THE MARK OF THE BEAST FRENZY). In that article I address some of the ideas floating around and why they are not scriptural.

_______________________________________________________


THE MARK OF THE BEAST FRENZY

https://rootedandgroundedinchrist.com/2021/08/17/the-mark-of-the-beast-frenzy/

1 John 5:6 declares, the Spirit bears witness because the Spirit is truth. The witness spoken of in this text is the testimony of Jesus, God’s Son. In 1 John 2:27, John says the anointing that abides in you is truth. The anointing is a reference to the Spirit we have received because of our faith in Jesus, and John’s mention of the anointing as truth is in context to our abiding in the Son and in the Father.

When Jesus informed his disciples that he would soon be departing from this world to be with the Father, he told them that he would send them another comforter, and referred the comforter as the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26).

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ~ John 14:16-18

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. ~ John 15:26-27

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ~ John 16:7-15

The Bible clearly defines God as the Father, and Jesus Christ as God’s only begotten son with the same divine attributes as the Father. The Bible also speaks of the divine attributes of the Holy Spirit, but unfortunately many, even among those who embrace a trinitarian view of God, have a misplaced understanding of the Holy Spirit in relation to the Father and the Son.

For example, Paul speaks of the kingdom of Christ and of God (Ephesians 5:5) and in first John, the apostle John repeatedly mentions the Father and the Son. He refers to Jesus as the life that was with the Father and was manifested to us (1:2). Then in the very next verse he declares, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ ” (v.3).

Not mentioned here is the proper name of the Holy Spirit. John doesn’t say, our fellowship is with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Instead, he only mentions the Father and the Son by name. Yet if we take into account the entirety of the epistle we will find that the Spirit is understood in the text by the use of the word “fellowship”. It is through the Spirit, and the Spirit alone, that we can have fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 speaks to this flow of thought.

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:3

Good doctrine regarding the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is essential in this day and age to keep the Christian from unsound and unwholesome doctrines of men which can so easily deceive. Many false teachers and false prophets boast of having the Spirit and speaking from the Spirit when they are actually communicating another spirit, and not the Holy Spirit to their followers. In 2 Corinthians 11:4 Paul speaks of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel in his rebuke to the Corinthians for tolerating false apostles.

In order to have a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit we must be aligned with the revelation of the Son of God and the message of the gospel. There is no language anywhere in the New Testament which teaches us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit independent of our fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately many Christians have allowed a false dichotomy into their hearts and minds regarding the Spirit. Instead of the true ministry of the Spirit which leads to purity and righteousness, they have embraced an artificial gospel of mysticism and error. Yet the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

The practice of commanding angels is popular within some charismatic teachings but is it a scriptural practice, and should we actually think that angels will obey our commands?

According to the Bible, angels are greater in power and might than people (2 Peter 2:11), and there is not a single example in all of scripture of anyone other than God giving commands to angels. While we have no example in scripture of any human giving commands to angels, we do have examples of angels giving commands to people on behalf of God.

For example, consider that the law of Moses was administered by angels. In his address to the Sanhedrin, Stephen declared the following:

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. ~ Acts 7:52-53

In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul says the law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator (Galatians 3:19), and the writer of Hebrews declares, the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward ~ Hebrews 2:2

Angels are God’s servants, harkening to his voice, not man’s: Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. ~ Psalm 103:20

In scripture, we never see any people giving orders to angels, but we do see angels giving orders to people. In Genesis 16:9, the angel of the Lord gave a directive to Hagar. In Genesis 19, the angels who visited Lot gave orders to flee the city of Sodom with his family. In numbers 22, the angel of the Lord gave orders to Balaam.

Consider the words of the angel of the Lord, speaking on behalf of God in Judges 2:

And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord. ~ Judges 2:1-5

Again, angels are God’s servants not our servants, and they do God’s commands not ours.

When Gideon encountered the angel of the Lord in Judges 6, it was the angel who gave directives to Gideon and not Gideon giving directives to the angel. In the New Testament the angel Gabriel caused Zacharias to be speechless until after the birth of his son (John the Baptist) because Zacharias doubted his words.

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ~ Luke 1:19-20 

Who had the authority in this exchange? It was Gabriel and not Zacharias.

Throughout the scripture angels are God’s messengers and God’s servants. Not only do angels speak God’s word, they also are the agents who often carry out God’s judgments. One only need to read the book of the Revelation to see that angels involved in God’s judgments.

We could go on, but suffice to say there is absolutely not truth to the idea that Christians have any authority to command angels. There is not a single text which teaches such ideas, nor is there any example of any servant of God in scripture doing this. When God’s people encountered angels in scripture, it was God speaking through the angel to his servant, not the servant commanding the angel to do his bidding.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. ~ Daniel 7:9

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. ~ Daniel 7:13-14

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. ~ Revelation 1:12-16

In Daniel’s account, the Ancient of Days is God and the Son of man is Jesus. However, when John sees Jesus in the Revelation, his appearance is like the Ancient of Days in Daniel.

I find this truly powerful and worth consideration that the scriptures tell us that Jesus is the express image of God and the brightness of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3), and in John’s vision of Jesus in the Revelation Jesus’s appearance to John was consistent with that of the Ancient of Days. Proving once again that those who see Jesus see the Father.