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Graciously shared by Stan Dicker.....And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. |
The Mark of The Beast
In the early morning, of a very special spring day, my friend Bill and I were sitting outside of the strawberry plant distribution building, waiting for them to get ready the order Bill had placed a few days earlier. Bill said, "Why don't we spend some time praying together?" I agreed and we both bowed our heads. Bill began: "Lord, thank you for the time you have allowed my brother and I to be together, for the fellowship you give us, and thank you for being with us this morning." He paused. I exclaimed to Bill "Did you see that?!?" "No what are you talking about?" "While you were praying I saw something go by us from left to right." "What was it?" Bill asked. "I don't know, it was moving too fast." Bill started praying again. "Lord if this is from you slow it down so my brother can see it clearly, and please pass it by again." It came again but at the same speed. I said, "Bill, wait a minute. We are asking Jesus to come to us. We should be asking Him to take us up to His speed." We prayed "Lord speed up our spirits so we can see what it is You have for us, and pass it by again please." It came again slower this time than before. I still could not make out what it was or what it meant. Bill asked again, "Speed us up Lord so we can see what it is." This time as it went by it passed in front of both of us from left to right. "Bill, I see words moving across in front but can't make out what they say or what they mean." We paused and just sat there asking each other what could it mean. "The Lord wants us to read James together," Bill said. We opened our bibles and began reading from James 1:1 onward.
We read:
"
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning.
"
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
Let him shew out of a
good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But
if ye have bitter envying and
strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against
the truth. This wisdom descendeth not
from above but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where
envying and strife is, there is
confusion and every evil work.
"But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy
and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hyprocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness
is sown in peace of them
that make peace." We went through these passages over and over. We could not come to a conclusion by the end of our journey to the distributor. We both agreed to pray and seek the Lord as to what it all meant. Bill dropped me off at home and carried on to his place, and we agreed to call each other if anything happened. A few days later the phone rang early in the morning. Bill asked if we could get together to discuss what the Lord Jesus had shown him. He said he was kneeling in prayer out in the field and the Lord showed him the wisdom was the mark of the beast.
I heard what he said and we both went to scripture in
Revelation 13:18: "Here is wisdom." What a profound statement, "Here is wisdom!" Wisdom is acheived in the mind, the brain is used to observe knowledge or gather knowledge. Was the mark on the forehead of man on his mind? Where is wisdom shown? Through our minds. Whoa, this was awsome. This was incredible. I said "Bill it sure sounds good but it doesn't fit completely. Its not saying the mark is 666, but the number of a man is 666. God's number is 7 and the trinity would then be 777. Mans number is 6, therefore as logical conclusion the number of a man is 666, relating to body, soul, and spirit. "How can we say it is the mark? Wisdom doesn't fit with the back of the right hand. How does wisdom fit there? There is something wrong. Lets pray." We both prayed, "Lord we believe what you are showing us but it doesn't seem right. If the mark on the forehead is wisdom, what is the mark on the back of the right hand?" We sat and waited. I heard a word inside me and I said to Bill, "The Lord said one word, 'filacteries.' Just as clear as clear can be." I said, "Bill, whats filacteries? I have heard the word from Jesus but don't know what it is." When we went to scripture we couldn't find filacteries. I didn't know how to spell it. Days later the correct spelling was discovered and the scripture related to it. In the New Testament there is only one place where it is listed:
Matthew 23:
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they
make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the border of their garments. And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, "Rabbi, Rabbi." " But all their works they do for to be seen of men." All their works. There it was, the mark on the back of the right hand associated with "They did all their works to be seen of men." It wasn't the word phylacteries that Jesus was showing me as much as it was the key word he used to get me to turn to the passage. The passage indicated that works with the right hand was significant. He knew I didn't know what phylacteries were and would have to look it up. It meant a lot to me because I work and I am right handed. Men are going everywhere doing things for Jesus and Jesus didn't even tell them to go. They presumed that this was what had to be done because others had said this is the way their fathers and mothers did it and we must carry on the tradition. " How can we let such a great work die?" seemed to be a comment heard often. Mark of the beast on the back of the right hand---->The Works of Men. Mark of the beast on the forehead---->The Wisdom of Men. It seemed to be so true, I could feel it inside. Yet there would be many times when it would be challenged and tested. The very revelation of the fact of these two things brings into question many things that are said about scripture and what each means. I shared this revelation with my wife that anyone who uses the wisdom of men and are governed in their lives by wisdom of men, who work to be recognized by men, have the mark.. In fact, there are many thousands I see who already have the mark.. Its not a thing of the future. I told her as I was speaking I began to realize that the mark was not a permanent thing that it could be removed. All that was required was repentence, calling on Jesus ,turning over to Him your life and the mark would be wiped out. Her response was it made so much sense because most of the movies and books we had seen and read made it so that the mark once taken was not removable and you would have to loose you life to being lost forever if you took such a thing. These books and movies had caused her confusion because the Bible said there was only one unforgivable sin. And that was the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit." All other sin against the Son and against the Father were forgivable." It fit. It lined up with the rest of what we knew. To even think that one was doomed if the mark even came near was almost unbearable and fear of such a thing was insurmountable. Fear. Can I get through without being forced into a situation where there seemed no choice but to take it? Could they put me on an operating table without my knowing, and insert some kind of device without me knowing? Fear has been disolved, knowing the mark can be replaced with the mark of God. Repenting and turning from my wicked ways unto the ways of God brings me into position to receive the mark of God.
It is also interesting to note that John in his writing
said:
This was written almost 2 thousand years ago and yet it says "...even now already is it in the world". Look at what Daniel received from the angel sent from God, Chapter 12:3-4:
Timothy let us know in a real way in 1 Timothy 4:1-2:
I looked up out of interest in the websters new world dictionary the word seared and the following description is what I found very fascinating: Sear (adj) 1. to dry up wither 2.to scorch or burn.....(n) any mark or condition produced by searing. The conscience Timothy mentions in his book is of the mind.
The interesting thing is this is now years after the initial revelation and still the scriptures are opening up to produce the same results. Do you know the dictionary meaning for knowledge? Let me give to you what I read in Websters: Knowledge- 1. the act,. fact, or state of knowing 2. acquaintence with facts, 4. the body of facts accumulated by man kind. Now look at what is said of wisdom: Wisdom - 1. the quality of being wise, the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action based on knowledg, experience, understanding 2. learning knowledge Doesn't this all sound very good? I cannot get away from the fact of where the information came from, and who revealed it. I lost sight often of the meaning of this when other things tried to come in and flood out what had been shown to me. Each time I heard the word phylacteries and each time I go forward with confidence knowing, Jesus Spoke the word to me. It seemed so right yet it left so many questions. Who would believe such a report? Who would also recognize that thousands if not millions had the mark already, even christians who had a quest for knowledge and not the spirit guiding. A few years would pass and this subject would be shelved for a time. Only to be remembered every time a passage would come up that would hint that knowledge, wisdom, mark, anti-christ, and the questions would start again. How does it fit? How can it be that others don't know? Do they know and are not saying anything? Lord what is the truth? Later on going through scripture yet another time I came across a passage that read as follows:
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. Everything is first physical and then followed by spiritual. Before a spiritual thing takes place, something physical has to take place first. I believe what I read from the scripture. Jesus came down to earth in a physical body and now that He has returned back to His Father we the bride are his spiritual body. He is the head we are the body. The question sought was how did that relate to the mark of the beast? In revelation chapter thirteen starting at verse fourteen:
The scripture is true and cannot lie. If the revelation we had received about the mark in the forehead being wisdom and the the mark in the right hand being works is true, then when did the physical mark take place and what was it? The book of Revelation spoke of a mark received from the anti-christ. Things seemed to be reversed. This was not making sense. I looked high and low for some indication of some kind of mark given in the past. We were presently with a mark and one was to come in the future at the end? Somewhere there had to be a physical mark taken. I looked at the people in India, women had red dots on their foreheads. Is that the physical mark? Does history hide the mark given earlier? A second question seemed to come to the surface when reading the passage in revelation thirteen and that was the last line quoted:
And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Let me answer the second question and then we can concentrate on the first one. It seems so difficult to bring an answer until the scriptures are opened and all of a sudden things hidden are revealed and light shines on a dark shadow. Jesus gave us the greatest clue ever in Revelation 3:17-18: Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. "I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire", " white raiment." Are the things to buy physical? White raiment in the latter part of the book of revelation is the righteousness of the saints .This is not food to buy in a grocery store yet Jesus is encouraging us to buy. Can we really say you will not be able to eat if you take the mark because you will be unable to buy? In fact there are many now who cannot buy because they don't have a job. They don't have a job because they lack education. Jobs are not readily available because their education is not above grade twelve. I believe we must turn to believe in God. He told us His children would not be found begging for bread. He also fed His children manna and quail from heaven. Wouldn't he do the same for us? The disciples were witnesses when Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish as well and the four and seven. I believe He will do the same today for us. Why then should we be concerned about buying and selling food with the mark of the beast? Thousands of young people are entering colleges and universities all over the world in a quest for knowledge and wisdom. The quest is stronger and stronger with each passing year. Even as I write this down there are thousands of people getting involved with the internet, hooking up to computers all over the world. Why? In a quest for information. Looking for knowledge of given subjects, continually looking and quoting, printing, filing, editing, never ending processing of data and documents. The greatest thing to buy these days is information. Millions of dollars are being spent just filing ,quoting and editing information. Did Daniel hear from God or what? " Knowledge shall be increased." The quest for knowledge is only the result of having the mark. The trend has everyone in its grasp. If its not the quest for kowledge of worldly subjects it is the quest for the knowledge of God and the scriptures. The simplicity of knowing God and believing what he has given through the word has been clouded by having to know what each word means in greek or hebrew. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit and revelation from God we have to memorize and detailize each individual word. It has gotten so bad that the common every day person can't even cope with what is being said by preachers. Men everywhere are being led astray by doctrines of men who have a quest for knowledge. We are buying and selling the things of God and the Word of God. We sell it as if it belongs to just us. We sell it to those who have a quest for more knowledge. THE THINGS OF GOD ARE FREE. But we insist they be sold. And you cannot buy unless you belong. Even as the scripture tells us in revelation thirteen the souls of men are even on the block. Up for Sale. You cannot convince me that the mark of the beast is not running rampant in the world today. Even in the Christian Church. Its even worse there. We as christians have to pay more for tapes, books, and knowledge. We pay more for each item than most people in the world pay for their entertainment. We completely disreguard the passage in Matthew ten verse eight "Freely you have received freely give" A guest speaker comes into the church to bring the message of God to the people and stands behind the pulpit for fifteen minutes selling and advertising books tapes and periodicals. May God in Heaven give us boldness to standup and turn over their tables. And we say we are different than the world. I don't think so.
My friend called me again some time later and wanted to know if I was interested in meeting a man who had a great deal of information about Israel and the temple. He was willing to share what he had and we could get together on Friday night. I at once was ready to go with him. Just to talk about Jesus and share, was the desire of my heart. When we got to his place we were introduced and began talking about the things of God and Israel. The presence of Jesus was so strong we just knew we were being guided by devine will. It was overwhelming and pure. You could feel the motive of each others heart and all was true and right. So I stuck my neck out a little and said, " can I ask you a question? I have not come to create problems nor do I wish to project anything that is not of God, but I would like to talk to you about something that has come up time after time. He said, "Sure, I'd be delighted to discuss it with you." I explained to him what I had experienced with reguard to the mark of the beast and what Bill and I had been shown and the further truth that had been revealed to me and then I said to him, "One problem exists and I don't seem to be able to see the answer. It is possible that the Lord Jesus has shown me but I didn't see what he was saying. The problem is this: 'first the physical and then the spiritual.' How can the spiritual happen when we haven't seen the physical?" He said,"You're right. I agree we have, its in the physical." I looked at him dumbfounded. What did he mean? I didn't ask anything anymore and he and Bill carried on in conversation for about fifteen minutes and we got ready to go and left. It was already twelve thirty AM and we still had close to two hours to go to get home. We left knowing we had been with a man who loved Jesus and walked with Him in his presence. What a night we had had. Bill and I basked in the presence of Jesus all the way home. The answer kept ringing in my head, "I agree we have, its in the physical". For almost a week I couldn't get away from his answer. I was thinking of it continually then all of a sudden it hit me. IT'S PHYSICAL! IT'S PHYSICAL, WOW! What an incredible thing. Knowledge is physical. You take on knowledge by physcial means. You study, read, hear, smell, taste, its physical! The mark of the beast is physical.The mark on the forehead is physical. The mark on the right hand is physcial work. Works of men. It answers the question, first the physical and then the spiritual. It fits. OH Lord, people everywhere are looking for a physical mark to come and its already here! The one that comes next will be spiritual and people are going to just slip into it because they are blind and have the mark covering up their ability to see. They are walking in the flesh and don't even know it. Men and women everywhere walk with the mark on their forehead and on their right hand. When we do things of ourselves and do things for others without the leading of God to guide us we operate with the mark on the forehead and the right hand.
I have been in touch with others of prophetic interest and have been relating to the things that perhaps may take place in the future at the time of the end. It has been most intriguing for sure.The scenario that arose was that the anti-christ is going to soon appear in Jerusalem and sit on the throne and proclaim himself to be God. When I heard the statement of course my interest was immediate and I had to know more. The argument that the anti-christ, the man was going to take over, was so convincing that it put into serious doubt what I had received. For three months or more I have been researching into the accusations of the soon coming false man. Whatever I read I went to the local library and the archives and looked up all the statements made but could find nothing that could cooberate the statements made. I had come to the decision I would have to wait and see what happens because the prediction was for the subject matter to take place within a short time. I couldn't understand if the mark of the beast was already here and the beast was going to give the mark then the beast should already have been presented at one time or another. Yet I could not get away from what they were telling of the coming of this man. I couldn't set it aside yet because that was what I used to think about this very subject some time ago. Yet knowing what I know it just didn't fit. One last interesting coment in this chapter. The book of revelation does state that:
Revelation 13:8: And all that dwell upon the face of the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Same chapter verse 13 and 14: And he doeth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the site of men. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Notice this is the same one that causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to have the mark. I think it is most interesting to see that he is killed by the sword. Sword. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. and they shall overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. The mark is removed and disolved by the word of God. The blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. Glory to Jesus. He gives us freedom. He gives us life. Speak the word of God. Kill the beast and receive the mark of God. Erasing the mark of the Beast. The one question remaining is yet to be revealed: Who is the man that causes those to have the mark on the forehead or the back of the right hand?
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