The Gospel Is Not "Don't Take the Mark of the Beast." It's "Repent."

The beast isn't a science fiction movie kind of animal that you can shoot at with laser guns. It's a Babylonian system of false worship that is functioning on the earth and that will ultimately be destroyed (cf. Revelation 17-18). Don't let Hollywood fool you, nor any actor dressed as a minister of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Come out of and stay out of that system (Revelation 18:4; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

The Bible says nothing in the book of Revelation about running or hiding or carrying weapons in order to not take the mark of the beast. Those who take it gladly receive it because they are already worshipers of the beast and not of God. They are big fans and followers of the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). Their thoughts (mark on their foreheads) and actions (mark on their right hand) express those sentiments and they are deceived about where they stand with God —utterly deceived, especially if they call themselves Christians but are actually heading to a Matthew 7:21-23 reality check. They may not love the truth that can save them (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Bearing the mark of the beast is rejection of God's reign over one's heart ultimately. It's refusing to submit to God wholeheartedly and to resist the devil (James 4:7-8). It's basically bowing to the devil and remaining under his power (2 Timothy 2:25, Acts 26:18). So, staying with the mark is maintaining the separation between oneself and God because of sin and, alas, despite Jesus having come into the world to bridge the gap between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5) and offer eternal life instead of death to those who would live for Him. The mark of the beast is then fundamentally a spiritual mark that only confirms those who are not doing the will of God on earth when they should have chosen to repent and follow Jesus (Mark 1:15, Mark 8:34).

So, the thing for a person to avoid in this time is to be embracing a false gospel that twists a few scriptures here and there, and thinking that one is saved or a Christian (according to the Bible's definition, cf. Acts 11:26). That is indeed being under a "strong delusion" (2 Thessalonians 2:11). To possibly come out of that, it is necessary to have an immense hatred for lies and no soft spot for any sinful thing whatsoever.

If you know that you have followed Jesus and have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; John 3:6-7), you have eternal life by faith now (1 John 5:13). The seal of God is already on your forehead (2 Timothy 2:19). Revelation 7:3 has already happened for you. You have no beast nor mark of the beast to worry about. That is in your past and hopefully will stay in your past if you remain faithful to Jesus to the end. It's the beast rather that should worry about you opening your mouth to preach the truth to whoever has ears to hear it until you can't do that anymore. You know who Jesus is and He knows you. And if it comes to it, it's nothing to die for your faith. It would be an honor.

Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Revelation 12:11-12, 17
11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their life, even to death. 12 Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the land and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.
17 The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be diligent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto myths. 5 But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry.

Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. 15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.

 

See also:
The Great Tribulation 

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

The Man of Sin or Antichrist

Difference Between the Wrath of God and the Great Tribulation

The Man of Sin or Antichrist

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away [apostasy] comes first, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The man of sin is mankind overtaken by sin as the true Gospel that brings salvation is hardly preached at all, in favor of ear-tickling false messages (2 Timothy 4:3-4) that are gladly and widely received by those who do not love the truth that can save them (2 Thessalonians 2:10, Matthew 7:13). Those receiving the truth now are the few who are found on the highways (Matthew 22:9-10) and who are willing to hear and obey God's truth (Luke 6:46-49, John 12:46-48, James 1:21-22) outside of the teachings put forth by mainstream Christianity that uses the word of God deceitfully (2 Corinthians 4:2b). The man of sin is the person who is lord of his own life and not submitted to God. It's not one precise man with the capitalized title "Man of Sin." The great falling away (apostasy) has been well under way and the man of sin has been revealed.

Likewise, there is not one man that will be called "the Antichrist." There are many antichrists even now. Anyone who is not worshipping the one true God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23) is an antichrist, a "son/daughter of perdition," according to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 still. It's not what most would want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). But may those who love the truth be blessed.

1 John 2:18
Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, whereby we know that it is the last hour.

The apostle John wasn't in any way saying that the antichrists that had already started arising in his day where not yet what the servants of God were expecting. He wasn't in any way saying that the real Antichrist (with capitalized A) was still a figure to come. That can only be conjectured.

John further makes it all the more clear:

1 John 4:3

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God, and this is that of the antichrist, which you heard that is coming, and now is already in the world.

See also 1 John 2:22 and 2 John 1:7 mentioning antichrists. Anyone who is preaching or believing in or serving a "false christ" (Matthew 24:24) or "another Jesus" (2 Corinthians 11:4) than the one the Bible speaks of — the Son of God — is necessarily an idolater and an antichrist, a son of disobedience on whom the wrath of God is coming. Such must seek God while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Matthew 24:12

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.¹

1 John 3:4

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Ephesians 5:1-7

1 Be therefore followers of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. 3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7 Do not therefore be partakers with them.

1. It's very rare to find that scripture mentioned in any Christian sermon or teaching or book. Why? It goes against what false teachers/false ministers of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) want people to keep in their minds. In particular, it would go against the "it's not of works" false grace mindset. So, it's blotted out of the Bible for all but a remnant who live by that very word (Revelation 14:12).

See also:

Anti-Christs

The Great Tribulation

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

How Do We Know That We Love God?

Are We All Sinners?

Image by John Hain from Pixabay

Call to Repentance