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

Difference Between the Wrath of God and the Great Tribulation

They aren't the same.

God's wrath will be poured upon sinners, those who do not obey Jesus:

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Romans 2:5-11
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 19 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Ephesians 2:1-3
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,* like the rest of mankind.

*in the past, before becoming followers of Jesus or born again.

 

Tribulation, on the other hand, has always been the lot of those who are God's servants at the hands of those who are not (John 16:33, Romans 8:36, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). What is called the "Great Tribulation" is simply a time of unprecedented tribulation in this world (Matthew 24:21); it's a perilous time for God's people or those who may be seeking God in those days (Matthew 24:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-4). God's servants are called to endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 24:13). So, they have to come out victorious from that great tribulation. And indeed by their faith they shall be overcomers if they don't draw back to destruction (1 John 5:4, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 7:13-14). And I believe, in some aspect, distress will be upon the whole earth. 

 

See also:
The Great Tribulation

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

 

Original picture by EliasSch on Pixabay.com.

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

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

Forced worship isn't true worship. And even Satan, the father of lies and the master of deception isn't interested in fake worship. He has a stake in people who are saying, in their thoughts and in their actions, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4). Such people have nothing forced on them to be speaking like that. They bear the mark of the beast and speak like that wholeheartedly.

Revelation 13:15-17*
15 And he [the second beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

*Note that the book of Revelation shows prophecy using many symbols.

If you are worshipping God, you are already not worshipping the beast nor bearing his mark. And if you don't plan on changing your heart from worshipping God, there is no (future) mark of the beast you have to worry about. That mark is a spiritual identification mark that signifies who you belong to. It's not something that's coming and that could trick you into becoming a worshiper of the beast. And it's not a question of being told to worship the beast or get killed. Those who do not worship the beast are already on the beast's hit list and they suffer in the world that hates them (John 15:19-20).

So, if you're with the beast, you have his mark. If not, you don't. But let no one be casual about having a relationship with God and be making assumptions. That's a sure way to be and to remain deceived.

God's worshipers receive a mark or seal, too:

Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

2 Timothy 2:19

However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

People who are serving God already know which kingdom they belong to. They know they belong to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 1:13
For He [God] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son

1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one.

Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Us, we, you... Please read these scriptures in their context to know who they are talking about and avoid misappropriations.

The choice to worship God or the devil has already been put before mankind:

Joshua 24:14-15a
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away [ALL IDOLS] the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve;

This speaks of those who have chosen to answer the call of the Gospel to repentance and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:20-21, Acts 26:19-20) and have turned away from idols to worship the one true God:

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
9 For they themselves show of us what manner of welcome we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.

Having been redeemed, you know that no special ceremony was needed to sell your soul to the devil when you belonged to him. Being a sinner made you the devil's asset. But because Jesus paid the price to purchase you with his blood (1 Corinthians 6:20), you can have an inheritance in God's kingdom and not perish.

Servants of God look forward to meet Jesus. They do not prepare to face the beast and his mark — and it's not because of their escape through a pre-tribulation rapture.

See also:

The Great Tribulation

The Man of Sin or Antichrist

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

Call To Repentance

The Goal of Repentance

The Great Tribulation

"The Great Tribulation" is a deceitful concept inasmuch as it is made to line up with the false teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of believers that will leave unbelievers bewildered as they themselves face that "Great Tribulation."

There will be a time of tribulation for followers of Jesus that will be like never before for sure. That's what Jesus said (Matthew 24:21). But tribulation is guaranteed in this world from day one of being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

So, an experience of no acquaintance with tribulation coupled with an expectation of necessarily escaping a future time of great tribulation is to be carefully examined by any person professing to be a Christian (2 Corinthians 13:5). A follower of Jesus will partake in his sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7). If that’s not happening, he/she should cry out to God to find out what’s wrong.

Christians have to overcome the world like Jesus overcame the world. That ought to be their focus rather than escaping great tribulation because they fear it:
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Revelation
2:7b
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
2:11b
He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
2:17b
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he that receives it.
2:26-28
26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.
3:5
He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
3:12
Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
3:21
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.

Revelation 2:7b, 2:11b, 2:17b, 2:26-28, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, 1 John 5:4.

Concerning the tribulation that will precede the 2nd coming of Jesus, He told this to his followers:
Luke 21:36
Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
 
Does escaping all these things mean being raptured out the earth to not have to face them, or not being overcome by them/being kept safe through them¹ (serious question)? Study, pray, fast, and get clear answers from God. Don't be satisfied to follow a man/woman and what he/she has understood. Do not lean on your own understanding either, and by all means, be ready to stand before the Son of man.

1. cf. John 17:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Revelation 3:10

See also:
Trials and Tribulations

Trust Check (scriptures to strengthen your trust in God) (YouTube video)

Coming of Jesus (Bible Study)

Tribulation Saints (Bible Study)   

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

Original picture by EliasSch on Pixabay.com.

Trials and Tribulations

A trial is a time of difficult circumstances that test you in different ways and make you get in touch with what is at your core, often revealing what is unmerciful and ugly or weak. It's an opportunity for transformation for the better: walking with God with increased trust in and dependence on Him, having stronger faith in God so as to really "walk by faith and not by sight," and reflecting more perfectly to others who Jesus is.

Tribulation is suffering due to people's hostile actions or passive-aggressive behavior against you as they make you their target in some way. For a Christian, tribulation in the world is guaranteed precisely because of one's faith as promised by Jesus.

Select scriptures
-on trials: James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-19.
-on tribulations: Luke 6:22-23; Matthew 10:16-22, 34-36; John 15:19-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:21-22; 2 Corinthians 1:8-11; Philippians 1:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-19.

There may be overlaps in one's mind as far as those definitions go and the scriptures that refer to them. So, trials and tribulations are often mentioned together. And for a servant of God, a trial or test may be part of any tribulation that is suffered.

See also:

The Great Tribulation
Trust Check (scriptures to strengthen your trust in God) (YouTube video)
Trials of Faith - God Is Not a Prankster
Trials of Faith - Moving Forward with Trust in God
Trials of Faith - New Wine
Trials of Faith - God's Guidance 
Trials of Faith - Sufficient Grace

Original picture by EliasSch on Pixabay.com.

Seal of God vs Mark of the Beast (Parable)

The Kingdom of heaven is like a computer program that is set to run at its appointed time. And each man will bring to it a two-digit input as an entry code, which is patterned like this: 

[Man became righteous by faith in Jesus* - Yes or No]
[The Good News was received** - Yes or No]. 

Yes = 1; No = 0

*Becoming Jesus' disciple indeed and following Him (John 8:31-32) 

**This is the initial reaction/response to "hearing" the word that can save, just the hearing part and not the doing (James 1:22) (noted 4/26/2025)

These codes are as follows:

[0][0] Error: fallen man rejected the Good News / did not obey God and repent (access denied)
"Parable of the Sower" matches:
Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Luke 8:12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
→ Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

→ Acts 3:19-23 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
→ Acts 20:20-21 20 (You know) how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
→ Acts 26:19-20 Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 
→ Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
→ John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
→ Acts 17:30-31 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.
 

[0][1] Error – corrupted data: after believing (agreeing with the word heard, but not obeying - noted 4/26/2025), failure to endure in the faith to the end on the (authentic from the start - noted 4/26/2025) way of righteousness (access denied) 
"Parable of the Sower" matches:
Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.
Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 
→ Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

→ John 6:66  From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
→ Ezekiel 33:13, 18 When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.
→ John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

[1][0] Error – fraud : false discipleship / false righteousness (access denied) 

[1][0] can't possibly be presented for access to the Kingdom of God: it is actually [0][0], hence the "fraud" (4/26/2024)

"Parable of the Sower" matches:
Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
Luke 8:14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
→ Luke 6:46 Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

→ Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’
→ Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 
→ Matthew 15:7-9 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  8 ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. 9 And in vain they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

[1][1] Truth: man redeemed through Christ and endured in the faith to the end (access granted) 

"Parable of the Sower" matches:
Luke 8:8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Luke 8:15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with perseverance.
→ 1 Corinthians 6:11 ... But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

→ 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
→ 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 
→ Romans 2:5-11 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
→ Revelation 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Now the parable is this:
The codes [0][0], [0][1] and [1][0] are the mark of the beast, and those with it are those on the broad way that leads to destruction, and many are they who go by it (Matthew 7:13).
The code [1][1] is the seal of God, and those with it are those on the narrow way that leads to eternal life, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:14).

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

_______

If you had never examined the Parable of the Sower for yourself to see how it applies to you, you need to do that. Slow down and spend time in God's word so you know what's going on, not in the world, but in your life, because Jesus has spoken that word for all those who have ears to hear HIM (not hear other people or what other people said He said). As for what's coming to this world, you need to stay in the word of God and be watching and praying rather than keeping up with the news about the Middle East and other parts of the world with the things people are going to be saying to only bring confusion. Make sure you get God's word in you while you still can. It's your light and your life! And as Jesus' disciple and light of the world, endeavor as you can to bring others to find Jesus and come out of this death trap that this sinful world is.


John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.



~~~~~


THE SEAL OF GOD

Revelation 7:2-3
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Revelation 9:4
They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

The seal of God is a sign of obedience/submission to God / having turned away and stayed away from sin:

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.”

( Obedience to God is nothing new... Adam and Eve DIS-OBEYED and sinned, so obedience which is the essence of faith, is what initiates and follows salvation (from sin - noted 4/26/2025):
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: 7. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8. And you shall BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON YOUR HAND (hand?), AND THEY SHALL BE AS FRONTLETS BETWEEN YOUR EYES (forehead?). 9. And you shall write them upon the posts of you house, and on your gates. ) 

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1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

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Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Luke 17:26-32
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife.

Remember that as Christians, disciples of Christ, we are in a spiritual war for our souls (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12) and we follow a Commander whose strategy against sin which leads to death is perfect and guaranteed to lead sinners who obey Him and repent and continue in obedience to his word to be changed by Him (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17), FREED FROM SIN (John 8:31-36; Romans 6:16-19), to walk to the final victory where the reward is eternal life. Only those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:3-7), that is, born again believers (John 3:3-7) who walk continuously in holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:75; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:16; Ephesians 4:24) will be saved. If you obey Christ He will change you into the man or woman you need to be to enter his Kingdom. Just as Adam became a mortal man when he sinned, so do you, as one who has sinned, need to be restored to life through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith then is faithful obedience to Him (Hebrews 5:9). The Gospel is clear that salvation is not found through following men and religious organizations. Life is found in the Word of God (Matthew 4:4; John 6:63) made flesh, Jesus Himself. Don't make the mistake of defining your walking, talking, breathing experiencing as life until you know you have found the fullness of life that is only found in in Jesus (John 10:10). For you are dead while in your trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore, hear Jesus, seek Him, find Him and live... your Life to the fullest!

Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you.* For it is better for you that one of your members should perish and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you,* for it is better for you that one of your members should perish and not that your whole body should depart into Gehenna.

Matthew 6:22-23
22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

* 👉 Acts 2:38

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

👉 Acts 3:19
Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord 

👉 Acts 5:32

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.

See also:

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

The Gospel is not "Don't take the mark of the beast." It's "Repent."

The Goal of Repentance (video)

Repentance According to the Bible

Faith Implies Obedience

The Real Church of Jesus Christ (video)

By the word of their testimony (playlist)