Growing up, I attended a public school in New York City (The Beacon School). The book “1984” made it in the curriculum’s must read along with a few more novels about dystopia (A Brave New World, which speaks of Eugenics (which is gaining momentum in the news) and The Jungle) which all by the way, heavily propagandized Socialism. Big Brother, Surveillance, Thought Police (Political Correctness) are prevalent in this book published way ahead of its time in 1949. Does anything sound very familiar? Of course! We are living in that kind of society as we speak, maybe not the full scope of what is intended but we are in the beginning stages where full implementation is yet to be perfected.
The Literary world classifies “1984” as a dystopia but I beg to differ. It may be just that but it is looking more and more like a blueprint of what is to come since current events are aligning and pointing that we are drawing closer to what is talked about in the The Book of Revelation as a “One World Government” spearheaded by none other than the antichrist himself, it is more evident that that kind of society is ultimately the endgame.
The Beast out of the Earth
Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666.
Revelation 13:11-18
Some Seventh Day Adventist and Catholic theologians say the mark spoken of in verse 17 is allegorical, but if not bearing the mark actually prohibits one from doing any kind of transaction, wouldn’t that make for a better case that it is something physical/tangible rather than allegorical? I know a lot of people don’t see eye to eye on this but it is vital to make up your mind on this since bearing the mark is actually pledging allegiance to the beast with grave eternal consequences.
“There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
Revelation 14:11b-12
As believers, we are called to discern what this mark might be. Everything boils down to speculation in what form it will come but we know it is the one spoken of in the Bible when it becomes mandatory for the whole world and getting it will become a matter of life or death. Lastly, Ignorance is definitely NOT strength. The ruler of the kingdom of the air wants you to stay ignorant so that when his plan unfolds, you will be completely defenseless.
I am no scholar, but as the blogosphere is a platform where people in all walks of life can share their thoughts on any particular subject, I am deeply compelled to share this, just as I am interested in reading your thoughts on this also. We might not all agree but it makes for a good discussion.
P.S. Please check out the Eugenics link. It is quite disturbing but it is something a believer in Christ ought to know about. Lastly, if you have not seen the movie called “Equilibrium,” you must check it out.
[Image Credit: Search Engine result. Special Thanks to the OP]
Caeli, I watched the video – amazing.
Discussing prophecy fulfillment is important, very. A lot of the time I avoid it now because we are to pursue those things that make for peace. I believe there are some believers who can discuss it in a respectful way.
My view is that a lot of prophecy has been and is being fulfilled, that there isn’t a final seven years of tribulation. The seventieth week has been fulfilled. If you haven’t heard of this, this is a view called historicism. Like every other view of prophecy, there are differences among those who hold it. It is the predominant historic Protestant view but mostly has been replaced by preterism and futurism.
Hope all is well with you!
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 warns us,
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Focus on verse 2.
The 3rd Temple is not yet and Jews have all the articles ready for the temple that is spoken of to resume sacrifices the moment they have the permission to rebuild it.
Hello Maria 🙂 and Thank You for sharing your view. I do appreciate it. I am aware of Preterism. The question that now arises is, if everything from the seventieth week has been fulfilled, are we then in the Millennial reign? It seems we are reaching quite a pivotal moment in history, one that actually calls for a unification of all religions, supposedly with the intent for peace but it alludes to the coming of the lawless one. Jesus’ first coming was literal and it fulfilled prophecies. Are we then to believe that the events heralding to His Second coming are not to be taken literally? I see it in this way, that if I believe there is to be a physical mark, that doesn’t make me any less of a Christian since I adhere to the common basic foundations of the faith. If the Preterists happen to be wrong, I believe they have a lot more to lose. What’s a few more years in this life compared to eternity?
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