Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
This passage of scripture describes for us very graphically, the inevitable result of subscribing to a false system of worship, as will be introduced and enforced by the powers that be, both political and religious, being driven by the devil. The mark of the beast as received in the hand or in the forehead represents the two main reasons why the overwhelming majority of earth's inhabitants will succumb to the social, religious and economic pressures that will be brought to bear on every person living on the planet. Some receive the mark in their foreheads, meaning that an intelligent and deliberate decision is made to bow to the beast, while others receive the mark in their hands because they do not want to be deprived of the privilege of doing business as usual. Let's read:
Revelation 13:16 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: 17 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 third angels' message therefore warns us against subscribing to the false system of worship, soon to be introduced and enforced, for to whom ever we choose to give our worship, there will our allegiance and dependence lie, and in the case of the mark of the beast, it will be made manifest that we are dependent upon man instead of God. Man was created on the sixth day of the week, and thus the number 6 falls short of the number which represents perfection in the Bible, the number 7.
Even in secular circles the number seven is associated with good fortune as is well known by the "Lucky seven" or 777 digits. If triple sevens represent good luck in secular circles then triple sixes must logically be associated with something that falls short of good fortune, something that is ominous in nature. In the third book of John we read of the three main dimensions of the human experience, which will ultimately be controlled by satan through the beast system, in anyone who receives the mark of the beast. Let's read:
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
These three main aspects, namely prosperity, healthcare, and religion will come under the dominion of the beast system, and already we are headed in that direction at an alarming rate. If we refuse the mark of the beast, we will not be able to "Prosper" in the temporal sense, since our economic privileges will be taken away, and consequently we will not be able to access the man-made system of healthcare which the majority of us have come to depend upon. And last but not least, a false system of worship will be forced upon us, in order to prevent our souls from "prospering" too, and that's why the Lord is saying to us that we should not go with the flow, by becoming too deeply entrenched in the man made systems of the earth, but that we should instead be cultivating a living faith in God, who will be to us a Sun and Shield during the darkest days of earth's history.
This point is of critical importance, for the very same dimensions of human existence, health, prosperity, and religion, which satan endeavors to control through the beast system, have already been addressed by God through the mighty promises He has given us to live by. Let's read:
Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Any system of government which eliminates God from the human equation cannot stand, for He is the Sustainer and Giver of all that is good, and that's why we are seeing today, that as we put God further and further away from us, by enacting and subscribing to laws that are foreign to His government, that a corresponding rapid declension in morality, and increase of brutality and bloodshed is taking place across the globe, which will finally call for the complete destruction of sin and those who cling to sin, in the final conflagration that will envelop the whole world.
That's why an urgent appeal is now being made by The God of heaven for us to come out of Babylon, lest we gradually become brainwashed by the deceptive and seductive arts of the adversary of souls, for the more we trust in man made systems, depending on them for survival, the more difficult it will be for us to disconnect ourselves when we need to, for we would have already established a comfort level that we will not desire to be disturbed. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to trust in God alone, for He is our refuge and strength through all of the ups and downs of life, Who is faithful to all the promises He has made to those who believe in Him. Let's read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
May we ever learn the all-important lessons of trusting and obeying Christ in everything, for therein lies our only safety. "Good night" and God bless!