WARNING!!! DON'T TAKE THE MARK!!!

Everyone here who was planning to take "the mark" please raise your hand.

This is a valid issue and is worth being reminded of. In one's youth it is possible to think you're being vigilant but as many testify the cares of this life, even those that are commendable can serve as distractions from fellowship and with God and allow compromises. If you don't stay "in shape" in the Spirit, you can be caught unawares. "Be careful how you stand lest you fall." (2 Peter 3:17)

Thanks Bear.

2 Peter 3:18 KJV
[18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

95% or so of the earths population has already taken the mark.

Bro blaine, God bless you for this warning. We cannot keep silent in order to appease or placate men. This needs to be proclaimed in every church and upon every housetop.

Matthew 24:11-13 KJV
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

95% of people in church will be in line to take the mark. Many claim to they will not take it but they cannot be faithful to church, they cannot be faithful to bible study, they cannot be faithful to prayer and spending time with God. They cannot keep from sinning throughout the week, they do not trust God to provide for them, they do not obey all the Scripture, they cannot separate themselves from the world. They do not believe all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, they allow their jobs and hobbies to take place of their walk with God and church attendance.

Jesus Christ said if they do these things in a green tree what shall be done in the dry?

If people cannot be faithful to God now and obey and trust Him now how will they when they are told their social security and insurance will be CUT off and they will not be able to buy any food or clothing, or phone cards etc?

God asked Jeremiah if running with the footmen has wearied you how will you contend with the horsemen?

Bro blaine, I believe we all need to do like Jospeh who stored up during the good times so he would not perish during the bad times. If we wait until then, it may be to late.

The time we cry against sin is now, the time to trust God is now, the time to believe and obey the Word of God is now. The time to build a relationship with God is now. The Bible says now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.

God bless you.

I already have the mark on my forehead!

Ezekiel 9:4,6
Revelation 7:3,4
Revelation 9:4

I'm a marked man!

//95% of people in church will be in line to take the mark. //

Your scenario makes Jesus the cosmic loser to Satan.

That is not how my Bible reads.

Hi
Just a few observations
1:We are not currently in the tribulation
2:It has divided Church Opinion whether we will go through the tribulaion
3:We dont know really what the mark actually is,although we do know certain aspects about it,namely it means the person that takes it will be counted with Satan.
4:The mark can not be forced on us and it somehow means we are spiritually irredeemable.Obviously the mark isnt just a physical/electronic tatoo or a electronic device as these things dont seperate us from God.
5:Satan loves to count,loves nothing more than lies,damn lies and statistics
Yours staff

Colossians 1:19,20 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Ephesians 1:9,10 For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the secret of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Romans 5:18 Then as one man’s trespass [Adam’s] led to condemnation for all people, so one man’s act of righteousness [Christ’s] leads to acquittal and life for all people.

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him [Christ] and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Revelation 5:12-13 And I heard every created being in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might into the ages of ages.

Romans 11:32 For God has consigned all people to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

Philippians 3:20,21 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.

Greg- I agree with your friend 100%. All of us are marked, by the Lord or by the enemy.

Hi Greg,
Thats from a point of view that you can loose ur salvation.I think the "Mark" is for a specific time in history full stop and many people will take the mark not just for "pleasures" but for other reasons as well.I think choosing to say no the world system is a life long thing as its a battle with sin won by Jesus but we strive to walk in,urs staff

I must be missing something? Why is this strained interpretation being forced as though this "mark" sends you to hell faster than simply being an unsaved moral person? What about this allegiance to the beast is different from allegiance to the world, the flesh or the devil in any normal sense of worldliness that John also condemns?
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I have yet to see anyone show proof there is no chance of repentance to someone who takes the mark but finds Jesus will forgive? I'm waiting for someone to show explicitly that taking this mark is more damning than the common humanism found in every day America.
So while I do see personality pressing their point, I don't see the Spirit of God exposing the validity of their assertions rendering the contrary opinions of John MacArthur as null and void.
So, as we are all proudly Berean, I need to see from these Bereans their scriptural reasons Pastor John is wrong as well as myself who think this strained interpretation is shaky at best. Merely quoting the immediate doom of Mark takers is no proof of that mark being "immediately damning" anymore so than "not believing that I am He" is equally damning. But with the John 8 text, we leave room for repentance to come, in the Revelation text we leave no room. Those who believe contrary to me must show in scripture there is no chance of repentance or grace.
If you ignore, then I cannot conclude anything other than this is an unwarranted attack on John MacArthur by falsely accusing brothers or they simply have nefarious motives.
I need to see some "validation" of their interpretations other than simply "negating" everyone who disagrees with them or implies we are going to take the mark or we are ok with taking the mark or some such assumptions.

TMK, I am sure I am misunderstanding you. You aren't trying to defend the false doctrine that all will be saved are you?

Matthew 7:13-14,21-23 KJV
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 13:37-43 KJV
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; [38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one ; [39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 25:23-27,29-30 KJV
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. [26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. [30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:31-34,41,46 KJV
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 24:45-51 KJV
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [47] Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. [48] But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; [49] And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; [50] The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him , and in an hour that he is not aware of, [51] And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jude 1:14-15 KJV
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 KJV
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Colossians 1:22-23 KJV
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: [23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Matthew 10:28 KJV
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 13:24-28 KJV
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. [25] When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: [26] Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. [27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. [28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Revelation 20:11-15 KJV
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 14:9-11 KJV
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.

1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? [18] And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

The answers or evidence is right there in the passages given, they are the direct declaration on the matter, if some want to distort the plain meaning of those verses then they have to present relevant evidences that have enough probative value.

Our moderator shared a wise thought about the matter, we have to prepare and resolve ourselves seriously on the matter at the moment, it may present as a serious threat, a cunning offer, or as normal course of affairs.

The critical mass of events, viz. the paradigm revolutions in the Christian and other worlds, the advanced technologies of war, the renationalization, recognition and wars of Israel, the rising or violent anti-christian sentiments, the on-going formation of global powers and alliances, is now in the melting pot, it may just need a little bit more of cooking and seasoning before the ominous one is loosened.

// TMK, I am sure I am misunderstanding you. You aren't trying to defend the false doctrine that all will be saved are you? //

Not at all. I am trying to refute the idea that Jesus is a big loser, which a good number of folks here seem to proudly assert.

Greg said,

"We right now are to be those who are to be marked with the seal of God or the mark of the beast."

It's that simple!

Revelation 7:3 says,

"Don't harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."

sphragizó: to seal

Part of Speech: Verb

HELPS Word-studies

4972 sphragízō (from 4973 /sphragís, "a seal") ”“ properly, to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed.

4972 /sphragízō ("to seal") signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner. "Sealing" in the ancient world served as a "legal signature" which guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed.

Sealing was sometimes done in antiquity by the use of religious tattoos ”“ again signifying "belonging to."

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

σφραγίζω (Revelation 7:3 )the Sept. for חָתַם; to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal; in order to mark a person or thing; hence, to set a mark upon by the impress of a seal, to stamp: angels are said with the seal of God to stamp his servants on their foreheads as destined for eternal salvation, and by this means to confirm their hopes, Revelation 7:3, cf. Ewald at the passage; (B. D., under the words, Cuttings and Forehead); hence, οἱ εσφραγισμένοι, fourteen times in Rec. Revelation 7:4-8 ; metaphorically: respecting God, who by the gift of the Holy Spirit indicates who are his, passive, Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; absolutely, middle with τινα, 2 Corinthians 1:22.

d. in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing; hence, tropically, to confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt (a written document τῷ δακτυλίῳ, Esther 8:8): followed by ὅτι, John 3:33; τινα, to prove by one's testimony to a person that he is what he professes to be, John 6:27.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

seal

From sphragis; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively).