Does God Exist?

There are those that are opposed to the possible existence of a God that created the universe by first establishing rules that all things that exist actually must and do obey. These folk are missing a fundamental proof of this concept. Simply put... there are laws for everything and man has and is continuing to discover them. Where did these Laws of physics and nature come from?

Please make note of the fact that literally speaking there is a cause and effect for everything that occurs in the universe and this cannot be rationally denied! By their very existence laws that govern the behavior of all things that exist strongly suggests that a rational and calculating underlying all encompassing master intelligence is at work sculpting the universe to it's will.

Why is the known universe more or less existing in an orderly manner governed by so called 'laws' that have mysteriously come into existence from nowhere instead of being in utter non cohesive chaos?

Simple explanation = there is a God that is in control of all things that exist.

Much more difficult explanation = everything just happened for no apparent reason and began from absolute nothingness; which by the way, is the ultimate definition of a singularity. (big bang theory)

So man is left with two basic and fundamental choices.

1. There is a God that created the universe and established its order and laws of governance and is actively involved in the created universe

2. Everything that exists came from nothing for absolutely and logically no reason whatsoever and evolved by a set of previously non existent laws that have somehow magically and mysteriously come into existence to cause the relatively stable and orderly universe we have today to exist as it appears today.

Which of these two possible explanations for the way things are seems to make the most sense and be the most rational explanation? I choose the simple and most direct answer. God is and so I am God's creation as with all else that exists. Any other possible answer simply lacks any truly logical progression of thought. To assume that option 2 is the more plausible answer is to be faced with the age old question: Which came first the chicken or the egg?

So how do you answer this question?

Shalom,

Avi

The Mark of the Beast

What is it?

• And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he 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. 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: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev 13:11-18)

The symbolic meanings of Revelation 13

The lamb with two horns that speaks like a dragon is code for the anti-Christ. The anti-Christ operates or gets its power, its words of deceit (Doctrines See 1^st Tim. 4:1) from the devil. (See Rev. 12:9) The anti-Christ works miracles to deceive mankind. The image men worship is one that represents everything God is not. In their right hand or forehead is symbolic code. The right hand represents strength (Isaiah 48:13) and the forehead represents thoughts or attitudes and beliefs. Simply put to receive a mark on your right hand or forehead means that what you think or believe is what you will do or how you will act or live. Your words and deeds shall be judged by comparing them to God's Son Yeshua who lived the pure unleavened (not added to) Word of God the Father.(See John 1:14) Those that follow the false anti-Christ image are actually following a false messiah, a false god and or a religious system. Look around you and see for yourselves which religions have created a false image of God and His Holy Ways. Which faith(s) teach men to live a lawless lifestyle. Judge for yourself who the real Son of God is. Judge for yourself who it is today that: Keeps the Holy Commandments of God which is the testimony of Yeshua. Yeshua's entire life, everything He said and did right up to dying on the cross was a testimony to God the Father. So too should our lives be a living testimony of who we serve, that is, God! Simply said: If we love Him we will keep His Commandments.

• And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev 12:17)

What was Yeshua's (Jesus') testimony?

• For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:49-50)

Common false teachings

There are common false teachings found in Christianity that the mark of the beast is a physical mark being something like a tattoo. The Bible does not support this. Many teach another common doctrine that pairs with the mark of the beast doctrine. This second doctrine is called the 'rapture' of the Church. This is simply a misunderstanding of the scriptures based on the doctrines of unlearned men. The 'catching away' Paul speaks of is actually a fulfillment of a prophecy. The prophecy that God would regather the dispersed of Israel at the end of the age. (See Ex. 23:16, Isaiah 11:1-12) There is yet a third doctrine that teaches that God's Laws are done away with in spite of what Yeshua says in Matthew 5:17. Many teach that he fulfilled ALL the Law and the prophets so there fore the Law is no more. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is true Yeshua has kept the Law perfectly as an example for we who are His true followers but the scriptures tell us to walk as He (Yeshua) walked. (See 1^st John 2:6) But consider carefully the words of our Lord and Savior. He said :

• Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Mat 5:17-18)

Have heaven or earth passed away? Has ALL prophecy been fulfilled? The obvious answer to these questions is No! So then by Yeshua's own words we must conclude that the Laws of God are not done away with. Are we who believe and obey under the Law? No not if we love God and willing try to obey God's Holy Laws. If our heart is humble, contrite and willing we are forgiven for the sake of Yeshua. We stop being condemned when we confess Yeshua as our Lord and begin to be taught to obey the Laws and Commandments of God that apply to us. All others who deny Yeshua are condemned and will suffer the wrath to come.

These doctrines should be looked at very closely in light of what the Holy Bible actually says and not what men wish it (the Bible) to say.

First things first:

To start with it is necessary to have a common ground of understanding. Fact: the only Bible that existed in the days of Yeshua (Jesus' Hebrew name), Paul, James, John and Peter was what is now called the 'Old Testament'. It was and still is this wrongly titled 'Old Testament' that had the ability to: “thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”

Who will suffer for the Kingdom of God?

Those that truly follow Yeshua (Jesus) will at times suffer persecution and even death. Paul states the following:

• Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2^nd Ti 3:12-17)

The Holy Scriptures Paul is speaking of to Timothy are the so called 'Old Testament' books that existed in his day. Scholars agree that the so called 'New Testament' did not actually exist as we know it today until well into the 2^nd century AD/CE. Paul is believed to have been put to death in the year 67. This would mean that Paul's letters all had to have been written before the year 67 and for obvious reasons.

Consider too that Paul tells Timothy that “ALL” (not some) that will live godly in Christ WILL suffer persecution. Paul is very clear and his words agree perfectly with Yeshua's Words found in Matthew 24. Paul clearly states that these selfsame Scriptures (The Old Testament) “are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. Consider that salvation through faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Christ) is based upon hearing His Words and doing them. Know also and understand that Yeshua's Words were not His Words but the Father's (See John 12:44-50)

Yeshua says:

• And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46, See also Matt. 19:16-22)

In short Yeshua says keep the Commandments of God if you want to have eternal life. There is a catch which many readers may miss. This catch agrees perfectly with what Paul states in 1st Cor. 13:1-8. Yeshua tells the young man that asked Him what he had to do to inherit eternal life to keep the Commandments. The young man replied which and Yeshua names off several important ones. The young man replies all these I have done from my youth but Yeshua tells him that he (the young man) lacks one thing and must go and sell what he has and give it to the poor. The one thing the man lacked was true love for others expressed through acts of loving kindness like charity to the poor. (See also Matt. 25:31-46, Luke 19:1-9).

Yeshua clearly makes the case that whoever will follow Him and be saved will not only suffer persecution but also obey His Commandments which in fact are not His but the Father's Commandments. (John 12:44-50) God's two great Commandments are to love God with all we are including our wealth and to love what He loves, namely, our fellow man also created in the image of God! (See Matt. 22:36-44)

Continuing on:

It is crucial that you hear the very Words of Yeshua and understand them so that you will not be lulled into a false sense of security for this is exactly what the great deceiver Satan wants.

• Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) 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. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (16) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (17) Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: (18) Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (19) And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mat 24:9-31)

Paul and Yeshua both say essentially the same thing, that is, believers will suffer persecution. (See Rom. 8:17, Col. 3:4, 2^nd Tim. 2:12) Yeshua goes on to also include the time of the great tribulation, which as we all know has not yet occurred. Yeshua will descend to Jerusalem where He will re-establish the throne of David and He (Yeshua) will rule with an iron fist (no greasy grace: See Psalm 2:8-9, Rev. 2:27) for a thousand years. Since believers will suffer through the great tribulation and be caught up to Yeshua on His way to Jerusalem there will not be found one resurrected soul nor any that remain alive at His coming in Heaven. We that believe and endure to the end will rule with Him from Jerusalem. (See 2^nd Tim. 2:12, Rev. 20:6) Again this 'catching away' is speaking about the regathering of the dispersed of Israel not the rapture of the Church!

So the doctrines of the rapture and the Laws of God being done away with are simply myths contrived through wishful thinking having no real substance nor support from what the Scriptures actually say. Our flesh always wants to have things easy. Remember God tests us through fiery trials (See 1^st Peter 4:12) of our faith not easy greasy grace. Yeshua said “broad is the way, that leads to destruction” (Matt. 7:13) The doctrine of the mark of the beast is equally misunderstood because most that read the book of Revelation don't have a firm understanding of the Law and the prophets nor the other historical writings. Why? because most have been told that the Law and prophets don't matter that much anymore, being done away with and all. Most Christian ministers only teach church doctrines based on the New Testament and only include the occasional quote from the 'Old Testament' when it seems to support the New Testament doctrine they wish to teach.

The Mark of the beast:

In Revelation 13 we read:

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. (18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev 13:16-18)

Let's start off by understanding that many believers will be killed because they do not have the mark of the beast. (Rev. 13:15) Unbelievers won't care will they? So it is clear that believers will be those that suffer persecution and even death. (See Rev. 6:9) If believers are the only ones being persecuted by the beast it follows that the Church will not be raptured during the great tribulation.

So what does it all mean? What kind of mark is spoken of here? What about the number? It is the number of a man the Bible says. Some believe this means that the man's name has a numerical value. This is called gametria which is a mystical religious practice that has no basis in scripture. So what then can the statement “the number of his name” the number of a man” possibly mean?

Biblical Numbering

To understand this Hebrew thought concept that John is using we must understand that all through the Bible when men were numbered the number of their name meant the number of male descendants they had.

Examples of this are:

1. Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. (8) And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. (Num 2:7-8)
2. These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty. (Num 26:7)
3. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. (Ezra 2:13)

These three examples are but a few of the many that exist all throughout the Scriptures. So understanding these examples understand that Revelation 13:16-18 is really referring to the Scriptures that John had read and studied all his life, namely, the Old Testament. Anyone that knew the Bible would know who's number was 666. We read that the number of the beast is the number of a man and that number is 666. When you know who Adonikam is you will begin to see why John uses his number of male descendants that return after Judah's seventy year captivity in Babylon.

Adonikam is the Babylonian name for King David's 4^th eldest son Adonijah. Compare these verses found first in Ezra's book and then in Nehemiah's book and you will see that Adonikam and Adonijah are one and the same man.

• The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two. (11) The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. (12) The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. (13) The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. (14) The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. (15) The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. (Ezra 2:10-15)

• Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, (16) Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, (Neh 10:15-16)

Perhaps you have already made the connection between the two differing names. Adonikam as recorded in Ezra's account and Adonijah as recorded in Nehemiah's account. Nehemiah uses both names, that is, Adonikam (Neh. 7:18) and Adonijah (Neh. 10:16). In Nehemiah 10:14 Adonijah and those listed with him are identified as leaders of the people or of the other tribes that came out with the priests and Levites, namely, Judah and Benjamin. It should be noted that Nehemiah numbers Adonikam at 667 whereas Ezra numbers his male descendants at 666. There is an explanation as to why the two verses differ. In Ezra's account Adonijah was not numbered but Nehemiah includes Adonijah in his account thus a difference of one man. So now that we have established who Adonikam was we can see that John used him and the number of his returning male descendants to describe the mark of the beast. In short the number 666 is a clue to a secret message encoded into John's writings found in the book of Revelation. So why use Adonijah and the number of his name?

A short history of Adonijah

Adonijah is the fourth eldest son of David.

• Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (1^st Ki 1:5)

• The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (Psalm 12:8)

• How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa 14:12-14)

Adonijah decided to overthrow the will of God and take the kingdom by force. Satan likewise has the same intentions. Adonijah was under Satan's influence.

But God had said:

• But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. (9) Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. (10) He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. (1^st Ch 22:8-10)

Adonijah after losing out in his attempt to overthrow his father David and thwart God's will devised another scheme to destroy Solomon. Adonijah came to Bathsheba and said:

• And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD. (16) And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on. (17) And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. (1^st Ki 2:15-17)

Abishag was King David's last wife. (See 1^st Kings 1:1-4) For Solomon to give their father's wife to Adonijah would have been a great sin!

• And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: (Gen 35:22, See also Gen. 49:3 and 1^st Chron. 5:1-2)

• And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Lev 20:11)

So you see Adonijah's plan was much like the devil's plan revealed to us in Matt. 4 and Luke 4. In fact it seems likely Adonijah's plan was inspired by the devil. Adonijah wanted to destroy Solomon's rule just as Satan the devil wanted to destroy Yeshua's rule. In Matt. 4 Satan tried to twist the Word of God to entice Yeshua into committing the sins of pride and lust.

• 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. (1^st John 2:16)

Yeshua overcame Satan the devil with the Word of God just as we are to overcome him.

The nature of the beast

Adonijah acted like any animal, that is, he acted only in his self interest. A beast cares only for its own needs. There is only one thing that matters to a beast and that is to kill or be killed. A beastly person will commit every sin in the book of the Law in order to satisfy the lusts of their heart. In the last days man will be very corrupt as he was in the days of Noah. Consider these verses as proof:

• And because iniquity (Lawlessness or willful disregard for God's Laws) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Mat 24:12)

Speaking of the end time Yeshua says:

• And as it was in the days of Noe, (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 Noe 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 builded; (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. (Luke 17:26-30)

Speaking of the End time Paul has this to say to Timothy:

• This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2^nd Ti 3:1-5)

These characteristics are the true mark of the beast. People who walk after the flesh and not the Spirit of God are as good as dead. These folk are all spiritually dead. They that have the mark or characteristics of the beast/Satan will be cast into the lake of fire on judgment day.

• And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:15)

Buying and Selling

• 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. (Rev 13:17)

Three distinguishing features all related to the beast. The Mark of the beast. The name of the beast. The number of his name. All three are really one. Having any one of the three will allow you to buy and sell. Buying and selling is really what we all do to live. If we do not buy things we starve and go homeless and if we do not sell things or work we have no way to buy the things we need to live. This buying and selling is symbolic of doing what you have to in order to stay alive. This means compromising the keeping of God's Laws and Commandments or bowing down and worshiping Satan the devil. Many believe buying and selling refer to actual trade or commerce. Those that don't have the mark will not be able to buy groceries or even have a job. I think that this is exactly what Satan would want you to believe. It is my opinion that this buying and selling is symbolic for redemption or salvation. Consider this verse:

• And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 12:11)

The faithful will not compromise when it comes to being obedient to God and for this act of faithfulness they will be killed. The only ones left will be the small remnant ordained to be alive by God and those that compromised and took on themselves the mark of the beast by putting their lusts and desires above love for God.

• And he 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. (Rev 13:15)

Verses 15-17 tell us that believers will be killed because they will not bow down and worship this false god even though he works many miracles. What is the difference between the real Messiah and the anti-Christ? One obeys and teaches the Torah or Laws and Commandments of God and the other does not. Many but not all true believers will suffer and die rather than take upon their foreheads and or right hands the mark of rebellion. The mark of the beast.

The anti-Christ gives those that follow his ways (Lawlessness) a false sense of salvation. Many teach falsely that the laws of God do not matter any more. Many teach that just saying you believe that Jesus is the Son of God will save you. Many teach that asking Jesus to be your Lord will save them. All of these teachings are false doctrines! The devil and his angels/demons believe Yeshua is the Son of God but their belief will not keep them out of the lake of fire. (See Rev. 19:20, 20:10) Just confessing Jesus is your master does not make you a true follower of His. A true follower does what Yeshua commands. Yeshua says if you love me you will keep my Commandments. (Ex. 20:6, John 14:15, 23) Loving one another is at the heart of God's Laws and if we truly love God we will try to learn and do His Holy Commandments just as our Master Yeshua did.

Consider these verses:

• If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10)

• And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1^st John 2:3)

• And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1^st John 3:22-23, Compare to Deuteronomy 28:1-13)

• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.(1^st John 5:2-4)

Our faith in Yeshua is verified by our obedience to Him and His Commandments which according to what Yeshua Himself says in John 15:10 are God the Father's Commandments. Yeshua is our Savior because faith in Him is actually love for and obedience to Him. This is exactly how He defines love. He has bought our means of atonement. He has paid the price of our salvation with His own righteous blood. So if we sin we have His blood as a sign or mark that keeps the wrath of God from us. We who truly believe are not condemned but those that say and do not are walking the broad path that leads to destruction. Many false prophets, teachers and preachers have come and gone over the centuries deceiving great multitudes. The devil is so slick and crafty that even the very elect are almost deceived. (See Matt. 24:24) If such a thing can happen to the elect of God where does that leave all others?

Salvation of old

While the Temple stood animals were bought and sold at the Temple for atoning sacrifices. Most people were not shepherds so the majority of Jews in the days of Yeshua had to buy unblemished animals to offer for atoning sacrifices.

• And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (Mat 21:12)

Only those that have the mark of the beast will be able to buy and sell. So what is the mark? Simple really. The mark of the beast is the exact opposite of the mark of God. Remember how does a beast act? A beast cares only for itself. A beast is selfish and will do anything to survive. A beast is ruled solely by its instincts and desires. A man of God is not. A man of God is one filled with God's Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit of God tells us what kind of tree a man is. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. (See Matt. 7:16-21)

• Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:19-25)

Do you see the simple comparisons that Yeshua and Paul give us? The mark of the beast is living a selfish, lawless and unloving life. The mark of God is having the Word and the Spirit of God alive inside your body. Alive in a way that others can see by the way you live your life. God's Mark is selfless love, even sacrificial love. (John 15:13)

So true unbelievers are those that either deny Yeshua outright or verify their disregard for Him by the way they live their lives and even if they say He is their Lord their actions betray their true nature. These are they who worship the beast and have his mark.

• And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8)

The Lamb's book of life

How does one get their name written in the Lamb's book of life? (Ex. 32:32-33, Ps. 69:28, Mal. 3:16)

• Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  (17)  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  (18)  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.(Malachi 3:16-18) 

• And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (Deu 10:12)

• He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?(Mic 6:8)

In summary let me repeat that the mark of the beast is not a physical visible mark on your hand or forehead but rather it is the way you live your life. If you have God's Holy Spirit and Word living inside you then you will be known as a loving, kind and charitable person who loves God by loving your fellow man. You bear the mark of God. You have His mark or Name written upon your forehead. If you don't have God's Holy Spirit and Word living in you then most likely you will not live a godly life and you already bear the mark of the beast you just don't know it yet.

• And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Rev 15:2)

• And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Rev 22:3-4)

In closing I humbly ask you to pray about all that has been presented to you here. Search out every word written and see if what is said be true. Search your own heart and if you find that you are not what you thought you were (a true believer) there is still time to repent by confessing your sins and asking God's pardon. Be diligent to find the truth and then live it. Don't let your mind be deceived by false doctrines that will lead you down the path of destruction.

Shalom,

Avi