“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
- PEER PRESSURE: This is pressure from one’s age mates and acquaintances, people who belong to the same social class or profession. Unless a believer is fully committed to God, firm and resolute, there is a tendency that they can be forced to do something contrary to their faith. Peer pressure comes with persuasion or intimidation which is often more difficult to resist when it comes from an acquaintance or close friend. Those who cannot resist the coercive tendencies of peers working with the forces of the Antichrist are mostly likely to receive the Mark of the Beast. Remember, however, that “Evil communication corrupts good manners”. It is for this reason that we must follow the counsel of Ephesians 5:11-14. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
- PARENTAL PRESSURE: Parents exercise a measure of authority and influence on their children which is not easy to resist. There will be parents allied with the forces of the Antichrist knowingly or unknowingly, who will attempt to compel their children, who know the truth, to receive the mark. It is in this light that we must take the words of Matthew 10:34-39. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
- MARITAL PRESSURE: This is pressure from a husband to a wife or vice versa. Again, just as is the case between parents and children, so it will be between spouses. There will be husbands who know the truth married to wives who are in league with the forces of the Antichrist. There also are wives who are truly born again, married to husbands who are freemasons. The tensions of life at this time will pitch spouses against each other. A man’s enemy could be a member of his household. A wife’s adversary could be a supposedly loving husband. Many wives who may not understand the gravity of eternal damnation, could be forced into the compromise that will make them take the Mark of the Beast.
- PRIESTLY PRESSURE: This is perhaps one of the major reasons why many believers will take the Mark of the Beast. There are many pastors whose sermons seem to suggest that the message of Heaven and Hell has been removed from the doctrines of the Bible. There are others who teach that God cannot allow His children to go through a time of tribulation. They justify this view with 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” Such pastors fail to realise that there is a difference between the wrath of God, which is meant as judgement for unrighteousness, and the Great Tribulation which is the handiwork of the Antichrist against the saints. The Scriptures that graphically say that the Beast will make war with the saints and overcome them are clearly overlooked. The words of Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 17:6 are rarely taught. “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.” “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marvelled with great amazement.”
- DEMONIC PRESSURE: This is perhaps the greatest pressure believers will face, capable of derailing their faith. Demonic voices will be programmed into those with weak faith. They will hear voices compelling them to believe a lie. Demonic forces will create doubt in the heart of many believers. They will work hand in hand with mediums, necromancers, clairvoyants, spiritists and false prophets. Their targets will be people with a seared conscience, hypocrites and deceivers. In fact, the Antichrist himself will perform lying signs and wonders to deceive believers who run to and fro seeking for miracles. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
- BETRAYAL: This is the action of a disloyal friend that is treacherous. It is a violation of trust or confidence. There are Christians who can still maintain their loyalty to God even when they have been betrayed by the treachery of a friend or family member. This is, however, not the case for many Christians. The pain of betrayal could lead some believers into bitterness and unforgiveness. This could furthermore, open them up to loose faith in God and compromise their faith. Those who refuse to appropriate the words of Romans 12:17-21 will end up taking the Mark of the Beast. “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”.
- UNBELIEF: This is the absence of faith or lack of trust in God or in His Word. This is the bane of many believers today. They have a head knowledge rather than a heart attachment to the Word of God. Many do not read this word for themselves. Neither do they meditate on the Word. What they have is a vicarious faith in their spiritual fathers and mothers. They are children without roots and they have lived on milk for a long time. In the season they should be teachers, they still need to be taught. In the season they should be mature, they are still children. Psalm 78:22 says that “Because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation”, God will give them over to the enemy. All who “are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart with ears that always resist the Holy Spirit”, will most likely take the Mark of the Beast.
- REBELLION: This is the act of resistance to God’s stipulated precepts or commandments in the Word of God. It involves resisting the authority of God’s will, opposition to God’s position and defiance. Christians who have not learnt to walk in obedience to God’s Word will most likely take the Mark of the Beast. They will naturally yield to the dictates of the Antichrist rather than learn to be obedient under the difficult circumstances of this time of trials and tribulations. Believers can only demolish the satanic arguments and presentations of the Antichrist and his agents only when their own obedience to the Lord is complete. Rejecting the Mark of the Beast “…Calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep His commands and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). 1 Samuel 15:23 says: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” Similarly, Isaiah 1:19-20 counsels, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
- PRAYERLESSNESS: The challenges of the endtime season will be so tough that only those who have a lifestyle of prayer and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit can survive. All the dimensions of prayer will become absolutely indispensable during this time of trouble. There are believers who do not know how to commune and communicate with God. Some have not learnt the art of asking, seeking and knocking on the gates of Heaven to receive answers to petitions. Yet others are ignorant of contending with the forces of darkness for the purpose of establishing God’s will on Earth. Only those who know how to fight the good fight of faith adorned with the weapons of our warfare can overcome the challenges of the times. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
- UNEMPLOYMENT: Those who do not have anything worthwhile in the hands of the Antichrist and his agents. Paul, though an Apostle, worked with his hands as a tent maker. He refused to be a burden to those he ministered to. He willingly relinquished his rights to be ministered to in physical things after ministering to the people in spiritual things. “For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil; for labouring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (1 Thessalonians 2;9-11). Working to earn a living for Paul was also an act of worship which gave him liberty to preach the gospel in the midst of afflictions. He was bold to declare to the brethren in Thessalonica, “That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4).
- CHARISMATIC WITCHCRAFT: Many men and women by their satanic charisma and flare will draw believers to themselves. These are the false prophets and teachers, who like the Antichrist, their master, will demonstrate lying signs and wonders, to deceive believers. Jesus in Matthew 24:11 said, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” These false prophets will seek to manipulate, dominate and control people. Believers who fall for their antics will also most likely take the Mark of the Beast. Jesus again warning of how they will deceive people to believe that the Antichrist is the expected Messiah said: “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
