REASONS WHY MANY CHRISTIANS WILL RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST

The lackadaisical attitude and dangerous lifestyle of many believers will pose an existential threat to them and to those around them. It will cause or compel them to receive the Mark of the Beast which means eternal damnation. The reasons why many Christians will receive the Mark of the Beast include:

1. IGNORANCE: This is the lack of knowledge or information about the endtime, God’s plan for the world and the programs and propaganda of proponents of the New World Order. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

2. FEAR: This is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm. The autocratic nature of the forces of darkness and their total control of information, technology and the marketplace will create a huge panic that many people cannot overcome unless they are completely committed to God. Only those who truly love the Lord can overcome fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). It is perfect love for God that made David, in the midst of the trials and tribulations to say: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident” (Psalm 27:1-3).

3. HUNGER: The “feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food and desire to eat”, will be the hallmark of those who reject the Mark of the Beast. Not many people can stand the thought or experience of going on for many days without food when all they need to do is to take the mark that will enable them to buy and sell. Revelation 7:16 speaks of Christians who endured the tribulation and made it. “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.” This scripture simply means that there was a time they suffered hunger. But how many believers can suffer the discomfort of not eating when they could easily compromise their faith?

4. IMPATIENCE: Those who have not learnt to live a lifestyle of patience will be vulnerable at this time. Impatience manifests in irritability or restlessness. It is “the feeling of being annoyed by someone else’s actions or inactions”, the tendency of “wanting something to happen as soon as possible”. Imagine a wife that is impatient with the husband’s inability to meet her needs because of the difficult circumstances of the times. Such a woman will easily renounce her husband’s authority and take the mark. Revelation 14:12-13 says: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.”

5. DECEPTION: This will be a major reason why many believers will receive the Mark of the Beast. Deception is the act of hiding the truth in order to gain advantage of someone. It is done through misinformation, the process of unknowingly disseminating false information and disinformation, the deliberate manufacture of falsehood to take advantage and harm people. Many believers will take the Mark of the Beast because they have been deceived to believe that the saints will not have to face the Anti-Christ. The shock of the circumstances that will face them and their lack of spiritual, mental and emotional preparation will compel them to do what they may not have done if they had not yielded to this doctrinal falsehood. It was for this reason Jesus said, “…Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5).

6. SUFFERING: This is a “state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship”. It is the time of trouble spoken of in Daniel 12:1b: “…And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation”. Jesus spoke of this time in Matthew 24:21-22. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” The sufferings of this season will be so great that those “discipled” with the “bread and butter” gospel of prosperity cannot stand the hardship. Many Christians have never been told that they will suffer for their faith. Their pastors, unlike Paul to the Thessalonians, did not warn them about the fate appointed to those who believe in Jesus. “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).

7. LOVE FOR LUXURY: The season of the Great Tribulation will be such a difficult time that it will require living on a shoe-string budget. Who can be thinking of the luxuries of life with so much hunger and discomfort? Only those who appreciate the simplicity and frugality of life can survive a lifestyle devoid of comfort. Anyone who cannot do without “great comfort or elegance” which comes at great expense will most likely take the Mark of the Beast given the fact that no one will be permitted to buy and who does not have the Mark of the Beast.

8. LOVE OF MONEY: This is the root of all evil. The Great Tribulation will come with the abolishment of paper money or even the use of credit and debit cards. Only a digitally encrypted currency implanted on the hands and foreheads of individuals will become legitimate means of buying and selling. The digital currency will be global in nature and everyone on earth will require to have it as a means of exchange. Revelation 14:9-11 says that anyone who receives this mark will be doomed for ever. “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” It is for this reason that believers must eschew the love of money as 1 Timothy 6:6-12 indicates. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

9. LACK OF FAITH: Faith is believing and saying what God says. It is believing and doing what God does. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). There can be no better time to demonstrate faith in God and in His plans and purposes than at this time of difficulties. Matthew 24:13 says “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” The true test of faith will come when believers are faced with life and death situations. Jesus was anticipating such a time when He asked a rhetorical question in Luke 18:8b: “…Nevertheless, when the son of Man comes will be he really find faith on earth?” Only those who maintain faith in Jesus will reject the Mark of the Beast.

10. COVETOUSNESS: This is the “inordinate desire for wealth or possessions” especially those that legitimately belong to other persons. Covetousness involves wrongly desiring wealth and possessions in a greedy and ungodly manner. Colossians 3:5 says: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” It is impossible to be covetous and not yield to the temptation of the endtimes. The covetous are the ones who would most like betray friends and relatives in order to satisfy their lust. 1 Timothy 6:9 says: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition”