An Explanation The ANTICHRIST, 666, MARK OF THE BEAST, RAPTURE…

An Explanation

The ANTICHRIST, 666, MARK OF THE BEAST, RAPTURE

The book of revelation is an epistle that must be subjected to interpretation by other epistles because it involves symbols that needs to be decoded. Apostle John was imprisoned and wrote the book to persecuted churches.

The figures of speeches are so because straightforward language could never escape the notice of the authorities as common words will invite more intense persecution. John’s subject was about God and the future and this is readily understandable for students of the Hebrew bible and Jewish tradition.

The old testament prophets used symbolism to reveal Christ in their writings. I could remember a friend telling me that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is apple., I mean that’s really laughable. You must be able to interpret figures of speeches if you must be a good teacher.

The concept of ANTICHRIST is used four times in the entire bible, all in the new testament and it was never used for an expected event contextually but an ongoing activity right from the days of the Apostles.

1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time”

So you can see that the end time started immediately after Jesus ascended and the Antichrist too.

1 Jh 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son”

An Antichrist is a message that denies the Lordship of Christ. It puts a lie on the word of God. “Anti” means a denial; a replacement.

1 Jh 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world”

2 Jh 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”

Confess not means to speak against., so as at when John was sending this letter, the antichrist was already active.

Jesus himself warned about another Christ.. Matt24:23 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not”

Note., it is not an appearance but a saying. So any teaching that denies the fact that Jesus is God is the Antichrist. This are false prophets., false prophets aren’t those jokers who predict politics and games actually. False prophets are people who replaces Christ with another.

That’s what the Antichrist mean., you’ll only expose your self to fear when you start watching stupid videos, audios and circulation’s from demonic sources. Fear is Satan’s tools. That said!

Mark of the beast found in the book of revelation is not tattoo or microchip., it is a figure of speech for ownership.

Rev 14:9-10 “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”

Mark in the Forehead means a belief system and not a drawing.. Ezekiel 9:4 “And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof”

It describes a people., we believers also bear the mark Christ but it is not literal. Gal 6:17 “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

Another rendition calls it a seal., it depicts undeniable ownership. [See Rev. 7:3, 9:4, 22:4] So there’s also Christ mark on the forehead of believers.

Mark on the hand means to act upon your belief. Duet 11:18 “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes”

It is first in your heart “belief” then in your action. It’s never literal., if it were to be literal then to drink of the wrath of God also should be a physical wine and the lamb should be a real animal as contained in the verse. This shows it’s figurative. The lamb is the government of Christ. The wrath of God is men giving up themselves to destruction by rejecting salvation.

The Number 666 is a number of a man., the man there is the beast; a government through which ownership is instituted. As we saw before it is to be worshiped. Worshipped here is a belief that is away from Christ because worship is a matter of the heart.

Rev. 13:17-18 “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”

Not being able to buy and sell is a world system of commerce that is ongoing today among men who have that belief system. Today in many multinational corporations, you can’t work or rise to higher position without denouncing Christ. It is a form of persecution spoken about that believers are passing through today and in years to come. It is already in place and not futuristic.

Don’t forget that God isn’t involved in human government. There’s a kingdom of God and there’s the kingdom of this world. Notice that at the close of Jesus teaching ministry, his disciples asked him about restoring human government back to Israel and Jesus simply answer them saying., “it is not for you” but to know the times or the season which the Father has put in his own power, then you shall receive power.

Power to do what..? To become witnesses; getting men saved. To preach the message of the saving grace of God, you will be persecuted. Some of us who do know this part. People will deny you things, call you names for asking them to receive Christ and have eternal life. People will fight you for saying salvation is forever. So persecution isn’t just when your accusers carry stones. You must vigorously defend the Gospel of Christ.

Just like in the time of Daniel., king Nebuchadnezzar decree was a mark of the beast which Daniel was persecuted to bow to, invariably all those who bow already have the mark in the status of their belief. So, the mark is not a cutting or technology. It is a system of replacing Christ with another., the Apostles were so persecuted. They were not persecuted because the were competing in Business but because the were preaching the message of Christ.

Finally, The word Rapture is not found anywhere in the entire Bible, not even a mistranslation. But having known what the concept describe, it can be explained. Just as the term “second coming” isn’t found anywhere but can be explained.
The Gospel doesn’t teach a disappearance but a unification of believers with Christ. The appearing is Jesus’ not us or Satan to be expected.

Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”

2 Tim 4:1,8 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”

Flying in the air is a figure of speech, it is not literal. What the epistle teach is an automatic change, mortal bodies wearing up immortality.. 1 Cor 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”
He shall appear to all believers once., those asleep (dead in Christ) will rise. Christ in you is the hope of this glorious day.

The concept of second coming is a past event.. Those who purport such do one understand the Trinity. They’re no three Gods but only one God in three capacities; the father depicting authority, the son is the humanity of Christ depicting God in a flesh (man), then that God is a Spirit.

So the comforter is the Holy spirit; God’s discerning into man.. So at Pentecost was the second coming of Christ. The Next coming is us coming with Him to judge the world because Christ is in us already. So, The message of the coming of the Lord is a message of joy and gladness. You shouldn’t be grieved who has believed in the Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

He told us that day won’t take us unaware. 1 Thes 5:4 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5:Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness”

We are children of light.. “Like a thief in the night” is a figure of speech to people he referred as being in darkness. The rapture cannot happen without you., that’s what assurance of salvation mean; that He’s able to save you to the uttermost.

You may not understand all of this in a hurry., but as you keep studying you get clarity. I know that some pastors don’t even teach the book of revelation at all. I am not saying it is easy actually. It needs much attention and dedication in prayer to understand.

(Sequel to this study is our books of the Bible series “the book Thessalonians – all In a single read” search using the hashtag)

So, No fear here. We believe the Word, we are saved and have escaped the wrath to come.

Blessed..?

Let me know
#TalkBack2GEj