Mini Lesson - Mark of the Beast

MLK

tomorrow is a national holiday celebrating the life, legacy, and contributions of MLK

share a short clip of his last sermon before he was killed

watch video

do we have a long way to go . . . yes

but what we have now, compared to what they had then . . . this is a type of promised land

from black president to black panther in the movies to a black woman leading a basketball team at the university of South Carolina (and also be paid the most 3mil)

and as we press forward for equality, we should tell God thank you for using men like MLK

Life Inspirational Community Church

heading into 15 years of existence

pic pastor: Joshua Sweet . . . met him an wife outside of church, real Christians

Pic pastor talking . . . real down to earth people, love people

Service . . . believe in serving the community

Small church . . . like ours, I have a heart for small churches, and their pastors . . . definitely not in it for money or fame, but just serving God

daughter: like many have persevered through many trials as they continue to serve, cancer

blessing to them, money to be given to church to use as they see fit. (rent building)

Mini Lesson

This has to do with the vaccine . . . I am not here to discuss pros and cons of the vaccine, just do your best research and what you think is best for you and your family, but I do want to talk about this one aspect that I keep hearing . . . mark of the beast and the vaccine

The book of Revelation is so cool . . . stuff that John wrote, would have been impossible in his day. But because of technological advances have come, it is now easy to see many of the things he wrote coming to pass.

On example is the mark of the beast. The Bible speaks of how Anti-christ would try to force people to get his mark. A mark that if you do not have, will prevent you from buying or selling anything. People use scoff, “How can someone stop the whole world from buying and selling?” But now we see how with electronic transactions, and implanted chips.

and one fear going around is that I might be secretly receiving the mark of the beast, if I get this vaccine. So let’s look at scripture

Revelation 13:16–17 NASB95

16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

let’s start with the obvious:

it talks about a mark . . . does the vaccine leave a mark? Can you look at a person and say, “they’ve had the vaccine, I see the mark?” (some will say a secret mark)

secondly, where is the mark? . . . right hand or forehead . . . where is the vaccine given? (arm)

thirdly, are those without the vaccine able to buy and sell? yes

wal-mart, target, mcdonalds

true, some are threatened with loss of work, but that’s way different than someone freezing all your assets, and even stopping you from selling

Now could the type of things we seeing eventually lead to what Revelation is talking about? yes, but everything is leading to it . . . but this vaccine is not the mark of the beast

Revelation 14:9–11 NASB95

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

What is associated with the mark? worshipping the beast and his image

the mark represents a conscious decision to worship the beast and his image

As for this vaccine, you do not have to worship, bow down, or even salute a man or his statue

Now when this does comes to pass, there will be a conscious and clear decision to follow the anti-christ (the beast) or not.

it is not a deception where you are worshipping him and not aware of it, you get the mark and then suddenly realize, “Oh no, I am worshipping the beast!”

This deception, is a deception that causes you to think that worshipping him is right and best. people will be very aware of the mark and what it stands for.

That’s not hard to imagine: think of Hitler, people in Germany were tricked into thinking Hitler had all the answers, and he almost became like a god to them.

but none of them supported Hitler accidently. It was a conscious decision. Even if pressured, it was conscious

So, you don’t have to worry about getting a vaccine, and accidently worshipping the beast. You can decide whether or not to take the vaccine based on other reasons.