Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
7 12 2024
Is it too late for those after the Rapture? Part V
What can make it possible for the false prophet to effectively weaponize, the mark of the beast? Technology.
The possibility of using the microchip or other technologies we have today would’ve been an unfathomable mystery to the Apostle John.. This possibility is no longer a distant prophecy, but a very real and current reality. Current technology through microchips and sensors. The practice of implanting microchips in humans is already growing. They can be used to identify people who walk through security checkpoints. Think of what the Beast and his conspirators are capable of doing with access to this kind of technology and information. Yet, despite the serious and obvious downsides, more and more people are willing to surrender their personal rights and privacy to take advantage of their perceived convenience and benefits. Look at the latest cell phone, technology and in-store, scanners, and shoppers’ accounts that automatically debit electronically as people carry goods out of the store.
All of these things will allow or disallow the purchaser as they attempt to buy food or other necessities. If they don’t have the Mark of approval or if they refuse to worship the antichrist and acquiesce to the system, put in place by the false profit, they’ll go without. They’ll be locked out of the economy. They will starve. Their families will starve. They will be rounded up and killed. Another possible precursor to the Mark of the Beast is bitcoin or similar cryptocurrencies. They are completely virtual money, not issued or controlled by a centralized government.
We don’t know the particular technology that will be used to implement the Mark, but we know it’s coming. The question is: Will you, or Won’t you?
The form and the nature of the mark may be a mystery, but there is not any question about the future of those who accept the Mark. All will be well with those who accept it. But their time of prosperity will be short, followed swiftly by the inevitable judgment of God. Rev 14:9–11 “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives va mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and yhe will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
While the antichrist maintains control, those who refuse the mark will experience deadly persecution and marred them revelation 20:4 but after that, John told us in
Revelation 20:4 ”And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands?.
Matthew 10:28 says “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”.
But I pray that you will be encouraged and take comfort from the fact that believers have courageously suffered for their faith throughout history.
- The Roman Emperor Nero executed countless Christians, who refused to renounce their faith
- The second century Christian Bishop Polycarp was burned at the stake for refusing to bow to Cesar
- Roman Christians were fed to the lions
- Christians in medieval Spain suffered the inquisition
- Many protestants of the reformation era were massacred or exiled
- 20th century Christians in communist Russia, endured Siberia, and slave labor camps.
Now, throughout the world, there is an alarming increase of Christian persecution and martyrdom. I hope you can see that you stand at the end of a long line of those who have suffered and died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Those who are left behind are certainly not alone. Jesus foresaw the terrible suffering of the tribulation. With those people in mind. Matthew 24:9–10. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people”.
The book of Revelation presents the tribulation. As a time when every new faithful Christian must stare martyrdom in the face. Bible scholar, Richard Bauckham explained, it is not a literal prediction that every faithful Christian after the rapture will in fact be put to death. But it does require that every faithful Christian must be prepared to die”.
Speaking of believers living during this time, scripture says in Revelations 12:11 says, “They did not love their life to the death”.
Daniel 3:17-18 depicts an inspiring example of three young godly Jewish men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… when they were told to either bow to the golden image or be cast into a furnace of fire, their response was unequivocal: “ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”.
I pray it will be the same for you. God is your God if you trust in Jesus Christ. He will stand by your side just as he stood with them in the fire.
Daniel chapter 6, defied the king’s command that no one prayed to anyone but him for 30 days. He was thrown into the lion’s den and ready to be eaten rather than compromise his allegiance to the one true God! We must obey God. He may choose to deliver you supernaturally, or may choose to allow you to be martyred to usher you into his presence. Either way, you win.
We either stand for God or we fall for Satan.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was killed by the Nazis and preached a sermon based on Revelation, 14 titled – “Learning to die, he said, “do not fear the coming day, do not fear other people, do not fear power, or might, even if they are able to deprive you of property and life: do not fear the great ones of this world, do not even fear yourselves”. He closed his message with these words: “To die in Christ – that this be granted us, that our last hour be not a weak hour, that we die as confessors of Christ, whether old or young, whether quickly or after long suffering, whether seized and laid hold of by the Lord of Babylon, That is our prayer today that our last word might only be Christ.”
That is my prayer for you. That your last hour not be a weak hour. That’s your last word only be …Christ”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYR0xP1j4PYBethel Music
Excepts are taken largely from After the Rapture by Dr David Jeremiah Chapter 4
