Last night I was following along with Joel of FAI Studios as he taught on, The Book of Revelation: The Number, Name, Mark, and Image of the Beast, when he asked an interesting question. One, which I believe all Christians should be asking themselves.

Is it possible for people today who claim to be a Christian, who appear to be walking in the Spirit, appear to be following Jesus and active in the church, eventually take the mark of the beast?

Naturally, my first thought is, if they’re a “true Christian” they would NEVER take the mark. And I’m not saying this to be sarcastic or smug certainly not. I believe it’s human nature to automatically believe we wouldn’t take the mark. Because we want to be confident in the Lord Jesus, but we must keep in mind, there’s a fine line between confidence and humility. Jesus was humble and I believe He wants His followers to be the same. Plus, the Bible teaches no one can remove us from the Lord’s hand, but, as Joel continued he made the remark that there’s nothing within the scriptures which says we can’t remove ourselves. As I thought about this I realized he’s absolutely right.

Because it’s up to us to maintain that relationship with Jesus. He’s always there for us, however, we’re not always there for him as we should be. So when we’re too exhausted to read the Bible before bed, when we forget to say blessing and thank our Lord for our food, when we fail to pray for courage, strength, perseverance for our persecuted brothers and sisters, when we put OUR needs before GODS, when we backslide or sin and fail to repent of it, when we fail to follow Jesus teachings, when we walk in the flesh, or when we’re a Christian in name only, I believe we are putting ourselves in a position to fall away and possibly take the mark of the beast.

Why do I feel this way?

I believe what Joel said is true, it’s a heart issue. Because we’re told to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and if we do this it means we’ll do anything to please the Lord. When the time comes and the antichrist appears, we will wear GOD’S MARK instead of the beast. So let’s look at it from a Biblical perspective and see what the Old Testament passages has to say about God’s mark compared to Revelation.

It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6,8

And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it. Ezekiel 9:4

Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. Revelation 7:3

They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 9:4

See what I mean by a heart issue?

The passage found in Ezekiel is extremely telling. Because as a Christian what I see going in this world disturbs me. I see so many comedians, newscasters, movie stars, pop singers, rockers and rappers mocking my Lord Jesus. I see abortion as those who are killing their babies strictly for convenience, I see homosexuality and transgender issues worldly and of the flesh and I see Christians being persecuted all over the world.

We live in a world that’s full of broken people and at one time we were the exact same way so it’s NOT for us to judge them, that’s GOD’S job, but, it is for us to pray, grieve and follow our Lord Jesus.

Marantha