Title: WARNING!
YOU CANNOT TAKE THE "MARK OF THE BEAST"
FOR ANY REASON AND STILL GO TO HEAVEN! Part 2 of 2 Title: WARNING!
YOU CANNOT TAKE THE "MARK OF THE BEAST"
FOR ANY REASON AND STILL GO TO HEAVEN! Part 2 of 2
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THE CUTTING EDGE
In NEWS1886, Part 1, we laid the groundwork to properly understand the terribly false teaching in the Left Behind series that a person during the Tribulation Period may take the "Mark of the Beast" under certain circumstances and still be saved, still go to Heaven. We also discussed another real problem that we have with these books, i.e., that God gives a mark to His believers that is visible to other believers. This teaching is also dangerous and fits into the second problem we have just described.
If you have not yet read Part 1, we encourage you to do so now, before continuing on with this article.
Now, let us discuss the second, and most important, doctrine
presented in Left Behind that can send many people to Hell.
A Christian May Take The "Mark of the Beast"
And Still Go To Heaven
Two of the Left Behind books teach that a Christian may still be saved if he/she has been "forced" to taken the Mark.
Remember Jesus' promise to His fundamental Christians in the Church in Philadelphia, quoted in Part 1? Listen again:
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." [Rev 3:10]
The key phrase again:
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience..." [Rev 3:10]
The word, "kept" here is Strong's word, "tereo", number 5083. It means, "to guard, or to observe". In other words, it means that Jesus expects His fundamental Christians to carefully "guard" and "observe" His Word -- the Bible! Further, Jesus promises the greatest possible reward for carefully guarding and observing His Bible -- the Rapture of the Christian Church.
In this vein, let us see what the Mark of the Beast is and the punishment God promises for those who take the Mark.
"And he [False Prophet] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 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." [Rev 13:16-17]
From this passage, we can see what the "Mark of the Beast" is -- it is something implanted within the forehead or the right hand -- that the False Prophet will "cause" everyone on earth to take, without which no man can buy or sell anything. Before we go any further, let us examine the meaning of one word, "causeth". This Greek word is "poieo", Strong's Number 4160. It means:
"to produce, construct, form, fashion, to be the authors of, to make ready, to prepare" —Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
In no part of this definition does Strong's use the word, "force". However, certain modern Bible translations do use the word, "force". The following modern versions that translate this verse "forced" are:
* International Standard Version
* New Century Version
* N.I. V. - New International Version
* The Message Version
The word, "forced" takes on a very special meaning in "The Mark" and "Desecration" of the Left Behind series. LaHaye and Jenkins "devised a subplot in which a Christian character unwillingly received the mark of the beast and did not lose his salvation -- he was presented as being exempt from drinking of the wine of the wrath of God" as God's unchangeable Bible clearly states. [Ruby, p. 83]
Let us digress at this point to see the certain judgment promised to anyone who will take the "Mark of the Beast".
"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, 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: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." [Rev 14:9-12]
Notice that "any man" who receives the mark in his forehead or in his hand shall "drink of the wine of the wrath of God" and "shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" forever and forever! Exactly 100% of all people who take the "Mark of the Beast" shall -- not perhaps or maybe -- be tormented in fire and brimstone forever and forever.
Notice also that their torment shall occur "in the presence of the holy angels, and ... Lamb". This verse makes it sound like the angels and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) will look at the torment of these people who took the mark forever. This reality may upset some folk who have been led to believe that Jesus is all Love, but our Savior has many more attributes, including Judgment [Read NEWS1822b].
Taking The Mark = Worship of Antichrist
Now, notice that the taking of the "Mark of the Beast" is coupled together with the worship of the beast! You cannot separate, or de-couple this verse! The Apostle John took note of the type of people who try to separate the attributes of Jesus! Listen carefully, for Jesus is the Word and the Word is Jesus according to John 1:1-14; therefore the same demonic spirit that tries to separate Jesus' attributes is the spirit who will try to convince you to separate these two Biblical elements -- receiving the mark and worship of Antichrist.
"And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh but would annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him is not of God, does not proceed from Him. This nonconfession is the spirit of the antichrist." [1 John 4:3; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
In exactly the same manner, anyone who would attempt to separate, destroy, sever, or disunite [Rev 14:9-12] is listening to the spirit of Antichrist! When a person receives the "Mark of the Beast" that person is worshipping the Beast. That is how Omnipotent God looks at it! That settles the question forever.
But this type of "severing" and "disuniting" of Revelation 9 is exactly what the authors of Left Behind do! Now you know the spirit behind Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins! The Biblical formula is exactly as we stated above: Taking The Mark = Worship of Antichrist
Finally, note the last sentence of this Revelation verse, 14:12: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Once again, Jesus is commending His saints for their obedience to His Bible. The phrase, "They that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus", speaks directly to this issue of a person refusing to separate the 'receiving of the mark' and the 'worship of Antichrist'.
The Scripture is plain -- any current author who would attempt to
separate these two elements, by the above Biblical definition, is listening
to the spirit of Antichrist.
Caused, Not Forced, To Take The Mark
As we stated, above, the King James Version clearly states that the False Prophet shall "cause" everyone on earth to take the mark. There is a wide gulf of difference between the word, "cause" and the word, "force". In fact, this difference is so huge that Biblical doctrine is essentially changed. "Cause" means to "bring into existence or effect by agency, power or influence". This is precisely the manner in which the real False Prophet shall stand before the people of the world to present the implantation of the "Mark of the Beast". He will explain that everyone is to pledge their loyalty to Antichrist and receive an implanted 'mark', without which no one could buy or sell in the global marketplace. The False Prophet shall further explain that the penalty for anyone refusing to take the implanted 'mark' shall be death by beheading. Beyond the reality of this threat, there shall be no further coercion. Antichrist wants the voluntary worship of the peoples of the world, because he wants to be like God. There will be no "forced" taking of the 'mark' as we see in these Left Behind books; no one will be physically held down to have the 'mark' forced in him.
The word, "force", on the other hand, means to make something happen by a power that cannot be resisted. In these LaHaye books, thugs hold Chang down while his Dad implants the 'mark' of Antichrist, a mark physically visible to everyone. "Forcing" people to comply by physically overtaking them by an irresistible power removes the power of choice from them. A person who is forced to do something in this manner cannot then be held responsible because someone else is imposing their will on him. Everyone who is forced to take the mark would automatically be in compliance with the stated law because no one would be able to choose to disobey. There would be no need for a penalty if there were no choice but to obey. Remember, the severity of the penalty is not what defines force. Satan would love to have the ability to force people to worship him and take his identifying mark, but he is unable to do so. That is why he hopes he will be able to deceive them into not holding fast to the plain teaching of prophetic Scripture. Satan wants people to spiritually faint and confess Antichrist, and take his mark, an accomplishment he can achieve only if people give heed to seducing spirits through false prophets that tell them they will be forgiven even if they take the 'Mark of the Beast'. God will not send people to an eternity of smoke and torment in the Lake of Fire because someone else physically forced them to commit this unpardonable, irreversible, unforgivable sin!" [Ruby, p. 84-85]
Separating Biblical Truth Into Two Parts Produces A Lie
Now, let us return to our discussion, above, that Revelation 14:9-12 contains two parts which God coupled together with the key word, "and". Let us review this verse carefully.
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand..."
The Apostle Paul declares that every word of Scripture was breathed into existence by God. Listen:
"Every Scripture is God-breathed, given by His inspiration, and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action." [2 Timothy 3:16; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
Since "every Scripture is God-breathed" that means Jesus placed the conjunction "and" in the above verse! Our Savior placed this word to connect the two phrases so that we would know His Truth -- that receiving the mark in their forehead or hand means that those people are worshipping Antichrist! Taking the mark equals worship of the Beast!
The matter is really this simple! You cannot allow any modern religious prophet to arise amidst great acclaim to teach you something the Bible does not teach! Let us quickly see how LaHaye and Jenkins slyly teach that a person can take the "Mark of the Beast" and still be in right standing with God so he or she can still go to Heaven.
"The authors of the Left Behind series separated the soul-damning acts of being marked with the beast and worshipping the beast, in order to try to justify the fact that Chang remained a Christian after he received the mark of the beast. Chang had the mark of the beast, but the character Tsion said he did not accept this mark, and would not worship him:
"You did not accept the mark of Antichrist, nor will you worship him." ("Desecration", p. 10; Emphasis in the original) [Ruby, p. 91]
As we stated earlier, LaHaye wrote the storyline in such a manner as to depict men holding Chang down while his father implanted the Mark of Antichrist. Scripture does not teach that anyone will be physically forced to take the real Mark of Antichrist in such a manner, so it is extremely unwise -- even foolish -- for a so-called Christian Bible teacher to depict such a scenario in a book read by tens of millions of people. As we stated before, the people who will be deceived by this lie will either be nominal or new Christians who do not know their Bible well, or unbelievers who certainly do not know End Times prophecies! For this latter group of people, the Left Behind series will likely be the only "Bible" and the only "prophecy" they will ever read!
Just in case you do not believe that this de-coupling is taught in the Left Behind series, listen to Jerry Jenkins responding to a believer named Karen. She is urging Jerry to repudiate the belief as espoused in the books that a person can take the Mark and still be saved. Listen to the dialogue, posted on the Left Behind message board on 3/19/2002:
"Karen: Jerry! I plead with you again to repent and set this straight... It is not my assertion that one with the mark would be lost, it is God's."
"Jerry Jenkins: I disagree, and I think your Scripture reference shows the exception and proves my point.
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark..."
"The verse clearly says if a man worships the beast and his image, and nowhere in the story does Chang do that." (Jenkins concludes this thread]
There you have conclusive proof! The authors of Left Behind are clearly and deliberate de-coupling this prophecy in order arrive at their most unbiblical and personally damning conclusion, i.e., that a person can take the "Mark" and still be saved as long as in his heart he is not worshipping Antichrist. Jesus said clearly that taking of the "Mark" equals Worship in His eyes. When the Omnipotent Jesus tells us how He will view the situation, how can mortal man dare contradict Him?
Yet, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins do exactly that!
Likely Scenario
Christian author, Constance Cumbey, reports in her best-selling book, "The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow", that the Illuminati plans to hold a global Luciferic Initiation Ceremony soon after Antichrist arises. During this ceremony, people will be given the opportunity to express their love for, and loyalty to, Antichrist. As an expression of this love and loyalty, each person on earth will be implanted with the real "Mark of the Beast". Anyone refusing to take this Mark will die through beheading.
Constance then reports that, since the Illuminati recognizes that they will have to process hundreds of millions of people in a relatively short period of time, they plan to use public sports stadiums and gymnasiums in this effort. Therefore, consider this likely scenario.
In football stadiums throughout the United States, people will be ordered to gather so they may pledge their loyalty to Antichrist and take his 'Mark'. It is probable that people will be processed through the stadium in mass groups. The first capacity crowd -- 60,000 - 100,000 -- will file in and take a seat. Government officials will then explain to them the procedure by which they will come down on to the field of play, one by one, to pass before a government official. Each person will be asked simply to pledge their allegiance to Antichrist, perhaps by repeating a standard oath similar to our current Pledge of Allegiance. Then, after repeating the oath, each person will have the 'Mark' implanted.
While the people are seated in the stadium to await their turn to come down on the field, they will be treated to hours of a dreadful spectacle.
At one end of the football stadium, a podium will be set up, in front of which shall file -- one by one -- all the people who have been filed into the stadium. If a person refuses to take the implantable "mark", they will be forcibly marched to the other end of the stadium where numerous guillotines will be operating. The people waiting their turn in the stadium seats will have plenty of time to watch the graphic sight of people being beheaded, with blood gushing out from every execution. Heads will roll and bodies will be roughly gathered up and tossed into trucks for disposal.
The scene will be terribly blood and will cause so many people to agonize to the bottom of their souls.
Doubtless many people in the stadium seats will coalesce into smaller groups who will shout and talk back and forth. Every single person will have to decide what they are going to do when it becomes their turn to pass before the government official. Every person in the stands will want to live, and not die. The human mindset is strongly oriented toward self-preservation, so the temptation will be to buckle under, just accept the 'Mark' so you can "get on with your life". The great majority will simply make this decision, unaware of the eternal damnation to which they have just consigned themselves.
But wait, another guy speaks up within the group! "The Bible says that anyone who will take the 'Mark of the Beast' will go to Hell". This statement is likely to provoke a lively debate within the group. Some people will say that what is occurring to them now has no bearing on the "myth" which the Bible teaches for the End of the Age; other people say, 'this guy who calls himself Maitreya The Christ is very popular and did end all wars'!
Another person speaks up, pointing out that the implantable chip awaiting them at the podium is to be placed either in the forehead or in the right hand, just as the Bible foretold. In fact, he notes that every detail of this monumental event squares precisely with Bible prophecy! This event has to be the prophesied 'Mark of the Beast', which means that everyone who allows that implant into their body is going to Hell. The crowd murmurs with pure, unadulterated anger and fear.
"Hold on", shouts yet another person. "I read a series of books written by a couple of Bible preachers called 'Left Behind'. In several of the books, one of the key Christian characters had the 'Mark of the Beast' forced upon him and he was still a Christian! He was still going to Heaven!"
Some one else shouts out, "Why -- we are having this 'Mark' forced on us too, at the pain of beheading. If this Christian character could accept the 'Mark' and still be OK, then we can too!"
Just like that, all the details surrounding Chang and his taking of the 'Mark' become clouded; all people remember at that monumentally important time is that a Bible preacher wrote a novel in which the leading Christian character had the 'Mark' forced upon him and was still OK with God.
The Illuminati will have just won a tremendous victory, as great numbers of people will make the decision to take the 'Mark' based upon their recollection of the Left Behind series. This scenario is exactly how a Disinformation Agent works. He gives 95% or more good, solid information so he can build up his credibility; then, at just the right moment, or on just the right issue, he shall give false information. As we said earlier, some agents have worked for over 20 years just to get into position where they could carry out just 20 minutes of disinformation.
In like manner, it is highly likely that the entire Left Behind series may have been written just to communicate these two falsehoods, i.e., that God will give each believer a visible mark and that a person may take the "Mark of the Beast" and still go to Heaven.
Polluted Headwaters Will Create A Polluted Stream
In NEWS1818, we reported the very sad fact that the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, of the Unification Church has bankrolled a great number of current Evangelical Christian leaders! The Rev. Moon is as pagan and lost and Illuminist as anyone can possibly be! It is a matter of grave seriousness that he has provided large sums of money to these many Evangelical leaders, for such a large bankrolling strongly implies control over their ministries.
One of the earliest Evangelical leaders to take Moon's money was none other than Tim LaHaye. Quoting from our NEWS1818:
"Well-known author, former pastor and educator Tim LaHaye was named by a Wheaton College institute as the most influential leader in the evangelical Christian movement. The institute named LaHaye the most influential evangelical leader in the United States of the last quarter century. He and his wife, Beverly, the leader of Concerned Women for America, have been a driving force in the organizational efforts of evangelicals, including the Moral Majority and the respected political think tank Council for National Policy. Other contenders for the distinction included renowned evangelist Billy Graham, Campus Crusade for Christ's Bill Bright and Focus on the Family's James Dobson." ["Tim LaHaye 'most influential leader', WorldNetDaily, June 2, 2001]
However, the distinction of being so well respected is clouded by the information provided below:
"Most famous for his 'Left Behind' series of books and movies. Tim LaHaye's relationship with Moon goes back at least 17 years. In 1985 as was reported earlier, LaHaye was addressing several hundred evangelical Christians, the flock he claims to guard and feed ... He exhorted that they go willingly to jail with the Rev. Moon in demonstration to his imprisonment over tax fraud." ["Unholy Alliance", Part I]
Moon's Prison Time For Tax Fraud Seen By Tim LaHaye As "Unifying Christianity"
Shockingly, LaHaye's strong support for Rev. Moon is borne out by none other than Moon's "right hand man", Bo Hi Pak, writing about Moon's jail time and his visits from La Haye.
"Father has suffered on many other occasions ... even though Father suffered in Korea and North Korea, that was not the cosmic age for universal salvation. That was not the worldwide level. Today here in the United States, which is the microcosm of the world, whatever Father does has a universal impact ... What Father has accomplished at Danbury is the restoration of Christianity and the unification of Christianity. Father brought Christianity into one with the Unification Church. Christians began to understand Father and accept Father and Father's dispensation."
Bo Hi Pak continues:
"One good example is Dr. Tim LaHaye's visit to Danbury ... During the drive, Dr. LaHaye said, 'It is incredible what our government did to Reverend Moon, to confine Reverend Moon in this kind of place.' When we got to Danbury, he met Father, who was wearing humble prison clothes. He held Father's hands and the first words Dr. LaHaye spoke were, 'Reverend Moon, I apologize on behalf of my government.' Mother saw that Dr. LaHaye's eyes were red and he was crying. What a beautiful union, a beautiful union of brothers, like Esau and Jacob. Father and Dr. LaHaye were embracing." ["Truth is My Sword", Volume II: Chapter 45 Mount Danbury", http://www.tparents.org/library/unification/books/tims2/tims2-45.htm, by Bo Hi Pak, February 3, 1985]
Tim La Haye then appealed to his followers to "go willingly to jail with the Rev. Moon in demonstration to his imprisonment over tax fraud." ["Unholy Alliance", Part I, Ibid.] However, did you notice that LaHaye willingly participated with this pagan, Illuminist false religious leader to complete "the restoration of Christianity and the unification of Christianity" and to achieve "a beautiful union, a beautiful union of brothers, like Esau and Jacob"? [Ibid.]
No true Christian leader would ever, ever, ever join with a pagan occultist like this, allowing himself to be declared his "brother"! The Bible firmly forbids this kind of union with an unbeliever! Listen once again:
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." [2 John 1:10-11]
AND:
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?" [2 Corinthians 6:14; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
This action clearly labels Tim La Haye as a Christian Tare, a counterfeit Christian. Yet, LaHaye is so popular and so revered, he is named the most influential of all Evangelical leaders! Further, untold millions have gobbled up his "Left Behind" series of books and movies, believing them to be a genuine explanation of the Rapture of the Christian Church.
LaHaye not only wished Moon "Godspeed", he then urged his followers to financially support him during his tax fraud prison sentence!
La Haye also formed the Council For National Policy (CNP) in 1981. There are "definite ties between this 'Christian' organization and the Rev. Moon's openly anti-Christ organizations ... this group is also associated heavily with the controversial and cultic Church of Scientology ..." ["Unholy Alliance", Part I] David Wegener, of Hope For America, emphatically states that CNP is a "Christian equivalent to the Illuminist Council on Foreign Relations"! Thus, in keeping with the Dialectic Process, the Illuminati has established two special groups to further their plans: the CFR and the CNP -- Thesis and Antithesis, Yin-Yang! [Read NEWS1007 for treatment of Thesis - Antithesis]
"In 1983, American Coalition for Traditional Values (ACTV) began with Tim LaHaye, Falwell, Robertson, Bakker, Robison, Humbard, and Swaggert. The money that started it came from the Moonies. It was right after Gary Jarmin, ex-Moonie, introduced Tim LaHaye to Col. Bo Pak, Rev. Moon's right hand man." ["This is a Bizarre World", http://www.angelfire.com/TN/bizarrotom/]
LaHaye is also leading the group of Evangelicals who are teaching that the Illuminati shall rebuild ancient Babylon in the End of the Age, and that Babylon will rise to the dominance foretold of Economic Babylon in Revelation 18, even though such teaching is completely at odds with the great majority of Bible scholars who lived and served in past times. For example, the Old Scofield Bible says in its footnote to Isaiah 13:19-22:
"Verses 12-16 look forward to the apocalyptic judgments (Rev. 6-13). Verses 17-22 have a near and a far view. They predict the destruction of the literal Babylon then existing; with the further statement that, once destroyed, Babylon should never be rebuilt (cf. Jer 51:61-64). All of this has been literally fulfilled. But the place of this prediction in a great prophetic strain which looks forward to the destruction of both politico-Babylon and ecclesio-Babylon in the time of the Beast shows that the destruction of the actual Babylon typifies the greater destruction yet to come upon the mystical Babylons." [The Old Scofield Study Bible, KJV]
The two understands you need to grasp are:
1) "All of this has been literally fulfilled."
2) "... the destruction of the actual Babylon typifies the greater destruction yet to come upon the mystical Babylons."
In other words, the End of the Age destruction of Babylon will be against "mystical Babylons", not the physical Ancient Babylon.
I would trust the Biblical analysis of the old line scholars whose leadership by the Holy Spirit is well documented, before I would believe modern scholars who are Bush-apologists. We recall the spectacle of Chuck Missler appearing before his constituents shortly after Bush's election to announce that Bush was God's man of the hour and his four years as president might be the final time of grace before judgment finally falls! Yet, we know by examining President Bush's fruits, he has so many deeds that are totally inconsistent with Biblical good fruit we cannot possibly conclude he is a genuinely Born Again Christian [Bush's Good Fruits vs Evil Fruits]
Further, we are troubled by two practical issues regarding the building up of Ancient Babylon at the End of the Age to the point where she will become the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18.
1) Coalition Forces have poisoned the Iraqi land with Depleted Uranium [Read NEWS1843]. We posted a news article on Daily News Updates for January 15, 2004, entitled, "U.S. ammunition plant reaching its limit", The Seattle Times, which demonstrates that we continue to heavily expend D.U. ammunition on a daily basis. When Depleted Uranium munitions explode, fine radioactive explodes everywhere; later, the strong wind storms that regularly ravage the country will then pick up this fine dust and spread it everywhere. If the land is poisoned with Uranium and if it has gotten into the water supply, how likely is it that Ancient Babylon will every be inhabited again?
Isn't it interesting that the prophecy says Babylon will never be "inhabited", not "rebuilt"?
2) The Lord established a firm timeline by which all End of the Age prophecies must be fulfilled. Listen:
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors. Truly I tell you, this generation, the whole multitude of people living at the same time, in a definite, given period will not pass away till all these things taken together take place." [Matthew 24:32-34; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]
Here, Jesus is saying that once Israel (Fig Tree) comes back to her land, all the prophecies of Matthew 24 shall begin to come to pass as a unit and shall conclude before the "generation" that witnessed the return of Israel back to her land passes away. What is meant by this term, "generation"? The Jewish generation is thought to be around 40 years; the Easton Bible Dictionary states that the exact time of a generation is 38 years. However, the term used in this passage as "generation" is the Greek word, "genea", which is Strong's Number 1074. While this word has multiple uses, the one usage used in the Parallel Bible, above, is, "the whole multitude of men living at the same time".—Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
Thus, the meaning is that the people who saw Israel start back to her land will not have all passed away before all prophecies are fulfilled.
When did the "fig tree" begin to "put forth her leaves", i.e., begin the return to the land? Historians will tell you that the return of Israel back to her ancient land was rendered inevitable by the Balfour Declaration of 1917, when the British Government stated that Israel had a right to return to her homeland. Since people are living 80-90 years, the time for all events to wrap up to completion would be 1997-2007.
However, if you take the beginning date to be 1948, when Israel actually returned to her land, the time frame for conclusion would be 2028 - 2038.
The world now stands in 2004. While Saddam Hussein restored a lot of the palace area of Nebuchadnezzar, the rest of the city of Babylon lies largely uninhabited. The United States now is the Economic Engine of the world, and it took us 100 years to get to this point, plus two world wars which uniquely acted to concentrate both political power and economic wealth into our hands. It seems totally illogical for Ancient Babylon to rise from her zero point now to economic world dominance in less than 50 years! Thus, even if the re-inhabitation were to start in 2004, it would be 2054 before Babylon could rise to dominance, a date that does even not take into consideration the stiff economic competition provided by the United States, Japan, China, and the European Union.
The time calculations are thus: 1948 to 2054 = 106 years
This period of 106 years is well beyond the firm time period our Lord set into place, in Matthew 24:32-34! The world does not have the time required to build ancient Babylon up to such world dominance and still stay within the time confines that Jesus firmly set!
Thus, we are reticent to believe these modern Bible teachers so cozy with President Bush, teaching that Ancient Babylon will be rebuilt so that it would be the political and economic sphere of the Kingdom of Antichrist. The Bible seems to prohibit such a renewal of inhabitation, the land is being poisoned by Depleted Uranium, and the logical time period to rebuild Babylon into a world political and economic giant seems to be too long.
We must simply wait with eyes and ears of Faith to see how events turn out. However, we believe that the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18 is the United States as we detail in the last half of NEWS1830. We originally postulated this viewpoint in 1992 and believe it more strongly today than ever before.
Allowing The Bible To Have The Last Words On The Consequences of Taking The Mark
In conclusion, let us allow Jesus to have the final Word as to what the consequences shall be for anyone who takes the "Mark of the Beast". We have already shown Revelation 14:9-12, above, and shall not repeat it here. Listen to the other passages in which Jesus tells us what punishment shall be meted out to those people who received the "Mark", or those people who refused to take the mark of Antichrist.
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." [Rev 15:1-2]
These people were believers who refused to take the "Mark". They are pictured in Heaven getting their reward. At this point, I should warn you that, if a person who is not a believer refuses to take the "Mark" and is beheaded, that person will not go to Heaven; as always, the entry into Heaven is reserved for those who receive Jesus as Savior, repenting of their sin, asking Him to cleanse them of their sin with His shed blood, thus becoming Born Again. However, an unbeliever may recognize that he or she is facing the prophesied "Mark of the Beast" and repent of their sin and receive Jesus as Savior just before they are killed. That type of person would enter Heaven!
"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." [Rev 16:1-2]
Shortly after people take the "Mark of the Beast", God shall cause a terrible sore of some type to come upon them. Note in this passage that the physical act of taking the Mark is, indeed, equated with a worship of that Beast - Antichrist. You simply cannot de-couple the taking of the mark from worship of Antichrist, as "Left Behind" teaches.
"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." [Rev 19:20]
The two Beasts of Revelation -- Antichrist and False Prophet -- are finally
seized for their many actions, not the least of which is the act of forcing
everyone on earth to take the "Mark"; both are hurled into the "lake
of fire burning with brimstone."
"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; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." [Rev 20:4]
Believers who lost their lives because they refused to take the Mark of the Beast are pictured as receiving great honor - thrones - because they refused. These people will be given new physical bodies so they can live with Jesus for His Millennial Reign.
As you can readily see, the Left Behind series of books pose a deadly and eternal danger to the souls of people! Bible-believers will not be deceived, for they will hold fast to Scripture, refusing to be budged. However, nominal Christians who do not know prophecy and unbelievers who have no idea what prophecy foretells, are likely to be the ones deceived. Once they believe that they can take the "Mark" and still be saved, they are set up for eternal destruction.
Since Tim LaHaye has been receiving Illuminist monies from Rev. Moon for many years, and since he defended Moon with tears during his incarceration for Tax Evasion, can we trust him now to be faithful to the Scripture in his Left Behind series of books? Indeed, we cannot! With great desire for you to not be deceived into taking an action that will send you to Hell for eternity, we implore you to see this series for what they are -- a massive disinformation and propaganda campaign. At the most decisive moment in world history, Left Behind is likely to deceive tens of millions of people to take the one action that will land them in Hell, for which there is no remedy. No one can take the "Mark" and then turn around to repent, even if they do so with great tears of spiritual pain. When you take that "Mark", God slams His Mercy Door shut!
Do not be deceived!
Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones. Once you have been thoroughly trained, you can also use your knowledge as a means to open the door of discussion with an unsaved person. I have been able to use it many times, and have seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result. These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, but have come to realize His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to accept His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can also do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you accept Him as Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually.
If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.
We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order -- Kingdom of Antichrist -- in their daily news.
Finally, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact us by mail or email.
God bless you.
