The End of the World. Which will You Choose?

The Beast out of the Earth (The False Prophet) (There will be a dragon, or Satan, a 1st beast from the sea and a 2nd beast from earth. This passage speaks about the 2nd beast, who is the false prophet.)

“… he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” (Rev. 13:14-13:17)

“This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” (Rev. 13:18)

“ ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury… He will be tormented with burning sulfur… and the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.’” (Rev. 14:9)

Even at the end, God gives us a choice. Imagine the situation. In order to survive in this temporal world, in order to “buy or sell” you must receive the mark of the beast. If you do not receive the mark, you will be beheaded. (Rev. 20:4) If you receive the mark you will survive in this temporal world, but you will be tormented with “burning sulfur” forever in the eternal world.

If you resist the mark and resist worship of the beast, your soul will be saved and enjoy the "crown of life" (Rev . 2:10) and the eternal kingdom of God.

It is our choice what path we are to take. For myself, the choice comes down to whether we are willing to give up the things of this temporal world, for the things of the eternal world. Better yet, are you willing to do what is right even if it means losing your physical life?

This is where I, a weak and wretched person, must seek Jesus for some wisdom.
“You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matt. 6:24)
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)

How many of us do things for the sake of money? I find myself doing this many times. Not to say money is inherently evil. John, a disciple of Jesus was supposedly a man of means, but he warns against the “love” of money. In all our acts, we must acknowledge God. We must love God. Am I being "deceived" by the world? The love of money may drive some to worship the beast, so that they may do business ("buy and sell"). Do I love money or do I love God?

In closing, remember: Jesus’ very first words of preaching were “‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” (Matt. 4:17) and his last words in Revelation are, “‘Yes, I am coming soon.”

If this was to happen right now, on this very day, would you be strong enough to give up the right to "buy and sell" and lose your physical life for God and for the eternal kingdom? Let us not wait too long in preparing ourselves for these decisions.

"Yes, I am coming soon."

(Dear God, I pray that the words on this page are not mine, but yours, the Holy Spirit speaking through me with your wisdom. I repent for my faults. Please speak through me so that no words are misinterpreted. Amen.)