Okay I need to clarify the point that indeed the unregenerate will along with worshipping the beast also have terror and fear and as scripture states the Beast will force men to take the mark. That forcing means execution for those not worshipping the Beast and taking it; but at first it just means there is no means to obtain food and other needed things without the mark hence it is forcing that as a means of economic transactions. Just how long it will be before men are killed after that could be up for debate.
Those who know Christ therefore are not the cowards mentioned in Revelation 22. We are strong and courageous ONLY because we are redeemed; else how can anyone bear to think of God's judgments and the pains of hell? Scripture states in Isaiah that those who can dwell in the everlasting fire are the redeemed; in other words those who the second death won't touch.
When I lived in another city I warned my Pastor at the time that we need to very seriously take the prophets literally as to how terrible the end times will be. It seemed he was either focusing on the fulfillments in the past or somehow thinking it surely couldn't be as bad as it seems in the future judgments. This attitude along with the lax concepts on hell; men's depravity and other important subjects seems to be commonplace today along with many in the replacement theology camp.
It is so easy at least for me to be numb seeing how horrible this world is; as I brought up recently with just the one fact of over 70 MILLION abortions worldwide a year. God has in a few specific cases clearly rendered judgment upon particularly wicked men. But judgment day is clearly soon; and the evil fruit getting to full maturity. It is pretty clear that if we think any other way we don't understand the God we claim to believe. ( Proverbs 14:34).
I pray we all focus on the Great Commission and warn others to flee from the wrath to come rather than get too sidetracked.
Okay I need to clarify the point that indeed the unregenerate will along with worshipping the beast also have terror and fear and as scripture states the Beast will force men to take the mark. That forcing means execution for those not worshipping the Beast and taking it; but at first it just means there is no means to obtain food and other needed things without the mark hence it is forcing that as a means of economic transactions. Just how long it will be before men are killed after that could be up for debate.
Those who know Christ therefore are not the cowards mentioned in Revelation 22. We are strong and courageous ONLY because we are redeemed; else how can anyone bear to think of God's judgments and the pains of hell? Scripture states in Isaiah that those who can dwell in the everlasting fire are the redeemed; in other words those who the second death won't touch.
When I lived in another city I warned my Pastor at the time that we need to very seriously take the prophets literally as to how terrible the end times will be. It seemed he was either focusing on the fulfillments in the past or somehow thinking it surely couldn't be as bad as it seems in the future judgments. This attitude along with the lax concepts on hell; men's depravity and other important subjects seems to be commonplace today along with many in the replacement theology camp.
It is so easy at least for me to be numb seeing how horrible this world is; as I brought up recently with just the one fact of over 70 MILLION abortions worldwide a year. God has in a few specific cases clearly rendered judgment upon particularly wicked men. But judgment day is clearly soon; and the evil fruit getting to full maturity. It is pretty clear that if we think any other way we don't understand the God we claim to believe. ( Proverbs 14:34).
I pray we all focus on the Great Commission and warn others to flee from the wrath to come rather than get too sidetracked.
Agape.
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