What Is the Mark of the Beast?: Allegiance to the Antichrist

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content. When you subscribe to pastor Greg daily depots. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org coming up to a new beginning for Greg Laurie points over Revelation how the great tribulation will change nearly everything about why you're applied over there is coming.

This sure is about a world leader will introduce counselors sought requiring everyone to know more. No one will be able to buy or sell or engage in commerce with no more of these is a handy group, a new beginning for Greg Laurie points out how the mark presents allegiance to the antichrist against I don't forget to be a part of SoCal part widebrimmed angels in Southern California. You can watch from anywhere of harvest.org/SoCal time for a friend or loved one is. So I went to the market the other day about groceries mother was leaving the other nice little lower sex was looking around at different flowers and I usually get my wife orchids. She favors those but then I saw something I rarely see they had to what those are beautiful so I paid for them and they cost a little more than I thought they should. But they were so impressive I thought of God to give her these tulips and those I'm walking to my car am looking at them saying what a marvel of God's creation there so perfectly. They almost look fake.

I can't believe the things I got home and that I wanted to cut the stems.

You know, and so I get a knife out there not cutting to get a stronger knife out still. Like I thought wow I didn't know tulips had stems that were so tough, so I get the gum from a little later and I said I got you some tulips and so then she went to cut the stems and she said Greg these two lives you bought me RFA I bought my wife think tulips so why are we talking about flowers you're asking.

I am annoyed. I just want to try that store. There is coming a world leader on the scene is going to be lack of a better description of fake Christ of phony Jesus he's called the anti-Christ, the prefix anti-not only means against and he will be against Christ and his followers, but it also means instead up. Jesus said in the last days there will come those that will say I am Christ and that's exactly what this man will do what he is a pretender and we all know his number. Don't wait.

It's 666 more people probably know that number from the Bible. Then John 316 says for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. But we don't know that we know 666. We get nervous about that number. If it's in your Social Security number. Maybe you want to change it if they give you a new phone number and have 666. Why don't know if I want that number.

We know that number is connected to evil.

We know that it points to something ominous and indeed it does. The Bible teaches that there is coming this charismatic world leader the antichrist who will introduce a cashless society, requiring everyone to take a mark. No one will be able to buy or sell or engage in any kind of commerce without the mark of the beast and by the way, this may be one of the most intriguing issues and all of the Bible there's been more speculation more sensationalism more silliness about this topic than any of the other last days events. Now maybe 10 years ago.

If I was teaching others.

I would illustrate with some things I read in the news about how close we are to this mark but I don't even need to do that anymore. Do I we all know that the text is pretty much here where we could be identified by a mark would be the microchips being implanted in pets and now in some cases even in humans.

I just saw a video for a well-known website where there saying you don't need a wallet anymore you can just scan your hand or wave your hand and make your purchase site. I hear that Elon musk of the creator of Tesla and space X has implanted a little chip into the brain of a chimpanzee and I saw chimpanzee playing a videogame with this artificial intelligence added so clearly we can see this attached is already here.

Think about this. The Bible predicted this technology that the antichrist will harness and use for evil purposes. 2000 years ago. John is on an island in the middle of nowhere in the Lord gives to him what we call the Revelation, which is the unveiling of the eternal, the unveiling of the future.

At this time there were no computers or tablets or smart phones. This was the age of of spears and stones and would I this was incredible that John would have this kind of insight and by the way, that's why you can believe the Bible. It's the one book that dares to predict the future, not once, not twice, but hundreds of times with one hundred percent accuracy. Okay, so let's read that passage that refers to the mark of the beast. Revelation 13 verse 16 says he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right can run their foreheads and no one can buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name here is wisdom led him to this understanding calculate the number of the beast forward is the number of a man and his number is 666 so God is predicted the future housing. By the way that's not risky for the Lord and it wouldn't be any more risky for God to predict the future.

Then for you to tell me what you had for dinner last night. I hope you can remember what you had. And some of the Lord speaks of the future. It's easy wife because God lives in the eternal realm. So everything is in a continuing to him. So when he says this will happen. He knows it will happen exactly as he says it well.

I love this passage. Isaiah 46 verse nine, the Lord says do not forget the things that I done through history, for I am God. I alone I am God and there is no one else like me only I can tell you what is going to happen before it happens.

Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. How true is that. So the Lord is told us this is coming we know it will, but we don't know when it will happen exactly you know there's a lot of speculations and I mentioned recently.

Conspiracy theories that people come up with about the antichrist trying to identify him, which is a bad idea and it's futile and trying to figure what the mark of the beast might be now because of the coronavirus we have the vaccines that are available to the public in a more than one occasion. I've read articles about is the vaccine the mark of the beast. If you take the vaccine.

Are you indeed taking the mark of the beast so I'm an answer that. Right now, to the best of my ability.

The answer is no. It is not the mark of the beast. No one's going to take the mark of the beast accidentally because in fact is we study Scripture, we realize it's not just taking the mark on your right Kendra forget it's a pledge of allegiance to the Antichrist himself. No one is going to take it by accident and by the way, the antichrist will not be revealed until the rapture of the church. So if you know who the antichrist is and you think you know what the mark of the beast is, congratulations, you miss the rapture not being facetious, of course, because we don't know. So the point is its pointless to try to identify antichrist or even the mark that he will use only summarize the mark of the beast is future not pastor even present yet the mark is a visible literal brand of sorts. The mark will be given as a sign of devotion to antichrist and as a passport to commerce and here's the thing you'll know it when you're getting that there is even an angel can apply to the heavens warning people to not take the mark so no one's going to do it again by accident.

So don't freak out if you go to Disneyland and they put a stamp on your right hand.

It's okay not taken the mark of the beast, but when this mark is employed during the great tribulation. That last for seven years.

There's going to be a one world government. A new global economy, ruled by one man. I was watching a business news channel the other day.

They were talking about the changing economy among financial experts said my quote the real reform. The real answer to all this is some kind of a thinking union where everyone signs on board they needs to be some kind of banking overlord, a banking union that everyone will bow down before about while he may have just described the antichrist yet, so he'll be in overlord if you will. And in this case, people will technically bow down before 11 choice during the tribulation. You can either take the mark and works of the antichrist or star, basically no Mark, no merchandise, no seal, no say Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment. We hear from so many people find Christ pastor Greg's teachings pastor Greg. I was saved at your harvest persuaded Anaheim Stadium about 20 years ago. Before that I could hardly stand to look in the mirror as I was lost in a world of drugs and violence.

In fact, I had many friends and family who died when I was young I always figured I would be far behind.

Today I went to your harvest Crusade. I was kind of embarrassed to be there and didn't understand what this was all about and you came on stage and began to grab my attention.

God was speaking through your mouth. My heart, I started crying and didn't know why but I knew I wanted everything you were talking about the love, the forgiveness eternal life in general, to call for anyone who wanted to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. I popped up and jumped through the rows to get to the field so that I could commit my life to Jesus Christ. I just felt the need to share this with you.

I pray to God continues to use you to help save the lost. Thank you Jesus and thank you Pastor Greg for sharing God's love was so many great stories of how God used the harvest Crusade to bring this man to Christ, tell a friend about pastor Greg's next event SoCal harvest October 3 Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California get information and get involved by going to harvest Donald harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is offering some important insight about the end times, and specifically the time of the great tribulation, and he explains even more in his new book on Revelation.

Get the details@harvest.org. Let's continue today study a prophecy.

One thing is clear. We never been closer to the Lord's return than we are at this moment, no sorrow, bad news because the Bible promises a new beginning.

The Bible promises a new world when righteousness will reign supreme light over darkness, good will prevail over evil.

It is in that good news because we read so much bad news right now. Horrible, awful things that happen every day in this fallen world of ours. Why are things going to be so much better because the Bible says in Isaiah 11 nine. The knowledge of the Lord will bill the year. How wonderful that will be right now, the knowledge of the Lord does not fill the year. Many don't even want to hear what God has to say one of our passions here at harvest ministries is to get the gospel to as many people as possible and to reach unexpected people in unexpected places, and indeed the Bible tells us before Christ comes back. The gospel will be preached all around the world and then one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, but before that comes it's going to get pretty dark and that's Revelation 13 is telling us with the emergence of this antichrist. Figure now if you heard my message last time, which was titled who is the antichrist. You remember some things I pointed out in case you missed it, here's a little recap number one antichrist is coming to deify Satan is coming to deify Satan a Revelation 13 forces. They worshiped the Dragon Revelation tells us in chapter 12. The Dragon is Satan.

So the worship Satan, who gave authority to the beast and the beast is the antichrist, and they worship the beast same who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with them. So ultimately there's going to be full tilt. Satan worship happening on the planet number two antichrist is coming to defy it.

Take the place of Jesus, so he wants to deify Satan he wants to defy and take the place of Jesus.

Revelation 13 five says there was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy and authority to continue for 42 months, and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle of third thing I point out about antichrist's time and rain will be limited fill room for a seven year period.

The first 3 1/2 years will be peaceful. That's why some will hail him as a peacemaker, but in reality is the ultimate trouble maker. He'll show his true colors at a certain event. I'll talk about in just a moment's and number four.

He is coming to kill Christians and followers of the Lord. Verse seven says it's granted to him to make war with the Saints and overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and tongue and nation were also told in Revelation that they'll be some kind of a assassination attempt against antichrist that he will survive and when that happens people are gonna worship him and the devil him self. Now the antichrist is not act alone. He has a partner in crime and that person is identified as the false prophet Revelation 13 verse 11 says I saw another beast and remember beast is not a description of how they appear, but more a description of their character. Another beast coming up out of the earth.

He had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon soul Lamb is a passive creature, a Dragon, as we already know is Satan. So the devil speaking through Jim but he appears oh I suppose religious and pious like a lamb.

He has all the authority of the first beast in his presence of first beast be the antichrist because of the earth and those that dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Antichrist survives that assassination attempt.

And here's the verse 16 and he causes both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on the right can or their forehead so he's sort of implementing this mark in the culture and again this is in the future. So here's the thing we wonder why would anybody take the mark of the beast and the answer is given to us in second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse nine which says, speaking of antichrist. This evil man will come to do the work of Satan, with counterfeit power and signs and wonders.

He will use every kind of wicked deception. The full, those were on their way to destruction, listen because they refused to believe the truth is not that they haven't heard the truth. They refused to believe the truth that would save them so God will send the great deception upon them and they will believe the lie though believe the lie. What is the lie that people in the tribulation. Will believe the lie is pretty much the same thing that goes back to the garden to be Satan was peddling this thing way back when. Number of first parents, Adam and Eve were there at the garden there at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By the way, the Lord said, you can enjoy all this garden just, you know, steer clear of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil seemed to Adam and Eve at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And a lot of times we get ourselves in the trouble without the devil's help, so there they were standing at the tree and the snake comes to them, the serpent, the devil and says, has God said you can't eat of every tree in the garden. Go ahead and eat of this fruit printed day you eat, you will become is a God, knowing good and evil. Now, people always say when adamant Eve ate the apple in the garden.

The Bible never says it was an apple. I don't know about you, I wouldn't even be tempted by an Apple who knows what it was probably glowed and pulsated the flight. Maybe it had its own theme song.

I don't know but when they saw the tree and the fruit of the tree was good for food, and pleasant to look upon and desirable to make them wise eat of it and then sin entered the world, but one of the lie that Satan was propagating the lie is simply this. Don't believe the word of God, believe something in its place. Hey, we believe a lie sometimes to the devil whisper in her ear. God doesn't love you. Why the weave and follow him. He's against you. That's a lie.

Sometimes the devil will say go ahead and do this thing. No one will ever find out you'll get away with it will, that's certainly a lie and say it'll be fun and he'll whisper into our ears.

These things that are not true and the only way to know the line from the truth and you know good from evil is they have a good working knowledge of the Bible.

All of us have been deceived by sin and some time in our life. All of us have known something was wrong, but we went for it anyway right and if you did, that means you listen to the lie.

So now were in the tribulation period is Satan is pulling out all of the stops for this last big play. He's wanting people to take this mark. I'm sure the be a lot of pressure for people to take the mark.

I'm sure all the celebrities on social media will say I got the mark. Did you have you got the market. Make sure you get the mark to market is often the antichrist is great and people would be swept up in the thing tomorrow times coming great tribulation Pastor Greg Laurie pointing out what Revelation tells us about the time after the rapture of the church and there's more to come from a Revelation series here on a new beginning. But listen, if you missed any of today's study or any of our previous presentations you can catch up by going online to harvest.org just look for today's message. What is the mark of the beast. Now, in tandem with our studies a Revelation here on a new beginning pastor Greg has just released a brand-new book on Revelation takes us even further. Yesterday, there's a lot of symbolism in Bible prophecy, you study the subject.

A great deal yes how much of that symbolism. Do we know for sure what it means and how much is open to interpretation were godly people do disagree well I think it's very important to understand Bible prophecy. There are constant expectations to understand these things Jesus when he was speaking of an event called the abomination of desolation said, let the reader under Stanton and I will go Thessalonians Paul writing to the believers there. He says brothers I would not have you be ignorant. Then he went on to talk about the rapture so we don't want to be ignorant.

We want to understand and the very word Revelation means to on veil now. There are different ways that we can view these truths and I think godly people can and they do frankly disagree on some of these think know my position is I believe that there is an event called the rapture that can happen at any moment. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. Now the tribulation period is last seven years starts with the emergence of antichrist.

It ends with the return of Jesus Christ. I don't believe we as Christians will go through the tribulation. I believe will be ruptured before that time comes now that belief alone will affect you in the way that you live because of you believe you could be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and you see the signs of the time showing how close the tribulation.

Could potentially be you realize of the tribulation. His close then the rapture of the church is even closer so I can use the illustration of sing Christmas decorations up and you know the goats overly now darling what is it August or something. I can't believe Christmas decorations are up against. What if I see the decorations for Christmas going up. It says this Thanksgiving is coming casino. Greg gets his Christmas is coming know, I know.

But if Christmas is coming Thanksgiving is coming even sooner because Thanksgiving precedes Christmas doesn't it. So the point of it all is if I see signs of the times out there telling me that the tribulation period is coming and that means that Jesus is coming even sooner for his church. That belief alone will affect you in the way that you live I talk about that and a lot more in this brand-new book that I've just written called Revelation, a book of promises. It's hard cover. It's a thick one. This is going to be a resource that you keep in the home and hopefully you consulted again and again in my prayer and my hope is it will help unlock this great book.

The final book of the Bible, the only book of the Bible. I might add it as a special blessing, promise to the person who reads cheers and keeps the words of it and I want you to get this book I've just written simply called Revelation, a book of promises will send it to you for your gift of any size.

And here's Dave did tell you more right will thank you very much. It's a brand-new commentary from Pastor Greg hot off the press more than 400 pages in length.

If you been less than clear on your understanding of last days events. You need to get this resource hey Dave, let me jump in really quick and not only are we offering this new book Revelation about the promises, but we have this really cool graphic bookmark that we have put together that gives you a timeline of end times events so you probably wondered okay I know I've heard about the rapture and the tribulation. In the antichrist and the second coming. What happens when will this very beautiful little visual bookmark shortly set out for you that's included in the book you're talking about right now. Yeah that's right it comes automatically to get in touch with your donation today and will thank you with a copy of Revelation, a book of promises you can write a set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org evangelist Greg Laurie had somehow hired an army filled with worry and hopelessness. I am telling you from homelessness to hold this to fulfillment killed.

Forgiveness because Holt has a name Jesus Christ cities here fixing your life and mine in their experience from the regulatory and music from more information next time. The Greg I just into the 14th Revelation where we consider the 144,000, and the mark of a hearing as God's own jointed here on the new beginning pastor and Bible teachers regulatory and new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this show has impacted your life. Share your story, leave a review on your favorite podcast and help others find help