People have always been fascinated with the mark of the beast, 666.  They are always attempting to fit current politics into the mold cast by the passage from Revelation.  They didn’t really have symbols for numbers as we do, so they used letters.  The manuscripts from Revelation actually denote “χξς” , Chi, Xi, Vau.  Which comes out to 666 or 616.  It is most likely a cryptic way of saying Nero.  Which makes the most sense in context.  But while this is all very interesting, it is to miss the actual point of the verse.  Nero conquered Jerusalem, and was dead and gone long ago, but the battle between good and evil rages on, even in the Church.

The purpose of the mark was to identify those who were sympathetic to the emperor.  Those who  refused, would not be able to buy and sell.  Essentially, you worship the emperor or you won’t be able to participate in commerce.  You would probably lose your job and you wouldn’t be able to buy any food.

Those faithful Jews would be forced to make a choice, reject your faith, bow down and glorify Nero as god, or be killed.  Of course the whole problem took place because the Jews didn’t embrace their king when he returned to his vineyard(Mark 12:-1-12).  And so God was judging them.  And so every Jewish rebellion was put down, ending with the siege of Masada.

Those faithful Christians at the time had a similar choice; reject King Jesus and bow down to Caesar, or be killed.  Which is why Prophet Jesus told his disciples to flee to the hills when they saw the abomination of desolation(Matthew 24).  Leave the country, so you won’t have to make the choice.  God gave his faithful the wisdom to escape the judgement prepared for Apostate Israel.

We have a similar situation today.  You bow down to the gods of atheistic multicultural humanism or you will lose the ability to buy and sell.  Mobs of fools might storm your business, or a cacophony of internet tweets might shame others from darkening your door.  People will unfriend you on Facebook and family members will refuse to be at the same family gatherings as you are.  Granted, not quite as bad as losing your life at the hand of a Roman army, which is why it’s so sad that so many are caving in so quickly.

It’s the same old choice, do you fear what men can do to your body or do you fear the commands of the Lord God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth?(Matthew 10:28)  Sure it might be difficult, but do you really think God will not save his people?  And if not. . .   Besides we deserve it.  We, the people of the Church, have sat around on our hands for generations allowing this to happen.  We didn’t speak the truth of God even to our own children, as we sent them off to the World to become worldlings (Deuteronomy 11:19; 6:7).  And so, suffering is ahead.  But it’s nothing compared with the suffering of those who reject the commands of God, even on this earth (Romans 1).

So every time you are tempted to like your gay friend’s post about how they have now crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land, realize you are glorifying evil, you are bowing down to Caesar.  You are saying that three deceived women, a Clinton hack and a Judas, in black robes are Lord over your life and not Jesus, you take the Mark.  Every time you consider the earthly ramifications to you, or even your family, and put those concerns above pleasing God, you take the Mark.  Every time you put the life of your business above the life of God’s word, you take the mark.  Every time you even let people think you are going along with this insanity, you take the Mark.

We are the Church people, and if we don’t point people towards the light, and towards repentance, it will only get worse (Matthew 5:14-16).  Worse for us, I’m not that concerned for the Kingdom of Heaven, it is flourishing quite well in China.  And maybe this is what we need, ‘Christians’ are falling away in droves and it makes it easier to see who the real Christians are.  Unfortunately they are the ones holding the coats while our true brothers and sisters are cut down for their faithfulness (Acts 7:58).  Can’t we all just get along?  No, not while some love darkness rather than the light.  So stand up and be counted amongst the faithful.  Refuse the Mark of the Beast, the 666, the rainbow of lies.