Onward Christian Soldiers

When the beast empire has finally arrived and the seven years of tribulation has begun, get ready to fight for your lives.  The antichrist of this world and his helper, the false prophet, will require everyone to take a mark on his/her right hand or on their forehead, this is called the mark of the beast.  I personally believe this event is not so far into the future but of course only our Father God knows when this will happen, although the Bible tells us of specific things to look out for; read Matthew 24:3-13.  

It is said, the mark of the beast will happen three and a half years into the seven year tribulation, half way through.  Anyone who takes the mark has just bought themselves a ticket to hell, there will be no going back.  The mark will be required to buy and sell.  

Revelation 13:16-18 (CSB)
And it makes 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 can buy or sell unless he has the mark:  the beast’s name or the number of its name.  This calls for wisdom:  Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person.  Its number is 666.

So you see, life will get extremely difficult.  Remember though, those who take the mark are going to hell.  It will be a case of staying one step ahead of the enemy, all the time.  We will have to box clever as to how we will survive.  

Jesus will come for His believers, who will meet Him in the sky.  It is believed by many, this will happen before the tribulation although the Bible doesn’t state when this will happen exactly.  If the rapture happens before the tribulation, it will mean a lot of people will not have to be here when the mark is forced on people.  

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (CSB)
Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

For those who remain on earth, there is still time during the tribulation to repent and come to Jesus Christ but you will have to live through the whole seven years of tribulation, not an easy task!  Scripture tells us that there will be believers who are living through the tribulation that will be beheaded for not taking the mark of the beast, for refusing to give up their belief in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 20:4-5 (CSB)
Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge.  I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands.  They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.  This is the first resurrection.

Remember it is better to be beheaded, having your belief in Jesus Christ than to sell your soul to the devil by taking his mark!

Matthew 10:28 (CSB)
Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.