View source for Repentance After the Mark of the Beast?

==Repentance After the Mark of the Beast?==
<font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
<i>by Tom Stewart</i></font><font color="#000000"><b><br>
</b></font><font size="2" color="#000000">April 16, 2001
<p align="CENTER" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the Earth;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
  and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
  which had the Mark of the Beast,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
  and upon them which worshipped his image"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>
</font>(Revelation 16:2)<font size="4">.</font></p>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4">The First Vial Judgment is poured out upon all worshippers of the Beast, i.e.,</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>"upon them which worshipped his image"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 16:2)<font size="4">. A<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"vial"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is translated from the Greek word<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>chiale</i>, which means a shallow bowl or cup, usually without a stand or foot, used to draw out of a larger goblet. The Almighty's anger with man's wickedness is that larger goblet, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"God is angry with the wicked every day"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Psalm 7:11)<font size="4">. He has wisely chosen to govern His anger by the offering of His Only Begotten Son in atonement for man's sinful rebellion; but, man's probation must eventually end, or God's Kingdom cannot ultimately stand.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke Me? and how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?... How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against Me?"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Numbers 14:11, 27)<font size="4">. If man could always count upon sinning with time left for repentance, then:</font></p>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
  <li>(1)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">There would be no pressing need for immediate repentance; however, Jesus preached,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Matthew 4:17)<font size="4">,<br>
        <br>
  </font></li>
  <li>(2)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">Hell would be entirely empty; but, Hell (Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>gehenna</i>) is not idly promised to those that do not escape it, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(23:33)<font size="4">, and<br>
        <br>
  </font></li>
  <li>(3)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">The White Throne Judgment would have no Unrighteous Sinners to punish; nevertheless,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 20:15)<font size="4">, which is the place<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"where the Beast and the False Prophet are</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[at that time already]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(20:10)<font size="4">.</font></li>
</ul>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4">A<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"noisome</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>kakos</i>, meaning bad]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">and grievous</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>poneros</i>, meaning evil]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">sore</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>helkos</i>, meaning sore or ulcer]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 16:2)<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>is a loathsome and malignant ulcer, that will be poured out upon worshippers of the Beast. An ulcer is a lesion resulting from the gradual disintegration of tissue, which covers most of the internal and external surfaces of the body, whose main symptom is pain. And, pain, which was originally intended to punish, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children... cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Genesis 3:16, 17)<font size="4">, if it does not reform the recipient, will only be a prelude to their final destruction, for ulcers that are painful to touch are oftentimes a cancer.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Hebrews 3:8)<font size="4">.<br>
      <br>
      This malignant ulcer will fall specifically upon the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"men which had</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>echontas</i>, present tense, literally, are having]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">the Mark of the Beast, and upon them which worshipped</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>proskunountas</i>, present tense, literally, are worshipping]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">his image"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 16:2)<font size="4">. Is it possible for one to have received the Mark of the Beast and yet not worship the Antichrist? Yes. The Beast will mark<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>all of humankind</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>as his property, i.e., acting for the Antichrist, the False Prophet<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"causeth<b>all</b>, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(13:16)<font size="4">, which will include even those humans who are not moral agents, e.g., infants, toddlers, mentally handicapped, etc., who have no agency, and therefore cannot receive Divine Punishment.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Mark 10:14)<font size="4">. From the Antichrist's perspective, refusal to take the Mark of the Beast means starvation, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 13:17)<font size="4">, and refusal to worship the Beast means the penalty of death, i.e.,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(13:15)<font size="4">. On the other hand, God will Eternally Punish those who are clinging to the Mark and worshipping the Beast.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"If any man worship<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4">[Greek,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>proskunei</i>, present tense, literally, is worshipping]<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">the Beast and his image, and receive</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[Greek,<i>lambanei</i>, present tense, literally, is receiving]</font><font size="4" color="#AA0000"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of God"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(14:9, 10)<font size="4">.<br>
      <br>
      Does this mean that someone who has taken the Mark and worshipped the Beast might yet be converted before it was too late? Yes, but<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b><i>no one should ever take the Mark</i></b><i>-- much less, take it with the mental reservation that they they will repent of it later--</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>for<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"ye know not what shall be on the morrow"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(James 4:14)<font size="4">. However, if repentance was morally impossible for all who had taken the Mark and worshipped the Beast, then:</font></p>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">
  <li>(1)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">Why is the Everlasting Gospel preached in the Last Hour to<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"them that dwell on the Earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people"</font><font size="4"></font>(Revelation 14:6)<font size="4">, if the offering was not sincere, or the hearers were unable to believe?<br>
        <br>
  </font></li>
  <li>(2)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">Why report that the hearers<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"repented not"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(16:9, 11)<font size="4">, if their repentance would not be accepted, or they were not still morally capable of repenting?, and<br>
        <br>
  </font></li>
  <li>(3)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><font size="4">Who will be saved to physically enter into the Millennial Kingdom, where the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Isaiah 11:6)<font size="4">, as subjects of Messiah the King?</font></li>
</ul>
<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><font size="4">Remember that a<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"Great Multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Revelation 7:9)<font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of Tribulation Saints, will come<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"out of Great Tribulation"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(7:14)<font size="4">,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>after</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>the Mark of the Beast has been implemented; and, undoubtedly, there will be<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><i>former</i><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Beast Worshippers in that number.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="#AA0000">"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"</font><font size="4"><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></font>(Luke 18:27)<font size="4">.</font><font size="4" color="#000000"><br>
      <br>
      Maranatha!


[[Category:Revelation]]