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[–]Alienhunter 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I have heard throughout my life time and time again many so called men of god revealing their diverse prophecies surrounding the mark of the beast and what it is, end times alarmism is the Christian expression of the same malady that effects the climate alarmists that insist the extinction of man is coming soon, and the same grifters are there to swoop in and take advantage of a group that will become loose with their money for tomorrow we die.

I've known people who enthusiastically embrace every crackpot endtimes prophecy, barcodes are the mark of the beast. Television is the mark of the beast. Credit cards are the mark of the beast. Going to church on Sunday is the mark of the beast. How they continually fail to identify the false prophets is concerning to say the least. I could understand falling for it once, but when one is proven false they seem all to willing to line up happily for the next one.

[–]H3v8 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

The Book of Relevation is clear: The definite sign is that one won't be allowed to buy or sell without approval, and this approval will be granted with a sign implanted on the right hand or the forehead.

Obviously there is a road towards that. It started with credit cards, and now credit cards have become compulsory and it is more and more difficult to use cash. The credit card concept has been extended to health and your whole medical history is stored online and is more and more integrated with your state file. Then came the vax passport and you weren't allowed to do things without it. The technology comes closer and closer to their final goal.

[–]Alienhunter 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The Book of Relevation is clear:

Many things can be said of the book of revelation. This is not one of them.

I find the technological concerns to be somewhat rediculous honestly. Not in terms of government further seizing power and attempting to control the flow of money, great concerns there. But in terms of adding religious significance to that. Why would Satan need technology to use his demonic powers and influence? Wouldn't you be able to enforce such a thing through good old fashioned soldiers if you had the literal power of Satan behind you?

The Nero explanation by far makes the most sense. The coins are Nero's mark and you can't buy or sell without using his mark.

People have interpreted this throughout history in ways that have brought them to conclusions about their current world that fit into the prophecy. These prophetic explanations are clearly not inspired for the obvious reason that we can see with the benefit of hindsight. They simply did not happen. Doesn't stop each new generation from engaging in this folly. There truly is nothing new under the sun. Indeed all is vanity. Government control and resistance of the people are nothing new. The ultimate victory of the state over freedom is as much a utopian myth as the ultimate victory of the proletariat over the interests of capital. The sun rises and the sun falls, human are born, they struggle, and die, and the sun continues in it's path across the heavens unaffected by the strife of man.

I find it somewhat humorous now that millions of Americans believe very strongly in the absolute inconvertible belief in the concept of a pre-tribulatuon rapture for instance. A belief that didn't even exist 200 years ago. Meaning that it hasn't existed as a doctrine for 90% of christian history. But now some treat it like it's an absolute undeniable fact of the bible. Of course these christians are easily manipulatable if they are ignorant of history. All it takes is one charismatic leader to step in and realize this power to control people's thoughts to mobilize people for their own interests. As has happened throughout history. And ironically the same thing that is happening in this passage of revelation where it talks about the beast leading people to worship him.

As the story of Exodus shows us. Moses leaves to the mountain, and without the religious authority and turning to fear, the people quickly rally around Moses Brother Aaron and he seizes the opportunity to start a new religion with him as the head. When the people are left without God they will create their own gods. To disasterous consequences. There is nothing new under the sun. It has happened before, it is happening now, it will happen again. American-nationalistic Christian beliefs are one such example created out of the cultural uncertainty that peppered the 1960's. Woke politics are the new religion create around the uncertainties of the modern era. It gives people their own golden calf to rally around, and escape from their responsibility to deal with the consequences of their decision of following the man that promised freedom but led them into the desert.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Not in terms of government further seizing power and attempting to control the flow of money, great concerns there. But in terms of adding religious significance to that

They say walking under a ladder is bad luck because then people actually pay attention. It doesn't have the same gravitas if you merely suggest such an action is ill-advised, and that requires a longer explanation.

When you want people to do something, it is not necessary for them to understand, merely comply.