Revelation 14:9-12 – A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Oh everyone hear and heed the warning! It is frightening and it is coming! To all who are still on the earth, to the redeemed of the time and to those who are still rejecting Christ, heed the warning and warn as many as you can of what is coming. People, this is a line in the sand. Do not receive this mark! The Word is very clear in these scriptures that the who receive this mark will not have any further option of grace. There is no return, there are no “take-backs.” It will be easy to be “practical” or “logical” or reasonable and accept this mark of the beast. But there is no coming back from this. There is no second chance, no more grace offered if this mark is accepted. It is an indelible mark of allegiance to Satan. Oh, the Antichrist will be the face of the allegiance, but be wise, it is Satan who is behind it. The Word clearly states that those who take this mark are doomed. Those who take the mark will drink the pure and unmitigated fury of God’s wrath that is a drink meant for the devil and for his demons, but will be drunk by humans who, by their demanded and persistent acts of their wills, have chosen to follow Satan. God is not mincing words here. God is issuing a warning with no uncertain words. If anyone, yes anyone, accepts the mark of the beast, the seal of the beast, they will never have the opportunity to have the seal of God upon them. Light and dark don’t mix.
I remember that once I was flabbergasted at someone who thought they could outsmart what these Words are saying. They said that should they still be on earth and that time come, if they had children, or grandchildren, they would certainly accept the mark of the beast rather than have their progeny suffer. They said that afterward they would just repent and God would forgive. Family, God is very clear in these verses that anyone who accepts the mark of the beast will have crossed the line and grace is no longer available to them. People who think in such fashion think as the world thinks. They think life here on earth is of the highest importance. Yet the people of God, who love God with all that they are, who seek to have their lives honor and not disgrace Him, know that this world, and life here, has no value when compared to living in peace, safety and joy with God for eternity (Hebrews 11:14-16). Why accept a poisoned apple to stave off hunger? Foolish! Have faith in God and endure!
“They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. ” The Word of God in these scriptures first says that they who receive the mark will suffer the pure, unsoftened wrath of God. It says that they “will drink the wine of God’s fury.” It does not say that they are in danger of this condemnation, or that it might happen, but that it will happen. No uncertainty. In this verse the certainty of the future of those who receive the mark of the beast is again clearly stated. The Word states that they will suffer a burning torment. Again, the statement is unequivocal. They will. The smoke of their burning soul will rise forever. Forever is forever. Family, one of the horrid things about this eternal burning is that there will be no hope of it ever stopping. Not ever. Not in a thousand years, a million years, a billion years, not ever will it stop. Extreme pain can sometimes be endured when there is a hope it will end. For those who accept the mark of the beast, the pain will never end. Family, if this seems harsh or unloving we must remember that God did not make hell a place for humans, but for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41). The only humans who will be there will be those who use their free will to reject the grace of God offered to mankind through Jesus our Lord and have, by that very act, aligned themself with Satan. This mark of the beast will be a clear sign to whom one is aligned with. Those who have this mark will share his fate. Those who are sealed by God as His own will be with Him forever. It is one’s own choice who to live forever with. Oh let us warn everyone, in love, to come to the Lord and live forever with Him. There is only one alternative and it horrid to the unimaginable.
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” Family let us warn all who would listen to not eat the poison apple to avoid hunger, for ourselves or anyone else. If one accepts the mark, it gives the worst example, even an invitation, to those they claim to love. Let us warn that their perishing will not help their loved ones. After all, Esau sold his inheritance and then cried to get it back, but could not (Hebrews 12:16-17. He, like those who accept the mark of the beast, could not change what he had done. Oh so horrible! Let us warn all to not make the same mistake.
The time to prepare for a trial, for a fight or for a war is not when it is upon us, but before it comes. There is one way to be eternally safe with God. That is through Jesus. Today is Good Friday. For Jesus it was the day that began incomprehensible suffering. He suffered for us. He endured for us. He died for us. He did so with the sure knowledge that victory was His at the end of His suffering. Let us hold unto, and teach wisdom. As the Jim Elliot quote says “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Praise God! Once with Jesus, no thing or person can wrench the love and favor of God from us (Romans 8:38-39. Once a person takes the mark of the beast, nothing can bring mercy and grace to Him. But we are not such as would take the mark. We are victors through Jesus Christ our Lord. Today is a day of somber reflection. Today is also a day of jubilant celebration that what Jesus began so long ago ended with our complete and eternal victory! As the famous sermon states “It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming! Jesus rises. Jesus wins! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.