The United States and the coming mark of the beast

 The "Mark of the Beast" spoken of in Revelation 13 is approaching with great haste. Yet, many remain in darkness regarding what this mark is and how it will be implemented. In this study, we will examine key prophetic truths concerning this solemn subject.

What is a "Beast" in Bible Prophecy? In Bible prophecy, a beast is a symbol of a nation or a kingdom. This is not a foreign concept to us today; if I show you an eagle, you recognize it as the United States. If I show you a bear, you think of Russia. Daniel 7 clearly establishes this principle: a beast represents a kingdom or empire.

In Revelation 13, we see two distinct beasts. Our focus today is on the second beast:

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." (Revelation 13:11)

 A lamb in the Bible is a symbol of Jesus Christ—the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29). Therefore, this nation begins with Christian principles: gentle, freedom-loving, and Christ-like. However, it eventually "speaks like a dragon." The dragon represents Satan (Revelation 12:9) and, historically, the persecuting power of Rome.

This represents a nation that professes to be Christian but whose actions become satanic and deceptive. This nation is the United States of America. While it has "In God We Trust" on its currency, it is a leading exporter of weapons and a primary source of the world’s moral corruption through film and music. Prophecy indicates this nation will eventually introduce a law—a mark—that will persecute all who refuse to bow to its dictates, preventing them from buying or selling.

What is the "Mark" of Authority? The "first beast" mentioned in Revelation 13 is the Roman Catholic Papacy. A "mark" or "seal" is a symbol of authority. To understand the mark of the Papacy, we can look at their own claims:

"Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church." — Priest Brady, March 18, 1903

Question: Which is the Sabbath day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday. — The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50

Sunday sacredness is the "mark" of the Papacy’s authority. God commanded the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, but the Papacy, in opposition to God, chose to exalt Sunday.

 The Mark of the Beast is not a microchip or a hidden tattoo; it is the enforcement of Sunday worship by law. Bible prophecy predicts that in the near future, movements within the United States will push for a national Sunday rest law. When the church forces the state to legislate a counterfeit sabbath, we will see a return to the religious tyranny of the Middle Ages.

The United States attempted to pass a national Sunday law in 1888 (the Blair Bill), but it failed. However, prophecy assures us it is coming again. This will usher in a "time of trouble such as never was" (Daniel 12:1).

Conclusion The end of time is upon us. Those who refuse to surrender to Jesus and ask for His power to keep all His commandments will eventually be overcome and receive the mark of rebellion.

Let us seek to know Jesus and His Word for ourselves. Let us put aside the traditions of man and obey God’s seventh-day Sabbath. By seeking to obey God in all things, we shall find protection from the Mark of the Beast.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/01/23/rest-day-climate-change-green-sabbath/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/1888/05/22/archives/to-stop-work-on-sunday-senator-blair-wants-the-lords-day-strictly.html

A beautiful woman ( wife )

 

What Makes a Woman Truly Beautiful?

What makes a woman beautiful? Is it her face, her hair, or her figure? Modern magazines have many metrics for judging beauty, using specific measurements and standards for height and silhouette. Pageants present us with a "most beautiful woman in the world," leading many men to wish they could have her and many women to wish they could be her. Yet, when you look closely, you often find that these same women struggle to maintain a marriage or keep a man.

 Why can’t a "beautiful" woman keep a man? While her appearance might attract many, her inward character—arrogance, shallowness, or a nagging spirit—eventually repulses even the most superficial of men. Many beautiful women mistakenly believe that physical looks alone are enough to sustain a relationship. They confuse the attention born of lust with genuine love, only to be left broken by a revolving door of men in their lives.

Physical beauty is not a sufficient reason to marry. Many men have ruined their lives and invited lifelong misery by pursuing a woman simply for her looks. A woman accustomed to constant praise for her appearance may, unless she is in submission to God, develop a spirit of entitlement. In marriage, this arrogance rears its head, and a man may realize the "physically beautiful" woman he married has a rebellious spirit. We must remember that even the devil is described as a beautiful being.

 The devil was an outwardly beautiful being, but his beauty caused him to become proud and entitled. He refused to submit to the Lord's authority, developed a spirit of independence, and challenged God until the relationship was broken and he was cast out. Similarly, a woman who constantly challenges her husband, refuses to submit, and possesses a nagging spirit can cause a man misery worse than physical pain.

While a physically attractive woman is lovely to behold, do not let her beauty blind you to her character. Physical beauty fades with age, but character is long-lasting. Be wary of choosing a spouse who is rebellious or refuses to be advised. These traits only magnify in marriage; without prayer, a man may grow bitter and come to hate his own home.

 A truly beautiful woman is humble and submissive to her husband. She understands that if her husband loves her and demonstrates that love by providing for and protecting her, she can safely submit to his God-appointed leadership. There is a great difference between telling a husband what to do and offering wise advice. As the Scripture says, "The husband is the head of the wife" (Ephesians 5:23).

A beautiful woman seeks to honor her husband and promote his glory. She asks, "How can I make my husband’s life better? How can I make this home a piece of heaven on earth?" She is a wise woman who listens to understand rather than just to respond. She makes decisions with her husband, rather than acting independently and then informing him later, as Eve did in the garden.

A submissive woman is a truly strong woman. She is strong enough to subdue the spirit of revolt in her own heart to obey God’s will. By honoring her husband’s leadership, she demonstrates her love for him. Even when she disagrees, she finds the best way to bring up the issue, using sweet and tender words. She is not ruled by her emotions; rather, she is strong enough through the grace of God to rule over them. Such a woman is a gem—a precious ruby.

A beautiful woman submits to God first. She makes the Lord her "first husband," submitting her desires to Him and choosing a mate based on His standards. She says, "I will submit to my husband because he is a gift from God, and I want to love him as Jesus loves me."

 A beautiful woman is not an empty shell. She is filled with the love of God and fills her husband’s life with that overflow. She has no problem with leadership because she has already submitted to the King of Kings. In a world of "fake everything," a godly, humble, and submissive character is something that cannot be faked. It is a sight to behold.

Pray to God for such a woman.

A love affair with the Devil ❤😈. Do you love the Devil ?

"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." — John 14:30

Jesus called Satan the "prince of this world," yet He declared that the Devil had "nothing" in Him. In other words, there was nothing in Jesus’ life that Satan could claim as his own. Because Jesus was free of sin, He was free from the Devil's control and his kingdom. You and I cannot naturally make such a statement, for we were born in sin—born as captives and slaves to Satan’s domain.

Sin belongs to Satan. It is his product, his art, and his merchandise. Whoever harbors sin belongs to his kingdom. Since all of us have sinned, we all at one point belonged to the kingdom of darkness. But the question today is not whether you once belonged there; it is this: Are you currently having a love affair with the Devil?

You might ask, "Ric, how can you ask that? I’m not a devil worshipper; I don't practice voodoo or witchcraft. How could I love the most wicked being in the universe? I love Jesus!" But is that true?

 Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24). You may go to church, pray, and preach, but those activities alone do not prove who you love. What determines your love is what you allow into your heart and how you live. If you strive for holiness, you love God. If you live in a lifestyle of sin, you love the author of sin.

Jesus made it simple: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). If I love Jesus, I will daily ask Him for the power to do what is right. Conversely, the Devil says, "If you love me, break God’s commandments." You are defined by the one you obey. To love Christ requires us to constantly sacrifice the things in our hearts that belong to the enemy.

We all struggle with indwelling sin—evil tendencies like anger, gossip, lust, drunkenness, pride, or lying. These are "parts" of Satan that remain in our hearts because we were once in love with him. When you love someone, they become a part of you.

The Devil is a lover who never wants to quit. Once he has had you, he wants you forever and will use every trick to lure you back into that affair. The key is to resist him through the power of God.

 Let’s make this practical. God says, "If you love Me, keep intimacy within marriage." The Devil says, "If you love me, break God’s law and have sex with whomever you want—your boyfriend, your girlfriend, or the same sex."

If I claim to be a Christian but choose to have sex with my girlfriend outside of marriage, am I obeying God or Satan? My actions reveal the truth. By choosing sin, I show that Satan is still my master. The way you think and live reveals who you truly love.

 Loving God requires sacrifice. We must "kill" whatever Satan has planted in our lives, and that is often a painful process. Whether it is worldly music, substance abuse, pride, or sexual sin, we must ask God daily to put these things to death.

To love God is to stay in constant conversation with Him through prayer. This gives us the power to resist the Devil’s seductions. It requires us to turn our backs on Satan’s "sin products" and turn toward the righteousness of Christ.

Conclusion Many claim to love Jesus while remaining in a secret love affair with Satan. Those who cling to sin, make excuses for it, or call it a "light mistake" are submitting to the enemy like a wife to a husband. To love sin is to love Satan, and that path leads to eternal ruin.

Let us break this affair today. Ask the Lord to remove everything in your life that belongs to the enemy, so that eventually, when the prince of this world comes, he will "find nothing in us."