And he causeth all...
Revelation
{13:16}And he causeth all...
All, not just a few, not many, not some, not a million, but all, all.
Dict.
all
all (ôl) adjective
1. Being or representing the entire or total number, amount, or quantity:
2. Constituting, being, or representing the total extent or the whole: all Christendom.
3. Being the utmost possible of: argued the case in all seriousness.
4. Every: got into all manner of trouble.
5. Any whatsoever: beyond all doubt.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He causeth ALL.
He causes the ENTIRE human race.
He causes EVERY human.
ALL both small and great.
Small- little ones.
Great- large ones.
Children and adults.
ALL rich and poor.
Rich- wealthy, well-to-do.
Poor- not wealthy, not rich.
We ALL fall somewhere inbetween these two- Rich and Poor.
All free and bond.
Free- people from a democratic society.
Bond- people in a dictatorship.
Free- people not enslaved by any other human.
Bond- people enslaved by others.
Again, we all fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
All.
Is there a doubt that ALL human beings are being accounted for in this statement?
{13:16}And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond...
All.
No doubt that everyone in the world is being accounted for in this statement.
Let's not leave anyone out, let's make sure everyone is accounted for. Young, old, small, great, rich, poor, free, or bond. You fall in there don't you? You're part of the all. I'm part of the all. I'm in between all those examples. We all are.
What is HE going to cause ALL beyond a doubt to do?
{13:16}...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads
With ALL the seemingly countless numbers of people in this world from the movie stars in California, to the poorest street urchin in Africa, to the most prominent figure that can scarcely get a single moment of privacy to the least prominent person in the remotest part of the world, all will receive a mark.
How would that even be possible? How, seriously? What sort of system could ever mark all, even those who do not rely on outside help to survive. Those who have their own source of water, their own source of farm land, those who need no electricity, no telephones, no cars how will these people be marked?
To be a *real* mark we do mean a tattoo, or a brand, or a chip implant, or some other physical mark, right?
How then? In lands so remote that they have little to do with the world as we know it how will these people be marked?
All.
Remember that word, all?
All are going to receive this mark or...what's the exception to all? Can you refuse to be part of the All? Can you refuse to be part of the collective whole?
Yes, you can but there will be consequences for not becoming part of the collective whole, for not being part of all, for being a dissenter. If you don't get the mark whether literally or figuratively, and by figuratively I mean you can be marked by your beliefs.
What? Marked by our beliefs?
Yes you can be marked by your beliefs. You can be marked by your actions. You know you can. You can watch a person for a bit and say, 'He has the mark of a very meticulous man.' What do you mean by that? Surely he's not walking about with a mark only meticulous people receive, the meticulous mark. What is meant clearly is the fact by that man's actions he has marked himself to be someone who is meticulous. This holds true for all sorts of *people*, slothful, exacting, rigid, careless, the list is really endless. We can see someone for a little bit and label them according to our opinions of their behavior, their dress, their mannerisms all of this, will be right though? That's unknown from first glance in most cases, but study a person for a period of time and you'll be able to say that this or that person has the mark of a *supply adjective* man.
People can be marked by their actions. If a person goes to church they're marked by that action as being a church go-er. If they go to a bar then they're a bar patron. The beast that will cause all to be marked will do so in such a way that those NOT marked will not be able to buy or sell anything. Read this...
{13:17} And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. {13:18} Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred
threescore [and] six.
Unless they have the mark OR the name of the beast OR the number of his name.
Obviously the mark is attainable in more ways than one. The mark, the name, or the number. This mark, this name, this number will come from the beast, it will mark those that have the mark as his. They will be marked by their actions.
Think about it, in Germany during the Holocaust people were marked- the Jews had to wear stars on their clothing to label them as Jews. This wasn't that long ago, not really, 65 or so years ago. Forced to wear something that marked them. Those that weren't marked were labeled instantly and known to be non-Jews. The labeling, the marking went both ways really. Here to it will go both ways. The marked and the unmarked. Those who follow after the beast will be marked in some way so they will be able to buy and sell, they'll have his mark, his name, or the number of his name. In some manner people will be known to be the beasts. We can speculate what that mark might be, we can come up with all sorts of ideas on the situation. There have been movies made where *the beast* himself as an anti-Christ has a literally birth mark of six, six, six. Other moves have many people having this mark. Even in real life there is a group of fanatics sporting tattoos of 666. Certainly for something that ALL will receive it will have to be something that labels a person. If you think about it, even confessing the beast's name is marking you. Remember the 'Heil Hitler' and the salute? Those words marked people didn't they? Supporters of Hitler. No, Hitler wasn't THE beast, but it goes to show you again how a name can label you. Refusal to say the name in such a way as to show support, refusal to wear anything that might mark you as his, refusal to be labeled under the beast's banner will keep people from doing business with you. They won't sell you anything and they won't let you sell them anything. This on a much smaller scale was enacted already during World War II, in Germany under Hitler, an example of things to come. We say no way! We've learned from our mistake, nothing like that will ever happen again. Watch, you'll see. We don't like to believe it can happen but it will and in such a way *ALL* will be compelled to take part. ALL but very few. It won't be blatant, stand up and receive the beast's mark, no, in fact most everyone will believe they're following the right way, the good way, the best way. Deception.
Deception. Deceived.
Proverbs {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Don't be deceived!
***
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
***
One precaution you can take perhaps as you open your Bible and study earnestly, praying for enlightenment, for guidance from the Holy Spirit, is to hold those words close to your heart. Know that the beast will seem like a *GOOD* thing and the *GOOD* thing will have almost everyone deceived. If you jump into any situation to follow the crowd and the seeming good I hope and pray that before it's too late you won't receive the mark of a follower of the beast.
Matthew {24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
***
Shall show GREAT signs and wonders! Beware! Beware of any that show great signs and wonders! These messengers of Satan will deceive almost everyone, all but the very elect! BEWARE! Don't be fooled! To God's Word and His Word only we must cling.
Mark
{13:20} And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
{13:21} And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:
{13:22} For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.
{13:23} But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
***
Romans
{8:31} What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
{8:32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
{8:33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.
{8:34} Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
{8:35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
{8:36} As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
{8:37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
{8:38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come
{8:39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
AMEN!
12/06/09
Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
AMEN!
12/06/10
12/06/11
No coveting anything that belongs to others.
Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
House, wife, servants, livestock, nor ANY THING.
Yesterday we discussed this some but it needs more because look at this next verse--
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
And this one too--
1Co 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
These gifts are what?
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are these tangible things, are these objects we can possess? No and no. A house, wife, servant, livestock, all are tangible, these are all things we can take hold of and possess. But you cannot take someone's ability to prophesize, or their ability to teach, or their ability to heal, help, govern, and speak foreign languages. You cannot take these things from someone else it is IMPOSSIBLE.
We are being told to covet that which we cannot take from someone else and we are COMMANDED by God to not covet- not lust after, not desire the things that belong to others. The next step after coveting can often be stealing, right? Thieves will tell you readily enough they stole what they did because they wanted it for one reason or another. Surely they wouldn't steal something they didn't want, that's just plain crazy- right? When we covet that desire, that lust begins in us and then it brings forth nothing good out of us. People might jump up and say that coveting things can also lead someone to want to make something of themselves so they can afford to buy the things they covet and that's true too. However we know that possessions mean nothing-we talked about that yesterday. Our possessions cannot go to the grave with us. Not a single possession we own will give us eternal life, not one. Yes, we can find in God's word - the Bible the gospel message but that message is that our Savior saves us, not the Bible. The word made flesh saves us. Not one item we own will give us eternal life and in truth it is eternal life that matters more than any thing we could ever own.
The love of God in us matters, not the car we own, not the clothes we wear, not the television we watch, not the make up we put on, not the many items of entertainment we might own, not our computers- only the LOVE of God truly matters.
It's the love of God that gives us the love we need to possess towards one another.
Coveting what others possess is a sin because it takes our mind completely off God and brings it to this earth and earthly possession making our hearts desire earthly treasures, not heavenly.
It is WRONG to covet no matter HOW ingrained it is in us from childhood on up to do so harmlessly. This is an evil, evil sin to be guilty of. Coveting has a way of entrapping us in Satan's snares and because we are told it is harmless to covet, breaking free of this sin is incredibly hard.
Of course it is ONLY through the grace and mercy of our Savior that we can break free of any sin, we can't do it on our own.
Not coveting is a commandment of our Savior's that will never ever be done away with.
None of the ten commandments are worthy of being discarded, not a single one of them. These commandments were made out of love and should be kept out of love. Our Savior kept them all and desires that we keep them all, He makes it possible for us to keep them- all through His love, His amazing wondrous love.
Amen.