Which Seal Will You Choose?
Which Seal Will You Choose?
By Dennis Huebshman
Revelation 13:11-12;15-17, “Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon (false prophet). (12) He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast (antichrist), and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast; the one whose lethal wound had been healed (imitation of death and resurrection of the Savior). (15) The second beast was impowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak and cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (technology is in place today to have an image appear to be alive.) (16) He also caused everyone, great and small, rich and poor, slave and free, to obtain a “Mark” on their right hand or their forehead. (17) Thus, no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the “Mark of the beast”, that is his name or number. (emphasis is mine)
Revelation 14:9-11, “A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast, and his image, and takes the “Mark” on his forehead or hand, (10) that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the Holy Angels, and in front of the Lamb; (11) and the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever; and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the “Mark” of his name.” This describes the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 19 and 20.
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, “…the arrival of the lawless one (antichrist) will be by satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs, and false wonders (10) and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing because they found no place in their hearts for the truth, so as to be saved. (11) Consequently, God sends them a deluding influence, so that they will believe what is false. (12) And so, all of them who have not believed the truth, but have delighted in evil will be condemned.”
More and more today, we’re seeing Isaiah 5:20 in full force where evil is called good, and good is called evil. The dividing line between the world and believers is becoming more evident daily. It’s not really hard to imagine that there will be those who will not only be willing, but eager to take the “mark of the beast”.
Another group that will receive a “Mark” during the tribulation is the 144,000 “servants of God” from the 12 tribes of Israel – 12,000 from each. They will be protected from any harm by God and will carry out His ministry to the lost during the wrath years. (Revelation 7; 14:1-5)
For those who would really like to avoid the 7-year tribulation, we are sealed in accordance with Ephesians 1:13-14, “And when you heard the Word of Truth (gospel of your Salvation); when you believed in Christ; you were “marked” with the seal of the Promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is the down payment of our inheritance (paid for by Jesus at Calvary), until the redemption of God’s own possession (taken Home) to the praise of His Glory.”
About the Promised Holy Spirit; Romans 8-11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Then 2 Timothy 1:14, “Guard through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, the treasure which has been extended to you.” When the Holy Spirit is in us, we are “marked” as belonging to the Savior.
When the time comes, all who worship satan, and all who worship Jesus will have chosen their eternity for themselves. There will be no third group. Through the antichrist and false prophet, satan will demand loyalty and worship, and all who will not do so will be killed when found. There is no free-will with satan.
Jesus never forces anyone to accept Him, as that would not be pure love. We are given the free-will to accept His sacrifice, believe in Him, and have the Holy Spirit live within us. All who do so prior to the Rapture will avoid going into the time of God’s wrath – Tribulation – and will not have to face the satanic forces. People will still be able to accept Jesus during that time through the 144,000’s ministry and from Angelic proclamations; but the consequences will be severe.
This is one reason everyone who posts messages on these sites are attempting to get the word out before it’s too late. If anyone dies before the Rapture, and had not accepted Jesus, their next appointment will be at the Great White Throne. Their “punishment” will have already started, and they will realize it’s too late to change their minds. The parable of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 plainly shows this.
For those who die “in Christ”, their souls are immediately with Jesus. At the Rapture, their souls will reunite with their earthly bodies and become immortal and imperishable. For those still alive at the Rapture, we will be “caught up” to meet Jesus in the air/clouds, and we will be converted into our immortal and imperishable forever bodies.
Seems like an easy choice to make, yet many will not choose Jesus. With all the material that’s available on numerous media sites, there’s really no valid excuse, and all who end up in the Lake of Fire will be shown how they could’ve avoided being there. Satan and his demons know all the “tricks” to get people to accept the world over the Savior, and the enticement is overwhelming for some. There’s the ones who say, “I’ll accept Jesus later after getting what pleasure I can from this world.” Problem is, we’re not guaranteed even one more day, much less “later”. Elvis Presley had a song titled “It’s now or never.” Those entering eternity without Jesus will find out just how terrible that “never” will be. There are those who will accept the Father, but not the Son, and John 14:6 says those who do so will not get Heaven. Jesus is the Only path to the Father.
The seal we want is the one where the Holy Spirit comes to live within us when we accept Jesus in our hearts. Then, live or die, we’re His forever. We will realize just how short this earthly life really was, and how long forever is in Glory.
He’s waiting for all that want to be saved to call on Him. He will force no one, yet He will accept ALL who do so. (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13) If you knew this would be the last day alive on this earth, wouldn’t you really want to call on Him? This isn’t something you want to gamble with. You will belong to Jesus – Forever!
Shalom!