The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 13:16-17,
"It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name."
I identify Satan, his minions, those of the human family that belong to him as "Team Cain." Team Cain is animated, energized and empowered by the spiritual forces of evil who are at enmity against God. They are opposed to the things of God, his agenda of the redemption of mankind, and, by extension, God's people ("Team Abel") on planet earth. We see the roots of this spiritual war in the previous chapter where we read of a war in heaven where the angel Michael together with godly angels cast Satan and his angels (the bad guys) out of heaven and down to earth, Revelation 12:7-9.
Much of the animosity and conflict that we see in the world today has its origin in this cosmic war of good and evil. and expresses the reality of it. God draws mankind to himself as he builds his kingdom through his agenda of the redemption of mankind, with Satan fighting him at every turn. Of course, nothing can thwart God and all is for naught for the spiritual forces of evil - judgment day is headed their way.
One of the primary differences in the way Team Cain and Team Abel carry out this spiritual strife is that God allows mankind to express his own free will and make his own choices. All come in to this world as lost and fallen human beings estranged from God and have opportunity to embrace him in faith, "Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
Team Cain, on the other hand does not abide free will. Satan is all about control. He wants to control every aspect of our lives, and here in this passage above we read where those who don't sport his mark are restricted from free commerce in the latter days.
Give that some thought. Give also some thought to my understanding that politics is nothing more than the public expression of people's spiritual condition.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name."
I identify Satan, his minions, those of the human family that belong to him as "Team Cain." Team Cain is animated, energized and empowered by the spiritual forces of evil who are at enmity against God. They are opposed to the things of God, his agenda of the redemption of mankind, and, by extension, God's people ("Team Abel") on planet earth. We see the roots of this spiritual war in the previous chapter where we read of a war in heaven where the angel Michael together with godly angels cast Satan and his angels (the bad guys) out of heaven and down to earth, Revelation 12:7-9.
Much of the animosity and conflict that we see in the world today has its origin in this cosmic war of good and evil. and expresses the reality of it. God draws mankind to himself as he builds his kingdom through his agenda of the redemption of mankind, with Satan fighting him at every turn. Of course, nothing can thwart God and all is for naught for the spiritual forces of evil - judgment day is headed their way.
One of the primary differences in the way Team Cain and Team Abel carry out this spiritual strife is that God allows mankind to express his own free will and make his own choices. All come in to this world as lost and fallen human beings estranged from God and have opportunity to embrace him in faith, "Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24.
Team Cain, on the other hand does not abide free will. Satan is all about control. He wants to control every aspect of our lives, and here in this passage above we read where those who don't sport his mark are restricted from free commerce in the latter days.
Give that some thought. Give also some thought to my understanding that politics is nothing more than the public expression of people's spiritual condition.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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