Considering the Mark of the Beast 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

We know we are in the end times or seasons of the Lord.  However, we do not know how close we are to the ending of the end times.  One of the concerns of many in the Body of Christ is, as always, the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13.  Are tattoos the mark of the beast?  What about body piercing and vaccinations?  I don’t know the definitive answers to questions such as these.   

I do know that the enemy cannot sneak in and give a Christian the mark and, thus, condem that person to hell. Ephesians 1:13-14 is one of several scriptures that negate that thought: “in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  As a friend of mine once said, “The devil cannot sneak up behind you and steal you from Jesus.” 

Two scriptures, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, when taken together can us some insight into the mark of the beast. 

Deu 6:4-8: “Hear, O, Israel. Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.  And you shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. you shall carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” 

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” Because of this verse, Orthodox Jewish men have, from ancient times unto the present, bound scriptures to their wrists and foreheads in small boxes called phylacteries whenever they enter into morning and evening prayers.   

The phylacteries are reminders that our thoughts guide what we do and where we walk. Proverbs  23:7 “for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” 

Now, let’s consider Revelation13:15-16: “ And there was given to it (the second beast) to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might both speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads.” 

“To receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads.” 

Oh, be careful little mind what you think. 

Oh, be careful little hands what you do. 

Oh, be careful little feet where you walk. 

 Decently and in Order

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As I have been asking the Holy Spirit for scripture to pray over our nation in this New Year and time of transition, the following scripture has come forward: 1Corinthians 14:40: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” While the context of that scripture is for orderly worship services, it applies in all areas of our life. It is beneficial to all when we conduct the affairs of our private lives, as well as policies and transitions in the political arena, decently and in order.

An operative word in the scripture is “let”. We might be led to believe that “let” means “God, You need to jump in and do this. However, the understood subject of “let” is “you”. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth and by extension to the Body of Christ as a whole. When he says “you”, he is speaking to you and to me as believers.

If we want business on the national level to be done decently and in order, it must begin on the individual level. “To let” means “To allow.” We must be willing as individuals to allow the affairs of our private lives to be conducted decently and in order to set the stage.

How can we do this? The following scriptures are just a few of the guidelines offered in the Word of God.

Romans 12:17-18: “Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men.”

Just because someone posts a vitriolic meme on social media, we have no justification to fire one back. Also, we must be certain to fact check to be sure we are speaking truth. We must speak truth decently and order. Sharing insults and angry words may cause our endorphins to rise up and falsely make us feel invincible, but they do not convince anyone and if accompanied by falsehood and half-truth, may even make us appear foolish.

As children, many of us sang, “Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.” God’s word agrees, (Matthew 12:36 -37) “But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

Father God, we are thankful for Your Indwelling Spirit Who will enable us and teach us to do all things decently and in order. Then we will have done our small part in making it possible for all things to be done decently and in order in our nation.

The Peace Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.