Marked?
I
n Revelation 14:1, we see that the 144,000 on Mount Sion have the Father's name written in their foreheads. Have you ever heard of anyone who was coming on the scene of the end times who would write the Father's name in our foreheads? We do hear a lot about Rev.13:16 where he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads. Of course we have heard many theories about this mark, and most people that are really saved would not get in a line to received this mark in the end times. But I believe the marking of both the Father and the beast is happening today as it did in the past and as it will be in the future. The effect of both marks is not external. These marks are internal and eternal. DO WE REALLY REALIZE THAT EVERYONE IS MARKED ALREADY? It would do us good to reread Ezekiel Chapter 9. The Lord set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are being done in the midst of Jerusalem. Those that did not have the mark of God were slain, and this began at His sanctuary with the elders of the house! The mark was placed on the people because of what was happening on the inside of them.Today we have a Christian world which has no boundaries for truth. Any used car salesman can become a preacher, pastor, evangelist or seminar speaker. The more dynamic the speaker, the more invitations he will receive to speak. Everyone of them have their own brand of the gospel to deliver with their humor, and the people flock to them to become marked also. How will you be marked by these wandering stars? Will you learn their gospel of receiving your anointing by throwing your hands into the air? Or will you find it through the prosperity gospel? Maybe you will be slain in the Spirit and fall onto the floor or laugh your way into the Kingdom through some crowd controlling jokester?
Recently I heard one of these false teachers give an appeal for people to come forward so the Christians could become Jews. An older, wise man of God, stood up and told them not to respond to this message. These are the men that have the discernment to stand but most of us just say nothing when God's house (the people) are being deceived and marked for destruction. We must begin to stand against the abominations of men who are enemies of the cross.
A large portion of the public preaching today is really all about the moneychangers in the midst of the people. They want to change your money into their money and have convinced us that this is the Spirit moving on you to give you a prosperous life. These are whitewashed Pharisees which appear beautiful outward, but are full of uncleanness. (Matt.23:27)
Do you think that we can attend these meetings and be involved with all these schemes and remain unmarked?
These false teachers and all their idols in all the false systems of the world will fall as Babylon.
I am always dreaming about older men rising up and standing in the end days for the Gospel of the Kingdom. Then I see some old saint and now he has long hair and earrings - he has his mark! Where are the prophets of God in this dispensation? Where are the men who have the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge? (1Cor.12:8) You won't find them on Christian TV or behind the pulpit but only outside the camp and rejected by the modern day Pharisees.
What shall we do? "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without (outside) the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without (outside) the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Heb.13:12-14) Have we forgotten that we seek a different city, a different Kingdom?
The true church, God's house, while here on earth, will suffer many things. They will be outcasts from the denominations, rejected even by so called Christians. They will become isolated and be spoken of as evil by other, so called, believers. They will suffer much loss and be continually misunderstood. However, we must bear this reproach and stand as a witness and testimony to man and the unseen heavenly rulers, principalities and powers.
How are you marked today?
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon him My new Name." (Rev.3:12)
Jim D. September, 2003
There have been visitors since February 1, 2004