Present deception aligned to mark of the beast
By Merrill Olson
Over the past three years with the fear of the health crisis, masses of people chose to trust the government. People blindly approved of the government’s promise to take care of them. The lies filled the media networks and people believed them without reservation. The medical shot would handle their fear.
Yet, there were honest medical authorities trying to divulge the truth but were overridden by government control and those who financially profited from the deception. Because many trusted in these dishonest voices, the result was the deaths of many innocent people who did what the government told them. Others who refused, lost their jobs and careers along with committed soldiers who were released from their military service.
Therefore, the message of this mass deception aligns squarely with the Mark of the Beast that will be under a world government control. As the masses fell for the previous, so it is not too difficult to realize how they will fall for the future agenda of the world leader, the “Antichrist” (1 John 2:18). Some of his titles in Scripture: “the prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26); “one who makes desolate” (Dan. 9:27); “the man of sin” “the son of perdition [hell]” (2 Thess. 2:3); “the lawless one” (2 Thess. 2:8). He will openly live and rule without any regard for God’s law. He will be an imposing, intimidating character of superior intelligence who will be energize by Satan and come into world power (Rev. 13:3-7).
Tragically, the masses that are living at that time will, also, be deceived and follow him. Sinful human nature does not change. Consequently, just as previously mentioned, they, too, will put their trust in the world government and this diabolic leader. We read in Revelation 13:3 that “all the world marveled and followed the beast” [Antichrist]. Then it says further “So they worshiped the dragon [Satan] who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months” (vv. 3-5).
A further control of the masses is given where “all” are required “to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads; and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:16-17).
As a result, the masses will follow him and put their confidence in his Satanic controlled government. They will also choose to have the government take care of them. If anyone refuses, and multitudes do and are executed (Rev. 7:9-17). And so, it will happen again. Only this time it will take place under Satan’s empowered leader. Therefore, as we look back the past three years, it is not difficult to understand how people will react when they are required to take the “mark.” Otherwise, they will not be able to “buy or sell.”
But for us who know Christ Jesus, our Savior, we know all this from His Word. And as we live for Him, we hold with confidence of His return for us (1 Thess. 4:13-17). Yet knowing, too, that He will come in His Second Coming with great power and glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to judge His enemies, end all deception. The Antichrist and false prophet are cast into hell and eventually Satan and all unsaved (Rev. 20:10-15).
Merrill Olson served as a senior pastor for thirty-four years. He received a B.S. from Minnesota State University-Mankato, an M. Div. from Bethel Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He is currently involved as an interim pastor along with a teaching and writing ministry. His emphasis is on apologetics and training believers to defend their faith in Christ from God’s Word. He is well versed in Bible prophecy as it pertains to end times. He is a gifted speaker with the conviction that only by the Word of God can people experience inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. He and his wife, Jan, reside in Minnesota and have two daughters and four delightful grandchildren.