Preparing for the Beast: Ep. 8: The Mark of the Beast: Stand Firm Under Pressure

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Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where we pray bold prayers,

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walk in bold faith, and expect a bold God to show up.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we open every episode with the same unshakable

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confidence Jabez had in 1 Chronicles 4.10.

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Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory.

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Let your hand be with me. Keep me from evil and keep me from causing pain.

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And the Bible says, God granted his request.

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So if you're here today, get ready, because we're praying big,

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believing big, and walking in everything God promised. Let's begin.

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And welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host,

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Connie Morris, and today we are stepping into a deep and serious conversation.

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One that requires spiritual discernment, biblical grounding,

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and courage to stand firm in faith.

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Before we dive into Revelation 13, 16 to 18, I want to remind us of something

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powerful Jesus said in the Gospel of John 14.

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He told his disciples that the press of this world was coming,

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but he had nothing on him.

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That means that the press of the world had nothing on Jesus.

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In other words, Satan had no hold, no claim, no authority over Jesus because

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Jesus had already passed every test of obedience, faithfulness,

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and surrender to his Father.

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And we see this test clearly back in John 14, When Jesus was tempted in the

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wilderness, he did not bow. He did not compromise.

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He did not trade spiritual authority for temporary belief.

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He passed the test. And now as believers, we are living in a time where we must pass the test too.

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This is episode 8 and it's titled The Mark of the Mark.

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Of the beast. In the book of Revelation 13, scripture describes a system where

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all people, great and small, rich and poor.

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Free and slave, are required to receive a mark in order to buy or sell.

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Economic participation becomes tied to spiritual allegiance.

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This mark is not just about commerce. It's not just about convenience.

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It's about worship. It's about loyalty, and it's about who you belong to.

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The mark of the beast represents a submission to a global system that demands

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control, obedience, and allegiance, direct opposition to the kingdom of God.

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It is the ultimate spiritual line in the sand, a choice between the authority

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of Christ and the authority of a counterfeit kingdom.

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Revelations tells us that this moment will require wisdom.

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The number 666 is described as the number of a man, a symbol of human imperfection,

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trying to replace God's perfect authority.

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It represents a system built on power without righteousness.

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Control without truth and unity without God.

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So this is not just prophecy for curiosity. This is prophecy for preparation.

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So just like Jesus faced a test and overcame it, believers must be spiritually

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grounded now because the pressure described in Revelation is both economic and spiritual.

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The world may say, just go along to get along, but the Spirit of God says,

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stand firm, stand faithful do not bow.

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Today we're going to talk about what this means and how this system operates

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and how we as followers of Christ.

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Prepare our hearts to remain loyal to Him and no matter the cause.

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This is a series we've been working on, a series of preparation for the beast.

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And so I want to get you really ready for what is coming. People are not talking about it.

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I remember last summer, I believe, they expected Jesus to come,

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and many people were preparing, selling their items, and ready to just escape the world.

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And then when Jesus didn't come, it was not a good thing for them because their

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preparation wasn't escaping.

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Our preparation is enduring.

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If we believe Jesus can hear and answer our prayers, we must believe that we

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have the strength and the power to endure. And so understand that this pressure

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is going to be real, but the decision should be already made.

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It shouldn't be something you make up on the fly. Decision for us believers

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should be saying to ourselves, we will stand.

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We will stand. So that's why this prophecy is not meant to scare believers.

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It is meant to prepare believers for...

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For what is to come. And so I want to briefly describe what the mark represents.

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It's a spiritual significance in how to remain faithful as the world approaches

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a system like that in Revelation.

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So we decided now, just like Daniel resolved, just like Jesus said to his disciples,

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Satan, and I want to say it in kind of a ghetto, fab way, ain't got nothing

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on me. That should be a t-shirt, right?

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You know, when we walk in holy, when we walk in integrity, we must know that

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we are not opening the door for the enemy to come in and come in and attack

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us, but we also not open the door for compromise.

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So let's go back and let's get into it regarding the mark of the beast of global requirement.

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I covered that in the intro, but I always think you got to understand that this

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mark of the beast is not just coming for a particular person,

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it's coming for everybody.

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So everybody needs to be aware. So if you know someone who thinks that they're

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going to be escaping before the tribulation, they need to hear this podcast,

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right? We're not going to endure all of it.

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It's going to be a point where it has to, that Jesus is going to come and get us.

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But just like if you go back to the book of Exodus, when the plagues were happening,

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there was a couple of three, I think,

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three plagues that did affect the Israelites, the children of Israel.

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And then after that, they were covered in Goshen. So how far we have to go, I don't know.

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But we have to be prepared to stand.

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Because there's going to be people here on earth who are going to just take

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the mark automatically.

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But there's going to be some that are going to be in that indecisive phase.

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And that's where the strong believers will come in to assist them in making

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the right decision. Yes, it will be suffering. Yes, it's going to be hard.

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Who wants to live in a place where oppression is real? Oppression is real for black folks anyway.

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But when you think about as a whole totality of, again, and the whole concept

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of everyone being affected, no longer would it just be particular races.

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It'd be everybody. So no one's going to be left out in this global requirement.

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Once again, Revelations 13, 16 to 17 tells us.

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It also forces all people, listen, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave,

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to receive a mark on their right hand or their forehead so that they could not

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buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

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We're going to get into what that means in a moment. The mark of the beast,

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again, represents allegiance to the beast system, where an individual must submit

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to the control of a global authority to participate in the economy.

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In this prophecy, economic participation is linked to spiritual allegiance.

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Those who refuse the mark face economic exclusion and persecution.

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The mark itself symbolizes the totalitarian power of the beast,

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and it demands and it demands for worship and obedience.

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It's not just a physical mark, but it's a symbol of loyalty,

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a choice between God's kingdom and the worldly system of the beast.

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Let's go into some commentary.

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So that you can understand what that means in the physical and what that means in the spiritual.

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Remember, the Bible says you cannot worship both man, money,

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and mammoth. You have to make a decision.

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And I believe, too, that as we continue to make decisions every day,

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when it comes to the little decisions, the big decisions are not that hard.

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We talked about earlier in one of the podcasts, this series,

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about if you made a decision to be celibate before marriage,

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You didn't make that decision when you started dating.

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You made that decision way before, probably when you were 16 years old or younger,

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that you made a decision not to represent holiness before God.

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And meanwhile, everybody's laughing and thinking it's a joke,

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but you in your mind saying, this is not a joke to me. This is for real.

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And this is what I meant when we make a resolve to do something that we would no longer do.

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You know, many of us, you have to start small, whatever that small thing is

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that you like, that you seem to be addicted to, that you can get free.

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And then once you get free of the small things, then you'll find out that freedom

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can happen in those bigger things.

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But you have to prepare long term. You can't say if you have a drug addiction

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and on the day that they offer you that drug of your favorite drug and you say,

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I can't do it. And you know how hard it is when it's at the moment.

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But you already determined that I'm not going to be a drug user.

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I'm not going to drink alcohol.

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I'm not going to fornicate. I'm not going to like people of the same sex.

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I'm not going to be a homosexual or a lesbian, right? I'm going to, I want to walk holy.

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And then you go back around the same people.

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What happens? It's not, it's easy to stand that way if you haven't resolved not to do it.

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So a lot of time it requires us even to make new friends, maybe go to new churches

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to get community ready for when this does occur, which it is, it's in the Bible.

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To be ready for it. So let's, let's get going. I'm talking a whole lot today, but let's get going.

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Okay. So when we talk about Revelations 13, 16 to 17, this passage shows us

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something very important.

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This system is not optional, right?

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It says it forced all people. So the word matters. This is not a casual participation.

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It is not convenient. It is pressure with a capital P. You can put capital P-R-E-S-S-U-R.

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It's going to be pressure, social pressure, economic pressure, and survival pressure.

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The verse lists great and small, rich and poor, free and slave.

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To make one point clear, no one is exempt.

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Status will not protect you. Money will not protect you. Influence will not protect you.

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Every level of society faces the same demand. Take the mark or be cut off.

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The mark is being on your right hand or forehead. It's symbolic to something

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deeper than just location.

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In scripture, the hand represents actions and the forehead represents thoughts and allegiance.

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This means the beast system demands both outward compliance and inward agreement.

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It's not enough to just go along externally.

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The system seeks loyalty of mind and life.

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And we hear that saying that wherever the head goes, the body follows.

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Even in most self-defense tactics, if you can get a hold of that head,

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the body is connected to the head.

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And so it doesn't want half compliance.

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It wants full compliance. And then we see the economic control so that they

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cannot buy or sell. This is

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everyday life, food, shelter, clothing, medicine, work, survival.

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The pressure comes from the place people feel, the people feel it the most,

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their ability to live, right?

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This is how the enemy operates. Instead of immediate violence,

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he uses gradual control. He creates a system where obedience feels necessary just to function.

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It becomes easier to compromise than to stand.

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That is why this is called a test of allegiance.

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This is the same strategy seen throughout scripture.

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In Egypt, pressure came through survival. In Babylon, pressure came through culture and law.

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In Daniel's day, pressure came through worship commands.

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In Revelation, all those pressures combine economic, political,

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and spiritual into one global system that demands loyalty in exchange for access.

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So this verse shows us that the mark is not just a label, it is a line of allegiance.

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It reveals who belongs to the system of the beast and who belongs to the kingdom of God.

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Once again, you can't wait to the last minute, right?

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That is why this moment will require spiritual boldness because refusing the

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mark would not just be a belief, it would be a costly decision.

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What does this mean, the meaning of 666?

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I mentioned it throughout the whole podcast. We cover a little bit of it.

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I want to go in a little bit more detail today.

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In the book of Revelation 13, 18, scripture says.

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This calls for wisdom. Let the one who has understanding calculate the number

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of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and its number is 666.

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Notice the Bible says this calls for wisdom, not panic, not obsession,

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not speculation, wisdom.

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This is meant to be spiritually understood and not sensationalized.

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The number of seven in Scripture represents completion, perfect,

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perfection, and God's divine order.

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We see it from creation to revelation.

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Seven days, seven spirits before God's throne, seven seals, seven trumpets,

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seven points to what is full and whole under God's authority.

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But six falls short of seven. Duh, right? Six is shorter than seven.

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Six represents man, humanity, effort without God's fulfillment.

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It is close, but not complete.

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Strong, but still lacking. Capable, but not sovereign.

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So when we see 666, it is not random. It is a symbol of human power trying to replace God.

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It is man exalting himself.

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Systems built on human control. Authority without righteousness.

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Unity without truth. Worship redirected from creator to creation.

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The beast system is the ultimate expression of this.

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A global structure that looks powerful, organized and advanced,

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but is spiritually incomplete and opposed to God.

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It is humanity saying we can build a world without him.

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We know that was in Genesis 6, the Tower of Babel. And we know what happened with that tower.

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God separated them and gave them different languages so they couldn't communicate right together.

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And that is why 666 is described as the number of a man.

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It represents human rule, elevation to a godlike position.

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It is the opposite of Christ who humbled himself in obedience to the Father.

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So this number isn't just about identification.

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It's about imitation.

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The beast system imitates God's authority but lacks God's holiness.

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It depends on worship but cannot give life.

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And that's the deeper contrast. 666 is human-centered control.

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Jesus is God's perfect authority and salvation.

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One is temporary, one is eternal. One demands allegiance through pressure,

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the other invites allegiance through love and redemption.

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And that's why believers are warned not to be afraid of a number,

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but to recognize a system that elevates man while rejecting God.

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And when you understand that, you see clearly, the mark is not just about a symbol.

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It's about choosing which kingdom you belong to.

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What is the significance of the mark in a biblical context?

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The mark is more than just a physical or economic tool.

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It represents spiritual allegiance to the beast. I must repeat it so that.

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Towards your decision-making, you will not get it twisted. It is ultimate test

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of faithfulness and obedience.

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Those who receive the mark are giving up their allegiance to God and accepting

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the total control of the global system, which directly opposes God's command.

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Revelation 13, 18 introduces the number of the beast. This calls for wisdom.

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Let one who Who understands, calculate the number of the beast,

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for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.

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This number signifies imperfection and incompleteness, contrasting with God's

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perfection and the completeness of his authority.

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I want to take a pause here and just remind you that if you have not read the

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book of Revelation, find a translation that you can understand.

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You probably have one now.

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And just take your time and read it through. It sounds like a movie,

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an action-packed movie.

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And if you ever want to be in one, we will be in that movie. Where would you stand?

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Would you stand on God's side or would you stand on the beast's side?

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You must know that before the show begins. Economic and spiritual consequences.

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We know this, but I'm saying it and I'm going to say it again.

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Economic control, the beast's ability to control who can buy or sell,

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is a powerful form of economic oppression.

00:18:51.221 --> 00:18:56.401
The mark could essentially force people into compliance with the beast's system.

00:18:56.541 --> 00:19:02.161
Economic participation becomes conditional on loyalty to the beast.

00:19:02.341 --> 00:19:03.341
Spiritual consequences.

00:19:03.901 --> 00:19:10.061
For believers, the mark represents spiritual apostasy, a rejection of Christ's leadership.

00:19:10.402 --> 00:19:14.862
That hurt right there, just to say that word. And a submission to earthly powers

00:19:14.862 --> 00:19:16.822
that seek to replace God.

00:19:17.122 --> 00:19:25.202
The mark is a symbol of worship, and taking it aligns one with a corrupt system

00:19:25.202 --> 00:19:28.962
that demands allegiance to forces of evil.

00:19:29.202 --> 00:19:34.562
Spiritual apostasy, a rejection of Christ's lordship.

00:19:34.782 --> 00:19:39.182
And once you do that, there's no coming back. You can't say,

00:19:39.342 --> 00:19:42.222
oops, I made a mistake. Oops, I'm sorry, Lord.

00:19:42.542 --> 00:19:48.182
He's going to say, oops, there it is. You have chosen Christ's Lordship.

00:19:48.464 --> 00:19:52.044
You have chosen the, I'm sorry, the allegiance of evil.

00:19:52.304 --> 00:19:56.344
And so that's why I want you to get your heart ready, prepare mentally,

00:19:56.584 --> 00:19:58.864
physically, however you need to prepare.

00:19:59.204 --> 00:20:04.884
First of all, read the Bible. That's your instructions. I can't cover everything in Revelation.

00:20:05.324 --> 00:20:10.044
I don't know if I'm gonna do a Revelation series or not, but it's still important

00:20:10.044 --> 00:20:11.784
that you put your eyes on it.

00:20:12.024 --> 00:20:16.204
You know, we remember things that we read. We remember things that we do.

00:20:16.204 --> 00:20:19.124
You know, listening to the podcast is awesome, it's powerful,

00:20:19.124 --> 00:20:23.724
but this is just a supplemental piece to a larger system.

00:20:23.904 --> 00:20:29.864
Every part of my devotionals that have been written and turned into podcasts are not the whole story.

00:20:30.004 --> 00:20:34.684
It's just a little bit to get you stirred up to go read your Bible,

00:20:34.984 --> 00:20:39.704
get you stirred up to pray, get you stirred up to fast, get you stirred up to

00:20:39.704 --> 00:20:42.264
be prepared for what's coming ahead. right?

00:20:42.504 --> 00:20:45.884
Get you stirred up even on a positive to receive your blessing,

00:20:46.064 --> 00:20:51.784
to receive your breakthrough, but you have to do your part, right? You have to do your part.

00:20:52.164 --> 00:20:57.064
Let's keep going. How do we compare this, this biblical comparison to the mark

00:20:57.064 --> 00:20:59.904
of the beast and the global economic system?

00:21:00.104 --> 00:21:06.544
I know some of this sound repetitive, but to me, repetition as an educator is good for learning.

00:21:06.784 --> 00:21:10.884
You need to hear it more than once, twice, more than three times.

00:21:10.924 --> 00:21:15.384
You have to read it until you understand what's happening.

00:21:15.584 --> 00:21:18.824
I like to read something until I actually get a visual picture of.

00:21:19.261 --> 00:21:23.941
Of what that's going to look like. Then I ask God, what is it really going to be like?

00:21:24.201 --> 00:21:29.481
And then he'll give you more to that picture. So it requires meditation on the word, right?

00:21:29.661 --> 00:21:33.001
So in Revelation 13, the mark of the beast is intrinsically,

00:21:33.321 --> 00:21:37.521
that's a good word, linked to the global economic system.

00:21:37.801 --> 00:21:42.721
The ability to buy and sell becomes contingent upon receiving the mark.

00:21:43.241 --> 00:21:48.561
Symbolizing a totalitarian economic system that demands compliance.

00:21:48.861 --> 00:21:53.621
How the mark relates to modern economic systems. I want you to think about this.

00:21:53.761 --> 00:21:59.681
I want you to understand that the biometric IDs and digital wallets that we have are set up.

00:21:59.801 --> 00:22:04.941
The development of biometric identification systems such as facial recognition

00:22:04.941 --> 00:22:11.161
or fingerprint scanning and digital wallets used for cryptocurrency or government-backed

00:22:11.161 --> 00:22:16.461
digital currency is creating a pathway for global economic control.

00:22:16.681 --> 00:22:22.561
These technologies enable governments and corporations to track and monitor

00:22:22.561 --> 00:22:24.341
individual transactions,

00:22:24.721 --> 00:22:33.421
making it easier to exclude individuals who do not comply with the specific systems of ideologies.

00:22:33.989 --> 00:22:37.269
That's a lot of words just to say it's already here.

00:22:37.649 --> 00:22:41.689
Biometric IDs and digital wallets are already here, right?

00:22:42.009 --> 00:22:46.389
Like I said before, all they have to do is push a couple more buttons and we are there.

00:22:46.609 --> 00:22:50.889
I just happen to believe that God's going to show us a good sign of this before

00:22:50.889 --> 00:22:56.049
we see how the B system can control and manipulate anything good.

00:22:56.269 --> 00:23:02.849
It might even happen concurrently at the same time, right? Social credit systems.

00:23:03.029 --> 00:23:07.269
Some countries, and we keep saying this, such as China, have implemented systems

00:23:07.269 --> 00:23:11.829
that monitor citizen behavior and social loyalty.

00:23:12.189 --> 00:23:19.429
These systems affect access to resources based on one compliance with government and societal norms.

00:23:19.609 --> 00:23:25.449
While these systems are not yet globally adopted, they have the potential to

00:23:25.449 --> 00:23:30.689
influence economic and social participation in the future. What's the word we

00:23:30.689 --> 00:23:33.309
keep hearing? This compliance. We covered Bitcoin.

00:23:33.609 --> 00:23:37.829
Let's go quickly over what Bitcoin and cashless society can enter how that can

00:23:37.829 --> 00:23:40.549
be part of the introduction to the beast system.

00:23:40.709 --> 00:23:46.089
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies operate outside traditional banking system,

00:23:46.169 --> 00:23:49.169
but they are also facing increased regulation.

00:23:49.824 --> 00:23:54.764
From government. In a cashless society, all transactions are digital,

00:23:55.224 --> 00:23:57.944
making economic control easier to enforce.

00:23:58.244 --> 00:24:03.984
Those who do not comply with the required digital identity or system rules could

00:24:03.984 --> 00:24:07.264
be excluded from participating in society.

00:24:07.504 --> 00:24:11.304
We know that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are not under government control,

00:24:11.524 --> 00:24:14.104
but yet government is still trying to control it.

00:24:14.384 --> 00:24:18.024
That's that underground way that we can probably get some cash.

00:24:18.204 --> 00:24:22.684
And whoever created it, Hey, you need to know more about it because we may need

00:24:22.684 --> 00:24:25.084
that in our end time days.

00:24:25.424 --> 00:24:32.304
CBCs, central bank digital currencies, many governments are experimenting with

00:24:32.304 --> 00:24:34.184
state-backed digital currencies.

00:24:35.104 --> 00:24:41.024
CBDCs enable governments to track every transaction and potentially restrict

00:24:41.024 --> 00:24:47.724
access to economic participation based on compliance with other rules.

00:24:47.724 --> 00:24:51.184
Marrying the control described in Revelation 13.

00:24:51.484 --> 00:24:54.624
If you haven't read Revelation 13, you must read it.

00:24:55.180 --> 00:25:00.200
How does this apply today? How does implications of the beast system emerging

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:05.260
and its technologies, what are the applications for today that we can watch

00:25:05.260 --> 00:25:08.160
out for, but we also can ask for wisdom?

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:12.120
So as we look at the current trends in technology, biometric,

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:16.900
digital currency, and surveillance, we are seeing a growing parallel to the

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:21.220
mark of the beast system described in Revelations 13.

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:26.180
Number one, the biometric and surveillance. Government and corporations are

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:31.300
increasingly adopting biometric systems that track personal data through facial

00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:35.540
recognition, fingerprints, and retinal stink scans.

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:40.960
In these areas, these systems are already in use for assessing governmental

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:45.600
services, including financial transactions or even voting.

00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:51.420
As the world moves towards biometric IDs, the question arises,

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:57.520
are we moving towards a future in which participation in the economy is determined

00:25:57.520 --> 00:26:02.040
by compliance with a digital or biometric system?

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:06.080
That's the question that I want to ask you. Because we already hear that the

00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:11.420
government is already using facial recognition, print, and retinal scans.

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:16.560
How is that going to affect us? and even in our financial transactions.

00:26:17.497 --> 00:26:21.437
And also our voting. What do you think? Are we moving towards more compliance,

00:26:21.677 --> 00:26:25.617
more requirements to be used in the system, more requirements to even get in

00:26:25.617 --> 00:26:28.777
our own bank accounts just to set us up for the B system?

00:26:29.017 --> 00:26:32.017
I'm going to leave that up to you to decide. Number two, let's look at some

00:26:32.017 --> 00:26:36.717
things that's happening with our digital wallets and our social credit systems.

00:26:36.917 --> 00:26:41.257
The rise of digital wallets, whether for cryptocurrency or CBDC,

00:26:41.617 --> 00:26:47.237
could eventually be linked to a social credit system, which rewards or punish

00:26:47.237 --> 00:26:49.777
individuals based on their behavior.

00:26:50.037 --> 00:26:55.177
This system could create an environment in which access to resources,

00:26:55.497 --> 00:27:02.557
such as food, healthcare, or even social services, depends on one compliance with the global system.

00:27:02.817 --> 00:27:05.717
So many different parts that are in play with this.

00:27:05.857 --> 00:27:11.997
Bitcoin and cashless society, the rise of cashless economies powered by digital transactions,

00:27:12.277 --> 00:27:18.117
make it increasingly likely that governments and corporations will use this

00:27:18.117 --> 00:27:21.837
data to track, predict, and influence consumer behavior.

00:27:21.837 --> 00:27:28.057
It's not just about buying and selling anymore. It's about creating a new kind of control.

00:27:28.397 --> 00:27:33.457
Now that we know this, that some things are already in play and parts are moving

00:27:33.457 --> 00:27:36.837
towards a control, what can we do spiritually?

00:27:37.197 --> 00:27:40.997
How can we prepare our hearts for the long haul?

00:27:41.097 --> 00:27:46.277
As we move closer to a world in which economic participation and spiritual loyalty

00:27:46.277 --> 00:27:53.277
are directly tied to a global system, Christians must prepare spiritually for the challenges ahead.

00:27:53.557 --> 00:27:57.897
The Mark of the Beast serves as a warning for all believers about the ultimate

00:27:57.897 --> 00:28:03.057
test of allegiance to God versus the systems of the world.

00:28:03.237 --> 00:28:05.517
And I want to give us a spiritual foundation.

00:28:05.817 --> 00:28:12.057
Of course, you got to read your Bible, but hey, let's go with what we have. What does the Bible say?

00:28:12.510 --> 00:28:17.150
About spiritual preparation for economic control.

00:28:17.330 --> 00:28:23.450
Matthew 6, 19-21 reminds us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth.

00:28:23.650 --> 00:28:28.930
In a future where economic freedom may be restricted based on loyalty to a system

00:28:28.930 --> 00:28:35.690
that opposes God, Christians are reminded to keep their focus on eternal riches

00:28:35.690 --> 00:28:37.750
rather than temporary wealth.

00:28:37.890 --> 00:28:42.190
That means that the way we store our money may not be in a bank,

00:28:42.190 --> 00:28:46.690
It may be in the way that we give and the way that we tithe, right?

00:28:46.830 --> 00:28:51.590
That we're putting that money into a spiritual bank account because we're going

00:28:51.590 --> 00:28:53.310
to need it during this time.

00:28:53.550 --> 00:28:58.770
Remember, we're talking about spiritual obedience and spiritual obedience may

00:28:58.770 --> 00:29:00.610
not make any earthly sense.

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:06.479
Because the Bible tells us that we need to stir up treasures in heaven and not

00:29:06.479 --> 00:29:09.119
on earth. And we need to be able to do that.

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:13.819
Revelation 3.10 speaks of God's protection for those who endure in faith.

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:18.559
Here we go. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently,

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:24.039
listen, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:27.779
the whole earth to test the inhabitants of the earth.

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:33.019
This assures us that God will provide for us even in times of economic persecution.

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:41.279
I want to just pause here and I want to just see how God knows what's coming, but he needs your what?

00:29:41.499 --> 00:29:48.759
In faith. It says, for those who endure in faith, he says, I will keep you from the hour of trial.

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:52.579
And he says that it's going to test the whole earth.

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:59.119
So not only is there a test for obedience from the enemy, Satan, it's a test from God.

00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:02.939
And he says, I'm going to protect you from economic persecution.

00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:07.899
If you don't have that circle or outline or go grab your Bible right now and

00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:12.579
make sure you can find it, that this is what is expected for us as believers.

00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:19.879
The one to store up treasures in heaven and the two to endure in faith and watch God provide.

00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:26.130
2. Resisting the mark of the beast in practical ways.

00:30:26.270 --> 00:30:32.410
Living by biblical values, Christians must refuse to accept systems that demand

00:30:32.410 --> 00:30:34.410
worship of earthly power.

00:30:34.710 --> 00:30:41.950
The mark symbolizes a system of control that ultimately seeks to replace God's rule.

00:30:41.950 --> 00:30:48.470
By staying faithful to God's word and resisting compromise, we can remain free

00:30:48.470 --> 00:30:52.210
from the spiritual implication of the beast system.

00:30:52.390 --> 00:30:58.750
And what I get from that is that Satan will have nothing on you if you do not

00:30:58.750 --> 00:31:01.070
worship earthly powers, if you

00:31:01.070 --> 00:31:06.490
do not replace God in your life with the worldly system or Satan's ways.

00:31:06.490 --> 00:31:11.270
And when you stand faithful in God's word and you resist compromise,

00:31:11.270 --> 00:31:15.970
I remember sharing this with you that years ago when I was a young Christian

00:31:15.970 --> 00:31:21.930
and our church went on this fast and I fasted food because that's how you fast.

00:31:22.350 --> 00:31:26.230
But I also fasted something additional that the Lord put on my heart.

00:31:26.430 --> 00:31:30.650
And he asked me to fast television because at the time, you know,

00:31:30.750 --> 00:31:35.530
we can go to church all day and we can serve, you know, with our whole heart.

00:31:35.530 --> 00:31:42.990
And then we come home and we sit in front of the television and get reprogrammed to the world's ways.

00:31:43.250 --> 00:31:48.270
And so I remember turning off my television. The only thing I would watch back

00:31:48.270 --> 00:31:53.710
in the day was anything that I would buy off of television, televangelists,

00:31:53.870 --> 00:31:56.970
like any videos, any topics that they would have.

00:31:57.210 --> 00:32:02.430
And I watched the video and I tried to do that as my Bible study and pull out

00:32:02.430 --> 00:32:05.150
my Bible. As they're preaching, you know, you're going like you're at church.

00:32:05.250 --> 00:32:06.230
You're going through your scripture.

00:32:06.510 --> 00:32:12.510
And I realized that that is one way that has kept me not a news person.

00:32:12.670 --> 00:32:15.630
Like, I don't care what happens on the news. What did God say?

00:32:15.976 --> 00:32:20.496
So being able to keep your biblical values, right?

00:32:20.696 --> 00:32:24.356
Keeping your biblical values and resisting compromise.

00:32:24.636 --> 00:32:28.676
Compromise comes in, it's called compromise because it comes in small bits.

00:32:28.856 --> 00:32:33.396
It's never big. It's always little. You know, you have a friend ask you to,

00:32:33.856 --> 00:32:35.936
I don't know, something that you normally don't do.

00:32:36.056 --> 00:32:39.516
Maybe it's slightly breaking the law, but in your opinion, it's not really breaking the law.

00:32:39.696 --> 00:32:43.416
That's a little compromise, right? when you make a decision that I'm not going

00:32:43.416 --> 00:32:45.696
to have sex, but then you have it one time and you say, oh yeah,

00:32:45.796 --> 00:32:47.556
I repent and you keep doing it.

00:32:47.716 --> 00:32:50.176
You're compromising. Let's go to Luke 12, 15.

00:32:50.636 --> 00:32:55.056
Warns against the love of money. When he said to them, watch out,

00:32:55.376 --> 00:32:57.796
be on your guard against all levels of greed.

00:32:58.356 --> 00:33:01.976
Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.

00:33:02.276 --> 00:33:07.456
So I believe we must guard against being drawn into materialism and idolatry

00:33:07.456 --> 00:33:13.816
that can accompany a system that measures everything in terms of wealth and social standing.

00:33:14.256 --> 00:33:17.476
I ask God to show me different things.

00:33:17.656 --> 00:33:21.156
One of the things that just popped up just now was, remember,

00:33:21.476 --> 00:33:26.716
as we're finding out these expensive purses that you're paying over $10,000

00:33:26.716 --> 00:33:29.136
for, never me, but if that's you,

00:33:29.476 --> 00:33:33.696
find out they're made in Japan, shipped to the company, they add their little

00:33:33.696 --> 00:33:37.216
accessories to it, Then they charge you $10,000.

00:33:37.456 --> 00:33:44.636
They're making like a 99% profit off of you because you want to carry a designer purse.

00:33:44.776 --> 00:33:47.876
Me, myself, and I, I'm not really into designer stuff.

00:33:48.116 --> 00:33:53.356
I like good quality stuff, don't get me wrong, but it does not have to have a designer name on it.

00:33:54.002 --> 00:33:58.242
I don't have to wear the best and the shiniest outfit to an event.

00:33:58.422 --> 00:34:02.762
It might look like it's really expensive, but trust and believe that it didn't

00:34:02.762 --> 00:34:06.962
cost me what it looks like. It was probably on clearance, on sale,

00:34:07.162 --> 00:34:08.562
with a super another discount.

00:34:08.742 --> 00:34:12.442
Because if you buy stuff off-season, you get the best deals with high-quality

00:34:12.442 --> 00:34:13.702
stuff. That's just me, right?

00:34:14.562 --> 00:34:18.422
We see here that in Luke 12, 15, it warns of the love of money.

00:34:18.542 --> 00:34:24.042
And that love of money, we think, is a stature. It gives us a stature in the community.

00:34:24.082 --> 00:34:29.862
And we're finding out that the people who have riches, they don't have the wisdom

00:34:29.862 --> 00:34:31.242
that comes with the riches.

00:34:31.422 --> 00:34:34.582
Because when the world began to shake, they shake too.

00:34:34.802 --> 00:34:39.762
When God gives us our riches, and our riches are in heaven, but God gives us

00:34:39.762 --> 00:34:45.262
provision on earth, that whenever we get those provisions on earth and we know

00:34:45.262 --> 00:34:48.402
they came from God, we have an honor with it.

00:34:48.402 --> 00:34:54.542
We tithe off of it, makes the rest holy, and then we're able to endure the shaking, right?

00:34:54.782 --> 00:34:58.162
But if you are a person, remember I said it's going to affect the rich and the

00:34:58.162 --> 00:35:01.202
poor that needs a social standing in the world.

00:35:01.442 --> 00:35:04.842
That's going to hurt you the most because that's going to cause you to want

00:35:04.842 --> 00:35:07.002
to do what everybody else is doing.

00:35:07.202 --> 00:35:12.302
And everybody else is doing it, taking the beast system because they look like they're succeeding.

00:35:12.542 --> 00:35:15.762
But you don't know that that closed heaven's doors for them,

00:35:16.062 --> 00:35:18.242
that their eternity is already marked.

00:35:18.402 --> 00:35:22.382
And for me, I'd rather suffer on earth and be living in luxury in heaven.

00:35:22.542 --> 00:35:23.842
I don't know. That's just me.

00:35:24.182 --> 00:35:27.882
I've never been about wealth and social standing. I don't know why,

00:35:28.062 --> 00:35:29.402
but I'm thankful that I'm not.

00:35:29.542 --> 00:35:34.682
And so we learn here that we know that spiritual preparation for economic control

00:35:34.682 --> 00:35:40.822
requires us to store up treasures in heaven and trusting and enduring in faith.

00:35:41.120 --> 00:35:46.240
During economic persecution. We also see here that resisting the mark in practical

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:53.900
ways requires us to live in biblical values and not to get drawn into materialism

00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:58.180
and idolatry regarding our wealth and our social standing.

00:35:58.720 --> 00:36:04.560
And three, finally, is living with a kingdom perspective. Philippians 3.20 declared

00:36:04.560 --> 00:36:09.620
our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a savior from there.

00:36:09.620 --> 00:36:15.220
The Lord Jesus Christ reminding us that our ultimate allegiance is not to earthly

00:36:15.220 --> 00:36:18.340
powers, but to God's eternal kingdom.

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:23.320
In a world where global systems will try to pressure believers into compliance,

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:27.300
we must remain focused on our heavenly calling.

00:36:27.720 --> 00:36:30.960
And so once again, how do you prepare for economic control?

00:36:31.240 --> 00:36:35.960
We prepare for it by storing up our treasures in heaven. We endure in faith.

00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:39.280
What are some practical ways to resist a mark?

00:36:39.620 --> 00:36:44.740
Living in biblical value. Knowing your Bible will help you resist it because

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:46.600
that's your foundation. That's your truth.

00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:49.540
Remember, our belt of truth is the word of God.

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:54.080
Then we actually can't fall in love with money or social standing.

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:59.580
And then we have to, we must have what we call a kingdom perspective because

00:36:59.580 --> 00:37:04.140
we need to understand and remind ourselves that our citizenship is in heaven

00:37:04.140 --> 00:37:08.120
as we wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:13.620
And so we're looking towards heaven. We're looking towards our final resting

00:37:13.620 --> 00:37:16.620
place in God's heavenly kingdom.

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:20.520
And as we close out this episode, a standing firm in faith.

00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:25.160
The mark of the beast is a warning that the world will one day face a system

00:37:25.160 --> 00:37:34.060
of totalitarian control that uses economic participation as a means to ensure or loyalty to force.

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Loyalty to forces that oppose God. As we see the rise of digital currency,

00:37:39.897 --> 00:37:44.297
biometric system, and the social credit system, we must prepare spiritually

00:37:44.297 --> 00:37:50.477
to resist any system that demands allegiance at the cost of our faithfulness to Christ.

00:37:50.737 --> 00:37:55.457
Christians are called to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God's

00:37:55.457 --> 00:37:56.677
provision and protection.

00:37:56.677 --> 00:38:01.897
As we face a world that increasingly aligns itself with earthly powers,

00:38:02.077 --> 00:38:04.797
let us live in a light of eternity,

00:38:05.017 --> 00:38:09.197
Knowing that no matter how much the world tries to control us,

00:38:09.317 --> 00:38:14.397
our citizenship is in heaven and our ultimate allegiance to Christ.

00:38:14.657 --> 00:38:17.317
Where is our citizenship? It's in heaven.

00:38:17.757 --> 00:38:21.877
Who should we have allegiance to? Only Christ.

00:38:22.337 --> 00:38:26.117
So as we move deeper into the era where Bitcoin, digital currency,

00:38:26.337 --> 00:38:31.057
and cashless societies are becoming the norm, the biblical principles surrounding

00:38:31.057 --> 00:38:34.797
wealth, stewardship, and freedom have never been more relevant.

00:38:35.017 --> 00:38:38.877
While technological advances offer convenience and promises,

00:38:39.197 --> 00:38:45.077
they also carry the potential for economic control and loss of personal autonomy.

00:38:45.337 --> 00:38:50.797
In a world where financial transactions and resources are increasingly monitored

00:38:50.797 --> 00:38:53.557
and controlled, believers must need confidence.

00:38:54.228 --> 00:38:59.448
Believers need to reflect on how biblical principles can guide them as they

00:38:59.448 --> 00:39:01.748
navigate this new economic landscape.

00:39:02.028 --> 00:39:06.988
Let's explore what the Bible says about financial freedom, provision,

00:39:07.528 --> 00:39:12.488
contentment, and how these principles help maintain spiritual integrity in an

00:39:12.488 --> 00:39:19.588
age of technological control as what are some ways that we can actually begin to prepare ourselves.

00:39:19.948 --> 00:39:23.108
We know we're praying. We need to get our Bible out.

00:39:23.108 --> 00:39:28.888
When you get hired in a new job or any job, they have their procedures,

00:39:29.188 --> 00:39:35.628
their policies, they have their rules for your position and what's required of you.

00:39:35.828 --> 00:39:40.808
And many times if we read that, we get a full understanding of what the expectation of the job is.

00:39:40.988 --> 00:39:44.128
So getting passed for probation is not a hard thing.

00:39:44.348 --> 00:39:49.988
But maintaining that status throughout your whole career is what is expected.

00:39:49.988 --> 00:39:54.608
And just as God says, I want you to be in the kingdom with me,

00:39:54.688 --> 00:39:57.128
but I also want you to be strong in the kingdom.

00:39:57.288 --> 00:40:00.128
I want you to prepare for what is to come.

00:40:00.348 --> 00:40:03.808
And so I know these episodes are longer than the average ones.

00:40:03.988 --> 00:40:05.928
I give you faith on the go, but

00:40:05.928 --> 00:40:11.168
sometimes I have to sit back and begin to teach you on what is required.

00:40:11.468 --> 00:40:16.388
Not just encourage with scripture, but also give you a strong foundation so

00:40:16.388 --> 00:40:21.528
that you will know. So I don't know what God is doing, but maybe I'm going forth the...

00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:26.400
Podcasts may be, instead of like 10 minutes, they may end up being 30 minutes

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:33.120
to get this foundation in you so that you can be successful in your endurance and faith.

00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:39.160
This is your host, Connie Morris, coming directly from the Diary of a Black Woman's podcast.

00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:43.260
I appreciate your support and all the listeners out there.

00:40:43.320 --> 00:40:48.240
And I hope this has been a great foundational learning. We have one final episode,

00:40:48.300 --> 00:40:51.940
and we're going to talk about the principles of wealth and stewardship,

00:40:52.220 --> 00:40:57.100
and then we're going to close out this series on how to prepare for the beast,

00:40:57.120 --> 00:40:59.340
because I believe that that's it.

00:40:59.340 --> 00:41:04.960
It might be something else coming, but for now, that's it, and I'll see you on the next episode.

00:41:15.883 --> 00:41:18.723
Family thank you for spending this time with me today

00:41:18.723 --> 00:41:22.023
to every woman listening who has ever felt

00:41:22.023 --> 00:41:27.403
hidden overlooked or pushed aside i want you to hear me clearly god has not

00:41:27.403 --> 00:41:32.183
forgotten you and neither have i that's why i moved everything to our new home

00:41:32.183 --> 00:41:37.263
on pod page so you would have one place to connect with me read the devotionals

00:41:37.263 --> 00:41:40.663
listen to the podcast and reach out whenever you need to.

00:41:40.823 --> 00:41:45.663
If you want to leave me a message, send an email, or simply find encouragement,

00:41:45.663 --> 00:41:49.343
it's all there at diaryofablackwomanllc.com.

00:41:49.403 --> 00:41:53.503
And if this podcast has blessed you and you want to support the work I'm doing,

00:41:53.763 --> 00:41:57.383
you'll find a buy me, a coffee link on the site as well.

00:41:57.603 --> 00:42:01.763
No pressure, just love and community. Before we leave, I want to speak the word

00:42:01.763 --> 00:42:04.783
that I close with every time because somebody needs this reminder today.

00:42:04.943 --> 00:42:07.663
It comes from Jeremiah 29 11 14.

00:42:08.003 --> 00:42:12.503
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and

00:42:12.503 --> 00:42:16.643
not to harm you, plans to give you hope in a future, then you will call upon

00:42:16.643 --> 00:42:19.843
me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.

00:42:20.023 --> 00:42:23.683
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

00:42:23.883 --> 00:42:27.323
I will be found by you, declares the Lord.

00:42:27.703 --> 00:42:32.203
Beloved, God has a plan for your life, a real one, a good one,

00:42:32.223 --> 00:42:38.203
and as long as you keep seeking him, you will find him even from the hidden places. I love you.

00:42:38.303 --> 00:42:40.663
I'm praying for you and I'll meet you next time.