The mark of the beast?

[rrcn]

Please don't ask me what I think.

Sola Scripture only and especially no interpretation.

You must have seen many interpretations during your time on CF.

You know what I am talking about.

You posted this statement.

Here is what the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) actually says.

James 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become
a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

No mention of the ten commandments in James 1:25.

You are interpretating the text.

At times when I am using my tablet I may not post every test that is applicable, so I booted my computer. I believe it is clearly identified below as James is quoting from the Ten Commandments.


How about here:
Jas 2:8-13 KJV - 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

[Inquisitor]

At times when I am using my tablet I may not post every test that is applicable, so I booted my computer. I believe it is clearly identified below as James is quoting from the Ten Commandments.


How about here:
Jas 2:8-13 KJV - 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

I will ask AI to read the text.

1. The Royal Law

James calls “love your neighbor as yourself” the royal law (v.8).

• This comes straight from Leviticus 19:18, which Jesus affirmed as the second great commandment (Matthew 22:39).
• James calls it royal because it belongs to the kingdom of God and reflects the King Himself. It sums up human-to-human duty under the law.

2. The Law of Liberty

James mentions it in v.12 (also in 1:25).

• Liberty here isn’t “freedom to sin” but “freedom from sin’s dominion” (Romans 6:14, John 8:36).
• It’s the law written on the heart by the Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:13–14).
• Unlike the Mosaic code, which condemns, this law liberates by being inwardly empowered through Christ.

3. The Law of Christ

Paul uses this phrase in Galatians 6:2:

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
This law is summed up in love, but with the new covenant elevation:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:34).
So the law of Christ = Christ’s own pattern of love (unconditional, sacrificial, Spirit-enabled).​

4. Did Jesus Fulfill the Whole Law?

Yes. Jesus said:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17).
He fulfilled:​

• The moral law by perfect obedience (Hebrews 4:15).
• The ceremonial law by His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1–14).
• The prophetic law by embodying all the promises (Luke 24:44).

Thus, He is the end (goal) of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4).


5. Does the Law Kill?

Yes, the law condemns when applied to fallen man:

• “The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
• “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20).
• “The law worketh wrath.” (Romans 4:15).
  The law exposes guilt but provides no power to love.

6. The New Commandment

Jesus elevated love beyond “as yourself” to “as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
That is unconditional, sacrificial, Christ-like love—the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).


7. Reading James 2:8–13 Together

James is pressing that partiality (favoritism) breaks the royal law of love.

• If you keep some laws but fail in one, you’re guilty of all (v.10). The law condemns without mercy.
• But those in Christ must live under the law of liberty (v.12)—love empowered by the Spirit.
• Therefore, mercy must triumph in judgment (v.13), reflecting Christ’s mercy.

So James’ point: If you truly walk in the law of liberty (the love of Christ), you won’t show favoritism or hypocrisy. Love fulfills the law. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

[TMS]

What we do know about the beast is that some time in the past he was here. But the beast is not here
now. Yet at some time in the future he will arrive.

That fits ROME
It was there in John's day promoting pagan things, and the papacy combined Christianity with the pagan practices. This church was lead by A MAN, that claims to be God. It seemed to recieved a deadly wound that did not kill it but caused it to change tactics. It is very powerful today.

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The beast hasn't changed.

 

[HaveEL]

I am undecided. But I know we will know when it comes, if it is in the future.

The best argument for it being a visible mark is that it is used to buy or sell, and if you walk into a store without a visible mark how can anyone know if you have it or not? I don't go to the store and yell "I BELIEVE JESUS IS LORD!".
The other argument for it being a visible mark is that while the book of Revelation is full of symbols "buying and selling" is rarely used as a metaphor in Scripture. The only times I can think when it is being used is when Jesus tells to buy gold from Him, or when the Proverbs say "Buy the truth, sell it not" but I think its a stretch to force that into the mark of the beast.


The best argument for it being a symbolic mark is that the seal on the saved is also invisible and that the mark is said to be on the right hand or the forehead. If we were talking about a literal mark, you could just hack the system by taking it on your left hand and buying and selling. In Scripture right hand often symbolizes doing something willfully, with authority and at will, sinning with a high hand, and forehead represents thoughts. A clue for this is how Israel was told to bind the law to their foreheads for example. They took this literally. But I think a case can be made that those who keep the beast's commandments and worship the beast have His mark. But as I said the problem with this view would be: How could you regulate buying and selling with a symbolic mark?

Going into a store to buy something during the reign of the Antichrist would be like going into a store nowadays without any money or debit cards or credit cards or any other means to pay for something. They won't need to see anything in order to know you don't have the means to buy anything. They'll know when you either go to the cash register to buy your food and aren't able to pay for it or they catch you trying to steal it. The mark of the beast will probably be a microchip imbedded under the skin of your forehead or right hand and when it's time to check out they'll just scan the chip and subtract the cost of the goods from your bank account. Much like they do today when you use a bank debit card to pay for your stuff. They might even have the system setup to where they scan your identity chip at the door before you're even allowed in the store.

 

[Brasspen]

Concerning getting the mark of the beast. You probably have to do something to be eligible for it. Like a sacrifice or something. Or maybe you just have to denounce God and Jesus and accept the beast? What ever it is, who ever gets the mark is doomed.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Concerning getting the mark of the beast. You probably have to do something to be eligible for it. Like a sacrifice or something. Or maybe you just have to denounce God and Jesus and accept the beast? What ever it is, who ever gets the mark is doomed.

It requires worship.
Otherwise his soldiers kill you.


15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And 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: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

 

[TMS]

Desperate people do Desperate things.

God allows hard times to come so the true characters are seen.

It is easy to say you believe in Jesus and go to church when everything is peaceful.
When hard times come and you need to choose between life and death, or obeying God or man, this is when the true characters are seen.

The Devil is the master at deception and lies, he will stir up society against God's people. The multitude is mostly wrong.
The remnant few have been persecuted.

Don't follow the multitude.

 

[TMS]

It requires worship.
Otherwise his soldiers kill you.


15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And 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: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

So how would the deciever Satan, trick people into false worship?

He will appear as an angel of light and most people will follow the lies because they don't follow the bible.

The bible is our safeguard

 

[Inquisitor]

That fits ROME
It was there in John's day promoting pagan things, and the papacy combined Christianity with the pagan practices. This church was lead by A MAN, that claims to be God. It seemed to recieved a deadly wound that did not kill it but caused it to change tactics. It is very powerful today.

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The beast hasn't changed.

I don't think a pope has ever claimed to be God.

But Roman emperors have claimed to be God there were five we know of.

Julius, Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Titus.

I believe the vicar of Christ has supremacy over the church on earth.

No where in Catholic literature is the pope ever called God.

 

[Mem]

Can we identify the beast?

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself
above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,
displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling
you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he
is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the
breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.

It certainly looks as though no one knows who the beast is until the restrainer is taken out of the way.

Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction.

What we do know about the beast is that some time in the past he was here. But the beast is not here
now. Yet at some time in the future he will arrive.

It's unclear* to me whether the mystery of lawlessness is ever fully 'unrestrained,' seeing that 'he who now restrains will do so until (*he) is taken out of the way. *The question remains which "*he" is this pronoun's antecedent, the restrainer or the mystery of lawlessness? And, if the mol, which "is already at work" at a time of the writing of 2Thes2 but "is not" at the time of writing of Rev 17:8, if he 'is not' at that time, and yet is already at work, then how could it be Rome who, although was 'working' at the time, indeed is contemporarily and prominently present to that time in history. It seems that another might be conspicuously missing there.

 

[Hakawaka]

Going into a store to buy something during the reign of the Antichrist would be like going into a store nowadays without any money or debit cards or credit cards or any other means to pay for something. They won't need to see anything in order to know you don't have the means to buy anything. They'll know when you either go to the cash register to buy your food and aren't able to pay for it or they catch you trying to steal it. The mark of the beast will probably be a microchip imbedded under the skin of your forehead or right hand and when it's time to check out they'll just scan the chip and subtract the cost of the goods from your bank account. Much like they do today when you use a bank debit card to pay for your stuff. They might even have the system setup to where they scan your identity chip at the door before you're even allowed in the store.

I can see that working that way, but isnt the RFID chip outdated technology by now?

 

[Inquisitor]

It's unclear* to me whether the mystery of lawlessness is ever fully 'unrestrained,' seeing that 'he who now restrains will do so until (*he) is taken out of the way. *The question remains which "*he" is this pronoun's antecedent, the restrainer or the mystery of lawlessness? And, if the mol, which "is already at work" at a time of the writing of 2Thes2 but "is not" at the time of writing of Rev 17:8, if he 'is not' at that time, and yet is already at work, then how could it be Rome who, although was 'working' at the time, indeed is contemporarily and prominently present to that time in history. It seems that another might be conspicuously missing there.

Everything that the dragon is, all power and authority, was given to the beast.

The beast once was but restrained in Paul's era and ongoing into our era..

The beast is the heart and soul of lawlessness and the beast is currently not here, restrained.

But his influence which is absolute lawlessness and rebellion against Jesus is still at work.

But at some time in the future when he returns the epicenter of evil itself, the beast, will be revealed.

It looks as though he returns in person but we cannot identify him because he is far too cunning.

Then the restrainer is taken away and we see him.

 

[Inquisitor]

It's unclear* to me whether the mystery of lawlessness is ever fully 'unrestrained,' seeing that 'he who now restrains will do so until (*he) is taken out of the way. *The question remains which "*he" is this pronoun's antecedent, the restrainer or the mystery of lawlessness? And, if the mol, which "is already at work" at a time of the writing of 2Thes2 but "is not" at the time of writing of Rev 17:8, if he 'is not' at that time, and yet is already at work, then how could it be Rome who, although was 'working' at the time, indeed is contemporarily and prominently present to that time in history. It seems that another might be conspicuously missing there.

There is also the harlot that rides the beast.

 

[Inquisitor]

I can see that working that way, but isnt the RFID chip outdated technology by now?

No, RFID is not old technology; while its foundational principles date back to the 1940s, it has undergone extensive advancements, making it a modern, evolving technology at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT) with new applications in logistics, retail, and healthcare. Innovations have significantly reduced costs, increased data storage and read range, and improved the functionality of RFID systems, leading to widespread adoption and continued market growth. (google)

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

So how would the deciever Satan, trick people into false worship?

He will appear as an angel of light and most people will follow the lies because they don't follow the bible.

The bible is our safeguard

They don't follow the spirit of truth, but follow false teachings about the bible. Many who follow the bible will be deceived, and in fact are right now, because they don't love the truth and will believe a lie thinking they are serving God. The bible and the witness of the holy spirit are our safeguard.

 

[TMS]

Concerning getting the mark of the beast. You probably have to do something to be eligible for it. Like a sacrifice or something. Or maybe you just have to denounce God and Jesus and accept the beast? What ever it is, who ever gets the mark is doomed.

Revelation tells us that the Devil hates them that keep God's commandments

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

A sign requires ...
The title
The authority
The area, reign,

The Sabbath commandment can therefore be considered a seal because it is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force.

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD (title) made (creator = authority) heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, (domain, reigns over) and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It has always been a sign between God and His people. Spiritual Israel are God's people today.

 

[TMS]

They don't follow the spirit of truth, but follow false teachings about the bible. Many who follow the bible will be deceived, and in fact are right now, because they don't love the truth and will believe a lie thinking they are serving God. The bible and the witness of the holy spirit are our safeguard.

All good comes from God.
But which spirit is leading which group?
How do you distinguish, If they all claim to be following the Spirit of God, but have different beliefs?

If the belief controdicts the word of God it is error. The Holy Spirit will lead the humble seeker into the truth.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
We need to make an effort too.

 

[Mem]

There is also the harlot that rides the beast.

The false religion that drinks the blood of the saints rides the beast (which has all the power of the dragon) which has a false prophet that causes to worship the beast...
Am I missing in making the distinction between the false religion as the beast and the false prophet that causes to worship the beast? I'm having trouble pinpointing which one is the mystery of lawlessness.... so, walking through the characters again...
The harlot is the false religion that drinks the blood of the saints that rides the beast which has all the power of the dragon... and which has the wound that the false prophet causes to worship...
golly, I need a diagram at this point as its seeming to me that the false prophet is the antichrist beast, but I stop short of adopting that because these are thrown in the lake of fire together (while the harlot burns and her smoke goes up forever and ever)....

At any rate, whoever these are, just as the best policy in recognizing counterfeit bills, it best to know the genuine bill intimately.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

So how would the deciever Satan, trick people into false worship?

He will appear as an angel of light and most people will follow the lies because they don't follow the bible.

The bible is our safeguard

It is our safeguard. I think the Holy Spirit will also protect us, because greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.
I doubt if most Christians read the Bible from cover to cover.
It seems like many are easily misled about a lot of things.

Matthew 24:24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Apparently it's not possible when it comes to certain deception from false Christ and their apostles. It seems like there is a salvation component too.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

The beast is actually the offspring of the whore of Babylon, because she is the mother of all abominations. Compare her to holy Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all who are made righteous in Christ.