Loving Caesar
The Inhabitants of the Earth willingly venerate the Beast and take its mark, although believers also are not immune from its allurements. Discussions on the “Mark of the Beast” invariably focus on
questions about what it is - a medical implant, barcode, or a tattoo – as well
as the significance of its “number,” ‘666.’ As important as these
questions are, far more critical is the issue of how we as believers can avoid taking
the Beast’s mark or its “number.”
We tend to see the “False
Prophet” and the “Beast from the Earth” busily compelling everyone to
take the Beast’s mark, with economic pressure, threats of imprisonment, or
worse. Apparently, men will have no choice but to take the “mark” or suffer
deadly consequences. Submit or starve!
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[Seal USA - Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash] |
Almost certainly, when the “Beast from the Sea” does appear, his reign will include the employment of coercion. However, the Book of Revelation does not free individuals from responsibility for giving allegiance to it.
When the Beast arrives on the
scene, the “False Prophet” causes the “Inhabitants of the Earth” to
take its “mark,” and he deceives men so that they erect an image in
homage to the “Beast from the Sea” - (Revelation 13:11-18).
The last statement indicates that
this “Mark” will be promoted if not imposed by the “False Prophet,
the Beast from the Earth,” and he will do so on both the willing and the
unwilling. However, that is not the complete story.
The “False Prophet” certainly
puts things in motion, but the recipients of the “Mark” or “number”
of the first Beast are consciously involved – “taking” its “Mark”
is part and parcel of “rendering homage to the Beast.”
The “False Prophet” may use deceit and threats when needed, nonetheless, the “Inhabitants of the Earth” are willing participants in this idolatrous endeavor.
In the series of “Seven Bowls
of Wrath,” the First Bowl causes “a painful ulcer upon those who have
the Mark of the Beast and those who pay homage to its image.” The English
terms “have” and “render homage” represent present tense Greek participles
in the active voice, that is, the subject is performing the action.
And so, the “Inhabitants of
the Earth” actively engage in taking the “Mark” and erecting the
Beast’s image. They embrace the “Beast from the Sea” and the system it
represents of their own free will. They take its “mark” willingly. This
is why the “Inhabitants of the Earth” suffer the plagues unleashed by
the “Seven Bowls of Wrath.” They have brought this punishment upon
themselves:
- “And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go! Pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God onto the earth. And the first went, and poured out his bowl onto the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men who had the mark of the Beast, and who worshipped his image”- (Revelation 16:1-2).
In the vision of the “Rider
on a White Horse,” the “Beast” and the “False Prophet” are cast
alive into the “Lake of Fire” because they “deceived those who
took the mark of the Beast.” Once again, an active voice participle is
used. “Having taken” or ‘lambanō’ in the clause means to “take,”
“receive,” and even to “welcome” the “mark” or “number” of the “Beast
from the Sea” - (Revelation 19:17-21).
WE MUST CHOOSE
Finally, those who reign with Jesus
for the “thousand years” do so because “they did not render homage
to the Beast,” and they “did not take its mark.” Once
again, active voice verbs are used, in this case, for actions not
taken by the followers of the “Lamb.” The saints who persevere through
persecution and tribulation do so by not compromising their allegiance to the “Lamb.”
The decision of overcoming
saints to reject the “Beast” and its enticements is contrasted with that
of the “Inhabitants of the Earth” who chose to give their allegiance and
worship to the “Beast from the Sea” - (Revelation 20:4-6).
When the “Beast” ascends
from the sea or “Abyss,” believers and non-believers alike must choose whether
to embrace the Beast or not. Every man will be held responsible for his own
decision - Whether he decides to submit to the “Beast” or to follow the
“Lamb wherever he goes” – Christ or Caesar.
Christ’s disciples must
exercise extreme caution before blindly embracing the societal values of the
existing world order or submitting to the demands of the political order,
especially when doing so compromises their loyalty and commitment to Jesus of
Nazareth, the “Slain Lamb.”
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SEE ALSO:
- Venerating Caesar - (The Empire’s propagandists encourage men and women to give allegiance and veneration to the Emperor, the Beast from the Sea)
- Lamb or Beast - (The Inhabitants of the Earth refuse to follow the Lamb, choosing instead to swear allegiance to the Dragon and his Beast)
- The Choice - (Humanity is divided into two, and only two, groups, the followers of the Lamb and the devotees of the Beast)
- Allegiance - (In Revelation, “all” men must choose between loyalty to the Beast from the sea or the sacrificial Lamb)
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