Re: [Worship] 666. . . and WORSHIP!

["Bruce L. Johnson" <bjohnson@worshipmap.com>]

Bill McGinnis <bmcgin@patriot.net>writes:

>Don't make light of it: 666 is a number to avoid at all times.
>You think Revelation 13:18 is a joke?


My first reaction to this, and all the jokes about the number was that this
is rather off-topic for a "worship list"....    but on second thought,   the
warning about the number/name/mark of the beast is   --like much of
Revelation--  "ALL about worship"!!

With all due respect,  Bill,  I think your suggestion that "666 is a number
to avoid at all times"   misses the REAL danger.      The danger is NOT
having anything at all to do with this particular number/numeral.       What
Revelation warns about is "RECEIVING the MARK/NAME of the Beast."       Just
how does that happen, and what should be done to avoid it?

I fear that many many end up trying the superficial approach of avoiding the
numeral and various new technologies.    But it won't work.    Without
recognizing it they WILL end up with the NAME.      Because there is really
only one way to escape the "the mark/number/name of the beast".  It is found
in the very next verse!  (14: 1  --rather an unfortunate chapter division,
that may lead us to miss this).    From Rev 14:1  and 7:2-3 (based on Ezk 9,
especially vv.4-6) we see that the ONLY ones who are safe from the mark/name
of the BEAST are
those who have the mark/name of the LAMB on their foreheads.

Hmm.  Notice the parallel?     It's actually one of many.  Satan and his
minions are constantly imitating God in a perverted way   (a major emphasis
in Revelation... compare also "Babylon, the prostitute"  vs. "Jerusalem, the
spotless Bride").     So it isn't suprising that the description of "the
BEAST" and his works (Rev 13) is one big twisted attempt to imitate the
LAMB.     And that includes the MARK.    The original mark is from God, who
sends out his angels to put a mark on the foreheads of his own-- a SEAL that
protects them from his wrath   [cf. Passover! ].    The Beast imitates this
with his own mark/name, but he is NOT able to protect his own  --his mark
ends up marking those who will be judged! [14:9-11].

Again, please note that Revelation's warning centers on trusting in
and WORSHIPING the beast  --the opposite of worshiping God and the Lamb.
This is how the beast's followers "receive his mark/name".

(Is there at some point a "literal" physical mark involved?    Perhaps,
but....
1) is the mark/name of the Lamb on the forehead about a literal, visible
mark?  If not,  does the counterfeit mark have to be?
2) it is ISN'T,   consider how dangerous it may be to focus simply on
avoiding a numeral, a mark on the skin, etc.        Believers may end up
living in an improper fear of unwittingly or unwillingly  being marked.
Others may superficially avoid such things, but miss the REAL danger.)

The solution to this danger of FALSE worship?     Quite simply --to WORSHIP
the TRUE and living God!  ('living God' is often used in Scripture to
contrast with lifeless, powerless, idols)         And so the angel of 14:6-7
comes NOT with the message "watch out for that number"  but rather "Fear
God...give him the glory... worship him!"  THAT'S how they will avoid the
judgment declared on the "beast-worshipers" in the following verses.

None of this is to say we needn't be on our guard against subtle "false
gospels,"
etc. which in a sense is what "Antichrist" "the Beast," etc. is all about.
But the best protection against (Satan's) counterfeits is a thorough
understanding of and clinging to the REAL THING.      Let the church learn
to know and worship the true God  --as the great WORSHIP visions of chapters
1, 4-5, 7, etc. call us to do.        Let our focus be NOT the
'vision of the beast' but the vision of the risen Christ (ch. 1), of 'the
Lamb that was slain' (ch.5)....     THEN we will be prepared to face every
threat,  every trial, every false Christ and every idol with a firm hope.
That's how I believe the book of Revelation was intended to help first
century believers (about to be slaughtered for their faith!), and us as
well.

Bruce Johnson
www.worshipmap.com










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