Short answer: No, they aren’t.
I have been hearing about pastors telling their congregations not to take the vaccine because they are the Mark of the Beast. We’ll delve into why they are wrong, but why are they telling people this in the first place?
To be clear: don’t take medical advice from anyone other than your trusted doctor. He/she should know your body and health risks better than anyone else. Make sure that there is benefit for YOU in any of your medical decisions and that you aren’t being pressured to do something you aren’t comfortable with. If you want the vaccine and your doctor agrees, by all means, get the vaccine!
So why are pastors even talking about this being the Mark of the Beast? Because it has almost all of the hallmarks, save several keys (which is why it ISN’T the mark of the beast!).
If you study Biblical prophecy at all, or attend a church where it is taught openly, then you will know some basics:
– The Beast (also known as the anti-Christ) comes into power and establishes rule over 10 nations/kingdoms
– The Beast strikes a 7-year peace deal with Israel (where Israel re-builds the Holy Temple of God)
– The Beast establishes a mark for every person on earth – preventing commerce (buying/selling) unless the mark is present – we are told specifically that the mark will be on the hand or the forehead.
– The Beast orders anyone without the mark to be killed (likely by guilletine/beheading)
– Anyone that takes the mark is doomed eternally as it is a rejection of God and embracing of man.
Those are some of the highlights in regards to the mark of the beast.
The COVID-19 vaccines are not the mark of the beast at least because:
1) The beast that establishes the mark hasn’t been revealed yet
2) There is no 7 year peace deal with Israel and the middle east
This is not to say that the attitude around the vaccine doesn’t mark a very ominous point in the timeline – two of the above requirements are in the mentality of the majority of the population at this point:
1) Every person on earth is being pressured to do something to their body “for the good of mankind” (echos of the Tower of Babbel)
2) The majority is talking about severe penalties for anyone that doesn’t do what is being suggested
It is a very tiny step at this point for the beast to come on the scene, tell everyone that they need to obtain a mark certifying their allegience (my guess would be allegience to the health of mankind) and that anyone that doesn’t take the mark is against mankind and must not be allowed to mingle and interact with the ones with the mark. Could this be signifying the taking of a future vaccine? Given how absolutely pliable the entire population has been, even church leadership (anyone hear Beth Moore’s rebuke of the unvaccinated?), this seems like a very easy path for someone to step in and issue requirements and ultimatums. There are people actually making death threats to anyone who isn’t vaccinated. The passion of the majority for full vaccination is palpable.
What does this mean for Christians? Stay vigilant. The signs all appear the immenence of Jesus’ return for His Church. I have been doing a deep dive on the 7 churches in Revelation and have some startling observations to share in a future post. Suffice it to say that as Christians, we need to be doing what Jesus told us to do – making disciples – and watching for his return. There is no need to be concerned with the things going on. 2020 seems to have been the start of a major birth pang – we do not know if it is the last one before the end. There could be more yet. That’s a scary proposition for the earth as birth pangs increase in intensisty and frequency before the final event.
Do not be discouraged.
Do not be afraid.
Dive into the Word.
Pray without ceasing.
Encourage others around you.
Keep an eye on the sky.
I pray, MARANATHA! (Come quickly, Lrod Jesus!)
Duane
