Evil always smiles when it thinks it’s won.”
–D.C. Adkisson (Redemption)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”
–Revelation 22:21 (NIV)
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You remember it, don’t you? That something called COVID. Panic, fear, and stupidity marked it along with this one idea that most people overlooked–Power. COVID gave power from international leaders, to national leaders, to store owners and even neighbors. Don’t come near me without a mask! I went to WalMart during the epidemic. There was one way in and one way out. I was stopped upon entering and told that I could not enter without a mask. Now, that’s important to understand. I could not enter a store without a mask. I took out my bandana, put it on and walked in whereupon I took it off. Someone questioned me, and I replied, that I was told I couldn’t enter without one on, but no one said I had to keep it on.
Some stores had signs up, must wear a mask. Some stores said that you had to go up one aisle and down another, while many dictated that you had to stand in certain spots to check out. Safety–somewhat, but mostly POWER. They were saying, we can do it, so we are. Then there was the order to get vaccinated. Some organizations, included the U.S. military mandated vaccinations against the virus. Power! Stores closed, especially restaurants, but even some churches. My, my, what happened to faith and worship? The reply, I can stream it, or watch it at home on TV. Excuse, compromise, complacency–call it what you will. On top of the COVID scare there came that dreaded fear of the people–no toilet paper. There was a rush, I’m still shaking my head over it, a stampede to buy toilet paper. Did we go crazy?
Reading last night I was reminded of the words that John penned in Revelation:
“He [False Prophet] forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” –Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)
Want a snickers bar–get the mark. Want to buy a coffee–get the mark. Need bread, milk, or other food items–get the mark. Got a cough, need medicine–get the mark. Need medicine for a disease–get the mark. Gas for the car–get the mark. Do you begin to see how it will be during the Tribulation?
I hear your thoughts. You say that’s far off. That’s in the Tribulation. That won’t really happen. Let me remind you of the control that those in power had during COVID. Let me remind you of the words of Paul, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7, NIV) Look around you at what is happening and you will quickly notice that it is not totally hidden anymore. Deception is among us. It is spewing out lies, that good is bad and bad is good (as I wrote yesterday). There is a person in Texas running for Senate who deliberately twists Scripture to fit his agenda. He leaves out words, he adds works; it is no longer the Word of God, but the twisted words of deception, what Josh Howerton called a “serpentine theme.” Beware!
Listen my friend, deception means slavery. David Jeremiah tells us regarding the False Prophet, “He uses religion to deceive the world, and once deceived, he uses the mark of the beast to enslave all people economically, forcing them to endure the unrelenting tyranny of Satan and the Antichrist.” I will say it again, “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work.” Food is expensive now, gas is expensive now, are you getting the picture? What will it be like when you can no longer get necessities and service that is needed unless you have the “mark”? You will be a slave to it. “The fusion of government and religion puts the squeeze on anyone who refuses to take the mark, leaving them nowhere to turn. No one buys their products or services. Barred from employment and from shopping in stores or online, they face bankruptcy and starvation.” (Jeremiah)
“The secret power of lawlessness is already at work,” and you better believe it. Dear Christian, do not be deceived by the twisting of Scripture. Do not be deceived by progressive culturalism and WOKE agendas. Do not be deceived by the teaching of globalism, that all ways lead to God. Stand firm on the holy foundation of the Bible. We are not to live in fear in these times, we are to stand. We are to exhort one another. Read Revelation, it was not written to bring fear but to build faith. Paul exhorts us in regard to the signs of the times that we are to “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, NIV). We are to be like Paul and exhort one another by saying that the Lord is coming. Lift up your heads, be ready, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV)
Today is the day of salvation! Take advantage of it while you can. Do not be deceived by the serpent and his servants. Recognize the works of darkness, the secret powers of lawlessness. Take heart, John writes this last promise of Jesus, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20) To which we have the great, simple prayer of the early church, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”