From Fear to Mark
By Kyle Blackwell
I have noticed lately that the christian world is obsessed with the mark of the beast. Could it be the Covid shot? Especially since Biden said that he was making the shot mandatory for all businesses that have over 100 employees. I honestly think Christians are looking at all the wrong things. I was driving home the other night from work thinking about how to finish another piece of writing on which I am working. Then God spoke very vividly to me. He tied it to another piece that I have been wanting to write about for such a long time.
So most people who know my testimony are aware that I thought I was a christian for 22 years. On September 19, 2019 I asked God why things are happening in my life the way they are. I turned around and saw the Bible sitting on the coffee table and Holy Spirit said that I was never His to begin with. This is why I am so passionate about getting the Gospel out to everyone I meet. The next day at work was a crucial day for me to make sure everyone knew about Jesus and the work he has done in my life. I have told both the HR department and president of my company that I do not care about getting fired for talking about Jesus because I know He will always provide for me.
This leads me to the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:17 states: “No one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” This the part that I am hearing everywhere. I listen to the Bible and sermons all day at work and the mark is all over christian YouTube videos.
A few days ago God spoke to me in such a way that I just could not believe. It really scared me because I know so many people who profess to be Christians but they leave Jesus at church when they leave every Sunday at 12 noon. That was me for so long. I want to get this word out to everyone possible because it struck me too the core.
God explained to me that there will be so many “christians” who will take the mark of the beast because they are either ashamed of Him or because they are scared that their family will starve to death. Now stay with me here. So many right now are saying that they will never be ashamed or scared to side with Jesus Christ. Well how many are afraid of losing their jobs if they mention the Blood Of Jesus? How many times have you shied away from standing up for the truth?
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:13
Do you understand what this means? The verse from Matthew, when read in context, is literally talking about the end times. James states pretty much the same thing saying that we must remain steadfast. Everything that we do is preparation for the end times. And if we cannot stand up for Jesus now, how will we stand up for Jesus when our families' lives are on the line?
We are to be bold. Jesus has sent a comforter, an advocate that will go alongside us into battle. The Holy Spirit is not some mystical creature sent to make us feel good about ourselves. He was sent for us to be a bold warrior in the fight for souls.
Let me tell you what the devil will say for the mark. he will tell you that it is okay to take the mark because it is for your family and God is a merciful God. Oh wait, he is already preaching that, isn't he? This is the problem with the watered down gospel, which is really no gospel at all, that we are hearing from so-called “pastors’ today. My challenge for whoever is reading this is to share the Gospel with somebody today. Jesus said “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12: 8-9
Western Christianity is so afraid of what people may think if we share about Jesus. We are afraid of losing our jobs and friends and family. Look at what the apostles got for sharing their faith and they are now in Heaven with Crowns of Life on their heads. Peter was crucified upside down in Rome. Thomas was killed by spears in India. Bartholomew was skinned alive in Albac, which is now Turkey. James was stoned to death in Jerusalem. Andrew was crucified on an “X” shaped cross in Greece. Paul was beheaded in Rome. Philip was crucified in Hierapolis. How is it that we can tell others about ones we love such as girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands and wives yet we cannot tell others about the love of Jesus, the one who died on the cross for our wretched souls?
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge -Hosea 4:6
