Revelation 13:15-16; Receive a Mark
Revelation 13:15-16 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
The bio-chip technology has advanced tremendously having the potential for evil when the Antichrist will use it to enslave the world population.
When the world goes into a digital currency system, enslavement will begin. Today, paper currency is gradually phased out. Jobs are also phased out as universal currency become a norm around the world.
Revelation 13:17-18 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Walking with God in the last days requires courage, exceptional courage as in the case of Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. They lived in momentous times where their faith were put to great test. Did they buckle under the stress and strain of threat to their very life? They did not. Where does this courage come from? Their faith in the living God.
Notice the statue with the head of gold is exactly what Daniel described to Nebuchadnezzar as the Babylonian Empire and how it will be replaced by another of silver and another of brass and another of iron and feet of part iron and part clay. It seemed Nebuchadnezzar had totally forgotten the frightening dream in Daniel 2 that the God of heaven is the sovereignly in charge of human kingdoms. Perhaps not. He probably made the entire image of gold that he may rule forever in defiance of Daniel’s God. As Apostle Paul puts it, he surely had known the living God and yet he glorified Him not as God, professing himself to be wise, he became a fool (Rom. 1:21-22; Ps. 53:1). Nebuchadnezzar was culpable. In chapter 4, we would see how God chastized him for his waywardness until he came to his senses to acknowledge the living God.
Because Nebuchadnezzar was vested with absolute power, he could command total allegiance to the point of worship from his subjects. These three Jewish boys’ disobedience would mean open defiance to the decree of the king. The punishment for disobedience means being cast into the burning fiery furnace. Defiance certainly mean immediate physical death! The threat was very real for their defiance would be very visible. They would be the only ones standing when all others have bowed. Did they not understand the injunction to respect civil authorities as Paul said?
Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Indeed, Christians are obligated to be law-abiding citizens. Is it ever right for a Christian to disobey the law? Or are we always obligated to obey the law under all circumstances? As Paul said, God has instituted human government as a way of maintaining order in society. We are to obey the laws even when we don’t like them.[1]
Notice that the Jewish boys did not go looking for trouble but when forced to make a choice, they chose to obey God rather than man. The knowledge of their God gave to them the faith to stand the test. It was at first purely cognitive then it was experiential; finally it is matured, requiring no testing.
They knew what God required of them. The commandments of God were clearly not just head knowledge but a firm conviction in their hearts. They understood whom they would give their allegiance when they had to choose!
Exodus 20:3-7 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thingthat isin heaven above, or that isin the earth beneath, or that isin the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God ama jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generationof them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
The invisible God was living and real to them, an integral part of their every day life and they ordered their lives according to His Word. They were obedient to the commandments of God. They knew they were not to worship idols made with men’s hands. They would not partake of the sin of idolatry. They esteemed God’s judgement for sin more than the bodily harm they might suffer.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The consequence of their disobedience was of greater than their defiance to Nebuchadnezzar’s decree. They obtained mercy from God by their obedience to second commandment. This was the promise given that God Himself will honour. How He would honour His Word is to be experienced by His people when they live by it. Jealous God – This shows in a most expressive manner the love of God to this people. He felt for them as the most affectionate husband could do for his spouse; and was jealous for their fidelity, because He willed their invariable happiness. (Clarke, edited)
[1] http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1999-11-28-A-Time-to-Disobey/