Something You Should Fear More Than The (Mark Of The) Beast!

 Something You Should Fear More Than The (Mark Of The) Beast!

The coming of the Antichrist (the beast) and also the mark of the beast is one that appears to be generating a lot of fear and tension among Christians and even some church leaders, that all sorts of theories were emerging from different quarters of the church, especially with respect to the outcome of the US elections alongside the new Covid-19 vaccine.

It's quite understandable the apprehension because of what it portends for those who refuse to worship or bow do to the beast or 
to take the mark of the beast as was foretold in the scriptures.

Revelation 13:15-18 (KJV) 

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.
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:
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.
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.

So it's the fate that would befall anyone who refuses to worship the beast or take the mark of the beast, which is ultimately death, probably by beheading, that was causing such apprehension and fear. However Jesus had warned us about something we should fear more those who can only kill the body but can do no more than that.

Luke 12:4-5 (KJV) 

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

So the extent of fear the mark of the beast or the Antichrist is generating amongst those of the church is unwarranted, because the worst he can do is to kill the body, and Jesus warned us not to fear such ones, but He who is able to do much more than kill the body even God who is able to kill the body and also the soul in hell.

The fear of God is very important because it makes any other fear, as that of those of the beast that can only kill the body to become mere shadows in the life of a believer, thereby making it impossible for the devil to use such fears, which is his greatest weapon, to make the believer to yield to his wishes, like worshipping the beast or taking the mark of the beast.

That's why the apostles and those of the first church that Jesus built remained unshakable in their faith, despite the rare extent of persecutions and deaths the devil used his own to bring upon them. It was because they had the fear of God in them, so the devil who could only kill the body but not the soul, could not use the fear of death to prevail against them.

But Jesus said that in the last days many believers shall be offended and the love of many would wax cold.

Matthew 24:9-12 (KJV) 

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

So the only reason this would happen is because of the lack of the fear of God, because the love of those who truly fear God would never wax cold regardless of such persecution or fear of death, because that fear of God in them would make them endure to the end as it did the apostles and those of the early church.

Matthew 24:13 (KJV) 

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

I pray the fear God would return to the church as it used to be in the days of the apostles, so that they would also endure to the end. Amen!