Introduction

Revelation 13:11-18 ESV  Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.  (12)  It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.  (13)  It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,  (14)  and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.  (15)  And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.  (16)  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  (18)  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Now we have read these verses before as we talked about the second beast, but today we are going to focus on these last three verses, lets read them one more time:

Revelation 13:16-18 ESV  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  (18)  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

• So, today, after a few breaks and interruptions, we finally get third part of our serries on Revelation 13.
  • If you have been with us for the past month and a half, then you have likely been following along, we have gone through two of these three messages…

Church and State, A beast from Each

• Part 1 – Discerning Evil in the Government
• Part 2 – Discerning Evil in the Church
• Part 3 – The Mark and the Problem with Situational Ethics

• So first we talked about Discerning Evil in the government.
  • We talked about how man is inherently evil, and that the only thing that can change us from evil to good is the blood of Christ.
  • We talked about how the two party system is really a trick to get our focus off Christ. As Christians we shouldn’t see the world as Red vs Blue, Republican vs Democrat… but we should see the world as Good vs Evil.
    • And that is important because the first beast, the Anti-Christ, will almost certainly be a political leader, and we need to understand that no matter how “Good” they seem, without Christ they are evil.
    • Of course we also talked about respecting and praying for our leaders, that they would be saved and redeemed. That though we can say “That person is not a Christian, therefore they do not have my support in the voting booth” we can also say “That person is my president, and so long as the Word of God allows, I will respect and submit to them, and pray for their salvation.
• So we talked about the first beast, a political leader, and how we need to keep our eyes open and not be naive about the wickedness of mankind.
• Then we talked about discerning evil in the church.
  • Again, just because someone calls themselves a pastor does not mean they are saved. And if they are not born again, it doesn’t matter how much “good” they seem to do, without Christ they too are evil.
    • Now God can use evil men for his purposes, and I think many people have come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ under such evil men.
    • But again, the second beast is a religious leader so we must understand that there is indeed evil in the church, and we must be able to discern it wisely.
• Finally today we are going to talk about probably the most well known part of the book of Revelation, the mark of the beast.
• So let’s read this scripture again because I want everyone in this room to be VERY familiar with this passage, it is too important to not know and understand:

Revelation 13:16-18 ESV  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  (18)  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

• So before we get into the application of todays message, let’s do a little teaching about the mark of the beast.
  • From this passage we know that the anti-Christ will be giving out a mark, symbol, to nearly everyone on earth.

(This slide in proclaim already called “The Mark of The Beast 666”)

• This mark will be, in some respect or another, related to the name of the beast (we don’t know his name yet) and his number which is 666.
  • Without the mark you will not be able to buy or sell anything.
  • The mark will be on or in your forehead or right hand.
  • And from revelation 14:9-11 we know that those who get the mark will be destroyed in hell for eternity.
• The mark will be, in some respect or another, related to the name of the beast and his number which is 666.
  • We don’t know the name of the beast, so guessing as to what that is would be idle foolishness, but we do know his number, which is 666. So obviously, anything relating to 666 is something we as Christians should avoid.
• Without the mark you will not be able to buy or sell.
  • No food, no clothing, no shelter, you will be prohibited from buying or selling anything. Thus, anytime a government leader says “You must have this to buy or sell” we should be weary… this is one of the reasons Vaccine passports make me weary, I don’t think they are the mark of the beast but in this regards they served a similar purpose.
• The mark will be in or on your forehead or right hand.
  • And I make the point that it may be on or it may be IN your forehead or right hand. The word here is translated as on in about 45 English translations but it is translated as “in” in 10 English translations including the King James Version. That tells me that it could be something placed in the hand or forehead (implanted into the skin) or on the right hand or forehead (printed, tattooed, branded, or otherwise placed on the skin).
• Finally we know that those who get the mark will be cast into hell for eternity.
  • Revelation 14:9-11 ESV  And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,  (10)  he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  (11)  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
  • This passage right here should make you go “if getting the mark means going to hell, then there is NO WAY EVER THAT I AM GETTING THE MARK”.
    • Now one could make the argument that you must get the mark AND worship the beast to be qualified for the fast lane to hell, depending on how you read this passage, but I don’t think I am going to risk it and gamble with my eternal security!
    • Therefore you are not going ANYWHERE NEAR my forehead or right hand with any kind of ANYTHING.
      • Now I could spend the next hour talking about how almost every commercial barcode has the number 666 in it, as barcodes use an elongated 6 character to symbolize the beginning, middle, and end of a barcode.
        • And of course without barcodes it is hard to buy sell or trade.
      • I could talk about the problems with our banking system, centralized currency’s, the federal reserve bank, and the issues with money that is not backed by gold.
        • I could sit here and urge you to buy gold, or silver, or even bitcoin.
  • But that is not the focus of these verses and not the point of this message.
    • What I really want you to take away today is just a PASSIONATE conviction that no matter what you are not going to allow a government or religious leader to put anything on or in your right hand or forehead.
    • Because look, the devil is a liar, and he is sneaky… he is not going to say “Come and worship the anti-Christ and get his evil mark to show your allegiance to him”.
      • The devil has NEVER worked like that. He doesn’t say “Don’t worship God, worship me” instead he says “Worship God… but do it this way” and “Honor God, but do it this way”.
      • He even uses scripture to defend himself, he twists God’s word. He did it in the Garden and he did it when tempting Christ in the wilderness.
      • Thus the beast, particularly the second beast, the one of religious nature, will almost certainly try to use scripture to convince you to get the mark.
    • And listen, I don’t know if I am smarter than the beast. He is a tricky little son of a gun, and I don’t want to play his games.
      • THEREFORE I WILL SIMPLY SAY “No matter what, I WILL NOT EVER, FOR ANY REASON, PUT ANYTHING ON OR IN MY FORHEAD OR RIGHT HAND”. NEVER! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
      • Now I am not saying that if you have a tattoo or something on your forehead or right hand that you are going to hell…
        • Because your tattoo is not the mark of the beast. But I would say “KNOCK THAT NONSENSE OFF. YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE! Don’t mark your right hand or forehead”.
• Now, I want you to make this pledge, if you believe it and desire to do so…
• By a show of hands who here is willing to say “No, I WILL NOT LET ANYONE POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS LEADER MARK MY RIGHT HAND OR FOREHEAD”?!
  • If you are ready to make that commitment today, no matter what, no one will mark my forehead or right hand, would you raise your hand.
    • Good!
    • I don’t believe you, but I am happy you are showing commitment none the less.
    • Well, I believe most of you, but not all of you. Why?! Because I have seen how situational ethics can tear down even the strongest held Christian beliefs… and that is what we are going to talk about for the remainder of the message today…

Church and State, A Beast From Each – Part 3: The Mark and the Problem with Situational Ethics

• Point one this morning is that Situational ethics calls God a liar…

Point One –  Situational Ethics Calls God a Liar

Revelation 13:16-17 ESV  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

• Situational Ethics Calls God a Liar…
  • Now, what exactly is Situational Ethics? I am glad you asked. Let me define it for you.

This slide already in proclaim

• Situational ethics
  • The worldview that says morals (the concept of right vs wrong) change from situation to situation. (I.E. What is wrong in this situation may not be wrong in another situation)
  • A common example of this is when it comes to stealing. “Stealing is wrong, I would NEVER rob a bank… but I would download movies and music illegally… because that doesn’t really hurt anyone”
    • This is situational ethics… in one situation your ethics say stealing is wrong… I would never rob a bank… but in the other, when you perceive that there is no victim of your crime, you steal movies and music from the internet.
    • In one situation it is wrong, in the other situation… ehh… who does it really hurt?
• That is situational ethics. You all following me so far?!
• Now here is the ultimate worldview experiment… one that atheists and agnostics have tried to use on me many times to weaken my faith… it is the poster boy question that those who believe in situational ethics will always ask… it goes like this:
• Is stealing wrong? Yes! Is stealing always wrong?! Yes! But what if…
  • What if a mother of 5 children has no money, and her children are starving, and if she doesn’t feed them they will die by the end of the day. She has no money and no job, she is hungry, alone, afraid, and weak. Is it wrong for that mother to steal a 98 cent loaf of bread from the grocery store to feed her children and save their lives? The grocery store won’t even notice the bread is gone.
  • So what do you think? Is it wrong for her to steal the bread?
    • If you say “No, in that situation, it is not wrong to steal the bread” then you have called God a liar.
    • Because that is what situational ethics does, it calls God a liar.
      • But pastor, doesn’t the word say that you must provide for your family?
        • Yes it does.
      • And doesn’t the Word say that mothers should nurture and care for their children?
        • Yes it does.
      • And wouldn’t God be appalled if this women let her children starve to death?
        • YES HE WOULD.
  • BUT, Mr situational ethicist, I reply…
    • God’s word ALSO says it is wrong to steal.
      • Exodus 20:15
    • God’s word ALSO says that thieves will not make it into heaven.
      • 1 Corinthians 6:10
    • God’s word ALSO says that stealing is an abomination to the Lord.
      • Jeremiah 7:9-10
  • BuT PasToR iF ShE DoEsn’T StEaL HeR FAmiLy WilL DiEeeeee…..
  • NO, THAT’S NOT TRUE! THAT IS A LIE FROM THE PIT OF SITUATIONAL EHTICIST HELL!
    • Because God says “Don’t worry about what your life, or what you will eat or drink. God knows you need these things and will provide them for you if you seek first God and His Kingdom!
      • Matthew 6:25.
    • And let us not forget how in Exodus God provided manna, meat, and water in the wilderness for His people.
    • How about when God had the ravens bring meat and bread to Elijah in the book of Kings?
    • Or how the angle feed him as he was running from Jezebel?
    • What about the woman who was starving to death and only had enough oil and flour for one cake. She said “Let me and my son eat it and die!” but the man of God told her otherwise… remember how the flour and the oil was not used up and they ate for a week?
    • What about the loaves and the fish miracles… have we forgotten about how Jesus fed thousands with just a few small loaves of bread and fish?
• You see church, to claim situational ethics is to claim that God didn’t know what He was talking about when He said “Thou shall not steal”.
  • God did not add to that commandment “Except in extreme circumstances”.
• God wasn’t joking when He said “Thou Shall not Commit Adultery”.
  • He didn’t add in parentheses “Except when your wife is really mean to you and hasn’t slept with you in 6 months”. No, adultery is wrong and it is always wrong… your wife may be in sin in the way she treats you, but we don’t answer sin with sin. SIN IS ALWAYS WRONG.
• When God said “You shall have no other Gods before me” He did not add an amendment that said “Unless you are threatened with being thrown into a burning furnace or a lions den.”
  • Nope, we will worship God going into the furnace and we will worship God going out of the furnace.
• Our morals, our ethics, they are not situational… they were literally written in stone! And now we have them written here, on our bibles, and in our hearts. God does not change, nor does His word, and God is not a man that He should lie.
  • When He says He will take care of us, He will take care of us.
  • When He says He will provide, He will provide.
  • When He says something is wrong, then that thing is wrong. PERIOD.
• What does all of this have to do with the mark of the beast? BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE ENEMY IS GOING TO TRY TO DECIEVE CHRISTIANS.

Mark 13:22-23 ESV  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.  (23)  But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

• The Anti-Christ is going to try to deceive you, and this is how he will do it with the mark…

Revelation 13:16-17 ESV  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

• There is a reason I used the example of the woman with children starving to death and stealing a loaf of bread.
  • Because when it comes time and everyone is getting the mark of the beast…
  • And they stop you from buying or selling.
    • YOUR CHILDREN WILL BEGIN TO STARVE TO DEATH.
    • YOU WILL BEGIN TO STARVE TO DEATH.
    • And the Evil of Situational ethics will creep in…
      • I know this is wrong… but it is ALSO wrong to let my children starve to death.
      • If I just get the mark… won’t Jesus forgive me?
      • Things will just be easier if I get the mark, I am not abandoning God or anything, life will just be so much simpler with the mark.
      • The mark is so convent, with it I can do so much more with my time for God!
        • NO NO NO!
        • Those with the mark don’t make heaven!
        • DON’T GET THE MARK!
        • What Good is it to live healthy and happy here and then be in torment for all eternity.
        • DECIDE RIGHT NOW THAT YOUR ETHICS DON’T CHANGE NO MATTER THE SITUATION.
          • Because if you can’t stand firm against situational ethics now, when life is relatively easy… what makes you think you will stand against it when you are literally starving to death?
  • Now that brings me to my final point, and it’s about the fallacy of the lesser of two evils…

Point Two – The Leser of Two Evil Fallacies

Revelation 13:16-18 ESV  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  (17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  (18)  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

• I want to tell you a true story, that perfectly illustrates the fallacy of the lesser of two evils.
  • The Nazi’s did something very sinister in Jewish communities… the elected Jewish leaders to govern the ghetto’s they lived in.
    • So they would find Jewish men and appoint them as leaders, and then these Jewish men were forced to convince their people to load up on trains to go to concentration camps.
    • These Jewish leaders were expected to rat out rebels and anyone opposing the party.
    • These Jewish leaders would be responsible for the mass murder of their whole communities.
    • Now if you complied with the SS, the Nazi police, they would give you a nice office, and good food.
    • But if you refused, you were publicly executed.
      • Now I want to tell you about 2 such Jewish leaders…
      • One, knowing he would be killed otherwise, and afraid for his life, complied with the Nazi’s.
        • He ratted out all rebellion, confiscated guns, oversaw the hanging of Jews who rebelled against the Nazis, and finally convinced his whole village to load up on trains and to be sent to mass extermination camps.
      • The other, had a bit more morals than the first. He knew that he will be killed if he refused, and what good could he do if he was dead?
        • So he accepted the role, and did his best to play both sides of the fence. He rated out SOME of the rebels, just enough to look like he was doing his job.
        • He oversaw SOME hangings, but others he was able to cover up their crimes against Nazi Germany.
        • And he did everything he could to postpone the day that trains took his people away to be killed.
      • Now, which two of these men would you be, if the Nazis forced you to be a leader over your own community?
        • Would you be the one who completely gave in, or would you be the one who gave in a little and tried your best to hinder the Nazi’s.
      • If you answered the second guy, you are wrong… if you answered the first guy… you really need to get saved…
        • No, there is a third option… and that is to be neither guy and simply allow the Nazi’s to hang you. Biblically, this is the correct option.
      • BUT PASTOR, THE SECOND GUY ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING FOR HIS COMMUNITY.
        • No, no dear saint he did not. That is the fallacy of the lesser of two evils.
        • It is the fallacy of “yes he did some bad, but he also did some good”.
          • That’s not how the world works and that is not how Christianity works.
      • You see this story is based off of three real Jewish men, who really ruled over their ghettos… let me tell you the end result of each.
        • The first one, the one who complied… everyone in his ghetto was murdered. His reward? After all the trains left, he was hanged in the town square.
        • The second one… who complied a little… it was no good, everyone in his ghetto was killed as well, and after the trains left, he was hanged in the town square.
        • The third one… who didn’t comply at all… well, he was hanged in the town square… then all of the people in his ghetto were murdered.
          • Now which one would you rather be, when you wake up before the judgment seat of Christ… The one who intentionally murdered a lot of people… the one who intentionally murdered only a few people… or the one who did not murder at all?
      • You can read more about these three men and other situations in Reverend Cary Godon’s book A Storm, A Message, A Bottle… it is a wonderful book that tears down the lies of situational ethics and the fallacy of the lesser of two evils.

John 8:34 ESV  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

• You might think you are in control…
  • You might think you can mix in the good with the evil.
  • Just a little bit of evil will make things better.
  • Just a little bit of evil will make things easier…
  • Just a little bit of evil and I can do so much more good…
• NO NO NO! If you sin you are a slave to sin, your master may give you a nice office and good food… but your master will end up killing you just like he does with everyone else.
  • Anyone who sins is a slave to sin! That’s what Jesus said!
• Now normally I talk about the fallacy of the lesser of two evils when it comes to politics…
  • If you vote for the lesser of two evils you are still voting for evil…
• But today I want to talk about it in regards to the mark of the beast.
• Because here is what is going to happen… if you are smart enough to recognize the mark of the beast when it comes, if you are wise enough to say “No matter what you are not going to mark my forehead or right hand”… then the enemy, the devil, his minions, your flesh, and the world are all going to tell you the same thing…
  • “Ok ok, you don’t want to get the mark because you feel like it is evil, and we get that… we do… and we respect your religious convictions… really… but listen… isn’t it important to worship God?”
    • “And isn’t it important to gather with other believers to praise Him”
    • “And isn’t it important to have Bibles to read and to share the Word with”
    • “And isn’t the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples?”
      • “Because you can’t buy gas for your car to get to church without the mark”.
      • “And you can’t buy a building to praise in without the mark”
      • “And you can’t buy bibles to share without the mark”
      • “And you can’t buy plane tickets to other countries for missions without the mark”
        • “I mean really can you be a Christian without the mark?”
        • “And I know you think it is evil to get the mark… but isn’t it MORE evil to not share the gospel to other nations? Isn’t it more evil to not go to church or buy bibles to give to prison inmates… I mean just think about how much good you could do if you just had this one little mark”.
    • No No NO! I WILL NOT GIVE INTO SIN, NO MATTER WHAT. PERIOD. I AM NOT GETTING THE MARK.
    • But you will starve to death.
      • Man doesn’t live on bread alone.
    • But you won’t be able to buy a bible.
      • The Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all God has taught me.
    • But you won’t be able to buy gas to get to church.
      • Well it’s a good thing God gave me legs and feet!
    • But you won’t be able to go on Missions.
      • God transported Phillip to the Ethiopian to bring the Gospel to Ethiopia, He can transport me to if that is what He desires. A miracle I have experienced before by the way…
    • But But But…
    • NO NO NO!
    •  Because when I wake up in glory, even if it is because I starved to death refusing the mark of the beast, I will hear my Master say “Well done my good and faithful servant”.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude with the gospel, because none of this makes sense without the cross…

• Gospel Call