Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation.
Dear Beloved of the Highest,
These are interesting times. You may have come across the joke, told of a lady who was asked by the husband to pick up a loaf of bread from the shops. She went into the bathroom first and when she came out ten minutes later, her whole face was covered in avocado paste. “What is the meaning of this?” her husband asked. “Have you not been watching TV?” She quipped. “The government has told us to wear masks when we leave the house.”It is day 15 and Theresa and I are still fine and healthy, Hallelujah!
I interrupt our studies in Philippians in order to address the issue of forwards, discussions, and questions that have come my way, some as queries from you, in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Some of these I have listed below, but there are so many and with such variants, it is impossible to list all of them, with their versions, without taking up all of the space for discussion.
You will see, though, that the answer to all of them is the same. Is COVID-19 the “plague, pestilence” of the last days? Are we in the last days? Several prophets have said that the COVID-19 vaccine being developed will be carrying a microchip that will enable the authorities to tell who has been vaccinated and who has not. Is this the Mark of the Beast? Some prophets have said that the COVID-19 disease is not the result of a virus, but the result of ultra-high frequency 5G mobile phone system, electromagnetic radiation, and this is tied to the conspiracy to make people take the vaccine and the microchip that will come with it.
Above are just a few of the questions I have received. To respond to them and others effectively, I will need to do an overview of the teaching of the Bible on the End Times. Stay with me a few days as we do this.
The Mark of the Beast Please turn to Revelation 13. It is the main text for our discussion today. This text speaks of two beasts, actually. Today, we will deal with the first beast. In his vision, John sees a beast rising out of the sea. This echoes the vision of Daniel 7:1-8. Both books are Apocalyptic, characterized by the picture of the struggle between good and evil, the use of imagery – in which beasts tend to represent evil regimes or rulers.
The sea in this imagery represents the chaotic world that does not acknowledge God. The Beast, therefore, would most likely be a non-Israelite ruler, emerging from the world that does not acknowledge God. This does not mean that the person would not claim to be a Christian – he could, as so many do, but as the Americans put it, many people’s claims do not amount to a heap of beans.
In Daniel’s vision in 7:1-8, he sees four different beasts. Three of the beasts resemble a lion, a bear, and a leopard, while the fourth beast is described simply as “terrible.” In Revelation 13, the Beast has the appearance of a leopard, a bear, and a lion, so one could say the imagery combines all of the qualities of the beasts of Daniel. This could be said to be the culmination of every evil human power that has pitted itself against God.
We will come back to the ten horns and seven heads of verse 1 tomorrow. For today, we note that in verse 2, the dragon (Satan) gives “his power, his throne, and great authority.” The marshaling of evil forces, in concert against the Lamb and his saints, is yet to happen to this extreme. This does not mean that the process has not started, but as we shall see in due course, the Beast precedes the Mark, so hold your horses! Wait for the Beast first.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.