Today I was driving and thinking about stuff as always...I thought to myself, that I am so glad I have a relationship with the Lord because with the world as it is today, it is the only thing in my life that completely makes any sense. Everything else just leaves me scratching my head. I just wonder how people without Jesus actually function. They are probably all confused and jacked up in the head. Seriously, these folks are most likely the ones going around worrying about tomorrow being June 6, 2006. Haven't you heard? The date will be 6-6-06. Ewwwww! Before you run and duck for cover with your bible in hand, let's talk about this thing...
Now the media, in all its dysfunctional wisdom, has hyped up this day as being a day representing 666 which is according to the book of Revelation the Mark of the Beast. And they are making this to be the most scariest evilest day EVER! At one point it was Jan. 1 2000, remember the hype about the world ending. I believe it can't get much scarier than 9-11-01. Anyway, there are women, postponing C-sections so their babies won't have this birthday. The movie "The Omen" comes out tomorrow. All these goofy rock groups are just clamoring away to release their albums in salute to satan. Yeah, there are people losing their minds because of a date! Can we all say "date" together. "DATE"! Thank you...moving on.
Now let's clear up one thing...Last time I checked 6-6-06 and 666 is not the same thing. Neither is 6/6/2006 or June 6, 2006. No matter how you write, this is not the same. So why is everybody tripping? I don't have a definite answer but I bet they probably haven't even picked up a bible much less read the book of Revelation. But since I have my handy website www.bible.com, I can provide you some of my own "revelation".
Revelation 13:11-18
The Beast out of the Earth
11Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
Now this is only a piece of the book. But get the whole picture you have to read everything to put stuff in context and that is what I did and I learned a couple of things:
1 - The beast in this passage is not satan. Nope, it's one of his boys. Satan is refered to a dragon in the book not a beast. This beast is also later called the "false prophet"and is one of the three in an alliance against God's kingdom. He appears to do good but is sent by satan to deceive. Seems to me this mark is a way to mark those blinded by his evil deception and it would seem that this is already happening.
2 - The 666 mark has many interpretations. The Word says it is the number of man. Not sure what that means. Others say it represents the lack of perfection. One interesting interpretaion is the it represents the evil Roman Emperor Nero whose names in Greek letters total 666. But make no mistake, this mark represents nothing Godly. Now is this an actual 666 or a metaphor for being on the wrong side, I am not sure.
Now does any of this make you scared to wake up in the morning? Not that you have a choice, either God will wake you up or He won't. Let me go on and explain why this mark is about as scary as the the Stay Puff Marshmellow monster in Ghostbusters...at least not for the believer.
1 - Satan and his buddies are only doing what they are allowed to do by God. God is in control. Don't believe me...let's see:
Revelation 17:17
17For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.
2 - I also learned Armageddon is not a horrific "meteor hit the earth", "global warming diaster", "10 point earthquake event". Naw, Armageddon is a place, a battlefield to be exact. I know, I know, you need proof:
Revelation 16:12-16
12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
3 - Satan, the beast, and beast 2 (false prophet - the one with the mark), will meet their doom. So all those who receive the mark are really siding with the "losers" which makes them "Losers". And we all know nobody wants to be called a "loser". But hey, that's the bottom line.
Revelation 20:7-10
Satan's Doom
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Feeling any better? No. Still afraid of June 6, 2006. Don't be cause the only reason that date should cause you any anguish is if Jesus decided to come back tomorrow and your name is not is his book. Other than that you can rest easy. Remember no one knows the day nor the hour, you just gotta be ready. Oh yeah here is some more good news:
Revelation 21:1-7
The New Jerusalem
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
