Revelation 13:16-17 “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.”
I have read the Book of Revelation many times, and this particular verse always stands out.
Often, I would wonder how this man, the Anti-Christ, would convince and force people to take the Mark of the Beast. I would think to myself how terrible it would be for those people living in the Tribulation to have to make a decision to either take the Mark or starve. I would thank God for saving me and be grateful that I would be Raptured before that time would come.
The world we live in has changed significantly since the last time I had this thought. The Corona Virus, this Virus of Fear and Death, has hit locally as well as, more importantly, globally. Unfortunately, when you see people in other countries dealing with terrible situations on television and on your phone, it doesn’t hit home until it comes to your neighborhood.
It started slow, a case here and a case there, but next thing we know, we are told it has hit every state in America. Whether the headlines are true or not on the number of cases, the fact that it has affected every state in America, and has shut down many small businesses and people’s livelihoods is significant and of Biblical proportion. Every day, Americans are concerned about their families and their friends. With this concern, people will do anything that they are told to stop the virus.
We have been told by the CDC and other organizations in America that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is to wear a mask while in public. Though wearing a mask started off as being a recommendation, in many states now in America, it has been mandated or heavily enforced in cities and local counties. Some local cities will even give you a citation for not wearing your mask. One important industry that has adopted this stance is the Food Industry. They have decided on their own or by the Health Department that you are required to wear a mask to enter. You cannot go into any grocery store or restaurant without being required to wear a mask.
Seeing everyone having to wear a mask to go into a grocery store to buy food for their family is for me when the light bulb went off. It is when the reality of Revelation 13:17 came to my mind: “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.” Just like we can’t go into a grocery store anywhere in America to buy food without a mask, at some point in the Tribulation, people will not be able to buy or sell without the Mark of the Beast.
Even if they try to buy food online, they will be denied without having the mark. Right now, there are so many YouTube videos of people harassed, or service refused to them for not wearing a mask. Many Americans are now policing each other to look for the Mark — the Mark of the Mask. Looking to see who is not being compliant with what has been told to us is the best way to save lives. People will do a lot, and put up with a lot when it comes to saving their lives.
This time is, as the Bible puts it, The Beginning of Sorrows and is just a preview of what the future will look like for people who are not Born Again of Water and the Spirit [meaning spiritual cleansing through Jesus]. When the saints of God are Raptured, the people still here will have to deal with more times of uncertainty and will have to choose whose side they are on. The most important thing right now that we can do is to get our lives right with Jesus.
In 2 Chronicles 2:14, it says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Right now, as the people of God, we need to follow the scripture; get on our faces, confess our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and ask God to heal our land. We need to encourage people to take this time to reset, to refocus, to recharge, and tell someone that Jesus is coming soon and we all need to be ready. Jesus is coming for a church without spot or wrinkle, and he is allowing us time to get ourselves together.
Though we may be marked with the mask, mark up that mask with scripture, let people know your testimony, make the best of this time while you still have time. Even though things are uncertain, the one certainty we have is that God is in control, and if he is allowing this, it’s because he knows something the Devil doesn’t know. Let’s trust in the God of our salvation, and his name is Jesus. Let the Mark of the Mask remind us that everything Jesus told us in the Bible is true, and we will see him soon for ourselves.
Maranatha!!
Lionel Peters
What Shall We Do Ministries Inc.