Pretty Packaging

Hello everyone!

Today I'm going to talk about a topic that is very difficult for me, but it has been on my heart for a while. Please bear with me.

So, if you've read the book of Revelation (or even if you haven't) you've probably heard of the Mark of the Beast.

This is a mark, or number, or microchip (let's face it, our technology is advancing) that everyone on earth will be required to have otherwise they won't be able to buy or sell anything, which could make life very difficult.

However, if you take that Mark, there will be no redemption for you. All those who accept the Mark will have a one-way ticket to the Lake of Fire, along with Satan and his buddies.

Revelation 14:9-11 - Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Now, during the time of the Mark there will be great pressure to accept the mark, and also great persecution for those who refuse.

And now you may be thinking, as I once did: "Why would anyone accept that if it means eternal separation from God?"

Well, I finally have the answer to my own question.

Pretty Packaging.

The Mark will not be presented the way it is in the Bible, with a warning.

It will be dressed up really nice, and people will think "Oh. This isn't a bad idea."

Let me give you an example.

I watched the movie The Circle starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson. If you haven't seen it, please do.

Anyway, in this movie, technology is very advanced, but not as far off from where we are now as it would have been twenty, ten, or even five years ago.

Basically, there are cameras everywhere, and people can post their lives online and share their "memories" with everyone, and it's sort of dressed up nice. But there is a dark side. As always.

Anyway, I won't spoil the whole movie.

Except this one part.

When the main character joins this social media company called The Circle, she attends a mixer, and there she talks to people about the different technologies they are developing.

One of them is microchips for kids. And it's packaged really nice. It's designed to be a way to track them in case they are kidnapped or attacked by a predator.

Sounds like a good idea at first, doesn't it?

But my spirit recoiled. Remember what I said about the Mark?

It won't be a sudden thing. It will be introduced gradually, perhaps even after something like this.

But as Christians, we must not accept the Mark. No matter how pretty the packaging. Believe me, it won't be worth it.

We already have microchips in our cell phones and our pets, and our livestock.

And that's not a bad thing in and of itself.

I'm not hating on technology chips. As long as they aren't in people.

And I'm not hating on technology. Sometimes it can be a really good thing.

And technology that saves people's lives is a good thing.

Until it's not.

Remember, just because we can, doesn't mean we should.

Just like all of Satan's lies, the Mark will be dressed in pretty packaging.

It's our duty as Christians to read God's Word, so that we know the truth, so we will be ready. We also have to tell other people the truth, but we don't have to beat them over the head with it. Remember that everyone has a choice, just like we do.

Now, I didn't say any of this to scare you. Or freak you out.

I've had a lot of time to think about this. I urge you to watch The Circle and read Revelation (do not start reading the Bible with the book of Revelation. Start with Genesis or with the first books of the New Testament that introduce you to Jesus), and do your own comparisons.

But don't panic. And don't worry.

The Bible says it will get worse for Christians here on earth, as it has been for centuries. But in the Bible, we also find God's promise: "I will be with you always, no matter what you're going through; even through the destruction of the world" (Matthew 28:20, paraphrased).