Food for Flame

 Food for Flame - by Bill Perkins - https://compass.org/food-for-flame/ …“If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed infull strength in the cup of His anger; Rev. 14:9b God is very emphatic regarding not taking the Mark of the Beast during the 7-year post-Rapture Tribulation. In no uncertain terms He clearly states that if you take the Markyou will receive His undiluted wrath on earth and go to hell…forever. “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 hisname.” Rev. 14:11 …there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 13:42a Well, “forever” is a long time to gnash your teeth. But with all the Believers having been whisked away in our Rapturous Great Escape, only a few people will be left behindwho understand the ramifications of taking the Mark in the Tribulation. And the immediate pressure to take this Mark will be immense. Those left behind after the Rapture will be told that to survive they’ll have no choice but to join the systemthat controls everything, including food. and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev. 13:17 The tribulation begins with mass starvation with billions dying—one fourth the earth (Rev. 6:8). A starving person doesn't think rationally and will do most anything to getfood. But the Mark of the Beast not only covers being able to purchase food, it covers purchasing anything! Such complete control will compel most to accept the Mark to get into the system in order to have food, shelter and energy. But taking that Mark will be a short-term solution because if you do, you'll eventually die and split the gates of hell wide open. Why does God make such a big deal about taking this mark in the first place? Why is a tattoo so damning? First, it must be noted that you have to take Satan's mark AND worship him. If someone tackles you and forces the mark on you, but you refuse to worship the Beast/Satan, you’renot automatically condemned to hell. But if you take the mark willingly, and look to the Beast/Satan instead of the Lord Jesus Christ for your substance, you'll burn in an unquenchable fire—forever. … he [Satan] deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; Rev. 19:20a people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. Rev. 16:2 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 13:50 So it’s quite clear that God will not tolerate someone who takes this mark and worships Satan. Worshiping another God violates the first of the 10 Commandments. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Ex. 20:3 That alone is enough to sink your ship, but in addition God intends to mark us with His name one day in the future. ‘He who overcomes [through the blood of Christ], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the nameof My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. Rev. 3:12 God will also give you a new name—a name that only He and you know. It will be written on a white stone. That's pretty cool. ‘...To him who overcomes [through the blood of Christ] I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’ Rev.2:17b Since Satan knows all this (he reads the Bible) and since he wants to be God, he’ll try to force people in the Tribulation to take his mark. Unfortunately, those who take Satan up on his offer will be trading short-term food for long-term flame. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power 2Th. 1:9 And those who die refusing the Mark, refusing to serve Satan and trusting the Lord for salvation, will live in glory forever. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;” Rev. 7:16 “…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things havepassed away.” Rev. 21:4 So in the post-Rapture 7-Year Tribulation, it’s far better to die trusting the Lord who will take you to glory forever than to live a little longer and burn in horrible flamesforever. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:but the righteous into life eternal. Matt. 25:46 I don’t know about you, but I’m sure grateful we’ll miss all that! ...choose today whom you will serve: Josh. 24:15b Therefore comfort one another with these words [about the Rapture taking us before the wrath]. 1Th. 4:18