As we know, Satan counterfeits God, beholding himself as an angel of light, enabling the Anti-Christ and the false prophet and so on. In the end times, he plans to set up his government of evil. He derives the charter of his game plan from the strategy used by God to rescue His people from him (the devil was working through Pharaoh).
Satan will now use the same plan to rescue his people from God’s rule or government. This is the unfolding of the end times. It started with Moses seeking Pharaoh’s permission to have the people of Israel worship the true and living God. A simile in the kingdom of darkness is the devil seeking permission from our Lord Jesus to destroy his and God’s people. – 2 Thess 2:6
We read in 2 Thess 2:7 that God will grant permission to Anti-Christ to reveal himself but He will not allow His people to be taken over by Satan – 2 Thess 3:3. The seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls are used by Satan to force God’s Hand so that the devil can take his people to their land of promise (hell). The greater the intensity of the plagues, the greater is the duress on God to let the devil’s people go and worship Satan.
All his plans of destruction culminate at the Second coming of Christ when God destroys all people. He resurrects the dead in Christ and they join the redeemed in heaven. Satan’s agents are dead and our Lord finally throws Satan himself into the lake of burning sulphur after the thousand-year reign of Christ is ended. Satan had God’s people in captivity for 430 years but God will have Satan’s people in captivity for eternity.
When the Lord had brought the people of God out of Egypt through the ten plagues, He declares to them that they are NOT to eat or see yeast in their land. – Ex. 13:7. This is speaking of mixture. This is the sign that the people belong to God. They must not have the pride of the world that puffs up. This is the spirit behind the Feast of Unleavened Bread. “The observance of the fact that the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt with His mighty Hand would be like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is on your lips.” – Ex. 13:9. In other words, they belong to the Lord for they have been taken out of Satan’s grip and are free to worship the Lord and declare FULL ALLEGIANCE to God. This is the reason they celebrate a festival unto the Lord on the seventh day (at the appointed time every year). Amen.
We must be responsible and ensure that the truth we know is pure and free of corruption and the deception induced by Satan. Jesus warned the disciples to be on their guard against the YEAST of the Pharisees and Sadducees. – Mat 16:5. Jesus warned them not to be carried into the erroneous teachings of the religious folks (old wineskins) but He spread His Word through those who had revelation into God’s word (new wineskins in the early church and beyond).
When people buy into Satan’s corrupt laws, they will be marked—because they refused to love the truth and be saved, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. – 2 Thess 2:10b-11, Rev 13:3b-4. Such will be condemned for delighting in wickedness. -vs 12 ; this mark is a sign of their undying allegiance and loyalty to Satan’s wicked and immoral rule over them. This mark will keep them out of God’s kingdom for ever – Rev 14:11. The mark is symbolic of surrender and commitment to their evil ruler to never depart from his laws and to always speak the lies of the devil. It is (probably) not an actual sign or mark as we are led to believe; as we read in Ex 13:9 that the sign on God’s people is symbolic as well.
The Lord will mark the devil’s people who worship the beast and his image and pledge allegiance to his kingdom of darkness – Rev 14:9. They will have no rest day or night as they worship the beast and his image (and thus receive the mark of his name) – Rev 14:11b. The only way to not be marked is to patiently endure God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. – Rev 14:12, Rev 13:10c.
Summary
Let us be patient as we endure the times ahead with faithful allegiance to Jesus our Lord and Savior. Abiding in His love is our SAFE PLACE where the enemy cannot touch us. Hallelujah to our eternal king!!! Blessed be the Name of our Lord!
Be Not Afraid
You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way
You shall speak your words to foreign men
And all will understand
You shall see the face of God and live
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest
If you pass through raging waters in the sea
You shall not drown
If you walk amid the burning flames
You shall not be harmed
If you stand before the power of hell
And death is at your side
Know that I am with you through it all
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest
Blessed are your poor
For the kingdom shall be theirs
Blest are you that weep and mourn
For one day you shall laugh
And if wicked men insult and hate you
All because of me
Blessed, blessed are you
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest.
