His Perfect Love

Guest (Male): Pastor Matt describes a time during the tribulation where in order to buy, sell or trade, you'll need a mark.

Matt VanderVen: You don't have to take the mark. You just want to have any commerce. Think about what that means for all those that own companies and all those that are employers and how they'll be required, they will be required to receive for tax reasons, different things like that to do that. But their employees Oh no, it's voluntary. Well, what happens if you don't? Well, you'll starve and die. Is that voluntary? No, Pastor, they wouldn't do that. Come on, that's ridiculous. Really? Look at how our own government used Look, I don't care where you end up on the vaccination thing.

That's not my business. It's between you and the Lord. But I'm going to say this. Where did that end up? So please don't say this could never happen. It did and it will. The branding ratcheting is going to be very clear that this is an allegiance to the Antichrist. It's going to be voluntary, but without it you're going to be an enemy to the Lord.

Guest (Male): Imagine a world where you couldn't buy, sell or even trade without a mark. You really couldn't survive long without that, right? Well, that will be the reality during the tribulation period. But taking the mark at that time is in essence declaring allegiance to the Antichrist and will seal your fate to eternal judgment. What is this mark? Could it be a chip as some speculate or a barcode or is it a branding or tattoo? Pastor Matt Vanderboegh looks to Revelation chapter 13 now for answers.

Matt VanderVen: In verse 15, he was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast and that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. So again, we're going back to idolatry, back to in the days of emperor worship, back to worship of statues. Um so obviously this beast you could speak, you could do the supernatural things. He could even cause this image to do some kind of motion and speak maybe. This this is really interesting. The statue is going to come alive.

Have Has anybody here ever gone back in the day? I'm not necessarily saying suggesting now, but back in the day everyone go to Disney World in Florida. Some of you know that familiar with that. I remember the first time when I was really young, I was taken there and I remember one of the first places my dad took me was this place called the Hall of Presidents. I don't even know if they still have that there, but it was in the magic You would go in and I remember watching these animatronics. And I mean I was just a young young man and I just And they would talk and they would do all these things, right?

Wouldn't you be freaked out if one of those animatronics actually came to life? That's what we're talking about here and not AI robot come to life, but actually given power to do and speak real when that take you off your comfort, you know? Again, there's not going to be any atheism or agnostics. Whoever does not worship the image of the Antichrist How can I say that? Again, I keep saying that there's not going to be an atheist or an agnostic. Whoever doesn't worship this image is going to be what? Killed. That's how I know. It's that simple.

The idolatrous image is what Jesus and Daniel and both Paul spoke of as the abomination of desolation. If you're looking in your Bibles for that, that's Daniel chapter 9 verse 27. That's certainly Jesus speaking of it in Matthew chapter 24 verse 15. And if you're looking for Paul, that's 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 3 and 4. All three of those scriptural examples speak of this abomination of desolation, this worshiping of an Antichrist instead of Messiah Jesus, the only one worthy to be worshiped, the ultimate form of idolatry. And again, this idolatrous image is set up in a holy place in this rebuilt temple.

And it's abomination in the sense that it it's supreme idolatry, right? It's desolation in the sense that it's going to bring judgment described that we've been reading about in the seal, the trumpet and we're almost going to get to pretty soon here, the bowl judgments. And this is sort of the summation of power of the Antichrist whose authority ends after 42 months. We already read that in verse 5 of Revelation chapter 13. It's interesting. There's a commentary that was written by Victorinus, okay? And the early church and he says that this of Revelation chapter 13 verse 15 I just want to quote it for you.

He shall also cause the this golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple of Jerusalem and the apostate angel should enter and thence utter voices and oracles. Why am I sharing this? Because how many of you have heard that these are new teachings? These are teachings just from the last few hundred years. Friends, I'm quoting things from Victorinus because I want you to understand that the early church that was entrusted and placed with these holy scriptures by the Holy Spirit believed these things to be true. They didn't take this as allegorical, they didn't take this as symbolic.

They took it as literal and they believed it. Look at verse 16 and 17. He causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads and that no one may buy, sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name, okay? So again, here's the economic strategy, right? You know, my father-in-law used to say follow the money. You ever heard that saying anybody anybody have a same father-in-law? Yeah, or follow Follow the money, the economic strategy.

You always want to know what the play is. Follow the money. You can follow the play, right? The The heart is revealed. There's no one that's It's almost too easy because you can sit with somebody in a meeting and you can quickly ask pointed questions. Follow the money. That'll tell you where the heart is. Can't be in both places. You follow the money, you see the play, right? He says here that the Antichrist and the false witness that's the play. It's the economic strategy. Don't you see it? He's going to turn around and how is he going to control the the will and the people?

He's going to control them by being able to enable or disable their ability to buy, sell or trade. So what does that mean? That means you won't be able to go to the Piggly Wiggly, right? And get your food, right? You won't be able to turn around and go to the electric company or the utility companies. We've already mentioned in Pennsylvania how those laws have changed already. You won't be able to go to your physician and say but I need I have an oxygen. I you know, especially living in those days, right? After all the first trumpet judgments, we know that the breathing is going to be difficult and you know, the the different judgment we know it's going to be very difficult, right?

So the seal, trumpet judgments, the breathing is going to be exacerbated. It's going to be very difficult. So many people would need to be on oxygen. You're not going to be able to go to your doctor and say I need oxygen or a medical If you don't do what? Take the mark of the mark of the beast. It's very clear. It's going to tie into every aspect. And last week I spent a great deal of time with you and you were so gracious as we went a very long time last week by bringing up the science and what they cuz they just talked about it and then the forum in New York City about what's coming and then specifically it said science as an umbrella term.

And then we went to another article that referenced that and they defined science for us. And when we look through their definition of science, it pretty much includes what? Everything down to our transportation, down to our food, agriculture, you know, pretty much our I mean everything will be touched because everything falls under science, our medical, right? All of it. I'm sharing these things with you that you see God is sharing this with us importantly so that we would be aware of this. And so how does he control this economic strategy? He causes everyone to receive a mark under the government of the beast.

They'll be given this mark and without the mark you won't be able to participate in the economy. That's really what he's saying. You can't participate in the economy at all. Since the ancient Greek word for mark uh it's interesting um isn't generally applied to people. It's Many people take it as suggestive because the way it's been used in the Greek, this karagma that's the word, it mostly has been Think of it as a um an etching or a branding. That's the closest understanding we have in the Greek of how it's actually been used before in the Greek.

It's It's not used um as like a way to speak of a insertion of a chip or something like that. I know that's become popular, but that's not the I'm not saying it can be, but that's not the example that we have in the Bible in the Greek. You look up the Greek word where it's been used, use your lexicon or your Strong's concordance. It's been more um used in that way of a branding, right? An etching, a a tattoo. Maybe use a nice way to put it, a tattoo, okay? Cuz it can be on your skin, but it 's not necessarily in your skin.

You can say well the ink is Okay, maybe. Um I'm just trying to get you close to the original meaning or the original use of this term. Let me ask you a question today. Most of us understand that those that have tattoos didn't do it because they were worshiping pagan gods, right? Everybody At least most people I know that have tattoos, they didn't get in a line because they go I'm going to get the you know, tattoo of Zeus or some other tattoo on them and they're going to That was what was prohibited in the Old Testament was the tattoo that was worshiping a pagan god, right?

That's not Most of us don't see people in lines doing that, right? Or people we talk to or even maybe you have a tattoo here and you're like oh, what does that mean? And Well, you didn't do that. You did it because you were trying to be, you know, express your creativity or you wanted some image or something that, you know, represented something you like, much like somebody drawing in a scrapbook, what have you. I 'm not saying I'm for or against. That's not the point. The point I'm saying is is that we as a society have been very conditioned.

If you saw somebody walking here with tattoos up and down their body, would you look at them and go wow? Like other than wow, that's really cool art, would you look at them and say anything else like oh my gosh, this person can't be I hope you wouldn't. I I really hope you wouldn't. Would you look and be surprised if you saw someone that just had a little image or maybe an image here or maybe one on their ankle? I think about some of you grandmas, right? As we get older, our skin stretches, elasticity. Interesting.

You once had a pony. Now it's a mule. But you know, a tattoo, right? Okay, my point is is that we're not like oh my gosh. No, because we've been conditioned for it. We wouldn't be surprised at all. Again, a lot of these things uh the the Satan isn't waiting till the last moment to try to introduce them. We've been being conditioned the whole time through. Watch a sports program, football. Look at all the athletes, right? Supposed role models. Almost Most of them have tattoos, right? So what is this mark? Well, let's discuss what it's not, okay?

Maybe that's an easier way to do that. Um there's a popular movement that's trying to say that 666 was a code for something that John could not understand. Um but if you actually look at the name of Some will say Allah written on the headbands of the terrorists in the Greek and Arabic. It says the same thing. Well, first of all, that's nonsense. It's not Islam or Allah. 666 is not a code. We already discussed. It's a mark that's supposed to use for what again? Commerce. So let's let's go back to the scripture and let the scriptures be right and every man be a fool or a liar.

It 's not a barcode or an RFID or even an embedded chip like some of you had read about the VeriChip. How many are familiar with the VeriChip or This is years ago, right? Being used in Mexico City. Again, this word means etching or branding. During the intertestamental period in Egypt, the Jews were branded with a tattoo and forced to worship Dionysus, okay? Or Dionysus. So again, this isn't new. We've seen this throughout history, human history. A mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Um Satan is not a a creative uh sort of He's a created being, but he's not a creative being.

All he can do is imitate God. Again, uh you know, it's the satanic parody. He imitates God's mark upon his people. Do you remember we read that in Revelation chapter 7 verses 3 and 4? God marks his people. He talks about the 144,000 and he seals them and marks them. You know, the Bible is very clear that branding or etching will be on the right hand forehead to buy or sell. It's identity, speaking of allegiance to Antichrist. If you take the mark, you are saying effectively whether you want to say it or not, you are saying I am with Antichrist.

I am with the beast. So it's not possible for a Christian to do that. It's not possible. The mark is on you. It's not in you. It's voluntary. And that interesting? Almost every authoritative attempt at taking over is always voluntary. This will be voluntary, too. You don't have to take the mark. You just won't commute. You just won't have any commerce. Think about what that means for all those that own companies and all those that are employers and how they'll be required, they will be required to receive for tax reasons, different things like that to do that.

But their employees Oh no, it 's voluntary. Well, what happens if you don't? Well, you 'll starve and die. Is that voluntary? No, Pastor, they wouldn't do that. Come on, that's ridiculous. Really? For the first time ever in human I mean look at how our own government used Look, I don't care where you end up on the vaccination thing. That's not my business. It's between you and the Lord. But I'm going to say this. Where did that end up? OSHA? That was the enforcing agency. We have never had OSHA enforce anything. Again, I On my day off I do inspection, commercial, residential, mostly commercial.

I have never I mean there's OSHA compliance for contractors, subcontractors, hard hats, vests, boots, eye wear for protection. You can do at the end of the day this. We have never once had OSHA ever say there was something that we had to do that we could not separate from the person after the job day was over. You want to talk about an overreach, an extension of power where literally OSHA said hey, you're not in compliance and if your companies aren't in compliance, subcontractors, you'll be fined or shut down. And if you're fined or shut down, guess what that means to the employer that just hired you to complete the work on their account.

That employer is like hey, we 're not doing business with you. We just literally saw this. I had so many doctors and nurses come to me during that period of time, even in this fellowship and others, contact me and say hey, this is what my beliefs are. Here's my scripture. Can you give me a religious exemption so that I don't have that because I 'm going to lose my job? I had friend people in the military that came and said I need a religious exemption, Pastor. You You're authorized to do this. Will you sign this document for me so that I don't have to lose my 25 plus years in the military because without this I'm going to be released after a lifetime of serving my country and shedding my blood.

So please don't say this could never happen. Please don't say this won't happen. It did and it will The branding ratcheting is going to be very clear that this is an allegiance to the Antichrist. It's going to be voluntary, but without it you're going to be an enemy You're going to be an enemy to the world. Now again, I want to be clear. I don't want anybody walking out here this morning fearful. This again is what? After the rapture and the second half of the great tribulation. What people do with this mark will seal their destiny.

I need everybody to understand that here. It's prompted or promoted by a false prophet and the world has already been conditioned. I'm I'm a little older, but I remember back to the future, maybe the 1980s and 90s. Um they had the idea of scanning someone. Do you remember? They thought that when they went back Remember Marty went back and what did they do? He went to his house. He opened the door, but then there were other things and what did they do? Biff and different They scanned him to see what his real identity was and it would come up.

And he needed that to do what? Purchase a product. It's It's not far fetched. I know Back to the Future is not exactly prophetic and we're not going to that. Certainly we don't have flying cars yet. I mean we do, but we don't have mass production. But the point of what I 'm getting at and it's really important to understand is that how many saw that in the back of the future and said no, that don't ever happen. You saw that and skipped right over that detail because you just thought yeah, that makes sense in the future we would have something like that.

And then he said really interestingly here, the number of his name. Go ahead and underline this cuz this is interesting. He keeps using or or or John inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this. He doesn't say and or or. He says or. And that's not John normal writing. John normally with the conjunctions he'll say and and and. But in this particular section here, he goes or or. And he says it twice. It's interesting. He causes all both small, great, rich, poor, free and enslaved to receive the mark on the right hand or first time on their foreheads and that no one may buy, sell uh one who has the mark again, second time or the name of the beast third time or the number of his name.

It's It's very It's very uncharacteristic of John in his writings, even in first and second John like we don't He doesn't He's not wanting to go and or or or or or or or or or. So God is clearly speaking here and telling us just the variability of this, the dynamic aspect of this that that if you just look on the right hand or the forehead, you might be deceived because there are people that also maybe in certain jobs, certain roles, certain professions will have a pact with the Antichrist, but you won't be able to see it on their hand or their forehead.

Maybe it has to do with the number of his name, you know? Uh in Greek and Hebrew as well, letters were assigned numerical values. A equaled one, aleph or alpha, right? Beta, two and so forth, right? That's the Greek and aleph, koph, beth If I start speaking Hebrew, right? I'm just doing Hebrew alphabet with you, right? It's the same idea. It's all signed to a numerical value. For example, graffiti in the ruins of ancient Pompeii. I love her whose number is 545 or 545. It was a way that you know, golly, 100 years ago, 1,000 years ago, instead of putting someone's name, they translated into a number and put 545 and that meant the person because maybe that person was of a different caste or a different situation and they weren't allowed to have relationships.

So for the protection of that person, you had to translate the number. Maybe that's what he's talking about. And then in verse 18 he closes and it'll close our time here. The musicians can come forward. He says here is wisdom. You know, Jesus makes it very very clear. Here is the appropriate application of everything that you have just learned. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man and his number is 666. He's basically saying here's wisdom. Those who are alive at that time, they will absolutely be able to calculate that.

Now does this tell us who the beast is by figuring out the numerical value and the name seeing if it adds up to 666 using this method? I mean many candidates would be Antichrist or have been six churches through the ages. Popes, the papacy, John Knox, Martin Luther, interestingly, Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and so forth. But the schemes for unlocking the number of the beast are confusing as they are endless. Christians not need to fear the number 666 in a sort of superstitious way, but it's interesting to see that the way the world has an attachment to this number.

Instead of obsessing with the fear and the interest about the imitation, the Antichrist and the false prophet How much better and I guess fullness for the Christian to be interested in the genuine Jesus Christ instead of looking for the Antichrist or the false prophet or Satan himself. You know, we need to say sharp and speak about our Lord. He's warning people. And we don't need to be afraid to be the remnant. We don't need to be afraid to be radical for Jesus Christ. Now by radical I don't mean go and harm people. That's not radical uh in the way that uh a terrorist would use that term.

Telling people about Jesus Christ, I guess in our culture could be considered radical today, but I think it's the kindest thing you could do is if you knew something was coming and that there was nothing stopping it, I think it's actually quite insensitive or not compassionate to tell somebody this is what's coming and I have a lot of proof texts for this and I have historical proofs of how these things have happened throughout thousands of years. It's not my opinion. I remember I had a gentleman come into my office several years ago and I'll just leave you with this thought because I believe the Lord wants to use you the same way.

He came into my office and he said, you know, he was there was some marital things going on and he uh you know, his wife has been for was praying for him 6 months was really really praying deeply. And I remember him coming in and he said, you know, I've been through this religious thing. I grew up in the church, you know, the whole thing. And if you could actually prove it to me, but you can't because I know what you're going to say. It's a blind faith. And I said no. I said do you have like an hour or two?

And he's like what? And I said no, I'll We'll sit down. I mean literally we'll go through archaeology, we'll go through We'll take the Bible. We'll put We'll go through extra biblical books, historical books, we'll go through accounts. And I will show you very clearly this is not a blind faith and it really won't take me long like 2 hours. Just The Here's the agreement. If I proved to you every one of these things that we see in many of the 1,200 world wars uh prophecies and I'm able to go through based on your attention span and time and I'm able to show you these things in the Old Testament, the New Testament and then the things extra biblically that historically have happened just as it said and we know that these things happened and were written about hundreds of years beforehand so no man came back and altered the account.

I said I need your guarantee for the sake of your wife and your family that you will believe. And I remember he pushed himself away from the the table. Oh, that night I think he ended up in the hospital. He ended up um on near overdosing. He had some issues going on. And because of that he was humbled. He came in. I think it was 3 or 4 days later he came in. He sat with me. And I remember just taking my Bible and just very gently I just kept going through one thing after another.

And he's like but but And then by the fifth thing I went you can't but anymore. Like that is literally a historical narrative written by a Greek historian that wasn't even saved. It is a historical reference, an account. It's not a biblical account. It is a historical reference of an account, but by the way the Bible said this would happen. And I watched this man that was very confident in his you know, beliefs. I just began to weep and break down and cry. And he just put his head on the table and I And he looked up at me and he said what do I do?

He's like I feel like my whole life has been a lie now. And I said look up. What do you mean what do you do? What did Jesus say in Luke? You said you grew up Christian, you grew up reading the What does it say in Luke chapter 21 verse 28? Look up. Your redemption draws near, near than ever before. And that day he gave his life to Jesus Christ.

Guest (Male): Pastor Matt Vanderboegh on His Perfect Love. Thanks for taking part in today's study of Revelation, a book that comes with a blessing attached to those that read and study it. If you were blessed and encouraged by the Lord, we'd like to know. Email us while it's fresh on your mind. They're at our website hisperfectlove.org. Be sure to include your prayer requests. Also at our website you'll find an archive of these studies in Revelation, making it easy to replay a message you enjoy or catch what you miss on the radio. Again, we're at hisperfectlove.org and now at oneplace.com as well.

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Guest (Male): His Perfect Love is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Harrisburg West Shore.