Mark of the Beast

What is the answer to the question asked in Part 2, "Who are the two witnesses?" The only answer I can give for now is that they will become known only when they take up their ministry at the appointed time. It was mentioned earlier that many believe that Elijah (and most likely Moses) will be the two witnesses.
That is a possibility, especially in light of the description of the powers used by the two witnesses:

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Rev 11:6 (KJV)

These powers are the same ones that Elijah (UliYahu) and Moses (Moshe) possessed. But, just for the sake of exploring for truth, there are other Biblical figures to consider. Look at the scriptures:

"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Ul (God) of the earth. Rev 11:3-4 (NKJ)

The

"Ul of the earth" is a unique description of the Creator, used another time by Abruham, when he is telling the eldest servant that ruled over all his house;

"I will make thee swear by Yhwh, the Ul of heaven, and the Ul of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:" Gen 24:3 (KJV)

Here in Genesis 24:3, Abruham makes a distinction regarding the reign of Yhwh, which is a two part rule (so to say) over two worlds, heaven and earth. In Rev 11:3-4, Yhwh refers to these two witnesses as standing before the "Ul of the earth." Which leads me to believe they are living on the earth at the start of the tribulation; as opposed to being two angelic beings, or two human beings who stand before the "Ul of heaven."
Also, by referring to them "as the two olive trees" that could indicate they are natural born Hebrews. The term "two lampstands" gives them credibility, that they bear the light of Yahuah having the Ruach ha Kodesh.

The two olive trees are also spoken of in the Book of Zechariah:

Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, adone.
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Ul of the whole earth. Zech 4:11-14
(KJV)

So while Elijah and Moses qualify, there are two other possibilities that have spoken of in the past. This is pure speculation, but worth considering.
John the Apostle is the first one.

Yahuahshua answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
This interpretation is nothing new, it even existed in the first century church as the next scripture indicates

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Yahuahshua did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" John 21:22-23 (NIV)

It could be said that if Yahuahshua did not want to point something out, or allude to a hidden message, why say " If I want him to remain alive.." - at all?
He could just as easily said to Peter, 'you do what I ask, and John will do what I ask of him,' or something along those lines.

Another scripture, relating to John the Apostle, that is curious to me is this one:

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. Rev 10:10-11

Prophesy again? Before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings? Does that mean he is going to get off the Island of Patmos and begin a worldwide evangelical ministry - right then- in the first century? Or could it mean this worldwide ministry would begin in the last days, at the start of the Great Tribulation?

The other candidate is Lazarus, whom Yahuahshua raised from the dead. Did Lazarus die again, or was he translated to heaven? Who knows, the scriptures don't say exactly. But there is this scripture verse which is curious to me:

Then Yahuahshua six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:1-2 (KJV)

Is there a hidden clue within this scripture that relates once again (as so many others have) to the seven day Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles or Booths). As I mentioned in Part 1 and 2, if the tribulation begins on a Passover, then the mid point occurs three years and 6 months later, which would be during the Feast of Sukkot. From that point forward another three and a half years means the tribulation would end on a Passover.

[This makes for an interesting correlation between the first Passover of the Exodus, where the Children of Israel were saved by the blood of the lamb (but all of the firstborn of Egypt were killed) and the last Passover at the end of the tribulation when Yahuahshua returns and slays those who would destroy the earth].

In John 12:1 Yahuahshua visits Lazarus six days before Passover. If this is meant to be a tribulation parallel, with Passover being the last day of a seven day period (meaning seven year period) then Yahuahshua came to Lazarus in Bethany at the start of the seven days. Which agrees with the interpretation that the two witnesses arrive at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, and not at the mid point.

Yahuahshua said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you." The Gospel of Thomas, saying #5.

The Son of Perdition and the Mark of the Beast

There is much speculation as to whether the Son of Perdition will be a Jew or a Gentile.
Varying opinions are usually based in part upon how you interpret these scripture verses:

"He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.
"But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Dan 11:37-38 (NKJ)

Some translators translate the beginning of verse #37 as:

"He (the Son of Perdition) shall regard neither the God of his fathers...." [God - singular]

while others translate it as:

"He (the Son of Perdition) shall regard neither the gods of his fathers..." [gods - plural]

Some contend that the "God of his fathers" would indicate he is a Jew, because his fathers believed in the one true eternal creator; Yhwh. While the "gods of his fathers" would indicate his fathers were polytheistic and he is probably an Assyrian or Babylonian. There are good arguments for each interpretation, but as to whether he is a Jew or a Gentile is secondary to me because his "God" will be a new god, the god of medical science. And he will offer the people immortal life. In fact, he himself will be a marvel of medical science, an androgynous clone. The "God" he worships that his father(s) did not know is the;

"God of fortresses" [as translated by the New King James Version, New International Version, and others] or,

"God of forces:" [as translated in the King James Version] Dan 11:38

Look at the original Hebrew definition of the word translated as "fortresses or forces;"

4581 ma` owz (maw-oze') (also ma` uwz (maw-ooz')); or ma` oz (maw-oze') (also ma` uz (maw-ooz'); from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a defense: and translated at other places in the KJV Bible as -- force, fort (-ress), rock, strength (-en), (X most) strong (hold).
derived from;

The word is from the root word:

5810 `azaz (aw-zaz'); a primitive root; to be stout (literally or figuratively): and translated at other places in the KJV Bible -- harden, impudent, prevail, strengthen (self), be strong.

There is a biblical proper name that is a derivative of this word,

"Uzziul" [Gesenius' #5816] and means "power of Yhwh." ( Ex 6:18, Numbers 3:19, 1 Chr 4:42, Neh 11:22)

Could this new "god" that his father(s) did not know, be one which can impart immortal life, by using a power or force which can make one stout, or as strong as a fortress - even prevail over death? A power that originates in the correct genetic sequence of a code that produces immortal life? The sequence which Yahuah used in the Garden of Eden, before it was corrupted by the sin of Adam and his wife.

How much will the people of the earth pay to receive this "immortal life?"
[He, the Son of Perdition] shall... honour [this god] with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Dan 11:38

The sum of money obtained from the worldwide sales and distribution of "immortal life" would be unfathomable.

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee:

for thy merchants

were the great men [3176 megistos (meg'-is-tos); superlative of 3173; greatest or very great:]

of the earth;

for by thy sorceries [5331 pharmakeia (far-mak-i'-ah); from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively): KJV-- sorcery, witchcraft. 5332 pharmakeus (far-mak-yoos');from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician: KJV-- sorcerer.

were all nations deceived. Rev 18:23 (KJV)

Their "pharmakeia" is the drug/therapy that will be peddled as "immortal life."

"He shall regard neither the God of his fathers..." because he has no use for the old god(s) who could do nothing but promise immortal life, at some point in the future (after death); [nor shall he regard] the desire of women , not because he is a homosexual man, but rather because he is a "he/she," or the androgynous one, biologically engineered to fulfill the long time goal of the Illuminati/Masonic Cult. Their desire has always been to correct what they consider (in their theology) to be the Creator's error. They want to bring man back to the point when he was just "Adam" in the Garden of Eden, before Eve was brought out from him as a distinct person. They view the separation of Eve from Adam as a mistake which lead to the origination of sin. If ever there was a time in history when it was possible to fulfill their goal, it is now.

The people will marvel at the immortal androgynous one, who by means of a biotechnology will offer mankind - immortal life. Do not miss out by not noticing the most important aspect of the interpretation of end time prophecy, the people worship (pay homage) they even marvel at this creature.
I was brought up as an American, to believe in the pursuit of the American way of life, where a priority is placed on obtaining a high standard of living. When considering the Book of Revelation as a whole, this upbringing and attitude can leave one preoccupied with the mark of the beast, and what it stands for, and how it mainly impacts the ability to buy or sell. However all of that is almost inconsequential when considering the prevailing mindset of the people that exists before the mark is given;

they already worship the (first) beast.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev 13:8 (KJV)

Before - the false prophet appears (who is the beast with two horns like a lamb) and;
before - he tells those that dwell on the earth to make an image to the first beast (empowered by the Dragon),
before - the image causes men to take the mark of the beast;

the people already worship the first beast, and the dragon that gives him its power. So is the taking of his mark something objectionable to the people of the earth, done under duress, or is it taken willingly, maybe even as an act of adoration?

          "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark. . . " Rev. 14:9

          " . . . who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark. . . " Rev.    14:11

" . . .which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." Rev. 16:2

" . . . them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. . ." Rev. 19:20

" . . . which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his . . ." Rev. 20:4

And [Yahuashua] said Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." The Gospel according to Thomas, saying #1.

Why do they worship him?

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Rev 13:4 (KJV)

Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
This verse can leave you with the primary understanding that the first beast is a government, with a superior military power; but it's more powerful than that, it is a religion. The world government adopts this religion because it serves their purpose. This religion is the worship of immortal life, which means nothing less than becoming a "god," apart from the one true Creator. Herein lies the key to the Great delusion of 2Thess2, the Son of Perdition is going to mimic Mashiyach (the Christ) by being immortal, and even able to impart that immortality to others. He will do it through biotechnology, by replicating the genetic code for immortal life.
"Anti" means "in place of." If the Son of Perdition is going to "shew" himself (that is in the Greek, "prove himself") to be "God," it will be because he is immortal. I look for a coming genetic therapy that will not only offer the people immortal life (though not true eternal life) but this therapy will most likely reverse the aging process, heal the sick, blind, lame, and even raise the dead. This new found science will be the pinnacle of man's achievement. And with it, who needs "a Christ?" And who is "God" but a man made myth which came from man's ignorance and lack of scientific understanding. Science is the true religion! With this immortal life to offer, man can finally face his ignorance and his fear of death. With this immortal life, Satan can finally fulfill his age old ambition to be "God."
The people will worship the author of this immortal life, and pay homage to his scientific genius.

Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Who is "like" ( 'homoios' in the Greek) unto the beast, can also mean who is similar (in appearance or character). In a world full of mortal beings, there will be no one similar to the beast.
Who is able to make war with him, can also mean who can fight against him, in the sense of who can "resist" him. Why don't they fight him? Because he is so irresistible and the people have affection for him! They love him! They willingly surrender their will and comply with him. He has immortal life, and everyone wants it (all of those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life).
As I wrote earlier, the Pharmaceutical companies are the purveyors and worldwide distributors of this miracle therapy.
What is this therapy? It is a product of Biotechnology. Biotechnology can be broadly defined as "using living organisms or their products for commercial purposes." A narrower and more specific definition of biotechnology is "the commercial application of living organisms or their products, which involves the deliberate manipulation of their DNA molecules." A simple definition is given below:

*Principles of Biology
All living organisms are composed of cells that contain a substance called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in the chromosomes. (See Fig.1.) The structure of DNA molecules contains information that is used by cells as a "recipe" for the organism; that is, the characteristics of any living thing essentially are determined by the information in DNA. The "words" for the DNA recipe, called genes, are derived from a 4-letter alphabet (A, C, G, T) and usually contain between 1,000 and 100,000 letters.

The entire recipe, called the genome, may contain between 4 million (simple bacteria) and 3 billion (human) letters or more. Except for the sequence and number of letters in each recipe, DNA from any organism is chemically and physically the same. One of the great scientific discoveries of biotechnology is that DNA from any organism will function if it is transferred into any other organism!
Since 1972... scientists have been able to identify the specific DNA genes for many desirable traits and transfer only those genes, usually carried on a plasmid or virus, into another organism. This process is called genetic engineering and the transfer of DNA is accomplished using either direct injection or the Agrobacterium, electroporation, or particle gun transformation techniques. It provides a method to transfer DNA between any living cells (plant, animal, insect, bacterial, etc.). Virtually any desirable trait found in nature can, in principle, be transferred into any chosen organism. An organism modified by genetic engineering is called transgenic.

[Electroporation - using an electric shock to transfer DNA into the cells of an organism; one of several procedures called transformation.

Particle gun - a gun that shoots DNA into the cells of an organism; the most versatile of a series of procedures called transformation.]

There are several ways that I see the users of the immortal life therapy being marked as belonging to Satan. The first one is that they love and adore him; and it shows in their actions and words. Just like in Dueteronomy 6, when the children of Israel are commanded to wear the Torah as marks upon their hands and frontlets between their eyes, meaning that the words of Yahuah should guide their thoughts and actions, proving that they are "set apart" from the world. In the same way, these followers of Satan and his anti-Christ may also be marked in such a manner, that their everything thought and action belongs to him, and they will be known because of whom they serve.
Secondly, If the gene therapy reverses the aging process, and heals all sicknesses, than those who are older or infirm (in some physical way) will stand out from the rest of society. It will be quite obvious to everyone which people believe in Yhwh and resist the anti-Christ. I would also look for some type of media advertising campaign put out by the anti-Christ and his backers, that portrays all non-participants in a bad (even criminal) way. This could easily be done on TV by showing a large number of children who are suffering some sort of resistance to being healed. And older people who have not had their aging process reversed, even though they took the therapy. Or maybe their feelings of youthfulness have not yet returned, unlike the millions of others who have been set free because of the "therapy." And all of this in some way, will be because of those who resist taking the therapy and still interact with the rest of society.
They may portray the non-participators as spreading some type of hybrid germ, bacteria, or virus that in some way hinders the full affects of the therapy. Whatever it is, it will turn society against the true believers.
The second method of being "marked" by this therapy could be a by-product of the application of the therapy, which occurs from the surgery or injection. It could even be a delayed reaction. What if it took months after the procedure before a visible mark appeared? This would allow enough time for a large number of people to be given the therapy, who may be wary of receiving a mark because of their Christian upbringing.

To all of those who believe in Yhwh (Yahuah) his Mashiyach (Yahuahshua) and the gift of Yahuah which is eternal life, be warned:

I believe this therapy will be the bodily application of living cells, containing a specific gene sequence. This sequence will have a proprietary code (or series of numbers) which represent the number of a man, the first artificially created immortal man.
Human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes. 22 of them are autosomes, with the 23rd chromosome determining the sex. Two "X" chromosomes result in a female; one "X" and one "Y" chromosome result in a male.

The number 666 could point to the genetic manipulation of the 'Y" chromosome.

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Rev 13:12 (KJV)

The beast who was killed, yet has risen again, will not rise by the power of Yhwh and his Ruach ha Kodesh, but rather through the biotechnology of man.

Though he "causeth" the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast,.." that does not necessarily mean this worship is forced, but rather it can be the result of adoration.

[Yahuahshua said to the disciples] "As for you, then, be on guard against the world. Prepare yourself with great strength, so the robbers can't find a way to get to you, for the trouble you expect will come. Gospel of Thomas, saying #22.

Like everything else in this counterfeit reality created by the adversary, there will be an exception, or trick behind this immortal life scheme.
While the immortal life gene therapy will heal the sick, raise the dead, reverse the aging process, and add to the mind's capability to perceive the spirit realm, to see and interact with demonic beings, in order to remain in this state each person will require a series of applications or "booster shots." These booster shots will keep any person who begins the therapy, totally dependent on repeated doses.

The "immortal life" therapy could never be equal to the gift of eternal life that only Yahuah can give.

This is the great or powerful delusion sent by Yahuah -himself- that the wicked will place their trust in (listed below):

1. There is immortal life apart from Yhwh.

2. There is a way into the paradise of Yahuah, apart from entering through the sheep gate, which is to believe in the Mashiyach, the Messiah of Yahuah. He who alone reversed the penalty for sin (which is death) and is now a "life giving spirit" (1 Cor 15:45) able to offer true eternal life to those who believe, those who were promised eternal life before time began (Titus 1:2).

He alone can bring us out of this world and into eternal life. Consider this parable and notice the imagery of the Messiah leading us into eternal life:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
"But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
"And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
"Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10:1-5 (NKJ)

The one who tries to climb up some other way is the thief, the ant-iChrist, who tries to rob the sheep from the shepherd with his false "immortal" life scheme. But the sheep wait until they hear the shepherd's voice because they will overcome him...

"....by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Rev 12:11 (NKJ)

They wait for the true shepherd to lead them into eternal life.

[Notice in this parable that Mashiyach infers that there is another way to climb into the sheepfold, without coming through the door].

And who are these but those who have taken the immortal life therapy and cannot even commit suicide during the time of their torment:

And to them (the locusts) it was given that they should not kill them (those who have not the seal of Yhwh), but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. Rev 9:5-6 (KJV)

Once the beasts' kingdom is brought to obscurity (plunged into darkness) those who bear the mark of the beast will no longer be able to obtain their immortal life therapy, and the horror of their withdrawal pains begins:

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. Rev 16:10-11 (KJV)

In closing, I ask you to consider the desperate and final acts of an insane and totally out of control world. They gather together to make war against the returning Messiah of Yhwh. They believe they can destroy the Messiah and the army of heaven in a single huge battle.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of Yahuah Ul,
"that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Rev 19:17-21 (NKJ)

What would make the armies of the earth that turn on Yahuahshua so bold as to make war with the Savior and all of heaven? Is it because they are immortal? Is this the true strategy that Satan had in mind beginning in the Garden of Eden? Is this what he tried to accomplish by genetically engineering the Nephillim? To create a race of immortal beings that could overthrow Heaven itself?

Immortals that could ascend to the mountain of Yhwh?

credits * http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/biotech_info_series/bio1.html