Christian Forums

I have written a bible study on what is the "mark of the beast", why it is evil, how it is nearly impossible to buy or sell without it, what the "right hand" and "forehead" symbolize, and what 666 means.

Check out the study here http://www.wisdomofgod.us/2019/01/07/what-the-mark-of-the-beast-is-and-the-meaning-of-666/ .

Also available in Spanish here http://www.sabiduriadedios.com/2019/01/07/lo-que-es-la-marca-de-la-bestia-y-el-significado-de-666/ .

cgaviria,
First, thank you for doing a version in Spanish. That was very thoughtful.

And it's good to know there are other Hispanics on here. Un placer conocerte.
Desafortunadamente, no estoy de acuerdo con el estudio. Although I think you made a good point that American currency has influence all over the world and is used in many countries beside the United States, I am automatically leery about any decrypting, if you will, of Revelation that automatically assumes that said events are about the time we live in. Rome also had currency that spread all over their known world. But I would also feel comfortable if any such predictions we're about a time different than the predictor is living in, such as hundreds of years from now. I imagine everyone who has tried to decipher The Book of Revelation has placed the fulfillment of set events in their own time coming from the time it was written until now. It's just a knee-jerk reaction. I can imagine people a hundred years from now saying that the Fulfillment of the Book of Revelation has always been about 2119. I personally believe that the 666 and the beast refer to things that were relevant to the Christians to whom this book was written, namely during the Roman Empire. Just my thoughts. And this question inevitably comes up, so I'll just answer it now, I do not believe that the rapture described in Revelation or judgment day has yet come to pass. That is still outstanding.

Quote from: e.r.m. on Tue Jan 08, 2019 - 13:59:28
cgaviria,
First, thank you for doing a version in Spanish. That was very thoughtful.

And it's good to know there are other Hispanics on here. Un placer conocerte.
Desafortunadamente, no estoy de acuerdo con el estudio. Although I think you made a good point that American currency has influence all over the world and is used in many countries beside the United States, I am automatically leery about any decrypting, if you will, of Revelation that automatically assumes that said events are about the time we live in. Rome also had currency that spread all over their known world. But I would also feel comfortable if any such predictions we're about a time different than the predictor is living in, such as hundreds of years from now. I imagine everyone who has tried to decipher The Book of Revelation has placed the fulfillment of set events in their own time coming from the time it was written until now. It's just a knee-jerk reaction. I can imagine people a hundred years from now saying that the Fulfillment of the Book of Revelation has always been about 2119. I personally believe that the 666 and the beast refer to things that were relevant to the Christians to whom this book was written, namely during the Roman Empire. Just my thoughts. And this question inevitably comes up, so I'll just answer it now, I do not believe that the rapture described in Revelation or judgment day has yet come to pass. That is still outstanding.

There are less than 8 years until the second coming of the Messiah. How do I know this? Because there are less than 8 years left until the Year 6000 YB, Year from the Beginning, which would be the beginning of the millennial Shabbat, which is the latest the Messiah would come. I have counted all the known genealogies and timelines since Adam, and have identified the Yovel (Jubilee) and Shabbat years in accordance to scriptures and prophecies, and have written them in a separate study, http://www.wisdomofgod.us/2018/11/06/when-the-year-of-the-second-coming-will-be-the-millennial-shabbat-of-the-year-6000-yb-jubilees-and-the-12901335-days-of-daniel/ . Which implies that whatever the mark of the beast is, its already been here, because of the little time that's left before the second coming, because the mark of the beast is an end time prophecy, which is why whoever receives the mark will be thrown into the lake of lava, in which case the lake of lava condemnation begins at the second coming of the Messiah.

Anyways, I have connected the major dots in the mystery of these prophecies and have given the information freely to you and everyone reading my studies in the internet. So, the choice is yours if will believe what I am saying, or not.

May I check back with you in 2027? If we're still here?

Hey, cgaviria:

   Just a brief word to say I have the "mark of the beast." I've had it since 1966. It was given to me on my new car's license plate. The plate reads: NPD - 666.

   The letters NPD may be translated New York Police Department. Strange, though, it has not affected my walk with the Lord in a negative way—and my relationship with the Lord is strong and ongoing.

   Your hunch about what 666 represents is just that—a hunch. There are hundreds of similar hunches out there, floating around in every sect and cult.

Buff

Revelation 13:16 "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"

"In your hand" is an idiom that means to do Satan's work. You do the work of Satan [the Antichrist] when you bring others to him, or help in his system. This mark in the hand is speaking in a spiritual sense. "In the forehead" is referring to your mind [brain]. Being deceived by Satan in your mind is when you think he is the true Christ, and in ignorance you worship him. No computer chip will condemn you, for it is your faith that you will be judged by.

Revelation 13:18 "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

Wisdom comes from knowledge, and all wisdom is from God, from wisdom comes understanding. We were told to "count the number of the beast". This was written in Greek, and the Greek word means more then counting numbers. You simple can't understand this meaning if you don't understand this Greek word. The word is #5585 in Strong's Greek dictionary, and it means to "calculate by counting the stones that are warn smooth over a long period of time."

What stones? We were told in chapter two, we would receive a new stone with a new name written on it. This word "count" originated from that word "stone" of chapter two of the book of Genesis. These are the only places in the Bible this word for count, or stone is used. So we must enumerate, or calculate these stones worn smooth over a long period of time. "Their rock is not our Rock, and his stones are not our Stones," is what the overcomers will sing, as the "Song of Moses tells us in Deuteronomy 32. God is our Rock, and Satan is the false rock, but which stones are we to count?

The stones are the number of man, that man is Satan, and if you know Satan you will know his children. Those stones are his children [offspring]. The "mark of the beast" number [6-6-6] then is to count, or know Satan's children over a long period of time. They are the "Kenites", the offspring of Cain, who was the child of Satan, through Eve, who was "beguiled in the Garden of Eden".

Jesus said in Revelation 2 and 3 that the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only acceptable churches to Him, because they knew who the Kenites were. The Kenites were "those who said they were Jews, and lied; because they were of the synagogue of Satan". The seven churches are the seven types of churches existing in these last days. Five are not acceptable to God, while the two are.

https://www.theseason.org/revelation/revelation13.htm

Quote from: Reformer on Tue Jan 08, 2019 - 21:42:01Hey, cgaviria:

   Just a brief word to say I have the "mark of the beast." I've had it since 1966. It was given to me on my new car's license plate. The plate reads: NPD - 666.

   The letters NPD may be translated New York Police Department. Strange, though, it has not affected my walk with the Lord in a negative way—and my relationship with the Lord is strong and ongoing.

   Your hunch about what 666 represents is just that—a hunch. There are hundreds of similar hunches out there, floating around in every sect and cult.

Buff

Greetings Buff~The truth is that you (and all the rest of us) had the mark of the beast since birth!   Please consider: http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/end-times-forum/the-mark-of-the-beast-the-name-of-the-beast-or-the-number-of-its-name-and-666/msg1055045716/#msg1055045716

Quote from: e.r.m. on Tue Jan 08, 2019 - 18:34:03
May I check back with you in 2027? If we're still here?

It's not a joke. I perceive you do not believe me.

Quote from: cgaviria on Wed Jan 09, 2019 - 07:15:13
It's not a joke. I perceive you do not believe me.

I believe you believe what you have found.

I desperately want to believe it will be that soon. Today, this very minute if possible.... 8 years is a very long way, away

But I think what he was driving at is many have come to a conclusion of dates based on their studies. Or say a general time line like the one televangelist who for a decade said it will happen in 2018 if not before because of biblical understanding. Well, we are still here, unless the rapture happened and no one was worthy to go? (That is a very decidedly distinct possibility)

I found your study to be quite interesting. And I Pray you are correct but will not count on a date. Not even a specific year.

But pray always that He returns sooner then anyone could expect

Quote from: Ginger Rella on Wed Jan 09, 2019 - 07:22:28
I believe you believe what you have found.

I desperately want to believe it will be that soon. Today, this very minute if possible.... 8 years is a very long way, away

But I think what he was driving at is many have come to a conclusion of dates based on their studies. Or say a general time line like the one televangelist who for a decade said it will happen in 2018 if not before because of biblical understanding. Well, we are still here, unless the rapture happened and no one was worthy to go? (That is a very decidedly distinct possibility)

I found your study to be quite interesting. And I Pray you are correct but will not count on a date. Not even a specific year.

But pray always that He returns sooner then anyone could expect

While there are many theorists that have claimed to know when the Messiah will return, if you haven't noticed by now, most of them will have quacked out reasons why. "Oh because I saw 3 stars, so it will be in 3 years", or "oh, I found a secret bible code that says in 5 years this will happen", etc etc. My explanation as to why I believe what I believe are not quacky, they are solid, because of these reasons:

1. My calculation of the current year since creation using genealogies and timelines of scriptures. It is precise. We are in the Year 5992 YB. I have documented each segment of time from Adam to now in my bible study.
2. My knowledge of when Yovel (jubilee) and Shabbat years are, based on the timelines of Daniel and the passages of the gospels, identifying 26 AD as a Yovel year, in correlation with other historians who have tracked Yovel years, which happen every 50 years according to the Torah, which is also documented in my bible study.
3. My knowledge that the Messiah will come to begin the millennial Shabbat of this heaven and earth, which would thus begin in a Year 6000 YB.
4. The 1290+1335 years of Daniel ends in the same Gregorian year that the Year 6000 YB would begin in.
5. Also the fact that 2026 AD will be precisely 2,000 years since the anointing of the Messiah, that alone is very significant without even looking at the above points I've made.

And there are many other points I could as to why we are close. 8 years is actually not alot of time. But enough time to prepare. Someone who is wise will prepare. Someone who is dumb will ignore these statements and just carry on living his normal routine.

Quote from: cgaviria on Wed Jan 09, 2019 - 16:18:11
While there are many theorists that have claimed to know when the Messiah will return, if you haven't noticed by now, most of them will have quacked out reasons why. "Oh because I saw 3 stars, so it will be in 3 years", or "oh, I found a secret bible code that says in 5 years this will happen", etc etc. My explanation as to why I believe what I believe are not quacky, they are solid, because of these reasons:

1. My calculation of the current year since creation using genealogies and timelines of scriptures. It is precise. We are in the Year 5992 YB. I have documented each segment of time from Adam to now in my bible study.
2. My knowledge of when Yovel (jubilee) and Shabbat years are, based on the timelines of Daniel and the passages of the gospels, identifying 26 AD as a Yovel year, in correlation with other historians who have tracked Yovel years, which happen every 50 years according to the Torah, which is also documented in my bible study.
3. My knowledge that the Messiah will come to begin the millennial Shabbat of this heaven and earth, which would thus begin in a Year 6000 YB.
4. The 1290+1335 years of Daniel ends in the same Gregorian year that the Year 6000 YB would begin in.
5. Also the fact that 2026 AD will be precisely 2,000 years since the anointing of the Messiah, that alone is very significant without even looking at the above points I've made.

And there are many other points I could as to why we are close. 8 years is actually not alot of time. But enough time to prepare. Someone who is wise will prepare. Someone who is dumb will ignore these statements and just carry on living his normal routine.

When you say timeline from the creation, I assume you are talking Adam and forward?

But what date do you give to the actual birth of Jesus? 3 BC or another?  And his crucifixion in 30 AD ... or CE if you prefer?

Quote from: cgaviria on Wed Jan 09, 2019 - 07:15:13It's not a joke. I perceive you do not believe me

Joke? I am sure you have convinced yourself......Are you deceived? yes, you certainly are and so are every other person who thinks they know.

While I believe that Jesus' coming is at hand, near, etc. NO MAN knoweth the day, month, year or even the century as far as that goes~ it's totally hidden from all men and angels, only in the mind of God alone is this known. It was revealed unto Jesus as the Son of God in his humanity as to the nearest of the coming, as he gave to us in Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17 and 21; but as I said above, it is hidden from all including Jesus as far as his humanity goes, and as far as the day and hour, month or even the century~of course, his divinity/deity knew, but not his humanity as the Son of Man~and if he did not know neither do "you"...you do live in a body of flesh do you not? I thought so~even if in your pride you have convinced yourself that you do, you do not, and neither does any man~and I will add.... even if an angel came unto us and tells us that he knows, he does not. God's word has spoken and it is the final word on all doctrines and practical godliness. 2nd Timothy 3:16

Quote from: Ginger Rella on Wed Jan 09, 2019 - 19:04:20
When you say timeline from the creation, I assume you are talking Adam and forward?

But what date do you give to the actual birth of Jesus? 3 BC or another?  And his crucifixion in 30 AD ... or CE if you prefer?

His birth would've bee around 4 BC, because he began his ministry at around 30 years of age, and since there is no year 0, an extra year has to be added going from BC to AD. And his crucifixion was in 30 AD, and his anointing in 26 AD.

Quote from: RB on Thu Jan 10, 2019 - 03:24:48
Joke? I am sure you have convinced yourself......Are you deceived? yes, you certainly are and so are every other person who thinks they know.

While I believe that Jesus' coming is at hand, near, etc. NO MAN knoweth the day, month, year or even the century as far as that goes~ it's totally hidden from all men and angels, only in the mind of God alone is this known. It was revealed unto Jesus as the Son of God in his humanity as to the nearest of the coming, as he gave to us in Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17 and 21; but as I said above, it is hidden from all including Jesus as far as his humanity goes, and as far as the day and hour, month or even the century~of course, his divinity/deity knew, but not his humanity as the Son of Man~and if he did not know neither do "you"...you do live in aa body of flesh do you not? I thought so~even if in your pride you have convinced yourself that you do, you do not, and neither does any man~and I will add.... even if an angel came unto us and tells us that he knows, he does not. God's word has spoken and it is the final word on all doctrines and practical godliness. 2nd Timothy 3:16

The night only has so many hours, so let us say a Master tells his servants, "I am coming in the night!", at 6:00pm the servants do not know if the Master is coming in the beginning of the night or late at night, but then let us say, 9:00pm has now passed, now the servants know the Master was not coming at 9:00pm, then 12:00 am passed, still no Master, now the servants know he was not coming at midnight, then 3:00am passes, still nothing, now the servants know the Master was not coming in all those prior hours of the night.... but then it is 5:00am, now the servants know it is the final hour the Master would come. That is us now, in the final hour, because the latest the Master would come would be the Year 6000, to thus commence the millennial Shabbat of this earth. Any wise man can discern the proximity of the second coming of the Messiah, even the exact year, because God has not left us in the dark in regards to the timing of his events, he gave us his appointed times in the Torah, and timelines through prophets, which any wise man can discern and know when everything will happen with precision. No one knows the exact moment the Messiah will appear, to the exact hour and day, minute and second, but we can discern the year, even the season. Even the Israelites knew when the hour of their deliverance would come, because Abraham was told how long his descendants would be sojourners and servants, "for 400 years".

This is a comment for all those who attempt to set a date for Christ's return in our future:

GO FOR IT.

We would never think of despising a young couple for trying to set a date for their own wedding.  Why should anyone despise any brother or sister who is honestly and fervently seeking to determine just what time the final resurrection occurs which will enable us as resurrected saints to behold our beloved Savior's face in all His glory - the church's own bridegroom?

Even Moses could think of no greater blessing to ask God for than to behold God's face in all it's revealed glory.  What other religion has such a glorious prospect as we have in store for us?  It would be strange indeed if Christians did not long for that day - plan for that day - and search the scriptures for the time of that day's expected arrival.  SO WHAT if every generation has made embarrassingly wrong predictions on setting a date for this?  It's merely a testimony to the universal desire of all God's children to see their Father's face while in a state of glorified, perfected bodies, and rejoice in His presence for all eternity. 

As for the supposed restriction in the "no man knoweth..." phrase, this cannot be assumed as a directive for all generations.  It was merely a *PRESENT TENSE* CONDITION that was true for the people Christ was THEN SPEAKING TO in THAT generation.  But even they would not remain in ignorance of the timing for Christ's second coming for very long after He spoke those words to them.  Once Christ had ascended to the Father from the Mt. of Olives, the Father then told the Son the time of His return to earth.  Christ then gave that information to His "angel" messenger, who gave the information in a vision to John, who wrote it down and gave that Revelation of the time to his first-century generation, since the time was "at hand" in those days (Rev. 1:1-3).

As Ezekiel 12:21-28 spells it out, the words "AT HAND" mean that a vision is fulfilled and performed "IN *YOUR* DAYS".  Using God's definition to Ezekiel of just what His words "AT HAND" mean, Revelation's written prophecies were fulfilled to John's first-century readers -  in THEIR DAYS; they were not "prolonged" into OUR days.  Only the unwritten prophecies of Rev. 10:4 were reserved for a time future to John's first-century generation.  What WE are looking for and expecting is the final THIRD resurrection at the close of the New Covenant age. 

I have no problem with cgaviria's calculation attempts.  The exception I would make to his deductions is that God won't wrap up human history at the end of 6,000 years; He intends to wrap it up at the END of a full "week" of 7,000 years.  The number 8 is usually the symbolic number linked with the idea of new beginnings in scripture (8 people on the ark, circumcision for a baby boy on the 8th day, etc.). 

But I agree with cgaviria's musings about the significance of the year of Jubilee in the 7th month of the year.  It's the day when the Jubilee trumpet was blown, "...and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family": an apt representation of the bodily resurrection at the end of our current New Covenant age, when the last of God's children will return to His family in an incorruptible, resurrected state.

I differ just a bit on how cgaviria arrives at an AD 30 crucifixion date.  Scripture shows us a time gap of a "season" between Christ's anointing at His AD 27 baptism (around 30 yrs. old) and when He started His miraculous ministry at Cana in AD 30 (around 33 yrs. old).  That would mean His crucifixion took place in AD 33 (when Christ was about 36 1/2 yrs. old). 

Though Christ's prophesied anointing at His baptism was both necessary and glorious, I believe scripture highlights the crucifixion and day of Christ's resurrection as the main focal point that our hopes and prophetic dates are to be linked to.  (Paul certainly thought so, when he said his main emphasis to the saints was Jesus Christ and Him crucified - I Cor. 2:2 - and resurrected - I Cor. 15:17.)

If we focus on that AD 33 resurrection date, that means we are soon coming to 2033 as the 6,000-year milestone (in 15 years), with 3033 being the final milestone for the last resurrection at the end of fallen man's history.

A question for you cgaviria: what happens to your calculations if you have to base them on 49-year cycles, instead of 50-year cycles?  In other words, many people (including me) read scripture's calculations as the 50th Jubilee year being actually the same thing as the first year of the very next 49-year cycle.  This would necessarily change things in your date projections, as I think I understand them.  I emphasize 49-year cycles only because God uses multiples of 7 for His scriptural symbolism as representing completeness of anything (such as the 7th day, the 7th month, the 7th year, the 70th year, Daniel's 70-week prophecy of 490 years, the 7 thunders of Rev. 10:4, and as I propose - 7 complete millenniums total for all of fallen man's history before our eternity with God begins).

Quote from: 3 Resurrections on Thu Jan 10, 2019 - 09:56:06
This is a comment for all those who attempt to set a date for Christ's return in our future:

GO FOR IT.

We would never think of despising a young couple for trying to set a date for their own wedding.  Why should anyone despise any brother or sister who is honestly and fervently seeking to determine just what time the final resurrection occurs which will enable us as resurrected saints to behold our beloved Savior's face in all His glory - the church's own bridegroom?

Even Moses could think of no greater blessing to ask God for than to behold God's face in all it's revealed glory.  What other religion has such a glorious prospect as we have in store for us?  It would be strange indeed if Christians did not long for that day - plan for that day - and search the scriptures for the time of that day's expected arrival.  SO WHAT if every generation has made embarrassingly wrong predictions on setting a date for this?  It's merely a testimony to the universal desire of all God's children to see their Father's face while in a state of glorified, perfected bodies, and rejoice in His presence for all eternity. 

As for the supposed restriction in the "no man knoweth..." phrase, this cannot be assumed as a directive for all generations.  It was merely a *PRESENT TENSE* CONDITION that was true for the people Christ was THEN SPEAKING TO in THAT generation.  But even they would not remain in ignorance of the timing for Christ's second coming for very long after He spoke those words to them.  Once Christ had ascended to the Father from the Mt. of Olives, the Father then told the Son the time of His return to earth.  Christ then gave that information to His "angel" messenger, who gave the information in a vision to John, who wrote it down and gave that Revelation of the time to his first-century generation, since the time was "at hand" in those days (Rev. 1:1-3).

As Ezekiel 12:21-28 spells it out, the words "AT HAND" mean that a vision is fulfilled and performed "IN *YOUR* DAYS".  Using God's definition to Ezekiel of just what His words "AT HAND" mean, Revelation's written prophecies were fulfilled to John's first-century readers -  in THEIR DAYS; they were not "prolonged" into OUR days.  Only the unwritten prophecies of Rev. 10:4 were reserved for a time future to John's first-century generation.  What WE are looking for and expecting is the final THIRD resurrection at the close of the New Covenant age. 

I have no problem with cgaviria's calculation attempts.  The exception I would make to his deductions is that God won't wrap up human history at the end of 6,000 years; He intends to wrap it up at the END of a full "week" of 7,000 years.  The number 8 is usually the symbolic number linked with the idea of new beginnings in scripture (8 people on the ark, circumcision for a baby boy on the 8th day, etc.). 

But I agree with cgaviria's musings about the significance of the year of Jubilee in the 7th month of the year.  It's the day when the Jubilee trumpet was blown, "...and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family": an apt representation of the bodily resurrection at the end of our current New Covenant age, when the last of God's children will return to His family in an incorruptible, resurrected state.

I differ just a bit on how cgaviria arrives at an AD 30 crucifixion date.  Scripture shows us a time gap of a "season" between Christ's anointing at His AD 27 baptism (around 30 yrs. old) and when He started His miraculous ministry at Cana in AD 30 (around 33 yrs. old).  That would mean His crucifixion took place in AD 33 (when Christ was about 36 1/2 yrs. old). 

Though Christ's prophesied anointing at His baptism was both necessary and glorious, I believe scripture highlights the crucifixion and day of Christ's resurrection as the main focal point that our hopes and prophetic dates are to be linked to.  (Paul certainly thought so, when he said his main emphasis to the saints was Jesus Christ and Him crucified - I Cor. 2:2 - and resurrected - I Cor. 15:17.)

If we focus on that AD 33 resurrection date, that means we are soon coming to 2033 as the 6,000-year milestone (in 15 years), with 3033 being the final milestone for the last resurrection at the end of fallen man's history.

A question for you cgaviria: what happens to your calculations if you have to base them on 49-year cycles, instead of 50-year cycles?  In other words, many people (including me) read scripture's calculations as the 50th Jubilee year being actually the same thing as the first year of the very next 49-year cycle.  This would necessarily change things in your date projections, as I think I understand them.  I emphasize 49-year cycles only because God uses multiples of 7 for His scriptural symbolism as representing completeness of anything (such as the 7th day, the 7th month, the 7th year, the 70th year, Daniel's 70-week prophecy of 490 years, the 7 thunders of Rev. 10:4, and as I propose - 7 complete millenniums total for all of fallen man's history before our eternity with God begins).

My opinion.... That is a sure way to make certain it is delayed.

With someone spouting this is the year or that is the date continually... it will never happen close to any supposedly prophesied or studied about.

Reason.... Our dear heavenly Father will not allow some mortal to say "I told you so" and take away from what He is planning.

So keep it up and we will be here forever until we totally destroy ourselves and it wont be needed.

Hi Ginger Rella  -

Those are sentiments that I have heard voiced quite often before.  The problem with the idea that we can delay God's program for the ending of this world is that it elevates man's power beyond reason.  We cannot tie God's hands from pursuing His agenda and accomplishing it on His timeline.  And He does have a plan.  Moreover, He does have a pattern of revealing many of His plans to His prophets throughout past history.  Isn't that what the prophet Amos said?  "Surely the Lord God will do nothing , but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

We are entitled to take God's written word entrusted to us and examine the record of all the past prophets to find out Gods message for us in this generation.  He speaks through the pages of His word, which He has magnified above His own name.

I'm going to presume it is not anyone's ulterior purpose on this site to say "I told you so", even if it happens to appear that way in print.  I will continue to believe that those who study this subject are doing so because they are seeking to understand God's words as much as they are able, and by doing so are pursuing a closer relationship with the Author Himself.

I don't dread the plans God has for the continued progress of His kingdom here on earth.  What's to dread?  He promised that the increase of his government and of His peace would have no end, didn't He?  The progress of His kingdom on earth is not affected by the paltry plans of wicked mankind, even in its basest forms. 

"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of justice and judgment in a province, marvel not at the matter: for He that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they."  (Eccl. 5:8)  God's plans always trump everything and everyone else.  No pun intended :-)

Quote from: 3 Resurrections on Thu Jan 10, 2019 - 09:56:06
This is a comment for all those who attempt to set a date for Christ's return in our future:

GO FOR IT.

We would never think of despising a young couple for trying to set a date for their own wedding.  Why should anyone despise any brother or sister who is honestly and fervently seeking to determine just what time the final resurrection occurs which will enable us as resurrected saints to behold our beloved Savior's face in all His glory - the church's own bridegroom?

Even Moses could think of no greater blessing to ask God for than to behold God's face in all it's revealed glory.  What other religion has such a glorious prospect as we have in store for us?  It would be strange indeed if Christians did not long for that day - plan for that day - and search the scriptures for the time of that day's expected arrival.  SO WHAT if every generation has made embarrassingly wrong predictions on setting a date for this?  It's merely a testimony to the universal desire of all God's children to see their Father's face while in a state of glorified, perfected bodies, and rejoice in His presence for all eternity. 

As for the supposed restriction in the "no man knoweth..." phrase, this cannot be assumed as a directive for all generations.  It was merely a *PRESENT TENSE* CONDITION that was true for the people Christ was THEN SPEAKING TO in THAT generation.  But even they would not remain in ignorance of the timing for Christ's second coming for very long after He spoke those words to them.  Once Christ had ascended to the Father from the Mt. of Olives, the Father then told the Son the time of His return to earth.  Christ then gave that information to His "angel" messenger, who gave the information in a vision to John, who wrote it down and gave that Revelation of the time to his first-century generation, since the time was "at hand" in those days (Rev. 1:1-3).

As Ezekiel 12:21-28 spells it out, the words "AT HAND" mean that a vision is fulfilled and performed "IN *YOUR* DAYS".  Using God's definition to Ezekiel of just what His words "AT HAND" mean, Revelation's written prophecies were fulfilled to John's first-century readers -  in THEIR DAYS; they were not "prolonged" into OUR days.  Only the unwritten prophecies of Rev. 10:4 were reserved for a time future to John's first-century generation.  What WE are looking for and expecting is the final THIRD resurrection at the close of the New Covenant age. 

I have no problem with cgaviria's calculation attempts.  The exception I would make to his deductions is that God won't wrap up human history at the end of 6,000 years; He intends to wrap it up at the END of a full "week" of 7,000 years.  The number 8 is usually the symbolic number linked with the idea of new beginnings in scripture (8 people on the ark, circumcision for a baby boy on the 8th day, etc.). 

But I agree with cgaviria's musings about the significance of the year of Jubilee in the 7th month of the year.  It's the day when the Jubilee trumpet was blown, "...and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family": an apt representation of the bodily resurrection at the end of our current New Covenant age, when the last of God's children will return to His family in an incorruptible, resurrected state.

I differ just a bit on how cgaviria arrives at an AD 30 crucifixion date.  Scripture shows us a time gap of a "season" between Christ's anointing at His AD 27 baptism (around 30 yrs. old) and when He started His miraculous ministry at Cana in AD 30 (around 33 yrs. old).  That would mean His crucifixion took place in AD 33 (when Christ was about 36 1/2 yrs. old). 

Though Christ's prophesied anointing at His baptism was both necessary and glorious, I believe scripture highlights the crucifixion and day of Christ's resurrection as the main focal point that our hopes and prophetic dates are to be linked to.  (Paul certainly thought so, when he said his main emphasis to the saints was Jesus Christ and Him crucified - I Cor. 2:2 - and resurrected - I Cor. 15:17.)

If we focus on that AD 33 resurrection date, that means we are soon coming to 2033 as the 6,000-year milestone (in 15 years), with 3033 being the final milestone for the last resurrection at the end of fallen man's history.

A question for you cgaviria: what happens to your calculations if you have to base them on 49-year cycles, instead of 50-year cycles?  In other words, many people (including me) read scripture's calculations as the 50th Jubilee year being actually the same thing as the first year of the very next 49-year cycle.  This would necessarily change things in your date projections, as I think I understand them.  I emphasize 49-year cycles only because God uses multiples of 7 for His scriptural symbolism as representing completeness of anything (such as the 7th day, the 7th month, the 7th year, the 70th year, Daniel's 70-week prophecy of 490 years, the 7 thunders of Rev. 10:4, and as I propose - 7 complete millenniums total for all of fallen man's history before our eternity with God begins).

You're in error in several places, because there are only so many years where the Messiah could've died where the Passover fell on a Wednesday on that particular year, and 30 AD is one such year, with 26 AD as the year of his anointing, which all correlate with precision with the 490 years prophecy of Daniel (70 weeks prophecy). Next, Yovel years, "Jubilee" years, happen every 50 years, not every 49 years, because Shabbat years are every 7 years, making the 49th year the last Shabbat year before before the Yovel, which is why the command of the Torah says, "you shall count seven Shabbat years" and "every seventh year is a Shabbat year", therefore 7 x 7 is 49, meaning the 49th year is the last Shabbat year, then the Yovel year is the 50th year. I have noticed that people who are ignorant to Torah appointed times fall for that false assumption that Yovel years are every 49 years.

cgaviria,

I have a question for you concerning your prediction for the Second Coming. I hope you will check it out on this thread:

http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/end-times-forum/predicting-the-end/msg1055128240/#msg1055128240

Cgaviria  - Guess this is officially off your original topic by now...your call. 

From what I'm aware of, it appears there really has never been a consensus of scholarly opinion on whether the Jubilee cycles were 49 years or 50 years; be those opinions rabbinical sources or not.  The distinction may be crucial to your own calculations as you see them, but on my part, it's not a critical issue.  I see a really strong case for the 49-year cycles, but it's not a hill I need to die on. 

As for the year Christ's ministry started, that's fairly simple to confirm from scripture.  We look at John 2:20 where Christ was at the first Passover of His ministry, shortly after the first miracle at Cana in John 2:11.   The Jews told Jesus at that time, "...Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in 3 days?" 

Considering that Herod began those temple renovations in 17 BC, that dates this first Passover after Christ's ministry started as taking place in AD 30.  A crucifixion date 3 years later in AD 33 aligns perfectly with the 70-week prophecy which started in 454 BC with the 4th decree.  Sixty-nine weeks of years after that 454 BC date was the start of Christ's ministry in AD 30 with the Cana miracle.  His crucifixion in AD 33 provided the midpoint of Daniel's last, 70th week, and AD 37 was the terminus ad quem.   

Again, there seems to have never been a consensus on these dates either; an opportunity for all to extend grace on the subject. 

Quote from: 3 Resurrections on Thu Jan 10, 2019 - 22:34:25
Cgaviria  - Guess this is officially off your original topic by now...your call. 

From what I'm aware of, it appears there really has never been a consensus of scholarly opinion on whether the Jubilee cycles were 49 years or 50 years; be those opinions rabbinical sources or not.  The distinction may be crucial to your own calculations as you see them, but on my part, it's not a critical issue.  I see a really strong case for the 49-year cycles, but it's not a hill I need to die on. 

As for the year Christ's ministry started, that's fairly simple to confirm from scripture.  We look at John 2:20 where Christ was at the first Passover of His ministry, shortly after the first miracle at Cana in John 2:11.   The Jews told Jesus at that time, "...Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in 3 days?" 

Considering that Herod began those temple renovations in 17 BC, that dates this first Passover after Christ's ministry started as taking place in AD 30.  A crucifixion date 3 years later in AD 33 aligns perfectly with the 70-week prophecy which started in 454 BC with the 4th decree.  Sixty-nine weeks of years after that 454 BC date was the start of Christ's ministry in AD 30 with the Cana miracle.  His crucifixion in AD 33 provided the midpoint of Daniel's last, 70th week, and AD 37 was the terminus ad quem.   

Again, there seems to have never been a consensus on these dates either; an opportunity for all to extend grace on the subject.

The Torah is very clear,

Count off seven Shabbat years--seven times seven years--so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. (Leviticus 25:8)

If the 49th year was a Yovel year, then that would mean there were only 6 Shabbat years, because there could only be 7 Shabbat years if the 49th year is a Shabbat year, because 7 times 7 is 49, then, after the 49th year, is the Yovel year, in the 50th year, exactly as it is written,

THEN have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Set apart the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. (Leviticus 25:9-10)

I don't know how much more obvious this can be and why this is even a matter of debate, the truth is laid out in very simple words to understand that Yovel years are every 50 years, not every 49 years. Understand what I am telling you and believe me. I am telling you the truth.

And again, the Messiah died in 30 AD, not in 33 AD. I am currently writing a study on this and will point you to the link once it is complete.

cgaviria  -

Looks as if you and I might be saying the same thing about the Jubilee year, but are miscommunicating about it.  I do agree Jubilee IS the 50th year.  What I'm saying is that the 50th year at the same time was ALSO the same year as the FIRST year of the following 49-year Jubilee cycle.  It's inclusive.  Hope that's not too foggy an explanation.

There's one problem with stating AD 30 as Christ's crucifixion and resurrection year: it is an event that was also part of another timeline (Daniel's 70-weeks prophecy as well as Revelation's declaration of the millennium, which ENDED with the "First Resurrection" of Christ the "Firstfruits" and those Matt. 27:62-53 saints raised with Him.)

If the proposed year for Christ's crucifixion and resurrection does not match for BOTH of these timelines, then the wrong year has been selected. 

The literal 1,000-year millennium of Rev. 20 lasted from Solomon's temple foundation stone being laid in 968/67 BC until AD 33, when Christ's cross-work and resurrection made Him the true Foundation Stone of the temple made without hands (which temple we are).  To prove that 968/67 BC date, we can refer to Theophilus of Antioch's letter to Autolycus with his list of the regnal dates for the kings of Tyre compared to Menander of Ephesus' record of the same list of Tyrian kings in Josephus' work "Against Apion" (in particular taking note of Hiram, king of Tyre's help with Solomon's temple supplies).

This AD 33 year for the end of the Rev. 20 millennium intersects with the 70-weeks prophecy's year for Christ's resurrection.  It must be the same year for both timelines.  It works sort of like a checks-and-balance thing going on with the cross-referencing.

There will come a time where without the mark , you cannot buy or sell.
Literally.

Without having this mark you will not be able to buy groceries etc...

There are already advancements in technology and many people are already taking a microchip in their hands.  Many will say well ... I can still buy without it....

They don't see the progression of it, and there will come a time when, without it, you will be pretty much be excluded from society without it.

What Jesus teaches gives you the answer how you can avoid taking it.
Sell everything you have
Stop working for money '
Work for God, spreading love, helping others, and teaching people everywhere to obey Jesus !

 

  The mark of the beast will be some sorta microchip. The tech for such exists right now.

Quote from: robycop3 on Fri May 24, 2019 - 01:48:11The mark of the beast will be some sorta microchip. The tech for such exists right now.

Prove it with scriptures, which you cannot do. The truth is contained IN the scriptures not outside of them. I'll give you a hint:

Quote from: The HOLY GHOSTZechariah 13:7-10~"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."

"two parts therein shall be cut off and die"~666....

"I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."  A small remnant preserved by God!

Keep listening to other voices other than to the voices in the WORD OF GOD, and you will end up thinking that 666 will be some sorta microchip.

Quote from: RB on Fri May 24, 2019 - 05:34:02
Prove it with scriptures, which you cannot do. The truth is contained IN the scriptures not outside of them. I'll give you a hint:"two parts therein shall be cut off and die"~666....

    God was telling John those things in a way JOHN understood, according to his 1st century knowledge. (Another example of this was in Matt. 24:29 where Jesus said the stars shall fall from the sky. Although Jesus knew it'd be meteors, He used common terminology for a visible falling meteor. His audience didn't know what a star actually is.)  As John was watching the vision, I believe an angel was explaining it to him. For example, John knew the dragon gave the beast his power. And a "mark' can cover a lotta ground, but we must use common sense. A tattoo can be easily duped or obliterated, & a microchip can be custom-made for the user. I believe that'll be the case; people will be paid with "electronic money" added to their chip, which cannot be lost or stolen. And, this EM will be the ONLY legal tender in all businesses. (Except the "black market".)

"I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."  A small remnant preserved by God!

Keep listening to other voices other than to the voices in the WORD OF GOD, and you will end up thinking that 666 will be some sorta microchip.

  The Scripture plainly says 666 is the number of A MAN. And NO, it was NOT Nero. This man hasn't yet been made manifest; in fact, he might not even be born yet.

Quote from: robycop3 on Fri May 24, 2019 - 10:42:46The Scripture plainly says 666 is the number of A MAN.

Okay, I AGREE~a man VOID of the Spirit of God!

Quote from: robycop3 on: Yesterday at 10:42:46And NO, it was NOT Nero.

Okay, I never have mentioned a SINGLE person, as having the mark of the beast, for I KNOW that EVERY man outside of Jesus Christ HAS the MARK OF THE BEAST! Read my post again. The mark of the beast is HUMAN DEPRAVITY that we all are born with.

Quote from: robycop3 on: Yesterday at 10:42:46This man hasn't yet been made manifest; in fact, he might not even be born yet.

Oh, you are so wrong~all that are at enmity against God HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, from CAIN onward!

Quote from: John the beloved apostle1st John 3:9-11~"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."

Based on the teaching of the scriptures of WHAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST consist of~Cain had that mark and all from him who are at enmity against the God of heaven has that mark, they are of the two third...666~only a small remnant are true children of God...the remaining one third.  Read Zechariah 13:7-10 the answer are in those scriptures.

Quote from: RB on Sat May 25, 2019 - 08:48:38
.Oh, you are so wrong~all that are at enmity against God HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, from CAIN onward!

Are you saying that all with enmity against God actually possess this mark currently? In either their right hands or foreheads?

And how does this mark you say they have compare to that of

Revelation 13:16-17
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Quote from: seekingHiswisdom on Sat May 25, 2019 - 09:16:22
Are you saying that all with enmity against God actually possess this mark currently? In either their right hands or foreheads?

And how does this mark you say they have compare to that of

Revelation 13:16-17
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Greetings seekingHiswisdom and welcome to the forum. In a few words:

I do after almost forty-five years of studying the scriptures. It was a long process of learning going from Premill to  Amill a slow process of learning~ which has helped me to be merciful to those who do not see what I see in the scriptures concerning such things. Conversion to the truth takes TIME and is never perfected in this world living in a body of sin and death.

Brother, the mark in the right hand signfies fellowship with the beast (antichrist religion under the power of the Devil). Consider:

Quote from: PaulGalatians 2:9~"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

In the forehead speaks of AGREEMENT having the same minds in corrupting the holy scriptures for their own personal advantage! Those who do NOT have this mark CANNOT be part of the beast kingdom in the last days. The false churches DO NOT want people in them that stands FAST for the word of God~if you want to move freely and fellowship in the last day churches you can only do so by believing as do and standing against the people of God as being over righteous people both in practical living and in their doctrine.

Quote from:  seekingHiswisdom on: Today at 09:16:22Are you saying that all with enmity against God actually possess this mark currently? In either their right hands or foreheads?

Yes. Some have NOT had the opportunity to prove it, but would given that opportunity. 

Quote from: cgaviria on Mon Jan 07, 2019 - 11:55:24
I have written a bible study on what is the "mark of the beast", why it is evil, how it is nearly impossible to buy or sell without it, what the "right hand" and "forehead" symbolize, and what 666 means.

Check out the study here http://www.wisdomofgod.us/2019/01/07/what-the-mark-of-the-beast-is-and-the-meaning-of-666/ .

Also available in Spanish here http://www.sabiduriadedios.com/2019/01/07/lo-que-es-la-marca-de-la-bestia-y-el-significado-de-666/ .

Could it be as simple as no Sabbath? No 7th day?

Ez. 20:19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

No Sabbath of God before the Christ became a man.

Matt. 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

No Sabbath of God after the Christ became a man.

And certainly no Sabbath of God today. 3 generations of folks, all despise His Sabbath, His 7th day. Even as the Christ pleaded with all mankind.

Is. 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

A man can not buy and sell on God's Holy Sabbath unless He rejects the 7th day. Could the mark of the beast simply be 6? No Sabbath? A great religion who comes in Christ's Name, claiming He is truly the Christ, that preaches there is no longer a 7th day Sabbath?

There are certainly billions who believe just that.

Quote from: GB on Sat May 25, 2019 - 16:27:23Could it be as simple as no Sabbath? No 7th day?

No, for a few reasons. NT Christians are NOT under the Jewish Sabbath as they had to observed it~that was strictly given to them and them alone. Even though we agree that we SHOULD rest our bodies one out of seven days whatever your day is off from work~some work for companies that they are forced to work on either Saturday, or Sunday, or BOTH, but do have a day off during the week~hospitals, law enforcement, etc. The Sabbath was made for MAN, not man for the Sabbath. We DO need a day to rest our bodies and to meditate on the word of God, which during a work week it is harder to do.

Whatever position one takes on the mark of the beast they must have scriptures to support their position, or else, they have NOT yet come to the knowledge of that particular doctrine.

Quote from: RB on Sat May 25, 2019 - 08:48:38
Okay, I AGREE~a man VOID of the Spirit of God! Okay, I never have mentioned a SINGLE person, as having the mark of the beast, for I KNOW that EVERY man outside of Jesus Christ HAS the MARK OF THE BEAST! Read my post again. The mark of the beast is HUMAN DEPRAVITY that we all are born with.Oh, you are so wrong~all that are at enmity against God HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, from CAIN onward! Based on the teaching of the scriptures of WHAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST consist of~Cain had that mark and all from him who are at enmity against the God of heaven has that mark, they are of the two third...666~only a small remnant are true children of God...the remaining one third.  Read Zechariah 13:7-10 the answer are in those scriptures.

  No, the mark of the beast is still future, as is the beast himself. Ditch the symbolism & face REALITY.

  Most likely, that mark will be some sorta implantable microchip. The tech already exists for such. And we are drifting toward a cashless society right now.

Quote from: robycop3 on Mon May 27, 2019 - 01:10:17No, the mark of the beast is still future, as is the beast himself.

Prove it with the word of God, or else, your position is a lie. If you have the truth, then the scriptures will support your words. Every man is born with the mark of the beast.......the Devil, it is called HUMANITY DEPRAVITY! It is the number of a MAN....a man born through the posterity of the first Adam.

You have been reading too many of Tim Laynes' Left Behind fiction series of apocalyptic, or following others that have. Christians live by every word of God, not false dreams of false prophets who base their beliefs on assumptions, and words of men void of the Spirit of God.

Quote from: robycop Reply #31 on: Today at 01:10:17Ditch the symbolism & face REALITY.

That's the way the book of Revelation was written using highly symbolical language ~our duty is to take the SCRIPTURES and allow them to interpret John's use of such words and THEY WILL. Truth is hidden IN THE SCRIPTURES using such language. That's why we use Zechariah 13:7-10 to interpret Revelation 13:18 which the OVERALL CONTEXT from that chapter would support our use of the prophet Zachariah's words that he wrote about under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

Quote from: robycop Reply #31 on: Today at 01:10:17Most likely, that mark will be some sorta implantable microchip. The tech already exists for such.

By your own words your beliefs are based upon pure assumption, nothing more. well, your assumption is no better than the man under a bridge with a bottle of whiskey in his hand preaching to other drunks with him.

QuoteAnd we are drifting toward a cashless society right now.

So, that proves no Bible doctrine whatsoever. But I will say this~CASH IS KING, always has been, always will be. There MUST BE CASH in some form (precious metal, land, houses, etc.) to purchase what people lust after, or even need to live on~not only that most of the world NEEDS CASH, since the majority (poor, below average people) have NO bank accounts~their only means of purchasing is through CASH, what little they may have. I read even this week that most people (40%!) could not cover four hundred dollars emergency expense~they live from week to week, many from day to day, that seems high, but being a small business owner, I believe it is correct, since some of my men borrow money almost daily from me. Consider:   https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/22/pf/emergency-expenses-household-finances/index.html  The poor, or below average will always be with us until the very end, that means cash will also be here in some form or another. Gold, silver and other precious metals, rubies, diamonds, etc. will never go away and their value will continue to climb. If you desire to purchase a Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card, then you will need CASH and a lot of it to do so.

Quote from: robycop Reply #31 on: Today at 01:10:17cashless society

Not coming.

  You're simply incorrect. Scripture says the false prophet, the antichrist's sidekick, will issue the mark of the beast. They haven't yet come. And, of course, a microchip would've meant nothing to John.
  You're making the mistake of "symbolizing" too much Scripture. God's word consists of ABSOLUTES. Men reduce "inconvenient" Scriptures to "symbolic/figurative" status so it'll fit their own agendas and inventions. However, it doesn't work that way. All of God's word is absolutely true, & what symbolism there is always represents a LITERAL person, thing, or event.
  And the antichrist will be one man, as Daniel mentions, Paul mentions, and Revelation mentions. And the idea that everyone is born with the mark of the beast is absurd. If that were true, no one would be saved, as Scripture says all who TAKE the mark will be condemned.
  Try BELIEVING the Scriptures you read, and studying some history.

Quote from: robycop3 on Sat Jun 01, 2019 - 09:07:11
  You're simply incorrect. Scripture says the false prophet, the antichrist's sidekick, will issue the mark of the beast. They haven't yet come. And, of course, a microchip would've meant nothing to John.
  You're making the mistake of "symbolizing" too much Scripture. God's word consists of ABSOLUTES. Men reduce "inconvenient" Scriptures to "symbolic/figurative" status so it'll fit their own agendas and inventions. However, it doesn't work that way. All of God's word is absolutely true, & what symbolism there is always represents a LITERAL person, thing, or event.

And others literalize too much to the extent that scripture becomes impossible to make any sense of, and they do this to fit their own agendas and inventions.

The plainer and more literal sections of scripture should interpret those that are less plain and those that are written in poetic or apocalyptic style. If the literalizing of a passage results in a contradiction with another passage, or if it results in an impossibility, then that literalizing should be abandoned in favor of a more figurative view.

Quote
  And the antichrist will be one man, as Daniel mentions, Paul mentions, and Revelation mentions. And the idea that everyone is born with the mark of the beast is absurd. If that were true, no one would be saved, as Scripture says all who TAKE the mark will be condemned.
  Try BELIEVING the Scriptures you read, and studying some history.

1 John 2:18.
Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.