Question of the Week: Is it possible to accidentally take the Mark of the Beast?

No. The first time the Mark of the Beast is mentioned and defined in scripture is Revelation 13:15-17. Therefore all of our understanding of what it is and isn’t should be defined through this passage and those to follow. The way people take the Mark of the Beast is explained within that passage. Revelation 13:15 If you don’t worship the Image of the Beast, you will be killed. It follows that in the Antichrist’s kingdom, those who take the Mark will be spared. People who take the Mark will do so under the threat of death. The immediate next chapter details how the gospel will be shared during this time in the Tribulation. Literal Angels will be warning people across the globe exactly what will happen if they take the Mark long-term. Revelation 14:9 If you worship the Image of the Beast, you will face the wrath of God. Taking the Mark involves worshipping his Image. We have no reason to believe this is symbolic, since idols have been set up in the Jewish Temple before in history where people were threatened with death if they didn’t worship it. This was first detailed in Daniel 9-11 and repeated by Jesus in Matthew 24 as the Abomination that Causes Desolation. The Mark of the Beast is an afterthought to the real action that permanently severs your relationship with God. You can’t accidentally worship the Image of the Beast in the rebuilt Jewish Temple and personally recognize the new world leader as the True and Living God. Therefore, you can’t accidentally take the Mark of the Beast.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: What did Paul the Apostle mean when he described himself as a drink offering?

2 Timothy 4:6 is a statement Paul the Apostle made at the end of his life in a Roman prison. After his second trial before Nero, he was sentenced to death by beheading since his Roman citizenship protected him from being crucified. Nonetheless, he was also an ethnic Jew who studied under the most prominent Rabbi Gamaliel at the time. In his final letter to his disciple Timothy, he naturally would make as many references to the Old Testament he spent his childhood studying that he could get away with. This particular reference to a drink offering was the measure of wine that would be brought to accompany freewill offerings. As the name suggests, they were not mandatory. They were simply explained as something they could do during the times of the feasts or anytime they wanted to be thankful to God for their relationship with Him. This sacrifice was essentially a barbeque that the individuals would eat at the Temple after the priests had ceremoniously prepared it and dedicated it to God. Even in the modern day, some preparation of meat-based meals wash the food in wine or beer as it’s being prepared. This not only enhances the flavor, but also the smell of the meat as it’s being cooked. The purpose of this is two-fold. In a practical sense, it made the time the family bringing the sacrifice to worship and be thankful to God able to enjoy the experience all the more. In a spiritual sense, it was a picture of God’s perspective on our prayers. From Exodus all the way to Revelation, the prayers of the priests on behalf of the people of Israel is described as a sweet smelling aroma to Him.
2 Corinthians 2:15
Numbers 15:3
This word picture emphasizes the same reality that would take place as this offering of wine was poured over the sacrifice while it was being burned/cooked on the altar. Going back then to Paul’s reference to himself as a drink offering, there are aspects of this that certainly don’t fit his current circumstances. He isn’t a literal eighth of a barrel of wine being poured over an offering to God in the Temple. Our first test then considered, we move from the literal to hyperbole and symbolism with a complete understanding of the context. His life was about to end concerning this earthly ministry God called him to. His blood was going to be poured out until his body would no longer sustain him and his consciousness went to be with the Lord. The laying down of his life for the gospel was one he freely choose to do. The example Paul sought to follow in life and death was the Lord Jesus’. We clarify these points simply by reading the next two verses.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Therefore, Paul’s point in calling himself a drink offering was that he was freely giving His life out of gratitude for God doing the same for him.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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Question of the Week: Is there biblical evidence that we will see our pets again in Heaven?

The Bible doesn’t say explicitly. When a question is asked about a matter we don’t know, we need to fall back on what we do know for certain in order to come to an informed and reasonable conclusion. It is also important to remember that these kind of conclusions are not the sort of things we should divide fellowship over. The only things we need to acknowledge as a fellowship are the reasons we come to these conclusions, not the conclusion itself. With all of that said, the conclusion on this question for our fellowship personally is that we will see our pets again in Heaven. The reasons we have come to that conclusion are all things even that people who disagree with the conclusion will agree on.
Fact #1: There are literal animals in Heaven. Revelation 19:11-14
Fact #2: God values the relationships we have with animals. Proverbs 12:10
Fact #3: All of Creation will benefit from the New Creation. Romans 8:20-25
For these reasons and others, we form an understanding of what we don’t know from what we do know. If there are animals in Heaven, then it follows that our pets could be some of them. If God sees our relationship with animals as a reflection of a right relationship with Him, it is unreasonable to think that He would cut us off from those relationships forever without rejecting a relationship with Him themselves. And if all Creation looks forward to our redemption, it follows that it would also benefit from it in some way. If you come to different conclusions from these passages, we can have a reasonable discussion as to why. The key is that our positions beyond the Bible are Biblically informed.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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Question of the Week: Is the Coronavirus a part of End Time Prophecy?

Yes and no. We want to avoid the easy error called newspaper eschatology. Which is when someone looks at everything and anything wrong with the world and uses it as proof that the End Times are near. We want a biblical approach towards prophecy. We also need to avoid a reactionary one. The truth is that outbreaks of pestilences in increasing intensity and frequency would be one of the signs Jesus told us to look for in order to know the time of His return was drawing near. (Matthew 24:3-7, Luke 21:10-11) However, many pestilences that have broken out and died down after some time over the past decade. This follows the pattern of sorrows, or birthpains, that Jesus told us to look for. That is where our eyes should be. Noticing the pattern and expecting Jesus. If you’re looking for a verbal prediction of a form of SARS that broke out due to the negligence of the Chinese government and popularized by the 24 hour news cycle, you won’t find it. Jesus didn’t tell us these things were coming so we would know when to panic. He told us these things for the same reason He predicted anything about the future.
1. To verify the truthful claims He made about our future with Him.
2. To demonstrate He has a perspective that goes beyond time.
3. To cause us to look up and live like He could take us to be with Him today.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

[email protected]

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

Follow on CCF Facebook: facebook.com/ccftucson
Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.