Will this be during the tribulation?
Revelation 13:16 - 18
ESV - 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead. 17 So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
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The tribulations of 7 years (immediately after rapture) are divided into 3 stages as follows. Middle of the tribulations, the mark of the beast is enforced. Please read further in point 2 for more details. ➤1. The covenant between Antichrist and Israel (Dan. 9:27). The terms of this covenant are not listed, but it is clear it will be a non-aggression pact, perhaps even a military alliance that will enable the Antichrist to gain power over the 10 kingdoms during the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week (Dan. 7:23-24; 8:23-25 Rev. 17:8-17). It will include the protection of Israel in their national establishment and restoration and assure them at least temporary peace (Dan. 8:25; 9:27; 11:36-45). The length of the covenant is to be 7 years (Dan. 9:27). ➤2. The middle of the week (Dan. 9:27). The Antichrist in 3 1/2 years gets power over the 10 kingdoms (Dan. 7:23-24 Rev. 17:8-17). He then breaks his covenant with Israel, enters and takes over Palestine, and makes the Jewish temple his capital building (Dan. 7:21-25; 8:9-14,22-25; 9:27; 11:36-45 Mt. 24:15-24 2Th. 2:3-4 Rev. 13:1-18; 17:8-17). He will then do away with all Jewish sacrifices in the temple and set himself and his image in the temple to be worshiped as God. THIS IS THE TIME-FRAME WHEN ANTI-CHRIST enforce the mark of the beast. This will continue 2,300 evenings and mornings, or 3 years, 2 months, and 10 days of the 1,260 days of the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week (Dan. 8:9-14; 9:27; 11:45; Mt. 24:15-22 2Th. 2:3-4 Rev. 13:1-18). See 2,300 Days Not 2,300 Years. ➤ 3. The end of the 70th week (Dan. 9:27). The beast worship and the abomination will continue from the middle of the 70th week through the judgments that will be poured out upon the one making the temple desolate (Dan. 9:27). These judgments will consist of the plagues caused by the 2 witnesses (Rev. 11:3-11) and the vial judgments (Rev. 15--Rev. 16) ending with Antichrist's defeat and destruction at Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-16; 19:11-21 Zech. 14).
You will get one of 3 answers on when people will be asked to take the mark of the beast in relation to the rapture. Some see the rapture as the church being spared the persecution that is coming, others that we will endure it till Christ comes to repossess the land of Israel and reign here on earth from the throne of David for 1000 years of heavenly peace. It is clear that we will rise to meet Messiah in the air (not outer space nor in Heaven) when we die or He comes. The question is if that Rapture is just the gathering of troops to accompany our King to the great last battle against the foes of Israel and His people. I believe that is so, but also the Rapture entails more than gathering or hiding from tribulations. Whether we die or rise to meet with our Redeemer, we as athletes in His kingdom will face the books being opened and prizes of authority, crowns, awarded to those He can trust to serve with Him in the battle to come.
I personally believe the Church will be raptured before the antichrist is revealed. From my understanding 2 Thessalonians was written to reassure the Thessalonian believers that the "day of Christ" (prominent in 1st Thessalonians) had not passed and the persecutions they were presently experiencing was not that of the great tribulation or "day of the Lord". i.e. Paul was reassuring them that they had not missed it. 2 Thessalonians 2 deals specifically with the day of the Lord including the indicators and events leading up to it. v. 3 states that day will not come until there is a falling away first. (apostasy) v 4. the antichrist's opposition and self exaltation of himself above all that is called God even showing himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:5 "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?" 2 Thessalonians 2:6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." 2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." 2 Thessalonians 2:8 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" The word withholdeth in v. 6 is the same as letteth In v. 7, the Greek is kä-te'-khō. According to BLB.org biblical usage is: I.to hold back, detain, retain A.from going away B.to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of) i.that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance ii.to check a ship's headway i.e. to hold or head the ship C.to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of II.to get possession of, take A.to possess We know that the eternal plan of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and his effectual working in and through his true Church is the only restraining power in the world today. When his restraining power is removed it will not be long until there is literal "hell on earth". If "He", the Holy Spirit is removed, this would necessitate removal of those who are indwelled by/with "Him". I think believers will be 'outa here! 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.
It will happen in the middle of the Tribulation. If you read down to Rev 13:5, it clearly indicates that the Anti-Christ was "given authority to continue for forty-two months. The "mark of the beast" happens in Rev 13:16 when the Anti-Christ and his world system are firmly in place and ruling the world. Then, thankfully, Jesus returns.
Rapture before the Great Tribulation. The Great tribulation is still to come. Mat 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. from the beginning –from beginning till before Jesus until now- At the time of Jesus and never to be equaled again- In the future after Jesus (our time) We have seen and heard of tribulations in our life time but Jesus said what is coming will be worse. So there is a Great tribulation coming. Will we escape it? Two examples Jesus use about His Coming. When God’s people were taken away, the trouble started. This is what Jesus said. He will come first to fetch the saved ones (including all children), dead (bodies) or alive saints from the earth. Like a thief in the night. “And they (the unsaved ones) knew not” They only discovered afterwards what happened. A thief takes what don’t belong to him, but Jesus will take what belongs to Him. Example 1. Noah, save in the ark above the storm Mat 24:39 They knew nothing--until the flood hit and swept everything away. "The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Mat 24:42 So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. Mat 24:43 But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Mat 24:44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Example 2. Lot, safe and untouched by the fire. Outside of Sodom Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Forerunners of Anti-Christ The Rapture, The anti-Christ, Great tribulation The Second Coming,....,...................
Under the question, “What is the Mark of the Beast?” you will find various answers ranging from something symbolic to a literal mark, either on the right hand or the forehead. The word, ‘mark’, is defined as: “a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp…” – Strong’s. Since we know that no one can buy or sell unless they are “given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead” (Rev. 13:16-17 NASB), it has to be visible – something that a vendor can observe to know the transaction is legal. Additionally, and of much greater consequence, the Mark of the Beast will signify eternal damnation to those who accept it (Rev. 14:9-10). It is eternal for those who ‘receive’ the Mark (Rev. 14:11-12). You cannot receive a symbol. Note, in vs. 12, that resistance to the Mark of the Beast is a ‘call’ for the endurance of the Saints. The Amplified version makes it a little clearer: “Here [comes in a call for] the steadfastness of the saints – the patience, the endurance of the people of God – those who (habitually) keep God’s commandments and [their] faith in Jesus.” The consensus of those responding to the question of when will people be asked to take the Mark of the Beast is, during the last half of the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a 7 yr. Period of yet to be fulfilled prophecy regarding end times. The Antichrist, who will require people to take the Mark of the Beast, is given authority for 42 months, beginning at the mid-point of the Tribulation, to persecute the saints (Rev. 13:5-6; 7-8). What has been at issue is, will these saints include the Church? Beginning with the responses to Cindy Jennings answer, followed by the responses to JD’s answer, and moving, ultimately to the ‘Discuss’ tab, there is a thorough analysis of the verses that answer this question. In the interest of brevity, I will present a summary of what I believe was concluded. You can examine the details for yourself. 1. The Rapture occurs after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). 2. The great multitude in Rev. 7:9 includes the Church. These have just “come out of the Great Tribulation” (the last half of the Tribulation – Rev. 7:13-14). They are dressed in white robes, indicating the Rapture has not yet occurred, because the “dead in Christ” are also dressed in white robes (Rev. 6:9-10; 11) as opposed to the Raptured Church dressed in fine linen (Rev. 19:7-8). 3. Therefore: The Church will be required to face the Mark of the Beast. Of course it is incumbent upon believers to keep vigil for the return of our Lord, but it seems to me, it is prudent to know ahead of time, what we will have to face. My biggest fear is that believers would unknowingly accept the Mark of the Beast. Given the severity of the choice, I can’t imagine our Lord would allow anyone (believer or not) to make that choice without knowing the facts. Isaiah 1:18
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