COVID and the ‘mark of the beast’

In recent times I have received a few inquiries with what some may consider a very strange question – Is the COVID vaccine related to, or a part of the “mark of the beast” cited in the Book of Revelation. To put the question in context let’s begin by looking at what Revelations actually says about the “mark of the beast.”

Revelations 13: 11-18 says the following:

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

After reading this scripture and understanding a bit of its background, I am amazed that there would be the suggestion of an equation between the two. I do understand that some people are of the opinion that the COVID vaccine could be serving as a precursor that prepares the world for the eventual implementation of this system that forces everyone to comply with and submit to the “beast” – or they cannot buy or sell; they are persecuted and tortured and put to death.

I do understand suspicion of motives when it comes to pharmaceutical companies and various social and political entities and elites. History has recorded some pretty dastardly deeds on the part of a variety of players. We are all aware of the Tuskegee experiment, now referred to as the “USPHS syphilis Study at Tuskegee”. The Tuskegee experiment began in 1932, at a time when there was no known treatment for syphilis, a contagious venereal disease. After being recruited by the promise of free medical care, 600 African American men in Macon County, Alabama, were enrolled in the project which aimed to study the full progression of the disease. Doctors from the United States Public Health Service, which was running the study, informed the participants – 399 men with latent syphilis, and a control group of 201 others were were free of the disease – they were being treated for bad blood, a term commonly used in the area at the time to refer to a variety of ailments. The men were monitored by health workers but only given placebos such as aspirin and mineral supplements, despite the fact that penicillin became the recommended treatment for syphilis in 1947, some 15 years into the study.

There are many other examples, historically, of clandestine operations that involved sterilization, drug experiments and more.

I myself harbor some suspicion of such entities because I know how powerful the profit motive is. And in fields such as medicine, I am aware of the push not for health, but to sell drugs and perform procedures that are good for the bottom line and not necessarily the patient. I am well aware that the pharmaceutical industry will generate between 50 and 75 billion dollars in revenue related to vaccines over the next few years.

All of these issues could raise red flags, but the big question being asked here is whether there is an equation or correlation here as it relates to COVID. I have no idea how COVID entered the human race – I have suspicions – but no guaranteed proven origin. The theory of Wuhan lab leak seems plausible, but I do not know for sure. It does not appear from my rudimentary deductions that this was all planned to introduce new vaccines to serve as a vehicle for the mark of the beast. It just does not make sense to me. In the beginning, conspiracy theorists were convinced that it was related to 5G technology, then it was something else and something else; the goalposts kept moving and it seems every week there is a new theory, so I do not see where there is a correlation.

What seems more likely to me is that a pandemic arrived and swept the world – as has occurred intermittently over the years – and, in fact, we were due for one for some time. It also appears to me that the development of the vaccine is the result of the massive death toll and the fear of an even greater death toll, so many protocols were adjusted to allow for a faster than usual turnaround for vaccines. I agree 100 percent that these vaccines are experimental, and no one knows the long-term effect. I agree that there are unknown risks, but I also believe that so far it seems that especially for older adults, the vaccine seems to be helping people avoid severe illness and death. I have no evidence at the moment of a nefarious plans behind the vaccine. It appears that the vaccines are reducing death rates and allowing for a gradual return to normalcy. I have seen a lot of suspicion, speculation, conjecture and even fabrication, but no concrete evidence of a grand clandestine plan to injure or enslave the world.

If we look at the scripture about the “mark of the beast”, the “mark of the beast” follows some very obvious and dramatic events and the mark is not snuck in unawares. It is clear that the “beast” is very visible and direct about what is happening even though there is some deception involved in his rise to power. It speaks very clearly of the “beast” performing remarkable signs that sway people into submitting to him. To date, there is no obvious evidence of the emergence of this “beast” or any signs he has or will perform. The only thing I see is a plethora of scientists around the world in a mad dash to stop people from dying and cause the world to return to normal.

There are differences of opinion among scientists and some strong opinions that the vaccine is not necessary, but my problem right now is that I have family members, church members, associates and friends who have either died or are severely ill because of COVID. Some are what are called “long haulers” who months later are dealing with seizures, lung failure, debilitating illnesses, brain fog and the like. I cannot equate this with what I see in the Book of Revelation. Furthermore, the scripture in Revelation is very specific about the mark being applied to the forehead and right hand. There is no indication of it being applied to the arm by a needle and stealthily administered without our knowledge.

There are indeed many questions, mysteries and wonderings associated with the vaccine but none of it equates to the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the book of Revelation. COVID is obviously not a hoax – it is a very real threat, and it is not true that everyone stands a 99 percent chance of not getting it or dying. The older you are, the more the percentages rise and when you add comorbidities, the percentage for certain populations could be as high as 25 percent. All of the information about the disease and the vaccine must be carefully weighed by each of us and each person I would advise to make their decision carefully and prayerfully. According to the Bible, when the “mark of the beast” arrives it will certainly not be a secret and the world will not be duped into accepting it. It will be a clear edict and the consequences will be spelled out.

I prayed and hoped there would be a simple solution or cure introduced where we would not need a vaccine. But while there have been many reports of treatments that have been effective, their overall effectiveness rate has not translated into people not getting sick and dying in alarming numbers. I hope and pray there is still a solution where a vaccine is not necessary – but until that time the principle of vaccine has proven its efficacy. The new MRNA and DNA vaccines obviously raise questions because they are experimental and very new, but until an alternative is introduced, many people will make their decision comparing sickness and death by COVID to potential risks of the vaccine. As far as the “mark of the beast” – we are not there yet.

• Pastor Dave Burrows is senior pastor at Bahamas Faith Ministries International. Feel free to email comments, whether you agree or disagree, to pastordaveburrows@hotmail.com. I appreciate your input and dialogue. We become better when we discuss, examine and exchange.  

The post COVID and the ‘mark of the beast’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/covid-and-the-mark-of-the-beast/