Matthew wrote:
In relation to the Mark of the Beast I don't see it speaking about having too much TV or football or Facebook in one's life but instead possibly facing a person holding a sword at the base of your neck, or threatening to tie you down on to a human-sized guillotine, asking you the question "do you follow the Antichrist or Yahweh?" Saying one follows the Antichrist and his rules is acceptance of the Mark of the Beast.
Belief is not enough. Even Satan believes in YHWH. Knowledge isn't enough either. Satan knows more than we ever will.
The body already has plenty of marks/signs that identify you and ways to track whether we follow YHWH (or not assuming men are the audience). Anything I type into this machine is permanently recorded and scanned. Fingerprints, DNA, Retnal Scans, and cell phones all identify us and don't require any external marks. Seeing our technology in action would look like marks and signs of the beast to the prophets. YHWH's mark is literal even if we don't see it.
Speaking of signs, there was once a wicked and adulterous generation that asked for a “Sign.” Every generation has an antichrist and they always represent the entire system. Nazis, Hutus, Crusaders, Mongol Hordes, all the way back to Nimrod and Mystery Babylon.
Now back to actionable items for everyday life. Every program or movie we watch on TV, everything written at home and at work, every purchase made, civil and medical history- all tell our life stories and which mark we have. First, we all should pray that we will be spared the torment of the tribulation (which will make the discussion of little consequence). Secondly, upon reading the posts it seems that people believe there will be a clear black or white heroic choice we all get the opportunity to make at some future point in time. What if that choice is never made clear to us? What if we die before that time?
Rarely does Satan tempt us under duress with black and white choices. Everyone wants to die a hero. . . better yet a martyr and he knows that. His method is pervasive and subtle- the kind of corruption that corrodes from the bone and the system that has matured in our day does this very well. Do we scream with passion when we pray to YHWH as when a favorite team wins a championship? Why pay honor to an ungodly man simply because (with steroids) he can kick a ball? How many of the godly men from the Bible loved sports?
What kind of music did Yahshua sing? How about David?
What kind of music can we listen to today? Do the writers live godly lives? Christian music blasphemes the entire time with songs of worship for Jesus (the horse in Hebrew- symbol of war definitely not a lamb). Someone we’ve all read once wrote: “How much poison can you ingest before it kills you?” Isn't this the yeast we should be avoiding?
Listen closely to the lyrics of today's (and yesterday's) songs, then do a search to listen to them backwards.
After this test, we had to burn all of ours.
Look around the house for idols. I’m guessing there’s no buddah or cross, but are the kids playing with dolls/action figures? Research their origins. Judge the culture they teach. Are our kids learning to love an idol and what it represents?
Had to burn them too. . .
TV creates a clear example and test. Before you begin, google subliminal messages on TV and watch some of the videos.
Even without using subliminal messages:
How long does it take to break YHWH's law?
Turn off your TV when see the first transgression:
Whenever it blasphemes.
Whenever it works on the Shabat.
Whenever it attempts to stimulate lust.
Whenever it mocks.
Whenever it gossips.
Whenever it provokes jealousy. Makes you want things you do not have even though you do not need them.
Whenever it portrays murder for your enjoyment.
Whenever it commits adultery for you pleasure.
The T.V. is a demon in the corner. It will not bring one single godly thing into your house.
If you need more convincing, research about kids cartoons with sexual content, witchcraft, violence or paganism.
We didn’t burn this but we cancelled the satellite and it only plays our home videos now.
Knowing that we will be held to account for every “argos (inactive, unemployed, lazy, useless, barren, idle, slow) word, what do we tell our “friends” in facebook? Matthew 12:36
How about family? Is this the heavy yoke that binds us to unbelievers? Yahshua offers to take it from us.
I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father* against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. (Luke 12:49-53)The more we loved YHWH, the more they hated us so we cut our ties 10 years ago.
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his- 4716 "Stauros-a stake or post(as set upright), i.e. (spec.) a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); fig. exposure to death, i.e. SELF DENIAL; by impl. the atonement of Christ: -cross" and follow me. Mark 8:34 We burned all our CD's, DVD's, pagan toys, pagan books, pagan clothes, art, Jewelry, Tefilin, Magen David, and we cancelled the TV. What might seem like a sacrifice (on multiple levels) was the most freeing and liberating day of our lives. Our relationship with YHWH has grown because he opened our eyes and provoked our spirits so we could see the true nature of everything separating us from him. We threw out the old wineskin on YOM KIPUR, and have been drinking the new wine ever since.