Today, we discuss the ‘End Times’ and ‘Mark of the Beast.’
But first, let me begin by looking at a non-biblical viewpoint of the herd mentality. The expression ‘herding mentality’ is relatively modern, whereas expressions like ‘mob behavior’ date further back in our history. The two expressions are talking about much the same conduct.
Here is a comment from an experiment made by Leeds University:
“The results of this experiment showed that it only takes 5% of confident-looking and instructed people to influence the direction of the other 95% of people in the crowd, and the 200 volunteers did this without even realizing it.[1]”
The above illustrates how and why people will gravitate toward a herd (mob) mentality without realizing they are doing so. On the other hand, below is a scriptural example of forced herding:
“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”[2]
A biblical example of forced herding. No mark, no buying!
My opinion of the COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent lockdown, is that it was a forced herding. I am not placing a value judgment on what took place; it is just a feeling I have about the debacle. Think of it: Without hesitation, every government in the world, save one or two, instituted a forced lockdown. People had to obey their governments irrespective of the individual’s opinions. Disobey, and you are a criminal.
Now consider this scripture:
“You can be certain that in the last few days, there will be some very hard times. People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything good. They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real. Don’t have anything to do with such people.”
So, the scripture says there is a time ahead of us known as ‘the last days.’ As in the above scripture, we have a fairly detailed view of how people will behave in the future. Many scriptures speak of the times before the end. The scripture above warns us not to follow the herd; our sights must be on God, our trust must be in God alone, and our focus must be on this relationship. You and I need no other preparation for the times ahead. It is now where our focus must always be and continue to be as tomorrow becomes now, the next day becomes now, and so on.
Eschatology[3] is the biblical study of the end times, and while everything written in the Bible needs your reading, I believe that is not where your focus should be. Over the ages, many have predicted the dates of the end times – and none were correct; why? Because that is not how God intended it to be. Read this scripture:
“The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not. When people say to you, “Look there,” or “Look here,” don’t go looking for him. The day of the Son of Man will be like lightning flashing across the sky. But first he must suffer terribly and be rejected by the people of today. When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat..”[4]
And this scripture:
“So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.”[5]
Beloved, your purpose on this Earth is to note what God is saying to you and then repeat to others what God has said to you. See what God does, and you will follow suit.
Think about it: why has salvation been given to you? Why do you have God’s Spirit living in you? To equip you in every way to live your life on this Earth. And not only your life but also enjoy it too – every minute of it.
It has never been God’s intention for you to follow the worldly herd, but rather that you live for him. It was never God’s intention that you live in fear and anxiety. Look around you at the beautiful world in which we live. Never forget that for every piece of negativity you hear, thousands of positive stories will be in its place. Look at God’s creation, and you will not find anything negative; sadly, only we humans speak and behave negatively.
From today, start thanking God for the changes in your life; thank God you have received the willingness to change.
Love and Blessings
Peter-James.