We’ve already discussed the distinct possibility that 1844 marked the beginning of the end times. In Daniel 12 the “sealing” of his prophecy includes this curious statement: “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” Further, we discussed the relative cowardice of many claiming to be Christian. The information age has brought with it some other curious dates.
Revelation 13:5 says: “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.” It is almost certain that “months”, “days”, and even “years” in prophetic writings are symbolic of time, but not specific. Some even call themselves “days of years” which becomes part of the “Daniel math” that landed on 1844 as mentioned previously. So if we accept that the 42 months may actually be 42 years, then two other information-age inventions rise “out of the sea”.
While the telegraph carried it’s first signals in 1844 the television was invented in 1927 and the internet in 1969. Yes, 42 years later. Revelation goes on to point out that: “It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak…”
If the telegraph marked the beginning of the end-times, and television is aligned with the first beast that “all inhabitants of the earth will worship“, and the internet is interpreted as the “image of the beast” that comes 42 years after, what if 666 is the unholy trinity of the first beast, the image of the beast, and the second beast?
Telephone, Television, and Internet? 666? What if we’ve been staring at 666 for years now, right before our eyes in every telecom bundled product that is available? Could this be the “unholy trinity”? Could the only event remaining be the unification of these “beasts” under the control of a man that represents a world government? It seems plausible.
The “powers” that are predicted about these beasts could not have been fathomed by John or Daniel. Yet today, the idea that nobody can buy or sell without “the mark”, is entirely plausible and even likely. There’s sure no shortage of entrepreneurs that would make the leap tomorrow if they could get away with it. The technology is now available, thanks to the “beasts”.
Whether this explanation proves to be accurate or not, there is no doubt that for some these “beasts” have become objects of intense worship. Even the most demanding cult demon could only dream of the devotion that is given to cell phones, cable tv, and the internet. For believers trapped in this snare, this amounts to idolatry. Idolatry and worship of an image that can talk!
1 Corinthians 12:2 says: “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.” Yet, the pagan idols of today actually speak! So how much more devastating will the desolation they cause be?
Isaiah 2:8 warns: “Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.” Just because TVs “talk” doesn’t mean they are any less made by man than the carvings of old. What it does mean, is that even Christians are at risk of being deceived by them. How many believers consult Google prior to making decisions? Seems innocuous enough doesn’t it? Perhaps even wise “due diligence”? Yet who of us can claim to grant the same allegiance to God Himself in prayer?
Here I am, typing away at an article to publish on the internet after having researched on the internet about these things. Am I some kind of hypocrite? Probably some would make that case. Yet here is where we really should take care to note the difference between creating a “tool” and creating an “idol”. Nowhere in the Bible is making a winnowing fork, or an ox cart, considered evil or idolatrous. It’s when humans fail to honor God and in their doubtful atheism toward Him they create their own objects of worship and use those to fill the hole that is only meant to be filled by Him. Everyone worships something.
The worship of telecommunications is unprecedented. 75% of the world has a mobile phone. 40% internet. Only 32.4% even claim to be Christian. If those don’t look like “end-times” statistics, I don’t know what would. To accomplish this the “church of telecom” would have to win more converts daily than all religions combined. Remember, unless one is a benefactor of our esteemed POTUS’ free cell phone program, most of those 75% have to pay monthly to use it. So they aren’t just “professing” telecom-ers. They are devout telcom-ers.
I’m obviously a “devout telecom-er” by that definition, and so are you. Not everyone worships this beast, not yet anyway. Yet many do, even many that don’t want to. I’ll confess, I’m distracted by it far too often. I give it too much credence, and nowadays I’m still convinced that if I weed through the lies I can find lots of “good” and “important” info. I welcome accusations of hypocrisy here, please cast stones if it seems right to you. Yet all I hope to convey here is a healthy respect and caution. Revelation seems to convey that use of telecom will become more & more controlled going forward. That those who do not worship voluntarily will at some point be forced to. We should prepare our children for these inevitabilities. I for one will be sharing the similarities of today’s devotion to internet websites and phone apps to ancient “household idols”, Achan’s sin, and the evil slave-drivers that even the remnant can be tempted by.
Even if Jesus returns after a more literal manifestation of a “beast from the sea” and the above interpretation proves to be incorrect, I doubt any of the remnant could disagree that technological advancement demands theological vigilance. The internet contains more evils than just “dirty pictures” and we believers need the “helmet of salvation” & renewed minds as much now as ever we did. Please pass this on, or even cast stones in the comments below. One of us will try to answer personally.
Very interesting take on technology, and not necessarily wrong. There is no doubt that we have been morally undermined as we have been dazzled by the “machines.” Something to consider as the world system devolves toward a “cashless” society.
“morally undermined as we have been dazzled by the “machines.””
I like the way you put that. Dazzled might be an understatement in some cases, some people seem to be downright brainwashed and addicted.
Thank you hlmart. If you have anything to add I’d appreciate you sharing. I keep coming back and tweaking the article for a few weeks and am always interested in refining it.
Points for creativity! I have never heard any doomsayer refer to the 42 years between TV and Internet. I’ve always said that the internet fits in somehow and my parents always thought the television was evil. Maybe you’ve got something here.
Daniel is told to seal the book because the time is not yet, John is told not to seal the book cause the time is at hand. If the Bible is to be believed (it is) then ALL of it must be believed. Most of Revelation refers to John’s time not ours.
THIS.
Revelation 13 King James Version (KJV)
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
If this ain’t Barry S., we are truly…
Guess we’ll find out in 6 months
Hail Satan.
May his love come over all of us in whatever form he wishes. I, for one, welcome our dark overlord. May He have mercy on your soul.
This site could be called, “fun with speculation”. The Bible is clear about the number of the beast. It is not 3 sixes set together, it is a full number, six hundred sixty-six. It is also clear that it is the number of a MAN. Not 3 technologies not yet envisioned in that day. You could save yourself countless errors by taking the Scripture at its word and believing the bookends of Revelation, “shortly” (chapter 1) and “shortly/quickly/at hand” (chapter 22.) If there is ONE thing God wanted the reader of Revelation not to miss, it was the imminent nature of the prophecy. Then you have “there are some standing here who will not taste death” and “this generation will not pass away. Taken all together, the obvious referent is…..THOUSANDS of years in the future! WHAT???? The usual retort is to quote “with God one day is as a thousand years….” That is to do violence to that passage. The meaning is that no matter how much time passes, God is still faithful. That is obvious from the context. It is NOT that God can use those words interchangeably, or use dishonest or misleading language. I notice the people who say this don’t switch out these terms in other places, only when it is convenient to fit the predetermined theology. So, since we are bound to a 1st century interpretation, there can be little doubt the “man” was Nero. Whose name in Hebrew numerology coincidentally adds up to six hundred, threescore, and six. I find it sad that THIS generation finds a hermeneutic like Hal Lindsey’s compelling (locusts are apache helicopters and what-not.) Let’s let Scripture be its own best interpreter.I know it’s super depressing that every prophecy isn’t about me, me, me, but get over it. The past is in the past.
I won’t deny that most discussions of end-times amount to speculation, as was intended via Mark 13:3.
So you’re saying that we are not awaiting the return of our Messiah because He already came during Nero?
The context of Matthew 16’s: “some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” is pre-resurrection. He was predicting that they would see Him after His death when He “goes to prepare a place for us” which would be “His kingdom”.
I’d sure like to drill down on your insinuation that Revelation does not apply to today. There are far too many parts of that which were not fulfilled in Nero. What about the plagues, wormwood, Armageddon?
Anyway, Poncho, I’m happy to discuss this more with anyone interested, but if you believe that what you posted is anything but speculation itself you may be in the wrong place to be anything but frustrated. I’m sure if you go to a nice church Sunday school you can probably tell a lot of those folks whatever you want and most will nod and smile. This site is about speculation, and we might even call it “fun”, but it’s also about the belief that a chord of 3 strands is not easily broken, that iron sharpens iron, and that true-believers cooperate to get a bigger and better understanding of God’s will.
2016 presents many challenges. With religious leaders split on marriage, with people like Trump gaining glowing endorsements from other religious leaders even within the same denominations. There are a lot of reasons for us to not assume that what we’ve heard and regurgitate with zeal is necessarily God talking. One of Les’ unwritten article titles is: “Spirituality or Sentimentality?” which is meant to tackle the almost delusional quality of our emotional sentiments when it comes to trying to discern God’s will for us. Cute puppies stir lots of sentiment in us, but does God really value a “cute puppy” more than an “ugly duckling”? Anyway, The Church is still an important part of Jesus’ gospel. It’s just so hard these days to find “The Church” between all of the “the churches”. Did you hear what a great Christian Mr. Trump is? Him and God their “like this” man… so “like this” that… Yeah, just looking for humble true-believers that want to speculate and maybe discover some real truth in the midst of our speculation. If this site isn’t for you, I appreciate your contribution and honesty, but please don’t let the door hit-cha on your way out.