II Thessalonians 2:3
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The “it” referred to is the second coming of Christ. He will not return until the antichrist is on the scene and performs particular acts. There presently isn’t a temple. Some have said that he will appear to be a genius and remedy the Middle East chaos and make it possible to have a jewish temple rebuilt. Today’s verse says that at one point the antichrist will sit in this temple and demand to be worshipped as god.
We are obviously not there yet. However, many events are present that were previously incomplete. Revelation 13:17 speaks of the mark of the beast that will be applied to the hand or forehead. No one will be able to buy or sell without it. We now see this as a computer chip that can be placed under the skin. It can be scanned at the market or where ever a purchase is required. The technology is present. Some companies use this method with employee id’s. It will eventually be used on a wider scale.
Taking this mark (or chip) is buying into the antichrist’s government. It will be mandated. No one will be able to buy or sell anything without it. What if one refuses the mark? Matthew 10:21 says, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” Prison or death may be the consequence of refusing the mark.
The bible warns against taking the mark. . To chose the mark is to go against the Lord. Revelation 14:9,10a “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God…'”
Can one take the mark innocently? It doesn’t appear so. A few verses prior to the marks distribution, they are putting to death those who don’t worship the beast. Accepting the mark is agreeing with (passive worship) the antichrist.
It won’t be until these actions are in place that Christ will return to establish His Kingdom. Lord, thank You for Your Kingdom. We look forward to Your reign.