Prophecy - The End Times

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by bearbear

I believe "the apostasy" in 2 Thess 2:2 could refer to the specific event of self professed Christians taking the mark of the beast in order to live, buy & sell after undergoing extraordinary pressure to do so. Through this act they are placing their faith and allegiance in the antichrist system instead of Christ.

The warning in Revelation 14:9-12 makes it clear that anyone who takes the mark is damned forever.

Not exactly.

The warning in Rev 14.9-10 says this: And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image AND receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

I agree that “The Apostasy” will be identified when many Christians take the mark of the Beast due to the extreme persecution from the beast. The 2nd Beast probably will publicize this event with great fanfare. But the verse actually includes the word “AND.” This is significant. Some will take the mark but NOT worship the beast and its image. This may seem like a technicality, but important at the Judgment for some. For others, this may identify them as Tares.