February 2000

part 2 of 2

by Carole Forde

ith any study of the Book of Revelation, we must remember Christ’s words in Rev 1:17: "FEAR NOT’! Only carnally-minded men have any cause to fear the God of Love. 1 Jn: 4:18.says, "There is no fear in Love; because Perfect Love casts out ALL FEAR!" So when Rev 13:18 says, "Here is WISDOM", we should anticipate a Good Word to follow; rather than Evil word! Why? "The Lord gives Wisdom" (Pr 2:6); and "HAPPY is the man that finds Wisdom!" (Pr 3:13); for "By Wisdom the Lord founded the earth" (Pr 3:19); so "Wisdom is the principal thing!" (Pr 4:7)
                 The Words succeeding "Here is Wisdom" say, "Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast, IT IS THE NUMBER OF A MAN; and his number is 666!" The first thing we discover here is that God likens unregenerate man to a beast by giving them the same number! This is well-substantiated in other verses like: Eccl 3:18 in the words of Solomon (the wisest man on earth), "I said in my heart, concerning the estate of the sons of men- God shall expose them all (by winnowing and testing them); that they might see that THEY, THEMSELVES, ARE BEASTS!" David (Solomon’s father) adds, "Every man, despite his worldly riches or honor, will not endure; HE IS LIKE THE BEASTS THAT PERISH!" Ps 49:13
                 God says we should count the number of that bestial man- which he says is 666; but since the New Testament is written in Greek, we must learn about Greek mathematics in order to compute its value and meaning. The first thing we discover is that the Greek alphabet and numeric table are combined in a singular system. See how it worked.

In seeking the Lord about the "Mark of the Beast" many years ago, I was surprised when He spoke 2 words: "WEALTH and TRADITION". I looked up the words in the Greek dictionary then calculated the numeric values of each letter. I was stunned to discover that both words totaled 666!! See for yourself how they add up.

                Rev 13:17 says that, "No one will have the power to buy or sell anything without the mark (stamp, inscription) of the beast", but that has always been true, and shall always be true, as long as Almighty Mammon rules the hearts and minds of sinful man!. The"Pride of Life" causes man to "Exalt and worship SELF [esp. "The work of his hands" (Rev 9:20); i.e., money and possessions] "above all that is called God"; so much so that our citizenry can lay dying- homeless and hungry- in the streets for lack of it, while selfish hearts just turn away. The Man of Sin arrogantly stamps on his currency "In GOD we trust"; but the god of this dark, bestial world is mammon- not the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob"!! And to the people of the earth the true God admonishes:

"No man can be employed by two masters;
for he will hate one and love the other or
he will hold to one and despise the other!
You cannot serve God and Mammon!

[The Greek ref. 3126 defines mammon as: "Confidence, wealth personified;
and avarice deified"; to which the dictionary adds "Mammon represents all
material possessions- which have a debasing influence".]

And finally our most high God would say to His world:

"You say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, grown wealthy and have need of nothing’;
but you don’t know you are actually wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked!
Therefore I counsel you to buy from Me (true) Gold (of My Divine Nature) which
has been purified, tried, and tested by fire (see: Pr 27:21) so you could possess
true wealth with which you may also buy My white garments to clothe you so the
shame of your nakedness can not be seen; and eyesalve (of Holiness- Heb 13:14)
for your eyes, that you may be able to see (My Beauty)." (Rev 3:17-18)

Amen.