Many Christian’s mistakenly believe, the ‘image of the beast,’ and the ‘buying and selling,’ referred to in the Book of Revelation pertains to; a bar-code, electronic chip, block-chain, bitcoin or straw-man theories which pop up from time to time. Error that emanates from their misinterpretation of the following Scripture to mean the buying and selling of carnal things like bread, milk, petrol, property, and the like.
… And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)
Yet, as we shall see, ‘the image and things bought and sold,’ are clearly identified in God’s Word, which interprets itself, and does not need our gracious condescension. In the Mark of Cain, ‘his mark and its sevenfold vengeance,’ is revealed in the Law. So too, the items bought and sold in the Book of Revelation, correspond to the materials used to build the Tabernacle of Witness in Moses time. To the offerings of a Legal Covenant made redundant by a Covenant of Faith. And to the things of kings, slaves, and the souls of men.
The reference to the buying and selling in Revelation 13, is made clear in the items brought and sold in Revelation 18. Lets begin by comparing portions in Revelation with passages from the Old Testament. I pray you allow God’s Word, to interpret God’s Word.
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The 1st Tabernacle
When the LORD commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle of Witness in the wilderness, he gave him a list of materials to use, along with specific instructions on how to build it. This first tabernacle was in time replaced by a greater witness, and a ‘living tabernacle;’ JESUS. So when we see the same materials brought and sold by the ‘merchants of the earth’ in the Book of Revelation, it recalls a time when Israel wandered in the wilderness. Wandered because they had worshipped Aaron’s calf, bowed to Moab’s gods, and lacked the faith to enter into the promised land.
This symbolism in Revelation 18 memorialises Israel’s sin and helps us to understand the cause of Babylon’s fall. And why the LORD JESUS commands us to; come out of her my people.
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble… (Revelation 18:11-12)
Now compare this to the materials used to build the Tabernacle of Witness is Moses time.
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense… And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:2-8)
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The Blood of Bulls
In Babylon, a city of confusion, we see goods traded which relate to the offerings sacrificed, by a now obsolete priesthood. Offerings formerly made to cleanse the people of their sin, and forgive trespass. But which could never make those who brought the offering, nor those priests who offered them up, perfect before God. As we continue in Revelation 18 we read;
And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep… (Revelation 18:13)
Compare the Scripture above with the things sacrificed in Aaron’s time. As one example;
And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. (Leviticus 6:15)
So far, the items bought and sold remember the tenants of the blood of bulls and goats that had to be repeated continuously. And a priesthood who served the Tabernacle and its congregation without rest. In this Scriptural context we recognise why those who ‘bow to the beast have no rest day and night.’ It reveals those of us who do not trust the blood of JESUS can blot out their sin forever. But whose salvation now also rests in their own works. And whose salvation now hangs in the balance. The Apostle Paul says this;
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect… But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)
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Kings and Souls
New Jerusalem, the City of Truth, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Babylon, the City of Confusion is those false gospels, and creeds forged by men. Babylon’s confusion, is God’s Word interpreted and altered by men.
- To buy, is to redeem. (Rev 13:17 Buy – G59 From G58; specifically to Redeem)
- To sell, is to exchange for something else. (Rev 13:17 Sell – G4453; to Barter, Exchange)
If we believe Jesus Gospel, then we are redeemed by his sacrifice and salvation. But if we believe a false gospel, then we are redeemed by it and so exchange Jesus salvation for a lie. In the final items redeemed and exchanged in Revelation 18, the Spirit of Jesus reveals the sin at the heart of Babylon’s confusion. Come see…
… and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:13)
The ‘horses and chariots’ speak in part of kings, and of those people who rule over us in God’s absence. Like our priests and pastors, whose assumed authority from God, allows them some influence in our lives. It is the Nicolaitan spirit we see in Cain, and the Pharisee’s, yet happily turn a blind eye to it in our own churches. Come look now at her open wound…
In truth these ‘kings’ are the errant gospels and creeds that reign in our hearts, and bring our souls into bondage. The ‘slaves and souls of men’ refer to being redeemed by false gospels, and exchanging life for death. This is Babylon’s incurable wound. If we have believed another gospel then it resides in us, and we have bowed to the beast. BUT the same JESUS who pleads we come out of this confusion, can restore our souls.
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To Buy & Sell
Give ear! The curses Moses declared upon those who forsook the LORD’s Old Testament Covenant, are revealed in the remembrance of things bought and sold in Revelation. Moses Song heard in Revelation 15, is sung to those in bondage to men’s creeds. That when we tamper with Jesus Name, and Gospel, we beguile ourselves. We sell our birthright in Christ. We exchange JESUS Salvation for the redemption of church creeds and for the works of our own hands.
In Moses words, we hear the Spirit of Jesus Christ pleading with those who have bowed to another gospel, to repent.
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:… And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. (Deuteronomy 28:65-68)
Let there be no doubt in your heart, as to the Scriptural fact, the ‘mark of the beast’ has everything to do with bowing to false gospels, and nothing to do with strawmen myths, the buying of milk and such. Please read the following passage of God’s Word carefully, and then answer the question.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:9-12)
After warning us not to bow to the beast, or take his mark, why then would the LORD in the next instant, commend those saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of JESUS?
Click here to read about the “Image of the Beast”.
