------------Who Started Christmas?--------

This story came in a daily ezine I subscribe to at Resource- A-Day. I thought it hit the nail right on the head.

Who started Christmas?

This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable. And after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, 'Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.'

From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, 'Don't worry we already crucified Him.' For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

-------Quiz---------

1. The most frequently mentioned woman in the bible is: A. Eve B. Sarah C. The Virgin Mary D. Rachel

2. The most frequently mentioned man, after Jesus himself, is: A. David B. Abraham C. Moses D. Paul

3. The longest book in the Bible is: A. Jeremiah B. Genesis C. Ezekiel D. Psalms

4. The shortest book in the Bible is: A. Second Epistle Of John B. Obadiah C. Epistle to Philemon D. Nahum

5. The shortest verse in the Bible is _________________

6. The shortest prayer in the Bible is ____________________

7. The Old Testament book most often referred to or quoted in the New Testament is A. Psalms B. Isaiah C. Daniel D. Genesis

8. What New Testament book relies on the most Old Testament books? A. Matthew B. Luke C. Hebrews D. Revelation

9. Among the "lost" books mentioned in the Bible but not included in it is: A. Book of Jasher B. Book of Baruch C. Book of Zephaniah D. Book of Judith

10. The Hebrew Bible does not include among the Prophets which of these books: A. Isaiah B. Jeremiah C. Ezekiel D. Daniel

Answers to this quiz and another quiz in the next issue of Sight Unseen

--------------Mark Of The Beast---------

From Revelation Chapter 13 we read: 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Until the age of computers and microchips, no one could understand how the Antichrist could control the economy of the entire world. Now we have the technology to implant microchips under the skin. It would be so easy to place a microchip under the skin of your hand or forehead and a scanner to read your information and automatically deduct your purchase from your bank account.

Prophecy News Update reports:

How Wal-Mart may kill the bar code, and replace it with a computer chip

Get ready, because change is coming. Wal-Mart is positioning itself at the front of an inevitable technological revolution, even if it means dragging others into a future they're not sure they want. Radio-frequency identification, or RFID, was already one of the most exciting and furiously debated topics in the technology world when Wal-Mart stepped into the middle of it. Now attention turns to three Wal-Mart warehouses in the Dallas area, where the world's second-largest company plans to start its conversion. People who cannot come up to speed on this technology are going to be left behind,". "Eventually, it's going to be a way of life."

Yes, the Mark Of the Beast is now closer than it has ever been. Cash, credit cards, debit cards, and checks are going to become obsolete. When will this take place? During the coming Tribulation when God judges Israel, the nations, and those who have rejected Him.

One point I would like to make very clear: you cannot inadvertently take the Mark Of The Beast. Accepting this mark is your pledge of allegiance to the Antichrist. By accepting this mark, you would be damned for eternity. By refusing it, you will be beheaded. Seems like a no win situation doesn't it?

Currently, to gain entrance into heaven all you have to do is place your trust in Christ and accept his gift of the Cross (Christ paying the penalty for your sin and mine by giving His life in place of ours). We are in the age of Grace..Christ died for us so that we may live.

The age of Grace is coming to an end. When it does, God will call His church home leaving behind a world of unbelievers who will easily be deceived by the coming Antichrist. The world will believe he is God. Of course, there will be many who will see through his charade and recognize him for what he truly is: Satan's substitute for Christ.

When the age of Grace ends and the Tribulation period begins, those who want to live eternally with God will have to lay down their lives for Him as proof of their sincerity. Having your head lopped off but gaining eternal life is a far better alternative than accepting the Mark Of The Beast and being forever damned.

Which brings me to one final question. As a Christian, could you lay down your life for God? Many people in today's world have to. Christians who live in Communist China or Christians who live in places populated by Islamic people (whose Koran teaches that if you can't convert a Jew or Christian to Islam then the only alternative is to kill them) die for their faith every day.

In the United States, we enjoy freedom of religion. We can go worship God at a public institution whenever we want to. Yet, the United States is the number one mission field in the world...as a nation we pay little attention to God. We will pay a high price for our ignorance. The World Trade Center was just a warning. The Mark Of The Beast is coming. Enjoy your religious freedom and use it while you can.

Copyright 2003 by Gary Goodworth

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