M: Johannes, why do you believe trouble in the world indicates Jesus could return today? What would fulfill the prophecies relating to the mark of beast if Jesus returned today?
J: Yes Mountain Man, what do you think? please. Is one allowed to follow the command, Look up, lift up your heads for you redemption draweth nigh(?) My back-ground is heavy vehicle driver, so i'm listening to you. Will all prophecies be fulfilled in the USA? or perhaps some in Canada (or China)?
Paul warned the first century Christians not to expect Jesus to return before the prophecies were fulfilled in their turn.
2 Thessalonians
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,
2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
The same thing holds true today. We cannot expect Jesus to return before the prophecies are fulfilled in their turn. The USA must first form an "image of the beast" (a church-state government). This she will do when she legislates and enforces the "mark of the beast". The rest of the world will follow suit. Everyone everywhere will decide for or against the mark at which point probation will close and the seven last plagues will be poured out. Then Jesus will arrive in the clouds of glory to take us home.
What do you think the "mark of the beast" is? And, how long do you think it will take for everyone everywhere to decide for or against it?
