Tim
LaHaye: It Appears
Christians Will Not Have the Mark of the Beast
Introduction:
Tim LaHaye is
promoting false doctrines regarding the mark of the
beast via his non-fiction books.
Among his
dangerous false
teachings found in his non-fiction books:
-
The Bible only
appears to teach that Christians will not have the mark of the
beast.
-
The Bible is
ambiguous about whether the Mark of the Beast is
irreversible.
-
The
Bible is not clear about whether those who receive the Mark of the
Beast can be forgiven.
Each of these
points is addressed under its own subheading below.
Tim LaHaye
Says the Bible is not Clear about Whether Those Who Don't
Worship the Beast Will Have the Mark of the Beast
The Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible: King
James contains a dangerous statement by Dr. Tim Lahaye. He wrote that it appears that those people who
refuse to worship Antichrist will not have the
mark of the beast upon them. He is teaching that scripture is not perfectly
clear
that Christians will not have the mark of the beast.
Let us examine Tim LaHaye's statement in context:
"The 'mark of the beast', which the False Prophet will require of all
people, will bring the entire world into a global economy, a world government,
and a world religion. In order to buy or sell, every person will have to have
this mark on his or her forehead or right hand for identification. In Revelation 13:8, we are told that some will refuse to worship Antichrist, and
it appears that these will not have the mark upon them." (Tim
LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible: King James pg.
1387)
In this context, "appear" is a
verb and it means to have an outward aspect.
Tim LaHaye is saying the Bible merely appears to teach that the saints of God (who are the only ones who will not worship
the beast) will not have the mark of the beast.
What the Bibles states is
absolutely true; it does not merely have the appearance of being true. Tim LaHaye's
statement that it appears
that Christians will not have the mark [of the beast] sends the message that the
Bible is unclear or even relative on the subject of the mark of the beast.
Relativism, or the
belief in no absolute reality, is the New Agers way
to present "truth." Relativism means that
"what is true for you is your truth, and what is true for me is my truth." Tim LaHaye's use of the word "appear" in conjunction with a
straightforward bible doctrine gives the impression that he advocates a New Age way of
arriving at truth, which is not truth at all. Tim LaHaye's remarks pave the way
for God's people to rationalize taking the mark of the beast,
because he is indicating that the bible's teaching on this matter is only
indicative of possible truth.
Tim LaHaye Introduces Doubt
Regarding the Irreversible Damnation of a Person Who Has Received the Mark of
the Beast
Tim LaHaye also made the
serious doctrine of a Christian having the mark of the beast doubtful in his
book, Revelation Unveiled:
"It may be that believers will have the mark of God on their foreheads,
whereas unbelievers will feature the mark of Antichrist. I am inclined to
believe both marks are final." (Revelation Unveiled page 150)
I will quote him again emphasizing his deliberate choice of
words which turns absolute truth into uncertainty:
"It may be that believers will
have the mark of God on their foreheads, whereas unbelievers will feature the
mark of Antichrist. I am inclined to
believe both marks are final." (Revelation Unveiled page 150)
Dr.
Tim LaHaye, an evangelical preacher whose statements regarding the mark of the
beast are alarmingly at odds with Scripture, has stated that it
may be that believers will have the mark of God, and it may
be that unbelievers will feature the mark of antichrist. Is the Holy Bible
unclear regarding unbelievers receiving the mark of the beast?
No.
Please note the New Testament uses
the word "seal" of God, and this seal which the Bible does not indicate is
visible, is given to the 144,00 of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
(See Rev. 7:5) The Bible does teach that all Christians are sealed with
the Holy Spirit, so in this respect we have the seal of God. Unbelievers will be marked with the mark of antichrist, and this mark will
be final, not may be final. Why is Tim LaHaye
trying to place doubt into the Christian reader's mind about this most eternally
serious doctrine in his non-fiction books as well as in the
Left Behind Series?
Tim LaHaye wrote
that he is "inclined to believe"
that
both marks are final. The Holy Bible straightforwardly
warns that the mark
of the beast is definitely a final and irreversible catastrophe:
"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 ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no
rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth
the mark of his name."--Revelation 14:9-11
In the following verse God made it positively clear about what
Christians must do when the lost are receiving the mark of the beast and
thus sealing their doom forever:
"Here is the patience of the saints: here
are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus."--Revelation 14:12
It is obvious that those who
receive the mark of the beast did not keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The Scripture leaves no room
for doubt as to the fate of anyone who takes it.
Tim LaHaye is
Not Sure if Receiving the Mark of the Beast Results in Damnation
Let us look at Tim LaHaye's mixture of truthful
and erroneous teachings regarding the mark of the beast in his book, Are We Living in the
End Times? In reference to Christians during the Tribulation, he wrote,
"But they should understand this: Once the choice is made, it is
eternal!" (Are We Living in the End Times? page 198)
Dr. LaHaye referred to receiving the mark of the beast in
this quotation. This sounds right, and it is right. However, he
inserted leaven only three sentences later. Tim LaHaye belied his previous
statement by reverting to the word appear again
when referring to whether receiving the mark of the beast is permanent:
"It
appears that receiving the mark of the Beast is an unpardonable sin—which is why we should warn the unsaved never to consider taking that mark
or worshiping the Antichrist." (Are We Living in the End Times? page 198)
The Bible does not appear to
teach that taking the mark of the beast is unpardonable and
irreversible. The Bible makes it clear that it is unpardonable and
irreversible! The Bible is true; it does not merely appear to be true.
Let God be true and every man that says God
only appears to be true, be a liar.
Remember that people who reject
the Lord Jesus Christ (who refuse to love the truth)
prior to the revealing of "That Wicked" (the man of sin) will believe the lie and
receive the mark of the beast.
God will send them strong delusion to do so, as recorded in 2 Thessalonians, chapter
two. The bible says they will be damned because they received not
the love of the truth so that they might be saved. Right now, while it
is still day (before
the Tribulation begins,) we must witness to the lost and warn them that the mark is coming, and
urge them to repent and believe the gospel.
Tim LaHaye, in violation of the inerrant, immutable Word of God, introduced
the false teaching that the Holy Bible is not clear that receiving
the mark of the beast is an unforgivable sin. Will you choose to
be a respector of persons and accept this spiritual poison or
will you believe the word of God and live?
Return to:
False Doctrines in Tim
LaHaye's Writings
Tim
LaHaye's False Doctrines About Taking the Mark of the Beast in His Book Are We Living
in the End Times? (they parallel the
teachings in his fictional book, The Mark)
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