The Mark Of The Beast
They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves. Habakkuk 1:7
With Themselves – The Chaldeans are coming! Habakkuk’s warning is a call to immediate repentance in advance of certain destruction. God’s people are about to be chastised in a most severe way. As if that isn’t bad enough, Habakkuk provides an insight into the reason the Chaldeans are so dreaded and feared. What he says about them is true of every nation that does not serve YHWH. It ought to make us shudder in our shoes.
Mimenu is the Hebrew for “of himself.” Our English translation makes it into a plural because we normally view a group of people (the Chaldeans) as plural. The Hebrew language merely recognizes that this people comes as if it were a single enemy. Just like Israel, the Chaldeans are one – one dreaded executor of God’s justice. Why are they so dreaded and fearful? Because they make up their own rules to the game. Their view of justice and authority does not depend on the character of YHWH. They have assumed the role of God’s sovereignty. They come to do their own bidding. Run while you can.
If history teaches us anything at all, it teaches us that men are the harbingers of hell on earth. Ha-satan hardly needs to enlist fallen angels to bring death, destruction, suffering, torture and torment to humanity. We are more than capable of inflicting unspeakable evil upon our own kind. Without YHWH’s standard of justice and authority, human civilization quickly becomes human degradation. Any people who believe that they make up the rules as they go along is a people to be feared. They may offer many apparent rewards, but in the end, they serve themselves at cost to everyone else. Habakkuk knew what was coming. Mimenu is the religion of “I am my own god.” Apparently we have learned very little since the Chaldeans.
What do the righteous do in circumstances like these? Actually, they inherit collateral damage. When the people fall, the righteous usually go with them. No wonder Proverbs says that the righteous weep when the wicked come to power. They know what Habakkuk knew. Sometimes being salt and light stings and burns. Sometimes the only way to be the redemptive change-agents in a world in collapse is to be carried off with the powerless or to die with those who take a stand. Being God’s man or women doesn’t seem to mean escape.
The mark of the beast might be 666 in some books, but for most of us, the mark of the beast is the self-proclamation of divinity. The mark of the beast is not doing justice, not loving mercy and not walking humbly with God. That should be a lot easier to identify.
Topical Index: mimenu, of himself, Chaldeans, Habakkuk 1:7, justice, authority
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Habakkuk 1:10
They are people that scoff at kings,
and laugh at princes.
Habakkuk 2:1
I will stand on my watchtower,
and take up my post on my battlements,
watching to see what He will say to me
what answer will he make to my complaints.
Hi Skip,
Habakkuk makes me think of two contemporary “prophets:” Bob Dylan and Dr Marc Faber.
From All Along The Watchtower
Bob Dylan 1968
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl..
From Governments Will ‘Bankrupt Us
Dr Marc Faber
Thursday 22 Apr 2010 | 5:22 AM ET
The Gloom, Boom & Doom Report.
Faber warned that the “ultimate armageddon” would be much worse the next time around, as “governments will go bust”, which would lead them to print more money.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/36704832
This is a difficult passage to comment on because it involves a “self”-revelation. There is a part of me that wants to run and hide. It is my “self.” Let me pause here for just a moment and put “self” on the shelf.
Mimenu- “of himself”. “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17.6) Yes, in “those days” and in these days too. -Amen?- (or oh me..)
The readers of this website have found worth or value in the words of YHWH. Our “heart’s desire” is to put Yeshua in His rightful place as ruler,master,boss, LORD of our lives. -To become and to be (havah) a “twenty-four hour” Christian!
But not so the Chaldeans. “It’s all about me, baby!”- is their modern day “battle cry.” What’s in it for me? is their theme song. How may I excel? How may I rise to the top? How may I use you (or abuse you) for the edification and glorification of my name. Man is the sum and the center of the know universe- the Chaldeans are coming! -(and the Chaldeans are here!)
Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? was Pharoah’s (very ignorant) statement. -He found out the hard way- didn’t he? Will we have to find out the hard way? We (all) will find out.. (hopefully sooner- but if not, then later). “Every” knee shall bow. When Pharoah “knew” (yada) who YHWH was- he was on his way to the bottom of the Red Sea to meet his Maker.
How many of our neighbors submit themselves the will of YHWH? How many of ‘us’ submit ourselves to what pleases the LORD?
Habakkuk was the prophet of 11:59. He was the last to “speak” before the destruction of Jerusalem.
A little profile of Habukkuk (the embracer) -(from Google: -“The prophet lived in a time very similar to our day — a time when everything was going wrong. He lived when there was great national corruption and distress, when the nation and land was filled with violence, with hatred, and with outbreaks of evil.”
(Is is just me, or does this read like today’s newspaper?)
“Me-ism” is rampant today. It has spread like a pandemic across this country. I am so grateful to G-d for giving us the opportunity to repent and to return to Him. Thank you G-d for the gift of choice and being able to choose and to “consume” that which is good.
“Choose you this day who you will serve” are the words from Joshua 24.15 that are ringing loud and clear in this man’s ear today, and my glad and ready answer is a full, free and final- -“as for me and my house- we will (joyfully) serve the LORD.
In answer to the “chastisement” portion of today’s word. -“If we would judge ourselves we would not be judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:13) G-d again, (praise Him for His mercy) – in His goodness, allows us to “judge” ourselves. We have the wonderful privilege to “repent and return” to the same compassionate and merciful YHWH as those who have traveled on this pathway before us once knew. The purpose of chastisement (not punishment!) is to correct or modify our behavior. Just as we do not “punish” our children, but instead “discipline” them toward the goal of integrity, wholeness, and maturity. King David said, “it is good for me that I have been (or known) affliction. (Psalm 119.71) Someone also said- “there is no success without suffering.” “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” (Proverbs 17.3) – Is G-d “going for the gold” in your life? I know it sounds a little bit “out there”, but have we thanked Him for affliction? (-BTW- what happened to Paul and Silas in Acts 16.35?)
Some, (not all) of our governing officials today are (excuse me) “hell-bent” on removing all mention of G-d from government. You know- I know- this just “ain’t gonna work.” On this one- Forrest Gump was right- “stupid is as stupid does”, and to remove G-d from government leaves -“who” in charge? I’m feeling Hebrew enuf right now to utter the “oy” of discontent!
So, who’s it gonna be? “Self” or the Savior? -Who’s in charge? Is it Man, or is it our Messiah?
Blessed is that nation/people/community/family/individual whose G-d is the LORD.. (Psalm 33.12)
Carl,
As a teacher, I know this (the removal of G-d from government) all too well. Of course, I don’t really listen. I teach American Literature, but I try to bring in a different world view. When we discuss the Declaration of Independence (which some people are trying to remove from history, along with the Founding Fathers who wanted faith as part of this nation – even if it was a Greek kind of faith) most of out time is spent on the part where our rights are G-d given and why that’s so crucial to our freedom.
My hands are pretty tied in the public school system, but sometimes it’s fun to rock the boat and get my students thinking beyond the traditional rhetoric. If I can get them to see that resting authority in G-d is more stable and much safer than resting in the hands of man (who is so fickle) then it makes me feel like I’ve done a decent job teaching them in a subject where most of what I teach seems rather unnecessary.
Oh, yeah, and self-examination hurts… but it’s so needed (and more of it, too).
Amanda
Amanda- it is people like you who give me great hope. G-d (always) has a remnant. I pray with all my heart to be part of it and to do His will/His good pleasure -one life at a time-one day at a time- while He gives me breath and strength to do so. Praise His name- we are not alone, neither are we the “only ones left”, even tho’ sometimes we (falsely) think so.
Not only the modern day “Chaldeans”, but “prophets of Baal” have return as well. The toothless lion, hasatan knows his day is drawing to a close and is “pulling out the stops” to steal (our joy) and to destroy our familial relationships with YHWH and with each other.
Our one “needful” thing is to “abide in the Vine.” May our Abba surround, strengthen and sustain you during these very interesting days. As we are (all) coming to know (yada) in fullness- “it’s not about me, it’s not about you- it is about Him. We will say with our fathers (even in the wilderness)- the LORD- He is G-d, and He is not only “with us”, but He (the compassionate ONE) is “for us.” Blessed be the Name!! Blessed be Hashem!
Well put Carl.
A very interesting analysis!
Shabbat Shalom,
At the risk of repeating myself (from some time ago), I would comment that the number six is associated with “man”. It is also true that we have a popular saying respective to individuals … “me, myself and I”.
Often times the particulars regarding the infamous “mark of the beast” have been hotly debated, but for me it is less complex … The mark of the beast is all about a “me, myself and I” attitude. It is a 666 attitude that Skip reinforces with this commentary.
Skip declares that we have learned little since the days of the Chaldeans … well of course we have not learned … “we people are the Chaldeans”!
It won’t let me post unless I leave a longer comment than , “You got it!” That’s all I wanted to say.
666 – man, man, man
Three is the number of the Trinity. (I know the word trinity is not in the Bible and I won’t say any more except for “Father, Son and Holy Breath.”) Six is the number of man. Three sixes is “move over G-d we are in charge now!” (We will not have ‘this man” to rule over us). There are those among our kind (humankind) who refuse to submit to the Lordship of Yeshua. This is nothing new- these people have been around a long,long time. This is the “spirit of antichrist.” It is running rampant in the world today. “Narrow” is the way that leads to life. We are absolutely traveling -against the flow!
Ezekiel 9:4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Romans 4:11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
2Tim2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Rev. 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Although I also believe there will be a mark, a device that will allow or prevent people from buying or selling, I tend to agree more along the line of the “mark of the beast” as that of following after the beast…the tyrant, the opposer of God, the Antichrist who is alive and insane with envy over the power of God. This following after is contrary to those of “the Way” who follow Yeshua, the True Shepherd and the lover of our souls. One of the “marks” denoting these followers is those who “delight themselves in the Lord”. God has set His seal upon those belonging to Him, who love mercy and justice according to the manner of God. He hears the sighs and cries of those crying out…even so come Lord Jesus! Whose seal will you wear? What is the mark? Is it missing the mark?
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:14