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If you’re speaking of the church of Philadelphia and Smyrna, they are NOT denominations—these are not their “names” or their denominations—they found favor with God in Revelations because they teach the word of God from scripture-NOT man’s interpretation of it, for example: the “rapture”; that word doesn’t even exist in the scriptures.

Revelations 2-11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2&version=KJV
(and “arrow up” to Revelations 3 and read.)

“…they will be killed off for not receiving the mark of the beast.”

If satan is coming as anti- (“instead of” in the Greek language) christ and his purpose is to deceive people into following him AS christ, why would he act as a butcher toward people? Wouldn’t this “blow his cover”? Wouldn’t this frighten away the people he is trying to convince into following him?

The “mark of the beast” is to be received IN the forehead and the hand.

Your brain is IN your forehead; those that understand that the anti-christ comes first to deceive, will NOT receive the mark of the beast, nor will they receive the “mark” in their hand; the hand represents doing WORK FOR the anti-christ; helping him to deceive others by telling all their friends and relatives that he really is Christ and has come to” rapture” us away. They praise him and try to get their friends and relatives to praise and follow him, too.

(prep for the bad times ahead—have extra food and barter items, as the 3 ½ years has been shortened to 5 months for the sake of the “elect”—5 months being the lifespan of the locust—the “elect” being those that will witness against the anti-christ.

“What is God rapturing them for if they’ve made it to the end?”

If they’ve made it to the end, they have waited for the TRUE Christ’s return and they are rewarded for following His word –we are in Heaven with Him-Heaven IS wherever God is, and He returns to earth for the millennium, where those that have never been taught will be taught for a thousand years-God’s Day is as a thousand years.

I have a sister that does not believe because she cannot imagine a “loving” God that would cast non-believers into the pit; (she references those in the jungles of Africa who’ve never had the opportunity to learn.) He will NOT-not until they have the opportunity to be taught. That is what the millennium is for; to give those that didn’t have the chance to learn the opportunity to learn and to CHOOSE, whether to follow God or satan, who will be loosed a short time, at the end of the millennium.

Metmom, you will LOVE reading Revelations 20—but, be sure to read the King James version, as the NIV has had some erroneous translations added to it.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020&version=KJV

But, don’t trust me; I am just starting to learn from a pastor that has taught and researched for 60 years; he teaches the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse and urges people to use a Strong’s Concordance to help with their learning the Word—it has the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic root meanings of words to help you.

He is amazing and many other pastors and priests don’t like him because he forever reminds people (especially senior citizens on a fixed income) that God does NOT send out beggars…so many churches depend on $$$ and want people to give-give-give, even when they can’t. (think of the gold faucets in the evangelists’ homes and the wealth of the churches!) He asks for tithes IF he has helped you and urges seniors to spend their money on their food and medicine. He is a blessing to listen to.

I was raised a Catholic and will forever be grateful to my mother for my religious upbringing, but we never studied the Bible in this manner, and I feel I have so much to “catch up” on in very little time. So, please, read the Bible yourself with the aid of a Strong’s Concordance

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

and pray that God watches over us all!