SEALED not WITH 666

Many people are currently discussing the end time! Some with an attempt to introduce the Antichrist into the pandemic equation. The most weird one being the one who used the word Corona to derive the number 666 in the most unimaginable naivety , the first 6 he says is the fact that Corona has 6 letters altogether. The second and third six is got by summing up the place in the alphabet of each of the letter, where C is letter number 3, O is letter number 15, R is number 18, N is number 14 and A is of course number 1. His summation then is (3+15+18+15+14+1= 66). Come on, this is absurd in any case Corona is not the problem because we have driven Corona cars before, we are only concerned that this Corona is not a car but a deadly virus. According to the Center for Disease Control, Coronavirus gets its name from the word ‘corona’ which means crown in Latin. Coronavirus has a series of crown-like spikes on its surface, which is the reason for the name. The point I make though is we should not be in this bandwagon of imaginations about end time that cause unnecessary panic. I do submit that every believer ought to be ready anyway, and that this experience can serve as a foretaste of all possibilities for end time. We see possibilities of regulated trade, geographical mapping, contact tracing, dire need for technologies, cashless economies, global unity, and nations equity under same threat.

In any case you are sealed and marked already, 'However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.' (2 timothy 2:19 NIV). Also, 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22 'And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Isaiah 49: 15­:16: Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands,'

The Bible teaches that we are sealed, inscribed, engraved as God’s own, the holy spirit as a deposit has been put in us already.” Cattle keepers know very well that they need to mark their cows for ease of identification in case of cattle rustlers, every company is encouraged to engrave its assets with owners coding. I need to announce to all that received Christ, you are sealed, and it is mutual because the seal on you has a counter symbol on God as well, the verse in Isaiah 40:16 says, Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands, your walls are ever before me, your builders hasten back, your destroyers and wreckers depart from

The end time theology is very relevant and the books of Daniel, Revelation, the gospels especially Matthew chapter 24 and other letters especially Thessalonians and Timothy make a great discourse.

All these though must be studied with a maranatha spirit, which is an enthusiastic expectation not fearful panic, simply because we are bride and the bride price was paid. This though is not meant to provide a safety belt to use even when our lives seem to move in rebellion, 1 Corinthians 16:22 introduces two words that I had to look up, these words are Anathema and Maranatha. Whereas the first is indicative of being accursed for making an outward show of Christianity but secretly denying him, the other is more of a positive affirmative of the coming of the Lord. ‘If any man love not the Lord let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Corinthians 16: ­22 KJB’.

Our focus should be all these lovely letters throughout the Bible. I have never counseled brides who are so worried that someone will put up their hands when the Pastor says, is there anyone who has a reason why these two should not be married. Rather most of the couples want to talk about sex, communication, finances and dealing with conflict. We should publicly but more so secretly be in love with the coming groom, and say, 'Maranatha'.

A little boy madly in love with Jesus was given a 30-minute divinity class test to write on ‘Jesus and the Devil’. All the pupils began to write knowing the two sections could carry the same scores, the Teacher made a scaring announcement, “You all have 10 minutes you must have started the second part of the question’ at this point the little boy had just finished the redeeming love of Christ and was engrossed in the grace that forgives our sins and the advocacy Jesus makes for us, the teacher in no time said, ‘ You all have five minutes you must be concluding your essay’. The little boy was now into the promise of Jesus return and the assurance that no one can pluck the redeemed out of his firm grip and the seal of his spirit upon them. The teacher announced,’ you all make sure you put your names on the paper, you have one minute’. The boy then turned on section two and wrote in one minute, as for you Devil, I have no time for you. Oh, how I love this attitude, I should spend more minutes in worship and praise, it does not mean I should be ignorant of the devil’s devices. I should read all the love letters and have a foretaste of glory divine.

Yes 666 cannot be my attention, for it cannot be superimposed on God's seal upon me just like the dagon could not bear the presence of God's ark, ' 1 samuel 5:2-4 'When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

We are not only sealed but also hemmed everywhere, Psalms 139:5 says, you hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Whereas I love to be aware about end time, I like to encourage you to first of all understand the security of your salvation, that you have been sealed and you are sandwiched by God's presence and his hand is on you. Then and only then can you say, Maranatha, even so come, Lord Jesus come!

Eugene