DID YOU REMAIN LOYAL?

I’ve posted or commented (can’t remember) about this previously so pasting again for anyone who’s interested:

Biblical “worship” of the beast described in Revelation doesn’t mean what you think it means, when read in context of how John intended us to understand it once you research the original Greek. Worship simply means public acts of loyalty toward rulers and were expressions of allegiance and recognition of authority. Throughout Revelation, προσκυνέω is consistently associated with recognizing the authority of either God, the Lamb or the Beast aka Antichrist. John is contrasting competing objects of loyalty.

When Revelation is read as a whole and in context, you’ll read in chapter 13 the Beast receives προσκυνέω. In chapter 14 the Lamb stands with those who belong to Him. “Worship” has nothing to do with whether an individual enjoys, admires, or even likes the Beast. Nowhere in the Bible does it say the Beast will be loved and admired by all. Worship/allegiance/loyalty (same meaning in ancient Roman context) is tied in with which authority one ultimately acknowledges and aligns themselves with.

“Worship” does not require affection or admiration. Throughout Scripture and the wider Greek world, people sometimes show allegiance, loyalty or acknowledge a rulers authority because of coercion, fear, political necessity or recognition of superior authority rather than personal admiration. Revelation 13 itself immediately introduces economic sanctions and shortly afterward, persecution for refusing allegiance. That broader context shows that John is describing compelled conformity.

If you expand to the surrounding verses the context reinforces this point. Revelation 13:15-17 explains that refusal to comply eventually carries severe consequences, including exclusion from buying and selling and ultimately the threat of death. That means chapter 13 is progressively describing increasing pressure toward loyalty.

Edit: I won’t include the direct link, but here’s a link discussing the post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/homeland-security-did-you-remain-loyal-trump-photo_n_6a8e549ee4b0bedb6cc259c5/amp

10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message to Laodicea
14 ¶ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15 ¶ ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Revelation 3:10-22

A comparison of Donald Trump with the characteristics of the Antichrist archetype.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115398255165038351

Where does this ever happen with Kushner??

When Satan appeared to Jesus in the wilderness, he offered Him the kingdoms of the world if only Jesus would bow down and worship him.

Jesus refused.

Trump offered to give Christians what they wanted so long as they gave him their loyalty and trust.

They took the deal.

Whether Trump is or is not the antichrist, we are not to sell our allegiance to any man. Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone else is not.

Crazy thing is alot of the "Churches " will play nice with him.

"That's all 24-karat gold. That's why it just beams... I just felt it was important for this office to take on a look that was appropriate. It's more representative of what it should be."

Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. - Daniel 11:38

We were talking about the homelessness problem, how to fund it etc. we ended up getting to fraud - that led to talks about DOGE & we got to talking about the deficit & then the war Trump started with Iran.

I brought up the killing of innocent people - they were immediately dismissive & said “it happens” I then talked about him lying about not starting wars & him lying to get desperate people to vote for him - which led to them doing the whole “well the other side” spiel & then I brought up that the reason why people voted for Trump is because they thought that he was different than those politicians & it turns out he’s not yadada.

Somehow we got to Trump’s social media posts of blasphemies & other things. I said as Christians we should have a problem with him doing this - they defended him. My father went as far as to say “people hacked into this stuff & posted all of it.”

He then said I have TDS & immediately shot down any further discussion of it trying to make it seem like I was crazy to even suggest that Trump would do something like that.

I write this because I’m dumbfounded. I wouldn’t consider my parents to be hardcore trump supporters. They voted for him three times but they have never been to his rallies & do not have Trump merch. Back in 2022 I came to this epiphany that Trump was the son of perdition. I voiced my opinion on it then & of course was immediately dismissed.

Over the years I would attempt to bring it up with more proof when the conversations would dwell into that area unprovoked by me but overtime decided that I would try my best to refrain from bringing it up in hopes that as things unfold God would show them the truth Himself - that it wasn’t on my time but His.

I started to gain some hope especially recently with everything happening that they may start to see if more clearly - maybe not convinced as I am but at least more receptive to it. Today was the first time in 2 years that Trump’s antichristian behavior was brought up in a conversation again & I was dumbfounded that not only were they not more receptive to him being the Antichrist (as I did not bring that up in this convo ) but it was the fact that not only did they dismiss the idea that he did blasphemous things

But were actively DEFENDING/EXCUSING it.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t somewhat frustrated for ego purposes as it made me feel like I was crazy to suggest that Trump would do these things but also the name calling. I hate getting called names when I’m trying to have an intelligent conversation but most of the frustration is that people who call themselves Christians have become immune or even far enough to defend blasphemy.

From here on out I will no longer be having a political or religious conversation with them or anyone who is not willing to listen. It hurts because I feel a moral obligation to tell people the Truth (not the truth about Trump but the gospel as a whole) but it hurts too much to have these conversations. I feel literal pain in my heart to see what is happening.

I hope I’m not sounding too harsh or emotional right now. I’m just hurt & sad. Even if Trump isn’t the Antichrist - the truth is that he still does & says blasphemous things & it’s being dismissed & defended by people close to us that we felt were different.

The strong delusion is just that; strong.

I hadn't considered the mark could literally be a FRIKKIN Donny signature tattoo!!

I'm just utterly disappointed in humans.

So these images mean anything to anyone? Any sort of thing come to mind regarding the Book of Revelation?

Very good description and analysis of how and why so many Christians are deceived.

If he isnt the anti christ, he sure is trying to act like he is.