The second in a three-part series delving into the plausible dystopian world that is now upon our doorstep! Intriguing?! you bet!
Opening
The second in a three-part series delving into the plausible dystopian world that is now upon our doorstep! Intriguing?! you bet!
Opening
Hello and welcome to another episode of 95 Hilltop Circle. I'm Steve and I'm your host and we are going to be going over the second of a three part story concerning a future world that just might be right around the corner. So this short story is actually based on Scripture Revelation 13 verse 17. Now, after we finish the story, we are going to delve into the scripture and we will be breaking it down using Strong's exhaustive concordance of the Bible. So without further ado, let's go on. The vaccine had been promoted with the promise of eradicating the killer virus that had wiped out a whopping 2 percent of humanity. Amazingly. Nearly the total human race came forward to receive the inoculation. The man responsible for making this all possible had come to be known simply as the Prophet. How society was ever able to operate without the benevolent act of this great man was now unfathomable. Wasn't he the one who convinced the nations to come to the table and agree to act as one and take the cleansing? A small injection taken in the right arm and incredibly The deadly virus was corralled, as well as many other viruses that had plagued humanity from the beginning of time. Even the common cold was at an all-time. Low. The command came forth. All were ordered to take the injection. Most nations complied willingly in forcing their citizens to receive the shot that had come to lovingly be known as the mark by its adherence in the media and entertainment circles. What was not expected, or at least never mentioned when the mark was first rolled out, was the effect that it had on the economies of the world. Because of the fear that the virus might mutate and reappear, it was determined that all must show proof of receiving the mark. Initially, this was carried out by law enforcement from each sovereign nation. It was becoming less of a concern due to a peculiar side effect, a noticeable deep wrinkle across the brow of the forehead, giving people a somewhat hardened expression. On the bright side, it matched the same intense stare of the world leader. An expression of pride and arrogance. And why not? Wasn't this the dawning in the next step of the evolution of the human race? Humans finally released from the bonds of imprisonment, set free to partake of the fruits of this new immortality, which legend has it was denied to us so, so long ago. All businesses, places of worship, arenas and stadiums, entertainment venues, wherever commerce took place, if you didn't show the obvious sign of the mark, you were not welcome. Heaven forbid, you might be a carrier of the eradicated virus. The poor souls who didn't show the physical proof of the cleansing, became acutely aware that they were singled out by society. Often harassed, beaten, chased from their neighborhoods. No matter if it was life long friends, even family, who were the ones expelling them. When these stubborn, misguided, dare say, haters of humanity, attempted to receive goods through the underground, they were often times turned in by the nefarious sellers of their ill begotten booty. Once informed upon these malcontents were rounded up and transported to education centers by law These non markers were held for 10 days for education and for the opportunity to take the cleansing It was widely believed that these centers were places of interrogation Though the state never came out to confirm nor deny such allegations Rumors spread and oftentimes confirmed on rogue websites of non markers being released with the loss of their right hands. A death sentence. Without proof of the mark, you were destined to starve. On the brighter side, people had begun to mention the Great One's name when greeting one another. May the Great One's blessing be upon you this day. May you be worthy of His many gifts. Or something to that effect. People even began giving one another a salute to commemorate the Great One's status. It was nothing new. Actually, it was something old. The O. K. hand gesture. The thumb and index finger made a circle, while the other three fingers extended straight up. It was said it was to communicate that we are all united or connected in a circle of love. While the three fingers represented the Great One, the Prophet, and God, who continuously looks over us. The Prophet had recently given a telecast informing the citizens of the planet that those deemed worthy would receive a stipend to offset the still sluggish economies of the world, a gift from the Great One. How a person was deemed worthy was never discussed. What it did accomplish is foster a sense of suspense and mistrust between people. Splitting families and long lasting friendships apart through jealousy and eventually rage. Suspicion began to spread throughout communities like a wildfire out of control. Once friendly neighbors now eyed each other with contempt. Envious of the other's good fortune, sayings sprang up. The Great One walks among us like a ravenous wolf. The hunter knows no bounds. And the Great One giveth, and the Great One taketh away. The state was able to use its own citizens to police themselves. Children became the true enforcers of all the goodwill being spread out to the populaces of the world. Singled out by the prophet, the old saying, Out of the mouth of babes, had taken on a whole new meaning. Children were taken from their families and trained by the benevolent state to choose those worthy in society to receive the gifts from the Great One children were taken from their families and trained by the benevolence state to choose those worthy in. To receive gifts from the Great One, women, too, were given a much larger role in the new utopia. The womb, given a place of ultimate honor and places of worship, Wicca, recognized and given a place of great authority by the prophet, who came to be known as a woman's best friend. There was a real sense among the common folk that by receiving the mark and giving homage to the Savior of the world, they had been cleansed of their sins against the glorious kingdom. Truly, it appeared that by simply taking the mark, a person had been made new, successful, self reliant, and content. Yes, humankind had entered the golden age. I'll see you in a thousand years, became a typical greeting between friend and strangers alike. The millennial kingdom long spoken about by seers and sages has finally arrived. Sure, there were still obstacles to overcome. But by the grace of God and her chosen, the Great One, and led by her saint, the Prophet, paradise beckoned. Unbeknown to most, some had fled the burgeoning utopia and had scattered to remote areas in the wilderness. Silly rumors. Where would a person want to be other than in the confines of the ever present, ever caring state? nEver mind the deepening burl in your forehead was beginning to blister. The days of glory had arrived. Long live the Great One. Okay, that was the story and now let's delve in to the scripture that it's based upon. Revelation 13 verse 17. And that no man might buy or sell Save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Okay, let's break it down, and again, we're using Strong's exhaustive concordance of the Bible. And then no man, it's a indefinite pronoun, same for any person or object, a man, thing, certain, diverse, he, every man, ought, partly, some, somebody, something, somewhat, what, whatsoever, wherewith, whom, whomsoever, whose, whosoever, might buy, so buy, properly to go to market, i. e., by implication to purchase. Specifically to redeem. It also has to do with having this take place in the town square as a place of public resort by implication, a market or thoroughfare. It also has to do with to awaken, To rouse literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death, or figuratively from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, non existence, it's to awake, to lift up, to raise, to raise again, to rear up, arise, rise again, to stand, to take up. Then we go on to the next word, which is sell. It's to be busy, to trade, to barter, as a peddler. The next word then is save. More than, to save, that saving, it also has to do with an absolute denial of something, implying a negative answer, we already studied what the mark is That it's a physical etching upon the skin He that had the mark, or the name. So let's look at what the name is. A name can be literal or figurative. It's authority, your character. It's what you're called by. You're surnamed. Your name is also used as an alternative in some tenses through the idea of notoriety. It's to gratify, to derive pleasure or advantage from, to have joy. And then we come down to the beast. It's a dangerous animal, venomous, wild. It has to do with hunting, destruction, a trap, to set a trap. And then we come to number as reckoned up by implication to take up or away. Figuratively to raise like your voice. To keep in suspense your mind. Specifically to sail away. Interestingly enough, they come back to the Hebrew. It's to expiate sin, to take it away, to bear up, to carry, to lift up, to loose, make, to doubt, put away, remove. And it also has to do with, to lift in a great variety of applications. To accept, advance, arise, bear, able to bear,, suffer to bear, to bring, bring forth, to burn, to carry, to carry away, to cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exact yourself, to extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, to help, hold up. To be an honorable, man to be lofty, merry, magnify, needs, to regard, respect, set, set up, spare, stir up, swear, take, take away, take up, That's a lot of study. But if you put it all into context, always into context, you again can see a story, a picture being drawn for us. And so, using all of that, I'd, like, like to,, give you a meaning of what Revelation 13, verse 17 is telling us. And that no one, men, women, and children, whomsoever is chosen, might buy from any place or business, any product or service, to purchase anything without the mark. If a person does not have the mark, they will be unwelcome. These people will become acutely aware of their situation and realize the grave danger they are in. No one will be able to sell anything, to run a business, or receive money for services rendered. This includes trade, even illicit activity will be affected unless they have the mark. And if you are as not having the mark, you will be taken away and interrogated. The mark is the physical identification that allows a person to participate in the economy, giving the person the ability to live in society. A person must also have the name of the beast, that is, the one who has the ultimate authority, the king, the god man, the ruler of the world. The one of notoriety known by the whole world, the one able to give pleasure and joy, who is able to give presents and rewards to those deemed worthy. The beast is the dangerous one, he is venomous, ultimately he is the wild one, the hunter of men, he who brings destruction. It is his number, that is, his actions that rule the system. To lift up or take away. The cause is to keep people in suspense. The person who takes the number, that is, accepts and bows to the beast's authority, will have his sins against humanity, against the kingdom, against the system, taken away. Thus allowing people to participate in the kingdom. They will be conditioned to accept everything implemented in the kingdom. The person who does not have the mark or the name. or the number will not be allowed to participate in the kingdom. A lot of stuff and I think it really kind of sets up the very very last story of this trilogy. I hope you enjoy the storytelling. I hope you enjoy the study God bless. Shalom and I'll see you next time.