(A few weeks back, someone mentioned the subject of believers taking the mark, I think, as not even a possibility, which I concur.

For years, I heard that discussed as a purely hypothetical situation.

Where a person in the tribulation believes on Jesus, but yet receives the mark of the beast, and the debate, then, is whether that person still goes to the lake of fire.

However, why have some, over the years, even considered that hypothetical situation to be a possibility, when it won't happen that way?

First, doesn't it say that the false prophet "causes" all to receive the mark?)

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

(4 lines earlier, isn't the same word used - "causeth"?

Where the false prophet "causes" the earth dwellers to worship the beast?

Does it not appear, that taking the mark of the beast is connected to worshipping the beast?)

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

(Yet, 4 lines before that, doesn't it say that all the earth dwellers will worship the beast - except those written in the book of life of the Lamb?)

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

(Wouldn't that seem to indicate that those written in the book of life of the Lamb will not worship the beast, and will therefore not receive his mark?

Does it not appear that the names written in that book, were there from the foundation of the world?

Isn't the warning in the following chapter?)

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

  10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

  11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

(Doesn't that show that whoever worships the beast and receives his mark, goes to the lake of fire?

So, anyone who receives the mark of the beast was obviously not written in the book of life of the Lamb from the foundation of the world?

Therefore, is it not a fruitless hypothetical thought to consider a believer taking the mark?)

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