It breaks Amir Tsfarti’s heart when he discovers Christ followers who are deceived by false teaching of end-times events.
One belief that particularly disappoints Tsfarti—the founder and leader of Behold Israel ministry—is the widespread myth that the COVID-19 vaccine, now being distributed worldwide to combat the dreaded disease, is really the mark of the beast prophesied in the book of Revelation.
Tsfarti, who appeared recently on Real Life with Jack Hibbs, says Scripture clearly debunks this belief.
“It’s sad because a lot of those who believe that it is the mark of the beast are pre-tribulation rapturists,” says Tsfarti, who was born in Israel and has lived there most of his life. “It is not the mark of the beast, and for four reasons. First of all, you need to have a beast. The beast is a person, and such a thing has not appeared. The second thing is the mark of the beast is the sign of when you are deep into the tribulation, which definitely has not yet begun.
“Number three is the mark of the beast is something that is on your forehead or right hand, and the COVID vaccine is not being distributed that way. Fourth, it is a token of worship. And why is this key? The Bible doesn’t say believers will lose their salvation if they take the mark of the beast. Believers cannot take the mark of the beast because they do not worship the beast. No believer that is taking the vaccine today is pledging their allegiance or worshiping Satan incarnate, which is the Antichrist.”
Hibbs, senior and founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, located in Chino, California, says the last point is particularly relevant in the discussion of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We have to remember that when Satan comes, he’s going to inhabit the Antichrist,” Hibbs says. “Satan wants you to worship him. You’re not going to be tricked into accepting the mark of the beast. I don’t believe the church will be here when all of this happens. I believe 2 Thessalonians 2 is very clear about this.
“Satan wants the allegiance of the populace of the world. He is not going to trick you; He is going to require you to worship him. People are going to get in line because they agree with his policies and agenda. I understand the passion and excitement of people, but we have to watch this with biblical wisdom. A lot of Christians thought the magnetic strip on credit cards were the mark of the beast, or bar codes or when they came out with a hologram chip on cards. You will have to see the church removed from the earth, and, at the 3.5 year point, (the Antichrist’s) true colors will show.”
For more of this fascinating discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine, tune into Real Life with Jack Hibbs.
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