The Path of Truth Forum

Mr. Cohen

It is true that man does not have "freedom of self-will"...but he does claim this freedom.
Mankind, being part of the creation which belongs to the One Creator, claims to be free to do his own will, to do what is right in his own eyes... but he is in reality living in disobedience (a self-taken freedom) to the One Creators' Will.

I have read some information about you.

I have a question for you....
....do you believe in freedom of rights , freedom of religion?...given that this FREEDOM dictates that it is right, a right, to be free to worship ANY 'god'?

I look forward to your reply.

John

Hi John,

What do you mean by freedom of rights and religion? I most certainly prefer to have the freedom to worship God as He sees fit, rather than be under the threat of harm and loss by such as the Catholic Church if I don't worship as they see fit. Which do you prefer?

But I do have the freedom to worship God in spirit and truth, whether acknowledged by man or not, given to me within by the faith and fear of Him through Jesus Christ. For this immense privilege I bless and praise His Name.

As for others worshipping strange gods, since when can any man change the spiritual preference of another by edict or force? No, we aren't here to bring change by the sword of man, but by the Sword of God, the Word of Truth spoken and planted by Him to judge all men in due time. I praise God for this, too.

As for religions worshipping other gods, such as Islam with “Allah,” their curtailment of, or infringement on the rights of others shouldn't be tolerated by any government of men. Those who commit the prescribed crimes of Muhammad should suffer the commensurate penalty, just as would any other citizen who takes it upon himself to defraud others of their property, life and limb.

Why do you ask this question, John? What man in sin is free?

Paul Cohen
www.ThePathofTruth.com

Hello Paul,

Does one need to be free, to have freedom, to worship and serve the One Creator?
...the Lord Jesus Christ witnessed the truth and Will of the Creator when He was imprisoned, beaten, and killed as a criminal.

...the apostles and disciples witnessed the One Truth in persecution, in prison, by their deaths.

Freedom , in its absolute, dictates that one is free to worship 'god' as per his justification of "good and evil"...and this Freedom claims that there is no judgement and punishment since one is "free"...but in reality this is disobedience, and as a slave who runs for "freedom" is subject to punishment.

Man either serves the Will of the One Creator or he serves the will of satan, the adversary of the Creator. Man desires to serve and magnify oneself, to be free to do one's own will, to define and justify what is right in his own eyes, his rights, his freedom for his rights, his religions, his sexual lifestyle, his self-happiness.

It is true that followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are not to force others to follow...because this is not in our authority. We are only to witness the One Truth, in our lives and how we treat others, as did the Lord Jesus Christ, as did the apostles, as did the disciples...we are to carry the same cross as Christ did, to walk in His steps, and to suffer the same for His Name.

However, the Lord Jesus Christ will enforce the Will of the Creator when He returns to rule the earth as the One King, He will rule with a rod of iron according to the One True Way, and ALL will bow their knees to Him.

...for there will be no "freedom of self-rights", no "freedom of religion".....for there is Only One Creator God.

Man is not free in sin, for there is judgement and punishment for those that do not repent of their way of sin, of self justified freedom and self-rights....but man claims this FREEDOM to define, justify, and do what is right (good and evil) in his own eyes as a 'god'.
...and also to believe that he ( that this freedom) will not die.

But man is not free...for his duty is to serve / to love, as an obedient slave, the Will of his One Creator...He Who is GOOD.

I hope that my replies will clarify my first message and will give answers to your comments.

John Stefanyszyn
...a bondman of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the One Creator.

Hi John,

You still haven't answered my question about why you asked what you did. Or if you've answered, I don't understand. So what good is all your philosophizing?

The problem I see is that you're dwelling in the realm of intellect, setting up an idol and barrier between yourself and God. This barrier extends to all others as well, except those who agree with you. And if any such exist, the fellowship you'd have with them must be empty - devoid of life, because it's based on mere theoretical doctrine instead of the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Life.

Our life is in Him, John! It comes through The Cross - Only the Death Sentence Will Avail. This is how Jesus Christ comes in the flesh, and you aren't confessing Him, as in this statement you make:

“However, the Lord Jesus Christ will enforce the Will of the Creator when He returns to rule the earth as the One King, He will rule with a rod of iron according to the One True Way, and ALL will bow their knees to Him.”

It's not just “will enforce,” but “has enacted”! How could we be in compliance with God's will if Jesus hadn't come already and made His abode in us? How could we bow our knees to Him? He has come, John, and He also comes through us. We wield His rod of iron, even as it is written:

Revelation 2:26-29 MKJV
(26) And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
(27) And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father.
(28) And I will give him the Morning Star.
(29) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you over the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16 MKJV).

Two other writings for you to read:

The Mark of the Beast and the Seal of God
Godhood The Destiny of Those Born of God

Paul

Paul, the following is written in the “Mark of the Beast” attachment that you gave me to take a look at...an important section that I summarized

“So what is the mark of the beast?
It is the exaltation of the flesh, the puffing up of a man, making him bold and brash
It is the pride and energy of the flesh.
It empowers man to do things that please men.
It makes man to be impudent, presumptuous, proud, haughty, fat-eyed, full-bellied, self-satisfied, lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, blasphemous, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, false accusers, unruly in their lusts, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors.
…. lovers of pleasures (self) more than lovers of God, ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth (the Lord Jesus Christ), having a form of godliness (“as gods”), but denying the power thereof (of the One True Creator).”
Yes, the Mark of the Beast Is the Mark on Cain whose primary belief and core way of life is reflected in Cain's words when he lied and arrogantly and defiantly replied to God saying “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”

Paul, “am I my brother's keeper?” confesses that one is his own keeper first and foremost.
This and all of the above character descriptions point to one core fundamental belief that man has and does desire...and that is to do, define, and justify “good and evil” in his own eyes “as a god”...to proclaim that the forbidden fruit is instead good for one's wisdom.

Today this desire and belief is proclaimed as FREEDOM for each and every individual to do what is RIGHT, their right, in their own eyes. This FREEDOM is marked on every individual's forehead and hand.

..all those described above claim and confess this SAME SELF FREEDOM
..the homosexuals and the gay marriage advocates claim and confess this SAME FREEDOM
..the religious turn to and claim this for their “religious freedom”...which blasphemously dictates that it is right to be free to worship ANY 'god' or 'non god'....which is disobedience because the Lord Jesus Christ said that we are to worship ONLY the One Lord your Creator and to serve ONLY HIM....for the way of the world to die in us and for us to live in the way of Jesus Christ.

And the desire for this FREEDOM is so powerful that it is deceiving even the elect...for they all confess it when there is pressure on them.

________________________________________________________
Paul, I wrote my understanding of XES...the desire to serve and magnify oneself...freedom
I hope that you will take a look at it.

X ? ? ...to serve and magnify oneself....freedom


The “number” is neither a numeral, a code, a chip, a person, nor the name of an individual.

The reference to this “number” is found in Rev. 13:16-18, as written by the Apostle John. It reads as follows:
Rev. 13:16, “And he¹ caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads,
Rev.13:17, “... and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Rev. 13:18, “Here is wisdom, let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.”

When reading this translation it seems obvious, because of such words as “number” and “calculate”, to expect the “number” to be a numeral. All bible copies, even as far back as the Codex Sinaiticus (4th century), have translated the old Greek text (X ? ?) to mean the numeral “666”. Instead of helping to recognize the identity of this beast, the use of the “666” has fertilized people's imagination to distort the truth.

The choice of meaning of Greek words is greatly dependant upon the context of the message. Verses 16 to 18 are not referring to a context of numerical interpretation but to one of belief identification within an international forum, in which this dominant world power (beast) has the ideological, political, economic, and military influence to control one's (a nation's) access to buy and sell (trade) based on that nation's allegiance to this empire's image, mark, name, or number of it's name. This “number” is associated with the beast, its mark, its name, and man.

In order to understand the message it is important to pay closer attention to the meaning of the Greek text (Greek English Lexicon, Liddell & Scott, 9th edition) for...
... receive, mark, name, number, calculate, and “X ? ?”.

Receive …Greek word = ???i? (phonetic...dosin)
…can also mean: to give oneself, to receive willingly

Mark … Greek word = ??????? (phonetic...charagma)
…can also mean: sign, characteristic, trait, distinction

Name…. Greek word = ??o?? (phonetic...onoma)
…..can also mean: title, reputation, character, designation

Number…. Greek word = ?????o?(phonetic...arithmon)
…can also mean: mark of a station, worth, value.

Calculate…. Greek word = ???????? (phonetic...psaythisato)
…can also mean: determine, conclude, identify, recognize

These other meanings of the Greek words clearly refer to a context of character and values identification!

Now, let's take a look at the Greek letters X ? ?.

In Greek new testament texts, the X ? ? will be followed by a stroke notation (X ? ?´) above and to the right of the letters to indicate a numerical interpretation. It is important to note that this convention was acquired during the Byzantine Empire, 4th - 15th century. This stroke notation was therefore not part of the original text. It was also common practice for interpretations to be edited into scripture. Taking into consideration the duality of the Greek alphabet to act as letters or numerals and the scribes' assumption to interpret the greek word “?????o?” to signify numeral, the translators interpreted and added the
letters X = 600, ?= 60, and ? = 6, producing 666.

However, X ?? has also another meaning.

The numerical interpretation does not make sense for 3 significant reasons.
First, it does not require “wisdom” to see that the mathematical interpretation of the symbols equals 666. I do not believe that Jesus Christ would highlight the need for wisdom to do simple addition. God's Word has never turned to the use of numerology to communicate the truth.

Secondly, verses 16-18 do not relate to a mathematical context but to one of character-value recognition and allegiance.

Thirdly, since this same “number” applies to a man, to the beast's name (character), and to the beast (government-empire), it must encompass a characteristic common to all three. What can be commonly shared by a government power, its character, and a man? Is it a common value-belief or a common numeral? The answer is obviously that of a common value-belief.

Let's investigate X ? ? with wisdom and understanding.

X?? (as three individual symbols = as one meaning)
The roots of the Greek alphabet are found in the ancient Sematic and Egyptian symbols. Each symbol represented a meaning.
The letter / symbol X …Taw …sign, mark, self
The letter / symbol ? …Samech …support
The letter / symbol ? …Shin…stigma, recognition of servitude

Therefore X ? ? = oneself + support + in servitude to.
The (number=belief) is clear.
In servitude to support oneself. The desire to serve one's own interests / to do one's own will.

What is the significance of this interpretation?

· As Individual Man.... To serve one's own interests. The desire to do one's own will.
· National Character.... The belief in the rights of the individual. Will of the people.
· Beast /World Mission...Democracy (def.: people (self) - rule) as a way of life for all nations.
?
Let's look now at Rev. 13: 16-18, but in the light of this information.

Rev. 13:16, “…and this world power brought about everywhere, to all the small and to all the great, and to all the rich and to all the poor, and to all the free and to all the oppressed, the willingness and desire to receive and embrace its characteristic-nature (mark) as their way of life (right hand) or as their belief (forehead) .”
Rev. 13:17, “…and that no nation will be permitted to trade except the ones that have the
distinction (mark) or the character (name) of this world power (beast), or that value (number) his character (name).”
Rev.13:18, “…Here is holy wisdom. Have the understanding to recognize the value/belief of this world power, for it is based on the value/belief of a man. His value/belief is the desire to serve his own interest / his own will (to know good and evil).”

This message is also confirmed by the writings of the prophet Daniel in Daniel 11:36-39.
(Note: This is the description of the last king/world power before the return of Jesus Christ.)
Daniel 11:36;
“Then the king shall do according to his own will; he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
Daniel 11:37;
“He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all.
Daniel 11:38;
But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.
Daniel 11:39;
“Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

Please note that the hand of the king of the north has been stretched out to Egypt and to other countries.

Does it exist today?

The world is presently living in the presence of this dominant power. Economic sanctions on a global level have been imposed on countries which have shown flagrant disregard for its ideological foundation, the freedom of rights of man. Today, more than 75% of the world's nations have willingly embraced and have become democracies. Recently Egypt has embraced this way and others are demanding to receive it. No nation is able to make war with (conquer) the beast (Rev.13:4) either militarily or politically (=spiritually). Its way (through capitalism) also offers the most prosperous economic rewards on earth (Rev.18:11-15). This primary belief has already unified the majority of nations, all the while respecting their “cultures/religions” (fortresses), and will, in the near future, unify all of mankind under the belief of universal values and freedom of rights. This “belief unification” is also reinforced by the ever growing global economic interdependence (capitalism is a powerful tool for spreading democracy). This world unified belief in “individual self-rights” is the goal of Satan in the preparation for the confrontation, both spiritual and military, against the return and rule of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, against the kingdom of God. It is evident that the identity of this empire (beast) is that of the United States of America, leader and promoter of democracy / freedom of rights, in conjunction with its world partners and mankind.

Recently, we have seen the people of Tunisia and Egypt overthrow their governments in order to embrace this way and belief. The prophetic words in Daniel, Trumpets #1-3, and Bowls #1-3 are being fulfilled. The non-democratic governments feel the pressures from outside and within their countries to change and to adopt democracy. They are trying to resist this conversion by using internal as well as external forces. Their resistance will be overcome in time to unify all of man (Rev.16:12-14) against the return of Jesus Christ.

Will of man or the will of the True God:

The U.S.A. embodies, on the global stage, each man's desire for the freedom to do and justify his own will. Man has chosen to live and to fulfill his physical, emotional, and spiritual needs according to what he believes and justifies to be right and wrong, good or evil. It is important to highlight that these choices are based on man's will and are not based on the absolute truths established by God. Even the belief in God has been decreed by man to be an “expression of a religious freedom”. The above are witnessed in excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States.

Declaration of Independence;

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness-….”

Constitution of the United States, Article the third (Amendment I)

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

These words clearly reflect the scriptural prophecies that we have read and seen in Daniel 11:36-39. Where is the faith in and servitude to the one and only true God and the desire to do His will? God does not accept man's will to worship beliefs of his own creation. By doing so man rejects God's existence as the True God and places himself in the position above God. This is blasphemy in the eyes of The Most High as declared in the First Commandment.

God's desire is for man to embrace and to do His will, which is absolute love for God and for those around us, and to receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, summarized well this "servitude and love" on the Mount of Olives prior to his capture, torture, death, and resurrection. His words were: Matthew 26:42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42;

"Father, all things are possible to thee
Allow me from this cup
Another I will not, other than Your Will"
(correct interpretation from the Greek text)

.....which He did as an act of sacrifice, love, and forgiveness for those who repent and follow Him.
Please note that when Christ will return to earth He will do so as King of kings. This also means that there will be only one way of life, one belief. This also means that there will not be any belief in "freedom" of religion and any "freedom" of rights.

As God's Holy Spirit is here now, we are also to serve Him now as King.

Hi John,

Thank you for the considerable time put into framing and sharing your thoughts with us about “the mark of the beast.” As you likely know, we're not linguistic scholars, so there are some things you say that we can't readily verify or deny, although we can answer your letter with the help of God and the understanding He's given us on this matter.

You write about the self-serving nature of the mark of the beast:

“Today this desire and belief is proclaimed as FREEDOM for each and every individual to do what is RIGHT, their right, in their own eyes. This FREEDOM is marked on every individual's forehead and hand.”

Of course, men have been exercising this freedom for ages already.

“You shall not do according to all that we do here today, each doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8 MKJV).

“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his eyes” (Judges 17:6 MKJV).

No doubt men would have believed they were free to be this way from the beginning, seeing how such a thought is the natural result of partaking of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The eyes are opened to see good and evil and to assume one knows what to do about it. That's man's basic state in the fallen Adam - independent and free from God.

We have no argument with you that democracy is another kingdom of men, a product of man's independence of God and part of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in the dream Daniel interpreted. The last kingdom was clay and iron mixed, the rulers and the ruled together, partly strong and partly fragile.

Nevertheless, as with the rest of the image to which this last kingdom is still attached, it's all destined to fall after the Kingdom of God enters the picture and the time is fulfilled:

“And in the days of these kings, the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the Kingdom shall not be left to other peoples, but it shall crush and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Because you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it crushes the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall occur after this. And the dream is certain, and its meaning is sure” (Daniel 2:44-45 MKJV).

And don't the words of the Psalmist sum up these things?

Psalms 2:1-12 ESV
(1) Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
(2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
(3) “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
(4) He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
(5) Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying,
(6) “As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.”
(7) I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten you.
(8) Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession.
(9) You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
(10) Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
(11) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
(12) Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Christ is on earth, John, and is the only way of life now, which we presently have in Him by the faith He's given us. If He wasn't here, we wouldn't have that faith or life, worshipping God in spirit and truth. As you say, “As God's Holy Spirit is here now, we are also to serve Him now as King.”

What is crucially important isn't the external manifestations of man's independence and the kingdoms God has given for a time to rule over men in their rebellion, but one's own reconciliation with Him through Jesus Christ. Have you taken up the cross to follow Him, John? Tell us more about that.

Without this, nothing else matters. Have you also red The Cross - Only the Death Sentence Will Avail?

Paul

Paul

I cannot agree with your statement that "Christ is on earth" at his time. He ascended into heaven to be with the Father and said that the One Creator would then send a HELPER , His Spirit Holy, to guide and help the apostles and all true followers of His Son Jesus Christ.
If your statement were true, then...
...it would mean that He never left the apostles and continued to be among them.
...it would mean that satan and his demons would be chained in the abyss.
...it would mean that the Lord Jesus Christ would have made His return, visible to all mankind as the light of the morning sun.
...it would mean that the Lord Jesus Christ would be ruling the earth at this time as the One King.
Your statement cannot be true, for these events have not happened yet.

As He walked the earth before, so will He again....and I have faith in this truth and serve Him in His Way, as King and Savior, according to the Will of the One Creator.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave warning not to be deceived by representatives of Christ who would claim that Christ is in the wilderness (to which He said "do not go there" ) and who would claim that Christ is in the chambers ( to which He said "do not believe them").

He said that His return would be visible to all at the moment chosen by the One Creator Father.

Read this from our site, John: Diabolical Doctrine: The Second Coming (Christ Is Returning in a Physical Body).

Paul