You're right in that I do not know when Christ will return, nor is it my duty to pontificate. In regards to the order of scripture it does seem to indicate the mark will be taken prior to his return. Perhaps you're referring to the rapture? Here's the scripture in order:
Revelation 13:16-8
16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Followed by the rider on the white horse:
Revelation 19:12
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will 1crule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the 2wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
If anyone here is a biblical scholar and can provide insight I would love to hear more from you. To anyone concerned with theology, search the scriptures for yourselves and don't take my word. That said I do not see how America can be a prosperous thriving nation when Christ comes back to claim dominion and not a place of affliction.
Above all it's important that people in a dying world are seeking Christ now while he can be found.
You can and should preach. The 'end times' stuff, however, is apocryphal and it has repeatedly been used as support for cult ideology. I'm not confused about this. Matthew 24:36-37, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
You're right in that I do not know when Christ will return, nor is it my duty to pontificate. In regards to the order of scripture it does seem to indicate the mark will be taken prior to his return. Perhaps you're referring to the rapture? Here's the scripture in order:
Revelation 13:16-8
16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Followed by the rider on the white horse:
Revelation 19:12
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will 1crule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the 2wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
If anyone here is a biblical scholar and can provide insight I would love to hear more from you. To anyone concerned with theology, search the scriptures for yourselves and don't take my word. That said I do not see how America can be a prosperous thriving nation when Christ comes back to claim dominion and not a place of affliction.
Above all it's important that people in a dying world are seeking Christ now while he can be found.
The entire book of Revelation can be read here: https://biblia.com/books/nasb95/Re
You can and should preach. The 'end times' stuff, however, is apocryphal and it has repeatedly been used as support for cult ideology. I'm not confused about this. Matthew 24:36-37, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."