Just briefly, by way of Chairman's
remarks, let me just read to you a verse that is well known. It's in the book of the Revelation,
chapter 13, the verse 17, 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. I'd like just to emphasise, say
a few words on a question that I've been asked quite a few times
in recent weeks and recent months. It's in connection with the coronavirus
pandemic and it's to do particularly with the vaccinations that are
now available A number of people have asked me the question, is
the vaccination and also the certification certificate and
so on that goes with it, is that the mark of the beast? That sort of idea has been circulated
in some church circles and it has caused many Christians concern
and uncertainty about the whole question. I want to emphasize
to you men and women that the mark of the beast is not related
to medication. It's not something that is related
to medicine. I want to make that very clear. The mark of the beast is related
to trade and to buying and selling, as this verse that we've read
from clearly states. Certainly some of the things
that are taking place in the world of finance, the changes,
and even some of those changes are being introduced as a result
of the current crisis. Some of those changes relating
to technology, to electronic means of payment, to the chip
and so on. All of these things are preparing,
paving the way to the mark of the beast. But none of those
things actually are the mark of the beast. And we want to
make that perfectly clear to you. There's a very simple reason,
men and women, why anything that's happening at present, whether
it's to do with finance or to do with the world of medicine,
why those things cannot be the mark of the beast. And it's simply
this. Because the beast, or the Antichrist, remember that the
beast is one of the titles, is to show his ferocious nature,
his wild nature, the attacks that he will make, particularly
upon righteousness and the people of God. But the beast is one
of the titles of the Antichrist. And the Antichrist has not yet
arisen. Until the Antichrist is revealed
and made manifest, the mark of the beast will not be implemented
upon society, and we reckon it will be implemented just upon
the Roman society, that is, the area of the earth where the old
Roman Empire once covered. So until the Antichrist arises,
until the beast is manifest, the mark of the beast will not
be implemented. And that will not take place
for some time yet. In fact, for quite a few years
yet. You ask, how do we know that? How can we say that? Well,
there are certain things that have to be fulfilled first, before
the Antichrist arises. There has to be the rebuilding
of Babylon. Remember, one of his titles is
King of Babylon. He's going to be the ruler of
Babylon. The temple in Jerusalem, must
also be rebuilt before the Antichrist arises or is manifest. Because
remember that he's going to set up the abomination in the holy
place there in the temple of Jerusalem. Paul said, writing
to the Thessalonians, we're not to be soon shaken in mind. And I want to emphasize that.
Don't be troubled. Don't be anxious by the things
that are taking place at the moment or don't let anybody else
trouble you with wild statements about things that they don't
fully understand. None of the things that are happening
at the present day in which we live is the mark of the beast
as spoken about in the prophetic scriptures. So pray the Lord
will bless and help you through those few remarks today.