Dear Richard,

God tells us that those without the Holy Spirit cannot possibly understand the things of God and, judging from the things you've written, you definitely do not have the Holy Spirit living inside you.

Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

At some point along the way, you decided to use your limited human mindset to try to figure out the Bible. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way! In one of your articles you said, "since miracles don't happen now, they didn't happen then". Well, since you don't know God OR the Bible, I guess you aren't able to relate the things that are happening in today's world to the Bible, especially what's going on in the Middle East. (See Isaac and Ishmael: The Conflict Between Jews and Arabs started in Biblical Times.)

Surely, you must have heard about the microchip implant by now - the most recent in the saga being that a Florida company is offering the chip as an alternative to checks and teller machines. You just allow the checkout people to scan your little chip, and voila! automatic debit/credit from your account! No cash or credit cards needed. When John received the visions/prophecy for the Book of Revelation on the Island of Patmos 2,000 years ago, he didn't have the words to describe a "microchip implant", and so he called it "a mark" forced upon man by "the beast", without which we wouldn't be able to buy or sell anything:

Revelation 13:17 ...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.

The number of his name, as you know, is 666 (which comes from the Hebrew letters, each of which has a numerical value. HaSatan's number was 666). Today's bar codes are all based on 666 (See The Number 666 in UPC Barcodes). God warns us that those who take this "mark" are automatically destined for hell....

Revelation 14:⁹ Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, ¹⁰ he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. ¹² Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

(We at The Refiner's Fire believe that this "mark" could also be something that is somehow tied with Islam. From the ever-increasing Muslim terrorist attacks throughout the world and the fact that they are the ONLY people in the world who still behead (Rev. 20:4), it would seem that God is using the Spirit of Islam to usher in His end-time scenario. Islam seems to be slowly taking over the world. Lately, there have been all kinds of articles showing how the Bank of Islam is taking over several U.S. companies/corporations, - one at a time - including Church's Chicken, Loehmann's Department Store, and the Caribou Coffee chain. The Bank of Islam has made it clear that they will NOT be doing business with people who refuse to adhere to Sha'ria Law/the Koran - That could be where the "no one will be able to buy or sell" (Rev 13:17) comes in. If Islam owns all or most of the businesses and we can't be hired because we refuse to bow down to Allah, they can make it VERY rough on those who refuse to "take the mark". Believers need to be vigilant!....)

But, I guess since you don't believe in God, you fully intend to take the chip (or bow down to Allah, or whatever) when faced with the choice. True believers (of which - after all is said and done - will be very FEW according to Matthew 7:14) are preparing to live off the land and on a bartering system in order to stay alive until the Rapture happens....

You want to see miracles? Check out the hundreds of Bible prophecies that have ALREADY come true! Here are but a few, and they continue to unfold before our very eyes: Ten Bible Prophecies Fulfilled Recently; and Ten Bible Prophecies that are Being Fulfilled Today. Perhaps you'd also care to check out the prophecies of Isaiah 53 which foretold Yeshua; Matthew 24, which foretold the end time scenario; and last but not least, the Book of Revelation which foretells the end of the world as we know it.

Just for kicks, let me remind you how God used Hitler to make one of his major end time prophecies come true (a prophecy that HAD to be fulfilled before the "end times" could be ushered in): In Genesis 12:3, 5:18, Deuteronomy 30:3, and Ezekiel 36:8-10 God promised the Jews that they would one day become a nation again. This happened in 1948, when the world briefly felt sorry for the Jews following the Holocaust and returned Israel to them. Since then, many countries have tried to take Israel away from the Jews (remember 1967?), and guess what - it ain't gonna happen because God won't let it! That just isn't in His plan....

These are only but a FEW examples! Still insist God is a myth? Well, believe whatever you wish; it's a free country. Just remember to keep an eye on current events, because Bible prophecy IS unfolding before our very eyes, and Jesus IS returning, whether people choose to believe it or not! The Bible is VERY clear about that....

Carmen @ The Refiner's Fire