In this article I am going to share what the Bible teaches about how to forgive someone. The first thing you must understand is that your enemy doesn’t want you to forgive anyone. I am talking about Satan, Lucifer, the devil, a supernatural created being with real power. The Bible calls him your adversary. One of Satan’s favorite tactics is unforgiveness. We are going to look at what happens in your life when you don’t forgive.I want to give an explanation of what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. We are going to look at what happens when you do forgive. Satan of course loves for people to not forgive. Why? Because it brings them into bondage. It is very apparent that supernatural forces come into play when we deal with unforgiveness.
There is a verse in the Bible that tells us that we should be aware of Satan’s schemes. But did you know that that verse was preceded by a verse on forgiveness? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 “If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven–if there was anything to forgive–I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Listen, one of the schemes of Satan is to promote unforgiveness in people’s hearts. At the time of this writing, I have been a pastor and missionary for 38 years. I cannot begin to count how many times I have seen the enemy sow seeds of discord in the body of Christ because someone got offended, someone didn’t get their way, someone didn’t feel appreciated and because they refused to forgive, and it wound up causing all kinds of problems within the church. Even within denominations, sections, between pastors.
I have seen this. At the same time I cannot count how many families have been destroyed, and marital relationships been burned because people said, I cannot forgive that.
Knowing how to forgive someone is important because the writer to the Hebrews tells us that unforgiveness will not stay small, but it will grow and ultimately spread to others. I think that forgiveness is one of the things that should set Christians apart from the rest of the world. Unforgiveness will not stay small, the invention of the telephone so many decades ago ensured that. The tongue is the hardest member of the body to tame. The bottom line is that when we feel hurt, we talk about it. Many times our talking winds up hurting others. People talk. Bitterness and anger will come out. Unforgiveness is a contagious disease. Hebrews 12:14,15 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Satan loves unforgiveness because it doesn’t stay small. It keeps growing. So that is why he promotes it.
You will see how important it is to know how to forgive someone when you see the following:
- PERSONAL CONFLICT WITHOUT FORGIVENESS
One of the biggest lies that Satan tells is that time heals all wounds. I don’t think so. Time does not heal the effect of conflict. In fact, I believe that if forgiveness is not extended, the inevitable result will be distancing ourselves from others and eventually cutting ourselves off from people we now love. Let’s take a look at what happens in personal conflict without forgiveness.
- Disagreements will happen.
Disagreements are going to happen. Take any two people and no matter how much alike they are, ultimately as time goes on, they will disagree. It is inevitable. There will come a divergence of opinion on issues. That is what makes life interesting. Two people will not always have the same perspective. Of course, having a disagreement is not sinful. It is going to happen. It is okay to disagree.
2. Disagreements turn into conflict when the works of the flesh are evident.
Galatians 5 tells us what the works of the flesh are. Galatians 5:19-21 “ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;” So many of these works of the flesh describe what happens when conflict erupts. It could be in the home, or in a marriage, or in a church, or in a small group, or on the job. It could be between groups of people. But the sign that there is a problem in a relationship is when the works of the flesh are evident.
In other words, people begin to sin. The works of the flesh become evident. To put it in common words, “Things start to get ugly”
- A sin occurs.
- A finding out happens.
- A confrontation takes place.
- Selfishness is expressed.
- Hurt is inflicted.
- Words are spoken in anger and like daggers those words can pierce a heart.
- Alienation occurs.
- There are outbursts of wrath.
- It may be the silent treatment. A silent ignoring to disrespect that person.
- We begin to run mental arguments that justify our position.
- We may even justify our sinful actions in order to make our point.
Here is what I think: If we could just step outside of ourselves and become self-aware, as believers we would know that this is not the fruit of the Spirit. That this is the works of the flesh. But we get caught up. Our emotions are involved. Our anger is involved. Every person on the planet knows what it is to walk in harmony with someone. Then there comes a disagreement. That disagreement boils over into a conflict. Or maybe someone’s sinful actions produce the conflict – but the results are the same. There is an explosion. We have all been there. It is not fun. It is painful. Every time there is that kind of conflict
3. Conflict results in separation or distancing.
There is an emotional distancing that is experienced by the people who are involved. You may live in the same house, maybe even sleep in the same bed, there is an emotional distancing that will take place. What is funny are the words people use to describe that distance.
When its two kids they say, “Nanny, nanny, boo boo, I am not your friend anymore.”
In marriage they say, “We just drifted apart. I just don’t love him anymore.”
On the job they say, “He wasn’t a good worker anyway.”
In a church situation it sounds like this. “God is leading us somewhere else.”
The bottom line is that it is separation, distancing, and ultimately cutting someone out of your life. Conflict results in separation. It is not always immediately. It could be 5000 conflicts over 20 years. Here is the interesting part of this scenario. What happens is that the passing of time allows the emotions to die down. Because the hurt lessons a little bit, and people begin using civil tones with one another, our minds get focused on other things. Many people believe that is all that needs to happen. All that needs to happen is for time to pass and all wounds will be healed. There comes a gradual forgetting of the offense- but of course never a total forgetting.
People begin to make statements like: “We’re getting along better now…” Or, “I guess it will be okay…” And yet down deep there is still a breach because forgiveness has not taken place. Even though you try to disregard that breach, it is still there. It may be underneath the surface. It may be even at an unconscious level, but real forgiveness hasn’t taken place.
Now let me show you what it looks like when there is a lifestyle of conflict without forgiveness. This is why knowing and understanding how to forgive someone is so important. Naturally as the pain lessons the two people involved may drift closer together in their relationship but the next time that conflict erupts, the explosion is bigger, its stronger, because they are already divided in their hearts. Gradually they get further and further apart.
The word of God tells us that pride is the number one obstacle to forgiveness. I believe it was Ernest Hemmingway that wrote a little short story. I think it is fictitious. The story is set in Latin America, the story was about a Father and son that were estranged, the sons name was Paco. And one day, the Father humbled himself, he took out an ad in the paper and he said, “Paco, I was wrong! Forgive me. Meet me in the square in front of the church at such and such a time.” That day there were 1000 Pacos out in front. How pride keeps us separated.
Let me give you four stages that people go through as the relationship disintegrates:
Let me say that in every stage, pride is what stops the forgiveness and reconciliation. Here are four disintegrating stages of a relationship. The first stage is
- PRETENDING
Some call it denial. The explosion has happened. Someone sinned. Someone exhibited the works of the flesh. But here is how we will handle it, we are going to pretend everything is okay. We are going to sweep it under the carpet. There is no elephant of unforgiveness in our living room because we pretend it doesn’t exist. An explosion has happened and transgressions have occurred but we are going to pretend that we don’t need to acknowledge our sinful actions, forgive one another.
The statement can be used to describe this stage is we are “getting along better.” All along someone is too proud to admit they had a problem, or they sinned, and the other is too proud to forgive. Pride can be seen at every stage. Pride is what keeps us from forgiving and reconciling.
Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” How many of you know pride breeds quarrels? People with a humble attitude, rarely quarrel. But when you think your right, and everyone else has to acknowledge it and when you have to have your way. Oh my goodness! There is lots of quarreling. Pride breeds quarrels. Pretty soon more explosions come, more arguments erupts.
The second stage is called
- TOLERATING
It is a sad stage in the relationship. It is similar to pretending, but just takes a little more effort. We are going to tolerate each other even if it kills us. Even if I have to grit my teeth to be around this person, I am going to get it done.
In the first two stages, the same thing in actually happening. No one is really willing to address the real issues in the relationship, so we just keep on pretending and do our best to tolerate each other.
However, there is no honesty going on here. Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Early on in our ministry, we had been deeply hurt because of the actions of a few Christians. My wife and I were wounded. I was ticked. I remember Jureen lying in bed saying, “I am not going to be a bitter old woman. I am going to be a sweet woman when I am an old lady. I am going to forgive.”
We made up our mind to forgive. We learned about forgiveness. Funny thing is, I can remember her making that statement, but I cannot even recall the offense. Without forgiveness, the arguments continue and the third stage is
- RESIGNATION
Satan spins his web as he tells another lie: I guess that is just the way life is. I guess it is just my lot in life. I know of a married a man who had cut his daughters out of his will. He had not spoken to them for 25 years. They were dead to him. He was so resigned to that, he thought it was normal. That is not normal. Satan totally disregards what God can do in a relationship. God wants there to be forgiveness. When there is forgiveness, there is understanding and there is acceptance. There should be repentance. And life will get better, but Satan doesn’t want that. If you are a believer you know that God can change things. But Satan says, “No, that is just the way life is. Get used to it!”
The concept is that people get resigned to live their lives out with problems in the relationship. I read one time of two sisters, living in a house, for 40 years. With every room divided with masking tape. Just resigned to the fact that this is the way it has to be. No one wants to admit fault. No one wants to repent. No one has grace enough to extend forgiveness. Each one stands as judge and jury for the other.
Pride is really taking place. Proverbs16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” And it is not long until another blow up comes, or series of blow ups move the conflict to the fourth stage.
- GIVING UP
It is when people say “That is it. I have had enough!” It is when distancing is not enough. Now, it is time for cut off.
I am out of here.
- The marriage is over.
- I want a divorce
- I will never speak to you again.
- I’m leaving this church.
- I quit this job.
- I will never speak to you again.
- It is despair. Despair says, “It’s no use.”
We see the end result of a man’s pride, that a refusal to forgive brings a man or a woman down to the lowest place in life. Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”
A few years ago, I watched a documentary of a man who back in the Viet Nam war had been on drugs. His wife found out and she wrote to his captain trying to help him and got him in trouble. After he got out of the war, he disappeared. He went to New Zealand to live under a new name. He left his wife and two kids to fend for themselves. As long as that man’s pride stood in the way, his kids thought he was a low life. But the day came when he realized he was wrong. He came home, and said forgive me I was wrong. The reconciliation was beautiful. That is what God can do. “A man of lowly spirit gains honor.”
So many people live their life in this way. They have a series of broken relationships. Sometimes, it is because they don’t know how to forgive. They are caught up in this cycle. They know the explosions are getting bigger. They know distancing is taking place. They think they are helpless.
In fact, Satan will tell them, there is nothing you can do! That is just not true. We can forgive.
- WHAT IS TRUE FORGIVENESS?
A lot of misunderstanding about forgiveness can be cleared up and avoided if first of all we look at what forgiveness is not. How can we know how to forgive someone if we don’t fully understand it.
1. Forgiveness is not ignoring, tolerating, disregarding, excusing, overlooking, or closing our eyes to the wrong another person has done against us.
A lot of people think that is what forgiveness is. I just have to tolerate this person and their meanness. That is not biblical forgiveness. When God forgives us he does not ignore, disregard, overlook, or tolerate our sin. He deals with us about our sin. He confronts us. He tells us to repent from our sin. He tells us to stop sinning. Some people think they can sin, and sin and sin and that is okay with God. u read the Book honestly and tell me what you think. Forgiveness from God is not God ignoring our sin. And forgiving others is not ignoring their sin. In fact, God in his holiness cannot ignore sin. That is why Jesus had to die. Someone had to pay the price. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Sin must be dealt with.
Speaking the truth in love is not wrong. So many people think that if I forgive this person, then they have the right to keep offending me. No they don’t. Stand up! Speak up! It must be said that forgiving someone from offending you is entirely a different situation than trusting that person, or maybe in some cases even staying with that person.
If someone is abusing you, or cheating on you, hitting you, stealing from you. It is okay in God’s eyes to separate yourself from that person. God never intended anyone to be a punching bag or to be cheated on continually. Don’t mix up forgiveness with these things.
2. Forgiveness is not forgetting the offense, or pretending it didn’t happen.
That is what some people think. I must pretend it didn’t happen. Guess what? It did happen! Pretending everything is okay is not forgiveness. In fact, shoving your emotions down inside, and living that type of life. It is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. One day it will come bursting to the surface.
3. Forgiveness is not simply letting time pass after the offense.
Time does not take offences away unless there is forgiveness. Many years ago, someone stole something from me. I knew the person had done it, I had overheard him talking about it. But I chose to let it go. That day I was upset, but as the day wore on, I realized that I had to forgive. A few years later, I had to speak to that same individual on the phone. I am so glad that I had forgiven him because that hurt wasn’t there anymore.
I know people who are still angry and bitter many years after an offense came. That must be very hard to keep up that energy. It is healthy to let it go. Don’t buy into Satan’s lie that time heals all wounds. It doesn’t. Only forgiveness allows for wounds to be healed.
4. Forgiveness is not resigning ourselves to the other person’s actions by saying, “That is just the way that person is.”
Well, Pastor what is forgiveness? Before I give you a definition of what forgiveness is. Let me just say that every believer is required by God to forgive every offense committed against them. That is what God requires for us to be in right standing with him. When someone sins against you God’s word tells you that you must forgive them. That is why it is important to know how to forgive someone. Mark 11:25 says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Some of you are thinking man, I am not sure I can do that. Maybe there are some very painful memories for you to deal with. I am not saying forgiveness is easy. I am not saying it doesn’t cost you anything. Let me explain something to you, In your own strength and ability, I really think that there is no way you can really forgive. But God does not give commands that are impossible to fulfill. That is against his nature. He wants you to depend upon him. God is your enabler. God enables you to forgive.
Now let us understand something. When one person commits a genuine offense against another that person also sins against God. This makes the offender guilty before both God and before the person he has offended. Let me give you an example. If someone burglarizes my home while I am away on vacation. The person committing the sin has offended God. God holds him guilty, until he deals with God about that. When I come from vacation, I find out what happens, I automatically hold someone responsible. I hold that person guilty. Now I can’t deal with his guilt toward God. The only thing I can deal with is his guilt toward me.
That leads me to this definition of forgiveness:
Forgiveness is a deliberate action of my will – out of dependence upon Christ-in-me- removing from the offender his guilt toward me, giving this to God, and considering the offender no longer guilty toward me.
When we forgive in this way, the offended person gives up their right to sit as a judge against that person. When you forgive someone, it costs you all your demands to make the person pay for or make right the wrong that has been committed.
When that guy stole from me it really upset me. I thought about all kinds of ways to get vengeance. I was going to tell every person, I knew what he had done. I was going to ruin his reputation. I was going to confront him in front of people he respected. What was I doing? I was demanding he pay. Forgiveness is giving up the right to make the person pay for it. When a sin is committed against someone or a person offends someone. Here is what happens:
The offended Gets HURT!
And the offender is now GUILTY!
And it like there is a chain between them. The offended person is bound to that person by the GRUDGE he holds. This is what I think. As long as you hold on to the grudge. It keeps the hurt alive in you. God can’t heal the hurt because you are not forgiving.
Some people think that they should wait to forgive until he or she asks for forgiveness. They may never ask for forgiveness. They may die with out asking for forgiveness. Who is still in chains? The person holding the grudge.
Others think that they must confront the person. (Sometimes this is necessary) But please check your spirit and see if that is still a little bit of vengeance.
Here is the way to forgive.
- Clearly identify the guilt of the offender.
You have to think it through. Write it down. All the stuff. All the things that they did. Clearly identify it. It is harder than you think to actually get this clear in your mind. A person can do something and years later there are consequences to that action. Not only do you have to forgive the offense but all of the consequences that came as a result of the actions. Write it down. Clearly identify the guilt of the offender.
2. Identify the ways you are wanting to make that person pay.
This is the step that many people leave out. It is the subtle things. The little digs. Whatever it is that you want to see this person pay. I will be cold to them. I will speak bad to others about them.
Obviously in cases of criminal activity, justice has to be brought, and since God is a God of justice, we should seek justice. This is not you making the person pay, this is the law of the land making them pay. We must not cover up for the person so they escape justice either, that is not a part of forgiveness.
3. Clearly identify your hurt.
You have to know how you hurt. Write it down. The pain it has caused you. Describe it to the Lord.
4. Tell the Lord you are not going to hold this person guilty
You are taking the guilt off and letting go of it. You tell the Lord, “I do not hold this person guilty anymore. I am not going to function in the realm of trying to get even. I am going to let it go.” Give the person to God.
5. Ask the Lord to heal your hurt.
This is what I believe, a lot of people go through life bitter. They may have forgiven but they don’t allow the Lord to heal them. Really praying about something and really being prayed for makes a difference. It took me several months to get healed from some hurts, but God is faithful and he will heal our broken hearts in His time.
6. Deal with your response to what the person did.
How did you sin? Honestly acknowledge your part. Holding on to bitterness. Slandering others. Pride.
7. Realize you don’t have to tell the person. Prepare yourself for reconciliation.
Telling the person can just cause more problems. Look for the opportunity to reconcile. If they ask you for forgiveness great! You are ready to reconcile. Knowing how to release someone is so important that in that moment you will be ready!
And this is what I believe, you will live free! That is just what God wants you to do!
I’m doing research for my sermon on forgiveness and came across your site. What stands out to me most from this post is the number of families and relationships that have been destroyed because someone said “I can’t forgive this.” It’s really a profound statement no matter how you look at it. My co-preacher is doing a series on Human Sexuality right now exploring the LGBTQIA+ community from a Biblical perspective. As we move thru that series I think of the number of families that have said “I can’t forgive that,” in terms of their child sexuality. When Jesus said “This is my blood of the new covenant, shed for many for the forgiveness of sins,” I feel certain the many included everyone on the planet. Forgiveness is perhaps one of the hardest things for humans to do. I’m always struck by the number of “Christians,” who love to talk about the sin of others, and even condemn them to hell, (as if that even possible), all the while overlooking the foundation of Christianity. If you can’t understand the premise of forgiveness, how can you possibly preach the Gospel.
I know I said too much, but I did enjoy your post.
Glad you enjoyed it. thank you for the feedback. Sounds like an interesting series happening.
I truly believe in forgiving, sometimes it is hard and many times I find myself forgiving more than one time and each time gets easier, sometimes we wonder if we should forgive, as we know it is wrong to think that, as I said if you find yourself forgiving that person more than once, it is ok!
Thank you for your comment. Yes, many times we have to forgive the transgression against us, and then the consequences of the same transgression, some of which can last for years. Bob
I am married to my high school sweet heart. When we were both 21, we had our first child. We were engaged also, and had our first house. When our daughter was just a year and a couple months old, my fiancé at the time was seeing someone behind my back. At the time , we had been together for 6 years. We planned to get married, but hadn’t yet. I was eventually asked to leave our house with our daughter. I didn’t know at the time that he was seeing someone else until we moved out. We got back together a couple times, and I left a couple times. Eventually he was supposedly done with me , but wanted me to continue to wear my ring. He eventually slept with that person, was with them for a while, and still coming to me trying to comfort me. He eventually came home for good. We got married. We’ve been married for almost 19 years now, but I still feel the pain from all of it. I have only ever been with my husband, and no other partners. I just need to really forgive him because these memories and pain eat me alive everyday.
May God give you the grace to forgive. I am so sorry for your hurt.
Bob
I want to share a message that has been spreading all over the internet that concerns the times we are living in. Whether you believe in God or not, this is a must read message!
We can see throughout time how we have been slowly conditioned to come to this point where we are on the verge of a cashless society. Would it surprise you to know that the Bible foretold of this event? Don’t believe me? This may be the most imporant message you will read in these times…please do not ignore this!
This messsage reveals what the Mark of the Beast is, and the meaning behind counting a number people have been pondering for centuries, 666. This message also shares why Barack Obama is the Antichrist. This is truly a message from God!
In the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to the apostle John, we read:
“He (the false prophet who deceives many by his miracles) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 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.
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” (Revelation 13:16-18 NKJV).
Referring to the last generation, this could only be speaking of a cashless society. Why? Revelation 13:17 tells us that we cannot buy or sell unless we receive the mark of the beast. If physical money was still in use, we could buy or sell with one another without receiving the mark. This would contradict scripture that says we must have the mark to buy or sell. So, it deduces itself to this conclusion.
These verses could not be referring to something spiritual as scripture references two physical locations (our right-hand or forehead) stating the mark will be on one “OR” the other. It once again deduces itself to this conclusion.
Also, how could you determine who truly has a spiritual mark so that they may buy or sell? And, as you will read further in this article, to have the mark of the beast is the same to have the name of the beast, or the number of its name. You will begin to see even more clearly why this mark cannot be something purely spiritual.
Here is where it really starts to come together. It is shocking how accurate the Bible is concerning the RFID microchip. These are notes from a man named Carl Sanders who worked with a team of engineers to help develop this microchip in the late 1960’s.
“Carl Sanders sat in seventeen New World Order meetings with heads-of-state officials such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Gates of the C.I.A. to discuss plans on how to bring about a one-world system. The government commissioned Carl Sanders to design a microchip for identifying and controlling the peoples of the world—a microchip that could be inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle (a quick, convenient method that would be gradually accepted by society).
Carl Sanders, with a team of engineers behind him, with U.S. grant monies supplied by tax dollars, took on this project and designed a microchip that is powered by a lithium battery, rechargeable through the temperature changes in our skin. Without the knowledge of the Bible (Brother Sanders was not a Christian at the time), these engineers spent one-and-a-half-million dollars doing research on the best and most convenient place to have the microchip inserted.
Guess what? These researchers found that the forehead and the back of the hand (the two places Revelation says the mark will go) are not just the most convenient places, but are also the only viable places for rapid, consistent temperature changes in the skin to recharge the lithium battery. The microchip is approximately seven millimeters in length, .75 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. It is capable of storing pages upon pages of information about you. All your general history, work history, crime record, health history, and financial data can be stored on this chip.
Brother Sanders believes that this microchip, which he regretfully helped design, is the “mark” spoken about in Revelation 13:16-18. The original Greek word for “mark” is “charagma,” which means a “scratch or etching.” It is also interesting to note that the number 666 is actually a word in the original Greek. The word is “chi xi stigma,” with the last part, “stigma,” also meaning “to stick or prick.” Carl believes this refers to a hypodermic needle (see photo).
Mr. Sanders asked a Boston Medical Center doctor what would happen if the lithium contained within the RFID microchip leaked into the body. The doctor responded that if the microchip broke inside a human body, the lithium would cause a severe and painful wound filled with pus. This is what the book of Revelation says:
“And the first (angel) went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2).
THE HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE NUMBER 666 REVEALED!
What I first want to mention, before I share what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me concerning the number of the beast, is that God confirms in threes. We can see this throughout scripture:
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7 NKJV).
“and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV).
“…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8 NKJV).
There are many more examples, but I thought I would just share three of them to make the point.
Examining Revelation 13:16,17,18, the first group of three I would like to point out is that the mark of the beast is described in three separate verses, 16, 17 and 18.
The next three I see is in verse 16, “He causes all…” is followed by three contrasting categories of people,
1 – “both small and great,
2 – rich and poor,
3 – free and slave…”.
Then unto verse 17, it opens with, “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has…”, followed by three explanations of what one must have to buy or sell,
1 – “…the mark
2 – or the name of the beast,
3 – or the number of his name”.
Now unto verse 18, we read “Let him who has understanding calculate…”, which is followed by,
1 – “the number of the beast,
2 – for it is the number of a man:
3 – His number is 666”.
The last three I see is the number “6” being used three times in a row. The reason I’m making this point about God confirming in three is because it is the key to unlocking how to calculate the number 666.
Throughout the centuries there have been people trying to calculate numbers based on titles and names that come up to the number 666 to identify one person, the Antichrist; but from Revelation 13:18, I do not see where God is telling us to count up to 666, but rather to count the number of the beast. This number is identified as 666. So the verse is telling us to count the number 666.
What does it mean to count? It means to add up. So how could we add up 666? Remember my previous point about God confirming in threes is key to unlocking the number 666. So logically, what would be the best way to count the number 666? To count it equally by using the rule of three based off the number.
We cannot count it equally as 600+60+6, this would also bring us back to the start.
We cannot count it as 600+600+600, or 60+60+60 because there are no zeroes in between or at the end of 666.
The only logical option is 6+6+6=18.
What is interesting is that the verse that reveals for us to count the number itself is verse 18 (there a total of 18 verses in Revelation Chapter 13).
Another interesting point is the only two other combinations (making a total of three possible combinations) for placing a “+” symbol in between 666 are:
66+6=72 and 6+66=72.
Add both 72’s together and you get 144.
Why the number 144 is worth our attention is because the verse following Revelation 13:18 is the first time in the Bible where the 144,000 are being described in detail:
“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads…” (Revelation 14:1).
Now if you add up all three numbers from counting 666 by moving the “+” symbol around, it would be 72+72+18=162. What is compelling about the number 162, is, if you divide 144,000 by 162, you get 888. The name of Jesus in Greek gematria adds up to 888. The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. Revelation 14:1 not only mentions the 144,000, but also the Lamb who is Jesus.
Now what is interesting about the number for Jesus, 888, is that if you apply the same formula that was used to count 666, you get 8+8+8=24. Why the number 24? Revelation chapter 4 tells us there are 24 elders seated around the throne of God. This is the same throne where Jesus sits.
Now if you take:
8+8+8=24
8+88=96
88+8=96
you get 24+96+96=216.
Take 144,000 divided by 216 and you get 666.
Remember that this was the same exact formula we used to count the number 666 that ultimately brought forth the number 888.
Here is a quick recap to demonstrate how this formula confirms itself as being the true way to count 666:
1: 6+6+6=18 > 66+6=72 > 6+66=72 > 18+72+72=162
2: 144,000 divided by 162=888
3: 8+8+8=24 > 88+8=96 > 8+88=96 > 24+96+96=216
4: 144,000 divided by 216=666
1: 6+6+6=18 > 66+6=72…
As you can see, it is perpetual. And remember that we consistently used a formula that worked in threes being the number that God uses for confirmation.
Here is another mathematical confirmation: 144,000 divided by 6, divided by 6, divided by 6 (6,6,6) equals 666.
So what could this mean? Well we know in this world we are identified by numbers in various forms. From our birth certificate to social security, as well as our drivers license; being identified based on a system of ruler ship. So it is possible that this RFID microchip will contain a new identification that has a total of 18 characters (6+6+6).
“here the wisdom is, the one having the mind let him calculate the number of the wild beast, number for “of human” it is, and the number of it 666″ (Revelation 13:1, Greek Translation).
The Greek word “anthrōpos” being used in verse 18 where it says “of human” is the Greek strongs concordance G444. The first two definitions of the word are “a human being, whether male or female”, and, “generically, to include all human individuals”. Could the number of the beast apply to all mankind?
In the Greek (the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language), and other translations, you will notice the beast is described as an “it”, instead of “him”. The reason I’m making this point is because when a translation says “His number is 666”, this would imply a singular person, the Antichrist. But by saying “the number of it 666”, implies that it is of the beast system as a whole.
We can know the number of the beast cannot be to identify products (like a new barcode) to buy or sell because scripture says we cannot buy or sell without the number of the beast. What am I getting at? There will be instances where you could buy something someone made themselves and it wouldn’t have a store branded identification on it. But for this number to be in our chips, that is where it must be to conclude ultimately that we cannot buy or sell without having the number of the beast. As previously mentioned in Revelation 13:18, the number of the beast (6+6+6=18) is a “human number”, definition “generically, to include all human individuals”.
Truly a great division is taking place between good and evil—both spiritually and physically (riots, unrest, politics). If you take the current year 2020 and divide it by the number 666 (known for its satanic implications) you will get the number 30330. This number 30330 happens to be the number used to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Freaky? And one thing is certain, 2020 is truly being divided by Satan. He is the master deceiver and spreader of chaos. Jesus calls him the father of lies.
So I looked up this number 30330 concerning Joe Biden, and I found this information:
If you send a text to that number (at that time), you would get a response asking to support Joe’s campaign to take down Donald Trump, with one part in caps saying “CHIP IN >>” pointing to a link to go and donate.
“CHIP IN”? Obama has used this phrase in the past on his twitter and people believe it is a subliminal message to receive the mark of the beast, that is to say the implantable RFID microCHIP that will go IN our body.
Go to: https://2ruth.org to see all the proof!
Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? Jesus says that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God in the Gospel of John chapter 3.
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
BARACK OBAMA IS THE ANTICHRIST:
In the Islamic religion they have man called the Mahdi who is known as their messiah of whom they are waiting to take the stage. There are many testimonies from people online who believe this man will be Barack Obama who is to be the biblical Antichrist based off dreams they have received. I myself have had strange dreams about him like no other person. So much so that I decided to share this information.
He came on stage claiming to be a Christian with no affiliation to the Muslim faith…
“In our lives, Michelle and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith. But there have been times where my faith has been questioned — by people who don’t know me — or they’ve said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing,” – Barack Obama
…but was later revealed by his own family members that he indeed is a devout Muslim.
So what’s in the name? The meaning of someones name can say a lot about a person. God throughout history has given names to people that have a specific meaning tied to their lives. How about the name Barack Obama? Let us take a look at what may be hiding beneath the surface…
“And He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples), ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven'” (Luke 10:18).
In the Hebrew language we can uncover the meaning behind the name Barack Obama.
Barack, also transliterated as Baraq, in Hebrew is: lightning
baraq – Biblical definition:
From Strongs H1299; lightning; by analogy a gleam; concretely a flashing sword: – bright, glitter (-ing, sword), lightning. (Strongs Hebrew word H1300 baraq baw-rawk’)
Barak ‘O’bamah, The use of bamah is used to refer to the “heights” of Heaven.
bamah – Biblical definition:
From an unused root (meaning to be high); an elevation: – height, high place, wave. (Strongs Hebrew word H1116 bamah baw-maw’)
The day following the election of Barack Obama (11/04/08), the winning pick 3 lotto numbers in Illinois (Obama’s home state) for 11/5/08 were 666.
Obama was a U.S. senator for Illinois, and his zip code was 60606.
The names of both of Obama’s daughters are Malia and Natasha. If we were to write those names backwards we would get “ailam ahsatan”. Now if we remove the letters that spell “Alah” (Allah being the God of Islam), we get “I am Satan”. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
These are just a few of many evidences why Barack Obama is the Antichrist. You can see many more in my article on the website above, as well as read about the dreams I’ve had concerning this man. I’m more than convinced that God has shown me that he is without a doubt the Antichrist, and we will see him rise to power in the not so dinstant future.
Jesus stands alone among the other religions who say to rightly weigh the scales of good and evil, and to make sure you have done more good than bad in this life. Is this how we conduct ourselves justly in a court of law? Bearing the image of God, is this how we project this image into our reality?
Our good works cannot save us. If we step before a judge, being guilty of a crime, the judge will not judge us by the good that we have done, but rather the crimes we have committed. If we as fallen humanity, created in God’s image, pose this type of justice, how much more a perfect, righteous, and Holy God?
God has brought down His moral law’s through the 10 commandments given to Moses at Mt. Sinai. These laws were not given so we may be justified, rather that we may see the need for a savior. They are the mirror of God’s character of what He has put in each and every one of us, with our conscious bearing witness that we know that it is wrong to steal, lie, dishonor our parents, and so forth.
We can try and follow the moral laws of the 10 commandments, but we will never catch up to them to be justified before a Holy God. That same word of the law given to Moses became flesh over 2000 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. He came to be our justification by fulfilling the law, living a sinless perfect life that only God could fulfill; even bringing the law to it’s truest light by stating, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
The gap between us and the law can never be reconciled by our own merit, but the arm of Jesus is stretched out by the grace and mercy of God. And if we are to grab on, through faith in Him, He will pull us up being the one to justify us. As in the court of law, if someone steps in and pays our fine, even though we are guilty, the judge can do what is legal and just and let us go free. That is what Jesus did almost 2000 years ago on the cross. It was a legal transaction being fulfilled in the spiritual realm by the shedding of His blood.
Because God is Holy and just, the wrath that we deserve could not go unnoticed. Through the perfect righteousness and justice of God’s character, it must be dealt with, it must be quenched, it must be satisfied.
For God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). This is why in Isaiah chapter 53, where it speaks of the coming Messiah and His soul being a sacrifice for our sins, why it says it pleased God to crush His only begotten Son.
This is because the wrath that we deserve was justified by being poured out upon His Son. If that wrath was poured out on us, we would all die and go to hell. God created a way of escape by pouring it out on His Son whose soul could not be left in Hades, but was raised to life on the third day and seated at the right hand of God in power.
So now when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), God no longer sees the person who deserves His wrath, but rather the glorious image of His perfect Son dwelling in us, justifying us as if we received the wrath we deserve, making a way of escape from the curse of death.
Now what we must do is repent and put our trust and faith in the savior, confessing and forsaking our sins. This is not just a head knowledge of believing in Jesus, but rather receiving His words, taking them to heart, so that we may truly be transformed into the image of God. Where we no longer live to practice sin, but rather turn from our sins and practice righteousness through faith in Him.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again'” (John 3:5-7).
Come before the Lord with a contrite spirit, humble yourself, ask Him for His forgiveness, to receive the free gift of His salvation, to receive His Holy Spirit, so that you may be transformed into a new creature, into a child of the living God.
There is a reason why the words of Jesus have been translated in to over 2000 languages, and nothing comes remotely close (the Quran just over 100), because there is a God in heaven who desires to have a relationship with you, to know Him through His word, as that is how we personally get to know anybody. There is a reason why it is the year 2021, because Jesus came to earth just over 2000 years ago fulfilling major prophecy causing a divide in our timeline.
Jesus loves you! Seek Him while He may be found! We must repent and turn from practicing sin…for if we are not following Jesus, we are following the devil. There is no neatural ground. We are either living in the lie, or the truth. God bless you!
Dear Pastor Bob:
I found your article long which is what it should be. If you ask Christians in a Bible study what forgiveness is, their responses will be brief one concept sentences but explaining forgiveness has many points to it and many Bible verses are required to explain what it is. It cannot be explained with a terse response like a one line Proverb.
I am grateful for your kind words.
Bob
[…] In this article you will learn how to forgive someone. Christians who really understand the price that was paid for their forgiveness are willing to forgive others. You will find out what forgiveness is and what it is not. A step by step plan is given so you can not only forgive but be healed as well. — Read on folcc.org/how-to-forgive-someone-what-the-bible-says-forgiveness-is-and-isnt/ […]
How do I forgive in the way of GOD. I was abuse by my mother and sisters and when I try to reconcile they emotionally abuse me again. MY mother even started to abuse my son. This happened until I was 40 years old and it caused my son to suffer.
Forgiveness is different than trusting someone. These abusers must earn trust back. It is okay for you to separate yourself from them. Bob
Forgiveness is different than trusting someone. Forgive them, but then they must prove that they are trustworthy. God doesn’t want for anyone to be abused,
Bob
Pastor Bob. Thank you for your article, it has helped me to read it slowly and thoroughly and to really think about what you’re saying, talking to God as I read, actually doing what you say step by step (in my mind and heart anyway, as I’ve not written anything down because I’ve done this so many times I can’t face it again). And I’ll read this through again because although it has salved my pain, I have been afflicted by recurring thoughts of injustice day in and day out for months and it just keeps coming back. The pain. The thoughts and imaginary scenarios seem to come unbidden and it has helped me to take full responsibility for my part in this trauma and to acknowledge that it was God who was sinned against too. My ego was running rampant making me insecure and selfish and it’s still there. I want to forgive so desperately but I’ve not known how, it’s seemed impossible. I have prayed constantly and searched my bible and I generally feel no unforgiveness towards anyone in my life besides my husband. I’m trying to see it from his perspective and not demonise him so your article is ringing true with me regarding honesty with myself . I feel broken and abandoned and regretful of my thought-life towards him when we were together but I can’t yet tell him I’m sorry as I can’t yet face that he may never apologize back and that he’ll just go on his pompous way, so to speak. So I’m not there yet but thank you and God bless. You make a difference.
praying for you for complete victory.
Stay close to JEsus and in His word
Bob