Question from Shpresa on 9/29/2007: 
Hello Father, This might sound silly but I would appreciate an aswer. A co-worker told me that before the end times people who are "of God" will "be neither a buyer nor a seller" I know he belongs to a non-denominational church but he insists that this is what is stated in scripture. He insists that all of the "saved people" will not have any money & not be able to purchase anything & will not be able to sell what they have. Is there any truth to this? Thanks you for all you do & God bless you.
Answer by Fr. John Echert on 9/30/2007:
Chapter thirteen of the Apocalypse reads:
11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12 And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight; and he caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed. 13 And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs, which were given him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and lived. 15 And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak; and should cause, that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast, should be slain.
16 And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads. 17 And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.
We do not know for certain the precise nature of the Beast and the mark but whatever it is, it suggests that those who are not sealed by God (perhaps by the mark and grace of baptism) will make themselves subject to the Beast of Satan, and they will be able to function freely in society whereas the saints of God will be persecuted.
God bless,
Father Echert
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