A baby with the mark of the Beast?

[clemson]

Would a baby that had the mark of beast go to heaven because of accountability or hell because of sin and mark of beast? Hypothetical question...

[Maxine]

The scriptures don't leave any room for "if's or but's" when it comes to the mark...but then I don't think a baby would have the mark as you can't "buy or sell" without it and babies wouldn't be doing any of this.

My guess for hypothetically would be that they would go to hell(?)

[AzSkyz]

That is a tough question and one I don't have an answer for. I was thinking today .... if all babys and children, who are not yet at the age of accountability, go to heaven in the rapture ... what about all the children born during the tribulation years. I feel for these little ones that will have to endure that time.

[james46888]

Would a baby that had the mark of beast go to heaven because of accountability or hell because of sin and mark of beast? Hypothetical question...

If we are talking about babies rather than children, then the point I'd make is that how can a baby consciously accept the mark? Since they don't have the capacity to do this, how can they be held accountable for it? Obviously they can't.

[timefor]

What scriptural basis do we have that all children are taken up in the rapture?

[Lynn]

I'm fairly sure that the only ones who will be mandated to take the mark are adults. These are the ones who provide for the babies and children. As a previous post pointed out, babies aren't capable of buying/selling or pledging commitment to AC. That will be a conscious choice made by people who are old enough to make this decision, bad one that it is.

[tbrian40]

Why would children willingly take the mark? I believe every person who takes the mark does so willingly--knowing that this is an act of rebellion towards God, whom they choose to reject. John 3:19,20. Children on the other hand are prized. Matthew 19:14. Post rapture--I believe they go to heaven if they die during the tribulation. I just believe that the mark is a means to get paid through a job or government entitlements, therefore, the devil won't bother with them. Maybe their are NO exceptions to the rule but what would be the point? You have to be a certain age to get a job, driver's license, vote, etc. anyway and those age restrictions are past accountability. Wow! What a question. Help here, mods...just a little.

[Carrie Grace]

What scriptural basis do we have that all children are taken up in the rapture?

I know there are some who believe that only children of believers will be raptured, citing from the Old Testament about God wiping out certain places and tribes--including the children... Also children were certainly destroyed in the flood, and that was judgment directly from the Hand of God.

I have wondered about this as well.

[momoffaith]

When Jesus raptures us He will take all that belong to Him. Children (who have not reached the age of accountability, an age different for each that only God knows) will be taken bc they belong to Him.
In answering about babies born during the trib receiving the mark of the beast, my mind goes to this. What is God's nature? Would He send an innocent one to hell, never.

[steinhatchee]

When Jesus raptures us He will take all that belong to Him. Children (who have not reached the age of accountability, an age different for each that only God knows) will be taken bc they belong to Him.
In answering about babies born during the trib receiving the mark of the beast, my mind goes to this. What is God's nature? Would He send an innocent one to hell, never.

Let's just assume for a second that all children go to heaven during the Rapture . That would mean that anyone and everyone left behind were accountable for their own actions . So , any child born after the Rapture would not have enough time to reach the age of accountability before the end of the Great Tribulation , with a maximum age of 7 , assuming the 7 years start immediately after the Rapture , which I believe is most likely (give or take a few weeks , couple of months max.) Not to mention , I tend to believe that the mark will not be forced until the midway point of the Trib. , JMO . So , even then , the oldest child would probably only be three and a half years old when the mark is introduced/forced. I don't think a child that age could possibly have any idea of what they would be doing , even if they did it willingly .

Now , let's assume only the children of the saved are Raptured . That would mean that all children left behind were not saved , (if they were saved they would be in heaven , by way of the Rapture ... regardless of the parents ). So , a left behind child is at the mercy of the parent for a awhile . Therefore , if they were left behind at the time of the Rapture because of their unbelieving parents , then certainly during the Tribulation they will be condemned as well if they receive the mark . What would be the purpose of God leaving them behind at the Rapture if they could receive the mark yet still go to heaven ... ? Does this make sense ? If He has mercy on them for ignorantly receiving the MOB , then why did He not have mercy at the time of the Rapture ... when they were a few years younger !?! Also , if the unbelieving parent were enough to keep them from being Raptured , how much more would the MOB keep them out of heaven as well ? ... (I'm just speculating , ... I don't have the answer myself .)


Let me also mention John3:17,18 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To be left behind at the Rapture means that one did not believe in Jesus . It is a rejection of Christ that sends one to hell . Receiving the MOB is just a 'symptom' of one's rejection of Christ , (but a symptom that seals their fate).


The only comfort in this is that we know God will ALWAYS do right . Whatever He ordains is just and good , whether it be receiving the saved into heaven or condemning the unsaved to hell , ... His ways are perfect .

[Buzzardhut]

Would a baby that had the mark of beast go to heaven because of accountability or hell because of sin and mark of beast? Hypothetical question...

If you know God's heart... what do you think?

[Mitsy]

REV 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

For Satan to delude those who took the Mark of the Beast they had to be willing participants.

[Wally]

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

[Florian9]

A person who willingly accepts the mark, regardless of the circumstances is left with an eternity of wrath--Revelation makes that very clear. I'm confused as to why we are even questioning whether God will do the "right" thing or not? He knows everything--the if's, the why's, the but's, the what-if's.....

Ignorance of the law doesn't prevent anybody from being prosecuted and convicted here--why should it be any different when it comes to rejecting His Son & taking the mark?

[Rapturetime]

Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The Bible teachers that it is just not receiving a mark that condemns you it is worshiping the beast and his image. If just receiving the mark condemns you then the verse would say or instead of and. Also the Bible says whosoever receives the mark which has the connotation that the mark is a choice and not forced. Taking the mark is a show of allegiance to the Beast. It is the outside manifestation of an inside choice. If just receiving the mark condemned you then it would be easy for the Beast to just have people held down and forced to receive it. It is true that people will have to choose between possible starvation and the mark but that is just one of the things that makes the trib so bad. I am sure that many will regret not accepting Christ in easier times when making the choice would not have such dire consequences. Since little children/infants or the mentally challenged cannot be held accountable for choices they cannot make sticking a mark on them would not condemn them. I think of it this way. Baptism is an outward show of a choice one has made on the inside. If just being baptized saved you then we could go around and just push people into swimming pools, lakes etc and baptize them and they would be saved. Baptism is not magical nor is a mark on your body.

[Florian9]

Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The Bible teachers that it is just not receiving a mark that condemns you it is worshiping the beast and his image. If just receiving the mark condemns you then the verse would say or instead of and. Also the Bible says whosoever receives the mark which has the connotation that the mark is a choice and not forced. Taking the mark is a show of allegiance to the Beast. It is the outside manifestation of an inside choice. If just receiving the mark condemned you then it would be easy for the Beast to just have people held down and forced to receive it. It is true that people will have to choose between possible starvation and the mark but that is just one of the things that makes the trib so bad. I am sure that many will regret not accepting Christ in easier times when making the choice would not have such dire consequences. Since little children/infants or the mentally challenged cannot be held accountable for choices they cannot make sticking a mark on them would not condemn them. I think of it this way. Baptism is an outward show of a choice one has made on the inside. If just being baptized saved you then we could go around and just push people into swimming pools, lakes etc and baptize them and they would be saved. Baptism is not magical nor is a mark on your body.

It goes hand-in-hand and I see you left out Revelation 14:9-10. See also Revelation 13:16-17.
Just "receiving" the mark implies you intend to "worship the beast". There is no grey area as far as I'm concerned.

[OnceWasLost]

Taking the mark is what that condemns, and it is a matter of willfully taking it and all that comes with it. Besides, why would an infant need it, are they capable of such a decision?

Would God condemn an infant for something not of their will?

[clemson]

The whosoever and the no ifs ands and buts are leading me to think if a 3yr old loved the AC, worshipped him and took his mark he'd go to hell. Since that is a choice... But then you have the age of accountability. I know that whatever God chooses to do will be right but this is a hard two folded answer...

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, (Revelation 13:16 ESV) emphasis added

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, (Revelation 13:16 NKJV) again emphasis added

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16 KJV) emphasis added

So we see regardless of translation, it repeatedly uses the word ALL. It didn't say except all under 18, or all except those who don't understand what this really means, but ALL. Wether they accept it or not is their and their choice only. Just like because your parents are saved doesn't mean you are, I'd think the same would go here. And likewise in the OT God destroyed all of the world except Noah and crew, all of sodom and Gomorrah, even the kids and babies, so they wouldn't start it all over again. And since the age of grace would be gone at tha point I would have to make an educated guess of hell. BUT like buzzard hut suggested, knowing Gods heart, it does and doesn't fit into His character... I'm thinking of making a movie or a book about the Trib and so on, so you might see some more tough questions.....

[OnceWasLost]

The whosoever and the no ifs ands and buts are leading me to think if a 3yr old loved the AC, worshipped him and took his mark he'd go to hell. Since that is a choice... But then you have the age of accountability. I know that whatever God chooses to do will be right but this is a hard two folded answer...

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, (Revelation 13:16 ESV) emphasis added

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, (Revelation 13:16 NKJV) again emphasis added

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16 KJV) emphasis added

So we see regardless of translation, it repeatedly uses the word ALL. It didn't say except all under 18, or all except those who don't understand what this really means, but ALL. Wether they accept it or not is their and their choice only. Just like because your parents are saved doesn't mean you are, I'd think the same would go here. And likewise in the OT God destroyed all of the world except Noah and crew, all of sodom and Gomorrah, even the kids and babies, so they wouldn't start it all over again. And since the age of grace would be gone at tha point I would have to make an educated guess of hell. BUT like buzzard hut suggested, knowing Gods heart, it does and doesn't fit into His character... I'm thinking of making a movie or a book about the Trib and so on, so you might see some more tough questions.....

"All" pas (Greek) πᾶς

Can mean every or "of all kinds" which is what is described after in the verses. Obviously not all are made to take it as some willfully reject. Again, it cannot be forced compliance, it is an acceptance of all that comes with the mark.

[Wally]

We have the utmost confidence that God will do the right thing.

Whether there are infants here after the rapture or not, mark or not,

God and His ways are Perfect.


Perhaps we should re-focus on what we know, instead of what we think we know.
Children - infants perish daily, the Flood, Molech, abortion....

But Our God is Pure and knows exactly what to do with such souls.