The mark of the beast and Covid-19 vaccination
I have noted with great concern the low number of people who have vaccinated for immunity against Covid-19, not only in Oudtshoorn but in the Western Cape and in the country. In my observation from reading reports, personal encounters with people and social media posts, a lot of people who have stayed away from vaccinating are citing reasons for their mistrust on the vaccine from biblical scriptures, more specifically the book of Revelation.
Whenever there is a disastrous global crisis like the rumours of war or a pandemic such as Covid-19, we see a sharp increase of interest in the book of Revelation. For example we’ve been there when the barcode was introduced. We experience this during the current pandemic.
While paying attention to the Bible is always a good thing, Revelation is too often used (by Christians and non-Christians) in a way that does less to edify the body of Christ and more to stoke the fires of wild speculation and unfounded conspiracy theories. Popular interpretations of Revelation are often forgetful, even negligent that this book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:1 says: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.”
Many people treat this book as if it is the revelation of the dragon and his wrath. They focus too much on speculations about the anti-Christ, the mark of the beast, etc. Such assumptions breed unnecessary fear in good people. Neither the dragon nor the beast are the stars of the show. The point of the book is to reveal and uncover the victory of the Lamb and the victory the Lamb shares with His people.
It, therefore, may be helpful for the beloved to understand what kind of book Revelation is and how to make sense of the imagery of the beast. This teaching will try to explain this controversial topic and one expects a lot of opposition.
Our silence as the body of Christ in the conversation about vaccination and Covid-19 as well as giving direction to Christians, who are the majority of the citizens in the country, is too loud. I therefore implore to Oudtshoornites and the Christian and non-Christian community to help the country move forward and get vaccinated. I have also been vaccinated, and believe that it is not only the right thing to do, but honourable and responsible, to ensure that we pass this stage of uncertainly in our lives. We have lost too many lives with some still fighting for their lives. Let’s put an end to this pandemic and get vaccinated.
– Pastor EM Tyatya (personal capacity), Oudtshoorn
(Pastor Edward Mzwabantu Tyatya is a pastor at the Gospel Mission Church of South Africa, a Bongolethu based church in Oudtshoorn, and president of the church nationally)
Vertroue vs wantroue
Ek sal dit baie waardeer indien iemand met die nodige kennis vir my kan verduidelik op grond waarvan daar ’n mosie van wantroue teen die uitgaande burgemeester en speaker ingestel is.
Het die twee persone enige wandade gepleeg? Het hul korrupsie gepleeg, gesteel, onwettige tenders toegestaan of nepotisme gepleeg? Was dit nie maar net blote moedswilligheid of ’n desperate poging van die ANC om hul sinkende skip te probeer red nie? ’n Mens kry mos maar mense/instansies wat nie kan sien dat ander mense beter presteer as hulleself nie, en dan die pad van ondermyning volg om die suksesvolle persoon/instansie verdag te maak en sodoende uit te skakel.
Hoekom noem die ondergrawers nie die redes vir hul wantroue nie? Ek weet – daar is nie redes nie – slegs jaloesie.
Mag die kiesers se oë betyds oopgaan en op 1 November DV met die nodige insig en wysheid die beter opsie uitoefen, en deur hul demokratiese reg hul kruisie op die regte plek maak. Dit is elkeen van ons se reg, voorreg en plig om Oudtshoorn vorentoe te neem vir die volgende vyf jaar.
Dink asb mooi voordat jy jou laat mislei deur vals beloftes wat nooit realiseer nie.
– Pieter, Oudtshoorn