Cycles of growth, decay, and regeneration

The main idea is to be careful about what you want. Sometimes, what we think is good or what we hope for is just something we imagine. Problems exist all around the world, and many of them happen because of things we do to ourselves.

If it is not external threats who will simply contribute to the downfall of 'the good idea'.

    1. It starts with a good idea

As an Utopian vision, we could build a better community, a better World, if only we did this and that. 

    2. Issue starts to show up

    Internal dynamics and increasingly tyrannical tendencies or significant external threats. Mere nuisance; or symbolizing the external pressures that historically have challenged, invaded, or otherwise contributed to the decline of any order.

    3. Answers, and more effort up to a certain point

    Adding another layer of complexity to the founder's efforts, illustrating how isolation from perceived corruption doesn't necessarily shield one from conflict—it often follows or finds a new form in any human endeavor, particularly one that seeks to establish its own rule and order in a previously established system. 

The presence of these antagonistic forces helps to hasten the collapse of any good idea. 

Showing how external aggression interacts with internal decay to accelerate the fall of any Utopian project.

    4. Regeneration

    Some dude will then come up with a better idea and the cycle will continue. 

Mark of the beast

The "mark of the beast" is a concept rooted in the Book of Revelation, the final book of the Christian New Testament. It describes a future scenario where a powerful entity, often interpreted as a symbolic representation of evil (Ahriman) or oppressive systems, mandates that all people receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. This mark, commonly referred to as the mark of the beast, is said to be necessary for buying or selling.

The interpretation of the mark of the beast remains a subject of debate and speculation among theologians and scholars. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the overarching message of Revelation emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to God amidst trials and tribulations, resisting the allure of worldly powers, and placing one's trust in the ultimate victory of Christ over evil.

The physical mark could be a tattoo or implant, but it could also be a metaphorical representation of allegiance or acceptance of a particular ideology or system (a QR code, or bar code).

The significance of the mark of the beast as a sign of the end times stems from its association with the rise of a figure known as the Antichrist and the onset of a period of tribulation and judgment known as the Great Tribulation. According to Christian eschatology (the study of end times), the Antichrist is a charismatic yet deceptive leader who will deceive many and lead them away from God.

Ultimately, the mark of the beast is seen as a symbol of allegiance to worldly powers and ideologies that oppose God's will, and its emergence is believed to signal the climax of human history and the impending return of Jesus Christ to establish his kingdom.

Temptations

According to the New Testament (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke) Jesus faced three primary temptations during his time in the desert:

1. Jesus was  tempted to use his divine power to turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger, emphasizing physical needs and desires over spiritual priorities.

2. Jesus was  tempted to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, suggesting that angels would rescue him and demonstrate his divine status. This temptation tested Jesus's trust in God's protection and his commitment to divine timing and purpose.

3. Jesus was  tempted by the dominion over all the kingdoms of the world if he would worship him, tempting Jesus with worldly power and authority in exchange for compromising his allegiance to God.

These 3 temptations represent fundamental human struggles with materialism, ego, and the pursuit of power. 

Jesus's responses to each temptation emphasize the importance of spiritual priorities, faithfulness to God's will, and the rejection of worldly temptations in favor of divine obedience and righteousness.