The Mark Of The Beast
The second beast also enforces the power of the first through economic discrimination. No one, no matter his social class or influence, will be able to buy or sell unless he has a mark upon the forehead or hand to signify devotion to the beast. The number signifies the name of the beast . Many interpreters take this literally, as if a literal mark will be imprinted in some fashion on foreheads and hands, but the language is likely symbolic. Just as the seal on the foreheads of the 144,000 is not literal, neither should this mark be understood literally. In any case, the two beasts conspire to exclude believers from the marketplace.
John closes this section with a statement that has fascinated and puzzled interpreters throughout history. He summons the readers to be wise so that they can calculate the number of the beast. We are told the number is the number of a man: 666. Some manuscripts read 616, but the best reading is 666. If the number refers to a particular individual, the best guess is Nero. If Nero Caesar is transliterated from Greek to Hebrew, the letters calculate to 666, though it is doubtful the original audience would have understood this complex solution.
This article is adapted fromedited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr, and Jay Sklar.
Thomas R. Schreiner is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and associate dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
What Is A Mark In The Bible
The Greek word charagma in Revelation 14:9 means a scratch or etching, that is, stamp . A mark is thus a brand or sign of identification.
The Sabbath is called a sign between God and His people in the Bible . It identifies Gods people as being sanctified or set apart by God.
Jesus said, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath . The Sabbath today is still a commandment and an identifying sign of Gods people.
Another occasion of marking or identifying people is found in the book of Ezekiel where God tells one with a writers inkhorn, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it . This mark identified those who obeyed God and mourned over the sins of the city.
Is The Mark Here Yet
The antichrist spirit and their system has ALWAYS been here desecrating all that is good in the world. They have poisoned our food, our air and our water with chemicals, and they prevent us from living freely on this earth by way of property taxes and use of their currency to pay them.
Our world is owned and operated by evil and is designed for the purpose of separating Gods children from Him . All things work together for good for those that love God . See my article God Created Evilfor more on predestination, hell and eternity.
Our freedom from bondage is spiritual and given to us by Gods grace ONLY through the blood of Jesus Christ . Our physical body is Gods temple . God sanctifies every unclean thing that enters His temple through Jesus Christ and prayer .
THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HAS OVERCOME EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD .
Matthew 24:24 warns us that false messiahs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect. But if you worship God the Father ONLY, have been baptized in the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ, you read and study His word, and never deny your testimony of Jesus Christto anyone or for any reason then you will recognize what causes the mark and the Holy Spirit will convict you to avoid it, just as He convicts us every time we walk outside of Gods will for us.
I pray that God will bless and keep you all in these last days. Amen.
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Will You Accept The Mark Of The Beast Without It You Wont Be Able To Buy Or Sell With It Youll Suffer The Plagues Of Revelation What Should You Do
There has been much speculation about the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation. What do you need to know about this mysterious mark?
It seems that no subject has intrigued and baffled people more than this mysterious mark spoken of in the book of Revelation. Many books have been written and many sermons have been preached about this subject. Scholars and theologians have offered many different ideas about it.
Some suggest it is a microchip implanted in ones forehead or an invisible mark or a visible mark. Some even think it could be ones credit card or debit card.
But what does the Bible reveal about this puzzling mark?
The key passage reads: 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, 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 . Verse 18 identifies the related number of the beast as 666, which is covered in our article 666: The Number of the Beast.
If one does not have one of these identifying signs, he or she will not be able to legally transact business. This person will find it difficult to earn a living, to hold a job or to run a business.
Bible Prophecy Describes A Powerful Leader And His Government Or Empire As The Beast God’s People Won’t Accept The Mark Of The Beast And Will Not Be Permitted To Engage In Commerce What Is This Mark
Steve Halama/Unsplash
The mark of the Beast is associated with the number of the Beast, 666, and the name of the Beast in Revelation 13:17Revelation 13:17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.×.
The following is an excerpt from the United Church of God booklet The Book of Revelation Unveiled:
“The second beast of Revelation 13 will cause ‘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’ .
“What’s behind this strange-sounding practice? How will it affect people as the time of the end draws near?
“There is historical evidence that, in the ancient Babylonian culture, slaves ‘were identified some kind of mark, either tattooed or branded on the face or the back of the hand’ . There may be parallels between this ancient practice and what God reveals will happen in the end time.
“Many have speculated as to the meaning of this puzzling prophecy. Some interpret it in terms of supercomputers, unique personal identity numbers and even microchips imbedded under the skin.
“The Bible does not explicitly define the specific methods that the Beast will use to identify those free to participate in commerce at the time of the end. Some sort of advanced surveillance may be involved
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The Mark Of The Beast And Antichrist Are Directly Linked
The Mark of the Beast and the antichrist are directly linked. The Bible calls this Mark, His Mark, the number of His name, or the Mark of his name.
This is important to remember, especially when identifying what the Mark is. It will be something significant that bears the name or somehow openly and precisely relates with the antichrist himself.
Revelation 15:2 – And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his Mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Revelation 14:11 – The smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever. They have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image and whoever receives the Mark of his name.
God Reigns Over The Beast
Twice more we see what God has given the beast. First, God has allowed him to make war on the saints and conquer them. This does not mean the saints surrender their faith . It means God allows the beast to take their lives this too follows the pattern found in Daniel, where Daniel says about Antiochus IV Epiphanes, This horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them . God grants the desires of the beast for a period of time, so that the beast exercises authority over every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We see here the reach of the imperial cult and the totalitarian nature of the beasts rule.
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How To Avoid The Mark Of The Beast
Once we understand that there is a mark of the Beast the obvious question is how to avoid the mark of the Beast?
This is an honest question and the answer is also found in the scriptures.
The scriptures tell us that the Beast is given power to overcome the Saints, here the word saints is making reference to the children of Israel and not all Christian Believers.
Revelation 13:4-8
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The Beast is also given power to rule all nations everywhere no matter their language.
Its interesting to note that the Beast is given power by the dragon , and does not have power of his own.
It is important because it gives us confidence, knowing that the Most High is in control of what happens, as Satan is subject to the Most High.
Revelation 13:11-15
Revelation 14:12-13
Who Is The Beast The Roman Emperor Nero
Others take on a more mathematical approach in trying to decipher the meaning behind the number 666. By figuring out the numerical value of a name, some have come up with calculations to determine that several candidates from history could have indeed been the beast itself including Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao, and others who had committed horrendous crimes against humanity.
Another idea acknowledges the Roman numerals and that of six of these base numerals, one can make the number 666. By adding I and V, you get 6, by adding X and L you get 60 and by adding C and D, you get 600. Adding those numbers together will equate to the number 666, which gives some weight to the idea that the beast was a Roman.
Whilst there could be many candidates for this idea, some have theorised that this was indicative of the Roman Emperor Nero. In both Greek isopsephy and Hebrew gematriathe practices of assigning a number value to letterseach letter in the alphabet would have a corresponding numeric value.
Using these numbers, various combinations can spell out messages, or in this case, someones name. By using these practices, many have tried to, in effect, calculate the number of the beast and discern who the earth beast that John speaks of is.
In fact, in the reign of one Emperor Decius in the year 249 251, those who did not possess correct certification were not allowed to trade, which was a process that links back to Nero some hundreds of years prior.
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When Will The Mark Of The Beast Take Place
From Revelation 13:16-18, the Mark of the Beast will be brought in by the antichrist, probably at the mid-point of the Great Tribulation.
Because the Mark is directly linked to the antichrist and the worship of this person, it will be implemented when this individual is coming into or is in power. The Bible says, He causes all . So this person will be positioned with authority and power in the whole world to cause this to happen. This hasnt happened. No person is in this position at this time.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE MARK IS IMPLEMENTED
When the Mark of the Beast comes, it will cause each person alive to decide, will I be loyal to the man who claims to be god? Will I give up ownership of my life to him by taking his Mark, or will I submit myself to the true God and lose my right to buy and sell and probably be killed?
If a person receives this Mark, it will signify that they have bought into the antichrists vision, platform, and purpose. More on this in a moment.
The Mark will provide economic benefits. It will be required for all commercial transactions from the moment it is put in place. It will make the global order possible and make sure that no one outside this system can function.
Note: Given E-commerce, electronic banking, and how personal and business finances, etc., are all tied to electronics and computers, it would be effortless to limit and control the world’s finances.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MARK
THE LOCATION OF THE MARK. WHAT IS THE MARK?
Dna Tampering In The Old Testament
Let us look at the three examples in found in scripture regarding genetic tampering and DNA knowledge. Starting in Genesis at the temptation of Eve with the Serpent.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman,Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Just a coincidence that when Eve took of the fruit, she and Adam changed physically? But there is more, the second example of DNA tampering is found in Genesis 6 dealing with the Sons of God coming into the daughters of men. The question is not can angels reproduce. The question is, do you believe what the passage says in Genesis chapter 6?
There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
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The Meaning Of The Numbers 666
The number 6 itself is also believed by some to be what is known as the number of man, or a number of imperfections, while the number 7 was believed to have been a number of perfection.
In this idea, its understood that God took 7 seven days to create the world and because 6 is one short of 7, it can imply incompleteness or something flawed. Because humans are innately flawed, humans can be associated with the number six, or the number of man.
Additionally, we also see in the bible that statements can be repeated three times for emphasis for example, the Seraphim fly around the holy throne of God singing Holy, Holy, Holyinstead of just saying it the one time.
In this, saying 6 three times666is an emphasis of imperfection and could encompass not just the imperfection of man, but also resemble the transgressions that man has against God, those which may include the worshipping of the devil over him.
Furthermore, another idea to support this is from some Greek beliefs, where the number 888 is symbolic of Jesus Christ. In this, the number 666 is not an isolated and arbitrary number thrown out by John in Revelation but also can be accompanied by the number 777 which stands for the ultimate perfection or 888 which again stands for Jesus and the divine.
This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has the insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.
What Does The ‘mark Of The Beast’ Scripture In Revelation Say
The apocalyptic biblical term comes from Revelation 13: 16-18. According to the Apostle John in the New International Version Bible, a pair of beasts will rule the Earth with cruelty. Their evil reach which can be interpreted as hidden manipulation will require all people who engage in commerce to wear the mark of the beast. The Apostle John did not identify what the mark looks like, although some theologians translate Scripture to associate the number “666” with it.
Pastor Darin Wood of First Baptist Church in the oil town of Midland, Texas, wrote an op-ed in August for the Midland Reporter-Telegram that said, “One of my church family posed an honest question: ‘Pastor, is the COVID vaccine the mark of the beast? Ive been told it is.’ Their question was an honest and heartfelt one, and clearly, they were anguished about it. In kindness, I answered, ‘no’ and thought little more about it. Until the question came again. And again. And again.
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