WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST?
This post will look further into what the Bible says about the Mark of the Beast.
INTRODUCTION
Revelation 13:16-18 - He causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one may buy or sell, except he who has the Mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is a call for wisdom: Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast. It is the number of a man. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
In summary, the Mark of the Beast will force people to choose a side either to the antichrist or to Jesus Christ. It will be impossible to sit on the fence or be undecided. Those who do not receive the Mark will be killed.
Revelation 20:4 - I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his Mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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.”
WHEN WILL THE MARK OF THE BEAST TAKE PLACE
From Revelation 13:16-18 (quoted above), 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” (He being the Beast or antichrist). So this person will be positioned with authority and power in the whole world to cause this to happen. This hasn’t 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 antichrist’s 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 limiting of buying and selling will likely be an initial pressure tactic to force people to take it. The antichrist’s economic policy will be straightforward: take the Mark and worship me, or lose the ability to do business, buy or sell, and ultimately not be able to eat or feed your family. This will work for many, but many will also see the truth behind it and resist. It will happen quickly, and the optional part of it will be removed and forced upon people through a life or death decision. It would seem from Revelation 20:4 that the type of death that is threatened for not taking the Mark is decapitation.
Taking the Mark of the Beast will not be a random act. Those who receive it will make a deliberate decision; they will knowingly devote themselves to the antichrist and his agenda.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MARK
What Is the Significance of the Number 666? Even the most biblically illiterate person has likely heard something about 666 or the Mark of the Beast.
Revelation 13:8 - Here is a call for wisdom: Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast. It is the number of a man. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
The Mark of the Beast equals the number of a man who is the antichrist. It would seem the antichrist’s name will if given a numerical value equal to 666. We should not guess at this. There may be things that seem interesting, but we need to be careful.
The antichrist is not likely revealed until the Tribulation period.
The Mark is significant because it is tied together with worshipping this beast, the antichrist. When someone receives the Mark they are aligning themselves to the beast. They reject the one true God, the King of Kings, and take for themselves in a place of submission this beast as their god. The Mark is a pledge of allegiance to this one claiming to be god and desiring worship.
Revelation 16:2 - The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and foul and grievous sores came on the men who had the Mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image.
Revelation 14:9 - A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his Mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Revelation 19:20 - But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the Mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.
THE LOCATION OF THE MARK. WHAT IS THE MARK?
As read in Revelation 13:16, this Mark of loyalty will be “on the right hand,” or “on the forehead”. This also shows that it will be placed on (or in) the person. It won’t be something they are carrying with them, or a paper or electronic identification on the phone, etc. It will be affixed to the person in some way and not removable. You will either be marked or not.
What is this “mark”? The word mark appears throughout the Bible and typically means a mark or stamp engraved, etched, branded, cut, imprinted.
Since it will be an economic tool, the Mark will be literal and somehow visible. There will be a way to identify if a person has the Mark or not quickly. Also, given that there will be a time when people are killed for not having it, again, it will be something that can be promptly recognized.
People have speculated about almost every new form of technology. Will it be something as simple as a tattoo? Will it be some ID card? Will it be a chip placed under the skin?
When it comes to the exact nature of the Mark of the Beast, we can see there are many ways it could happen. Still, we should be careful not to label something today as the Mark because we don’t know.
The Bible indicates that the Mark will be placed “on” or “upon” the hand or forehead. It seems it will be identifiable from the outside, where it can be seen.
Technology is certainly available today to accomplish many of these things.
THE COST OF TAKING THE MARK OF THE BEAST
We have seen that it will cost a lot not to take the Mark. People will be making life and death choices when this happens. However, there is a higher cost if someone chooses to take the Mark.
First, even while being alive, there will be a judgment upon those who have received the Mark. During Tribulation and judgment on the earth, there will come torments when God pours out the Bowls of Wrath upon the earth.
Revelation 16:2 - The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and foul and grievous sores came on the men who had the Mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image.
Most importantly, the most significant judgment will come in eternity. There is no returning after receiving the Mark. Those who receive the Mark of the Beast will be aligned with his purposes on earth and aligned with his eternal judgment in the lake of fire. The person who receives the Mark and worshipped the beast will be cast into and tormented forever in the lake of fire. Some people have asked, will there be a second chance for those who take the Mark of the Beast? The Bible gives no indication anywhere that there is any second chance once a person has taken the Mark. The risk is too great even to consider this possibility.
Revelation 19:20 - But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the Mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.
Revelation 14:9-11 - A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his Mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out in full strength into the cup of His anger. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 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.”
THE REWARD OF NOT RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST
Revelation 20:4 - I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his Mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
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 22:4 - They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
The most important reward of not receiving the Mark of the Beast is being with God for eternity and having His name written on our foreheads.
This post comes down to this simple thought. Under no circumstance do not take the Mark of the Beast.
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The mark of the beast is the symbolof the cross The beast is the pope and the cross is his mark, Watch catholics make the sign of the cross on themsleves putting their right hand to their foreheads just like revelation 13:18 says the mark is in their right hand or foreheads. The Proetstant reformers Martin luther , John wycliff and dozens of others exposed the Catholic church and pope as the beast and the whore, Its a history lesson. Read this below for a more in debt explanation of the Cross as the Mark of the beast by Alexander Hislop author of The Book The Two Babylons.
WAS THE CROSS A EARLY CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
OR AN ANCIENT PAGAN SYMBOL