The Mark of The Beast
What’s The Big Deal?
To close our study of eschatology this month, we started this week by discussing one of the biggest talked about characters in the end times, the antichrist. And to conclude our series, we will be talking about another highly debated aspect of the end times that ties right into the antichrist, the mark of the beast. For years this mark has been debated by many in a plethora of different areas. Is this mark relative or just figurative? Has this mark already come? Will those who receive the mark even know they got it? Questions like these and many more have arisen over this mark and with good reason. You cannot read Revelation 13 and not have growing concerns about how and when this mark will appear. As John MacArthur cautiously notes, “The pressure to give in to the worship of Antichrist will be far worse than anything ever experienced in human history. Life will be virtually unlivable, so the people are forced to bow to the demonized king, not prompted merely by religious deception, but also by economic necessity.” It is unmistakably clear that the antichrist will seek to pressure all of mankind to take this mark by any means necessary. So what should we know about this mark and how should we prepare to reject it? Let’s see what scripture has to teach us about this time.
What Is It?
For starters, let’s be clear on what this mark is. Revelation 13:16 says, “And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads” It is obvious that this mark(if taken literally) is going to be a distinct, physical, visible sign that is placed on the right hand or forehead of all nonbelievers who choose to follow the beast. Now there are those who believe that this is just a symbolic way of saying that the nonbelievers will be able to be identified apart from the believers, but if you take this passage in a literal sense, then this eliminates multiple possibilities. The mark will not be a political sticker you wear, a specific brand of clothing you buy, or a vaccine you decide to get. It is clear from this passage that this mark will be on the forehead or right hand of those who choose to worship the beast. If we even take this a step further and apply what this would look like in our current day and age, this mark would most likely come in the form of a permanent marking or chip reader such as a tattoo or an implant. This, of course, all stems from Satan mocking God with how He marks His chosen people in Revelation 7:2-3 “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” It is pretty evident that just as God seeks to mark His people before the Great Tribulation occurs, Satan seeks to mock God by marking away his people as well during his time of rule and reign on the earth. Now whether you believe that this mark is physical or symbolic, one thing that is certain is that there will be a ‘mark’ on those who are on this earth in these last days that set you apart from God, and show that you are with the antichrist himself.
What Will It Do?
On the other side of this debate is the question of why this mark is needed. What is the purpose of this mark? Is it only used to show who is for God and who is not? Not necessarily. In fact, if you are premillennial, you already believe that those who are saved will already be raptured up into heaven before this tribulation even begins. This time of Great Tribulation according to the premillennial is for those who haven’t decided on whether or not to follow Christ or the Antichrist. Regardless of what millennium view you take, however, what we must realize is that this mark is what sets you apart for the devil himself, and he will do anything in his power to try and pressure all of humanity into taking it. Revelation 13:17 tells us, “and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” This passage clearly tells us that while the 3 beasts have rule over this earth, it will be impossible to buy or sell anything without taking this mark. Essentially, those that choose to follow Christ in this time frame and refuse to take the mark, must be prepared to live outside of the financial grid. Their money will have no worth outside of the mark of the beast. This is a scary time for those who follow Christ. Suffering, persecution, starvation, and even death are all real possibilities during this time for those who refuse the antichrist and his mark. However, in this moment, may those who choose to stand for Christ have the heart of Paul in Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” How much more bearable will it be for those who know their eternity rests in heaven with Christ forever than with those who will perish in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels forever?
Finally, Revelation 13 gives us one last specific piece of evidence for this mark. Revelation 13:18 says, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” This mark that is to be taken by those who worship the beast will either be the number ‘666’ or a name that equals 666. This is what was discussed in our last post about other historical figures having their names translated from the Hebrew alphabet to equal 666. Now it is not for certain here that the antichrist’s name will equal 666 according to the Hebrew alphabet but what is for certain is that the number ‘666’ will be involved in this mark whether the mark is the number itself or a name that equates to the number itself. Overall, what we know about this mark is that if taken literally, it will be a mark received on the forehead or right hand, it will be necessary to have if we seek to buy or sell anything under the antichrist’s new rule, and it will either physically be or equate to the number 666. I hope and pray that as we conclude this study on eschatology, your desire to learn more about the end times has grown over these past few weeks. I don’t wish that these posts frighten you in any way, but rather that they would prepare you, strengthen you, and give you hope of our saviors soon return.
Sources
[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/
[2] What is the mark of the beast? (2024, January 31). Grace to You. https://www.gty.org/library/bibleqnas-library/QA0174/what-is-the-mark-of-the-beast