THE MARK OF THE BEAST |
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In 1976, Gregory Peck starred in a movie entitled “The Omen.” The movie opens with the silhouette of a young boy, the shadow of which gradually turns into a cross. It is simple, yet very chilling, and sets the tone. Then the movie introduces you to Gregory Peck’s character, Robert Thorn. It's Rome, and its 6am, on the 6th day on the 6th month. His wife Kathy has just given birth to a child, which died almost immediately. At the hospital a priest named Spiletto convinces him to secretly adopt a child, whose mother died during childbirth. Thorn agrees and keeps it a secret from his wife. They name the child Damien. It turns out the child is the son of Satan, the future antichrist. One of the evidences of the child’s identity is the number 666 that is found on the child’s scalp.
Perhaps no number, apart from the number 13, has possessed so much apprehension and fear and gave rise to so many theories and speculations. In our world and society, it has become the number that symbolizes Satanism and the symbol of a future apocalypse.
In our previous studies from chapter 13 (what an interesting chapter number to find the number 666 – maybe I’m on a new truth from Revelation) we met two beasts. We saw one rising from the sea and learned that he is the antichrist who will establish a one-world government. Then we saw a beast rising out of the earth and learned that he is the false prophet who will establish a one-world religion.
Adrian Rogers in his book “Unveiling the End Times in Our Time” gives this outline of the false prophet:
¨ He will be a servant of Satan ¨ He will be a worker of worship ¨ He will be a master of miracles ¨ And he will be a controller of commerce
We saw the false prophet as a servant of Satan, one sent by Satan and one who serves his aims and ambitions.
We saw the false prophet as a worker of worship for he will create an image of the antichrist and call for its worship, killing all those who did not worship it.
We also saw the false prophet as a master of miracles for he will use miracles and wonders to deceive the world.
In this study we will see him as a controller of commerce. As we shall see, it will impossible to buy or sell without the mark he requires. The commerce of the world will be under his total and complete control as he works hand in hand with the antichrist and he with the devil.
Let’s notice this mark and number by first noticing from Revelation 13:
1. THE PLACE OF THE MARK
Rev. 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark.”
The word "mark" means "a scratching or etching." It is speaks of a stamp or badge of servitude. It has the same idea of what we call a brand. ¨ 13:16 “a mark” ¨ 13:17 “the mark” ¨ 14:9, 15:2, 20:4 “his mark” ¨ 14:11 “mark of his name” ¨ 16:2, 19:20 “mark of the beast”
In earlier studies we saw that God's people, the 144,0000 were sealed by God. God’s seal was His mark upon them. Just as God will mark His own, Satan will mark those who belong to him.
Revelation explains that mark is:
A) Forced Upon All People
We read in verse 16 that the antichrist “causeth” people to take the mark. The word describes how he will make people take his mark. He will make the “small and great” take the mark. The words "small and great" are descriptive of ones position, leaders and servants, kings and peasants, presidents and people, the powerful and ordinary.
He will make the “rich or poor” take the mark. Those who have and those who have not will be made to take this mark. There will be no difference shown when it comes to possessions. As well, the “free and bond” are made to take the mark. There will be favoritism shown when it comes to privilege.
The whole world, not a few nations or peoples, but every inhabitant of the whole world will be required to have this mark. The news will be announced to the world that everyone will be required to possess this mark. No one is excluded. The inhabitants of the whole world will be forced to take this mark.
Revelation also explains where this mark is:
B) Found Upon All People
Rev. 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
It is a mark found on either their hand or head. If the mark is placed on the hand it will be on the right hand. If the mark is placed on the head, it will be placed on the forehead. I guess it will simply a matter of choice.
There have been all kinds of speculation as to what this mark will be. Some have suggested that it will it be something similar to a tattoo – if so, a visible mark of some kind. In recent years it has been questioned as whether or not it will be someone kind of implant. Implants have become a subject often discussed in our day and time. The possibility is growing with each day that implants are destined to become a part of our society:
In an article that I read on Salon.com dated September 7, 2000 had the headline, “Put that chip where the sun don’t shine.” The article stated, “Worry no more, doting parents! Whether it’s your little pumpkin’s first day walking home from school by herself or the millionth time you’ve lost her at the mall, the BabysitterTM will track your sweetpea’s location from a jellybean-sized microchip implant, discretely tucked under her collarbone. You’ll be able to chart her every move.”
The article went on to speak of a Japanese firm that is already testing chips to track lost relatives. And the New York Times, in a nod to what its editors imagine the future might hold now that the human genome project is now complete, asked several designers to suggest how we might carry around a chip encoded with our unique genetic sequence “for perfect identification in matters medical, official, criminal or otherwise.”
On CNN.com, December 20, 1999 an article stated, “Tiny human-borne monitoring device sparks privacy fears” It went on to say, “A Palm Beach, Florida-based telecommunications company has developed a miniature digital monitoring device that can be implanted in people, intended to assist in locating missing children or for monitoring the heart rate of at-risk patients.”
The article explained that the monitoring device created by Applied Digital Solutions called the Digital Angel can be planted inconspicuously just under the skin and that the implantable transceiver sends and receives data and can be continually tracked by GPS technology. According to ADS, the devise could track lost hikers, abducted children, military, diplomatic and other essential government personnel. It could also identify individuals for e-business security as well as check certain biological functions and alert a monitoring facility if it detects a medical emergency.
It is very possible that this mark may be some kind of implant.
Some have speculated that it may be some kind of bar code. I found this very interesting:
Patent 5,878, 155 issued to Houston Inventor Thomas W. Heeter in 1999, was described as a “Method for verifying human identity during electronic sale transactions.” Heeter’s patent “abstract” reads: “A method is presented for facilitating sale transactions by electronic media. A bar code or a design is tattooed on an individual. Before the sales transaction can be consummated, the tattoo is scanned with a scanner. Characteristics about the scanned tattoo are compared to characteristics about other tattoos stored on a computer database in order to verify the identity of the buyer. Once verified, the seller may be authorized to debit the buyer's electronic bank account in order to consummate the transaction. The seller's electronic bank account may be similarly updated.”
Some have suggested it will be some form of a credit card. Think such a mark is impossible? The world is ready for such a mark to be adopted and used. I think of Hitler’s requirement of all Jews to wear a star or numbers tattooed on them in concentration camps. The antichrist and the false prophet will turn the world into a global concentration camp.
John Phillips said in his commentary on Revelation, “One and all the unregenerate of earth will line up to receive the brand of the beast in a universal display of solidarity. Some will receive the mark because they are convinced. The world, they think, has long needed to unite in a binding federation to end war and waste. These will be convinced that in the beast can be centered a common government, a common market, and a common faith. Others will receive the mark because they are careless. It will make no difference to them one way or the other. They might just as well bow to the beast as to some other dictator and, as for his mark, well, so what? Others will receive the mark because they are craven. Not to receive the brand will be highly dangerous, for it will put a person into a very unpopular and small minority, a minority under the highly popular beast. So then, for one reason or another, men will accept the mark.”
Secondly, notice with me:
2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARK
Rev. 13:17 And 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.
Why will the antichrist make all people take this mark? We see that there is:
A) Commercial Purpose
One will not be able to buy or sell without the mark. The word "might" is a strong word. It speaks of being able or possible. There will no way possible to either buy or sell without this mark. There will be no black market of goods. Everything will be totally controlled by this Satanic Maifia. Parents will not be able to buy milk for the children or food for the table unless they have this mark. People will not be able to buy gas for the car, electricity for the house, clothes, medicine or medical help. Farmers can’t buy seed for their fields or for their livestock. Businesses can’t buy parts for their products. If you are in an accident, the paramedics will check for the mark. If no mark, they will not be able to attend to them.
One will not be able to sell things if they do not have the mark. Those who own their own businesses will not be able to move or distribute their goods. No business will be able to operate without the mark. Walmart and K-Mart will require the mark for any purchase. No seal no sell, no mark no money, no brand no buying.
There is also a:
B) Controlling Purpose
Remember the objective of the antichrist is to be in control of the whole world. If he can control the commerce and currency of the world he will achieve his objective. The antichrist, with the help and assistance of the false prophet will pull the strings of the world. The world will be at his beck and call. By controlling the commerce of the world he has everyone under his control.
Thirdly, notice:
3. THE PROVIDER OF THIS MARK
Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
There will be some who will see him for who he is. They will have wisdom and interpret his words and ways as a hellish and satanic work of deception. As for the mark itself, this mark serves as an indicator and illustrator of its originator, its source and provider.
In this mark we see:
A) Name of the Beast
In verse 17 we read that the mark is "the name of the beast, or the number of his name." The Greek and Hebrew alphabets have numerical values attached to the letters of their respective alphabets. The beasts name, when it is known, will yield the number 666. There is what is known as Gematria, the art Hebrew numerology. One definition given is: “Gematria is the calculation of the numerical equivalence of letters, words, or phrases, and, on that basis, gaining, insight into interrelation of different concepts and exploring the interrelationship between words and ideas…The assumption behind this technique is that numerical equivalence is not coincidental. Since the world was created through God's "speech," each letter represents a different creative force.”
Another definition is: “In Jewish mysticism this is a traditional system of associating numbers with Hebrew letters for the purpose of discovering hidden meanings in words. This is accomplished by systematically associating letters with numbers and then finding other words with similar numbers. These latter words are regarded as comments on the original words.”
Using gematria, people have come up with all kind of speculation as to the identity of the antichrist. As John Phillips said, “Gallons of ink have been spilled in seeking to interpret the meaning of the number ‘six hundred three score and six.” People using this method have come up with anyone and everyone, from the pope to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Whoever the antichrist is the number 666 will represent him to the world he controls.
You also see:
B) Nature of the Beast
The number itself speaks to the very nature of who the antichrist and false prophet are. Six is the number of man. Three is a divine number, the number of the Trinity. Three sixes implies man trying to be as God. As we have already seen, the antichrist will proclaim himself to be God, force the world to worship him as God, but at his best and highest, he will only be pretending.
The real God is on His throne all all things are still under His control.
© 2005 by the Living Word |