What is the mark of the beast? Is sit possible to be marked at this point in history? Let’s discuss this question.
What is the Mark of the Beast?
He (the Beast’s assistant) 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 (666). Revelation 13:16-17
The Mark of the Beast is for a Future Time
Revelation was the last Bible book written; this passage is a prophecy about the future. It refers to the time after the Church is raptured to heaven. In the rapture, all believers in the Church Age are taken (rescued) from the earth before the seven years of unprecedented trouble begin. Those seven years are also known as the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble, the seventieth year of Daniel, or the tribulation.
This is an Ancient Custom
This idea of putting a mark or sign on your hand and forehead is familiar. The Bible talks about this practice, and it dates to Moses, who lived in the 1400s BC (Moses lived about 3500 years ago).
“It (the story of God delivering Israel from Egypt) shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets on your forehead, for with a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt (Exodus 13:9,16).”
A Metaphorical Use
The Lord wanted the Jews to remember the power He used to deliver the Jews from their slavery in Egypt. This “mark” was meant metaphorically. God wanted them to remember how He delivered them. He wanted this to be in the front of their minds, their first thought when they woke up and their last thought before they slept. However, many of the Jews took this literally. They wore a phylactery, with printed out Bible verses attached to their wrists and foreheads.
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, see also 11:18-20).”
God Marked His People to Defend Them
Hundreds of years after Moses (@600 BC), Ezekiel wrote about God marking His people to protect them from His coming judgment on their nation.
A Spiritual Mark
“And the Lord said to him (an angel), “Go through the … midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan for all the abominations that are done in its midst. To the others, He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and strike. Do not let your eye spare or have pity. Utterly slay old and young, both maidens and little children, and women. But do not touch any man on whom is the mark (Ezekiel 9:4-6).
This was a spiritual mark that the destroying angel could see, but it wasn’t visible to people. It’s not clear whether the future mark of the Beast will be visible or not.
A Detectable Mark
During the tribulation, a world ruler will emerge. The Bible calls this man, who represents Satan and is empowered by Satan, “The Beast.” In the future tribulation, Satan will imitate this age-old custom, not to mark God’s people but his people. And in that time, it will be visible or detectable in some way so only people who have it can buy or sell.
This will be cancel-culture brought to its full maturity and perfection. The Beast will exclude believers in God and Jesus from conducting any commerce; from obtaining what they need to survive.
A Tribulation Temple in Jerusalem
Also, during the tribulation, a temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. The Church worships God during our time, and the Church’s worship is apart from any earthly temple. God’s people can worship anywhere.
A Return to Jewish Worship
But, after Christ takes the Church to heaven, Israel will build a temple in Jerusalem so believers can return to Jewish ways to worship God during the tribulation time. But at the mid-point of the tribulation, the Beast will enter the temple, set up a golden image of himself, and demand that people worship it (Revelation 13:14-18).
“A third angel (said), “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…. 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 (Revelation 14:9-11, see also 19:19-20).”
Warning Against Satan Worship
Receiving the mark of the Beast equals worshiping him, which equals worshiping Satan. People worry about unintentionally receiving this mark, but it can only be accepted willingly.
The Connection of the Mark of the Beast with 666
The mark of the Beast is connected to the number 666.
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 (Revelation 13:18).
So, what is the connection? Six hundred and sixty-six is notorious as a symbol of evil, and superstitions have elevated it even more. But what does the Bible teach about this foreboding number?
666 is the Number of a Person
Numbers in the Bible often have symbolic meanings. For example, the number seven signifies completeness. So, some Bible interpreters understand the number six to symbolize man not measuring up to God’s standards.
Measurements Equal Six
Nebuchadnezzar’s had a golden image of himself, as described in Daniel 2 & 3. That helps us understand the number 666 in Revelation (Rev 13:18). In the original Aramaic language, the Bible lists the statue’s measurements as 60 cubits in height and 6 cubits wide. He required all to bow down and pay homage to the image; if they did not, they were slain (Dan 3:5).
Solomon collected this weight in gold every year, “Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold” (1 Kings 10:14).”
Bottom Line
This number warns believers of the tribulation time to watch out for a time when a golden statue is placed in the temple in Jerusalem. 666 will connect in some way with the mark of the Beast.
Revealing the Mark
People Today Can’t Take the Mark
It’s impossible to take the Mark of the Beast during this Church Age. The Beast and his number won’t be revealed until after the Church is raptured to heaven (2 Thessalonians 2). But, in the future, God’s people will need to know these teachings about the Beast and his number to help them stay faithful.
What We’re Commanded
Meanwhile, Jesus commands Christians to stay alert and be looking and praying for Jesus to return (Mark 13:32-37):
What Jesus Promises
“He (Jesus) who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).”
Jesus promises that the person who believes in Him has eternal life. And God—who cannot lie—promises never to take it away. Please watch the GREAT NEWS FOR YOU Video on this page to find how how you can have eternal life.
