They’re waiting for some tattoo, thinking they’ll refuse it when it comes, yet they’re already receiving the spiritual mark of the beast. This bear symbolizes governmental systems that can easily crush people through military force. Some people try to fit all of Revelation into only the end times. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. The reward will be in the mark that matters most; that is, the writing of their names in the Book of Life. Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Daniel 7 speaks of beasts and identifies them as earthly kingdoms. It has become God to many. When the whole system of this world fails (and it will because it is not based on the word of God), we’ll fall with it if we’re not grounded in the system of God’s kingdom. It feels like the end is upon us, but chaos has not taken over nations across the globe. He “represents religious authority contrary to God’s Word and ways.” He returns to life after a death blow, mimicking Christ’s resurrection and lending credibility to his lies. Those who do not have the Holy Spirit are bewildered by the imagery in this book of the Bible. [ The Beast out of the Sea] The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. Satan was given a deadly blow. Therefore the beast’s wound was healed, and Satan yet rules this earth through his beastly system. The #Bible says, “The Mark of the Beast” is an economic marking system that will be implemented in the last days of Mark of the Beast Explained that is required by all human beings if they want to buy or sell. None of these beasts has ultimate control, however, “God ordains what the beast does” and His “judgment is his ‘strange’ work” referenced in Isaiah 28:21. In essence, what defines our lives is all around us; it’s what we fear losing the most, cling to and worship: that is what marks us. According to Sam Storms, marking has been common throughout society as a means of “tribal identification,” punishment, as a sign of “ownership,” of “disgrace,” and of “loyalty to a pagan deity.”, As mentioned above, Jews were marked by the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s. The example of a despotic evil empire contemporary to the Apostle John as he wrote Revelation was the Roman Empire. 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. This means that the name of the antichrist in Greek adds up to 666. The third member of this group “claims to speak for God” but is a false prophet. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? It is. What the Bible Says about the Duties of a Christian Wife, Listen to 365 Important Audio Bible Readings, Download/Read Foreign Bibles by YouVersion, Inspirational Bible Study Books in Paperback and Kindle Editions, Complimentary Overcoming Life Series Bible Study Downloads, The Influence of the Bible in American Culture, What the Bible Says about the Mark of the Beast, What the Bible Says about Women in Ministry, What the Bible Says about Drinking Alcoholic Beverages. Revelation 16:2 and 19:20 cite the "mark of the beast" as a sign that identifies those who worship the beast out of the sea ( Rev 13:1). The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. The dragon, of course, represents Satan. Heads refer to leadership, to governments and to ruling. Enjoy 374 selections of the best Inspirational Audio Bible Verses from the King James Version Bible. Ten symbolizes obedience, completeness of order. Donate. To the Jew, numbers were descriptions rather than mathematics as each number represented something. The most clear is that of committing blasphemy. Consider the chaos and pain experienced by those who live without the medicines they need or without immediate medical attention in an emergency. Seven symbolizes perfection, completeness and abundance. But long before we face the literal mark, many may already be marked spiritually. There are several such references in 1 and 2 John. who is able to make war with him? Bible Prophecy foretells of a time when what scripture refers to as the mark of the beast will come upon “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave” and that whoever receives this mark will be doomed forever. Christ Unlimited and BibleResources.org Newsletter & Blog Reminders delivered to your Inbox! People don’t even realize they’re being contaminated as they give heed to the thinking of the world’s political and social leaders. Seven heads mean the governments of the whole world (a New World order?). We know the nations of the world won’t do God’s will until Christ returns and His millennial reign is established. Christians today would say that he might be alive right now, a boy just growing into manhood, or he might even be ruling a city, state, or country; but the prophecy has not been fulfilled. Thus, when looking at all political and religious leaders, the only world-wide power that fits this description is the Papacy. Peter Koenig, who is not a believer and does not reference the mark in his articles, says that even with ID2020, one’s behavior may determine whether or not one has full access to his or her funds. A fourth beast is mentioned. No country is truly doing the will of God, even my own country which I do love and pray for. Is the COVID-19 Vaccine the Mark of the Beast? This article has been written to address their concerns. They’re receiving the system into their minds, then doing the works of the devil because they’ve unknowingly picked up his thinking. Christians will suffer and must be willing to do so because God will allow the beast “to exercise his authority.” During this time, however, “many will come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” even at “the cost of [...] their life.”. Numbers are often symbolic in the Scriptures with the number seven standing for perfection, completion. Humanism is nothing new; it’s been here from the beginning. It’s not wrong for us to receive from the government now as long as we acknowledge God as our source and not the system. Currently, no nation or country is primarily concerned about the gospel going forth as its main focus. That is frightening enough, but Keener further asserts that “the same spirit of the self-deifying empire remains in every human heart that seeks to make itself the center of life while burying thoughts of its own mortality.”. The headship of the governments is upon the beast. How will God respond if we do get this mark? So deceived, they will be unable to refuse the literal mark. The mark of the beast is probably one of few Bible topics that the whole world knows about, and yet there are so few people who actually know the truth about what the mark of the beast actually is. We know from Scripture that without the mark of the beast, people will not be able to buy or sell. So the beast in Revelation is a beastly system that’s ruling the world (it’s a dictator beast). When John, the author of Revelation, stood upon the sand of the sea, he was standing upon that which could not be numbered, among all the people of the earth. In studying Daniel, most theologians teach that these were four different powers that each ruled for a time and then fell. When Revelation 13:1 speaks of the beast rising up out of the sea, what is meant by the sea? They are all beastly. Excerpt from “Mark of God or Mark of the Beast” by Betty Miller. Revelation is a coded book. Only the Papacy holds a position where a man… Daniel 7 speaks of beasts and identifies them as earthly kingdoms. If we want to understand, we can. When Revelation 13:1 speaks of the beast rising up out of the sea, what is meant by the sea? This system is typically overseen by a powerful government with those in power making decisions that perpetrate the worldly system throughout mankind. This breaking of everything into pieces indicates warring and division, everyone crushing one another which is the goal of the dragon, the devil. He looks majestic in his rule, but he’s not, for he also eats his prey. Schreiner argues that the beast was not Nero, who had been dead for many years by this time, and even a legend about his resurrection could not be evoked convincingly three decades after his death. We don’t know for sure if this is the number or if there will be a visible mark on followers of the Beast. They also say abortions are acceptable, so we have abortions even in the church. Six, in the Scripture, is man’s number. Throughout the Scriptures, the word ‘beast’ refers to a system, and not to a man. Who wounded the devil? “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). The mark of the beast (666) has been a subject of concern for centuries. Does that mean a person can be “for” Christ without knowing it? Some people would say that this beast in John’s vision has already come and gone — Hitler caused hundreds of thousands of Jews and countless others to be marked and murdered. A leopard, an extremely fast animal, represents speed of conquest. The government takes care of us. Satan’s mark is supposedly 666, the number of man, while “777 represents perfection.” Man and woman were created on the sixth day. We’re to take back control over this earth for Jesus Christ. The false prophet, recognized as the … Some believe it's the number 666. Both are based upon what you do which is related to your belief. And it’s already here. Satan won’t have to work hard to trap his victims given our propensity for “self-deification.” We won’t have to be tempted to sacrifice to another god; only to ourselves. who is able to make war with him? (We do see God’s people — His holy nation — from every country with that concern.) How Can God Make Good What Was Meant for Evil? So we further see the beast system coming through the authority in the world, the governmental and political system. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. In reality, the numbers 666 have nothing to do with anything at all! Jesus prophesied that before His return there would be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24: 6). The mark of the beast does not come from an individual called Antichrist; it’s a system Revelation 13 is very clear about who gives the mark. To view titles or purchase those books visit our bookstore. Revelation 13:14 says the beast “had the wound by a sword, and did live.” The dragon, which represents the devil, is part of the beast system. We’ve considered ourselves ignorant and assumed the teachers must have all the answers. If any man have an ear, let him hear. They’ve been marked in their minds and on their hands without even knowing it. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. But God wants each one of us to understand His Word, and He will give us understanding as we seek Him for it. “Man labors six days only. Right now you can watch movies about the mark of the beast. The beast is a system that rules the world; it’s an antichrist system. All rights reserved. Mark of the Beast Revelations Christians believe Christ’s return is imminent, certainly, but they have thought this since apostolic times. The Bible provides many identifying markers of the beast of Revelation 13. This beast is usually identified as the antichrist. “Dreadful and terrible” – when the devil gets a hold of governments, they are dreadful and terrible. Related Topics:  What the Bible Says about Satan; Demons; Evil in The World; The One True God; The Blood of Jesus; The Gift of the Holy Spirit; Scripture Prayer for Fear and Anxiety; Scriptural Prayer for Protection, Click here for a listing of all Topics covered in our Bible Answer Page. This is a deceiver and an anti-christ. 16 And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark— the name of the beast or the number of its name. So the beast in Revelation is a beastly system that’s ruling the world (it’s a dictator beast). And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. With the majority believing it's some kind of physical mark like a microchip. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The book of Revelation is an imagistic feast; a fantasy writer's treasure trove, full of beauty and horror. It is the conclusion to something that the beast power has been affecting for a very long time that is especially significant to God. Revelation 13:4, One thing this verse speaks of is war. By His death on the cross, Jesus crushed Satan beneath his feet as was prophesied in Genesis 3:15, “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.”. A modern-day analogy is that we could not operate a computer unless we understood computer language. The system has become such a part of us. This beast is not just one human being, rather it is a system that has infiltrated every area whether it be politics, medicine, art or science; the beastly system is everywhere. Revelation 18 speaks more of a “mark of belonging.” The mark is “a symbolic way of describing the loyalty of [the Beast’s] followers and his ownership of them.”. Craig Keener explains that Satan’s challenge to Christians could be a subtle prod to their “stubbornness” — do this simple thing and you won’t die. A correct interpretation of the Bible will always be consistent with the rest of the Scriptures. The beast is everywhere and we’ve all been contaminated to varying degrees by that system. Will it be a microchip implant in the wrist, a government-issued universal ID card, or hidden nanochips in a Bill Gates vaccine? Interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Bible interprets itself so we can understand Revelation by looking to other portions of the Bible for clues to its interpretation. However, from there the church didn’t take advantage of the truth that the enemy was stripped of his power. This mark is first mentioned in 13:16-17, where it is imposed on humanity by the beast out of the earth ( 13:11). And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: both. A bear can easily crush the life out of a man. Find out more about her here. We won the war because of a holy nation within this nation, that is, God’s true praying people who were interceding not only for all Americans and allies, but also for the Arabs because we desire to see all men come to the knowledge of the true and living God. “It had great iron teeth” – tools for devouring, for warring. A horn does not represent the whole beastly system that pervades the earth, but rather a country. If we’re not getting our minds marked with the Word of God (reading and meditating in the Bible and obeying it’s commands), when the hour comes for a literal mark we’ll not be able to say no to the system. The countries have influence, but not as much as the whole power of the beast. So by receiving the mark, one will be showing signs of worshipping the beast and choosing him over God. Six symbolizes the world and is man’s number; it falls short of seven; therefore, it is imperfection. Christ Unlimited Ministries sponsors BibleResources.org as a tax exempt non-profit ministry. So seven heads would refer to fullness of governments. Read the scriptures below and you shall see the Mark is a sign. Revelation 14:9 - And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The beast in Revelation has ten horns. Even in the better countries there’s evil within the system. If they do, they will end up coming under His wrath that will be released upon the earth during the latter part of the Tribulation. This Study Guide will reveal the beast’s mark, which every lost person of the end time will receive. A=1, B=2, etc. The beastly system has crept into the church and we’re being marked by it. Toward understanding this description, remember that Scripture interprets Scripture. In other words, worshiping another god is the same thing as saying “yes” to Satan. But until that day, none of the earthly authority is pleasing to God. Listen to a single verse or a selection of inspirational verses. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Any effort to return worship on a day established by Satan, gives honor only … They’re all part of the beast system. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. In fact, the word “antichrist” is not even found in Revelation. 2 John 1: 7. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. This system is typically overseen by a powerful government with those in power making decisions that perpetrate the worldly system throughout mankind. Schreiner says the second beast is a “kingdom rising out of the sea” which “is not humane, civil, or supportive of its citizens.” The sea “was a place of chaos, danger, and evil for the Hebrews.” We are watching for a time of chaos to sweep the globe, bringing widespread political upheaval, censorship, despotic legalism, and terrorism. When Jesus died on the cross, he stripped Satan of all power. If we don’t understand that Revelation is speaking of spiritual things, then we’re going to misinterpret it. 1 John 4: 3, For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. However, America’s winning the war doesn’t prove America to be a Christian nation. The “Mark” in these scriptures is not physical but spiritual. If we interpret the Bible incorrectly, we'll think the Bible is a bunch of nonsense," Hanegraaff said. But the corporate church body as a whole never received the revelation of Satan’s defeat. Here is wisdom. The Scriptures speak of the sea as “masses of humanity.” This beastly system is rising up out of humanity, out of all the people on the earth. Perhaps John pictured this beast as Rome, still a powerful empire in the late first century. Trove, full of beauty and horror antichrist, such as Hitler or even.... 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