THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

 It seems that we are moving into a time of great persecution, a time that will also rock the world. Even now, uncertainty grips the Church as we continue to lose faith in our institutions, and we see the hatred towards Christians ramping up.

 

Covid has devastated most parts of the world. Businesses are folding, and many are forced to rely on government handouts. Vaccines are now offering hope but also unease. I am not a scientist and am totally unqualified to speak about their threats – the prospect of vaccines permanently rearranging our DNA and allowing governments a greater measure of surveillance. Consequently, some fear that these might become the Mark of the Beast (MOB), which will be used to determine who can buy and sell, and who will be killed.

 

I therefore wish to allay some of your fears and uncertainties about the MOB by turning to the Book of Revelation, where we find all the references to the MOB. I do not think that we have to worry about receiving it innocently or inadvertently. Instead, the real offense seems to be a matter of worshipping the Beast to obtain his Mark. Let’s see what we can learn from these passages as we encounter them from first to last in Revelation:

 

Revelation 7:2 –14:1 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

 

1.     In contrast with the MOB, the servants of God will receive a mark or seal from God on their foreheads, perhaps indicating that we will not need the MOB to sustain us but rather God Himself. Notice that the Beast is called an “it,” perhaps because he has lost his personhood.

2.     God is in charge. As many prophetic passages (especially in the Book of Daniel) indicate, God will allow the powers of darkness to temporarily overcome His saints.

3.     We are called to “endurance and faith.” There is no indication that we are called to pick up the sword.

4.     It will deceive the entire world (Matthew 24:22-24) and require them “to make an image [of worship] for the beast.” This seems to precede receiving the MOB. This is important. It shows us that, first, those deceived will be required to worship the beast before they receive his image.

 

Revelation 13:15-18  And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

 

1.     The image will even come alive and speak. Anyone who does not worship the image will be put to death. It is only then that those who do worship it will receive the MOB to buy and sell.

2.     Again, there is no need for us to worry about receiving the MOB accidentally. It will be obvious that the price is the renunciation of our Lord.

 

Revelation 14:9–12  And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

 

1.     Worshipping the beast, its image, and receiving the MOB are a package deal. This means that we will not inadvertently receive the MOB (and be damned) without first worshipping, an obvious betrayal of the Savior.

2.     Even though these worshippers will have their physical needs met, they will have no inner peace, “no rest.” God’s wrath is upon them.

3.     Yet we must endure, though we have the peace that the worshippers of the beast lack.

 

Revelation 16:2 the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

 

1.     It becomes more clear that those who have the MOB are also those who worship the beast and its image.

2.     Therefore, it is the worship of this image that will damn them.

 

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

 

1.     It seems that the greater punishment is reserved for the false prophet and the beast who will be condemned to the lake of fire.

2.     Why? Perhaps the deceivers are more guilty and blameworthy than the deceived. However, even those who are deceived are guilty since they t had refused to love the truth and to come to the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). In light of this, God is merely allowing them to inherit the darkness and deception they had pursued (John 3:19-20).

 

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.

 

We need to keep our eyes on the heavenly prize, where we will be reigning with Christ for all eternity:

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.