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.
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