Note: All scripture is quoted from the King
James bible (KJV), unless otherwise noted.
The KJV uses italics for words that were not in the original text. I have left those words
italicized.
What is the Mark of the
Beast?
Written in Jan. 2005, updated Feb. 2008
You’ve heard everything from your social security card, to a biochip inserted underneath your skin, to a national id card, to a literal stamp upon the skin, and even barcodes. Are any of these things the “mark of the beast” spoken of in Revelation 13:16-17?
This is what Revelation 13:16-17 says about the mark of the beast: “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. 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.”
What most people overlook is the fact that God has a mark and
a name, too. Notice the very next
chapter of Revelation. Chapter
fourteen, verse one says, “And I looked, and lo, a
Lamb stood on the mount Si’-on, and with him and hundred forty and four
thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
So, God’s people
have His name written in their foreheads, whereas everyone else has the name of
the beast in their foreheads (Revelation 13:17) Revelation, chapter seven, verses two
and three say, “And I saw another angel ascending from
the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the
sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we
have sealed the servants of our God in their
foreheads.
Let’s go again to Revelation chapter 14, starting with verse 9, which says, “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, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” This world is awake now day and night, living the way of the world. When God destroys the wicked, they will be burned to ashes, and their smoke will ascend forever.
A “beast” in bible prophecy is a kingdom or king representing his kingdom (Daniel 7:17). When people are focused on worldly desires and worship man’s government, they cannot be focused on God. His kingdom will replace the world’s kingdoms (Daniel 7:18). Notice what the very next verse in Revelation 14 says: (12) “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” What do we hear people saying today? Don’t they teach the Ten Commandments and their statutes have been done away? This is not what Jesus taught. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18).
So, we know that God’s people are they that “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Let’s look at some more scripture, which explain what God’s sign/seal/mark is. Notice the following verses:
Speaking of Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread:
Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a
sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial
between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth: for
with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of
Egypt.
Exodus 13:16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for
frontlets between thine eyes: for
by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of
Egypt.
Speaking of God’s commandments and statutes:
Deuteronomy 6:8 And thou shalt
bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between thine eyes.
Deuteronomy 11:18 Therefore shall
ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a
sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your
eyes.
Compare these verses with Revelation 13:16. Does God insert a biochip
underneath the skin of His saints? Does he stamp a tattoo on them?No, he doesn’t!
Do you believe he will? If
you are one of the millions who believe the mark of the beast is a chip, then
you must admit God is literally going to insert a chip or stamp on or in His
servants’ foreheads! Besides, no
one has complete control over being given a biochip, a tattoo, a social security
number, or an id of any type.
Babies have no control over anything, and parents are the ones who get
the babies social security numbers, or if a woman subjects herself and her child
to a hospital birth, the hospital personnel see to it that the baby gets a birth
certificate and social security number.
A person can be held down and forced to receive a chip or tattoo. They can also be forced to get an id in
the same manner. There’s a big
difference in “cause” and “force.”
The King James bible correctly translates Revelation 13:16 as “causeth,”
and not “force,” as some other translations do. A person can be caused to do
something, and if they don’t, they may be punished or killed, but they’re still
not forced. However, a person who
is forced has no choice of giving in or choosing the alternative punishment or
death. They can be restrained
against their will.
God gives everyone a free will, a choice to do what’s right or what’s
wrong. Notice in verse 15 that
these people are worshiping the image of the beast. A person cannot be forced to worship
something. They may be put to death
for refusing, but no one can force a person to think a certain way. This goes back to the mind. That’s why “forehead” and “between the
eyes” are mentioned in all these scriptures. The mark of the beast (or the mark/seal
of God) starts in the mind. It
mentions hands, because that’s how people act out what they believe.
Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). You better believe he has deceived
everyone concerning the mark of the beast, as well. He has the vast majority believing it to
be a microchip. There’s even a
computer in Europe named the Beast, and every barcode in this world has a
6 at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end: 666. This is deception from Satan to get
people’s focus away from God and His Word, and what it says about obeying
Him. Everyone is so confused
concerning the mark of the beast--not knowing what it is--but if they’d just
study their bibles, the answer is there right in front of
them!
Exodus 13:9 is referring to the Passover and Feast of
Unleavened Bread. Deuteronomy 6:8
and 11:18 are speaking of God’s law in general. Ezekiel 20:12. “Moreover also
I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know
that I am the LORD that sanctify them.” This is a repeat of what God already
said in Exodus 31:13-17:
Speak
thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep:
for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may
know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath
therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be
put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off
from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the
sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day,
he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the
sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual
covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for
ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day
he rested, and was refreshed.
See
also Ezekiel 20:20.
Now,
let’s not get off thinking that God put to death people thousands of years ago
for Sabbath transgression but that people today are going to get away with
it. God is not a respecter of
persons (Acts 10:34, II Samuel 14:14).
He’s fair, and His laws are eternal. They were given to Adam and Eve, and
they still stand today. Every
single one of them. Jesus did
replace animal sacrifices and the priesthood, and people must accept his
sacrifice to cover their past sins, but everything that falls under the Ten
Commandments is still required to be obeyed. God sanctified the seventh-day
Sabbath at Creation (Genesis 2:3).
The bible reveals that God’s people will still be keeping the Sabbath
during the millennium (Isaiah 66:22-23).
Verse 24 of Isaiah 66 talks about what happens to those who transgress
God’s laws, including His Sabbath.
There
is an account in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel that is worth a look. The Lord commanded six men to slay the
wicked in Jerusalem. Notice what
verse 4 says: And
the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark
upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst therof. Here
God is “sealing” or “setting a mark” on the righteous. He commanded that the rest be slain,
“but
come not near any man upon who is the mark”
(verse 6). Do you think these
people were to be actually tattooed or “chipped?” In these verses, marks and seals are
used as figurative language to symbolize two things: obedience to God OR
obedience to sin/disobedience to God.
Notice what Paul says in Romans 6:16. Know
ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are
to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness? In
other words, we are only God’s servants if we obey Him. If we are not obeying Him, then we are
servants to sin. Remember, only
God’s servants will be sealed with His name. So we either are servants to sin, which
leads to death; or we are servants to obedience, which leads to
righteousness. What is
righteousness? Psalm 119:172 says,
…for
all thy commandments are righteousness.
If a Christian
is held down and receives one of these things against his or her will, God will
not hold her or him responsible.
This is another evidence that these theories are flawed. One of the first things biblically
ignorant people will object to at this point is: But, what about not being able to buy or
sell? The bible says those with the
mark of the beast will not be able to buy or sell.
Anyone
who is not following God’s commandments simply will not “get it.” Anyone who is diligently obeying God’s
commandments, including His Sabbaths and feast days, will have no trouble
knowing what this verse means. It
is sometimes difficult for a true Christian to live in society. Many lose their jobs or fail at their
businesses when they obey God. Many
employers will fire employees who are not willing to work on the Sabbath, and
God’s holy days also conflict in the same way. Employers are usually irritated that an
employee needs off on God’s feast days, even if the employee is willing to work
on Satan’s unholy days. Many
businesses are closed on these unholy days (ex. Christmas, Easter, New Year’s
Day). Saturday is also the busiest
business day, so Christian business owners
cannot compete well with this fact.
To top it off, many people
observe the "day of the Sun," Sunday, so Christian business owners have a
hard time getting business on this day, as well. Thankfully, many Christians go on to do well and are blessed for their obedience. When the Roman Catholic Church murdered people through the Dark Ages (named so, because the RCC kept the bible from people so that they could not read it themselves), it was because they were labeled "heretics" of the Church. Many of these "heretics" were true Christians, following God's ways, rather than the whore Church's ways. Christians and Jews were murdered for not keeping Sunday holy. This WILL happen again. The Roman Empire is prophesied to rise ONE more time, and it will once again be run by the Catholic Church.
There were Sunday laws in the early
colonial days of America. If a
person did not attend “church” that day and keep Sunday “holy,” then they were
punished and even executed, if the person continued to break that law. There is a push by counterfeit
Christianity to enforce those laws (still on the books) again. These are sometimes referred to as "blue laws," and when enforced, people were not allowed to buy or sell on Sunday. But, what's coming is much worse than that. If you don't follow Rome's laws, you will be put to death. Don't think it's not coming. If you keep God's laws instead, you will be murdered, and they'll do it in the name of God. Even if you do not claim to be a Christian, but rather a Muslim, Hindu, or atheist; if you do not follow Rome's laws and keep Sunday holy, you will be executed.
In Revelation 17,
Mystery Babylon is described, which includes the RCC. Notice “she” has a name written on “her”
forehead (verse 5). (In bible
prophecy a woman represents a church…this church is a harlot/whore, because it
is an idolatrous false church).
God begs his people to come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and not to
partake of her sins. Anyone who
does not heed this warning will be doomed.
Notice in 17:6, it describes how the Roman Catholic Church is drunk with
the blood of the saints. These
saints are the commandment keepers that were killed as “heretics” of the
RCC. This will happen again
(Revelation 6:9-11). The Roman
Empire and the Roman Catholic Church changed the laws of God, which was
prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 7:25).
God’s Sabbath was replaced by Sunday (the day of the Sun), and His feast
days were replaced by Mithraic (sun worship religion) feast days, such as
Easter, Christmas, Halloween, etc. They simply added "Christian" themes and
names to these pagan/heathen feast days.
God’s Ten Commandments were also altered. The second commandment was deleted, and
the tenth commandment was split into two commandments so that there would still
be ten commandments. The house of
Israel and the house of Judah always had a problem with two of God’s
commandments: his second and his
fourth. The house of Israel still
has a problem with these two commandments (modern-day tribe of Joseph is U.S.
and British Commonwealth of Nations. The House of Judah [Jews] still at least keep the right day.)
They break the Sabbath and use graven images. Tribulation is coming soon in order to
turn their hearts to God. They have
simply not learned. The whole reason most Israelitish people do not know their
identity is BECAUSE of Sabbath transgression. Remember, God commanded Israel to
keep the Sabbath as a sign between them and Him so that they'd know He was their
God. We lost our identity when the House of Israel stopped keeping the Sabbath!
The Sabbath identifies the Creator, for in six days, He created the earth and
everything in it, and on the seventh day he rested!
The
Roman Catholic Church proudly admits that they have changed God’s Sabbath. Here are
quotes:
"...prove
to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the Holy Catholic Church
alone. The Bible says `Remember the
sabbath day to keep it holy.' The
Catholic Church says, No. By my
divine power I abolish the sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first
day of the week. And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in
reverent obedience to the command of the Holy Catholic Church." Priest Thomas
Enright, Redemptorist Catholic College, Kansas City, Mo., lecture "Sunday in
History", p 56, February 18, 1884. (underlining mine)
"It was the Catholic church
which...has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection
of our Lord. Therefore the
observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of
themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) church." Monsignor Louis Segur,
Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.
"Sunday is our mark
or authority...the church is above the Bible, and this transference of
Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." Catholic Record of London, Ontario,
September 1,1923.(underlining and bold mine)
"Of course the
Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday) was her
act...And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious
things." H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons. (underlining and bold
mine)
The bible is FULL of prophecies about both the Roman
Empire and the Roman Catholic Church.
Anyone with eyes to see and
ears to hear should be able to see the bible holds the answers to the
truth. Do not be
fooled. Consult your bible. Indeed, more people will start being
“chipped,” and that is a personal decision, much like it's a personal decision for me to wear contacts as corrective lenses, or it's a personal decision for one to wear earrings. Unless there are major health repercussions (which would defile a Christian's temple--body), there's nothing inherently wrong with using a chip to do your business, but it's each man's choice. The microchip scare is
a deception from Satan to remove people’s focus off of obedience to God and His
commandments. He's very CLEVER and has been working on this for quite some while, no doubt. Besides, the people
who have already been “chipped” have had the chips injected into their upper
arms. Indeed, there is also talk of security measures using one's thumb prints or eye scans (hand and forehead?). Don't let that fool you, either. Although all this is RIDICULOUS, because we now moving toward a more tyrannical government, and it will rob people even more of their God-given privacy, it is NOT the mark of the beast. The BIBLE defines what the mark of the beast is, for those who are reading it and are seeking WISDOM and TRUTH.
So, open your bible, and study the Word for yourself. Prove all things; hold fast that
which is good (I Thessalonians
5:21).
Update 2008: Remember the story of Romulus and Remus from history books? Rome was given its name from Romulus. (The name of the beast.) The number of that man--Romulus--the numerical value of the Greek (Revelation was written in Greek) translation of Romulus (Lateinos) adds up to...you guessed it: 666. Also, the Hebrew (OT was written in Hebrew) name for Romulus (Romiith) also adds up to 666. I just recently learned this, to add to my already-known knowledge of what the mark of the beast is. And now, I pass it on to you.
Also, I would like to include here one of the Deuteronomy verses and one of the Revelation verses, both in the Bible in Basic English translation:
Deuteronomy 11:18 So keep these words deep in your heart and in your soul, and have them fixed on your hand for a sign and marked on your brow.
Revelation 13:16 And he gives to all, small and great, the poor and those who have wealth, the free and those who are not free, a mark on their right hand or on their brows.