The Mark of the Beast

What is the Mark of the Beast?

When people hear the phrase, “the mark of the beast,” most think of “666.”  But what else does the Bible tell us about the mark of the beast?  When will it be enforced?  What will happen to those who take the mark and those who refuse?  Five passages in Scripture talk about the “mark of the beast.”

Even so, we do not know exactly what this mark will be or what it will look like.   We do know that it will be received in allegiance to the Beast and acknowledging that he is God.

Image Made of Beast and a Mark Required (Revelation 13:11-14)

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.  He had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.  And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.  He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  He performs great signs.  And he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.  He deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs given him to perform in the beast’s presence.  He tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 

(Revelation 13:15-18)

It was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast.  The image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as don’t worship the image of the beast to be killed.  And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free-men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.  He provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, The mark is either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast.  The number is that of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

• The Beast (anti-Christ) will have been fatally wounded but will live.
• A second beast (the False Prophet) will perform great signs (magic).
• The False Prophet will have an image made of the Anti-Christ and cause people to worship the image.
• He will cause those who do not worship the image of the Beast, to be killed.
• He will cause everyone to get a mark on their right hand or forehead in order to buy or sell.
• The mark is either the name of the Beast or the number of his name.

Wrath of God on Those Who Receive the Mark (Revelation 14:9-12)

Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger.  He will be tormented with fire and brimstone 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.  They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image.  Neither does whoever receives the mark of his name.  Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

• Whoever take the mark of the Beast and worships him and his image will experience the wrath of God.
• They will be tormented.

Sores on People Who Took the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 16:2)

So, the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth.  It became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

• Those who have the mark of the Beast and who worship his image will get terrible sores on their body.

The Deceivers are Thrown into Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:19-21)

I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence.  By these signs he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.  These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  The rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.  All the birds were filled with their flesh.

• The False Prophet and the Anti-Christ (the Beast) will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

The Faithful Will Reign with Jesus 1000 Years (Revelation 20:1-6)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven.  He was holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan.  He bound him for a thousand years and he threw him into the abyss.  The angel shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed.  After these things he must be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.  And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God.  I saw those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand.  They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection.  Over these the second death has no power.  They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

• Those who were killed or beheaded for standing firm in Jesus and holding on to the words of God, will be rewarded.   
• Those who didn’t worship the Beast or his image and didn’t take the Beast’s mark will be resurrected and will reign with Christ for 1000 years.

The Next Generation Must Know about the Mark of the Beast

It is essential that the next generation know end times prophecy so that they will be prepared.  They run a greater risk of being deceived if they are not prepared .  In addition, they must be able to pass on this knowledge and warning to the following generation if Jesus does not return in their lifetime.

The mark of the beast is a critical turning point in the very last days of this age.  Jesus told us that the  abomination that causes desolation is the sign we should look for.  This will help us to understand when he will return to establish his Father’s kingdom over the Earth.  We see that the mark of the beast will most likely happen at the time of the abomination of desolation.  At that time, the Beast, or anti-Christ, will set himself up to be God.  Consequently, the False Prophet will demand allegiance to the Beast and people will be forced to take some kind of mark.

Christian Faith & Responsibility

Christians must know ahead of time what this will be so they are not deceived.  Likewise, they need to know what to expect so that they will stand strong in faith under great persecution.  Believers must realize that life will not go on as normal and they will not be able to shop or purchase any food.  Moreover, they may even be forced to give up their life for the true and only Messiah of God.

We must not neglect teaching about the timeline Jesus revealed and the events that will take place before he returns.  In addition, the nations must hear about the true Messiah, Jesus, and be warned not to follow any false Messiah.  People need to know about the mark so that they will know the dire consequences of taking it.  Better yet, they need to hear about the reward for rejecting it!  Christians must know these things so that they will have hope and can endure the coming persecution.