Rev. 13:16 And he requires everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
17) so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.
18) Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
The book of Revelation (actually The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ) is riddled throughout with controversial topics, but the one concerning the mark of the beast may top the list. Many people, including those who haven’t cracked a bible open in years, have heard of the mark of the beast and the number 666. That is pretty amazing for a subject that is only mentioned once in all the bible. The above passage, containing just three verses, is all there is.
Much has been written about these three verses, some accurate and based on biblical knowledge, and some not. Many just “know enough to be dangerous,” which often brings about wild speculation. Let’s see if we can clear up some misconceptions.
First of all, the “beast” in the phrase “the mark of the beast” is the Antichrist. He is the counterfeit Christ who will deceive the world into thinking that he will bring peace to a world that is in chaos. He will be able to deceive the nations by brokering a peace treaty among many nations including Israel (Dan. 9:27). The signing of this treaty starts the clock ticking on the seven-year period we call the Tribulation. At the midpoint of this period, he will reveal himself for who he is and use his power and authority to demand worship and allegiance from all those on the earth. Those who refuse to comply will be hunted down, and those that are caught will be killed.
The implementation of the system known as “the mark of the beast” will be the means of insuring compliance. Individuals will be given a mark on their right hand or forehead. The mark will either have the name of the Antichrist on it or the number of his name, which is 666. This mark shows their allegiance to the Antichrist and provides an identification that will enable them to buy or sell. Without the mark, no one will be able to conduct business legally. Anyone without the mark will be considered an outcast and become a fugitive, fleeing for his life. Many will be caught and beheaded.
Unfortunately, many new technologies have spawned wild theories about this “mark.” Will it be some kind of an I.D. card, a chip perhaps, or a bar code? Rev. 13:6 indicates that whatever it is will be placed on the hand or the forehead, not in it. My guess is that anyone who does not have their mark registered with a world database by a certain date will have their accounts frozen.
Now here is the most important point I want to make in this article. No one is going to be fooled into taking the mark. No one is going to take it by accident.
Look at verse 8 of chapter 13 as it refers to the Antichrist.
Rev. 13:8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And here is verse 15 referring to the work of the false prophet, also known as the second beast, whose job it is to promote the Antichrist, or first beast. This second beast will be the leader of the unified godless religion of the tribulation period. He will create an image of the antichrist that is animated and can speak.
Rev. 13:15) 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.
There will be worshipping of the antichrist before the taking of the mark. Those that refuse to worship him will not take the mark. They will know what it is and understand that those that take it are doomed forever.
Rev. 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,
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:
Also, if you are a Christian, you will not even get the opportunity to decide about the mark, as all this will take place around the midpoint of the tribulation period. Pre-tribulation scholars believe that the rapture of the church will take place before this period begins.
Therefore, do not be alarmed every time a new tracking device is introduced. You will not be tricked into using it and be given the mark. However, it is exciting to know that John’s prophecy can now be fulfilled with the technology that we now have, although the timing of it is well into the tribulation period.