666 – The Mark of The Beast – Humanity’s Ultimate Choice
Do not take the Mark. (Image provided courtesy of
www.theology21.com).
It is referenced in pop culture. There are songs about it. It is one of the most well-known phrases in the Bible. But what exactly is the Mark of The Beast? Why is it even necessary to be implemented? What makes it so bad in God’s eyes. This article will seek to examine what the Bible specifically says about the Mark.
The Mark of The Beast is described in detail in Revelation Chapter 13:
16 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.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.The word for “mark” in Greek is charagma, which means “a stamp or imprinted mark.” So the mark will be some kind of imprint into the hand or forehead. The “he” in verse 16, who implements this program is the False Prophet. The False Prophet will be the counterpart to the antichrist. He will seek to promote the Antichrist and will be in charge of leading the entire world into the worship of this false satanic Messiah as god. Another part of his work will be leading all of the citizens of the world to take the Mark as a part of a global economic system.
One World EconomyThe Bible is clear here: no item can be bought or sold without the Mark. It is the one source for all commercial transactions. Could it be possible that a mark could control buying and selling? That would require technology that could contain your financial data like bank records, credit card limit and be able to conduct transactions as well. The Apostle John wrote this prophecy 2,000 years ago. Yet today that technology exists. With wireless and satellite technology, a microchip or even an electronic stamp can do just this type of function.
Here is an advertisement for the Verichip (they have since changed their name to PositiveID) RFID technology, a chip with satelite transmission capabilities that is implanted under the skin in your hand:
Although the chip is being advertised for medical use, it’s easy to see how it could be used to store financial data. The Bible details that the changes ushered into society at the end times will all be in the name of “peace and safety.” The miraculous innovations and feats of the Antichrist will be welcomed as amazing solutions to make the lives of humanity easier and safer.
And as we recently reported, there is now an electronic tattoo or stamp that can store electronic data, be scanned for information, transmit data to remote computers via wi-fi and is powered by the sun and human bio-electricity:
Google’s E-Wallet technology also has turned the phone into a “virtual wallet” that will just need to be scanned to make purchases. Again, none of the aforementioned innovations are the Mark of The Beast. They are being mentioned to show that clearly, the technology now exists to establish the Mark in the manner that the Bible predicts.
Google E-Wallet
It is amazing that such a prophecy could have been written in the first century A.D. in the Roman Empire, a time when not only could currency purchase goods, barter was still a common method of commerce. At that time in Roman-controlled Judea, one could purchase goods with anything of value. So for John to write about a future economic system where every transaction of every person in the world is controlled by an imprint in one’s hand is an amazing insight and prophetic vision of the future! The technology could achieve system would not be available for another 2,000 years. And notice how specific the prophecy is. There is nothing vague or symbolic or “apocalyptic” in it. The mark controls all commerce, for all people, all over the world. How could John know this but by divine inspiration? This is the power of Bible prophecy
The Name and The Number of the Beast
“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.”The verse above states that in addition to the Mark, the name of The Beast or the number of the Beast can be used as well for buying and selling. Now the name of the Beast is not stated directly in the scriptures, but the number is. And that number is 666. There is much speculation as to what this number means but the Bible is clear that it will be the number associated with the Antichrist. And taking that number will be identifying with him.
As society has moved further from the Bible and morals in general, the number of the Beast has become a staple in pop culture as a satanic reference. It is sad that so many fans of stars and their music are being conditioned not to take this number seriously or see it as ominous. Yet to God, this number represents pure evil and rebellion. The Antichrist will embody all of the evil of Satan and bring in a 3 1/2 year reign so bloody and brutal it will exceed all of his spiritual predecessors (Hitler, Antiochus Epiphanes, etc.). And certainly those who are into the occult are very much believers in promoting the number of the Beast.
Here are some examples:
Heavy Metal Rock Group Iron MaidenAn ad for an Iron Maiden Documentary.
And here are lyrics from their song entitled “666 – The Number of The Beast”
but I feel drawn
towards the chanting hordes
seem to mesmerise…can’t avoid their eyes
6-6-6 the Number of the Beast
6-6-6 the one for you and me
I’m coming back
I will return
And I’ll possess your body
and I’ll make you burn
I’ll have the fire
I’ll have the force
I’ll have the power
to make my evil take its course
Academy Award=Winning Rap Group Three-6 Mafia (whose name is a subtle reference to 666)
Lyrics from their song “F— With This Click”
How can you have faith in a God
That can not even control creation?
How can he lead you to salvation?
There is no hope in chaos-only
Welcome to the other side of reality
And this is your eternity (eternity)…
…I’m on a cross Lucifer please cut me free (cut me free)
I’ll draw your portrait if you pull these nails out my feet (nails out my feet)
My cross turns upside down
And finally I.m loose
I flip the land and released the others who sinned, tha scarecrow and the juice
I look to the sky and all I could say was
Finally it’s on again
No lord could stop us now
Cause the demons reborn again
My praise
The first power found me
So I could never coward out
A mind for murder but the barrel couldn’t tell you half about this Antichrist Brittney Spears 
Deceased Rapper Notorious B.I.G.
And here is a commercial for a British phone information service that seems to be making a pretty strong reference to the Mark:
Of course note the use of a mark on the arm, the veiled reference to 666 and even the use of occult symbolism such as the All-Seeing eye and pyramid. Again if you are questioning the Bible then you also need to question pop culture – why is it that so many artists, entertainers and marketing folks are promoting this number from the Book of Revelation that is linked to the corruption of society and the leader who will mastermind it?
The Problem is ChoiceDo not be deceived. This not something to be taken lightly or use for entertainment. The Antichrist will not come into power by force. He will be someone who the people desire and adore. And so will the Mark. It will be something people actually want, in pure defiance of God. The Mark will represent the ultimate choice for humanity. But God will make sure in the end times everyone will be aware of the stakes:
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:
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.Taking the Mark will lead to eternal damnation and the people of the world will know it. So why would anyone still take it? Because they will choose to believe in the lies of the Antichrist over the Word of God. The Antichrist will present himself as the solution to the world’s problems. With a false message of hope for humanity built on human achievement rather than faith in God. And the choice to take the Mark will be a point of no return for those who choose to take it. It is the ultimate identification with Satan and his counterfeit seed, the Antichrist.
Those who do not take the mark will be executed by the Antichrist’s administration. But they are rewarded by The Lord:
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. – Revelation 15.Those who refuse the Mark will also be rewarded by living and reining with Jesus Christ in His 1,000 Year millennial kingdom, which will be established after Armageddon where the Antichrist, False Prophet and all their armies will be destroyed by the brightness of the arrival of Jesus.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. — Revelation 20.
What It Means Today
More marketing of the number of the Beast.
It’s very possible that the generation of people living in the Earth now will not experience the end times, Great Tribulation, the Antichrist or the Mark of the Beast. We may have all passed away before any part of this spectacular period commences. But that does not change the main issue: choice. We are still caught up in a war between two kingdoms: one of light and one of darkness. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. And we are the prize. The devil and his minions are seeking to corrupt society to try and elevate Satan and His seed, the Antichrist, into the role of God.
And so far they are making a great deal of progress. Society needs to be prepped and moved from righteousness to openly desire and worship the False Messiah. And Satan will do this by one primary means: deception. Before His crucifixion, Jesus was asked about the end times by His disciples:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” –Matthew 24. The key sign of the approaching end times, is deception.
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect [born again Christians].”
The deception of this age will be so pervasive that if it were possible, even Bible-believing Christians could be fooled. But they will not be because the scriptures tell us that the Anti-Christ, once in full power as executive of the world government, will reveal his true nature. In addition to demanding he be worshiped, the people of the world will also have to worship Satan as well:
“And they worshipped the dragon [Satan] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?” – Revelation 13
This is why the Mark will be the choice to literally pledge yourself to the devil. There will be no confusion about this. And people will do this voluntarily. It may seem far-fetched now, but the devil has been using this time to bring society further from God, the Bible and righteousness, to set the stage for his False Messiah. And certainly it is entering into the culture ever so subtly. Here is a trailer for a soon to be released movie where the currency for the entire world is controlled by a mark on your hand:
By promoting the Mark of the Beast and the number 666 in pop culture, it just becomes more palatable and less of an offensive idea. And this attitude will be passed on to the younger generation who will no longer see it as a “big deal” when popular entertainers are flaunting the number of the beast for photo shoots. This type of attitude shift in society will lead people away from God and learn to accept and even enjoy blasphemy and disrespect for the Lord who created us all. People will just not take God or the state of their souls, seriously. And that is the danger today. The more of these types of anti-God seeds that can be planted the more people who will no longer see God as salvation and more as just an “idea” that needs to be rejected.
The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of lies. He knows that he is on borrowed time and that he and his false Messiah will both be destroyed by Jesus at His Second Coming. The Devil’s endgame is to destroy humanity, not liberate it. The Mark will be one of his greatest deceptions because it will lead to guaranteed damnation for those who choose to take it. And in the interim, promotion of it can help set the stage for individuals to reject the Gospel of Jesus which leads to eternal life.
And that is why we should choose God. Although we may never see the Mark, we all face the choice between siding with The Lord and choosing free forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, or siding with the world, or atheism, or our own idea of what is “good” and what will bring salvation. Do not be deceived. In the end there will just be two choices. And like those who will be faced with the Mark of the Beast system, the stakes, will be just as high: eternal destiny.
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live..” — Deuteronomy 30:19http://beginningandend.com/mark-beast-humanitys-ultimate-choice/
