Don’t Take The Mark Of The Beast.

Revelation 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:"

Revelation 13:16–18 — The New International Version (NIV) 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom.

This chapter exposes two evil men, ''beasts'' who serve the Devil. The first beast arises from the sea, presumably the Mediterranean. The second beast arises from the land, possibly Israel. The first beast dominates the final form of the Roman Empire and sets himself up as a god to be worshiped.

This first figure is the one most often labelled as ''Antichrist.'' The second beast acts as prophet, priest, and king in Israel. As such, he imitates Christ, but he is a False Prophet. This corrupted religious leader sets up an image of the first beast in the temple and commands everyone to worship it.

The false prophet executes those who refuse to worship the image. Further, he causes everyone to receive the name or the number of the first beast on the right hand or on the forehead. Without this identifying mark, no one can buy or sell. The number of the beast is 666.

God seals all who trust in His Son as Savior by placing the Holy Spirit in them. This seal designates believers as belonging to God. Similarly, in the end times, the evil False Prophet will cause everyone, regardless of social or economic status, to choose whether to receive a mark on the right hand and on the forehead.

This mark will identify the recipients as belonging to the kingdom of the beast. Revelation 14:9–11 indicates that those who accept this mark are identifying themselves with Satan, and rejecting God. Revelation 20:4 explains that true believers will refuse this mark, and many will be executed as a result.

The Greek word used for this "mark of the beast" is charagma, related to the brand seared into animals to denote their ownership. The word is also used of idols and other negative ideas. In contrast, the followers of God are "sealed," from the Greek root word sphragis, referring to a proof or inscription.

The symbolism of these words is powerful: God places a symbol of value on His people—Satan brands his followers like animals.

Verses 16 and 17 have created vast speculation about the exact nature of this mark. Some suggest this to be a tattooed barcode or symbol—either easily seen or visible under ultra-violet light. Others suggest that implanted computer chips or other technology might be part of this mark.

Today, company-issued ID cards can unlock doors at the workplace, and RFID chips are used to access goods and services. The connection between the mark and commerce, as shown in the following verse, is a large part of these speculations.

Scripture itself gives very little detail about the nature of the mark of the beast. What we can be sure of is that this mark will not be disguised. "Innocent" people will not take the mark of the beast by accident. Later verses make it clear that the act of taking the mark of the beast is intimately connected to offering worship and loyalty to the Antichrist.

Verses 17 and 18 will connect this mark, somehow, to the name or "number of the name" of the beast.

Don’t Take The Mark Of The Beast.

Greetings! This post will be a bit more serious than what I normally do, so brace yourselves! It is about what the book of Revelations calls the “mark of the beast.” What is it and why should we avoid it?

How will God respond if we do get this mark? Are there consequences if we refuse to get the mark of the beast? If you want to know more about the Mark of the Beast—as we all should know—I encourage you to read on

Revelation 13:11–18 focuses on the second beast of this chapter, the last of seven major figures described in this part of Revelation. This figure is most often labelled as the ''False Prophet.'' While the first beast came from the sea, this one comes from the land. The earth is often equated with Israel, leading many to believe the False Prophet will be ethnically Jewish.

The second beast poses as a lamb but speaks like a dragon. It's possible to identify this beast, rather than the first, as the ''antichrist'' because every reference to antichrist or the spirit of antichrist in the New Testament has a religious context (1 John 4:1, 3, 6; 2 John 1:7).

Whereas the first beast is a political ruler, the second beast is a religious figure who deceives many. This passage also introduces the controversial and ominous ''mark of the beast.''

How will God respond if we do get this mark?

God’s wrath will fall upon those who worship the beast. “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.

They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(Rev. 14:9-11)

The beast will come posing as the Messiah; he will deceive people of the world by performing spectacular miracles, such as making fire come down from Heaven (Rev. 13:13-14). The vast majority of the world will be in great awe of this phenomenon and blindly worship the beast, thinking that he is a savior.

Only the elect will not be deceived.

He will speak great (and blasphemous things) drawing much attention. He will then introduce his mark by using sugary propaganda to make it look and sound like the next best thing. And it may appear to be so. May. With this mark, one will be able to buy and sell, gain acceptance in society, get and maintain jobs, and gain happiness.

Why would anyone turn this down? Why would anyone avoid this?

Here is why to avoid the mark

Because if you are a true Christian you were saved by the blood of Christ. You have been adopted into God’s family. It is God who lives in you, who works in you, and who will keep you firm to the end. You are a child of God. It’s not something that you are trying to be it’s who you are now.

You are not a child of the devil. If you are truly a child of God you will not get the mark. You will die for Christ if you have to. The mark of the beast will reveal a true Christian from a false Christian. You will avoid the mark because you love Him, you want to obey Him, you desire God over transient material successes, and you desire to spend all eternity with Him and He with you.

Make no mistake about it. God will punish those who show allegiance to Satan by getting the mark of the beast.

What happens if you refuse to get the mark of the beast?

When I looked over all that is going to take place, God spoke . This seems like a test of true desire. What do we truly desire, worldly, materialistic success and acceptance, or God and His promises (eternal promises, at that).

Do we want something that we can touch and gain pleasure out of (although there is a possibility of losing those things)? Or do we want something deeper and Heavenly that we can feel intensely for all eternity (such as unspeakable joy)? This test will determine what we truly desire, what we truly worship.