The Mark of the Beast (short version)
I recently wrote an article on Revelation’s mark of the beast. I received a lot of good feedback. Part of the feedback reminded me of how difficult it is to digest this complicated and often mysterious subject. So, I thought it would be helpful if there were a shorter version of the article—something like a summary or overview.
1. The “mark” in Revelation.
The words “mark of the beast,” “mark,” or “marked” only occurs in Revelation (Rev.13:16, 17; 14:9, 11; Rev.16:2; 19:20; 20:4).
2. The “mark” distinguishes between Christ’s people and Satan’s people.
The mark will have literal applications, but the core meaning of the mark is spiritual. Specifically, the mark distinguishes between those that worship Christ from those that worship Satan.
3. Satan deceives people into worshiping him using the THREE components of the world’s system.
These three components are:
(1) Government/politics
(2) Economics/finances
(3) Religion/ideologies
These three components are inescapably intertwined as they join together promising to bring “PROSPERITY” and “UNITY” and “PEACE”, but it never comes. Yet, unbelievers repeatedly look to these as their Savior(s) in place of Jesus Christ.
4. The multiple fulfillments of the mark are growing increasingly unified and worldwide.
The closer we get to Christ’s Second Coming, the more intertwined these three components will become, not only in individual nations but in the relationships between nations of the world.
5. No one can say “the final Anti-Christ” has arrived until after Christ’s Second Coming.
Jesus says clearly, “no man knows the day or the hour (Matt.24:36; 25:13; Mk.13:32; 1 Thess.5:1-2) of His Return. This means, no one can identify the final Anti-Christ and the final earthly system either.
6. Christians cannot be deceived into receiving the mark.
Unbelievers, will worship Satan willingly; but because they are deceived, they won’t think of how they’re living their lives as worship of him. Taking the mark of the beast will be such a strong delusion that “if possible, even the elect” would be led astray (Matt.24:24). But thanks to God, it is NOT something a Christian can do accidentally or out of ignorance. In fact, Christians will be given an identifying mark of their own from God Himself (Rev.7:3; 14:1). This is good news to all who have put their faith in Christ alone for deliverance from their sins.
Christ is All,
Jeremy