There is a lot of confusion and controversy on the mark of the beast. What is the mark? What or who is the beast? What does it mean? What should true Christians do when they confront this beast and his mark? Let us begin in Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.
3:12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
13:13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling 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.
What is this beast? The beast is a belief system or kingdom. It is earthly and powerful. It is a deceptive system, as it has the horns like a lamb, or seemingly peaceful and harmless. But is speaks as a dragon, a fearful, powerful voice and personage. Who is the dragon of the Bible? Satan! He speaks with the fierceness and boldness of Satan, as he deceives mankind.
13:15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
What miracles or signs would this beast perform? How can he command worship of image? Jesus confirmed his powers to perform signs and deceive the world.
Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 24:25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.
But, his power over the world allows him to kill anyone who doesn’t bow down to his image. Are there any examples of this kind of absolute power and evil?
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3:3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3:4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: "To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, 3:5 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
3:6 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire."
Most bible students are very familiar with this story. Satan has tried this before, but did not achieve the results or worship he so desperately desires.
13:16 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, 13:17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
So this mark is the key to survival in these perilous times. Most, the vast majority, will without a second thought, take on this mark. It is the mark of commerce in the last days. Without it, you are unable to buy or sell.
But, this mark is presented by the system in place at this time. A system or world government that is worldwide and in total, absolute control. Where worship is commanded on penalty of death. It is not a vaccination or implanted chip that is heralded today. It is a conscious declaration of allegiance to this world government.
13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
True Christians will know what this mandate requires and will have to forego receiving it. This is just one of the many types of persecution we will receive during this terrible day of the Lord.