Everyone "knows" about the "Mark of the Beast", even non-Christians. Let's explore this concept and see if there is anything new we can learn about it.

Scripture: Revelation 13:16–18

He //second beast// deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast //first beast//, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

It was given to him //second beast// to give breath to it, to the image of the beast //first beast//, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed.

He //second beast// causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.

Define:

• Sign - miracle, token, a signal (literally or figuratively),
• image A visible, physical representative that embodies and exercises the authority of the original
• Mark - Desire, a mark, seems to be an actual mark (like a wedding ring).
• Worship - to bow down, prostrate oneself, do obeisance, do reverence (especially in an act of submission or adoration).

Who:

• People
  • "My own people" - Elohim's people, who dwell on the earth
• Beasts
  • First Beast: From the sea (Revelation 13:1-10) who was wounded and lived.
  • Second Beast: From the earth.
  • Image of the beast: Image of the first beast. Given breath by the second beast.

What:

• The Second Beast:
  • deceives Elohim's people who dwell on earth
  • tells those who dwell on earth they should make an image of the first beast
  • gives breath to the image of the first beast
  • causes all to be given marks on their right hands or foreheads
    • no one is able to buy or sell without the mark
• The Image of the First Beast
  • is given breath by the second beast
  • speaks
  • causes as many as won't worship the image of the beast to be killed
• He Who Has Understanding
  • has wisdom
  • calculates the number of the beast
    • the number of man
      • Six hundred sixty-six

When:

• The 42 months / 1,260 days / time, times, and half a time begin when the dragon is cast down to the earth (Rev 12:9, 13) and, in great anger persecutes the woman, who then flees into the wilderness for exactly that length of time (Rev 12:6, 14). During this same period the beast exercises worldwide authority and makes war on the saints (Rev 13:5–7).”
• The events of Revelation 13:16–18 most likely occur during the forty-two months in which the beast from the sea is granted authority to act (Rev 13:5).”

Where:

• Earth -

Why:

• Because of the signs - Elohim's people are deceived

How

• The second beast was granted ability to do signs //source unidentified//
• The second beast was given ability to breath to the image of the first beast //source unidentified//

Findings

A literal mark or implant:

• Exact physical form not indicated in the scripture.

A mandated by a government agency:

• This scripture indicates the Second Beast is enforcing the mark

The mark is:

• Given without the persons knowledge:
  • People are deceived into making an image of the first beast and worshipping it.
  • Refusing to worship the image of the beast results in being killed.
  • The second beast "causes all" to be given a mark
• Taken voluntarily without realizing it's the Mark of the Beast:
  • The second beast "causes all" to be given a mark
• Taken voluntarily with full knowledge of what it is:
  • The second beast "causes all" to be given a mark
• Mandatory and must be refused with full knowledge of the consequence if not taken:
  • The second beast "causes all" to be given a mark
  • Not able to buy and sell without taking it.

Representation of allegiance to the Antichrist

• The term “antichrist” appears only in 1–2 John and refers both to a spirit already at work and to many individuals; the singular end-time figure is never called “the Antichrist” in Revelation but is generally identified with the first Beast and the “man of lawlessness.”
  • See "Antichrist" = False Anointed One
  • See False Prophet

Other Notes:

• If making an image of the first beast and bowing down to it is literal and not doing so results in death, it seems people would be aware of what is happening. The Second Beast deceives by signs - these seem to be things which would be able to be seen. Even if its about being deceived, there seems to be implied awareness of not bowing down results in being killed and not being able to buy and sell if not taking the mark.

• If all this is spiritual, with no literally image to bow down to and no literally mark, it would require spiritual awareness. What would the "spiritual" signs be if they are not literal?

• Across secular, Jewish, Christian, and atheist scholarship Revelation is recognized as primarily apocalyptic literature, defined by use of symbolic, visionary imagery rather than literal description. Apocalyptic texts typically use symbols that speak to both the author’s present historical situation and to hoped-for future divine intervention. While the imagery itself is symbolic, most scholars acknowledge that apocalyptic symbolism may point to real historical forces and, in some cases, to events the author believed would literally occur.

  In this case, the beasts may not literally come up out of the sea and the earth, there may not be a literal image to bow down to, nor a mark. But there would be literal powers with literal submission resulting in literal death and not being able to buy and sell. If this is the case, then the question to ask is what can be learned from this text which would help us recognize the literal representation of the symbolic imagery?

Connections

_Mark of the Beast Scripture Survey