Mark of the Beast
This chapter is probably the most looked at chapter in the book of Revelation because it tells us about the Mark of the Beast and how people will not be forgiven if they take it when the time comes. So much so that the curiosity abounds over this subject, and people have been creating a lot of theories as to how this mark will come about, when, and how it will be attached to people. There are even theories that the mark is in play right now as people buy and sell everyday. However, those claims portray the mark in a spiritual meaning and not a physical one the way the bible explains it.
Besides of it not being supported by the bible, that type of theory can't be true because it says no one can buy or sell unless they have the mark. Under that kind of theory, the Mark is invisible and cannot be seen by our eyes. In such a case, the millions of people who buy and sell everyday are subject to it and don't even know it. That is not what the prophecy intended. Mankind has been warned, and so the Mark will be very visible when the time comes.
Other theories include the belief that the old Roman Empire will be the culprit that brings on the mark when it is revived sometime in the future. That is not so either because it doesn't match up with all the prophecy verses, even though the Roman Empire may have been one of the heads in the past. The real answer isn't completely known yet because the world has not finished setitng up for the time Satan begins to speak as God. Therefore, most ideas about the Mark are pointless at this time, and that is the reason they are called theories.
Chapter 13 starts off by telling us about an event that happened in the past that effects the future.
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name....The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. Rev 13:1-2 |
The beast is made up of seven kingdoms, once ruled at some point in time by seven kings. This next verse quoted from Chapter 17 says it just like it is.
There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. Rev 17:10 |
I jumped ahead to chapter 17 to show where the seven headed beast comes from. When John wrote this, five kingdoms had already fallen, one still existed and was destined to come to an end, and one was yet to come, but will continue only for a short while.
This makes seven heads, or seven kingdoms that have ruled or will rule most of the earth or the eastern region, namely Jerusalem. The Roman Empire was around and so many believe it is the sixth kingdom. Notice the beast has seven heads and that one of them received a wound and was thought to be dead. This head is later found to be alive and so it is the one that will become the ruler of the earth just before Jesus returns. This is why scholars think the Roman Empire is the one that will be revived, but its purpose has been served and is no longer needed.
The problem we have is a hard one to face and will likely be rejected by most people as they disagree with what I am about to say, but it needs to be said. The nation of Israel is most likely the head that was wounded and did live, and not the Roman Empire.
And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. Rev 13:3 |
Israel was still around when John was given the Revelation, but it wasn't under the control of Gods people. It soon died after the invasion in 70AD by Titus, and so everyone thought the nation would be no more. In 1948 Israel became a nation again and the whole world has been fighting over it ever since in one way or another. Jerusalem is also in Israel and that is where the abomination of desolation is supposed to be placed just before Jesus returns. When you combine these things together it makes Israel the wounded head of the beast, or at least Jerusalem.
And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. Rev 11:2 |
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Rev 13:5 |
The 42 months should begin about the same time as the 1260 days of the last two witnesses, who began at the 1290 day time period Daniel said. The next verse is fairly easy to understand, but should not be confused as actually worshipping something physically.
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev 13:7-8 |
Those verses are where we can figure out that John is being shown something of the past. The beast is granted to make war with the saints, which is what we call believers nowadays. Any person who believes in Jesus as a savior is a saint in the eyes of God. Since the seventh trumpet blew in the 11th chapter, all things are finished and Jesus takes over the kingdoms of this world. Therefore, no saints would be here if chapter 13 followed in sequence with the rest.
What this chapter does is show us how things came to be in order to bring on the Mark of the Beast.
These next verses also signify believers will be here when the seven headed beast starts to rise. But by the time the mark of the beast comes, most of them will be long gone because only the remnant will face the mark of the beast. It's the second beast that comes into power and that is what brings on the Mark of the Beast.
The two horns like a lamb reflect the short time period of this event. Lambs have buttons, not horns. The 42 month period is very short when compared to the years other nations have ruled. Thus the horns like a lamb.
This second beast shows us a time will come when the voice of Satan will be heard. People will think it is God because they don't understand Satan or God's prophecy. Satan is a spirit, just like God and when he's ready to proclaim himself to be God he will come forth in an audible way so that people will think that God is speaking to them. He will then cause an image to be made in the likeness of the beast and place it in the holy place. This is the abomination Jesus was talking about would happen just before he returns.
Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), Mat 24:15 |
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Th 2:3-4 |
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. Rev 13:14 |
The falling away will happen when the image comes into play. The reasoning is simple, if you think God is here on earth, then you won't have the need to go to a church and pray to God, all you will have to do is go and visit the Holy Land and think you are actually talking to God. On the other hand, Satan may present himself as a God that no one has ever heard of or even interested in at the time, a new God and a new name that no one is familiar with. Either way, people will believe God is present by the signs Satan is allowed to perform. Let's face it, fire from heaven is hard thing to think is coming from Satan instead of God. Satan wants to play God, so God almighty is letting him do it.
The rest of chapter 13 tells how every person who will not take the mark of the beast will be put to death and then the chapter ends with this:
Killing people just because they don't want to take a mark takes away from a free world. But, since the world population should be greatly reduced by all the plagues and when the powers of heaven are shaken, the ones left may not want a free world anymore. This mark will make it's way from jails and prisons to the households of the very rich.
As for the 666, six hundred and sixty six, not six six six as commonly spoken. It will likely come from the number of the God, or name of the God Satan will claim to be. Either that, or it could be related to a new numbering system developed at that time. As for my thoughts, I tend to lean on the name of a God.
The reason is simple, Jesus was often called the "Son of Man." Thus the meaning of "man" was in reference to God almighty, or Son of God. The same word is used in 13:18 when it says the number will be the number of a man, singular, not plural. It only makes sense then, if Satan is going to proclaim to be God that a name of that God will be used in order to worship the beast. After all, it doesn't make sense using a name of another being to worship yet another God.
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. Mat 9:6 |
Now it's time to think, if the mark of the beast is to effect every person on earth, then it is impossible for those who are alive and remain to be here on earth. It clearly says everyone who rejects the mark will be killed. If that happens, then there will be no one alive or remaining to take up to heaven. That is why I say the mark of the beast period doesn't come until after those who were "alive and remained" were taken up after the dead were taken first.
The mark of the beast can take place when the last two witnesses are here, or it can be delayed until Jesus returns, which is more likely. Either way, the majority of believers are not suppose to be here, but by no means has it already happened or occurring now.
When reading the bible, keep the combination of situations like these in mind so that you can understand timing a little better. Leaving out or missing a detail will often leave you believing something entirely different than was intended.
Let's say chapter 13 does follow chapter 11 in sequence. Now let's take the 1,260 days of the last two witnesses and add it to the 42 month period of the beast. When you do that it comes up seven years, and it even completes the seventieth week of Daniel. And so it would seem the mark of the beast is built and takes place right after the seventh trumpet blows in chapter 11 and before Jesus returns in chapter 14. This is exactly what many people have done and have been preaching it for years. But here's why it wrong.
The 70th week started when Jesus began his ministry, which lasted half way through it, leaving the second half or 42 months before it is complete. If you add the time period of the two witnesses to the time of the abomination of desolation, you have to add another week, or at least a half a week, to Daniel's prophecy making it 70 1/2 or 71 weeks total. That makes Daniels prophecy false, incomplete, and a lie.
Exactly as it says, 70 weeks are determined before Gods kingdom will be restored. If Satan is still in control any time after that, it makes this prophecy a lie without having to add more time to it, which will make it a lie then as well. Therefore, the 42 month time period of the beast cannot happen after it has been announced that the prophecy is over and the kingdoms have become Jesus's.
Chapter 11 told us all the kingdoms of the world had just become the property and leadership of Jesus. If that is so, then it makes chapter 13 a lie if it follows after those events because Satan will still be in power and control of the world, which contradicts what chapter 11 just told us.
If chapter 13 is true and does follow, it makes chapter 11 a lie and false since Satan is still in control and causing hardships on believers.
However, if chapter 13 is describing how the mark of the beast will come about, then it can be erased from the seven year period, thus eliminating adding an extra half or full week to Daniels prophecy. In turn, it makes both chapter 11 and chapter 13 truthful. Therefore, chapter 12 and 13 do not follow in sequence between chapter 11 and 14.