What Is The Mark Of The Beast?

What is the Mark of the Beast?  This is a question that Christians have been asking ever since the book of Revelation was written, but in recent years speculation among Christians has reached a fever pitch as it has become increasingly clear that we are now in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ.  We can see Bible prophecy being fulfilled in the headlines, and amazing futuristic technology is rapidly being developed that could potentially be used in the Mark of the Beast.  Will this be the generation that actually sees the Mark of the Beast come to fruition?

Well, first of all let's take a look at what the Scriptures have to say.  The Mark of the Beast is mentioned in several passages in Revelation, but it is only described in one.  In Revelation 13:16-18 the apostle John describes the Mark of the Beast this way.....

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.  This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

So we do know certain things about the Mark of the Beast from this passage:

#1) Everyone will be required to take the Mark of the Beast.

#2) Nobody will be able to buy or sell without the Mark of the Beast.

#3) The Mark of the Beast will go on the right hand or the forehead.

#4) The Mark will include the name of the Beast or the number of his name.

As we have discussed in a previous article, we do not know the name of the Antichrist (the Beast) yet, so there is no use speculating too much about that portion of the prophecy at this point.

However, the fact that the Mark of the Beast will be required in order to buy or sell is very intriguing considering recent technological developments.  In ancient times it would have been impossible to monitor the transactions of everyone on earth, but thanks to the Internet and RFID microchip technology that kind of monitoring is now possible. 

So will the Mark of the Beast be used to buy and sell or will it just be a form of identification that will be required to buy or sell.  We tend towards the latter, but we will see how is ultimately plays out.  It is okay to disagree on points that aren't exceedingly clear in Scripture.

In any event, it does seem clear that you won't be able to go to the store to buy food, have a bank account or have a job without it.

So how will you live?

The reality is that a lot of people who refuse to take it won't live.

But we'll get to that in a moment.

First of all, let's take a look at some of the recent political and technological developments that may represent steps towards the Mark of the Beast.....

*IBM has announced that they have developed a "bar code reader" that can actually read your DNA.  That takes the whole concept of "identification" to a whole new level.  If such technology became widespread there would be virtually nowhere that you could hide from authorities.

*VeriChip corporation is promoting the idea for an implantable microchip that would link to an online database containing all your medical records, credit history and your social security ID.

*A U.S. government plan would embed an RFID chip in all driver's licenses.  If such a proposal is adopted, the U.S. government would be able to electronically track nearly every adult citizen wherever they go. The potential for abuse of such a system is mind boggling. For instance, a government agency would be able to compile attendance lists at anti-government rallies just by walking through the crowd with an ID reader.  These new driver's licenses would be called "enhanced driver's licenses".  The Department of Homeland Security even has a web page up about these "enhanced driver's licenses". On that web page the Department of Homeland Security even admits that these new licenses will contain an RFID chip that "will signal a computer to pull up your biographic and biometric data" and could tell a government agent all of your personal details.

*Under disturbing new rules, all dogs in the U.K. will be forced to be implanted with microchips which contain information about their owners.

*VeriChip corporation is also developing an implantable "flu detecting microchip" and is hoping that it will one day be widely used in the general population.

Of course none of these things are the Mark of the Beast, but each of these news stories does represent another small step in the development of the technology that may one day be used for the Mark of the Beast.

In fact, implantable RFID chips are being implanted into humans with rapidly increasing frequency. For example, RFID implants are being implanted in older Americans living with Alzheimer's disease who are at risk of wandering off. RFID microchip implants are also being increasingly used to store the medical records of patients who are chronically ill so that doctors can access their medical information quickly in an emergency.

While such uses of RFID technology may sound noble, the reality is that the widespread use of this technology would ultimately create a "Big Brother" society where everything that you do is tracked, traced and watched by the government.

One frightening aspect of implantable microchip technology is that not only can they be used to store information, but they can also be used to manipulate human emotions and behavior. In fact scientists in the U.K. are developing an electronic "sex chip" that will be implanted into the brain to stimulate pleasure.

But on a much darker note, governments around the world are actively researching various mind control techniques, and there could easily come a day when implantable microchips are actually used by an evil government to control the minds of their citizens.

Could the Antichrist make use of such a technology?

Without a doubt.

One thing is for certain - people are more comfortable with the idea of being microchipped than they used to be.  In fact, the truth is that microchipping of humans is already becoming commonplace in the United States. Hospitals, private corporations and security firms are increasingly viewing human microchipping as the most foolproof form of identification.

In addition, government agencies are now eyeing implantable microchip techonology as a way to enforce their regulations.

Under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), the FDA plans to start requiring the microchipping of certain types of farm animals and livestock.  This represents an insidious invasion of the privacy of our ranchers and farmers, and the administrative cost of such a system would put many small ranchers and farmers out of business.  But the FDA simply does not care.

In any event, governments around the world seem determined to make increased use of this implantable RFID microchip technology.

Could it one day be used in the Mark of the Beast?

Are you mentally prepared for the day when the government announces that you and your family are required to be microchipped?

What will you do when you cannot have a bank account without a microchip?

What will you do when you cannot buy food without an implantable chip?

Will you refuse to take a microchip when they start putting people without them into camps?

Will you continue to refuse a microchip when they start waterboarding you?

What about when they threaten to put a nail through your eye?

What about when they stick you in a cramped, windowless cell and they turn out all the lights and they let dozens of starving rats in?

What about when they start torturing your children right in front of you?

Would you still resist the Mark of the Beast at that point?

Perhaps you believe that you will never be faced with such choices.

However, the Bible tells us that these are exactly the kind of choices that people will be forced to make in the last days.

Many people will lose their lives for not taking the Mark of the Beast.

But the people who DO take the Mark of the Beast face the worst destiny of all.

 

Revelation 14:9-11 tells us exactly what is going to happen to ANYONE who does take the Mark of the Beast:

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

We should be thankful that we are not yet at the time of the Mark of the Beast.  There is still time to prepare mentally, emotionally, physically and most of all spiritually.  A time is coming when the persecution of Christians will explode and martyrdom will become commonplace.

Are you prepared to give your life for the gospel?  Are you prepared to suffer for Jesus Christ?

Now is the time to make those decisions.  The most difficult time in all of human history is coming, and you need to get ready.  The following videos contain more stunning information about the Mark of the Beast.....