Mark of the Beast?
by mark Shabi
Where there is prophecy, there is plenty of speculation. People wonder: When will the “end time”
be? Who will be the Beast prophesied in Revelation? What nations will comprise that final union
the Beast will head, and when will that government arise?
has drawn more speculation than
Revelation 13:16-17:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on their right hand or on their foreheads,
and that no one may buy or sell except one
who has the mark or the name of the Beast”
(emphasis added throughout).
The mark of the Beast has long fascinated
readers of Revelation. What will
the mark be? Will it be a literal mark like
the Jews had to wear during Hitler’s Third
Reich? Will it be a figurative mark, such as
worshipping a false god on a false Sabbath
day? Or as some modern theories suggest,
will it be a computer chip that is implanted
in each person, allowing him or her to
“buy and sell” once he or she has “pledged
allegiance” to the Beast power?Speculation makes for interesting contemplation
and conversation, but amongthe many questions we might ask about
the mark of the Beast, there is one veryimportant thing we should ask ourselves:
Will I be ready to reject the mark of theBeast when that time comes?
The purpose of the markThe society that inflicts the mark of
the Beast differs significantly from the world we know today. In that future
time, there will be no distinction between the “small and great, rich and poor, free
and slave.” No one will be able to “buy or sell” anything—that is, conduct any
commerce—unless he or she publicly accepts the precepts, supremacy and ultimate
authority of the government led by the Beast, thereby receiving its “mark” of
approval.What kind of government will hold
such sway over the people of this world? Revelation 13 offers a striking description
of the world-ruling system of that time.“Then I saw a Beast coming up out of
the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and there was a crown on each horn. A
name against God was written on each head… And the dragon gave the Beast
all of his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the Beast
looked as if it had been killed by a wound, but this death wound was healed. Then
the whole world was amazed and followed the Beast. People worshiped the dragon
because he had given his power to the Beast. And they also worshiped the Beast,
asking, ‘Who is like the Beast? Who can make war against it?’” (Revelation 13:1-4,
New Century Version).Here’s a future governmental system
that arises out of the sea, is a union of 10 lesser authorities, derives its power and
authority from Satan (the identity of the“dragon” is revealed in Revelation 12:9),
captivates the imagination of the world and exerts such military might that it
appears invincible. But there’s more. “The Beast was allowed to say proud words and words
against God, and it was allowed to use its power for forty-two months. It used its
mouth to speak against God, against God’s name, against the place where God lives,
and against all those who live in heaven. It was given power to make war against
God’s holy people and to defeat them. It was given power over every tribe, people,
language, and nation. And all who live on earth will worship the Beast—all…whose
names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 13:5-8, NCV).
This future government and worlddominating military power is the adversary
of the God of the Judeo/Christian Bible. It
Will You Be Ready to Reject the Mark of the Beast?
Where there is prophecy, there is plenty of speculation. People wonder: When will the “end time”
be? Who will be the Beast prophesied in Revelation? What nations will comprise that final union
the Beast will head, and when will that government arise?
by Rick Shabi
Christ admonished His disciples to settle it in their
hearts ahead of time that
they would rely on Him for the
words, strength and courage they
would need to endure the time of
the end—the time when mankind
will have to choose between
loyalty to God and accepting the
mark of the Beast.
©2009 United Church of God, an International Association—www.ucg.org
