End Time Insights

The “ great voice in heaven ” pronounced “ woe ” on the “ Inhabitants of the Earth and the Sea because the Devil has descended to you, having great wrath .” The “ Dragon ” then began his war against the “ Seed of the Woman ” by summoning his own “seed,” the “ Beast from the Sea ” and the “ Beast from the Earth .”

John saw the “ Beast ascending from the Earth ” intent on deceiving the “ Inhabitants of the Earth .” The “ Beast from the Sea ” is characterized by its political power. In contrast, the “ Beast from the Earth ,” the “ False Prophet ,” uses religious performance and propaganda to deceive men, and economic sanctions to suppress all those who do not submit to its demands.

In the Book of Revelation , humanity is divided into two and only two camps – those who follow the “ Lamb wherever he goes ,” and those who give their allegiance to the “ Beast from the Sea .” Members of the former group will not participate in the “ Second Death ,” but everyone without exception who takes the Beast’s “ Mark ” or “ Number ” will be cast into the “ Lake of Fire .” THERE IS NO THIRD OPTION , no place of neutrality.

The “ Beast from the Earth ,” the “ False Prophet ,” uses economic coercion and religious deception to induce men to “ render homage to the Beast ,” and to erect an image to honor it. All those who give allegiance to the “ Beast ” will take its “ Mark ” and “ Number .” In the Book of Revelation , the descriptions of this “ Number ” and the “ image of the Beast ” use language and imagery from the third chapter of Daniel.

Discussions on the “ Mark of the Beast ” concentrate on deciphering the significance of its number, ‘ 666 .’ Understandably, we wish to discover its meaning and thereby avoid taking it. However, to understand it we must first recognize the scriptural background behind the number, the relationship of the “ Mark ” to the “ Seal of God ,” the consequences of taking or refusing the “ Mark ” or the “ Number of the Beast ,” and the identities of the two groups that result from deciding whether to take it.

The inhabitants of the earth willingly venerate the Beast and take its mark, although believers are not immune from its allurements . And discussions about the “ Mark of the Beast ” invariably focus on questions about what it is - a medical implant, a barcode, or a tattoo – as well as the significance of its “ number ,” ‘ 666 .’ As important as these questions are, far more critical is the issue of how the believer can avoid taking the Beast’s mark or its “ number .”

The King invested great effort to make his dream into reality. First, he “set up” an enormous image covered in gold to represent his majesty and the irresistible power of the Empire. Then, he commanded all the “peoples and nations and tongues” of his realm to pay homage to his image or face a horrific and certain death in the “burning fiery furnace.”

The False Prophet coaxes and coerces men to take the Beast’s “mark,” its “name” or “number” – Revelation 13:16-18 .  The “false prophet” uses the power of the first Beast against anyone who refuses to give full allegiance to the “beast from the sea,” and its “mark” becomes an economic weapon against nonconformists. Commerce is the lifeblood of the beastly empire and imposing sanctions is its enforcement mechanism, and economic restrictions produce deprivation and suffering.

The inhabitants of the earth willingly venerate the Beast and receive its mark, although Christians are not immune from its allure .  Discussions on the Beast's “ mark ” focus on questions about what it is - medical implant, barcode, tattoo – and the significance of its “ number. ”  As important as these issues are, more critical is the question -  How is the mark implemented, and how does the believer avoid taking it ?

Nebuchadnezzar implemented his dream by “setting up” the great golden image as he imagined it to glorify his majesty and realm  - Daniel 3:1-7.  The King invested great effort to make  his dream into reality. First, he “ set up ” an enormous image covered in gold to represent his majesty and the irresistible power of the Empire. Then, he commanded all the “ peoples and nations and tongues ” of his realm to pay homage to his image or face a horrific and certain death in the “ burning fiery furnace .”