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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 2, NUMBER 43, NOVEMBER 24, 2002 THE MARK OF THE BEAST
I have received a request for some information concerning the “Mark of
the Beast” that we hear so much about, particularly these days with the
“Christian” fiction that fills the shelves at bookstores.
Let me preface my explanation with a few comments about the book of
Revelation itself.
Revelation is a part of a particular literary genre known as apocalyptic
literature. It is very important to
understand that as we try to understand the book.
Apocalyptic literature was literature written during times of great
national crisis, at times when a powerful enemy was threatening the life of the
people. It consists of visions and
symbols that instruct and encourage the suffering people by showing them that
God was with them.
But still another purpose was served by this style of writing. The people
to whom the book was originally written were familiar with the meanings and the
significance of the images and symbols used.
The enemy could not understand the material.
God also used apocalyptic writing in the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and
Zechariah.
Why is this important? Because
it shows us that any interpretation of the images used in the book must
be arrived at in light of what it meant to those who originally received the
book. It was meant to encourage them
and to let them know that God was with them.
Thus, any interpretation that would speak of guns and tanks, and bombs
and credit cards, computers and micro-chips cannot be true.
That sort of thing would have no meaning for the first century
Christians.
The book of Revelation deals with the children of God and the children of
the devil. The particular setting is
the persecution suffered by Christians at the hand of the
To understand the significance of the “Mark of the Beast”, found in
Rev. 13:16 – 17 and 14:9 – 11, we must also understand the significance of
the “Seal of God” from 7:2 – 4. That
passage says, “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the
sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to
the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying,
Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the
bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and
forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of
A “seal” is a mark of ownership and the idea here is that those who
belonged to the Lord would be identifiable and the great punishments that God
would pour out on the ungodly would not affect them.
It was not a literal, physical seal, but rather a spiritual
recognition of devotion to the Lord. The
number 144,000 is not meant to be taken literally either.
It symbolized the total number of God’s church on earth.
In Revelation 13, two beasts are discussed.
I believe the first beast is representative of the
Rev. 13:16 – 17, says, “And he causes all, the small and the
great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a
mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one
should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the
name of the beast or the number of his name.”
Rev. 14:9 – 11, says, “And another angel, a third one, followed
them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image, and
receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine
of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger;
and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And
the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day
and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the
mark of his name.”
Just as the Lord’s people were sealed to Him with a mark on their
foreheads in 7:3, so too are the beast’s people to receive a mark as well.
The seal of the Lord was not a physical, literal seal.
It was a spiritual recognition of devotion to Him.
There is no reason to think that this mark is to be taken as a literal,
physical mark either.
Those who gave their allegiance to the beast could be easily recognized
by their pagan conduct and character. Those
who gave their allegiance to Christ could be easily recognized by their godly
conduct. The difference would be
clear to all and as a result, the Christians would be discriminated against in
the financial and commercial world, even to the point of starvation.
However, those who demonstrate that they belong to the beast by their
conduct, would face the consequences. They
would “drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”
That would be judgment from God. Greg Litmer
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