The mark of the beast is not a physical mark
THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS NOT A PHYSICAL MARK
Putting Revelation 13:18 in perspective
For many years, the mark of the beast as found in Revelation 13:18 has been seen as a physical mark. There have been many suggestions over the years, each in terms of available technology at the time:
- Barcodes as found on many products, in the mid-seventies and later
- Magnetic strips on bank cards
- Chips on bank cards
- Microchips as implanted into animals for tagging purposes
- Physical marks embedded on the hand and forehead, often seen in high tech companies for easier access.
Before we continue, we need to understand a few things about how language and numbers are used in Hebrew. First, where English has about 170 000 words, Hebrew has only about 8 000 words. However, Hebrew also relies on numbers to serve as words or phrases. This is called gematria, where a number carries a specific numeric value and combinations of numbers form a specific word, name, or meaning.
Because the first readers of Jesus’ revelation to John were mostly all Jews who then converted to Christianity, they would have understood how the use of numbers in Hebrew is completely natural. As such, John’s description of 666 would not have been surprising. Let us see what the text says:
“16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” – Revelation 13:16–18, KJV (1611)
A very quick reading of the text, through western eyes, definitely seems to suggest a physical mark, accentuated by the prepositions “in” and “on” used, depending on the translation used. The King James Version uses a relatively archaic term “in” which actually means “on”. Thus, it seems probable that this could be a mark of some sorts applied on the hand and on the forehead to millions of people. There is a problem with this, and this was proven during the COVID-19 situation. There were millions who did not receive a COVID vaccination, which would be far less invasive than a physical implant of a chip of some sort. Assuming we have about eight billion people on the planet, and for the moment we will forget about the rapture taking place before the tribulation starts — which removes a fairly large part of the population — all of us will have to be given a chip in any shape or form, applied physically. This is just simply not feasible as many would simply refuse. In addition, getting to remote areas to do this is practically impossible.
It will have to be implemented in another way and this way is through media manipulation and choice (deception), not force. We already saw in 2020 that using force to get people to take a COVID vaccination resulted in many simply refusing, even if it cost them their jobs. The next time world powers try to intimidate the masses, the former will be met with much stricter opposition from the latter. However, manipulating the masses through other means (deception) will achieve the desired effect. Study these parts of Revelation 13 again:
- Verse 3: “… and all the world wondered after the beast.” — they were mesmerised by his miraculous recovery after a deadly wound to the head.
- Verse 4: “… and they worshiped the beast…” — wonder has changed into worship.
- Verse 8, also 12: “… and all that dwell on the Earth shall worship him…” — those persons have already been marked as belonging to the devil because they did not repent and their names are not written in the book of life.
- Verse 14: “… and deceiveth them by means of those miracles…” — once people see the miraculous signs, albeit counterfeit ones, they are deceived into doing whatever this false prophet wants them to do.
- Verse 15: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast…” — this image speaks and those who do not listen to his message are killed.
- Verse 16: “And he causeth all…” — once they are deceived through the wonders they see, they are won over, and they do whatever the false prophet instructs them to do.
- Verse 17: “And that no man might buy…” — people are caught up in a system from which there is no escape. The advantages you get from the system are determined by your acceptance of it.
- Verse 18: “Here is wisdom. Let him that have understanding…” — the readers of John’s letter would have understood the meaning of the number as they would have had prior knowledge of it.
Those first Jewish Christians reading Revelation 13:18 would immediately have thought about Deuteronomy 6:6-8. Let us have a look at what the text says:
“8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes [forehead].” – Deuteronomy 6:8 (Insertion is mine, to illustrate “between thine eyes”.)
This refers to the practice of binding an object (Teffilin, phylacteries) on the hand (Hebr. Shel Yad) as well as a very small copy of the Law on the forehead (Hebr. Shel Rosh).
However, we need to go back further in the Bible to understand the concept of marking someone. Exodus 12 recounts how the Israelites in Egypt had to take the blood of a lamb and smear this on the door posts of their homes. That evening, as the Lord “passed over” (from where we get the name Passover) their homes and saw the blood on the door posts, He would spare the occupants the death of the first-born. This was a sign that God had sealed certain people from what was to come. Their homes were marked and the occupants were protected, but there was no physical mark anywhere on their bodies.
We must remember that Satan can never be original. He always copies what God has done, and always falls short. God’s perfect number is seven. He rested on the seventh day, after creating man on the sixth day. Given the triune nature of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — the number 777 makes perfect sense. However, the devil tries to do the same, but because the number of man is six, one short of God’s perfect number, the devil uses 666 — one for each of Satan (Revelation 13:4 – the dragon), the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1 – the beast from the sea), and the False Prophet (Revelation 13:11 – another beast).
There is also another point to focus on. In Jewish culture, repeating something three times sets the truth of it in stone. Here is one example:
“8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” – Revelation 4:8
Note how “holy” is repeated three times. It is called three-fold repetition and is used to describe the absolute, superlative holiness of God. There are many other examples of this:
- Isaiah 6:3 – the holiness of God emphasised three times
- Ezekiel 21:27 – triple judgement for Judah
- Jeremiah 22:29 – the word “land” is repeated three times to call people to attention
- John 21:15–17 – Peter’s restoration confirmed through three questions
- Revelation 8:13 – three woes announced over those on Earth during the tribulation
- Revelation 22:7, 12 and 20 – Jesus warns of his return three times
In each case a fact is repeated three times, emphasised, and set as truth.
Let us get back to being marked. See Revelation 7:3. People are marked in their foreheads. This may not necessarily imply something physical, but rather an association, as servants of God. We are marked, or sealed, by God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we repent and turn to Christ, we make a choice to be associated with God’s system and design for our lives. God knows me, He has marked me, and I will be “passed over” when His wrath is poured out over the whole world during the tribulation.
In the same way, those who do not believe in God’s redemption for them through Jesus Christ associate with someone else and are marked by what that someone — the devil — does. Unbelievers are tus marked by Satan. There are no grey areas. You either associate with God and His plan for your life, or you associate with the devil, who opposes everything God does. There is no middle ground.
Association is seen in actions. When we look around in the world today (Christian believers live in the world, after all), we see those who are an aroma, a letter, and a mirror (2 Corinthians 2:14 – 3:18). We see those who display the fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5. None of them carries a physical mark on their hands or foreheads but are rather marked through their decisions (the head represents mental capacity to make decisions) and these decisions result in actions (the hand represents physical actions). Note however that the text does not say people will receive both a mark on their hands and on their foreheads. The preposition used is or — the mark is either on the hand or the forehead. It does not matter where the mark is; what you believe (forehead) eventually results in what you do. What you do (hand), eventually becomes a habit fixed in your mind.
Likewise, those who do not believe display the trends of the world — disobeying basic law and order, and aligning with everything that is opposed to God and His Word. None of them carries a physical mark, but are marked through their association with the system of the world and how they act. The mark on the forehead denotes their mental decision to associate with the false woke system and accept it as truth. The mark on their hand denotes their physical actions (for example public marches in support of whatever is wrong) and contribution to the same system.
When John explains the mark of the beast, he sees a world where the masses turn to Satan and assimilate with his ways. The mark is their association with the system. This system commands them allegiance with what the system requires, otherwise they cannot participate in the same system for economic survival. Accepting this mark, or allegiance, does not require surgical or other invasive procedures, as this would be almost impossible to implement or enforce. It is a decision a person makes through his own free will. This is easy to do. Those on Earth during the tribulation who do not associate with the system — whether they came to faith during the tribulation and cannot align with the worldly system, or otherwise — will be excluded from the perceived advantages the system provides: participating in the economy.
The mathematics of all of this is simple — God knows in His infinite wisdom which people belong to Him, and they will be removed from danger before the events of Revelation 13:18 transpire. He protects them supernaturally. What are left are those who did not trust in God’s will for their lives. They will associate with the evil one and pay dearly for it.
The choice is yours
The choice is easy but the result could be either life or death: Who do you associate with, and whose mark do you have?