In Revelation 13 we are told about the beast who seeks to place a mark upon all who worship him so that no one can buy, sell, or trade unless they have his mark. Countless hours have been spent by many devoted Christians trying to foresee the form in which this mark would come so that they could avoid taking it. It may seem like an over-simplification, but we will take just a few minutes over the next few weeks to understand this beast and the mark, as well as how to not take it from the clear teachings of Scripture. First, for something this important it would behoove us to read over the few verses that deal with it, which I have copied below. I will also make a brief comment after each.
And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
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.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:11-18).
The only way to not take the mark in whatever form it comes or has come is to not worship the beast. More important than discerning the nature of the mark is to discern the nature of the beast.
As we see in Revelation 13:11 this beast “comes up out of the earth.” This speaks of earthly mindedness. Earthly mindedness covers everything from materialism to the religion of humanism that places man at the center of everything instead of God. Simply put, we must not give ourselves to earthly mindedness, but that which comes down from the Lord above, and which keeps our heart and our attention on things above.
The way not to even be tempted to take the mark of the beast is to know the Lord as our Source. If He is our source we will not care if we can buy, sell, or trade. This is why we must now pro-actively pursue knowing the Lord as our Source.
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."
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:9-12).
As we read in Chapter 13, those who do not take the mark of the beast will suffer the wrath of the beast. Those who do take the mark of the beast will suffer the wrath of God. We must decide now whose wrath we are going to suffer. One will give temporary relief and security. Those who love their comfort and lives in this world more than Christ will compromise. Those who are true worshipers of God and love Him even more than their lives in this world will forever be proven by this devotion.
We must decide that we will not worship the beast or take his mark. The way that we will not do this is found in verse 12: “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” We must set our hearts now and re-fortify them daily that we will worship God alone, that we will obey Him, and keep our faith in Jesus.
Even the earthly benefits of taking the mark of the beast will not last long. For those who compromise for the sake of ease in this life, the pain will be felt rather quickly.
The victory of the Lord over this evil that has come upon the whole earth will be swift and total.
The reward of worshiping God alone will make any price that we have to pay in this life well worth it. We must now set our hearts like Daniel and like many of our brethren throughout the church age and be willing to be cast to the lions rather than compromise our devotion to God alone. As the Lord stated plainly in Matthew 10:34-39:
"For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
"He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.”
As we have previously covered in Scriptures such as Isaiah 60, we see that when the darkness is covering the earth and deep darkness the people, the Lord’s glory will be rising and appearing on His people. To date, the time of the greatest glory of the church was the first century. This was when the choice of serving the Lord almost always meant risking your life in this world. To be willing to serve in leadership in the church then was a great honor because it almost certainly marked them for death. This brought forth a purity of devotion that the Lord could endorse with His glory. This will be so again. In the time when deep darkness will be covering the people, the Lord’s greatest glory will be revealed on His people. While the beast and his ultimate idolatry will be manifested on the earth, the bride will be coming forth without spot or wrinkle and her King will be near.
One thing is certain—any price that we have to pay in this life will be worth it!
As this is week 45 of our study this year, I felt a strong quickening to read Psalm 45, which I think is most fitting, and I have copied it below:
Thou art fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Thy lips; Therefore God has blessed Thee forever.
Gird Thy sword on Thy thigh, O Mighty One, In Thy splendor and Thy majesty!
And in Thy majesty ride on victoriously, for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness. Let Thy right hand teach Thee awesome things.
Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under Thee; Thine arrows are in the heart of the King's enemies.
Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee With the oil of joy above Thy fellows.
All Thy garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made Thee glad.
Kings' daughters are among Thy noble ladies; At Thy right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear; Forget your people and your father's house;
Then the King will desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him.
And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will entreat your favor.
The King's daughter is all glorious within; Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
She will be led to the King in embroidered work; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to Thee.
They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; They will enter into the King's palace.
In place of your fathers will be your sons; You shall make them princes in all the earth.
I will cause Thy name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the peoples will give Thee thanks forever and ever.
