There has been a lot of speculation in Christian circles as to the meaning or identification of what John in the book of Revelation refers to as the “mark of the beast.” It has a lot of importance to people because of this passage:
Revelation 13
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.
While it is an important passage, it is often misunderstood because it is read as an isolated passage, as if it were without precedent in all of scripture. When the books of the bible were assembled into the current bound volume, it is likely that not all of the books were originally separated into chapters as we now read them. While some passages such as Psalms or Isaiah may in fact be assembled by virtue of how they were written, the vision John received and transcribed as the book of Revelation was probably not separated into chapters the way we have it in our books today.
This division of chapters is often misleading for those seeking the truth.
In this passage of Revelation there is a condemnation placed upon those that “receive the mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads,” (verse 16) particularly in reference to the mark of the beast. People are fearful of this passage because they become afraid that they will not be able to buy or sell unless they have essentially given their souls over to the devil, also known as Satan. If this passage were left to stand alone by itself or had no other precedent, that fear might have some possible justification. After all, no one wants to go hungry because they are unable to buy food, and no one wants to live in poverty because they cannot sell.
If we did not have a library of scriptures and prophecies to tell us about the plan of salvation, we might have reason to greatly fear being unable to buy or sell because of a mark. The direct result of misunderstanding the nature of this "mark" and the number has led to numerous wild and highly speculative theories. Some examples of these theories include the following:
These examples are just a few of many theories suggested by people that have been misinformed about the meaning of this passage.
The good news is that the truth is explained in the scriptures and that it is easy to understand! Understanding this passage of scripture does require getting context, which we get from using the scriptures as a resource of information. Our first step is to read what John wrote without the chapter divisions because this has been a fruitful source of confusion.
Revelation
13-14
13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two
horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and
causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed.
13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven
on the earth in the sight of men,
13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles
which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell
on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound
by a sword, and did live.
13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image
of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the
image of the beast should be killed.
13:16 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:
13:17 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.
13:18 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.
14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in
their foreheads.
14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their
harps:
14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four
beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and
forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were
redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before
the throne of God.
Instead of just depicting the evil of this world, the Lord showed John both the good and the evil that would be present, culminating in the victory of the Lamb - Jesus Christ - and his followers. The context of this passage concerns something far greater than matters of mere commerce.
On the one hand, yes, there are those that have taken upon themselves the mark of the beast, but on the other hand there are those that have taken upon themselves the mark of the Father’s name (meaning, God’s name) in their foreheads. Have you ever heard a modern preacher talk about the mark of the Father's name?
It would be inconceivable for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be made of none-effect by a simple mark in the hand or in the forehead.
It does not seem likely or even possible that a simple, physical mark alone would be the defining characteristic of the wicked or of the righteous. In that sense, the literal buying and selling of goods or services seems quite out of place in this passage about the salvation or the destruction of souls. It is true that we have a commandment which says, "thou shalt not covet." (see Exodus 20:17, Romans 7:7, 13:9). Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ really about how the riches of the earth are distributed through commerce? Did Jesus go to the cross so that you could get a fair deal at the grocery store? There must be a more important, deeper meaning to this question of the mark for it to be part of this revelation given to us through one of God's holy apostles and prophets.
Indeed, Jesus gave a parable to this end:
Luke 12
17 And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a
man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
18 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man
brought forth plentifully;
19 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do because I have no
room where to bestow my fruits?
20 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
22 But God said unto him, Thou fool! This night thy soul shall be
required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
23 So shall it be with him who layeth up treasure for himself and is not
rich toward God.
24 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought
for your life, what ye shall eat, neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
25 For the life is more than meat and the body than raiment.
Returning to the book of Revelation, what about the hundred forty-four thousand people with the Father’s name in their foreheads? Does salvation come about because of a printed name, such as a tattoo? The same logic that applies to our salvation must apply to those that are not saved - a physical mark cannot bring about either the one or the other. Having the Father’s mark, or name, is explained in verses Revelation 14:3-5: these are they "which were redeemed from the earth", " they which were not defiled with women", and "follow the Lamb" - Jesus Christ - “whithersoever he goeth.”
Is there a precedent for this kind of language in previous scriptures? Fortunately for us, yes.
Deuteronomy 6
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be
as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Verse 8 sounds rather familiar - “thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” It should sound familiar. Moses repeats it in a later passage so the Israelites would not easily forget it:
Deuteronomy 11
16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside,
and serve other gods, and worship them;
17 And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven,
that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye
perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and
bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your
eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in
thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when
thou risest up.
20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy
gates:
21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land
which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon
the earth.
Again, “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul.”
Moses records the first rendition of this declaration a little earlier, even before they had crossed the Red Sea:
Exodus
13
14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is
this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out
from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the
firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the
matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between
thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them
not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for
God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they
return to Egypt:
18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red
sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
The importance of writing the history into their memories of how God delivered his people out of the bondage Egypt is the important thing here. Not only does it call to remembrance all the good things God has done to redeem his people from bondage, but it is a continued reminder to obey the commandments of God moving forward also.
But why does it specifically refer to the hand and forehead? In early Hebrew culture the hand represents the things that you do. The right hand represents your honor and the things you love. Likewise, the forehead refers to whom you worship because of how it is always foremost in your mind.
The prophet Ezekiel also recorded a similar event -
Ezekiel
9
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he
was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with
linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the
midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that
sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city,
and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women:
but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.
Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
In this instance the men that chose righteousness had a mark placed upon them, and they were the ones who were spared.
It is interesting that the scripture referring to a mark that was placed upon someone is from Genesis chapter 4, which is in reference to Cain, who killed his brother Abel:
Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Cain chose to obey Satan instead of God. For this action the Lord himself placed a physical mark upon him so that people could identify who he was. It may well be that there was already a spiritual mark upon him for worshiping Satan.
The purpose of the mark of God is not just to remember what he has done for us, or just to remember what the commandments are, but that we have agreed to do them. The signs that God gives are in token, or reference to, a covenant. We recall that the covenant God made with Abraham had a sign associated with it - namely, circumcision:
Genesis
17
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee
in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to
thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou
art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I
will be their God.
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and
thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you
and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a
token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
This particular covenant was fulfilled in Christ, so it is no longer necessary for us to keep. But God also gave Noah a sign - or token - of the covenant, which was that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood:
Genesis 9
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any
more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to
destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between
me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual
generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a
covenant between me and the earth.
14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow
shall be seen in the cloud:
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every
living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to
destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may
remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all
flesh that is upon the earth.
It seems reasonable to conclude that the mark, sign, or token of the Father's name in one's forehead is also a reference to a covenant. But what covenant might this refer to?
Before we answer that question, let us again return to the passage in question:
Revelation
13
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.
There is often much focus placed upon the number portion of this passage: 666. There is more to it than that, though. Verse 17 plainly states that this “mark” is the same as the “name” or the number of his name. It is not a number alone, but it references a name. This corresponds with the later passage in Revelation chapter 14 that mentions those having the Lamb’s “Father’s name” in their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
This name component is of great value to consider. Think of these verses in relation to the “name”:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
1
Corinthians 1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and
Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified
in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
We note that being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is one of the necessary steps for being saved. We also note that the name of Jesus Christ was carried in reverence by those who believe on him. Is it such a strange thing for John then to record this in Revelation 17:5 concerning something wicked as well?
Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Whereas for the righteous...
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
With this background, we can now understand that the “mark of the beast” is in reference to those that worship the devil, Satan. We also understand that those that take upon them the name of Jesus Christ through repentance, baptism of water and baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire, and that continue in those things which God has given them to do will not receive the mark of the beast.
If you consider that worship is a willful act, whether one worships God or whether one worships Satan, it stands to reason that those are not things that can be done to you or for you by others. Satan cannot sneak up and place his name upon you without your approval. He may deceive you into doing evil, but he cannot make your choices for you any more than God can make your choices for you. Jesus Christ does not force his name upon you any more than Satan can.
Hebrews
10
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said
before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood
of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
If the new covenant established through Jesus Christ is the means by which God shall save his people, then it conversely means that those who reject that covenant cannot be saved. This is what Revelation must mean about the mark, name, or number of the beast. The mark represents those that reject the covenant of Jesus Christ and refuse to take upon them his name, but instead follow and obey Satan. By doing these things they condemn themselves to the same fate as the leader they choose to follow. They are the ones that cannot find salvation. These are those that have a covenant with death, as Isaiah said,
Isaiah 28
14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men that rule this people
which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with
hell are we at agreement, when the overflowing scourge shall pass
through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves.
16 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a
stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that
believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and
the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the
hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement
with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth, it shall take you; for morning by morning
shall it pass over, by day and by night; and it shall be a vexation only to
understand the report.
Only those that have put their trust in the Lord and have a covenant with him will find salvation.
Isaiah 55
1 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no
money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come; buy wine and milk without money and
without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for
that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is
good; and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of
David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander
to the people.
5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew
not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord, thy God, and for the Holy One
of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is
near;
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways, saith
the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Lord has the intent of saving the souls of men and women, and the way is clear. Don't let the adversary confuse you by his devices, but do let the Lord show you the truth so that you may stand firm in it.