The End Times – Chapter 6 – The Mark of the Beast
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: Rev 13:16
In the previous chapter we showed that the end times covenant with many will be a counterfeit to Christ’s covenant. Just as partaking of Christ’s covenant makes you a member of His body, partaking of the antichrist covenant will make one a member of the antichrist body. As evidence of your membership in the corporate body of Christ, your character and nature changes to that of Christ. Similarly, those who are members of antichrists corporate body will manifest the antichrist character and nature.
The mark of the beast is the permanent marking of those who partake of the antichrist covenant. The forehead represents mans thoughts and the right hand represents mans works. Those who receive the mark are given over to the counterfeit covenant in thought or deed.
In other words some will take the mark in their foreheads because they truly believe in the covenant. Others will take the mark in their right hand because their works will be in agreement with the covenant. Let’s face it, many who claim to be Christians today will not be willing to give up the things of this world. They will take the mark because without it they will not be able to work. Without the mark, they will be forced to give up all the things of the world that they are so in love with.
The word translated as mark is the Greek word charagma {khar'-ag-mah} meaning a stamp or imprinted mark. It also carries the connotation of a sculpture or graven image associated with idolatry. This is the word from which we get our English word character.
Before we continue with the actual mark, let’s look at another passage of scripture that is rarely invoked in this context.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2Thes 2:3-4
The day Paul is referring to here is the day in which the Lord will return and gather His elect. This is commonly referred to as the rapture of the church. Paul states in verse 2 that the people shouldn’t worry that the day is at hand (meaning near or soon). This is a clear refutation of the idea put forth by most church leaders that the Lord can return at any moment. Paul gives two conditions that must be met prior to the Lords return for the ingathering of the saints.
First there must come a falling away. This term is the Greek word apostasia {ap-os-tas-ee'-ah}, meaning to defect or forsake. Obviously this is the Greek word from which comes our English word apostasy. This word refers specifically to God’s people. It cannot mean anything else. How can one defect from or forsake something that they were never a part of in the first place? It means that the visible church (that institution that is known as the church) will defect from or forsake the true God of the Bible.
The second condition Paul lays out is brought on by the first. The falling away or apostasy, will reveal the man of sin, the son of perdition who exalts himself above God. Until both of these conditions are met, Jesus cannot return for His church.
Once again let’s remember just what
Know ye not that ye are the
The temple in which God currently resides is you. You are the temple not made with hands (Heb 9:11). This is the same temple in which the son of perdition seeks to replace God. Remember, antichrist means in place of Christ. The antichrist cannot replace Christ in a stone temple in
Paul was making clear to the people of his day that the conditions did not exist at that time for the rapture to take place. But as we continue we shall see that those conditions are being met in our day, right before our eyes.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2 Thes 2:7-8
This has always been a difficult and troublesome passage of scripture to both expositors and prophecy students. I believe that God purposely made it difficult in order to hide his plans from those who are wise in their own eyes.
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Is 29:14
The difficulty in this passage is in understanding who or what it is that withholdeth. Some have taught that it is the Holy Spirit that withholds and that the wicked one will be revealed only when the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth. This is usually taught in conjunction with the pre-tribulation rapture theory. The idea being that once the church is removed from the earth, the Holy Spirit, having been resident inside believers will no longer be here to restrain evil. Is this, or something like this, what you’ve always been taught?
The idea that the Holy Spirit will ever be removed from the earth is preposterous. Even those who hold a pre-tribulation rapture view believe that some of those who remain will be saved during the tribulation. So my first question would be how can anyone be saved without the Holy Spirit seeing as how it is the Spirit that draws men unto Christ? But the biggest problem with this idea is that it makes no sense in the context in which Paul was writing.
What Paul is saying is simply this. The day of the Lord and our gathering to him (ie; the rapture) cannot occur until the falling away (apostasy) causes the man of sin to be revealed. So, what is it that withholdeth? It is the apostasy (the falling away) that reveals the man of sin, therefore it is the lack of open apostasy that witholds that revelation. It is not a 'he' that was withholding but rather a condition that had not been met at the time of Pauls writing.
The problem has been the translators use of the pronoun he in describing that which withholdeth. Let’s look at this passage again.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2 Thes 2:7-8
Perhaps a little word study might help clarify things here.
…….he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way…….
The term he who now, is the Greek word arti {ar'-tee}which means at this moment in time. It has nothing to do with a person or an entity of any sort.
The term letteth is the Greek word katecho {kat-ekh'-o} meaning to hold back or restrain from going away. In our modern language the word let means to allow but in this context the meaning is exactly the opposite.
Until means until (finally a word that means what we think it means!)
The term he be taken is the Greek word ginomai {ghin'-om-ahee} which means to come into existence, to become, or to arise.
Out of means out of.
The way is the Greek word mesos {mes'-os} which means middle or in the midst of.
Does that help or are you thoroughly confused? How about if we say it like this:
The mystery of iniquity (hidden or secret working of lawlessness) is already at work but at this point in time that lawlessness is restrained until the great apostasy arises in the midst of the church. Once the apostasy makes its appearance then the wicked one (son of perdition) will be seen for who he is.
One of the keys to understanding this passage is the preceding verse (verse 6) where Paul says to the Church at Thessalonica:
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time
This verse is much clearer in that it uses the term what withholdeth (again the Greek word katecho {kat-ekh'-o}) rather than he who now letteth. Also the use of the word he in verse 6 does in fact mean he, the son of perdition, the wicked one.
We’ll talk about this more in a future chapter dealing specifically with the timing of the rapture but for now let’s get back to the mark of the beast. I’ll bet you thought I had gotten side tracked didn’t you? Well, maybe a little bit but here’s where we are going with this.
The word mark is the Greek word charagma from which we get our word character. What we are showing here is the hidden character of the antichrist and that of his corporate body on the earth. Let’s look at another example from scripture.
Where else in scripture do we see the term son of perdition?
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12
Jesus here is speaking of Judas Iscariot. He is an example of the son of perdition who was revealed at his appointed time.
Judas was one of the chosen twelve. He sat under Jesus teaching for three and one half years. He was sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel. He was empowered by Jesus just like the others to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils. In other words he appeared outwardly no different than any of the others. He even did the same miracles as the others! None of them had any idea that he would betray Jesus. Right up until his act of betrayal he was one of them. The mystery of iniquity (hidden lawlessness) was restrained until his apostasy (defection) revealed Judas for who he really was.
Here are some other interesting facts about Judas. He was from a Jewish sect known as the Zealots. In our day and age these people would be known as Patriots. He believed Jesus came to establish a physical kingdom upon the earth and to free the Jewish nation from the bondage of
When it became apparent that Jesus was not going to fulfill his desire for a physical kingdom Judas defected. He allowed his will to take priority over God’s will. In other words he allowed self will to sit upon the throne of his temple and declare that he was god.
When Judas defected, he took the mark of the beast. He became one with the character and nature of the antichrist.
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; John 13:2
That character and nature manifested itself in his act of betrayal. In the last three and one half years of the great tribulation, those who have the mark of the beast will betray those who don’t. That’s why Jesus said this.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Mat 24:9-10
Does that sound like anything that could happen today? Do you see any zealots in the church today looking for an earthly kingdom? Do any of our church leaders today support the policies of our supposedly ‘christian” nation saying we should go forth and kill our enemies and establish democracy and justice in the world? Do our religious leaders counsel us to trust in men and political systems to bring about change in society?
I want you to notice something else here. Who is it that causes all, both great and small to receive a mark?
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: Rev 13:16
The he referred to here is the second beast that came up out of the earth.
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. Rev 13:11
He came up out of the earth meaning he is of the earth, rather than the spirit.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1Cor 15:47
He had two horns like a lamb but he spoke as a dragon.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:…..Rev 12:9
This beast is commonly known as the false prophet. He will appear to be a man of God but he will speak by the power of the devil. Notice that it is this beast, not the secular, political beast that causes all to take the mark.
In other words it will be the false religious leaders who cause unsuspecting Christians to take the mark. When you listen to these false teachers who appear as lambs but speak as dragons, the character and nature (mark) of the antichrist is being formed in you.
Again this simply confirms that all this deception is aimed not at the world but at God’s people. Those who will be deceived to take the mark will be those who claim the name of Christ but are looking for a physical kingdom. It will be those who see the scriptures not by the spirit but by the letter. It will be those who refuse the covenant of Christ’s Blood and Body but prefer a false covenant. The covenant that says you can have life without the sacrifice of self.
Now for the big question! Is the mark of the beast a physical mark or just a spiritual (unseen) mark?
Let’s return again to the definition of the word mark. Since the Greek word charagma means a stamp, impression, or something engraved I tend to believe the mark will ultimately be a physical and readily apparent symbol. But, those who succumb to this physical mark will already have manifested the character and nature of the antichrist or beast system within themselves.
Also note that the scripture state that he causes all to take the mark. It doesn’t say he forces anyone to take it. I believe this indicates that at least in the beginning, the mark will be voluntary. What will make it seem mandatory will be the fact that no man will be able to buy or sell without it
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. Rev 13:17
Think about it. If you woke up tomorrow and were denied access to your job, your bank account, your investments, how long would it be before you rationalized your decision to go ahead and take the mark. I can tell you that most church people won’t have to be forced. Since they already carry the nature of the antichrist it will be the most natural thing in the world to them. They will have all kinds of rationalizations and excuses. Their religious leaders will assure them that this isn’t really the mark of the beast. They will explain that God certainly would not expect them to do without food and clothing. They will decide that since God has blessed them with all these material things He certainly wouldn’t expect them to give them up over something like this. And since none of them have ever laid down their lives and learned to trust God for their daily bread they will see no choice but to go along with the program.
There is only one way to avoid taking the mark of the beast and that is to allow the character and nature of Christ to be formed in you. You do that by trusting in, relying on, and adhering to the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the gospel and it is the power of God to save you from every antichrist beast.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom 1:16
If you have never done so, you need to begin today to lay down your life and take up your cross. You need to forget about all your earthly ambitions and dreams and seek God’s will above your own. As long as you place your own will ahead of God’s you are partaking of the antichrist covenant. You are becoming one with his nature. You have bought into the covenant with the many. The covenant that says you can have life without the sacrifice of the Body and the Blood. That is the covenant that most are trusting in today.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. John 6:53-56
Every person on the face of the earth is either part of the body of Christ or the body of antichrist. There is no middle ground. You will either be conformed to the image of the Son or you are already conformed to the image of antichrist.
Choose ye this day whom ye will serve!
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Steve Lumbley 2006 http://www.apostasywatch.com/
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