Mark of The Beast – 666?

What Is The Mark of the Beast?
“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. 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 13:17-18]

This is the dreaded mark, which when a person gets it, he is doomed forever! While the vast majority of the world populace dread this number and would do everything possible to avoid it, some love and cherish it. Some love it as their car number plates, house numbers, and would jump at using for just about anything including tattoos. But does it mean they are doomed forever?

I will try to be as brief as possible on this topic and highlight on the purpose, deception, reception, visibility, and consequence of the mark.

The Bible was the first to give us this indication about the mark of the beast. As mentioned in my last article, “Who is the AntiChrist?” The beast that was released from the bottomless pit is the spirit of the antichrist and it has a mark.

John the apostle wrote that this mark is represented by a number, six hundred and sixty-six, and that it is the number of a man. This is quite significant and I will delve a little deeper into this later, but then what is the purpose of this mark or number?

Since a good number of people in the world are aware of the consequences of this mark why would they still be clamouring or forced to get it?

Verse 17 says, “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.” Human beings are the only creatures in God’s creation that engage in commerce for survival, over the centuries, it has been woven into the fabric of our nature to trade.

Being able to trade is essential to survival and that is where Man is targeted by this wicked spirit. It makes it extremely difficult to avoid, otherwise, the person must prepare to die a very slow death. But, if you consider it very well, all these commerce started because of the fall of Man. In essence, the purpose of the mark is for survival.

What are the consequences of this mark? Primarily, survival will be awfully difficult without the mark. Think about it, a family of four that lacks the mark on one or both of the parents would definitely be set for starvation and all sorts of depravation such as inability to earn and pay for essentials like gas and electricity. Yet, once one person gets this mark, his demeanour will change and he will not put up with anyone around him who does not want to get the mark and this is where the prophecy of Jesus will very well come to pass: “Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.” [Mark 13:12]

On the other hand, anyone who bears this mark is definitely doomed forever. Such a person will forever be rejected by God.”

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” [Revelation 14:9-10]

What Exactly Is This Mark?

Barcodes and the RFID chip

While we can see that the mark have been noted by some people to be 666 is this the case or is there  more to it? Some have raised concerns with the design of the bar code used in labelling products, the “guard bars”, with the first-two bars, the middle bars and the last two bars carry the number 6-6-6. Others have suggested that it is a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip. RFID is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects.¹

Paul the apostle once referred to his own mark on his person, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17). This mark of Jesus on Paul is an invisible mark; otherwise, he would have had no need to speak about it as all would see it.

In the same vein, the mark of the beast is most likely not a visible mark seen by everyone, but one known by God, Satan and the bearer.

Our generation is such a privileged generation. God has always given examples or real life cases in the Bible for us, but unfortunately, this generation is also the most ignorant, because it is so given to a Godless system.

History is about to be repeated but on a grand scale. What do I mean? There are at least two people in the Bible who received the mark of the beast, and that, in the Old Testament. This may shock you.

Esau, the first son of Isaac; This man was supposed to be one who would perpetuate the lineage of his fathers, he was supposed to take and pass on the promise his fathers received from God, but he failed. His failure was not just simple failure; it was a miserable failure that was made due to his terrible choice.

His failure hinged on a decision, it was a decision that would either gain or lose him the greatest opportunity of his life. He scorned the opportunity, as the opportunity appeared with the label of “birthright” on it.

“And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” [Genesis 25:32]

This birthright was not just like any other birthright, it had a lot of things embedded in it. Esau was privileged to be the primary successor of his father and all the precious promise of God was going to be his as a result. Yet, after a careful consideration, he just couldn’t be bothered and he decided it meant nothing to him. God was watching and his brother, Jacob, was also watching, though from a different perspective.

One unique thing about that birthright was the promise of God to his ancestors, which was the promise of the Messiah. When Abraham was given the promise, it wasn’t about the acquisition of material and financial things; it was about the Messiah – the Saviour. Esau rejected the opportunity. Hence, God rejected him, too. This was the reason why we have this record of him, “Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). He rejected Christ.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]

God has always warned mankind, “If you reject Me, I will also reject you – the decision is yours” (Hosea 4:6). James the apostle said it like this, “Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites!” (James 4:8 GNB)

But that does not equate to mark of the beast, does it? You ask.

The Two Sixes

Jacob, Esau and the Gift of God**

Going back to the beginning of time, Man already had a number assigned to him by God; it was his identity in His Creation. Man was created or birthed on the sixth day. This was Man’s first assigned number. So, all of us are marked with a SIX already. Six in Biblical numerology is a mark or number of imperfection. While God acknowledged that the Man he created was “very good”, He never said he was perfect.

Man was supposed to progress from where he was, in his imperfection, towards the Tree of Life, where he would gain eternal life as a perfect person, but he fell into sin. Sin is another mark of imperfection. When Man fell, it was a rejection of God, a rebellion towards the commands and nature of God, he earned himself another SIX.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” [Romans 5:12]

All of us – every human being have TWO sixes upon our lives. What makes this a really serious matter is the fact that it is like a gradual progression into doom. The further a man is from God the closer he is to doom, hence, the redemptive plan of God. This is the reason why we desperately need God. But once a man chooses to get the third six, he has sealed his fate.

Going back to Esau, he rejected the greatest opportunity to reverse the previous mark on his life and he chose the third six. As a result of this choice, God also rejected him!

Every human being, since the time of Adam, has just space left for the completion of the mark of the beast in their lives. Wilful or stubborn rejection of the Gift of God, Christ, usually means the acceptance of the third six and a completion of the mark of the beast.

Do we have another clear-cut case in history? Yes, we do. Saul, the first king of Israel; he too had the opportunity to reverse the mark of separation from God, but made a different choice. His choice made God to reject him and his fate was sealed.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” [1Samuel 15:23]

Apart from Jesus Christ, there was no greater testimony of intercessors in the Bible than Moses and Samuel (Jeremiah 15:1). Samuel would spend all night in prayer, interceding for Saul, God was having none of it. Saul had sealed his own fate before the Almighty God.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” [1Samuel 16:1]

The Third Six
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]

The bold rejection of God’s provision for the redemption of mankind is an acceptance of the punishment that awaits sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20). Death makes the third SIX available to the sinner. Once a sinner gets a third six, his eternal fate is sealed.

By the time Esau realized he had lost his opportunity it was too late. “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” [Hebrews 12:17]

So was Saul. It was written of him, “And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.” [1Samuel 28:6]

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Study your Bible very well about those whom the Lord rejects, it was because they rejected Him when He called on them. He has warned those who would prefer to receive the mark of the beast.

In Revelation 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Due to the mark on these people, there will be no redemption for them. They chose to accept the mark of the beast. It was THEIR choice.

The hour of temptation is about to engulf the whole world (Isaiah 60:2), Jesus foretold it in Revelation 3:10, it will be a very serious time on earth. Esau and Saul’s temptation will be like child’s play. Dear friend, you need to quickly make your choice TODAY, there are only two choices, it either you accept Christ or reject Him, there is no middle ground.

Moses pleaded with the Israelites, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” [Deuteronomy 30:19 Emphasis mine]

Since the Fall of Man, God has been pleading all His servants, “Choose life …. That you may live”. Jesus declares, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51).

Having noted all these observations, one may ask: “Is the mark of the beast not the full number 666?” It is a possibility, but you must also know that figure 666 in different languages would be written in different ways that would render the figure almost useless. However, it could be the icing on the cake for the spiritual version that has already taken effect inside the soul.

Revelation 13:16 states further, “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:” They received the mark on their foreheads or in their right hands. The brain or intellectual capacity in the bible is a represented by the forehead. An activity that a person engages in is represented by the right hands.

I will still suggest that you get your Holy Bible out from the dusty shelf and prayerfully STUDY to know the truth.

¹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification

² Jacob, Esau and the Gift of God** – Hendrick ter Brugghen, Esau Selling His Birthright, c. 1627.

Next Article: Overcoming The Beast & Its Mark