The Anti-Christ – Revelation 13:1-18
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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.
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 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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.
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.
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.
Chapter 13 presents a closer view of the persons and works of the man of sin and the false prophet who support him as through a variety of deceptions they win the world’s allegiance. Controlling most if not all of the political powers of the world, they make war against anyone associated with God and anyone refusing to join their evil alliance. The world’s economy will also feel the effects of their evil designs. As a preliminary statement to what is to what follows, one may wish to keep in mind that in John’s text the Greek word drakOn (dragon) and thErion (wild beast) are repeatedly used not only as descriptions but as differentiating terms. The time period covered by the presence of these two beasts is the seven-year Tribulation. The work of the man of sin, the beast out of the sea, will commence at the beginning of the seven years as he becomes a powerful leader of false peace and security. The second beast from the earth will help him to gain his power. During the latter half of the seven years, the two beasts will reign as tyrants with great power and condemnation for anyone who opposes them.
The Beast out of the Sea (Revelation 13:1, 2)
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The Beast
John, being on the Isle of Patmos, may have been standing on the edge of the sea when he saw a vision of a beast rising out of the sea. It is also possible that being located on the sand of the sea was completely in his vision. It is best, however, to interpret the Scriptures with a literal interpretation as much as is possible. The beast John saw should be associated with the white horse rider, or the man of sin in Revelation 6:2. The white horse rider represents the man of sin as an individual, while the beast out of the sea represents the man of sin as the political leader of a great empire, the Gentile kingdom. His seven heads and ten horns represent his political system. This first beast may also be associated with the dragon who seeks to destroy Israel in Revelation 12:3, and the beast on which the great whore rides in Revelation 17:3, and the little horn of Daniel 7:7 and 8:23-25.
In chapter 12 the vision reveals the dragon, or Satan. Chapter 13 presents the man of sin as distinguished from the dragon. Satan has no physical form of his own but possesses this willing man who is completely given over to serve him. Satan then imparts to him all of his available power. He is called the “man of sin” and “son of perdition” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 and, like Judas Iscariot, he has given himself over to Satan’s use (John 17:12). As we’ll see in the future his beast from the sea is also the beast of Revelation 17:11, the eighth king that rules on the seven mountains.
The Sea
A sea or flood often represents the presence of sin or the results of sin. The sea from which the beast rose probably represents the ‘sea of humanity,’ and therefore may represent humanity in its sinful chaos. It is from among the people of the world that the man of sin arises. Being one of humanity, the world is more likely to accept him as its leader. Man has always wanted to make himself a god and this man will let them think such a thing is possible.
Seven Heads and Ten Horns
The beast had seven heads representing the completeness and strength of his kingdom. These seven heads are mentioned in Revelation 17:9 as “seven mountains on which the woman sitteth.” The seven heads represent seven kingdoms that culminate in the kingdom of the man of sin. See the comments on the seven heads in Revelation 13:3 to follow, and you may want to look ahead to chapter 17 verses 9 and 10. He also had ten horns, representing the governmental structure of the people that followed him. Many suggest these ten horns represent a ten-nation alliance, and often associate this alliance with the European nations. Each horn wears a crown representing the individual power of each horn or nation. Although the ten are associated as one kingdom, they do possess individuality as ten individual nations or perhaps regions of nations linked through alliance. We’ll take this up further when we examine Revelation 17:12.
The Name Blasphemy
The beast from the sea has the name “blasphemy” on each of his seven heads. He is also portrayed as being “full of names of blasphemy” in Revelation 17:3. Blasphemy is therefore his name and not just a word associated with him. The word blasphemy (Greek blasphEmias or of harm or averment) suggests that his nature, his intent and his actions are set to discredit and even to accuse the very name of God.
His Power, Seat and Authority
John wrote that the dragon had given the beast “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” His power is that of the dragon or Satan, a powerful fallen angel created by God. As Satan possesses the man of sin, so the man of sin possesses all the powers of Satan in what we may think of as a symbiotic relationship. Satan, being cast to the earth, is wrathful and angry. He uses his power to its fullest through the man of sin to accomplish his evil. Remember, Satan can read Revelation 12:12 as well or you and I, so he knows his time to work on earth grows short. His seat is his political position which may be associated with the seven mountains of Revelation 17:3. He does have great authority, even as God has permitted Satan to have great authority in earth. This is the permissive will of God. He has the continued power of all four of the previous world kingdoms as represented in the vision of Daniel 2:36-43.
A Leopard, a Bear, and a Lion
John described the beast as a “leopard,” quick to its prey, having feet as a “bear” with which he can beat down, rip and tears his victims, “his mouth as the mouth of a lion,” possessing teeth and a roar that brings fear to others. These characteristics may be compared to the kingdoms of the vision of Daniel 7:3-8. Also revisit Daniel 2:36-43 and Revelation 7:17, where a lion represents Babylon, the first kingdom of which Daniel prophesied, a bear represents the Medo-Persian kingdom or the second kingdom Daniel foresees, and a leopard represents the Greek kingdom, the third mentioned by Daniel; the Roman Empire is the fourth.
The kingdom of the beast is the continuation of the fourth kingdom of Daniel – the Roman – because Daniel’s prophcy extends the fourth kingdom to the return of Christ. Daniel 2:44: “And in the days of these kings (Rome) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom (the millennial kingdom of Christ).” The description of this text reveals that the beast and his kingdom reflect the nature of the first three kingdoms. The common link between the four kingdoms then is the power and working of Satan in world affairs, which will reach his ultimate goal in the kingdom of the beast.
The Wound of the Beast (Revelation 13:3, 4)
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
The Wound
One of the seven heads of the beast is wounded with such an injury that normally should cause death. Remember, the seven heads represent the completeness of the kingdom of the beast. This kingdom is also a continuation of the Roman kingdom and specifically its continued existence in the seven-year Tribulation. Consider the chronological order of these empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the papacy when it exercised political power, the impotent papacy when it held little or no political sway, and the restored Roman empire in the latter days. If the head wound unto death is the stripping of political, commercial, and even religious influences, the healing of the deadly head wound is the rebuilding of the Roman Empire. Some speculate this may occur under the pope. If this theory is correct, we are living in the times of the head “wounded unto death.” Could it be that we are rushing toward a state of affairs in which the peoples of the world will demand a single monetary system to facilitate world-wide commerce, will tolerate –and then accept before eventually embracing – a world-wide single system of religion that replaces faith in God with worship of a demigod, and leaves a war-weary world population clamoring for a single leader upon whom it can focus its energy and adoration?
Some fragments of the Roman Empire have never ceased to exist as separate kingdoms. It was the imperial form of government which ceased to be – the one head wounded unto death. Prophetically, the restoration of the imperial form of government is to be restored – “his deadly wound was healed.” The eighth Gentile world ruler will be the beast – the anti-Christ.
Some have suggested in past times that the anti-Christ was Judas Iscariot, Nero, Benito Mussolini, Adolph Hitler, Josef Stalin, Henry Kissinger and scores of others. However, such men do not fully fit the characteristics of this yet-future world ruler. On the other hand, it does not seem absurd to think that even today the man who is to become anti-Christ may be alive and operating within influential world circles, preparing for the day when he will completely surrender himself to Satan. Perhaps he has already done so.
The Healing
No doubt the healing of the “deadly wound” appears as a miraculous thing. Whether it is miraculous in reality or not, the world will consider it to be a supernatural event. The revival of a political and religious system that once ruled the world but was thought to be absent forever would seem amazing. Since the wound may be the loss of the political and economic power of the papacy, the healing of the head may represent the restoration of that political power to the papacy, which would eventually result in economic domination as well. If the man of sin is the political leader of Rome and its alliance of nations, then the power of the beast will indeed be like a revival of the Roman Empire. In the midst of a world of trouble and distress, such a powerful system, having been revived from centuries of dormancy and able to bring peace to the Middle East, will surely become the wonder of the unsaved world.
They Worshiped the Beast
The beast, because of the healing of its wound, seems to be invincible to a world that seeks a human savior and the world wonders after the beast with admiration and worship. Although the two beasts of chapter 13 are different, they are linked in politics and religion and are devious in their respective practices. Even as the world wonders after the first beast the popularity of the second beast contributes to the power of the first. The world worships the first beast, and by doing so, worships the dragon who gives the beast his power.
The Power of the Beast (Revelation 13:5-10)
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
To the beast that rises from the sea, four powers are given. He is given a mouth, power to continue, the ability to make war, and power over people. It is the dragon who gives the beast these powers, and the dragon gives them for his evil purpose.
A Mouth to Communicate
A mouth represents the ability to communicate. This “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” may represent a specific method by which the beast communicates or it may simply be the ability to communicate. It may represent some form of modern technology such as television, the internet or something as yet unknown to man. In the day of the beast, man’s technological abilities may have advanced far beyond anything we know today, and since Satan has historically used technology to spread his evil, it is reasonable to conclude that the man of sin will make full use of every sort of resource or technology available to him. The “great things and blasphemies” will grab people’s attention and impress them.
The Power to Continue
During the first half of the seven-year Tribulation the beast rises to great power and will appear to be very potent. The man of sin brings peace to the Middle East and, therefore, much of the political and economic world. At the middle of the seven-year period he will turn against Israel, declaring himself ruler of Jerusalem (Revelation 13:7). It is “given unto him” or he is permitted to continue in that position in Jerusalem for the last half of the seven years, or forty-two months.
The man of sin uses his “mouth” of communication to preach his blasphemy of God worldwide. He blasphemes the name of God, meaning he denies Him as God, and encourages the world to forsake the very recognition of God’s existence and turn their worship upon him (the man of sin) as a god. This can be seen as Satan’s desire in Isaiah 14:12-14 when he said, “…I will be like the most high.” Again, this desire can be seen in the temptation of Eve in Genesis 3:5 where the serpent suggested that man could be a god. Here we see the beginning of a pattern of turning from recognition of God to making man a god, and this pattern can also be recognized in Romans 1. The people first knew God (Romans 1:25), but because they did not like what they knew of God, they changed their ideas about God (verses 23-25). Finally, being so far removed from the truth of God, they did not retain the knowledge of God at all – they forgot God (verse 28). Whenever man forgets the true God, he usually looks to himself as a god. The man of sin will lead the world toward the conclusion of looking to him as a god. Here review 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 which reads “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 worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The man of sin blasphemes and desecrates the Tabernacle of God that will exist in the first half of the seven-year Tribulation. The beast blasphemes the Tabernacle of the Jews even as he rises against them. Daniel wrote of this event at the middle of the seven years as causing the sacrifices and oblations to cease (Daniel 9:26, 27). It is the same event that Jesus made reference to as the abomination of desolation as recorded in Matthew 24:15.
From his influential position in Jerusalem and supported by the power of revived Rome the man of sin blasphemes all who inhabit Heaven, and it seems likely that he will openly mock biblical teachings about Heaven as being the dwelling place of the redeemed. He will probably deny its existence and will persuade many. Satan has always sewn seeds of doubt regarding the truth of God and His Word in his quest to drag mankind down with him.
The Ability to Make War
The ability to make war has been “given” to him by the dragon whom God has permitted to work on the earth (Revelation 12:12). The man of sin and the beast make war with the saints seeking to annihilate them. The saints are the 144,000 Jewish remnant of Israel against whom the man of sin turns at the middle of the seven-year Tribulation (Daniel 9:26, 27), and although he is permitted to do battle with them and even to subdue them he cannot utterly destroy them for they are sealed by God for preservation (Revelation 7:3, 4; 12:6). The lost people of the world, whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life, will rally to and worship the beast. We will further scrutinize how this comes about during our examination of Revelation 17:6.
The Power over People
Along with other powers that are given to this beast is the power to persuade and control the peoples of the earth, specifically, “all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” He has the power to deceive people and entice them to follow and worship him, and many gladly will.
The Patience of the Saints
The admonition of Revelation 13:9, 10 does not seem to be the words of John, but he did not identify its source. The words offer both a warning and an encouragement to those saints or sanctified ones, the 144,000 Jews set aside by the preservation of God. They must endure many hardships during this time that the world is set against them. They escape the effort of the beast to destroy them to hide in the place God has prepared for the last half of the seven-year Tribulation. Review the comments on Revelation 12:6, 14. Much like Galatians 6:7 where Paul assures that “…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap…” God assures the saints that He will avenge their patient suffering and protect His chosen people, Israel.
The Beast Out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11-13)
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.
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 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Another Beast
John saw “another beast” arise, not out of the sea as did the first, but from the earth. This beast does not have the same association with humanity as does the first, but is set apart from humanity as one that is above the norm of humanity – or we may think in terms of superhuman. He is the religious leader coming out of the earth (some suggest out of hades), as opposed to Christ who comes down from Heaven. This second beast is referred to as the false prophet in Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. He has “two horns like a lamb,” or the appearance of a prophet of God. However he speaks “as a dragon” because he is a false prophet in sheep’s clothing. Like the first beast, the second beast also has the power of the dragon, and the power to do great wonders by the power of the dragon.
The Influence of the Beast
Having the power to do great wonders in the eyes of the world, the false prophet thereby wields great influence among all people. Perhaps his acts will be broadcast worldwide by technological means such as television or the internet, as there is little of the world that cannot now be reached by these means. His works, however amazing they may appear, are deceptions.
Modern events and conditions have brought the world closer to the revival of power of the Roman papacy. Admiration of the Pope Francis is currently (December 2017) quite high and is increasing daily despite the recent hubbub over wording of the Lord’s prayer. In the United States, for example, it was once difficult for a Catholic to be elected to any high office, such as when John F. Kennedy became president in 1960. At the time Kennedy’s practice of Catholicism was generally thought to be a strong hindrance to political success, and this author well recalls that many Protestants and practitioners of other religions did not vote in Kennedy’s favor on that account alone. Public opinion has continued to shift, however, toward an acceptance of pontifical rule. Despite numerous scandals within that and all other religious hierarchies in recent years there seems to be a trend toward universal acceptance of SOME hierarchy, perhaps in the not-so-distant future as well as public apathy regarding the practice of ‘religion’ in general.
This false prophet represents the religious world, the one-world religion that is developing even today through ecumenism. He gives his full allegiance to the first beast and leads the world to worship the first beast. Surely he will point toward the healing of the beast’s wound and use demonstrations of the power to perform “great wonders” as persuasive tools.
These “great wonders” performed by the beast “out of the earth” include making “…fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” Recall that it is recorded in 2 Kings 1:10 that Elijah – God’s true prophet – called down fire from Heaven to consume fifty men who came to him from the king of Samaria. This was done to prove that Elijah was a man of God. It is recorded in 1 Kings 18:30-39 that he also called down fire from Heaven to prove to the false prophets of Baal that the Lord God of Heaven is the true God. To induce people to worship the first beast, the false prophet will perform great and superhuman signs including the calling of fire down from heaven. This does not mean that he will be Elijah reincarnate (as he may be arrogant enough to claim), but just as Elijah was empowered by God, he will have the power (authority) from the first beast to perform these acts.
The Image of the Beast (Revelation 13:14, 15)
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.
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.
The Deception of the Beast
The second beast, the false prophet, has such influence that he persuades the world to “make an image” of the first beast. It appears that the motivation for the making of this image is to honor the healing of the beast and to make it a visible, tangible focal point for worship.
Various ideas have been suggested for interpreting the image of the beast. Some have likened this to the beatification of saints by the Catholic religion. People presently bow and pray before statues of people like the apostle Peter and Jesus’ mother Mary and it seems that the “image” will be an object of some sort. Liken these icons to the image of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:1-7 for comparison. One school of thought suggests that it may be a three-dimensional holographic image broadcast by satellite to anywhere in the world, even directly into a classroom or a person’s home, while others suggest that since the beast represents not just a person but a political and religious system this image is similar to an internet website or television channel where a complete program is broadcast for the purpose of indoctrinating the world. Presently the Catholic religion does have its own television broadcasting and numerous internet websites utilized as mediums for its various teachings and programs and this author has researched several. Pope Francis’ call to “Let us bodily become citizens of the digital world” is being realized, and one such site states on its web page that it is “dedicated to utilizing media to share the treasure of our Catholic faith throughout the world.” Sadly, individual Bible study is not encouraged.
As stated, it is not known what the “image of the beast” is to be. The word image reveals that it will be an icon of some kind. This icon would be a symbol or likeness of, or in some way represent, the first beast – anti-Christ. It will be for the first beast what the swastika (the Nazi party emblem or logo) was to Hitler in Germany. The swastika was also a sign of anti-semitism. During the Tribulation Period the Jewish people will be the object of the anti-Christ’s wrath and anger and will surely suffer sorely.
The Life of the Image
The false prophet was able to give “life” to the image of the beast. The fact of the image having “life” supports the interpretation of the image as being something created through technology and not of being merely a physical statue. Many have bowed before a television set while a priest performed the Catholic mass while others faithfully follow and contribute money to their favorite ‘televangelist.’ Do not be mistaken – mass media properly used to spread the true Gospel of Christ is a wonderful tool; misused to deceive the nations and to blaspheme the God of Heaven, it is an abomination of incalculable magnitude.
This image was made to “speak” and order the killing of those who refused to worship him. Although many interpretations of this living image could be suggested, two-way communication with both vocal and video means has long been available, enabling two people on opposite sides of the earth to converse while looking at each other on a screen. Such technology has facilitated great advances in surgical and diagnostic medicine but could easily be turned into a tool for the destruction of human souls. Already, three-dimensional holograms can be projected virtually anywhere in the world, images that can seem to see or to speak and even interact with their surroundings. How long before such ‘images’ will possess sufficient ‘senses’ to perceive a person’s response to it as it is projected to a particular place? Such a technological marvel turned to the wrong purpose might even be able to demand worship and to order the killing of anyone failing to comply.
Because Satan has neither the power to create nor to give life, the image must somehow be enabled to give the impression that it is breathing and speaking. The particular form the image will take is of far less significance than the fact that, though false, many will be deceived by it and led astray. If some refuse to worship the image (verse 15), they will be killed. Solving the problem of finding out the ones who will not worship the beast might take very little time given modern methods of detection, and depending upon the form the worship is to take might become almost instantaneous. Adolph Hitler, in his efforts to exterminate the Jewish people, took many months, yet never completed the task. With modern equipment and a dedicated work force such a feat could be accomplished in a relatively short time. It is not revealed to us just how this task will be accomplished but we are assured it will be, and those who refuse to worship “the image of the beast” will be exterminated by some means.
The Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-18)
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.
The Mark
A “mark” mentioned here will be ordered upon all people “in their right hand, or in their foreheads” and will be a form of identification to be used in any legal business and/or public transactions, even in simple matters such as purchasing groceries or receipt of one’s bi-weekly pay check. One’s age, gender and social standing are not to be considered – the “mark” will be required of anyone desirous of commerce in any form, be they “small (or) great, rich (or) poor, free (or) bond.” Given today’s technology it no doubt will be computer-readable, such as with a scanner, and will probably give Satan’s authorities the ability to locate an individual anywhere and at any time by means of long-range sensors. Some companies are now allowing employees optional RF ID chip implantation for their ‘convenience’ and such technology is presently being employed in vehicles of all types, cellular telephones, combatants and equipment on battlefields and even the tracking or identification of our pets. It is presently possible to ‘mark’ or ‘tag’ a person and by using satellite functions track that person’s whereabouts and follow his or her every movement. Certainly this kind of technology or perhaps something even more advanced may play a role in the verification of beast-worship.
In a general sense the “mark” of Revelation 13:16 will reveal at least one of three things: the specific mark itself, such as an implant scar or tattoo; the name of the beast (blasphemy in some form); or the number of the beast (six hundred sixty-six). Any one or all three in some combination will accomplish the beast’s purpose and any one of them may, in a general sense, be considered the mark of the beast.
The Necessity of the Mark
Without the beast’s mark, name or number people will not be able to do anything publicly or legally under statutes established by the beast because John records for our benefit 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.” It appears that only the 144,000 Jewish remnant will survive without the mark of the beast, protected as they are by God; anyone else who refuses the mark will be hunted down and killed. Those killed during the Tribulation are thought to be those who will accept Christ as Savior and refuse the beast’s mark, martyrs who refuse to renounce their testimony during the Great Tribulation.
The Number of the Beast
Unlike the mark and name of the beast being unclear, the number of the beast is identified as six hundred sixty-six or 666. This is not three numbers or merely three 6’s in a row, but a single number with multiples. The number six is the number of man in rebellion against God. For the digit ‘6’ to appear three times in a single number is reference to man’s ultimate rebellion in the pride of his strength, which is before God the weakness of sin.
The “mark” of the beast will likely be something different from the “image” of the beast. The mark will be a charagma, the Greek word variously interpreted as emblem or marking, carved effect, impression, or engraving, that all people must display in order to participate in commerce of any kind.
To specifically identify the mark and the form it will take has caused much speculation and many to exert much effort to establish precisely what it will be. It has been proposed that a person’s social security number will be used. This cannot be the mark, however, because the revived Roman Empire of the Tribulation Period has worldwide power and has nothing to do with the social security system in the United States today. A computer system in Amsterdam, Holland has been in use for many years, long referred to as “the beast” but it does not equate to the mark of the beast. Bar-coded merchandise has been so universal in stores and other businesses for so many years that we never give it a second thought these days, and computers collect a great deal of information when these codes are scanned, including inventory, point-of-sale location, time of sale and so forth. None of these things appear to be the mark. We may consider etchings on the face of a plastic or metal object, and while there are several of these in use today, none are the mark of the beast.
The mark of the beast is here identified as a number. The number six is the number of man. Man-was created on the sixth day, as we find in Genesis 1:26-28, 31; and 2:7, and also in Matthew 19:4 or Mark 10:6. His appointed days of labor were six days (Exodus 20:9). The mark will likely incorporate a three-fold repetition of the number ‘six’ in some form which would, for all their pretension to deity, reveal Satan and the two beasts to be just creatures and not creators. The number 666 is prophetic of the beast that the false prophet will commend to the people in order to mark them in the days of the beast. It will be branded or in some way engraved on one’s right hand or on one’s forehead and will be readily visible at all times if not on-demand, permanent and undeniable, unique to the individual and thus impossible to counterfeit.
Summary (Revelation 13:1-18)
Satan, since his rebellion against God before the creation of man, has continued his effort to make himself a god. During the seven years of Tribulation the dragon Satan will work through the man of sin and his political kingdom and through the false prophet and his religious influence to legitimize his rule upon the earth. Through the man of sin Satan will, for a brief time, rule the world as a god. Through the false prophet he will influence people to worship the beast and thereby vicariously to worship him, forsaking the true God. Chapter 13 reveals the relationship and working of the unholy trinity, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Revelation chapter 20 reveals their ultimate destruction, as we’ll see in a subsequent article.
The time of the beast, seven years of Tribulation, will be a difficult time for anyone who refuses the mark of the beast. They will be killed. Likewise, the nation of Israel, hated by both beasts, will survive – but only by the power and protection of God.
In out next article we’ll draw comparisons between the seven seals and trumpets about which we’ve already studied and seven “vials” as yet to spill their contents. Until then keep a spiritual eye on the sky because “he cometh with clouds” and “the time is at hand.” B blessed –
Tom