666: It’s All About Control
James C. Taylor
It can hardly be stressed enough that the Mark of the Beast is all about power and control.
As we know, long ago Lucifer said in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:13-14). That was his desire then; and he hasn’t changed his mind since. He even tried to get Jesus to worship him as if he was God (See Matt. 4:8-9, Luke 4:5-7). And, in the time of the end, he will exalt “himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped” (II Thess. 2:4).
For years, Satan has tempted mankind with all of the usual temptations: “the lust of the flesh… the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16). But, even though he’s tempted many people over the years to fall into disobedience to God, he still hasn’t reached his goal: to control the world. Those who hold on to a belief in – and dependence on – the God of heaven; those who are called the Overcomers, the faithful few, the true Israel of God; those who “endure unto the end,” (Matt. 24:13) have always spoiled Satan’s plans.
In the time of the end, he will make one final attempt to achieve his long-desired goal. He will add to his list of usual temptations by focusing on the three-fold power base that Jesus refused during his temptation: government, economics and religion. He will try to get the people of the world to depend on his government and his economic system for their survival. He will demand that they depend on him as they would depend on the true and living God.
In essence, he will define the world’s religion in a new way with him at its center. Daniel says he will, “exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods” (Dan. 11:36). According to the Book of Revelation, he will open “his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name” (Rev. 13:6).
Jesus says, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men… whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matt. 12:31-32). The act of taking the Mark of the Beast, like blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, will also not be forgiven.
Once it’s done, there’s no turning back. You can’t change your mind once you’ve turned yourself over to the Antichrist and his world system. We’re told, “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 the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever” (Rev. 14:9-11).
Taking the Mark, then, is a matter of spiritual life or death. This is the gospel message of the end time. If we would be saved, we must refuse the Mark. It’s a matter of salvation of the soul. If we take it, we’re damned. If we refuse, however, we will show that we depend on God; rather than on man and man’s way. If we try to save our life through depending on the Antichrist, we will lose it. Jesus says, “whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25).
Let’s look in some detail at the event that’s commonly called the Mark of the Beast. It’s described at the end of Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation, in verses 16, 17 and 18.
Verse 16: The Decree
“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 Antichrist will issue a decree ordering everyone to receive a mark in “their right hand or in their forehead.” He will issue that decree from a position of power.
A king, or any person of great power, gives an order; and by that order “causes” things to happen because he has the power and authority to make it so. The Psalmist says that God “causeth the grass to grow for the cattle” (Psa. 104-14). “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth” (Psa. 135:7), and “he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters to flow” (Psa. 147:18).
Also, there will be an element of deception in the way the Antichrist will “cause” the Mark of the Beast to happen. He will present himself and his economic system as the solution the world must have in order to survive. He will want the world to depend on him and the system he’s established. He will, in effect, present himself as the savior of the world.
We’re told he will “come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Dan. 11:21). He will “cause” people, through his deceptiveness, to be willing to take part in his economic system for their own livelihood: in order to “buy or sell.” When he has accomplished that, it will then be true that those who take the Mark will, in effect, belong to his kingdom.
Remember, Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you… For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and… if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:4 & 24). But, those who believe in God and hold fast to his Word will not buy into the deception of the Antichrist. It will not be possible for him to “deceive the very elect.” God will guide and provide for his people in that time. Because of God’s faithfulness to his people, the faithful few – the remnant – will be able to refuse to take the Mark set up by the Antichrist. Those whose names are written in “the book of life of the Lamb” (Rev. 13:8) will not take part in his economic system.
As we all know, the Antichrist will develop a strong base of power through which he will establish the Mark. We’re told, “he shall work deceitfully: for he will come up, and shall become strong with a small people” (Dan. 11:23). His power and influence will reach into all the nations of the world. He will have power “over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:7) and he will demand that everyone take the Mark no matter what their position in the world, their level of wealth, or their status in life. No one will be exempt from his demands, his power, or his influence. Remember, he will cause “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 right hand denotes power. In Exodus, we’re told, “Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power” (Ex. 15:6) and in the Psalms, “Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand” (Psa. 89:13). And, it also indicates that a person has been given a measure of authority. We’re told that Jesus will “sit on the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69). So, by receiving the Mark of the Beast in their right hand, a person is simply being given the power and authority to use that Mark in the economic system of the beast.
It’s like having a membership in a membership store. When you sign up and pay the fee, if there is one, you’re given a membership card that authorizes you to operate in that economic system: to buy food, drink, and other merchandise at all the stores with that name.
A mark in the right hand also indicates the use of a physical object: perhaps an identification card or laser chip that would show an acceptance of the Antichrist and his system. However, give this some thought. A physical mark, such as a tattoo, ID card, or laser chip under the skin is possible; but the true sign of having taken the Mark of the Beast is the act of obeying the decree and giving in to the demands of the Antichrist.
Again, it’s like belonging to a membership store. The act of signing up, or registering, makes you a member of that economic system whether or not you ever get a membership card – or use it. When you sign up and pay the price, you belong. The membership card simply confirms that fact. The card is simply what a person uses, or shows at the door, in order to enter in and buy what they want. But, please remember, the important thing is not a physical card, tattoo, or chip under the skin. It’s who – or what – you belong to that makes the difference.
Give this some thought. You could have tattoos or laser marks put all over your body, under your skin, anywhere you might think of; but those physical marks would not affect the state of your heart: your innermost faith. You could be marked from head to foot and it would have no bearing on your belief in the God of heaven. It’s only when a person gives in to the Antichrist and accepts his decree as having power in their life that they will have received a “mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Rev. 13:16).
Receiving something in the forehead indicates that the person who receives it will have it on their mind or in their thoughts. A mark in the forehead indicates giving mental assent to, agreement with, or acceptance of the one whose mark is in the forehead. In this case, it’s the Antichrist and his system. By giving mental assent to the beast, by letting him have control of your will – by belonging to him – you will have received a mark in your forehead. The Antichrist will then have control over you.
Verse 17: The Control
“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)
The first thing we’re told in this verse is that the Antichrist will attempt to control the world by economic means. As we know, he will control those who take the Mark; and will allow them to buy or sell in the world economy. They will choose the Antichrist and will then be able to take part in his economic system.
However, the remnant, the faithful few, the Overcomers, will choose God and will be ready to depend totally upon him. God will care for his people. Joshua told the children of Israel, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:15). The choice that will face everyone in the world will be a choice of spiritual life or spiritual death. It will be spiritual life for those who believe in and choose the Lord; and spiritual death for those who believe in and choose the Antichrist.
The Antichrist will make it seem as if the only way to survive, physically, is to take the Mark. But remember, God provided food and water for Elijah during a drought in Israel. We’re told, “the ravens brought him bread and fish in the morning, and bread and fish in the evening, and he drank of the brook.” God further provided for him by sending him to a widow woman whose “barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail” (I Kings 17:6 & 16). God also took care of the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness of Sinai. Surely, he is able to provide for his people for a much shorter period of time in the time of the end. God will provide for our physical needs if we keep our faith in him – rather than trusting in the Antichrist and his system.
Secondly, in this verse we’re told in three different ways that those who take part in the system of the Antichrist will belong to him. He will have control over their lives and will protect them within his worldly system. As the above verse says, those who choose his way and take what we call the Mark of the Beast will be identified either by (1) “the mark,” (2) “the name of the beast,” or (3) “the number of his name.” Let’s look at these three terms one at a time.
First, “the mark.” In the Bible, a mark is placed on a person to indicate he or she is under the protection of the one who places the mark. The Lord placed a “mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him” (Gen. 4:15). The prophet Ezekiel speaks of setting “a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations” that are done in the city for their protection (See Ezek. 9:4-6). By the same token, those who take the Mark of the Beast will be under the care, control, and protection of the Antichrist. They will choose to believe in – and obey – the Antichrist. So, in effect, they will reject the living God in favor of the Antichrist by taking the Mark.
Second, when a person takes on “the name of the beast,” he becomes a disciple, follower, or representative of the beast and his system. It’s another way of saying they belong to him. Jesus said, “The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me” (John 10:25). Everything Jesus did on earth was as a representative of the Father in heaven.
When Peter spoke to heal the lame man, he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). He was not acting on his own authority. He was acting on the authority and power of the name of Jesus. He was acting as his disciple and follower; and, as such, he called on the name of the Lord to perform the healing.
In the Revelation, those with the “Father’s name written in their foreheads” belong to the Father; and, as we’re told, “they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” (Rev. 14:1 & 4). They are the servants of the living God in these end times. They are followers and representatives of the Lord.
Third, “the number of his name” means that a person is numbered among a group of people. He is counted as belonging to that group. The Lord told Moses to “take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families… with the number of their names” (Num. 1:1-2). That’s how Moses could tell who belonged to each family of the children of Israel. Those whose names were numbered, or counted, were part of Israel. And, when Peter stood in the midst of the disciples to speak on the day of Pentecost, we’re told that “the number of names (of the disciples) together were about an hundred and twenty” (Acts 1:15). They were all counted as being present when Peter spoke.