Mark of the Beast

Revelation 13:16-18 The beast also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.
 
THE references to the mark of the beast and 666 may be two of the best-known passages in Revelation. How do we understand the mark of the beast and 666?
   To begin, as many of Revelation’s images are first in the Old Testament, the mark of the beast is a mark of sin rooted in Genesis. When Cain killed his brother Abel and did not repent, God sent him out East of Eden with a mark of judgment: Genesis 4:15b Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from
the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain’s mark could have been a physical or a spiritual “mark” that kept Cain’s brothers from killing him in response to Abel’s murder. God wanted all to know that Cain was under God’s judgment, not man’s. God would deal with Cain as he determined.
   The same is true for the mark of the beast. The mark on the head or hand can illustrate sin in the thoughts and actions of all who do not repent of their sins. Sin’s mark is clear as we disobey God, isn’t it? Further, as the mark is needed for buying, selling, etc., this illustrates how ungodly governments
rule the world. Many rulers have restricted and divided Christians from their societies in an attempt to destroy them.
   The number 666 is a number formula of the Hebrew word for the name Nero. He is the Roman emperor who mercilessly persecuted Christians. He was an antichrist, a beast against Jesus’ church. Identifying Nero as 666 warns the Christians of John’s time and points to all world leaders who are antichrists until Jesus returns to rule.
   John wrote of this also in 2 John 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
   Judgment will come on the antichrists, banishing them from the new Eden. Salvation will be for those the Spirit of God has marked as Jesus’ own.
   How free we are in Jesus! Christ’s blood is the true mark of life. Christ is our Bread of Life, and he is our Living Water. He is all in all. The beast’s mark is sure death. Jesus’ mark is eternal life.
  
Prayer: Father, open our eyes to see your magnificent care for our souls. Help us to be alert to the antichrists around us. Teach us to be confident of our salvation in your sovereign authority. Amen.