Mark of the Beast – Physical or Spiritual?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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There’s a great deal of talk today about the “mark of the beast” described in Revelation 13:16-18, and in fact, talk of it has been around for years, but increasing now due to CV-19.

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (NKJV)

The very first “he” used is referencing “another beast” of verse 11. This other beast is not the Antichrist, but the False Prophet who rises up after and in complete support of the Antichrist. This False Prophet is given the same authority as the first beast (Antichrist), and is able to use many signs and wonders to deceive the world, including calling fire down from heaven to earth as Elijah was able to do by God’s empowering. People will be gullible, believing what they see.

This False Prophet is also the one who introduces the mark of the beast, either displayed on a person’s right hand or forehead. There are many theories on this coming mark, as can be imagined. The Bible is not exceedingly clear, but gives us some information in the above verses.

Revelation 13:18 provides even more info.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

So here’s what we know about the coming mark of the beast:

1. before the mark is given, it is already clear that the first beast has been wounded (possibly to death), and then revived or resuscitated.
2. the False Prophet gives “breath” to the image of the beast, making it appear alive
3. the image of the beast will speak and cause people to worship it
4. people who do not worship the first beast (Antichrist), will be executed
5. THEN, the False Prophet will introduce the “mark of the beast” to be taken by everyone
6. anyone NOT willing to take the mark of the beast will not be able to buy or sell
7. the mark of the beast somehow ties into the name of the Antichrist or the number of his name
8. the number of the beast is the number of a man, which is 666

Do you see the apparent chronology there? We have not yet seen any of these events occurring in society. In order for these events to occur, the Antichrist and the False Prophet must be on the scene and recognized as the Antichrist and False Prophet. I’m not seeing them, are you? There is nothing official about the final one-world order, ruled over by Antichrist and supported by the False Prophet that currently exists. People may want to interpret things as though happening now, but we really should not do that, in my opinion.

Further, the  Antichrist and False Prophet must be overtly and obviously involved in the above list of items as the titular two leaders of the entire world. We have seen nothing of any of this yet, though signs are indicating things are on the way. According to Scripture, all of these events occur inside the coming 7-Year Tribulation period. That period begins with the signing of the 7-year peace accord between Israel and the surrounding nations as brokered by Antichrist. I haven’t seen that yet either.

The actual mark of the beast does not occur until the sixth item on the above list. Yet, people talk all the time about how the current CV-19 vax/jab is the mark of the beast, without any doubt at all. It cannot be because the other things that precede it have not yet occurred.

The mark of the beast in Revelation comes with people being given a choice. If they take the mark, they will continue to have the privilege of buying and selling and living “normally.” This is not unlike the attitude we see today with folks submitting to the CV vax for travel. People don’t like to be inconvenienced, so many to most will simply do what they believe is best for themselves.

Most of the people, when the mark is made available during the Tribulation will willingly take the mark of the beast if they have already given into worshiping the image of the beast. That will be their mindset, to go along with the program. Receiving the mark of the beast will likely be a source of pride among people, just as Roman soldiers willingly tattooed the name of their beloved commander on a visible place on their bodies as a sign of dedication.

We do not completely know what the mark entails. Will it be a simple tattoo? I believe it may incorporate that, but might also be something more intrusive that will be used to keep track of each person’s finances, will allow governments to track each citizen (like they do now in China through surveillance). It also might even possibly keep people up to date on their vaccines and other medical procedures. These systems are already in the various stages of development.

The folks who take the mark of the beast will become part of the final world order’s cashless matrix, where everything will be known about every individual in a matter of seconds, thanks to 6G, 7G or beyond. Currently, China uses 5G to keep track of citizens via surveillance. 5G is extraordinarily fast (vs 4G), in transferring information and is now being installed in the USA.

I believe the mark will be a physical mark and will be based on man’s number of 666, which means that it is possible the actual number 666 will somehow be embedded in or part of that mark. We see this number now in a variety of ways throughout society and folks are getting used to “666.” Since it will also be the number of the name of the beast, it will likely be some sort of Hebrew word since Hebrew not only uses actual letters like any language, but each letter corresponds to a number. What better way to mock God and Israel?

Some believe the mark of the beast will be a spiritual and not a physical mark. Others see the whole timeline of the end times events as purely allegorical, including that the mark is really a symbol of something else. Over at Medical Kidnap, Brian Shilhavy believes the coming mark will be spiritual.

Shilhavy points to Exodus where Moses speaks of a mark that will be “like” a sign (Exodus 13:8-9). What’s like a sign here? The eating of unleavened bread as outlined in the verses prior to verses 8-9. Shilhavy believes that this sign spoken of by Moses was not a literal sign. Actually, it appears to be because the parent who was explaining it to his children taught that what they did by eating unleavened bread and then celebrating a feast was the sign, but for what? It was a sign that they were obedient to the Law of Moses by their obedience to God’s commandments. However, the word “like” here really signifies a picture. The eating of the unleavened bread is a symbol or picture that tells a story and Israel’s obedience.

In my opinion, this is different from what the book of Revelation tells us about the mark of the beast. When describing the mark, John does not use words such as “like” to describe the mark. The word “like,” is often used to describe a symbol or picture representing something else. But since John does not use the word “like” in this case, it seems clear enough that the mark John sees and describes is a very real mark that will be visible to all.

In reality, as I’ve said before, Eschatology (the study of end times), is not a hill to die on, at least not for me. Yes, I have strong opinions about what the Bible says regarding the end times and I tend to take Scripture “literally,” meaning in its most plain and ordinary sense. Others believe they have good reason for seeing end times events as allegorical or symbolic. I’m reminded that God expects not unanimity, but unity. When we disagree over things that are not hills to die on, we need to agree to disagree and carry on in the cause of Christ. Can we do that?

While things seem to be clearly moving toward the end or the culmination of all things, from my understanding of Scripture, many people are preoccupied with a number of things they have no control over and because of it, are living in fear of what they think is happening now. This has led some to conclude that the CV-19 vax is the mark of the beast. I just don’t see that at all.

While I have medical issues regarding the CV-19 vax (based on writings of medical experts), which is why I’m not going to take it, I do not believe the vax itself is the mark of the beast since the other events surrounding the introduction of the mark of the beast into society have not yet occurred.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective