By Kevin Lea
Calvary Church of Port Orchard, Washington
www.calvarypo.org
Ever since the terrorist attacks of September 11, many Americans,
especially those who travel, have been subjected to increasingly
restrictive and intrusive government policies and laws which have eroded
privacy and other constitutional freedoms, in the name of "national
security" interests.
In addition, many in Congress are now advocating a National ID (NID)
card. They argue that an NID card will be beneficial to US citizens and
will be a viable means for protecting us from further attacks.
Promoters of the NID card warn that if future attacks are not prevented,
they could lead to the loss of tens of thousands, rather than just
thousands of American lives.
A few months ago, Americans would have considered the idea of an NID
card as unwarranted. However, with the threat of additional terrorist
attacks looming, the number of Americans willing to defend or fight for
their constitutional rights grows smaller every day. It is because of
these rapid changes in our social infrastructure that I believe an NID
card will soon become a reality.
If we are living on the threshold of an NID card, then the question that
needs to be answered is, “Will this card be the Mark of the Beast, as it
pertains to Biblical prophecies found in the book of Revelation?”
Several books and movies have been written on the subject, but many
people have never read or studied the actual passages in the Bible that
pertain to the Mark of the Beast. The purpose for this article is to
carefully examine what the Bible teaches about the Mark.
This article will cover two passages, found in the book of Revelation,
dealing with the Mark of the Beast. These passages are from the New
King James version of the Bible with my interpretive comments in
bracketed italics to assist the reader in understanding the symbology
used. Though there is no room in this article, the book of Daniel and
other places in the Bible can be used as supportive texts for these
interpretations. My comments to these verses in Revelation are
consistent with the futurist, literal view held by many prophecy
commentators, including the authors of the popular Left Behind book series.
REVELATION 13:11-15
Rev 13:11 Then I saw another beast [the right-hand man of the
Antichrist, also known as the “False Prophet”] coming up out of the
earth [rising to global power], and he had two horns like a lamb and
spoke like a dragon [looks innocent but speaks with the threats and
power of Satan. Many believe this False Prophet will be the leader of a
false world religion during the tribulation period]. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence [the first beast is the Antichrist--described earlier in the chapter], and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed [the Antichrist will somehow
recover from a deadly wound, and the False Prophet will force the
inhabitants of the earth to worship him as a resurrected god].
13 He [the False Prophet] performs great signs, so that he even makes
fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men [as a
counterfeit to the real prophet of God, Elijah, who called down fire in
2 Kings, Chapter 1]. 14 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. 15 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.
The reader should realize the Apostle John, who wrote the book of
Revelation, was transported into the future and told to write the things
which he saw (Rev 4:1). He saw the False Prophet forcing the
inhabitants of the world to worship images of the Antichrist that the
False Prophet is able to make speak. It is possible that these
inhabitants of the world will be forced to bow before public television
images, or big screen projections in football and soccer stadiums. The
Antichrist will demand that all those in the “congregation” who are not
bowing must be put to death. No matter how this is actually fulfilled,
those who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed, and this
point is important in our discussion of "the Mark of the Beast."
16 He [the False Prophet] causes all, both small and great, rich and
poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their
foreheads, 17 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.
It is important to carefully analyze verses 16 and 17 to see if taking
the ‘Mark of the Beast’ can be equated to accepting an NID card.
First, all people on the face of the earth will be required to have a
mark placed on their hand or forehead. Some translations of the Bible
say “in” the hand or forehead, but the Greek word used here is “Epi,”
meaning on or upon.
Secondly, this mark is defined as “the name of the beast” OR “the number
of his name.” In the English language, number characters are
different from letter characters. There are some languages where the
letters are also equated with numbers (Greek and Hebrew for example).
In this latter case, names or words can have a numeric meaning. Since
the requirement to take "the Mark" will be globally enforced, some areas
of the world will see it as a name, while others, because of their
alphanumeric alphabet, will see it as a number, which is also a name.
Finally, the inhabitants of the earth will have to take this mark in the
right hand or forehead, or they will not be able to enter into
commerce. There are many in the world who do not have a right hand, but
everyone who is interested in buying and selling has a forehead. Since
the person cannot buy or sell without the mark, there is a need for it
to be seen (or possibly scannable) by the seller of goods before the
transaction can take place.
18 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.
The Antichrist will have a name which will convert to the numeric value
of 666 in languages that can do so.
Before moving to the next verses found in Revelation 14, let’s summarize
the above in light of the proposed NID card. The current congressional
discussions (and/or articles by security companies advising them)
associated with an NID involve including personal information such as
health records; banking information; biometrics such as palm or finger
prints, retina scans, etc.; your religion, nationality, citizenship and
the like. There is no talk about placing a world ruler’s name on the
card, nor is there a call to certify our allegiance to him. More
important, they are not talking about putting this information on our
right hand or forehead. Also, our NID card is for Americans only. Other
nations will be prohibited from using our card. Therefore, the current
NID plans are NOT a fulfillment of the “Mark of the Beast” prophecy, but
nevertheless, could be a preparatory step for things to come! For the
sake of understanding more about the "Mark of the Beast," which must
come to pass some day, we will continue with Revelation 14:9.
REVELATION 14:9-12
Rev 14:9 Then a third angel [of God] followed them [the previous angels
discussed in earlier verses], saying with a loud voice, "If anyone
worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead
or on his hand, 10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which
is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone [also called the lake of fire or the
eternal hell] in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of
the Lamb [Jesus]. 11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they
have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and
whoever receives the mark of his name." 12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
A little background will help to understand the above. In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth, as well as the angelic hosts.
Satan, an angel, rebelled against God and fell from heaven (Isaiah
14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Luke 10:18). Other angels joined Satan in
rebelling against God. The Bible refers to Satan’s fallen angels as
demons or unclean spirits. These terms in the New Testament are used
interchangeably (Luke 8:27-29, 9:41-42).
Demons primarily influence mankind by deceiving them into worshiping
idols instead of the living God. The idol itself is nothing (Isa 44, 1
Cor 8:4), but, in a spiritual sense, behind every idol there is a
demonic power (1 Cor 10:20?21, Rev 2:13, 9:20, Deut 32:17). The
deception includes the ability for Satan (or his demons) to possess
people. As such, the possessed will sometimes demand that the people
bow down and worship them. This could have been what motivated Hitler,
Stalin and Mao (to name those in our generation) to demand that statues
be made of their likeness and that these statues or their pictures
(images) be venerated by all. Those who refused to worship were either
imprisoned or killed.
Revelation 13:2 says that Satan himself gives the Antichrist his power,
throne and authority. Satan will possess and use the Antichrist to mock
God by showing that most of the world would rather bow in worship to an
image of this evil man (who survived a deadly wound) than to bow to, and
worship, the true and living God and His Living Messiah, Jesus.
God knew this would be Satan’s plan through the ages and tried to warn
man in the first two of the ten commandments.
Exod 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no other gods
before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any
likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow
down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and
fourth generations of those who hate Me (NKJ).
Anyone who bows to an image of the Antichrist, and worships it, is
blaspheming God by joining in Satan’s mockery against God and His
Messiah, Jesus.
In the Old Testament, the High Priest was to come to God with a gold
plate attached to the turban of his head garment, at his forehead. This
plate was inscribed with, “Holiness to the Lord” (Exo 28:36-38). Satan
perverts true worship for God by having man put the name of the
Antichrist on his hand or forehead as he comes to worship the
Antichrist.
In Revelation 3:12 God says He will write on those who love Him the name
of God. Again, Satan perverts this by writing the name of his
Antichrist on the hands or foreheads of those who are willing to sell
their souls in order to buy bread or stay alive.
It is important to know that in Revelation 14:9, two things are required
to irrevocably condemn the soul of a person during the time of the
Antichrist. They must worship the Antichrist AND receive his mark on
their forehead or on their hand. I believe the Lord required this
inclusive statement in order to give grace to those who may at first (in
ignorance) worship the Antichrist’s image but not take ‘the mark’ of
allegiance. In this case, they can repent of their foolishness and
worship God instead. But once they worship the Antichrist AND allow
themselves to be ‘Marked’ with his name, their souls are forever damned.
In Summary, the "Mark of the Beast" is much more insidious than the
current plans for an NID card. Americans will not be "taking the Mark"
if they accept a government issued, national, identification card. This
will be true even if the NID is a Smart Card which contains all your
personal or medical records, could be required to receive medical care,
must be shown at commercial establishments to buy and sell. But,
someday, according to the Bible, people will be required to worship a
world leader, and be marked in their right hand or forehead with his
name. Without this worship and "Mark" they will be imprisoned or killed
by the Antichrist (Revelation 13:7, 13:10, 13:15, Daniel 7:25).
Can we know if we are getting close to the time of the "Mark"? Many
believe we came close sixty years ago when a man rose to power with the
intent to rule the world. He was possessed with evil, hatred and
murder. Although his message of death should have been repulsive to
all, the deceived masses of Germany worshiped him. In religious fervor
they saluted him with, “Heil Hitler.” But God prevented him from
succeeding in his evil plans. In addition, Hitler’s generation lacked
the technology and infrastructure to allow a literal fulfillment of
Revelation 13 and 14. Not until the advent of the computer and its
application in global finance, and the ability to database billions of
people, could the whole world be brought into the submission of a world
ruler by his ability to restrict buying and selling.
In the future, another ruler will arise and offer a solution to the
world’s problems. His solutions will require complete submission by the
world’s population. This man will be possessed by Satan himself. Satan
will use him to try and rid the world of those who love and fear the
true God. He will do so by finding and killing those who refuse to bow
to his image or to take the "Mark" of his name.
Could this need for a global leader rise out of the need to solve the
global terrorist problem? Since September 11th, Tony Blair of England
and others have made frequent speeches trying to persuade their
countrymen, Europe and the members of the United Nations with the need
to form a World Government. Since a world government is increasingly
being promoted, we may see the predictions of Revelation come true in
our lifetime.
In light of this, I appeal to the reader to consider the condition of
your soul. Are you saved and assured of going to heaven? If not, it
means you are lost and on your way to the lake of fire. It means you
have already been deceived by Satan to reject the Savior, Jesus. If you
have been deceived to reject Jesus, you will likely be deceived to
worship the Antichrist, take the Mark, and damn your soul, or be killed
by the Antichrist while in an unsaved condition, which also damns your
soul.
All those who have sinned are deceived and damned. But God did not want
any to perish. It is Satan who wants to kill and destroy. God wants to
give life and save. God sent His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die on the
cross for our sins. Jesus provided a way for all those who come to Him
with a humble, repentant heart to be saved. This is the choice all men
and women must make. Either remain proud like Satan, and die in your
sins, or realize your frailty, humble yourself and worship the God who
created you. If you worship God, through Jesus the Savior, then Satan
will hate you, but your soul will be saved for all eternity. Please
listen carefully to the following words of Jesus:
Matt 10:27 Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and
what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear
those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him
who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Witten: Feb 4, 2002