The Mark of the Beast
In our world today, the mark of the beast has become a popular discussion topic. With news circulating about internal chips for humans to communicate with computers and that will also be necessary to make purchases, many discussions are arising about what this mark of the beast might be and when it will arrive. The mark of the beast is mentioned in the Bible in Revelation 13:18 and throughout the book of Revelation.
Most people who grew up in the church were taught about the mark of the beast by their pastors. Primarily this message was taught to “scare you straight” to obey God and not sin to in order to get into Heaven. It reached the point that many Believers in Jesus fell away from following Him because they felt they couldn’t live up to the pastors’ rules they had to follow to get into Heaven. As an adult reflecting, it is easy to see that they were man-made rules, which is why it was impossible to live up to them. Those were the days of “hell, fire, and brimstone” preaching, and we all lived in fear of being left behind.
In recent years, I made a fantastic discovery through a personal in-depth study of the whole Bible cover to cover! Well, actually, countless discoveries, but this one I share today rocked my world. The Holy Spirit showed me that there is a Mark of God!
Why were we never taught about the Mark of God? Why were we only taught about the mark of the beast? Perhaps church leaders decided that putting fear into church-goers would be more effective than teaching about what God has for His children. Regardless, let’s learn the truth now while there is still time to prepare.
The Counterfeit!
Did you know that satan counterfeits things of God and twists them into his version of truth? When you study the whole Bible, you will see that scripture shows many things that originated with God and that the enemy has made a counterfeit version. Time does not permit me to cover all of them here; there are too many, so we will focus on the one of grave concern to many today, “the mark.”
Once you learn about the original “mark,” it will transform your world and your whole way of thinking. You will suddenly see that things are not as they appear and that you were not taught the whole story. Choose to no longer depend on others to tell you what the Bible says. Do your research and find out the truth. The truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Through this blog lesson today, you will be able to get excited with the knowledge that you have a choice of which mark to take! Choose wisely; one comes with eternal life, and one comes with eternal damnation. This information is not intended to put fear in you but to bring you hope that you are not alone in these crazy end-times waiting for the next bad thing to happen in this world. You will learn that God has had a plan to protect you and mark you as His all along. All you have to do is choose Him and follow His ways.
What is the Mark of God?
In the books of Exodus, chapters 13 and 39, and Deuteronomy, chapters 6 and 11, God tells Moses how His people will be marked as His by indications on their hands and forehead. They will be marked as set apart for Him. God has said this from the beginning. Not only that, He said His children would store His Word in their hearts.
It’s no coincidence that God had David kill Goliath with one single stone to the forehead. His children are marked on the forehead as His, and He marked this giant as not His in that same spot of recognition as God killed him that day. (1 Samuel 17:49)
Scripture says in Psalms 37:37, “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.”
The first time God shows us in His Word of marking those who are His is on the first Passover in Egypt. This is when He has them smear the blood of a spotless lamb over their doorposts so that the angel of death will pass over His children. (Exodus 12) Then we find it repeated in other areas of the Bible.
“You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the LORD.’ And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban.” Exodus 28:36-37
“In this way they are to put my name on the people of Isra’el, so that I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
Then in Ezekiel 9:3-4, God describes how He will send His angel to mark His people for protection from destruction when He says, “Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the LORD said to him, ‘Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.’ ”
God’s people are the ones that are groaning about what is to happen to the rest of the people. You can’t fake this; He knows your heart. He knows those who have His heart for helping Him save the lost—the ones who are humble and not self-serving but serving God’s purposes.
Are you focused on yourself or on those who will be left behind?
Now that you know this truth, you can easily see that the enemy has copied it by also putting his mark on the forehead and hand, as stated in the book of Revelation.
Counterfeit example
Good fear vs. evil fear
The world is motivated by fear. The enemy uses it to get humans to panic and turn away from God in an effort to get quick answers and relief from the fear they have allowed in their lives.
The enemy makes you think that God doesn’t care about your problems but rather that He causes them. Then the enemy slithers in and gives quick, easy short-term fixes for your fears. The temporary fixes don’t last; then, you become addicted to more temporary fixes.
On the other hand, God calls you to fear Him out of respect and to follow Him–the original fear. His fear is not debilitating; but peaceful.
The enemy counterfeits respectful, healthy fear and uses it instead to draw you away from God and His truth. He uses fear to separate us from God.
How do I receive the Mark of God?
Throughout the First Testament, God continually talks about His love for us. How He guides and protects us as He teaches and disciplines. Our God is a God of order, and He gives us His commands to follow to bring us hope and peace through His love for us. If we choose to obey Him and cling to His Word and His Ways, He marks us as righteous; He marks us as His!
His followers are not perfect, sinless humans; on the contrary, they are humans that have chosen Him over the things of this world. The things in this world that cause them to sin and turn from God and His ways, the things that invite fear and unrest. Do they still make mistakes and sin? Yes! But, the difference is, they repent and continue to try to walk in His ways. He knows those who unintentionally sin and those who intentionally sin. Scripture tells us repeatedly that He knows our hearts. If He knows you are trying, you are His.
As children of God, He gives us His heart also. His heart is for all to be saved, and He needs us to help spread the truth to everyone before it’s too late.
Those who follow Him wholeheartedly are marked as His. He knows your heart and your actions. It is by your obedience and dedication to Him that He has put His seal on you and gives you His Spirit in your heart as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:22)
Furthermore, if you have heard His message of truth, His Good News offering you deliverance, and you have put your trust in Jesus the Messiah, you have been sealed by Him. It is through His promised Holy Spirit, who is the one who guarantees your inheritance until you come into possession of it, that causes you to discover this peace, and as a result you bring God praise and glory for what He has done for you. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
With this knowledge and gift, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
“God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
Turn from your sins and back to Him today. He is offering you the gift of being one of His marked ones for Him for all eternity.
What happens to those who don’t choose the mark of God?
Here is what God’s Word says He will do when He comes back to judge:
“And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.” Ezekiel 9:5-6
“Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Revelation 7:2-3
He warns the angel of death not to touch anyone with His mark. Then He has them begin with the elders of the church, the corrupt shepherds, and the false prophets.
What is the purpose of the mark of the beast?
Primarily, it is about fear and control. Of course, for the enemy, it has been his whole mission to control by fear. The enemy wants you to turn away from God, and if he is successful, he will mark you, and you will be his.
“It was allowed to put breath into the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak, and it was allowed to cause anyone who would not worship the image of the beast to be put to death. Also, it forces everyone—great and small, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead preventing anyone from buying or selling unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:15-17
There is plenty of information on the mark of the beast in the book of Revelation, so I encourage you to research that for yourself. My goal today is to alert you to the truth that no one is teaching, that God’s “mark” existed from the beginning. His truth is what we should focus on to ensure we have it.
Key takeaway: Take death, not the mark!
Death will bring you to Jesus.
“Next I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘How blessed are the dead who die united with the Lord, from now on!’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘now they may rest from their efforts, for the things they have accomplished follow along with them.’ “Revelation 14:13
Can I go to Heaven if I accept the mark of the beast?
A mark is like a scar or a tattoo; once it’s on, it’s there to stay. So choose wisely and choose today who you will serve and which mark you want to be branded with for eternity. (Joshua 1:9) Once judgment comes, it’s too late. Nowhere in scripture does it state that you can repent and be forgiven once you are marked by the beast. According to scripture, you are not able to change your mind once you have the mark of the beast. However, it does say many times just in the book of Revelation, that ample opportunity is given to all sinners to repent and turn back to God before taking the mark of the beast.
“They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” Revelation 9:4
“Another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will indeed drink the wine of God’s fury poured undiluted into the cup of his rage. He will be tormented by fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb, and the smoke from their tormenting goes up forever and ever. They have no rest, day or night, those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:9-11
Those marked will be destroyed. Receiving the mark of the beast in any form is the same as telling God you don’t trust Him to take care of you in this time of destruction and end-times.
What will happen to me if I don’t get the mark of the beast?
The enemy is very cunning and deceitful. He will be very persuasive. He will make you think that you can’t live without it. (Revelation 19:20) Remember, it’s better to die than to get it, there’s no turning back once you get it.
If you happen to be living when it’s required to get the mark of the beast to survive and choose not to get it, you will be persecuted.
“It was allowed to put breath into the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could even speak; and it was allowed to cause anyone who would not worship the image of the beast to be put to death.” Revelation 13:15
Consider this. If you didn’t take the mark and you were persecuted and killed, you would be in Heaven with Him. It’s your quick ticket to Heaven by resisting. And, yet, you have here another opportunity from God to repent and turn back to Him. He really wants you to live in eternity with Him. Choose death over the mark of the beast, you will be blessed.
“Next I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘How blessed are the dead who die united with the Lord, from now on!’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘now they may rest from their efforts, for the things they have accomplished follow along with them.’ “Revelation 14:13
What does God need me to do right now?
First, He wants you to turn back to Him and follow Him wholeheartedly. Then, according to His Word, He needs you to warn others before it’s too late. We are not to be concerned with only our salvation but also the salvation of others. He is very clear in Ezekiel 33 that there is still work for all His marked Believers. While we cannot “save” others, we are responsible for warning and sharing His truth and love. It would behoove you to study Ezekiel 33 and see what God says He needs His marked children to do for Him.
I will give you a little spoiler that He says we are responsible for the lost souls that He guides us to help. If we choose not to help those He leads us to, and they go to hell, we will be judged for their damnation.
We don’t have to fear retribution for sharing the truth with others. If God is sending us, He will protect us, just like He protected Moses from the Pharaoh of Egypt when God delivered the Israelites.
Note: there are also lost souls that are not our responsibility. Study Ezekiel 33 so that He can show you the difference.
We are in the final “hour.”
“You too, be patient; keep up your courage; for the Lord’s return is near.” James 5:8
“Children, this is the Last Hour. You have heard that an Anti-Messiah is coming; and in fact, many anti-Messiahs have arisen now—which is how we know that this is the Last Hour.” 1 John 2:18
“Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm.” Matthew 10:22
“Blessed and holy is anyone who has a part in the first resurrection; over him the second death has no power. On the contrary, they will be cohanim [priests] of God and of the Messiah, and they will rule with him for the thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come—let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.” Revelation 22:17
What is awaiting those who have the mark of God?
“Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test. I am coming soon; hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
I will make him who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God’s city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of Heaven from my God, and my own new name. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.” Revelation 3:10-13 CJB
“Next the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Between the main street and the river was the Tree of Life producing twelve kinds of fruit, a different kind every month; and the leaves of the tree were for healing the nations—no longer will there be any curses. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:1-4
Now that you know that the original mark is for those who belong to God, make sure you are right with Him. When you are right with God, you don’t have to worry about all the fear that comes with the threats of the mark of the beast.
May God bless you and keep you.