Some of you know I am writing a book on the Revelation. I am often asked my opinion about the governmental COVID mandates we’re currently going through. Is this the Mark of the Beast? Well, let’s take a look and compare the two events.
Revelation 13
16 He (the false prophet) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, slave and free, 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 (Antichrist), or the number of his name.
First, let us ascertain what the mark is.
What is the mark? All mankind receives a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. The word on in some translations is the Greek epi, a relationship of distribution or position, location; not necessarily on, but at, on, in, by, before or after, depending on contextual usage. This does not mean the mark will be on the hand or forehead like a brand or tattoo, as some claim. Greek words must be taken in context.
Let’s make a closer inspection of what John is saying to the Church.
The word receive is the Greek didōmi, which means to give, as in a gift, with the connotation of granting something: to give to one asking, to furnish, to gift. Didōmi is not like branding a cow with the owner’s brand. Rope her, throw her, burn her hide with a red-hot iron. Unlike the poor cow, people will want and ask for this mark. The false prophet will lie, coerce, deceive, and manipulate them into believing they want it, they need it, they can’t live without it. Of course, they will be following lock-step with the beast, so why wouldn’t they go along?
Also, unlike the cow, this mark will be in the right hand or forehead.
The hand is symbolic for service.
The right hand represents blessings.
The mark in the right hand is symbolic of being a servant to a master, and shows the wearer is in servitude by his own will, in hopes of being blessed in return by the master. A freed slave became a “love slave” to the master’s family by placing a ring in the right ear lobe. To be blessed by the beast’s government, you must demonstrate the mark by serving and worshiping him.
Forehead is symbolic for the mind, reason, memory, and thought life, as in the third eye of occult teachings.
Hand is symbolic for works, or lifestyle.
Right hand and forehead indicate servitude of the whole person,
body, mind, and spirit.
But what exactly is the mark? We are told to count or calculate his (the beast’s) number. The Greek and Hebrew languages contain no numbers, not the numeral six in either language. Several theories exist as to what this mark will be. One popular theory is, the mark will be either a numerical representation of his name, or a number found by manipulating the numerical values represented by the letters of his name. One of the problems with this intricate and complex theory is, several letter combinations can add up to the same numerical value. The longer God delays, the more names will fit this puzzle. To further complicate things, Greek, Hebrew, and English alphabets all have a different number of letters.
John gives the number as six hundred three score (60) and six. Let’s dig deeper.
Seven is the number of perfection and completeness.
Eight is one more than perfection. (One is the number of God)
Eight, therefore, is the number of resurrection, beginnings, Godly perfection.
Three is the number of the Godhead, and of perfect witness.
Jesus’ number would be 888; His resurrection was the perfect witness of His Godly perfection.
Six is the number of man, one less than perfection; imperfection.
Again, three, the number of perfect witness.
666 represents the perfect witness of a man’s imperfection. Also, three sixes represent man’s imperfect and futile attempt to be god; this was Lucifer’s sin causing his fall from heaven. He wanted to be God. Satan offered this deceptive promise to Eve; “you shall be as gods.” (Genesis 3:5) Adam gave up man’s dominion on the earth to be his own god.
So, the mark of the beast is an attitude; a purposeful worshiping of the beast. You cannot receive the mark by accident, nor can you be held down like the cow and forced to take it. People will be coerced into voluntarily choosing to follow and worship the beast.
According to Revelation 13:17, no one will be able to buy or sell, work, travel, or anything else that modern man takes for granted, without the mark. World governments are trying to mandate these things with COVID as the excuse. People are being fired from work for refusing to “take the jab.” You can’t travel, go to events or restaurants, and in some cases, can’t even shop for food. In Australia, you can be beaten by the police for leaving your house.
Many people have willingly, gladly and out of fear, taken the COVID injection without asking any questions; seemingly following blindly what their friendly government has told them.
The signs are all there. But is this the mark of the beast?
The false prophet will push the mark on behalf of the Beast. But who, or what, is the Beast?
Revelation 13 (the Message translation)
1-2 The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion’s mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. 3-4 One of the Beast’s heads looked as if it had been struck a death blow, and then healed. The whole world was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the dragon (Satan) who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, “There’s never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!”
Some say the government is the beast. It is certainly acting that way. That would make the news media and social media like Twitter and Face Book the false prophet, since they are pushing total obedience to the government. And some people certainly worship government, and believe everything they see on social media.
The Beast rises from the sea, symbolic for masses of humanity. And, the Beast suffers a head wound, seemingly dies, and comes back to life. So that lets out a government entity (unless you consider a return of the dead Third Reich or Roman Empire.)
The Beast will be a man, the acknowledged ruler of a one-world government. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
So, where does this leave us? COVID was definitely spawned by Satan in the pit of hell. He, the dragon, has influenced governments around the world, hungry for power, to fall in line with his plans.
But therein lies the problem. Most are walking in lock step, but as individual governments. The signs have not yet all fallen in line. We do not have a beast, a man who has come back from the dead to unify all world governments under his rule. Nor do we have a false prophet, the representative of the apostate church.
These we see now are deceptive decoys, fakes and frauds. The Antichrist spirit (the dragon) is preparing humanity; softening up mankind, as it were. He’s getting us used to blind obedience. This is a trial run. He knows the time is short. Everything is falling quickly into place.
The Beast will be easy to pick out. He will blaspheme God constantly, and claim godhood for himself. He will declare that after all he’s the awaited messiah; he rose from the dead. He will rise quickly and take over all the governments of the world, as they willingly turn over their power to him.
And the false, apostate church, though it exists today, has not yet risen to prominence. Once the Church, the body of Christ, is raptured, that which withholds will be gone, allowing all hell to break loose. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) The false apostate church will rise to fill the vacuum.
Here are signs to look for:
All of the governments of the world will come together and place their power in one man, a false messiah.
There will be a massive spiritual awakening and revival.
Hundreds of millions of Christians will suddenly disappear, allowing the apostate church to rise to prominence.
In the end days, God will shake the earth; there will be a great sifting. We see it happening now. Churches will become true or apostate, no more shades of gray. All mankind will have to make a decision; either worship the Dragon and the Beast, or worship God. No more sitting on the sidelines. No more “wait and see.” Fence-sitters beware, God is about to kick your fence.
The ark of safety, the Church, is boarding now; the doors are open. Once they’re closed, it will be too late. The ticket is free. Get on board before she leaves.