Page 130 - Bible Doctrine Survey I (3)

hideous beasts (Daniel 7). In John’s vision of the final worldly kingdom, the empire is portrayed as a
grotesque and misshapen beast. These passages present two very different perspectives on the
kingdoms mankind builds. Man sees his creations as imposing monuments and works of art fashioned of
valuable metals. However, God’s view of the same kingdoms is that they are unnatural monsters. And
the beast of Revelation will be the worst of them all.

Revelation 13 tells us a lot about this man. Rev. 13:3 says that he receives a mortal wound in the head,
but the wound is healed. The world will wonder how such a man could possibly survive such a
horrendous wound. Perhaps that “miracle” of surviving a head wound will cause the world to focus on
his abilities. So how did he get this wound? The Bible does not say, but however he obtains it, the world
will marvel that he could survive. The world declares (vs. 4) Who is like the beast, and who can fight
against it?”

The Antichrist will be haughty and blasphemous, especially when he achieves total world power in 3 ½
years into the tribulation period. He will make war with the saints or believers who come to faith during
the tribulation, whether Jew or Gentile.

The passage talks about a second beast who causes the world to worship the first beast. This second
beast is also called the “false prophet.” He is able to create miraculous signs, even calling down fire
from heaven and forces the world to bow and worship the Antichrist. Obviously, he rises to power along
with the Antichrist based on some religious power.

The passage also talks about how the Antichrist will control the world: through the economic system.
Every person will be forced to receive a mark showing allegiance to the Antichrist on their forehead or
right hand. Any person not having the mark of the beast will not be able to buy or sell anything.

The main passage in the Bible that mentions the “mark of the beast”
is Revelation 13:15-18. Other references can be found in Revelation
14:9, 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, and 20:4. This mark acts as a seal for the followers
of Antichrist and the false prophet. The false prophet (the second beast) is the
one who causes people to take this mark. The mark is literally placed in the
hand or forehead and is not simply a card someone carries.

The recent breakthroughs in medical implant chip and RFID technologies have increased interest in the
mark of the beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13. It is possible that the technology we are seeing
today represents the beginning stages of what may eventually be used as the mark of the beast. It is
important to realize that a medical implant chip is not the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast will
be something given only to those who worship the Antichrist. Having a medical or financial microchip
inserted into your right hand or forehead is not the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast will be an
end-times VISIBLE identification required by the Antichrist in order to buy or sell, and it will be given
only to those who worship the Antichrist.

Many good expositors of Revelation differ widely as to the exact nature of the mark of the beast.
Besides the implanted chip view, other speculations include an ID card, a microchip, a barcode that is
tattooed into the skin, or simply a mark that identifies someone as being faithful to the Antichrist’s
kingdom. This last view requires the least speculation, since it does not add any more information to
what the Bible gives us. In other words, any of these things are possible, but at the same time they are
all speculations. We should not spend a lot of time speculating on the precise details.

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