Where do we find out what the true meaning of 666 Mark of the Beast is? Is it something that we have to guess about or does the Bible reveal to us its true meaning?
Because the Bible tells us that the Mark of the beast will be on the forehead or the hand, many have assumed that this will be a physical mark such as a barcode or tattoo, and because we are told that those who don’t take the Mark of the Beast will not be allowed to buy to sell, others have concluded that the Mark of the Beast must then be a computer chip placed beneath the skin, which will allow people to purchase goods.
The book of Revelation, where the Mark of the Beast is spoken of, is greatly filled with symbolic language, and over two thirds of the book is either quoting or referencing other places in the Bible, either in the Old Testament or in Revelation itself. To understand the symbols used, you have to refer to the other passages that it is alluding to, to fill in the gaps and get the complete meaning of what is being said.
The symbolism of the hand and forehead is found in the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments He said Deuteronomy 6:6, 8 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts…Tie them as symbols on your HANDS and bind them on your FOREHEADS".The KJV translates “on your foreheads" to “frontlets between thine eyes", beign the same thing.
Moses also said, Deuteronomy 11:18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your HANDS and bind them on your FOREHEADS."
God said that His Ten Commandment law was to be a sign upon our hands and foreheads. This did not mean that the Israelites where to have a tattoo or physical writing on their heads and hands, it simply symbolized that by their thoughts (forehead) and by their actions (hand) they were to show their allegiance to God, by following the directions He had given to them in His Commandments.
Therefore when Revelation talks about the Mark of the Beast going on the forehead or the hand, then this also means that at the end of time, people’s thoughts and actions will determine whether or not they receive the Seal of God or the Mark of the Beast.
The Mark of the Beast issue is also indicative of worship, whether we are worshiping God or worshiping and giving allegiance to the beast.
In Bible prophecy a beast is symbolic of a ruling power, king, kingdom or political religious power. Daniel 7:23 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces".
At the end of time it relates to a political religious power which will be dominant world wide and demand worship which is opposite or opposed to the worship which God had demanded from His people.
There is a distinction made between God’s Remnant church and those who take the Mark of the Beast, this distinction is that God’s church follow all of His Commandments, which includes keeping the seventh day Sabbath. Revelation 12:17 says “the dragon was wroth with the woman (The Church), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." There are many other places in the Bible where God says outright that the Sabbath is a SIGN that it is Him that we worship.
Where Revelation speaks of those who don’t get the Mark of the Beast it specifically references the fourth commandment by quoting from it. Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"
Which Christian religious system who are already seeking worldwide religious domination, changed the fourth Commandment of God? Which religious system claim that their doctrines overrule those in the scriptures?
The Catholic Church says that the mark of their authority, is the fact that without scriptural support they changed the Seventh Day Sabbath of God to Sunday. Therefore, by their own admission, Sunday keeping (which is worshiping on a counterfeit day of worship, on the day that the pagans worship the Sun god) is their Mark. When they gain world domination as a political religious ruling power, then this shall become the Mark of the Beast.
The idea of the papal system of religion correlating to antichrist and the fourth beast of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 is not new. All of the early Protestant reformers who understood Bible prophecy had identified them as such. Following is just one of many quotes:
Cotton Mather (1663-1728) (Congregational Theologian): “The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them." Taken from The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom’s book, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113.
The Mark Of The Beast
It is a common misconception that when the Bible refers to the Mark of the Beast, that the beast if Satan. A beast in prophetic terms is a religious, political or regal power. Daniel 7:23 ?Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces?. Daniel 7:17 ?These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth?. Revelation also clearly shows that there is a distinction between the devil and the beast. Revelation 20:10 ?And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever?. The second beast referred to in Revelation is a false religious system with political power.
The fifteenth century protestant reformers, such as John Wesley, John Huss etc all clearly stated that the fourth beast or ?little horn? power of Daniel 7 that also correlates to the first beast of Revelation could be identified as the false system of religion, and persecuting power found within the papal system. The non-biblical doctrines instituted by the Roman Catholic Church had replaced many scripturally based doctrines with traditions of man. During the dark ages millions of people were tortured and killed as ?heretics? for now bowing down to all of the precepts of the Roman church.
The Bible also tells us that the ?little horn? power of Daniel 7:25 would ?think to change times and laws?.
One of the most notable changes implemented by the papacy was the changing of the day of worship that God had implemented, the seventh day Sabbath, with Sunday worship.
The papacy go so far as to say that the action of changing the Sabbath to Sunday, without any scriptural grounds is the ?Mark? of their authority, showing that they have the power to override even the institutions of God. "Sunday is our mark or authority...the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." Catholic Record of London , Ontario, September 1, 1923.
When people say that 666 is the devil's number, this is also an incorrect conclusion. 666 is the number of a man (being the leader of the political-religio system). Revelation 13:18 ?Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.? It is interesting to note that one of the names given to the Pope, which is written on his triple tiered crown is VICARIUS FILII DEI, and that if you add up the Roman numerals for each letter it comes to 666.
Revelation predicts that at the end of time a second beast will arise that will be an image of the first beast, carrying out the same persecuting acts and holding the same false doctrines as the first. Revelation 13:12-13 ?And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed? Revelation 13:15-17 ?And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.?
This shows that anyone who does not take the mark of the beast will be persecuted or killed. Then it goes on to speak of those true followers of God, who do not take the mark of the beast. Revelation 14:12 ?Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.?
It is interesting that the differentiating factor is that those who are saved will be ?keeping the commandments?, and that the ?Mark? of the papal system is that they changed the fourth commandment, the Sabbath to Sunday.
It seems then that the religio-political system, when it comes to power will enforce, upon consequence of death, the observance of worship on the counterfeit day, the day on which the pagans worship the sun god.
Those that stay true to the Bible based teachings and keep the commandments have the following promise to look forward to. Revelation ?And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.?
All Bible references are from the King James Version.
