Mark of the Beast

Background to the term for “mark”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Mark of the Beast

MARK OF THE BEAST A sign (Rev 16:2; 19:20; Rev 13:6) to identify those who worship the beast “of the sea” (Rev 13:1); used in contrast to the “seal” of those who follow Christ, the Lamb, into the new creation (Rev 7:3; 14:1)

A Vision From Ezekiel

He saw the inhabitants of Jerusalem slain for their wickedness

God’s departure removed all protection and gave people over to destruction

God departed because of wicked/evil behavior Ezekiel 9: 8-9

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9 He answered me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has abandoned the land; he does not see.’

Those with mark on their head from God were preserved

The mark was for identification for the purpose of protection

Ezekiel 9:4-6

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem,” the LORD said to him, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable practices committed in it.”

5 He spoke to the others in my hearing: “Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them! 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the children and older women, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple

144,000 Servants of God are sealed on their foreheads to protect them from the coming wrath of God; Revelation 7:3

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.

This is refered to in Rev. 9:4 where noted that the denomic locusts of the 5th trumpet are not to harm those with the seal of God

English Standard Version Chapter 9

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.

Rev. 13 uses the term Mark of the beast

it references John’s vision of the 2 beasts

Beast from the sea: symbolizes the antichrist with political power over the inhabitants over the earth (Rev. 13:1-10)

Beast from the earth: symbolizes the antichrist’s assistant (Rev. 13:11-18)

attempting to secure worship of the antichrist

symbolizes them with martyrdom

In Contrast with the seal of God marking servants of God

Mankind is depicted in this vision divided into 2 classes

those belonging to Christ

those belonging to the antichrist (Satan)

666 - Marking? (Rev. 13.18)

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

This calls for wisdom:,c Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666.

The mark of the beast is an expression of one’s allegiane to antichrist (as expressed in the cult of emperor worship)

It is the act of worship and not the literal number on one’s body that is intended

When the prophecy is completely fulfilled by the antichrist, believers must be wise and refust to give their loyalty to him through whatever form or test of allegiance it takes