Mark of the Beast REVELATION 13.11 I saw another beast (the False Prophet) coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a serpent. 13.12 He exercises all the authority of the Antichrist in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it worship the Antichrist, whose fatal head wound was healed. 13.13 The False Prophet performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. 13.14 He deceives everyone; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image (idol) to the Antichrist. 13.15 Power was given to the False Prophet: to give breath to the image, that it should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image to be killed. 13.16 The False Prophet causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 13.17 and that no one would be able to buy or sell, unless he has that mark. 13.18 Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
The False Prophet will deceive all the inhabitants of earth. He will put up an image of the Antichrist, which everyone will be required to worship. If anyone refuses to worship the image, they will be killed. Also, everyone will be required to get a mark on their right hand or their forehead. The number of this mark is 666, which is the number of the Antichrist. People will not be able to buy or sell unless they have the mark of the Beast. All those who take the mark of the Beast and worship him will be destroyed when Christ returns. The Bible is very clear about this dire warning: do NOT accept the mark of the Beast or you will be damned. Revelation 14:9 If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath… and be tormented in the lake of fire. The “Mark of the Beast” is a well-known phrase, even in secular society. People don’t know what it means, but there’s a certain apprehension whenever that phrase is mentioned. This is probably a good thing. We don’t know what the mark will be, but it’s very possible it will be some kind of digital chip implant. The technology already exists, and is even in use in companies that make it or promote it. Next Thursday: Song of the 144,000
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