Who Marks You?

It is a wise man who recognises signs of the times and also when the time is not yet.  Jesus taught His disciples it was not for them to know times and seasons God has in His own power, but they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.  The disciples wondered about when the destruction of the temple would occur, the sign of His coming and the end of the world.  "When" questions burned within them, yet Jesus did not give them a future date so they could mark their diaries:  He wanted to teach them to look to Him in all seasons, recognise the signs of the times and lift up their heads knowing their redemption drew nigh.  Instead of grim concern, realising they were in the end times and things were going exactly according to God's plan would bolster their faith.

Because we have been given the word of God, the Bible, we can be certain what God has promised will surely come to pass.  The wisest among us who know what will happen cannot know when many things will happen.  Jesus warned His disciples not to be deceived, suggesting they would think the end was immediate when it was still afar off.  It was erroneous to think a sign meant you were at the final destination, and another error would be to imagine the rapture and second coming of Christ could not happen when Jesus stands at the door.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:6, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."  The beginning of sorrows was not to be confused with the end of all things.  There are many things that must occur before Christ's physical reign on earth in Jerusalem:  the rapture of the church, the rise of the antichrist who will rule all the nations with the false prophet, the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, the abomination of desolation (making the temple a place of worship of the antichrist or beast) and the mark of the beast.

I've been hearing murmurings about the "mark of the beast" for decades now, and I have heard much speculation over what the mark will consist of.  Back in the 80's people wondered if it would be a barcode, and then it was suggested to be a microchip.  We know there is nothing wrong with barcodes and microchips in themselves (though at the time they were a source of alarm for some), and I am certain when you bought whatever device you are reading this on they were involved.  Lately I've even heard some wonder if the mark of the beast could be a covid vaccine.  My sincere conviction is it would be impossible to be a vaccine because of the very precise description provided for us in the book of Revelation.  What the mark of the beast looks like is as irrelevant as the knowing the precise day and hour of Christ's return:  why the mark will be mandated is of primary importance.  The mark of the beast cannot be administered now because the beast (antichrist who must rule over all nations), the false prophet and the temple must be in place for it to be administered since the mark is directly tied to the worship of the beast.  None of these necessary parameters are currently in place.

In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John explained how the antichrist would be mortally wounded and empowered by Satan to recover.  While the world is amazed and entranced at the power of the beast (antichrist), the false prophet who does miraculous signs will be revealed.  Revelation 13:12-17 reads, "And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. ¹⁴ And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. ¹⁵ He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. ¹⁶ He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, 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, or the number of his name."

This is what the Bible teaches of the infamous "mark of the beast:"  it will be a mark mandated by the false prophet for all people as an act of worship of the beast.  Those who refuse to worship the beast will be killed, and whoever willingly worships the beast will have a visible mark "on their right hand or on their foreheads."  There is no reason to spiritualise what is plainly written.  Without the beast, the false prophet and the temple standing in Jerusalem, there can be no mark.  Friends, if the mark of the beast is a scary proposition for you, I understand what it is like to be afraid in the face of an uncertain future.  As a child I was a bit preoccupied with the true identity of the antichrist and was on guard to avoid receiving the mark of the beast because eternity in heaven hung in the balance (Rev. 19:20, 20:4).  I have learned my perspective was all wrong:  instead of looking for the antichrist in fear I am called to look to Jesus by faith; instead of being on guard against receiving the mark I ought to proclaim Christ boldly, heed His word and be led by the Holy Spirit.  I ought to rejoice I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit instead of living in fear of what the future holds.

Revelation 22:10-14 is a fitting conclusion: "And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹ He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." ¹² "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." ¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."  Jesus is coming quickly, believers, and let us look to Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith acknowledging His rule and power over all.  Having believed on Jesus, we have been born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit Who has marked us for eternal glory.  Like a shepherd distinguishes the sheep from the goats, we are known by God as His beloved children.  Let us walk in the glory of these eternal truths with God's love that casts out all fear.