If there is one subject people like to talk about regarding the end times and the book of Revelation it is about the “mark of the beast.” What is it and who will have it and how do you get it? All these questions and many more are asked regarding the mark and maybe today we can finally answer those questions, but I doubt it!
First though, let’s read the scripture for today.

To be able to properly understand the “mark of the beast” we need to clearly understand the “unholy trinity.” The what? You see satan is into trying to be like God and copy everything that God has done. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that describes the Trinity for the Christian. Satan sought to make himself a god - like God the Father, and he has as we saw in the first part of chapter 13 brought forth, out of the water, the sea beast - who is the antichrist or like the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Today in the last part of the 13th chapter, we see another beast that comes from the earth and he is the third character of the unholy trinity called “the false prophet” who is to represent the Holy Spirit.
Who is the false prophet? He has been given the position of the religious figure of this unholy trinity and his main duty is to foster the worship and service to the beast, the antichrist. He is considered also as the propaganda officer for the antichrist. He looks like a lamb which suggests that at first his deception of being good is a priority but he has the authority of the dragon and works on behalf of the antichrist with all the power that the beast has from satan at his fingertips. His goal is to promote the antichrist and to get the world to follow and worship him. He emphasizes that the antichrist has been mortally wounded and then has been healed from the mortal wound. How he received the wound it is not completely explained in the scripture but it had to do with receiving a wound by a sword and then he is miraculously healed and is back to life again. The false prophet is the religious leader who desires all the world to be one religion and that is the religion of following the antichrist, nothing else will be permitted or the people who rebel will die. He will have such miraculous power that he can do unbelievable miracles so that the world is totally astounded. One miracle that is mentioned in the scriptures is that he can bring fire from heaven down to the earth in full view of all mankind. How can that be? He can use the miraculous power from satan himself to convince the gullible world that the beast is real and to be worshiped. He can do these miracles because satan is powerful and has the ability to give that power to this false prophet to get people to follow the antichrist and worship him. That is the only purpose of the miracles. How can the whole world see and be informed of the works of the antichrist? We are now in the age of such great and wondrous technology that when this time comes who knows how easy it is for the entire world to see and hear what the false prophet says about the antichrist.
Remember the power is satanic and that it’s goal is to get people to worship the first beast, the antichrist. Because of that, the false prophet sets up an image of this beast for the purpose of having the world to bow down and worship it. Part of the plan was to deceive the people by making the image speak and threatening those who refuse to worship the image with death. No one was left out, great and small, rich and poor, free or slave they all have to worship the image and then they are all forced to receive a mark which would be the controlling agent of their lives. This false prophet uses this mark as the key to life and death. All people are to receive this mark on their right hand or on their forehead so that if they have it they can buy and sell and be able to survive, the economy of life will depend upon this mark. If people do not have the mark they will not be able to escape notice and will be identified as clearly against the beast. Those without the mark will be killed. Why a mark? Earlier do you remember that those who were God’s children received the mark of God?

The mark identified them as people of God and here all who have the mark of the beast also identifies them to be the possession of the antichrist.
This “mark of the beast” is the name of the beast or the number of his name. What does that mean? We do not know even though there has been great speculation since the time John wrote the Revelation. John writes that it is the number 666. How many of you have refused having a license plate with that number on it? What does 666 mean? No one really knows and therefore we do not need to speculate about it’s meaning either. All we know is that those who follow the beast and want to eat and live peaceably will have to take the mark or die. So, I guess we really can’t be absolutely sure what the mark of the beast is or the meaning of 666. I thought it was interesting when one scholar wrote that this number was the antichrist’s way to save those who followed him from the persecution that will fall on the rebellious Christians who denied the mark. We identify this time in the Revelation as the middle of the Tribulation with three and a half years to go. What great persecution will be seen toward the Christians who are alive during that day. The early part of the Revelation was the partial destruction of the world and great devastation of mankind because of their rebellion against God. Now the tables are turned and the world is in the hands of satan and his unholy trinity to have their way...but this will be for a limited time; there will be an end to it all. Praise the Lord for the truth of the Word of God.
The church will not be in that Tribulation so those who become believers in that terrible time will not only be confronted with the “mark of the beast” to survive but they will be persecuted and killed for their faith.
Today there is already anti-Christian systems that pervade the world and true believers are being confronted with persecution daily. We must be steady in our beliefs and not fall for the deception of satan even today.

We are presented with many popular ideals and systems of beliefs today and we are being told to be accepting and tolerant so all people can get along but we must shun this false philosophy and call to worship so that we may be found faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ in our day. You and I are living in perilous times; our way of life and traditions are being eroded daily and being replaced with counterfeit truths. Is there hope for our way of life as Americans and Christians? I think there is hope but it will not be easy. We must all stand and make known the truth; we must must make our beliefs known verbally to all who deny the truth of who we really are no matter the consequences. Right now it may not be so evident but it will be soon as communities are told what to do and how to respond to the “transitions” that will “make us better people and a people who really care.” Will you respond with quiet obedience to these transitions or will you take a stand for Christ and His truths?
Are we in the end times? If so, the antichrist and the false prophet is here already on this earth and awaiting the time for the Revelation to become reality. Who knows if it is soon to be here but we have the record of the truth of what will happen when it gets here and we can watch from afar in heaven as God lays out the unveiling of the righteous Lamb of God, who is the true theme and subject of the Revelation.
Even though we do not have to be personally concerned about the mark of the beast we do have to be ready to meet the Lord in the air as He comes to take His children home with Him. Are you ready if the Lord Jesus were to return today? Many of us live day by day without even thinking about the person of Jesus and His plan for our lives. Today consider Him and what He desires for your life.
1. He wants you to be saved and ready to meet the Lord and while waiting on Him live the life of a godly Christian. Are you doing that, is that you?
2. If you are not saved, you do not have Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you need NOW to surrender your life and allow Him to be your Master and be your Lord. You can do that right now; pray and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord by repenting of your sin and filling your life with righteousness.
3. If you are a SAVED person you can decide right now to be that faithful, obedient servant of God who will stand for righteousness and speak for the truth when life calls for it. Never be unfaithful but do your duty to stand for Jesus and speak the truth in love.
Today I call for each who are believers to make that commitment to be faithful in all God desires of you. Pray now and commit yourselves again fresh and new to the Lord! Stand for Jesus no matter what!