Well as much as that humored me at first, the more I think about it, the more serious this issue becomes. People often point at new tech or company logos as the mark of the beast. I've heard that it was the bar code, now people claim it will be bio-chip implants. Nope, turns out its the Monster Energy logo, or was it Nike?
As you can see, people like to guess what the mark is going to be. We have several references to the mark in the book of Revelation that people look at for their guesses. Many are listed here.
Rev 13:16 "a mark"
Rev 13:17 " the mark"
Rev 14:9 "his mark"
Rev 14:11 "mark of his name"
Rev 15:2 "his mark"
Rev 16:2 "the mark of the beast"
Rev 19:20 "the mark of the beast"
Rev 20:4 "his mark"
Most guesses are ridiculous, but some are almost believable. These verses are at the same time both very clear, but also leave a lot of room for interpretation. Predicting prophecy is always dangerous. That being said, I can tell you exactly what the mark of the beast will be. It will be an outward mark of their inward decision. The way some people talk you would think that it is some secret mark you could accidentally get. But I believe it will be a real world way to see a spiritual decision. It won't be one of those things you buy without making quite a few decisions beforehand.
Don't be fooled. The Devil has many ways of confusing people. One is by using a complex prophecy (like Revelation) and getting so many ideas out there that we don't focus on what we do know. We know that we are Christ's body, and as such we should trust Him. So do not worry about the mark, worry about being an obedient, faithful follower of Christ. Christ cannot deny His own. (II Tim. 2:13)
Instead of worrying about a mark you don't want, focus on the marks in your life you do want. We are to be visible Christians. In the book of Acts we see that the people took note that the disciples had been with Jesus. That is the mark we are to strive for. (Acts ch. 2) If we focus on the right answer, we don't have to worry about all the wrong ones we don't want. If x + 4 = 6 we know that x=2. In that problem x cannot be 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. In the same way, if we know we are following Christ, we know we will not take on the mark of the beast. Instead of worrying about all the wrong answers, worry about the right answers that you do know.
The mark frightens many people. Part of that is because it is such a clear image. But the choices you and I make are just as important today as the ones those people will be making in the future. Billions of people have died without that mark and will still be judged by God regardless of that physical sign.
But what about the rest of the book of Revelation? Is it going to happen by 2018? (as a well meaning preacher told me this year) Has it already happened? (like the preterits would claim) Will we be raptured? Will we be left behind?
To answer the last two questions. God says He will not pour out His wrath on us as Christians but on the unbelievers (Romans 1:18) We also know that Christ is the head of the Church. I do not believe that Christ would pour out the Wrath of God on His own Body. Will we suffer? Maybe. Will we suffer God's Wrath? I cannot see how. As Christians we are indeed exempt from God's wrath.
Conclussion
What am I driving at? Well, I think we worry far too much about what we don't know and don't want, and not enough about what we do know and do want. We know Christ is victorious, that we are to be His Followers. Prophecy is important, but let us not worry about what is God's business, let us worry about what He has made ours. If we are obedient in what we do know we will be quite busy enough.
Thanks for this post. I myself have often wondered about this mark... Keep up the good writing! :)
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