The Mark of the Beast: 666

2. December 2009 by PawBill.

 ”If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.  There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14: 9-11 NIV. 

Can a person who claims Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who has lived a Holy Spirit filled life lose their salvation if they take the “mark of the beast (Mark) and worship the beast’s image (Image); will they be given a second chance to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and regain their salvation?  If you take the Mark and worship the Image, will you be cast into the Lake of Fire (the end-time hell)?  Can a person who does not profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who takes the Mark and worships the Image, recant and receive salvation by professing Jesus Christ?

Before we can answer these and similar questions let’s examine Biblical prophecy regarding the “mark of the beast”(Mark).  The Mark is described in Revelation 13:16-17 as a “mark” of the number “666” on the right hand or forehead of all persons. The Mark could be any number or inscription, but we will not speculate as to who or what the Mark represents. This Mark will be required for all citizens, and without this Mark a citizen of the World will not be able to buy or sell, i.e., to purchase gas, groceries and other products for personal or business use.

To fully grasp an understanding of the Mark and its requirements, requires a further explanation of end-time Biblical prophecy encompassing more than just a basic understanding of the Mark.  End time prophecy foretells the rise of a satanic trinity that seeks to mimic the Trinity of God. The satanic trinity will be comprised of: (1) a person called the Antichrist (Satan will incarnate himself into the Antichrist around or near the mid-point of the seven year Tribulation period); (2) a person called the False Prophet and (3) an Image made in the likeness of the Antichrist.  The trinity will seek to impersonate the Trinity of God thus referred to in some commentaries as: Satan the father (Antichrist), Satan the son (False Prophet) and Satan the holy spirit (Image of the Antichrist).  See the BLOG Post “The Trinity of God” for a discussion of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

In Biblical prophecy, a one-world ruler comes to power and seeks to rule the entire world.  This power is referred to as the “beast” in Revelation chapters 13 and 14, and he, the beast, is the “Man of Lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 who will arise and assume a position of authority over the entire world. He will rule for a period of seven years, and at the mid-point of this seven-year period, when the Jewish Temple has been rebuilt, he will sit in the Temple and declare himself God.  See BLOG Post “An End-Time Scenario” for my science fiction explanation of this end-time event.  Better still, read the real account in the book of Revelation.

Arising also at the time of the Antichrist will be another personage, also called a “beast,” in Revelation 13:11-15, but called the “False Prophet” in Revelation 16:13,19:20 and 20:10. The False Prophet has (exercises) all the authority of the Antichrist and performs great miracles and causes all to worship the Antichrist.

The False Prophet orders that an “image of the beast (Antichrist)” be set up and commands all to worship the Image. The Image will have miraculous powers with the ability to speak and function in a humanistic manner. The Image will have the power to put to death all who will not worship him (the Image).  The False Prophet will cause all to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead, this being the infamous mark of ”666,” who many have heard about but may or may not have understood the meaning.  As stated earlier, without the Mark no one can buy or sell. Biblical scriptures, read Revelation 14:9-11, prophesied that whoever worships the Antichrist and his Image and receives the “mark of the beast” will be torment with fire and brimstone forever and forever.  How long is this, you ask?  Forever and forever is forever!

This brings us to the questions posed earlier: Can a person who claims Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who has lived a Holy Spirit filled life lose their salvation if they take the “mark of the beast” (Mark) and worship the “beast’s image” (Image); will they be given a second chance to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and regain their salvation?  If you take the Mark and worship the Image, will you be cast into the Lake of Fire (the end-time hell)?  Can a person who does not profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who takes the Mark and worships the Image, recant and receive salvation by professing Jesus Christ?

To answer the questions we need to explore two conditions: (1) Will the Mark be required before or after the Rapture (The Rapture is the physical resurrection of the dead in Christ and their removal from earth to meet Jesus in the air along with those living who have professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior as written in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and  (2) Will salvation be possible after the Rapture? 

If the Mark is offered before the Rapture, all who take the Mark will suffer the fate as detailed in Revelation 14:9-11, above.  There will be no second chance. 

After the Rapture there will be no followers of Jesus Christ remaining on the earth.  The question then becomes, “Will it be possible for someone to become a follower of Jesus Christ after the Rapture even if they took the Mark,” (The Mark could either be taken voluntarily or given by force) and the answer is, I believe, “Yes,” if they took the Mark prior to ever hearing the salvation message of Jesus Christ.

Now, if one claims Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and allows the Holy Spirit of God to indwell them and is required to take the Mark and worship the Image but not forced, then, I believe the Holy Spirit will empower that person to reject the Mark and suffer martyrdom because of their faith and belief.  If they do not refuse the Mark, they will have no future hope of salvation but will suffer the fate of Revelation 14:9-11.

 If one is truly saved (my opinion) they will voluntarily suffer a martyr’s death rather than taking the Mark.  If they do otherwise, their salvation experience was not validated by the acceptance of the Holy Spirit, who would have given them the power to overcome, and they will be judged at the end-time judgment of unbelievers and then cast into the Lake of Fire. 

Many ministers and their followers believe God is a God of “Second Chances,” and believe people will be able to take the Mark and still receive salvation as promised to all believers.  We could run down several “rabbit trails” as the saying goes, like, maybe they will take the Mark because of the severe economic and famine conditions, but they will worship the Image only when required in public, but behind closed doors they will still worship Jesus. 

I’ll not be a judge but will leave it up to you to live as your spirit directs.  After all, look at Peter.  He denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed as Jesus predicted, but Jesus forgave him. So, why would a benevolent God not give His followers a second chance if they take the Mark so that they can survive during the Tribulation period?  After all, they would only be pretending to worship the Antichrist and his Image publicly but would secretly be a follower of Him.

Again, you can believe what you like, but I personally believe that to even pretend to worship the Image and take his Mark would be like crucifying Jesus all over again.  What about your witness?  Will those who know you and your belief that you espouse in believing in Jesus and trusting Him for your salvation not have second thoughts about whether there was really a need to trust in the Jesus you claim? 

For me, I have placed my trust and salvation in Jesus Christ, and I have given the Holy Spirit control of my mind, soul and spirit.  I will not worship the Image nor will I take the Mark.  I am trusting in the Holy Spirit to give me the power to resist if I am ever confronted with the requirement. 

How about you?  Will you take the Mark and worship the Image or will you resist?  Remember the warning in Revelation 14:9-11 NIV: 

”If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.  There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

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