Mark of the Beast

Because of the promotion of the microchip in the news lately, I have been receiving dozens of emails or messages through Facebook etc all declaring some different views on what the  Mark of the beast is.
Some declaring unflinchingly the mark is the new Covid-19 immunization, yet other declare just as certainly that the mark is all about taking the microchip. However, I also remember a few years back that the mark of the beast was definitely the barcode system as it was introduced followed by the chip and pin cards in the banking system. These and many other developments over the years have been declared as the mark of the beast by both well meaning believers and conspiracy theorists alike. Yet so far none have panned out - Why?

Because when getting excited over the next thing to be classed as a mark of the beast, scripture is bypassed for an enthusiasm over an exciting theory, one that those followers can say “we have special knowledge” and we will tell you it with no uncertainty despite scriptural ignorance on the issue.
It appears people would rather listen to the conspiracy theorists or biblically ignorant than actually check what scripture itself says.

Lets examine what the book of Revelations has to say on the issue:

• Rev 13:17 (TS2009)  and that no one should be able to buy or sell except he that has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
  
• Rev 14:11 (TS2009)  “And the smoke of their torture goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those worshiping the beast and his image, also if anyone receives the mark of his name.”
  
• Rev 15:2 (TS2009)  And I saw like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those overcoming the beast and his image and his mark and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of Elohim.
• Rev 16:2 (TS2009)  And the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and an evil and wicked sore came upon the men, those having the mark of the beast and those worshiping his image.
  

Rev 19:20 (TS2009)  And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he led astray those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

• Rev 20:4 (TS2009)  And I saw thrones – and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them – and the lives of those who had been beheaded because of the witness they bore to ישוע and because of the Word of Elohim, and who did not worship the beast, nor his image, and did not receive his mark upon their foreheads or upon their hands. And they lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years
  

The first thing to notice about the mark of the beast, as I have highlighted in the scriptures above, is that it is to do with worship and a specific mark that people will recognize to prove this worship of his image. This mark is something that people take to prove they are in league or agreement with the anti-Messiah. Without this mark they will not be able to buy or sell or be allowed to in any way perform acts commerce.

Many generations since the the Messiah left us with the promise of His return, groups of people have always found something in their society to be classed as the mark of the beast. Some believed the Catholic Church was the mark of the beast, others the symbol of the cross among the plethora of things declared as promoting the number of the beast. Even some major companies logos were seen as proof these companies were in league with the anti-Messiah and their logo may even be the mark.

For this Mark to have any meaning, the anti-Messiah must already be revealed and people must be making a personal choice to accept his mark and follow his ways. Having an injection to fight a virus is not the mark of the beast. Nor is new technology such as the microchip. The microchip might possibly be used in the future to decide who can buy and sell, but of itself is not the mark taken by choice to worship the anti-Messiah, who has not yet been revealed. Once we have the cashless society the microchip may or may not be a part of that system. New and improved technology is constantly being revealed in this age of great scientific leaps. The chip, like the barcode theory may well be obsolete in a year or two.
Of course it is possible that the microchip will be in use and essential for commerce as it keeps track of where we are and what we spend. But the same people screaming conspiracy, and declaring this is the mark, are the same people who buy online, have store cards and chip and pin bank cards all of which provide as much info, and perhaps more with our online presence, than the microchip ever will. We have phones tracking our every movement, with people using ApplePay etc to purchase goods. The ever changing face of technology, who can keep up with it let alone make sweeping declarations of certainty as regards the worship of the beast with out the worship part.

I would say taking the microchip, the injection against Covid-19 or shopping at a store that may or may not have a dodgy logo is a matter of conscience and is at this time certainly not the mark of the beast.

If the mark of the beast is to be anything, it is likely to be a tattoo or skin marking. One people take to prove their loyalty to the beast. I say this because scripture warns us as believers not to have tattoos. Tattoos have become so common place and a part of society for both male and female, it is likely the mark will be something that is seen as an innocuous tattoo acceptable by the many.

Let’s stop following and chasing conspiracy theories and spend more time studying the word that gives us the truth of the topic and not guesswork people declare as fact.