A Technician Looks at the “Mark of the Beast”.

There is a lot of talk about the Mark of the Beast being this or that lately, most of it not really in line with what the Bible says. Current events are leading many to believe we are entering the “end times” and I would have to agree with that. I do not think that implanted chips are either the “Mark of the Beast” nor likely to happen on a widespread basis. But first let’s look at what the Bible actually says about it.

Rev 13:15 – 18: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

First of all, it says all that would worship the image of the Beast would get the mark. Those who refuse would be killed. This brings to mind Nebuchadnezzar and his golden image. No one received a mark in that incident, but most who refused to prostrate themselves and worship were killed. Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednago would have been if God hadn’t delivered them.

Therefore, the first thing we see in Revelation is that there is an actual image. No such image yet exists. The second thing we see is that people would be given the choice of worshiping the idol or death, just as in Nebuchadnezzar’s time. This also has not happened.

The next thing we see is that all those who worshiped the idol were marked either on their hand or forehead. They became the Antichrist’s when they worshiped, the mark just gives them the privilege of buying and selling. This helps the Antichrist weed out the small number who escaped worshiping at the time and keeps them from obtaining the daily necessities of life, hence condemning them to a lingering death without the expense of launching a big manhunt for them.

The Mark is a visible thing, not a hidden chip. It singles people out if it is seen, or if it is not seen because it is hidden in a glove or hat when no one else is wearing one. No one can see a chip without either an x-ray or chip reader.

Chips can be removed, or even more dangerously, reprogrammed with a home computer, home-built antenna, and easily available software. You could become “Donald Trump”! Chips also can move in the body and so are glue-coated, said glue already suspected of (but not proven of) causing cancer in animals.

Furthermore, you won’t get the Mark unless you have already worshiped the Beast, in which case you are lost to the Lake of Fire anyway.

Google is working on a “Smart Tattoo” which converts the skin into a living touchpad. https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/google-working-on-smart-tattoos-that-turn-skin-into-living-touchpad-120072700188_1.html .Something like that would fit the description in Revelation, being both visible and usable. However, it doesn’t yet exist and the succession of natural disasters mentioned as happening in Revelation makes it unlikely they would long or reliably function technologically. In the end the Battle of Armegeddon is fought with horses and wooden weapons. It would still be their visibility that counted.

Where, then do the 144,000 and others who do not have the Mark of the Beast come from? Some refuse to worship and take the Mark and are killed – Revelation 7. The takeover of the Earth by the Antichrist takes time, and is hindered by the series of meteor strikes, earthquakes, plagues, famines, weather events, and other disasters striking the earth. The nation of Israel holds out until last, when the Antichrist brings the (remaining) forces of the entire earth against God there.

Where is the Church in all this? It isn’t – it is in heaven. In 2 Th 2:3 - 5 it is written: Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

First the Antichrist has to be revealed, then proclaim himself as God and take his seat in the Temple. The Temple does not yet exist. The Antichrist is being held back, as the following verses prove:

2Th 2:6, 7: And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

Who restrains the Antichrist? The Holy Spirit! Where is the Holy Spirit? He indwells the Church, all true believers making up the Body of Christ. Only after the Church is removed from the earth will the Antichrist be free to reveal himself. If there is no Church, there is no indwelling Holy Spirit. Those who call themselves Christians after that are not. Romans 8:9.

Just when the Temple is rebuilt is unclear. It may be after the Antichrist is revealed, in fact he might be involved, but it might be before that also.

2Th 2:8 – 12: And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

There is a lot we believers should be concerned about, but Christians do not have to worry about the Mark of the Beast. They will be gone before the Beast is revealed. It is those left behind who will then have to make the choice between death or eternity in the Lake of Fire. The Day of God’s Wrath will not be poured out on the Church, the Body of Christ. The Church is mentioned in Revelation up until the Seventh Church, in the third chapter, Laodecia, the wealthy and lukewarm one that God spews out of his mouth in distaste. There are some real Christians in it, as God takes the trouble to warn them to repent, but after that the Church is not mentioned again. Christ says He is standing outside the door, knocking! The Rapture will probably be little noticed and easy to cover up because so few real believers will be left after the great falling away. Luke 18:8 “I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

I believe this is the time we are now in, and should get us motivated to evangelize while we still can. Evangelicals to a great extent no longer evangelize. The night is coming when no man can work!