The Beasts of Revelation Exposed

What do They Represent?
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The Mark of the Beast

Revelation 13:16 He [the Lamb-like beast] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on right hand or on his forehead.

 

Revelation 13:17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is [either] the name of the [Lamb-like] beast or the number of his name.

 

Revelation 13:18 This calls for [very little] wisdom. If anyone has [two ounces of] insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is a man’s number. His number is 666.

 

Comments: Perhaps, no single topic in the Bible is more widely known and discussed than the mark of the beast. It could also be said that no topic in the Bible is more poorly understood that this one. Three reasons exist for this confusion.

 

First, identifying who the beasts are in Revelation is a problem for most people. Second, which beast does the mark belong to? Last, is the mark visible, literal or symbolic? As previously identified, the four beasts in Revelation represent Jesus as the Lamb of God; Lucifer, the dragon cast into a spiritual dungeon; Lucifer’s “crisis government” (the composite beast); and Lucifer as the Lamb-like beast, none other than Lucifer himself, in the assumed form of God. If we read this verse literally, then the mark will either be a visible tattoo on the forehead (bearing the name that the devil will assume) or a tattoo showing the number “666” on the right hand.

 

Consider the following points:

a. The beast that owns the mark is the beast of greatest and highest authority. In other words, the mark of the beast cannot come from the composite beast because no particular religious or political power can force the rest of the world to comply with its demands. The composite beast has many members and as such, one member cannot demand submission from the rest of its members. If it could, then it would not be a composite beast.

b. The Lamb-like beast is the devil personating Christ. Because he can perform counterfeit signs, wonders and miracles, because he can call fire from the heavens at will, because he is the star performer during the end-time, because he is the eighth king that rules over the seven heads and ten horns – he is the greater power of the two beasts in Revelation 13.

c. The number “666” is associated with a man – specifically, the man of sin (or man of  lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2). It may surprise you that the Bible refers to angels, even the devil, as a man. Following are some key texts:

 

Daniel 8:15-17 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision. As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end…” Daniel 9:21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

 

 Ezekiel 28:2,3; 12:14 (2) Son of man, say to the [real] ruler of Tyre, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.’ But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. (3) Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no hidden secret from you?”… (12) Son of man, take up a lament concerning the [real) king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. (13) You were in Eden, the garden of God… (14) You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.”  

 

Isaiah 14: 12-17 How far you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you were brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: ‘Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?’

 

These texts confirm the essential point that Bible writers often refer angels as men. Other examples could be used, but these make the point – especially the selections from Ezekiel and Isaiah concerning Lucifer.

 

666 and the Man

How is the devil (in the form of a man) and the number “666” connected? These are facts, as I understand them. God has made sure that the number “666” represents something evil for nearly two thousand years. Almost everyone who has read anything in the Bible knows this number is associated with evil and mystery. As mentioned earlier, the mark of the beast is either the name that the devil will assume or the number “666.’ The reason for the distinction between the forehead and right hand is rank. Those who serve in Lucifer’s government as officials will receive a tattoo on their foreheads as a mark of rank, devotion and loyalty in Lucifer’s court. You might be surprised to learn that this process is mandated by God to make Lucifer’s deception all the more secure. Notice what the Bible says about the 144,000: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”  (Revelation 14:1 – emphasis mine) In other words, the devil is required by God to imitate the distinction that Jesus and the Father are going to bestow on Their own servants! The contrast, of course, is like daylight and darkness. One will be an ugly and hideous tattoo, while the other will be a glorious light that reflects the beauty and holiness of God. Nevertheless, officers in Lucifer’s government will have the mark of the beast that is the assumed name of the devil, tattooed on their foreheads. (Incidentally, in most military organizations today, officers display rank on their collars or foreheads using hats.)

 

What about the number ‘666?” The rank and file of the devil’s one-world church/government will receive a tattoo on their saluting (right) hand showing allegiance and loyalty to this new order. The irony is important here. Men and woman will willfully and knowingly submit to this evil tattoo rather than put their faith in God. The tattoo must be clearly visible since it will have to be displayed to buy or sell that few precious rations are available. I do not believe the mark of the beast is a super computer, nor a microchip implanted beneath the skin. The Bible says the mark of the beast is a mark. Hitler demonstrated that the easiest way to track large numbers of people without electricity or fancy gadgets is to put a tattoo on their physical body. Tattoos are permanent. They cannot be transferred or removed without great agony. Remember, by the time the “mark” is activated, the world is in shambles. The devastation caused by the trumpets will leave the world without electricity, computers, paper or other things we depend on so heavily today. The mark of the beast must work with the same precision in every country 9including undeveloped third world countries) and with this in mind, the tattoo is not a far-flung idea. In fact, ancient history also confirms the use of tattoos to mark slaves. Exodus 13:9 illustrate an interesting parallel. The generation that left Egypt were marked with tattoos indicating they were the property of Pharaoh. That generation died in the wilderness after 40 years of wandering as a result of their rebellion against God. The new generation that entered the Promised Land was not marked as slaves. By the grace of God, they were freeman! Therefore, it will be again!  When Jesus comes, there will be two classes of people – the slaves of the devil and the free in Christ – the marked and the unmarked.

 

God will not allow the devil to use an alternate means of marking the people. God has attached an evil significance to the number “666” for a good reason and He requires the devil to implement it. God does this to prove beyond any doubt that men and women, with hearts full of rebellion against God, would rather receive the evil mark of the beast than to submit to the authority of God. This is the final course of sin.

 

I want to draw your attention to a critical point in verse 18. Verse 18 is an understatement. It basically says, “When the time comes for the implantation of the mark of the beast, if anyone has two ounces of brain power, he will be able to grasp the seriousness and importance of avoiding the mark because everyone who receives the mark of the beast will receive the wrath of God.”

 

Revelation 14:9-11 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on their 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.”

 

Summary

This study has been far-reaching and perhaps, a bit too technical and long, especially if this topic is new to you. However, this may be the only opportunity to share my findings with you. In closing, let me emphasize again that the Bible is rich in God’s grace. God has given us much to consider! At the current time, the events and developments described in revelation’s story may seem far removed and highly impossible. However, this attitude will change in a single day – just like it did in Noah’s day.

 

I hope you can see the events in Revelation are worldwide, which means that every prophetic conclusion has worldwide implications. This is where many students of prophecy fail, since they do not include all six billion people living on Earth in the story. Do not consider this story from a personal perspective. Instead, pretend you are circling the earth in the space shuttle and watching events unfold on Earth. The activities of the four beasts will be the same in every country, even though we are a world of different religions, governments and languages. You must not overlook this point!

 

When the four angels (Revelation 7:1-4), who are currently holding back the wrath of God, hear the Lamb say, “There is no more delay” (Revelation 10:6), they will release the four winds. First, a global earthquake will shake the Earth. (Revelation 8:3-5) Then, the first four trumpets will sound, (Revelation 8:6-12) and the “crisis government” will quickly form the composite beast of Revelation 13:1-8. While the composite beast is in power, the devil will operate from his spiritual dungeon. The dragon of Revelation 12 was cast into the dungeon. After a period of time, perhaps as much as two years from the initial global earthquake, the devil will physically appear out of nowhere. (The Lamb-like beast of Revelation 13: 11-18 will rise from the Earth or bottomless pit.) He has only one goal – to lead the world into destruction and total rebellion against God. He will succeed because God has pre-decreed both his victory and his destruction. (Revelation 17:8) 

 

Revelation tells a story about two great kings. One is noble, righteous and loving and the other is mean, evil and violent. The two kings are about to declare war on each other and the souls of men and women are the prize. Therefore, I would encourage you to reread this material and study it until your own thoughts are clear about the identity of the four beasts. Surely, the better we understand God’s Word, the better we will be able to testify on His behalf and share His saving truth with people around us. Billions of people do not have no idea about these soon coming events. To be sure, the day is almost here when everyone will be “awakened” to hear this story. At that time, billions of people will wake up, only to find themselves in the middle of a life and death conflict! Who knows, you might be instrumental in leading someone to eternal life because you understood the big picture!

 So seriously, consider our Savior’s words, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

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