Mark of the Beast
That’ll be $6.66, Ma’am,” the cashier said to the woman at the front of the line.
The woman reacted visibly, glanced to the sides and pointed to the impulse candy display. “Give me one of those candy bars, I’m not buying anything 666!”
I was commenting on the exchange to some friends later and heads bobbed agreeably, “Mark Of The Beast!”
They agreed the number 666 was a very dangerous number and one needed to be extremely watchful to make sure they didn’t end up with 666 on their foreheads or hands. The end of the world came up a few times, Jesus coming soon came up, along with a number of other scenarios.
The number 666 appears one time in the Bible, in Revelation… 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)
Revelation was written to Christians 2,000 years ago during the Roman rule prophesying about an upcoming time of great tribulation and persecution by Rome to prepare them and comfort them.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1-3)
All 66 books of the Bible are filled with symbols that represent something else. For instance childless Hannah prayed for a son and when Samuel the King anointer judge was born Hannah prayed her gratitude to God.
2 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. (I Samuel 2:1) David also uses the same term.
People don’t have horns, beasts have horns. The word horn in the Bible has two meanings, the actual horn of an animal and symbolically “power.” Symbols in Revelation appear the way they are used in the rest of the 65 books.
The Book of Revelation is written largely in symbols that the Jews of the time were very familiar with and would appear to be foolishness to those not familiar with Hebrew or Aramaic such as the fluent Latin speaking Romans.
The Mark Of The Beast is often the first part of Revelation that comes to mind and the number 666 is like the lack of the 13th floor in high-rise elevators.
Every nation, every organization, every group throughout history has had its Mark Of The Beast which identifies those who owe allegiance to the entity and are not allowed to reap the benefits of participation in the group.
There has never been a nation with more Marks Of The Beast than we have here in America.
Do you know what your driver’s license is? It’s a Mark Of The Beast. It is a Mark of the State. If you don’t have one you better not be caught driving without one. The plate on your car? Another Mark Of The Beast issued by the State. That little decal in the corner of your car tag? A Mark Of The Beast issued by the county.
Every day in hundreds of ways you are asked to display your Marks Of The Beast practically everywhere you go or you aren’t allowed to sell or buy or access benefits in ANY country.
The Revelation Mark Of The Beast revelation is simply telling believers that Romans, and those favored by Romans, will control the economy.
One cannot escape the Mark Of The Beast.
Fortunately, believers have the Mark of Christ that overpowers the horn of the beast whoever it happens to be. The Mark of Christ is required to enjoy the certain benefits of God’s victorious Kingdom.
~ Marv Walker, Monticello church of Christ, 706 816-7190