PART 1 OF A 4 PART SERIES
REVELATION 13: 16-17
FOCAL POINT: THE MARK OF THE BEAST
INTRODUCTION:
THE AUTHOR OF REVELATION, THE APOSTLE JOHN, PENNED THIS REVELATION ABOUT A. D. 95. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN EXILE ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS. THE APOSTLE ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS TO REMAIN STRONG IN THE FAITH AND NOT SUCCUMB TO THE EVERY PRESENT DANGER OF ROMAN EMPEROR WORSHIP. THE REVELATION ASSURES THAT A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN IS IMMINENT. JOHN ASSURES BELIEVERS THEIR SPIRITUAL WELFARE IS SECURE ALTHOUGH DEATH MAY COME A RESULT OF THEIR TESTIMONY. SATAN AND HIS EVIL HOST WILL BE BOUND FOREVER AND CHRIST WILL REIGN SUPREME WITH HIS CHURCH FOR ETERNITY. REF: REVELATION 1: 19.
THE PROPHECIES IN DANIEL, CHAPTERS 7-12, ISAIAH, CHAPTERS 24-27, EZEKIEL, CHAPTERS 37-41 AND ZACHARIAH, CHAPTERS 9-12 FIND FRUITION IN REVELATION.
READ REVELATION 13: 16-17:
YOU, AS A BELIEVER, MAY WELL EMBRACE WHAT IS POSITIVE AND GOOD WITHIN SOCIETY. YOU MUST DISCERN ABOUT SOCIETY’S PLEASURES AND REWARDS. YOU MUST TAKE A STAND AGAINST SIN. DISCERNMENT COMES BY THE WORD AND PRAYER. THE MARK OF THE BEAST DESCRIBED IN THESE SCRIPTURES IS A SOCIETY THAT IS COMPLETELY CORRUPTED. YOU, AS A BELIEVER SHOULD HAVE NO PART OF IT!
IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, A SLAVE CARRIED AN IDENTIFYING MARK OF OWNERSHIP. A CAPTURED RUN AWAY BY ROMAN LAW COULD BE PUT TO DEATH IMMEDIATELY. SOME MYSTICAL CULTS IN THIS ERA CARRIED IDENTIFYING MARKS, ALSO. THE ANTICHRIST WILL REQUIRE HIS IDENTIFYING MARK IN ORDER TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE.
REVELATION, CHAPTER 7, INDICATES 144,000 JEWS WILL BE SEALED. FOLLOWING THIS, THE SCRIPTURE INDICATES A GREAT MULTITUDE FROM EVERY TRIBE AND NATION WHO CAME OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION WHOSE ROBES WERE WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. THESE APPEAR TO BE BELIEVERS WHO DID NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST (REVELATION 20: 4).
THE MARK IS EQUIVALENT TO THE NAME OF THE BEAST AND THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME. THIS MARK APPEARS TO SHOW OWNERSHIP AND IS PLACED UPON THE FOREHEAD OR THE RIGHT HAND. THERE IS NO EVIDENT THAT SUCH A PRACTICE OCCURRED DURING THE FIRST CENTURY. THIS MARK MAY WELL BE A COUNTERFEIT TO THE TRUE SEAL PLACED UPON TRUE BELIEVERS AS DESCRIBED IN REVELATION 7:3 AND 14:1.
APPLICATION: IT IS IMPERATIVE TO SEE CHRIST AS YOUR ONLY HOPE! HAVE YOU ACCEPTED HIM AS YOUR LORD AND MASTER?
REF: AN EXEGETICAL COMMENTARY ON REVELATION BY ROBERT THOMAS, HOLMAN NT COMMENTARY BY KENDELL EASLEY, NKJV STUDY BIBLE BY RADMACHER, ALLEN & HOUSE, MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE, TSB BY WARREN WIERSBE, DR. CONSTABLE’S NOTES ON REVELATION
