To Be Marked -Revelation 13:15-18

Revelation 13:15-18 ESV
And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Just as the two "olive trees" gave witness to God, these beasts witness to Satan. The breath of God entered into the two slain after they lay in the street unburied. They then rise and are taken to heaven.

The second beast is able to give breath to the image of the first beast. The world marvels, but some will see through this deception and will reject the beast.

The number of its name is 666. Various individuals and entities have been identified over time, as there have been dates predicted for the second coming which have come and gone. We have seen that Scripture can speak on several levels and have multiple applications which are true at the same time. Types appear in history, yet inform us today, a shadow and prophesy of things to come.

One might get the sense that Rome represents the world empire that is forming in our headlong descent into a "new world order" and Islam continues to increase its violence and persecution of Jews and Christians alike. The idea of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God, is blasphemy to those who kill in the name of God. It embodies both ideas of Antichrist and beast. Wiping Israel off the face of the earth is a repeated and loud call by those surrounding Jerusalem. Satan is indeed furiously waging war on the offspring of the seed, for he knows his time is short.

The number does reflect the number of man, 6, and is grouped as 3, which could represent divinity, to be in the place of God. This is what Satan is all about. A mark on the forehead represents taking the name, or following the beast. Those that belong to God take His name and become children of God, and are marked with the Spirit of the living. The Spirit leads us into the mind of Christ, renewing and transforming the believer into new creatures, a new creation. Those that follow the beast remain tied to the fate of the beast, and bear the mark of destruction, making their way down the path away from God. Those that take the mark of Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.


Revelation 16:2
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Revelation 20:4-5
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

Galatians 6:17
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Revelation 15:2
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.