The Mark of The Beast
Notes
Transcript
The Beast
The Beast
There has been so much talk about “The “Beast”, or the “Mark of The Beast”, that just about everyone has at least heard of it.
But surprisingly few people can actually tell you where it is found in the bible (other than just Revelation)
Instead most people get their understanding from pop culture and hollywood
Even among bible scholars and preachers, there are different ideas on the interprestation
The prevailing view, at least in America and pop culture is that that beast is synonymous with the anti-christ
Many movies and stories, such as Left Behind, depict the Antichrist as being a world leader who get killed, usually by being shot in the head and then comes back to life.
They take that view from the description of the beast in Revelation 13
Lets take a look at this passage, and then try to unpack it
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 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.
First, in order to understand the beast, and the mark of the beast correctly, we need to understand the passage correctly
Throughout bible prophecy, beasts are used to represent countries, not individuals.
For instance, in Daniel, chapter 8, Daniel saw a vision of a ram, which represented the Medo-Persian empire. He also saw a goat, which represented the Greek empire.
Each head of the best represents a country, or empire. So, a multi-headed beast represents an alliance, or empire of several countries.
Verse 2 says “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. The dragon is the devil
John says in verse 3, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.
This is the passage that has inspired so much fantasy, and so many movies and books about an antichrist who rises from the dead, or appears to.
all of those depictions are false. No such things is predicted here.
First, this does not tell a story of anyone or anything rising from the dead. He says that is was wounded “as if it had been dead”, not that it was dead. So receives a wound that is near death.
Second, and more importantly, we need to remember that the beast is not a person or individual, it is an empire.
If the beast is an empire, as is normal in bible prophecy, then each head also represents a country, or an empire.
So, this verse cannot be talking about a man that was wounded and then recovers. The beast is not a man.
The head that was wounded then, is a country, or an empire, that had fallen from power, was nearly finished.
Yet somehow, this country recovers and resumes its status of power
He said in verse 4 that the world was saying “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with the beast?”
you do not make war with individuals, you make war with countries.
If this passage is indeed referring to an empire instead of an individual, then there are not other passages from where a person can get the idea of an antichrist who is wounded and recovers from the death or near death.
If it was referring to a person and not a a country, then it would seem that it would nee to be a seven headed person which is a little preposterous.
Russia
Russia
There are a few possibilities for which country this could be, but there are a couple of good reasons to consider Russia
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia seemed to be finished as a world power
They were bankrupt economically
their stock market failed, Their currency failed
They experienced hyperinflation, mass unemployment, food shortages and hunger
They had become basically a third world country. Many had written them off as insignificant on the world stage.
I read a book around that time which suggested Russia was the head that was wounded
the author pointed out that Russia still had vast resources
he believed they would recover, and become a superpower again.
in many ways this is what we see today.
The Seven Heads
The Seven Heads
If Russia is one of the heads, then which countries make up the other 6 heads?
The beast represents a countries, or empire -
Since it has multiple heads, this is probably an alliance of multiple nations
they will act as one, but have individual or separate government or leaders
Much speculation about the EU, but that is not likely
could include EU states
We have more information which can help us identify the beast
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
Here John has seen the vision of the great harlot on the back of the beast
An angel spoke and said he would tell him the mystery of the woman and of the beast
The beast out of the bottomless pit - out of hell -
we also know that the beast came up from the sea - this i snot a contradiction but a clarification
The beast gets his power and authority from satan - from hell
the sea represents all the peoples and nations of the world
there are many factors and forces working together even now, driving the world toward this antichrist system
so many people are deceived into thinking these are simply party against party, or country against country
in fact, these events are being carefully orchestrated by spiritual powers, bringing this beast up from hell, from the nations strivings
The seven heads are seven mountains - also reference to nations
Mountains in biblical prophecy are often nations, larger nations, those that rule over other nations
as opposed to hills or isles that are smaller nations
Isaiah spoke o mountains as being brought low, removed
Isaiah also spoke of the Lord’s house as a great mountain that would be exalted over all the other mountains
Also when He established the millennial kingdom - there will be peace in all His holy mountain
Daniel pictured the rock cut without hands that smashes all the other nations and becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth
This mountain was defined in Dan 2:44
44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
The angel further explains that there are seven kings, or kingdoms, and that five have fallen, one is, and one was yet to come
So to understand the identity of the beast, we should try to understand this clue
He mentions five kingdoms who had already risen and fallen from power before the time of this writing - first centruy
then he mentioned one kingdom that is - this would be the one that was ruling at the time of John’s writing
The Roman empire was in power at the time, so this would most likely represent Rome, or Italy today.
The five that had fallen then, are probably the five Empires which had risen and fallen in the old testament, which persecuted God’s people.
Egypt, Assyria (now Syria & Turkey part of Iraq), Babylon (Iraq), Persia (Iran), and Greece
If this view is correct them, this seven headed best would be an alliance of these 6 nations along with the one which had not come yet at the time Revelation was written, which we believe is Russia.
Who Is Able To Make War With The Beast?
Who Is Able To Make War With The Beast?
Another reason to believe that this is an alliance lead be Russia is its power
The whole world marvelled at the beast and said “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
This alliance of nations must have “superpower” status then.
Vs. 7 “ It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
The head that was wounded and recovered is obviously the dominant head here. They worshipped the first beast “whose deadly wound was healed” (Vs. 12)
There are really only three nations that could fit this role - that would have that much power
they are Russia, The United States, or China
There are several reasons why it could not be China or U.S
1. the alliances with the other 6 nations, are far more likely to fit Russia than either of the others.
2. Neither of these nations were nearly gone and recovered.
China is more likely to fit other end-time roles in prophecy
The U.S. is also more likely to fit other another role
The Second Beast
The Second Beast
So much attention is given to the first beast in Revelation 13, that some people don’t even realize that there is a second beast.
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
You may recall that the first beast rose up out of the sea
this represents all the nations and people of the earth - the striving of the nations - represented by the waves striving against one another
The second beast did not rise from the sea- but from the land. The second beast then probably represents a nation that rose up on stable ground, or where there was not already another nation
Vs. 12 “ he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
This second beast “exercises all the power of the first beast”. The second beast then also has “superpower” status.
Think for a moment if you will. If the first beast is an alliance of at least 7 nations, and has so much power that all the world wonders “who is able to make war with him”.
Then who could this second beast be? If we are correct in our belief that Russia represents the first beast, then there are really only two nations that could possible be the second.
It must be either the United States or China.
It is not Likely to be China for several reasons.
1. This second beast is allied with Russia - represents the anti-christ
There is a 200 million man army that comes to battle him at Armageddon. This is most likely China, so most likely not his ally.
China also has a history of multiple dynasties, conquests and governments. This is more like the sea also, not the land.
Also, this second beast is also called the false prophet, which would hardly describe China, but might well describe the US.
A prophet- one who speaks for God, or represents God.
China is officially an atheist nation - persecutes Christians openly - does not claim to represent God
U.S. on the other hand, is thought of as a Christian nation (historically). Presents itself as benevolent and peaceful. (horns like a lamb)
It would seem that the most likely candidate for the second beast would be the U.S. then
the problem with this view is that it requires an alliance to some degree between the U.S. and Russia.
prior to the last presidential campaign this seemed like something that would have to be a long way off. Not so much now.
such an alliance would certainly be powerful enough to fulfill the prophecy
The Mark
The Mark
Now that we have established who, or what the beast is, lets take a look at the mark of the beast.
“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, 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. 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”
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.
It is the second beast that causes everyone to be required to receive this mark
The purpose of the mark has nothing to do with worship. It has to do with power, particularly money, or commerce.
The mark itself has nothing to do with the devil. It is not the mark of the devil, it is the number of a man.
We are told to use wisdom here. think about this.
people will not be getting the mark of the beast becasue they want to worship the devil, they will do so becasue they want to buy and sell.
Without this mark, no one will be able to buy or sell.
there has been much speculation about what this might be over the years. Many false alarms.
people have said it was social security numbers, others credit cards, many other ideas.
But with those things, it is still possible to buy and sell.
I understood over 20 years ago that it would be some form of electronic payment system. A system that allowed the government to track all purchases and accouunts.
back then I thought that I would easily defeat that by simply using cash
It wasn’t until about 2015 that I really began to understand how this is likely to work.
I became so certain of this, that i actually began to make a couple of predictions, and so far, they are very much on track.
As long as there is a method, such as using cash, that we can use to get around the system, then there is not a fulfillment of this prophecy.
The governments will accomplish this by doing something I would not have even thought possible twenty years ago. They will abolish cash.
Those of you that have know me for a while may recall that I began talking about this back in 20014-15
there has been an absolute war on cash around the world for more than a decade now.
at first it started out as optional, but more an more it is becoming mandatory.
You may recall that I mentioned several times that it is illegal in many European nations to have transactions over 1k in cash (France, et. al.)
Also illegal to have more than a certain amount of cash with you.
Nov. 8 2016 India outlawed 1,000 and 500 rupee notes.
1,000 rupees is worth about $13.00. 80% of all Indian cash was in these denominations
It is now illegal to use them in any transaction or to posses more than 10 of them.
It was about that time that I predicted that by the end of 2022 cash will be outlawed here in the U.S. (and most of the world).
I said that there would be some crisis or catalyst to help accomplish this,. and that it will be to “protect” us, or help us.
Once all transactions are forced to be electronic, it will become necessary to have away to prove your identity, and to prevent anyone else form posing as you.
This will be accomplished by a digital ID (I have said this since at least 2015).
At first it will be voluntary (Although maybe not, in the wake of CV-19), then mandatory.
This system will, without any doubt be a computer chip implanted in you.
there are all kinds of ID chips already being used.
Consider ID2020.org
a global move toward digital ID for every person on the planet
transcend national systems and boundaries
Compare this to the statement “it is the number of a man”
The one that qualifies for the mark will be a little more unique. And it will be here very soon.
this chip will not only have the ability to link your ID to all of your banking, tax, and account information, it will do so in a way that cannot be hacked or counterfeited.
This chip will be able to code and sync with you on a DNA level.
In other words, it will not only identify itself, but it will have the ability to verify that it is in the correct person, and transmit information regularly.
It is very likely that this synchronization will also give it the ability to bring some level of control through your nervous system
this may sound sci-fi, or outlandish, but compare to things already being implemented - Army using chips to treat PTSD for instance.
These things will certainly happen. I believe in the next few years, but certainly they will come.
the bible is certain
Anyone who receives the mark is damned
there will not be a rapture to escape this time
it will require faith and perseverance
a willingness to be faithful to the end.
There will still be some who the Lord preserves through this time.
Many others will me martyred.
This is not to be feared however.
Instead, set your mind on hte things that are above.
I do not think abut dying - I think about living.
Consider the life that will come about when Jesus returns
Be Ready