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Mark of the Beast - 666

Revelation 13:11-18
 

Introduction
 
In Revelation 17 a harlot antichrist (apostate Christian church) came to her end at the time she was “sitting” on many “waters” (16:19, 17:1).

1. “Sitting” means ruling over.
2. “Waters” are the people of the world (17:15).
3. That church was governing from the City of the Seven Hills (Rome – 17:9). She was a world power at the time of her demise.

Her ruling period of time will be 42 months (13:5).[1]

• “Romanism as a system is no more in harmony with the gospel of Christ now than at any former period in her history. The Protestant churches are in great darkness, or they would discern the signs of the times. The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.”^[2]

That is exactly what happened in Revelation 17, detailed in chapter 13. During that 42 months (or 3½ years as many refer to it), another world power emerges. It becomes the global force behind the papal antichrist. Its power also becomes fearful and tyrannical against those who reject the “mark of the beast,” the antichrist’s unique sign or insignia of authority.
 
This, now, is how that final, powerful nation’s story begins:
 
The “Earth Beast” – a “False Prophet”
 
“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11 NIV).
 
The sea beast (vs 1) ascends from the sea (like the four beasts initially did in Daniel 7:3). This beast ascends from the earth (like the four beasts did later in Daniel 7:17).

1. The Greek word for “beast” is therion –meaning a treacherous, savage, and violent nation.
2. The lamb-like horns are a simile! This beast tries to show that it is like a “lamb,” or even the Lamb of God (Revelation 5:6). It is later called a “false prophet” (Revelation 16:13). Those lamb-like horns portray deception.
3. It conveys messages that are actually satanic.
4. It arises sequentially after the sea beast – apparently sometime during that 42 months.

 This “earth beast” defies God by supporting the “sea beast.” The sea beast represents the Holy See (Catholic Church plus the Vatican City State – noted from Revelation 17).

• The sea beast was given a lion-like mouth to loudly blaspheme and slander God
  (13:5-6).
• The earth beast speaks similarly. Through its global world power (noted shortly), many scholars believe this beast refers to the United States.

It will wield great control over the world’s inhabitants on behalf of the sea beast.
 
“He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf” (Revelation 13:12a NET). That is global.
 
The dragon gave his authority to the first beast (13:2b). Scholars then see that beast giving his authority to this earth beast. The wording, pasan (all) exousian (power), means “all authority” is will be shared.

• The wording suggests that it becomes a “cohost” of Satan’s authority. This is a fearful end-time prophecy.
• The dragon (Satan), the sea beast (antichrist papacy), and the earth beast (apostate Protestantism) make up what is known as “the false trinity.”
• The earth beast is “commissioned” by Satan and Rome for a task. That mission:

To make “the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed” (Revelation 13:12b NET).

The earth is already worshiping the dragon and the sea beast. Here, “made the earth” suggests it has become a universal policing agent­­­, an international agent, to ensure that all comply with this idolatrous allegiance.

• The antichrist had already been given secular power by ten world leaders in 17:12-13.
• Here, this “false prophet” or earth beast now forces the world to worship that antichrist! A secular/religious coalition is now operational! To contemporary students, it is part of some new world order.

How did this “earthly power” get so much authority to force this obeisance to the Roman antichrist?

• The evidence is strong that Satan, the dragon, will literally appear to earth’s inhabitants as a supernatural being.
• He is literally worshiped globally (13:3-4). This being gives power and authority to the antichrist, who, in turn, shares both with this earthly beast.
• This earth beast, on behalf of or with the dragon, will also “perform” supernatural “feats,” “miracles,” or “signs.”

Many Bible expositors conclude that in the last days, Satan will appear as an angel of light, with great power and heavenly glory, and claim to be the Lord of the whole earth.^[3]
 
Through his demonic influence, miracles will be wrought – even the sick could appear to be healed, with many undeniable wonders. And as the false trinity will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.^[4]

• If the whole world worships Satan, he will be seen as the supreme authority.
• If he is seen as a supreme, “all powerful” being, what false doctrine or deception might he promote? What false belief might the antichrist urge on the earth in defiance of God?
• That will become the “mark of the beast”! A mark or “badge” of the antichrist sea beast.

Then, he [the dragon with the earth beast] will supernaturally stun the world (next verse).
 
The twelfth verse ends with a fascinating phrase regarding the sea beast: “the one whose lethal wound had been healed” (13:12b).
What does that mean? That is an orientation statement.
 
Previously one of the seven “heads” or papal leaders had been seriously wounded and miraculously healed in verse 3. That was Pope John Paul II, seen from Revelation 17:9-10. Here, however, in chapter 13, it is the “beast” that was “fatally” wounded and healed. This is that history:

• The papal “beast” or “nation” was “wounded to death” in 1870.
• King Victor Emmanuel of the new Italian nation confiscated the Papal States and, finally, Rome (during Pope Pius IX’s reign). That ended nearly 1126 years of papal rule over that land (church and state) (754–1870). That area included the city of Rome and two fifths of what is today Italy. After that attack, the Catholic Church was only an ecclesiastical power. They had no land to govern.
• Then, in 1929, with the Lateran Accords between the papacy and Italy (led by Mussolini), the Catholic Church was reunited with a state (Vatican City State). The beast was restored. It once again became a church and a state – referencing Revelation 17’s “woman riding the beast.”
• That Vatican City State quickly became an international country and soon began to exchange ambassadors (~180 as of April 2021). It remains the smallest country in the world but has 1.4 billion “citizens.”

As these snippets of prophecy unfold, end-time prophecy races forward.
 
“And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.  Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 13:13-14a NIV).
 
Again, this beast is a nation – likely the United States near the end of earth’s history. There will be religious leaders in America who represent this prophetic earth beast who do miraculous signs. Perhaps even Satan himself will join in these deceptive displays.

• We must cognitively be aware of how close Satan, the antichrist, and, now, this powerful earth beast are working together!

Remember Paul’s words: “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14 NET).
 
Demonic power will deceive the senses! What truth we Biblically study, understand, and accept are vital to our eternal future! How we feel may be deceptive. Long ago, as Isaiah was dealing with apostasy in Judea, he conveyed this “check” on falsehood: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 28:20).
 
Satan is now aware that his time is short (Revelation 12:12). One must assume he will do anything to gain followers and inspire his loyal agents. He will even try to “prove” that he is God.
 
Biblical truth is the only canopy under which we can safely stand.
 
The coming of Christ is to be preceded by the working of Satan with all power, signs and lying wonders – and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness (II Thessalonians 2:9-10). The apostle John described that miracle-working power which will be manifested in the last days. Men will be deceived by the miracles that Satan and his agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.^[5]
 
This echoes the work of the false trinity in Revelation 16 as part of the Battle of Armageddon in a full war mode.
 
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:13-14 – KJV).

• That is the same prophecy from a different perspective as when the earth and sea beasts enamor the whole world. Note: All agents of the false trinity work miracles.
• Our senses cannot be relied on.

Moses performed “great signs” before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:17, 30, 10:2, 11:10). Pharaoh’s magicians did many of the same (Exodus 7:11). God is praised for “doing great wonders and signs” (Daniel 4:37a LXX). The saints will even have that power (Revelation 11:5). And so will Satan and his minions!

• This final standoff will be dramatic and loaded with sensory experiences! Only those who understand God’s side will not be deceived by the supernatural. They are cautious Bible students.
• Because the whole world will be deceived by this drama (along with Satan appearing as a shining being), it will be exceedingly difficult for the world to reject actual supernatural sights.

Christ predicted that these miracles would become end-time signs (Matthew 24:24). The world will assume that Satan’s authority is validated because of his miracles.^[6]
 
The focus gets more pointed.
 
“He [earth beast] told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast [sea beast] who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived” (Revelation 13:14b NET).
 
This moves our understanding deeper regarding this earth beast (the United States) and its global authority. The world is already worshiping the papal antichrist. Now this earth beast wants the world to make some “icon” (some idol), symbolizing the antichrist’s authority.

• The signs and miracles from Satan and his “religious” agents have already gained the world’s attention. To acquiesce to some “image” or idolatrous command would seem natural and acceptable! Recall, the earth beast is “religious” – it is also called a “false prophet” (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10)!
• Some image is to be honored, even worshiped (next verse). The picture echoes Daniel 3:15 (KJV): “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut [little trombone], psaltery [handheld stringed instrument], and dulcimer [like odd-shaped guitar], and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”

There, that image represented the powerful and arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar.
 
The earth beast “orders” the world to copy something that the sea beast is promoting, stands for or that it represents. It is even to be worshiped or associated with worship!

• At this point, we don’t know what this is, but it is honoring (NIV) the beast by duplicating something that it represents.
• Some “icon” from the sea beast becomes its “mark” or its “authority sign” that each individual is required to follow.

This image or copy of the antichrist’s authority becomes such an issue that the earth beast uses it to eventually wield life and death power!
 
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15 KJV).
 
That’s amazing. That symbol becomes a force, a worship mandate, a world issue of tyranny, and a power over life and death!
 
That symbol or representation is made so powerful and important that it conveys a message, “it speaks,” to earth’s inhabitants – “obey or else!” From Daniel 11 and 12 we know it becomes a law mandating some worship.

• Like the Bible “speaks” to us of God’s divine truths.
• This symbol, image, representation, “speaks” or “requires” worship! The earth beast gives lethal warnings that are contrary to God’s will. Its “power,” its “voice,” brings pain and death if you don’t obey it!

This, clearly, becomes a great test of loyalty for God’s people. It means that some worship law(s) will be enforced!

• The world worships Satan and worships the antichrist. Now his earthly ally forces the world to worship an icon the antichrist promotes!
• The earth beast nation becomes a powerful enforcement agency to some religious issue/doctrine that God calls an “abomination” in Daniel 11 and 12. That is where we will discover what that law is – what that mark is.

This life and death mandate recalls what one discovers of the harlot (apostate church) in Revelation 17:6: “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (John was stunned.)

• That reflects the scope of its life and death power!

Uncovering that Mark or Hallmark
 
Jesus said to go to Daniel to understand the “abomination” that will come to planet earth at the time of the end. That is the “mark” or hallmark of the antichrist.
 
Daniel reports that the antichrist will do many things at the end that God clearly hates:

1. He forsakes God’s restoration covenant (Daniel 11:30).
2. He removes something called the “daily” (11:31) – one of God’s laws.
3. He creates a law in its place that God calls an “abomination” (11:31).
4. God says that the antichrist will be destroyed (become desolate) because of this law (11:31).
5. It all occurs at the “time of the end,” during a 1335-day period (Daniel 12:12). Revelation 13’s 42-month prophecy (vs 5) is within that 1335-day period.

In Daniel 7:25 God says that the antichrist (little horn) wants to change God’s times and laws. In Daniel 11 and 12, where this abomination occurs, he has done exactly that!
 
In Daniel 11:31 is a prophecy where the antichrist removes the “daily” (one of God’s laws) and he “sets up” another law in its place.

• “They shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” (Daniel 11:31).
• “Place” means making a new law.

An exact prophecy is repeated in Daniel 12:11 – but with that time period added:

• “And from the time that the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
• “set up” (the same Hebrew word for “place” above) means making a law – here, that leads to desolation or destruction.

The reason this Revelation 13 earth beast has such power relates to that law which the antichrist made – there called the “mark of the beast”!
 
What is that law that leads to desolation or destruction? Here is a clue:

• Daniel was told in 8:13: “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?”
• The word used for that desolating sin (that abomination) is “transgression,” which is one of the worst sins in the Hebrew Bible.

That Hebrew word for “transgression” is pesha. It means rebellion or defiance against God’s:

1. Law
2. Authority
3. Covenant

What is the one thing that gives God true authority over planet earth?

• He’s the Creator and re-Creator!

There is a divine stipulation that honors His creative authority.

• “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11; cf. Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
• The Sabbath is the fourth commandment in the Decalogue, written by God’s finger in stone (Exodus 31:18). It honors God as Creator. That is the sign or mark of God’s authority.

This rest day is also a sign of God’s restoration covenant, which in Daniel 8 and 11 the antichrist wars against, as noted above.

• “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant” (Exodus 31:16).
• You say that is Jewish? Not really. That seventh-day Sabbath was made a sacred day right at Creation: “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3). That was centuries before the Jewish nation existed!

That was so important to Christ, He said that when we would be fleeing in the final tribulation to a place of protection (mountains, etc.):

• “Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day” (Matthew 24:20).
• He was looking into our future from ~30 A.D.

Expositors have observed regarding Revelation 17 and 13 that: “Nations will be stirred to their very center. Support will be withdrawn from those who proclaim God’s only standard of righteousness, the only sure test of character. And all who will not bow to the decree of the national councils and obey the national laws to exalt the sabbath instituted by the man of sin, to the disregard of God’s holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of the Protestant world [in the United States], [because of] the image of the beast.”^[7] (Forcing worship on another day).
 
“This is Satan’s plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation.” ^[8]
 
Does the Roman antichrist claim that this is a sign or mark of its authority? Amazing!

“The Catholic church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday... The Protestant World at its birth found the Christian Sabbath [Sunday] too strongly entrenched to run counter to its existence; it was therefore placed under the necessity of acquiescing in the arrangement, thus implying the (Catholic) Church’s right to change the day, for over three hundred years. The Christian Sabbath is therefore to this day, the acknowledged offspring of the Catholic Church as spouse of the Holy Ghost, without a word of remonstrance from the Protestant World.” James Cardinal Gibbons in the Catholic Mirror, September 23, 1983.^[9]

“Question: How prove you that the church had power to command feasts and holydays?
“Answer: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.
“Question: How prove you that?
“Answer: Because by keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the Church’s power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin: and by not keeping the rest by her commanded, they again deny, in fact, the same power.”^[10]
 
“It was the Catholic church which ... has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] church.” Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.”^[11]
 
“Protestants ... accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change.... But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that ... In observing the Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church, the Pope.”^[12]
 
Even more authoritative:
 
“Sunday is our mark or authority ... the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” Catholic Record of London, Ontario, September 1, 1923.”^[13]
 
“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16 NIV).
 
This “mark” identifies one’s allegiance to the antichrist.

“Forehead” in Jewish thought means to give full assent or loyalty. On the “hand” means obeying, but one’s heart is not in it – not out of belief in it.
 
Satan and his antichrist want this mark as a sign of their moral authority over everyone! God wants His mark or sign of authority on everyone also!

• God’s mark of authority is that He is our Creator.
• The sign honoring His authority:
• “Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you” (Exodus 31:13).
• “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:17).

The “mark of the beast” is the beast’s authority to change God’s law. Those who honor another Sabbath make an image or icon to the antichrist.
 
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17 KJV).
 
The mark also suggests ownership! It is a satanic parody of the sealing of the saints on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3, 3:12). Keeping the seventh-day Sabbath is the outward sign of loyalty to God as Creator.
 
This Sabbath issue becomes so focused, powerful, and controlling that those who reject the mark (e.g., reject Sunday as the Sabbath) will not be able to “buy or sell.”

• How that is implemented is not revealed.

The last part of the KJV verse above is mistranslated. The NET and NIV convey the more accurate message of this verse.
 
“Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast – that is, his name or his number” (Revelation 13:17 NET).
 
The “mark” is either the “name” of the beast or the “number” of the beast.
 
The orientation of its name was back in verse 1. On the heads of the beast was the name of blasphemy or, as many translations say, a “blasphemous name.”

• What is that? Dishonoring God’s authority as Creator by promoting a false worship.
• Its meaning is absolute defiance of God – even taking the place of God on earth.

What then is its number?
 
“This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666” (Revelation 13:18 NET).
 
God inspired John to begin this verse: “This calls for wisdom,” meaning that special intelligence will be given to believers during the days of this apocalyptic antichrist (cf. Daniel 12:10). What is that? From a major study of this expression, the wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit. This is repeated in 17:9.

• What that “counting” or “calculated” insight simply means is to figure how it is the symbolic number of mankind.^[14] In the whole book of Revelation, when John uses the word “number,” he uses it figuratively or symbolically (5:11; 7:4, 9; 9:16; 20:8).
• It will, therefore, be a symbolic 666.

Many scholars have speculated on the varied meanings of this.^[15] Brilliant scholar Aune could not come to a conclusion and assumed that understanding would not happen until that antichrist came onto earth’s scene. Many expositors, however, state that it relates to the “number of mankind” in the Greek.
 
At Creation man was created on the sixth day. In religious literature the number six has been called “man’s day.”
 
In Revelation 17 the "antichrist" harlot, symbolizing apostate Christianity, was named “Babylon.” Intriguingly, the Babylonian numbering system was based on sixes, not tens like ours (though we retain some numerical influence from Babylon). Babylon and the number six relate to apostasy. It does not go to that “perfect number” of seven, which is mentioned nearly 400 times in the Bible.
 
Since chapter 13 discusses the false trinity, the 666 relates to those three imperfect (demonically controlled) beings. This association with Babylon relates to something evil that they promote.

1. The number “7” relates to God’s holy day and represents Him.^[16]
2. This “false trinity” does not reach that perfect sacred number. It represents and supports a deceptive human symbol – the mark of the beast (his presumed authority to change God’s law).

Franklin S. Fowler, Jr., M.D.
Prophecy Research Initiative – non-profit 501(c)3 © 2024
EndTime Issues…, Number 286, September 5, 2024
Click here to go to PRI’s website: endtimeissues.com

References:

[1] Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 282.

[2] The Great Controversy, (Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, ID), pp. 565-566.

[3] Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 282.

[4] The Great Controversy, op. cit., p. 588.

[5] The Great Controversy, op. cit., p. 553.

[6] Beale, Gregory K.; The New International Greek Testament Commentary; The Book of Revelation (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan – 1999), pp. 709-710.

[7] Selected Messages (Review and Herald Publishing Association; Washington, D.C.; 1958), vol. 2, p. 380. 

[8] The Signs of the Time (Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, ID), May 6, 1897. 

[9] https://ia800508.us.archive.org/35/items/AmeriCatholicQRevV08/AmeriCatholicQRevV08.pdf

[10] A translated abridgement of The Douay Catechism of 1649, by Henry Tuberville, D.D., chapter eight, the “fourth commandment” p. 51, April 24, 1833; http://aloha.net/~mikesch/DouayCat.htm#command%204

[11] https://archive.org/details/PlainTalkAboutTheProtestantism
Book:  https://www.amazon.com/Plain-Talk-About-Protestantism-Day/dp/0469098481

[12] Our Sunday Visitor, February 15, 1950.

[13] http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/c-record.htm

[14] Kistemaker, Simon J.; Revelation (Baker Academic; Grand Rapids, MI), p. 394.

[15] Aune, David E.; 52B World Biblical Commentary; Revelation 6–16 (World Books; Dallas, Texas), p. 185, 1997.

[16] Brighton, Louis A; Revelation, Concordance Commentary (Concordance Publishing House, Saint Louis), p. 362, 1999.