"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." Rev. 13:16-18
Cashless society would be the ultimate form of control, because without access to money, people couldn’t resist, couldn’t hide and couldn’t escape and this is what has been meant by 'the mark of the beast'. This means anyone who refuses the mark will be unable to buy food, clothing or other necessities of life. People in the world will succumb to the mark simply to survive. This will be a universal system of control where everyone, rich and poor, great and small, will bear the mark on their hand or forehead. We know that man was created on the sixth day and that the apostle Paul speaks of the rise of a "man of sin" who would sit in the "temple of God" showing himself to be like God, and exalting himself into the place of Christ Jesus on earth" in 2 Thessalonians 2.
One of things I learned while researching this article is that every time there is a global crisis new laws and systems are introduced to the masses. The crisis world economy in the future could be the rapture of the Christians or a global financial crash, though I'm leaning more towards the latter. Those who want to be a part of the economic system that the Antichrist will introduce will be forced to receive the “mark” in their right hand or forehead and have no way of opting out. There is a great deal of speculation as to how exactly this mark will be stamped, but the technologies that are available right now could accomplish it very easily. GPS, tracking, contactless and eye recognition at airports are all tell-tale signs that we are moving towards the final phase, which could be the microchip implant or a some form of cryptocurrency that could be regulated by the central banks.
Though many support the idea that microchip implant will be the mark, I am not so sure. For full compliance and easy recognition of the masses, so that they can buy and sell, they will be forced to “receive a MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads”, which means that the mark must be seen. Remember that the whole world will be affected by this law and it is the False Prophet, which is linked to religion, who causes the people to take the mark whether it is a number, microchip or a symbol. Individuals who refuse to worship the beast are not allowed to carry out the smallest economic transactions. This has always been a favourite way by which governments and authorities shut out undesirables from the system. The Greek word used for "mark" is charagma, it means "to engrave or impress" and can only be found in the New Testament, written in Greek. It is found in Acts 17:29 and in Revelation. The charagma was the technical term for the Roman imperial stamp that appeared on various documents. It was a seal stamped with the name and date of the emperor and attached to commercial documents. Apparently, it also stood for the emperor’s head stamped on coins.
Old Testament Parallels
Many events in the Old Testaments are the evidence or the shadow of things to come that are projected in the New Testament. Whenever I’m reading the New Testament specially Revelation, I automatically looking for any references in the Old Testament. To understand the Book of Revelation you need to read and understand the old Testament. Few months ago, in my daily devotion I was reading 1 Kings 10 :14. “The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.” Solomon received 666 talents of Gold and from verse 18 we are told “Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. 20 Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.” When I read the number 12 in the verse I expected explanation because when the number 12 is mentioned it usually refers to the tribes of Israel but in this case, there was no explanation. Soon after he builds his throne and receives gifts, Solomon turns away from God, increased his wealth, imported chariots from Egypt, foreign wives and concubines and finally worshiping idols and building high places of idol worship on the hill of Jerusalem contrary to God’s laws in Deuteronomy 17:16-17. “16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself”. The figure of six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold may be relevant or not but what is interesting is that this number is linked to gold.
Another parallel in the Old Testament is Daniel 2 where Nebuchadnezzar the king had a dream which was interpreted by Daniel “31 You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay”. The image’s head represented Babylon. The Bible reveals that all false systems of religion began in the land of Babylon and will have their consummation from the spirit of Babylon in the last days. It is interesting to note that every organized system of religion in the world today has traces of ancient Babylon.
Another parallel is again in Daniel 3 linking the forced worship that the False Prophet of Revelation demands from everyone “3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits”…….4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”” Although the King acknowledged God because of a dream that Daniel interpreted for him, it wasn’t long before he began to boast of his great power while in the Royal Palace of Babylon “At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?". As result of God’s judgement Nebuchadnezzar was changed to a beast that will graze in the field, his hair like eagles’ feather and his nails like birds of claws.
God’s seal
In the Old Testament the sign of circumcision was a physical seal. Our seal as Christians is Spiritual. Jesus Christ bore the seal of God: “On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (John 6:27). Those who trust in Jesus also possess the seal of God, which is the Holy Spirit: “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13–14).
Jesus is coming
“Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:11). It is good to know that God’s children are sealed, secure, and sustained amid the wickedness of this transitory world.
The sad fact is that for those who choose today to not believe in Jesus Christ, that day will be a terrible one. For those who are not believers, they will face eternal judgment and have no second chance for salvation and escaping hell. For those who today have already placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they will receive their reward. If you want to be saved from the wrath of God and receive eternal life, “Come to Jesus” and you can be saved today. God is patient, but He will not wait forever (2 Pet 3:9). Today is the day of your salvation because no one has any guarantee that they will live beyond today (2 Cor 6:2). Jesus is saying to you today “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light”. Matthew 11:28-30.To come to Jesus doesn’t been sorting your life out first. Jesus will do that for you. He doesn’t expect you to come in your strength or perfection. He calls you gently, not to condemn you, but to save you. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy)..Luke 4:18
One of things I’m always amazed about is the gentleness of Jesus. When Jesus chose the disciples, they were ordinary men – unknown and by trade fishermen. It is interesting to read the gospels and see how Jesus interacted with the disciples and not just them but also the community, villages and the cities He visited or stayed at. Jesus always showed attention and compassion to those that came to Him. The only time He showed His anger was towards the religious hierarchy that existed then and exists today. One of His disciple, Peter, followed Him a great deal. Peter was a bit of a character. He was reactive, outspoken, zealous, enthusiastic, strong-willed, impulsive, and, at times, brash. But for all his strengths, Peter had several failings in his life. Still, the Lord who chose him continued to mold him into exactly who He intended Peter to be. Peter, in his own way, tried to please the Lord, when he saw Jesus walking on water, he wanted to do the same but after taking few steps, his bravery let him down and he cried out to Jesus to save him, which He did. On another occasion, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, “Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear”. Jesus again saved him by healing the wounded ear. It was Peter who bragged that he would never leave Jesus, even if everyone else did. It was Peter, even after his boasting, denied Jesus three times that he even knew the Lord even though Jesus had warned him before the event. When he remembered Jesus’ words, the bible says that Peter wept bitterly.
I cannot even begin to comprehend how Peter must have felt during those days before and after the crucifixion or the rest of the disciples who left Him to face the religious leaders and a trial. What did Jesus do after His resurrection? He when to His disciples, knowing where they will be - at dawn fishing. Not only did He visit them, but He prepared breakfast for them as they had been toiling all night and caught nothing. What will you do if your friends left you when you needed them? Many of us will not prepare food for them at dawn! But this is what Jesus did because He is gentle, compassionate and forgiving. So, if you want to come to Jesus, no matter what you have done, He will receive you. Accepting Jesus is a relationship, and you will have your ups and downs, but Jesus said, “that He will never leave you or forsake.” Peter was unlikely hero but look at what Jesus has accomplished through him. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13.
Where Will You Spend Eternity?
“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion]; they will [be privileged to] see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign [as kings] forever and ever”. Rev. 22:1-5