We do not need to fear the mark of the beast referenced in Revelation. Other parts of the Bible remind us that God uses people’s evil plans for His greater purpose. When we understand the significance of numbers in the Bible, we will be able to see those links to other passages more clearly.
If you have not read the introduction to Numbers in the Bible, read Part 1 here first.
What is the Mark of the Beast?
The Devil, through the Beast, is going to try to get everyone to worship him through the mark.
“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, 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. 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.” Revelation 13:16-18
The Number 666 in Context of the Bible
The number 666 is well recognized as evil even among non-Christians. Revelation 13 encourages us to look deeper, and God reveals to us his purpose by referencing other parts of the Bible.
The number 6 represents evil, but it is more than that. It is the cleansing of evil.
- The flood covered the earth for 150 days and covered it at least 15 cubits deep (Gen. 7:20,24),
- There were 6 water pots used for purification (cleansing) that Jesus used to turn water into wine (John 2:6).
- Goliath was 6 cubits tall with a shield that weighed 600 shekels, and God used him to create a great victory through David (1 Sam 17).
With this insight, we can start to look at the Beast a little bit differently.
The Beast is opposed to God, but within God’s plan
Like the beast, Goliath was opposed to God. He taunted the Israelites and defied God for 40 days (1 Sam 17:16, 26). However, the Lord used Goliath’s defeat to beat the Philistines and raise up David who had a heart that was right toward Him. It was the contrast of all the Israelites being afraid in their own strength that made them ready to trust in God’s power in the same way Jesus said to Paul in 2 Cor. 12:9 “My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Similarly, the idol that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were supposed to bow down to was 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits wide (Dan 3:1). It stood directly in opposition to God, but God used it for two reasons.
First, all had to bow down to the image, or they would be killed. This requirement created a clear distinction between those that valued their life, and those that prioritized God.
Second, through this situation God advanced the kingdom. “Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Daniel 3:29
The mark in Revelation requires people to make a choice
People will clearly know that it is evil and will have to decide to choose the evil or choose God. This requirement to make choice is repeated though scripture.
We hear it in an inspirational way of “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Most of us have heard this phrase, but did you ever wander what was sitting in the “…” space?
Here is the whole verse.
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
The complete verse is an actual decision of choosing good or evil. God wants us to make the choice, and it is a true decision for us to pick one or the other.
God does not want us sitting on the sidelines.
In Revelation chapter 3:15-16, Jesus says to the church at Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
The End of the World Creates a Problem for Free Will
Everyone before the end times has their whole life to make that decision of whether they would submit to the Lord or follow their own evil desires. But, at the end times, Jesus will return at one time and purge all evil. So God has a plan to make sure that everyone comes first to the knowledge of the decision, and then second makes the decision.
God will use the beast to force everyone to make a decision between good and evil in order to protect people’s free will.
With that decision, there is a mark.
The “mark” is one of the most known parts of Revelation for the fear it creates. There is good reason to fear this mark, but an even greater reason that the fear can be relieved.
Revelation 14:9-10 says this about the mark and the consequences of it. “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
This is a terrifying image, and everyone who reads it should want to avoid that mark. The problem is that a focus on avoiding the mark misses a greater point.
Everyone will be “Marked”
Multiple times in the Bible we see a different mark that God gives us. We see it in Deuteronomy chapter 6 and chapter 11:18. Exodus 13:19 and even the last chapter of Revelation references a different mark than the one from the beast.
Deuteronomy 6 is a beautiful chapter of God telling us to obey His commandments. Jesus even referred to vs 5 and 6 when He told us the greatest commandment. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart”
Look what we find 3 verses after the greatest in vs 8. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
At the end of Revelation, after Satan and the Beast are cast into the lake of fire, those who chose Jesus will forever be with Him.
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:3-4
At the very end, we see another mark. We will have His name on our foreheads.
The mark of following God’s commands are in the same place as the mark of the beast! There is only space for one mark.
Conclusion
God is in control at all times, and uses those who are opposed to Him to advance His kingdom. Everyone will be marked. Our focus should not just be about avoiding the mark, but rather making sure we have the right one. Fill yourself with the right spiritual mark of God and you won’t have to worry about making space for the mark of the beast.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
