"And it causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bondmen, that they should give them a mark upon their right hand or upon their forehead; and that no one should be able to buy or sell save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of its name" (Rev. 13:16-1716And 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: 17And 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 13:16‑17))
What Is the Mark?
It is twofold: (1) The name of the beast (2) The number of the beast's name. It is applied in two ways: either (1) secretly—in the right hand:—this I take to be the name of the beast: (2) openly, in the forehead-this being, I believe, the number of its name.
Who Imposes These Marks?
Within What Geographical Limits Will He Use This Power?
There are but two possibilities as to this. He is either limited to Israel where he holds sway (under the beast) or within the bounds of the revived Roman Empire. The abomination is set up in the middle of the week in Jerusalem (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27) and 12:11). When this takes place the faithful in Israel are told to flee (Matt. 24:15-2115When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:15‑21)). Satan is cast out of heaven at that very time and gets control of the Roman Empire in the middle of the week. (see Rev. 12:9; 13:2-59And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)
2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (Revelation 13:2‑5)). The antichrist starts at Jerusalem, where there will yet be a pretense to honor the true God, sets up the image and forces the Jews to take the mark, either the name or the number. He will also extend this to other parts of the Roman Empire, but NOT OVER THE WHOLE WORLD AS WE SHALL SEE.
Will There Be Any Area of Earth That Will Not Come Under the Direct Power and Will of the Beast?
Yes. I submit a few as follows:
Russia and her allies (Ezek. 38: 1-6, JND translation).
The kings of the earth (a general term). Rev. 18:99And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9) shows these kings bewailing the destruction of Babylon, whereas "the ten horns which thou sawest AND (not upon) the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate," etc. (Rev. 17:1616And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16)). We are not clear who these kings are, but they hold authority outside the realm of the beast. The beast is the Roman Empire revived, not a kingdom controlling absolutely the whole world, though its influence may reach far out (Rev. 13:77And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:7)).
(e) The Western Hemisphere. This will no doubt be influenced by the beast, but is outside his direct realm. Perhaps "the kings of the earth" will predominantly belong here. (Africa with its new nations should also be considered.)
Everlasting Gospel—What Is It and by Whom Preached?
The gospel of the grace of God as now preached is not the everlasting gospel of Rev. 14. God announced good news, in the garden, of Christ's eventual triumph IN POWER over Satan. The prophets carried on this testimony and in the period following the church a company will be raised up to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, the form in which the everlasting gospel will go forth. Matt. 24 is the clue, if we understand the elect to be Jews on Jewish ground. Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) shows a witness to all nations (not to all individuals) before the end comes. Matt. 10:2323But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (Matthew 10:23) shows the final testimony to Israel. A remnant of Judah will come through alive (Rev. 14:1-51And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1‑5)). Some of the others who refused the beast and his mark will suffer martyrdom (Rev. 15:2-32And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:2‑3)).
To Whom Will It Be Preached (Rev. 14:6-76And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6‑7))?
The everlasting gospel will be preached to apostate Christendom, i.e. to "them that dwell on the earth", as a final testimony of doom. It will also be preached to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people". Some among them will hear and get saved. These will be the sheep of Matt. 25. Gentiles manifesting faith by helping the messengers of the kingdom are saved as the sheep, but the goats are those who had not faith. The "brethren" are the Lord's Jewish brethren who carry out the testimony to Israel and the nations. I doubt that the judgment of the living nations is but one sessional judgment, based on Joel 3:12-1412Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:12‑14). All will not see His glory nor hear His fame at once. In fact it is after the Lord has pleaded with all flesh that afterward the spared, of Jew and Gentile (it seems), will yet at the beginning of the millennium carry word to those who have not seen nor heard. Study carefully Isa. 66, more particularly verses 15-21. "All flesh" is the Gentiles: those eating swine's flesh etc. (Isa. 66:1717They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:17)) are the apostates in Israel. This scripture, to me, makes clear that all entering into the millennium are not necessarily saved! Psalm 18:4444As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. (Psalm 18:44) (see JND or WK) shows strangers rendering feigned obedience. Psalm 66:33Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psalm 66:3) shows that His enemies render feigned obedience. Open sin will be dealt with summarily (Psa. 101:4-84A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. (Psalm 101:4‑8)).
Who Are They Who Receive the Mark the Name or the Number of Its Name, and What Is Their Destiny?
2 Thes. 2 shows a class who in the Christian (or church) era did not love the truth that they might be saved. They are offered heaven, but they choose earth (Phil. 3:1919Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:19)). They settle down or sit upon the earth. Never was there an age in which God offered so much to those that believe as the present one! But the Holy Ghost is resisted, Christ is despised, God's Word set at naught. They will not have the ONE come in the Father's Name (John 5:4343I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)) so they, in judicial blindness (Jer. 13:15-1615Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. 16Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. (Jeremiah 13:15‑16)), will receive Satan's man. They shall have "strong delusion" that they should believe a lie. Now carry this over to the Revelation and you find a: special group called "them that dwell [literally sit] upon the earth" (Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)). They are the ones mentioned in 2 Thes. 2! Follow them throughout the Revelation and see "whose side" they are on. They worship the beast (Rev. 13:88And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)). They are deceived by antichrist (Rev. 13:12; 212And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12) Thes. 2:9-12). They are controlled by antichrist (same verse). Going back to Rev. 11 we see that the ministry of the two witnesses tormented them and when these are slain they rejoice and send gifts one to another.
They of "people and kindreds and tongues and nations" are indifferent and do not act with the same venom in their hearts as "they that dwell upon the earth". There is no second chance and those who have refused God's offer of heaven in preference to earth will believe a lie and receive the mark of the beast, within the sphere of his authority. Can they be saved? NO! They worship the beast (Rev. 13:88And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8))and so fall under the condemnation of Rev. 14:9-119And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9‑11): "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." There is, I believe, no possibility of anyone turning from the worship of the beast once committed to it. They will reject all and martyr some of the godly ones who carry the gospel of the kingdom (everlasting gospel) as Rev. 15:22And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Revelation 15:2) shows.
General Comments.
The beast must first be established as such and his name manifested before the number is established. It is "the number of his name". This number 666 has nothing to do with us now in the days of Christianity, so there is no determining of the meaning now. However, it does indicate what is short of perfection; God's rest which is connected with the number seven is not there. This falling short is emphasized three times, thus denoting what is short of perfection. Only the wise (those with faith) in that day will understand (Dan. 12:1010Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10) and Rev. 13:1818Here 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. (Revelation 13:18)).
I set no importance on machines called "the beast". It is a mere coincidence. Men in plants and shops have often nicknamed some huge machine as "the monster", "the ape", etc. I can picture them saying of a large computer, "It is like a huge beast." The beast in Scripture is God's designation, not man's. When the beast arrives he will have no such name by men! He will be the great man of efficiency and power. Nebuchadnezzar saw the empires as a beautiful image (gold, silver, etc. in Dan. 2), but when the Lord shows them to Daniel, His servant, they are ravenous beasts (Dan. 7). I believe the Lord's people ought not to get excited about what they see as to this now. The assumption that the beast will control the whole world is an error that Scripture sets aside. His influence will be great and far flung, but after all it is the Roman Empire that will be his. We as heavenly people have nothing to do with the beast or antichrist. They will not be revealed while we are here (2 Thes. 2, Rev. 13).
I trust that these thoughts will be of help to you and any other of the Lord's people into whose hands it may fall.
“God's ways are behind the scenes: but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this, and let Him work, and not think much of man's busy movements: they will accomplish God's. The rest of them all perish and disappear.... We have only peacefully to do His will.”
(JND, Synopsis Revelation)
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