“And he (the Antichrist) causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either 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 that number is that of a man, and the number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Revelation 13:16-18)
Beware: The Mark of the Beast!
by Jim Bramlett
The purpose of this report is to warn people of the coming “mark,” and especially warn them of the eternal consequences for consenting to this mark on themselves.
“And he (the Antichrist) causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either 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 that number is that of a man, and the number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Revelation 13:16-18)
These ancient words from Holy Scripture, revealed by God to the Apostle John, describe a condition of world political and economic tyranny during the prophesied Great Tribulation of the last days just before Christ’s return. The world will be under the control of “the beast.”
The beast is the Antichrist, who will be a man, and appear as a man, but who will also be the incarnation of Satan, Satan in human form. He will be a brilliant, charming, and charismatic leader, but also devious, cruel, and totally evil.
The above passage speaks of a “mark” which the Antichrist will try to place on every person as a means of identification and control. It will be used in commerce, and without it no one will be able to buy or sell anything, making it a perfect device to control the masses and demand their allegiance. To live, people must eat and have goods. Therefore, this required mark will be able to totally control people – that is, most people. There will be some who reject the mark, for a most critical reason explained later below.
Until recent years, such a “mark” was a great mystery. No one had any idea what it meant or how it would work. But for centuries the faithful have believed it, simply because it was in God’s Word. But with modern technology, just in the past few years, it is now clear how it could work. In fact, “mark” technology is already available.
The mark could possibly be an implantable biochip, sometimes called a microchip, a rice-size radio frequency chip implanted in the human body just under the skin, such as on the hand, just like the book of Revelation says! They are already available and in use!
Biochips are being used in animals to identify pets and to track herds. It is expected that millions of animals will soon have this chip. Several companies are involved in this. One such company says, “Our goal is to ‘chip’ every pet in the U.S.” Radio frequency emissions from an implanted chip are picked up and transferred to a computer database, which quickly identifies the animal.
This is merely a prelude to a mandatory implantable biochip in every human. At first, the purpose will appear beneficial and actually good, such as for identification and medical history. Some are already implanting biochips in children so they can be tracked in cases of abduction.
The “smart card”, already in use, is a prelude to the biochip. Europe is reportedly in the lead in identification technology. The smart card was invented by a Frenchman. At this writing, about 150 million Europeans already have smart cards. In the U.S., a card called the MARC (interesting name!) is being used with military personnel. The MARC has a bar code, a magnetic strip, embossed data, a digitized photograph, and an integrated circuit (IC) computer chip bonded to it.
The universal health card planned under President Clinton’s defeated effort to socialize the U.S. medical industry would have been a beginning for universal smart card use. Possibly no one could have received healthcare without this card. The process was probably only delayed.
An implanted biochip will be much more efficient than a smart card and will be permanently personal; not subject to loss and theft.
It is not the purpose of this report to go into detail on smart card and biochip technology, uses and trends. Much has been written and is available to the public, such as in bookstores and libraries. On the Internet, just type those words into a search engine and numerous references will be given. The purpose of this report is to only briefly explain their reality, but more importantly, to issue a most serious warning:
Do not take the mark of the beast!
“And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “if anyone worships and beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
A most critical problem is revealed here. It is not just a matter of receiving a mark for purposes of identification and commerce. Receiving it will require one to “worship the [Antichrist] and his image” (verse 11). How can this be?
Obviously, this tyrant ruler, the Antichrist, will require people to deny the great Creator God and his Son Jesus Christ and declare his own deity before they will be given a “mark,” which they will need to buy food or anything else needed to live. If a person denies God and His merciful blood atonement through Christ, which is the only way one can escape eternal torment, they will cast away and forfeit all chance at salvation. The pressure to do so will be immense. But if you are living on the earth at the time this happens and did not make the rapture or catching away of believers when it occurred, DO NOT TAKE THIS MARK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, even if it means your physical death!
This will be a time of severe testing for you. If you refuse the mark, you may die a martyr, but you will live with Christ in paradise forever and ever. Taking the mark may buy you only a few days, or at best a few months or years of physical life on this earth. It is not worth it!
As I write this, there is relative peace and tranquility in the world, with some exceptions. But tensions are rising. The New World Order is emerging. National sovereignties are being ignored in favor of the United Nations and NATO. Jerusalem is becoming a source of international conflict, precisely as prophesized by the ancient Hebrew prophet Zachariah (12:3). It is an explosion waiting to happen. Horror weapons of mass destruction have been proliferated to rogue nations and terrorists, and many experts, including the U.S. Senate, predict they will soon be used.
It is believed that the Antichrist will soon arise out of international chaos, and that he will be a charismatic leader who will seem to have solutions to the world’s overwhelming economic, social, and political problems. He will receive a fatal wound, but will recover (Revelation 13:3). He will blaspheme God. Thinking him divine and wonderful, or just to be able to buy and sell, most of the inhabitants of the earth will worship him – except those whose names are written in the BOOK OF LIFE belonging to the Lamb (Jesus Christ).
And it was given to him (The antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of THE LAMB who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear (Revelation 13:7-9).
The LAMB is the Lord JESUS CHRIST who was slain as a Lamb and shed His own blood to purchase our redemption, just as prophesied by the ancient Hebrew prophet, Isaiah, several hundred years before His birth (e.g. chapter 53).
The revelation of the Antichrist
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming, first to rapture or catch away His church, those who placed their trust in Him during the 2,000 year church age. He will then come in power at the end of the Great Tribulation, which He described: “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, no ever shall” (Matthew 24:21).
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote, concerning “the day of the Lord”:
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things: And you know what restrains him now so that in his time he may be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming: that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory or our Lord Jesus Christ. So then brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Thessalonians 3:15)
As Christ is coming, so is Antichrist during the Tribulation. Many people will be deceived by the Antichrist. Many people will die. But many, whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will be faithful until the end.
If you are reading this and you find yourself in this situation, just remember the words of the Lord and stand firm. If you have received Christ, you were written about thousands of years ago. God knows exactly who you are, by name. You are chosen. And as recorded in the Scriptures above, we “give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit, and faith in the truth.”
Just in case…
Just in case you have never “received” Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so right now, at this very moment: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12). We receive Him by faith: “FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, THAT NO ONE SHOULD BOAST” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We receive Him by invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
Here is a suggested prayer to receive Christ: “Dear Lord Jesus. I need you. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died for my sins. I ask you to forgive my sins and come into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for you, and if necessary die for you. By faith, I open the door of my heart and I receive you right now, and I thank you for what you have done and will do. In Jesus’ name. Amen”.
Talk to God (pray) frequently. Read His Word (the Bible). Fellowship with other believers. May God bless and sustain you, and give you courage and peace
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