THE MARK OF THE BEAST

The "mark of the beast" has long been debated, and many students of Bible prophecy believe it will either be a computer chip implanted in the forehead, or in the hand; or that it will be a tattooed bar-code for a scanner to read.  The word "mark" (Rev. 13:16, 17; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4) is translated as such from the Greek χάραγμα (charagma), which, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, means "a stamp, an imprinted mark, similar to the brand on horses; a thing carved, sculpture, graven work of idolatrous images."  Young's Analytical Concordance defines it as "an impressed mark, or engraving."  The only other time χάραγμα appears in the Word of God, is in Acts 17:29, where it is translated "graven."  Luke wrote:  "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Another issue, when it comes to knowing exactly what John meant, is the fact that it is not defined by him!  He wrote:  "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" (Rev. 13:17).  According to this verse, the "mark" could be one of three things:  an identifying mark, the name of the Antichrist, or a number which represents his name.  That number, of course, is six-six-six; "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. 13:18).  That number in Latin, is "DCVI."  In Greek, it is "chi-xi-stigma."  In Hebrew, (reading backwards) it is "Vav-Mem-Resh-Tav."  Many have pointed out that when it is written as "666," the Hebrew is "vav-vav-vav," which in modern day Hebrew, is "WWW."  While it might be tempting to declare the World-Wide Web as being the Antichrist, the Word of God is clear that he is an individual, a human being.

Putting this all together (I am not exactly sure how this even works), the "mark of the beast," could be a brand on the forehead or hand, that is either the name of the Antichrist spelled out (not sure which language would be used), and the letters of his name would equal six hundred, three score, and six, in that language.  OR, it could be all that data within a computer chip.  I do not know, and unless you are the Antichrist or his False Prophet, I suspect you do not know either!

 

Regardless of what it is, born again believers will not be here to receive it!

Praise God!