THE MARK
The Mark is the eighth book in the Left Behind series. This book is after The Indwelling where Nicolae Carpathia rose from the dead. He is still the same person but he is still different. The reason was that Nicolae was indwelled by Satan himself. Now in this book Nicolae's False Prophet Leon Fortunato causes all people to receive a mark - the Mark of the Beast. I don't want to give the rest of the story away if you haven't read nor bought the book yet. But I do want to give you a scriptural view on how The Mark fits in the scheme of things.
In Revelation 13:3 we see that the beast's fatal wound was healed. Because of the Antichrist being healed from his fatal wound, the whole world (the unbelievers) will follow after the beast and worship him. But now lets look at what is the Mark of the Beast. Revelation 13:16-18 says
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free man and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to 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 the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
The person that causes all to receive the mark is the False Prophet. This is true when you look at Revelation 13:11-15. The False Prophet will:
He makes everyone worship the first beast (verse 12)
He performs great signs and even causes fire to come down from heaven (verse 13)
He deceives people and makes them make an image to the first beast (verse 14)
He gives breath to the image so that it could talk and he causes all to worship or else be killed (verse 15)
"And he" refers clearly to the False Prophet because in the context and the preceding verses, the False Prophet is being discussed. The False Prophet will cause all to receive a mark. What is this mark? Well I can't be too dogmatic on this point but I do believe that this mark will be a literal mark that is placed on a person's forehead or his or her right hand. We will see that the mark is probably a "loyalty" mark. Those who take this mark is professing their loyalty to the Antichrist. Those who don't receive the mark will not be able to buy nor sell. It may look good for people to take the mark because they will be able to buy food or anything else and sell things and make a profit but this mark leads to hell. Revelation 14:9-11 says:
Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also 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; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
We see in this verse that the mark leads to everlasting torment in the Lake of Fire. The worshipping of the beast and his image is synonymous with the receiving of the mark. You can't be a devout worshipper of the Antichrist and not take the mark. They both go hand in hand. Scripture doesn't give a reason why the mark can be placed in either the right hand or the forehead. My guess is that taking the mark on the forehead suggests that that person is giving their whole mind over to the Antichrist. Taking the mark on the right hand suggests that that person is giving all their actions over to the Antichrist. I believe that taking the mark on the forehead is a much more loyal sign of allegiance to the Antichrist than taking the mark on your right hand. For one thing, the mark on your forehead is more visible for everyone to see while the mark on the right hand is not visible until you show someone your hand.
The fact is that the mark only provides temporary security. Taking that mark is a one way ticket to the Lake of Fire. Yes, if you don't take the mark, you will probably die. But is it better to die and go to Heaven than to survive and go to the Lake of Fire forever? I'll take Heaven over the Lake of Fire anytime. Didn't Jesus say, "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).? Those that take the mark will try to save their life but in the end they will lose it. Those who don't take the mark and take a stand for Jesus Christ will lose their life in the Lake of Fire but in the end they will have eternal life in Heaven. So my advice is DON'T TAKE THAT MARK!
Now many people have speculated whether the mark is a computer chip with all your history and money in there or whether it is just a regular mark. I don't want to speculate but it be either one or the other. In this technological revolution that started in the 20th century, the mark could be a computer chip. There have been strides to make this a cashless society but it hasn't broken out yet. Only time will tell. With the computer chip, the Antichrist will probably get more control because he will know each person that takes his mark and what the are doing so the computer chip is more probable. Those that refuse the mark can't buy nor sell. But I believe that its going to come to a point where starving the rebels is not enough. Killing them off would be more appropriate for his evilness. Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 20:4 suggests that believers will be beheaded. Guillotines will probably be revived during this time.
When will the mark be instituted? Well, during the last half of the seven year Tribulation. Here is a timeline:
Towards the end of the first half on the Tribulation, the Antichrist will suffer a fatal wound to his head and he'll die.
He will rise again and be indwelled by Satan meaning Satan will go inside his body.
At the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will go into the rebuilt Temple and declare himself to be God. This event is known as the Abomination of Desolation.
Immediately after the False Prophet will cause all to worship the Antichrist and his image and to take a mark.
The Left Behind series places the institution of the Mark of the Beast before the Abomination of Desolation since this event will be covered in the next book Desecration, which is after The Mark. But I believe that it will be in the order that is shown above because scripture is clear. The Abomination of Desolation will take place in the middle of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27). That event will signal the last half of the Tribulation so the mark has to be AFTER the desecration of the Temple.
You may ask - What is 666? Well scripture says that it is the number of the name of the Antichrist. What does that mean however I don't know. Some people say that if you take each letter of the alphabet and assign each letter a multiple of 6 like A=6; B=12; C=18 and so on, then you can take the Antichrist's name and you'll get 666. Some people tried this on the word C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R and it actually comes out to 666. Other people believe that 666 stands for the Satanic Trinity - the Dragon (Satan), the Beast out of the Sea (the Antichrist), and the Beast out of the Earth (the False Prophet). The three sixes illustrate this Satanic Trinity. Other people say that since 6 is the the number of man (6 falls short of God's number 7), 666 is the most concentration of evil. I don't really want to speculate because I guess no one knows. But scripture tells us "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate..." So we are supposed to understand what 666 means. But I'm not really sure what it means. Maybe look at any commentary on Revelation by any author and maybe they will give you an answer. I gave you three possibilities so that you can explore this subject more in your own spare time.
This mark is serious business. If you take it then you are going to have to suffer the Lake of Fire forever. God is a loving God but He is also a God of Judgment and if people constantly disobey him and mock him and keep on sinning then they have to face the consequences. Jesus said that HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. No one can get to the Father except through Jesus. Jesus is the only way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. If people reject Christ for security by taking the mark and worshipping the False Christ then they have to suffer in Hell. God wants all people to go to heaven. If God allowed all the unbelieving people into heaven then it wouldn't be fair to the believing people that suffered for God's name. Yes, no one that rejects God and His Son, Jesus Christ will ever go to heaven. That is why it is important to reject that mark, which only promises temporary security. Sure you will probably be beheaded but the important thing is that you will live in heaven FOREVER! Finally don't forget to buy the eighth book in the Left Behind series - The Mark.
Copyright © 2001 by STAT