Long ago God established a Mark on the foreheads of those separated for His protection. Satan, the father of all lies, will have his counterfeit mark during the Tribulation. Certain Jews were separated from Judgment of Idolaters by a Mark. Typically, Satan has stolen God’s wisdom by devising “The Mark of the Beast” as a strategy to usurp the wisdom of God for vile, ungodly purposes in his rebellion against heaven.

God’s Originally Marked Faithful Jews
In a vision given to Ezekiel 2,700 years ago, God used a mark to establish protection for his faithful and obedient believers. The Mark was issued by the hand of His angel, guaranteeing protection to the faithful Jews who had not partaken of the abominations that the children of Israel had been committing in Jerusalem. The event is recorded in Ezekiel:

“He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
   And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand;
   And one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
   And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house.  And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
   And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
   And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women:
   But come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.” Ezekiel 9:1-6

During the Tribulation, Satan will engage in a mockery of God’s method of protection and show of approval for His faithful. His servant Antichrist will employ a counterfeit ‘Mark’ in the forehead or hand of his subjects that will protect them from death underneath the bloody guillotine, which is otherwise reserved for all those who refuse to confirm their worship for Him and his image, which will be stationed in the (shortly to be rebuilt) Temple in Jerusalem.

The # Of A Man
“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.”, so notes the last verse of the famous chapter thirteen of the final book of the Bible, Revelation. So is the final word on the greatest villain of all time (barring Satan himself), the man called the Beast, the Antichrist himself. The chapter summarizes his legendary appeal, his power, authority, and influence; his tyranny and deceptive appeal and charismatic personality and its powers to win the worship and adoration of the whole world. Without taking his name on their forehead or hand the inhabitants of earth can neither procure the necessities of life for themselves or their families, nor can they escape certain death by either the image of the Beast or by beheading.

“And 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?
   And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
   And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
   And 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.
   And 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.
   If any man have an ear, let him hear.
   He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.
   Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
   And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
   And 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.
   And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
   And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
   And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
   And 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:
   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.
   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

From the moment this prophecy was penned it was too fantastic to believe. Every element, every portended word was impossible. How could an emperor control the worship of the whole earth? How could a Mark be given to everyone which compelled them to worship him? How could he come back from the dead? What was meant by the number 666 being equivalent to his name? How could life be given to his image? etc. etc. etc.

It was more than unlikely, it was completely incomprehensible, but now, in this day and age, finally today… yes, only in this time… it is not far-fetched, incomprehensible, or unimaginable. It is not only conceivable, it is here. All its big brother trappings have become desirable realities by way of technological necessities of 21st Century daily life. The world is becoming one, personal IDs have been issued by every Western nation; institutions of the amalgamation of nations have been organized and empowered. We are saddled by surveillance from government and the watchful eye peering out from atop the pyramid on the almighty dollar. The prophecies of the Antichrist and his power over Mankind is not only comprehensible, it is coming to pass before our very eyes, it is becoming part of our lives. Far from being a mystery, it is as certain as the foul air we breathe, the forms we fill out, the licenses we sign, the permits we buy to get rid of our trash.

As far as an image killing people? Holograms could make an image come alive, a ray of death by electrocution or some weapon could minister death instantly from an image. Deadly wounds could be healed miraculously…

As for the “Mark of the Beast”?  You might think that with all the stuff out there about the Antichrist (a.k.a. Beast) and his ‘Mark’, people would actually be well informed, but that is not the case. Since the invention of the motion picture in the early twentieth century, the Mark of the Antichrist has become a popular topic for books and movies. The commonly held beliefs, and thus, the prevailing knowledge of both believers and nonbelievers plays perfectly into the plot devised by Satan. Moviemakers and authors play off of our love for entertainment and use the Bible deceptively as a base for horror film ideas and ghost story plots to conjure up all sorts of ridiculous nonsense that confuse the truth and breed disbelief. There is no need to drink the Kool-Aid. When we lay the prophecy of the Bible side by side with the advances made in technology and computer science during the lightening changes of the past quarter century we must come to no other conclusion than we are living in a time when all of this is literally coming to pass.

Advances in communications and TV has fueled sensationalism and spiritual propaganda that rules by persuasion over the lazy masses, even over many who call themselves “Christian”. If one does not acquire a love for the truth, laziness will win the day and it will require too much effort to go to the only source, the Bible, to get the truth and one will believe Hollywood and pulp fiction writers, especially if they bill themselves ‘Christian’ experts. Satan is quite happy with this strategy. God views this differently hoping all would turn to Him, for He is the author of Truth, not the one who uses it to oppress a soul.

The Bible is the only fountainhead, ground zero for any chance of proper understanding about the Mark of the Beast. But God will not force it down anyone’s throat. The bible is the origin of truth about all things concerning the Antichrist: the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, Armageddon and the Mark of the Beast. Their truth can only be found in the book of books, when a person allows the Holy Spirit to lead the way. The Bible and its last book, Revelation, certainly can be understood, but only through study of the Word of God.

When And How The Mark Will Be Carried Out
Chapter 13 from the Book of Revelation lets us know the Mark will be instituted by the Antichrist halfway into the seven year period known as the Great Tribulation. This will be a crucial turning point for the false trinity of Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. During this pivotal time, it will be clearly understood that taking the Mark will connect that individual to allegiance with the Antichrist’s rule along with worship of the Antichrist as God. It will be a clear choice by individuals who will be under enormous pressure to take the Mark in order to buy and sell. It will be clear to those who take the Mark that they align themselves with the Antichrist and those who refuse the Mark will be honoring the true God and the Antichrist will see to it they lose their head for it.

The following is an excerpt from our: The Christian Spirit Magazine and the book Revelation: Pure & Simple by T M Smith.

“At this point the abomination that maketh desolate, as Jesus described it, will be placed in the holy of holies. This is the statute of the Antichrist which the false prophet is able to make speak and kill anyone who does not worship it. (Revelation 13) The daily sacrifices will have already been halted and now the “Great Tribulation” will begin. Christians and Jews who do not bow to the Antichrist and his idol, and who do not take the mark of the beast on their right hand or forehead, will be martyred. This horrific period will last three and one half years. There will be another holocaust for the Jews but this time they will not be alone because they will be joined by the other half of the commonwealth of Israel, true Christian believers. The coronation of the Antichrist at Jerusalem as God of this world will take place at the exact halfway point of the Tribulation.” (CS magazine Aug 1995)

“The Antichrist will have this kind of power for 42 months and he will exert all conceivable pressures over the people of God. They will be slain and murdered in the mother of all holocausts. But, while this is taking place and the power of the Antichrist seems beyond the scope of death and Hell, or even God Himself, The Two Witnesses will be voices crying in the wilderness. They and the 144,000 Jews will be thorns in the Antichrist’s side. The “two olive trees and candlesticks” that stand before God, along with the 144,000 Jews, will be given broad, sweeping powers and total protection from all harm.” (Revelation Pure & Simple, p 146)

Stop Kidding Yourself and Receive The Truth
No one will be hoodwinked or double-crossed into taking the Mark by not knowing what they are actually doing. The Mark will only be taken by those willing to accept it. Although enormous pressure will be upon them it will not be forced because it will involve a willful rejection of God and deliberate choice to worship the Antichrist. Will there be tremendous pressure that will motivate many to side with Satan such as the ability to buy and sell and function in the Antichrist’s new global order along with avoiding starvation, treatment as a criminal and traitor that will demand the death penalty? Yes, this will be the case, but the choice will be as real as the consequences and the decision to choose God will be up to every individual, just like it is today.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Rev 13:15

Though new technology may appear in these end times or even a system similar to the one that might be used by the Antichrist may be available and implemented for our use today, it is not the actual Mark. Alarmists since the early 80’s,  frightened by bar coding and every other plausible technological device and system that could fulfill the needs for the Antichrist’s Mark have cried out not to touch these things, fearing it would be equivalent to actually taking the Mark of the Beast. Though we may have the technology today that could eventually fulfill what the Antichrist will need for the Mark, it is not the technology that is the evil, it is the purpose for which the technology is used.

When the day comes to implement the real Mark of the Beast everyone will know what they are doing, what they have chosen. It is true it will be under duress, but they will know exactly what the price is for taking the Mark. The Antichrist will have the power to overcome the saints who refuse the Mark by killing them, but this will be God’s mercy on them. It will be their door to eternal life. The ones who are deceived through the immense pressure that the Antichrist will place on all those who become compliant to his rule during the period called the Tribulation will be deceived by what is already lacking in their hearts, a love for the Truth.

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
   Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
   And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
   That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess 2:8-12

God will Mark 144,000 Jews During The Tribulation
Another Mark by God will be placed on his Jewish servants during the Tribulation.

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
   Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
   And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev 7:2-4

Here is another portion from The Christian Spirit, Inc. book: Revelation Pure & Simple.

“This sealing of 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from every tribe (except Dan, which means to judge), with the seal of the living God in their forehead, is God’s counterpart to the ‘Mark of the Beast’. The phrase “the living God”, implies Jesus – the one risen from the grave, the one who is alive forever more. These people are now God’s representatives on earth who will be alive after the devastation and purging that will come with the final judgements of the seventh seal. No judgement or disaster will harm them; the Antichrist will not be able to kill them. These are God’s remnants who will preach His Gospel during the Tribulation and beyond and be able to replenish the earth during the millennium.” (Revelation Pure & Simple, pg 94)

144,000 Saints Separated from Tribulation on the Earth
Our last look at one of God’s marks is of those Raptured saints who have God’s name written in their foreheads. They are seen in Heaven worshipping God. This a picture of 144,000 people, devoted to Jesus, that have been redeemed from the earth.

“And 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.
   And 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: And 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. These 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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev 14:1-5

We quote again from: Revelation Pure & Simple

“These are a company of faithful believers, different than the 144,000 Jews, but similar in devotion and faith. They are marked by a walk of spiritual character and through obedience of faith, have attained the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” These lives are the fulfillment of two promises that Jesus made to the Philadelphia Church back in chapter three. He promised to anyone who stayed obedient and overcame temptations He would ‘keep from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth, and I will write upon him the name of my God.’” (Revelation Pure & Simple, p. 208-10)

Judgement For Taking The Mark
Those who take the Mark of the Beast will be judged harshly by God and suffer eternally for the foolish choice they have made; Siding with the Beast they renounce God and worship the Antichrist and his image as God. By God’s wrath they will suffer fettering, dreadful sores upon their bodies. In the presence of the holy angels and Jesus they will be tormented forever, never finding rest. God’s Word declares whoever is not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. This fiery lake boils over forever with the putrid stench of sulfur and ultimately, it becomes the eternal prison cell for Death and Hell, the Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan and all the fallen demonic angels that followed Satan to their doom him.

“And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
   And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Rev 16:1-2

“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 in 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 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.” Rev 14:9-11

Antichrist Wrath For Not Taking the Mark
Those who resist the great pressure during this terrible time and do not take the Antichrist’s mark will be persecuted with death by him for not worshipping him and his image as God. Baring one’s neck at the guillotine will be extremely difficult but in the end it will be a form of mercy from God, a way out of the evil world and into a place of rest. These martyred saints will receive a just and proper reward from God for not taking the Mark of the Beast; They will reign on earth as priests with Jesus for a thousand years and will live forever with Him. They will not suffer the second death.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
   And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
   Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Rev 20:4-6

“And 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.
   And 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.
   Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Rev 15:2-4

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Rev 14:13

Still – Today is the Day of Salvation
Now that we have gone through some of the scriptures to gain a clearer knowledge and understanding about the Mark of the Beast it’s now possible to be armed with proper wisdom from God about what to do. The EOE would strongly suggest not drinking anymore of the Tribulation / Mark of the Beast Kool-Aid that is being dispensed from the media fountain of the world. If you do happen to get wind of the nonsense and you get confused by the barrage of muddled stories that may be forced into your head through movies, books and the web, don’t despair. You are now aware that the true source for all we need to know can be found through careful study of the Bible without fear of losing the truth. After all it is God who reassures Man that when any person comes to Him for answers that person “shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“ John 8:32

Written by Terry Myers Smith and Joelle Gagon