{13:16} And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: {13:17} 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. {13:18} Here is wisdom. Let him that has 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 13:16-18 KJV

And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Revelation 14:1 KJV

End time believers, having endured through the escalating troubles after the first four seals have been opened, now face the full wrath of Satan, when the fifth seal is opened. Deception and persecution had already commenced during the first four seals, but this is now about to escalate. At the revealing of the antichrist, at the abomination of desolation (matt 24:15), the antichrist demands that he only is worshipped as God. Believers will not comply and will be paying for their refusal.

At this time Satan has also been cast out of heaven (Rev 12:7-9), The persecution now becomes the worst the world has ever seen (Matt 24:21). Buying and selling is now completely impossible for believers. Besides facing starvation, the saints are hunted down and beheaded in vast numbers. Surveillance technology will most probably employed to the full to make this the worst of all persecutions ever. There is no place to hide.

As during the Inquisition, ordered by the catholic church, when they persecuted and executed bible believing Christians (Cathars, Albigenses, Waldensians and Huguenot protestants), the antichrist system will similarly pressurize and torture the saints in an attempt to convince them to relinquish their faith.

However, the Tribulation saints will not ignore the warnings given to them, as expressly stated below:

{14:9} 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, {14:10} 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: {14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Revelation 14:9-11 KJV

Nothing could be more clear, we are not to worship the antichrist or take his mark, name or number in the hand or forehead. Father God has drawn a line in the sand. Crossing over this line is irrevocable, there is no second chance.

Unfortunately, there will be believers who have failed to heed Jesus’ warnings in Matt24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 (post 3,3) to be watchful. They may find that their church or pastor is already deeply immersed in the compromise of the antichrist’s false religion. (see post 4.2 The ‘New’ gospel) They may have been told a mark ‘in’ the hand is safe because it is not a mark ‘on’ the hand, as the corrupted bible versions now translate (see post 4.2).

Such an error is no excuse, we are not to try and ‘save’ our temporal life to become part of the antichrist system. Other deceptions likely to fall into error are:

• Calvinists and other A-millenialists: Their ‘figurative and allegorical’ approach to Revelation will cause them to consider ‘the mark’ as figurative, that is, not a literal mark. When the actual decision needs to be made, they may find they haven’t made up their minds in time and make an emotional decision.
• Adventists: Their insistence that the ‘mark’ is sabbath observance’, will also confuse the literal nature of the mark.
• Pre-tribulation rapture believers: These believers have already wrongly decided that ‘The Mark’ will only occur after the rapture of the saints. By the time the Mark is enforced, they believe they will be in heaven, and safe. These unfortunate believers may thus easily be deceived into thinking, because they haven’t been raptured yet, that his Mark must be some other mark, and thus be at risk of taking it. But God is gracious, in Matt 24 Jesus says that it won’t be possible “to deceive the elect”. Hence, hopefully, most Pre-trib. believers will change their minds as the ‘Day of the enforced Mark’ approaches.
• Worldly Christians: Christians who take a loose approach to God’s Word will easily be deceived into believing that the mark in the right hand is not really ‘The Mark’. As the Mark will initially be subtly marketed as an innocent technological aid, a ‘non-compulsory and self-administered’ health benefit. It will be promoted as ‘your personal ID’ and  ‘for your own safety’. (or promoted with any other conceivable marketing lies.)

The associates of the Beast.

These are more than one players in the end-time drama as given in the book of Revelation. The Beast does not operate on his own. Revelation 13 and 17 tells us that five others, the ‘Whore’, the seven Heads, the ten Kings, the Prophet and the antichrist all play major roles. So how would we identify the beast, such that we don’t wrongly assign the number 666 to associates of the beast?

To be very clear at the outset, Revelation tells us that there are going to be some individuals who will not need ‘the mark’ to buy or sell. Note again the use of the word “OR”: the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. It may be that some already have accepted the ‘name’ or the ‘number of his name’. For example, any people who have already identified with the beast by accepting his number (666), may not need the mark to buy and sell. They use that number only. Very similar to a pin code, as authorized by the beast system.

The word ‘or’ used between mark:number:name is very significant. It means that those ‘with the number’ will be able to ‘buy and sell’, probably without the mark. Similarly, those ‘with the name’ will be able to ‘buy and sell’, possibly without the mark. These are possibly the people who are co-players in the end-time Babylon system who have already met their entry requirements. It could be that members of societies such as the freemasons, for example, are exempt from taking the mark. Freemasonry is a satanic organization at its core. Members would have already identified with the beast system by being members of this satanic organization, thus will already have a ‘number’ or his ‘name’ (Lower ranked members possibly not, as they still in the indoctrination/selection process and unaware of the Mason’s Satanic agenda). Hence there would be no need for such higher ranked members to take a mark. They would already be deemed ‘acceptable’ when they come to a till, to buy their items, without having to produce a mark.

Note: Many masonic members already use 666 hand signs (e.g. the so-called OK/666 sign), or use the number 666 in other disguised ways, such as to be identifiable to other freemasons. They seem to have already accepted the ‘number’. Worshipping the beast and his image will just be another expression of this worship. In addition, whether they know it or not, freemasons, through their rituals, are already worshipping Satan.

However, there is much deception. There is much deception to disguise the nature of the beast. For example, could the Pope and the Catholic Church perhaps be the beast or the beast system? Like the seventh day Adventists claim? True, Rome is located on the city of seven hills ‘on which the woman sits’. Seems like they have a point. The seven-day Adventists have also successfully deciphered the pope’s title as 666. His title is: ‘The Vicar of the Son of God’. The Latin title adds up to being the number 666. His Latin title is: ‘Vicarivs Filii Dei” and is inscribed on his miter (his fishtail shaped hat). In Roman numerals, this adds up to exactly 666 (D=500, C=100, L=50, V=5, I=1, a,r,s,f,e=0). Aha, we’ve located the beast you’d say. No, Revelation 17 does not allow for the Catholic Church to be the beast (refer to the illustration below).

Christians, however, are to avoid all allegiance with the beast, and have victory over the beast by resisting all the pressure to become part of it. Rev 15:2  ‘them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.‘

Question: Is the ‘Mark of the beast’ of Revelation 13 & 17 referring to the mark of the antichrist (‘beast person’) or to a mark administered by the ‘beast system’?

Logically, it will need to be administered by the ones controlling ‘the beast system’, that wicked Babylon system (of Revelation 17), comprising many parts: UN, Jesuits, Masons, the Vatican, kabbalists, Globalists, technocrats, bankers, etc., etc.).  From our discussion in post 7.1, the Catholic Church is only one part of this Mystery Babylon, i.e. the whore, which sits on the beast. She (together with freemasonry) is the wicked woman sitting on many waters. She (together with freemasonry) is the wicked satanic false religion which has been passed down through the ages. According to Zechariah 5:6-11, she is described as being relocated a number of times throughout history.  She has held sway over many empires. She had been re-located to  the land of Shinar (Babylon) before. Then she was/is ruling from Rome. She is pictured as the ‘whore’ sitting on many waters (countries) and riding on the beast, in other words, controlling it.

 

Deceivers will be attempting to distract us from who the Beast really is, when we attempt to understand ‘The Mark of the Beast’. As already introduced in post 7.1, Revelation 13 and 17 spell out the end-time players involved.

The Whore: Mystery Babylon, the false religion, passed on through the ages. She has controlling influence over the kings, seducing them by her abominations, deceiving and subjecting  the Kings of the world to play into her hand.

The ten kings: The entire earth’s countries are consolidated in 10 administrative zones, with 10 rulers as the 10 ‘Kings’. All the kings give their allegiance to the Beast.

The beast: The beast ‘system’, the entire worldwide assembly of wickedness: – The Freemasons, Jesuits, Elite globalists, Illuminati, etc. all working together for their One World Order.

The antichrist: The 11th king, the future Antichrist, rising up among the ten kings, displacing three other kings, rising to controlling power.

The seven heads: Historical empires influenced by the beast

 

 

The number:

Here is wisdom. Let him that has 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 KJV

The first point to note is that wisdom is not the same as knowledge. An education will probably not be a requirement to be able to identify the name of the beast and the number of his name. Secondly, note the word count. To count is simple, and does not mean ‘to calculate’, as the corrupted bible versions now translate (see post 4.2). To calculate implies something different to counting. To calculate gives one the room to sum up the word-value of each letter, or to deduce some numerical sequence to the person or circumstances surrounding the antichrist.

Hence there are the following options to approach the solution:

1. The beast system may be arrogant enough to have three sixes in its logo. We see that already appearing in logo’s like W.E.F. and Google chrome with three circles in circular arrangement.
2. The name may have three words, each of with six letters. (either Greek, Latin or English words)
3. There may be a picture(s), sign(s) or symbol(s), representing a name, which may be counted.
4. Any attempt to calculate the number of the antichrist’s full name, to be valid, must have the name in Greek. John wrote Revelation in Greek to seven Greek speaking churches. To calculate/determine its number in any other language(s) can’t be valid.
5. As 4 above, but somehow using our common (Arabic) numerical system.

Although all these seem are likely, only some meet the wisdom and transparency requirement. It should be simple enough for a saved but uneducated person to identify (i.e. someone who doesn’t know or have access to the Greek numbering system), but at the same time ‘hidden’ from the unwise. It will probably be a most unexpected but obvious solution once the name is revealed. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone need a Greek education or be good in maths and riddles?

Option 1: Three sixes in a logo

This meets the transparency requirement the best of all, such that ae simple/uneducated person can identify it, and have no excuse for ignoring it.

Option 2: Three words, each of with six letters.

Because the antichrist will set himself up as God, in the temple of God, demanding to be worshipped as God, he might try mimicking our Triune God’s titles: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a possibility that the names the antichrist chooses each have six letters. Whether these be Greek, Latin or English words can’t be known yet. For example, in my understanding, ‘Yeshua’ is a word not found anywhere in the New Testament. Neither Paul or any of the disciples ever used the name ‘Yeshua’, as recorded in the Bible. Paul clearly advocates the use of the Greek name of Jesus, ‘Iesus’, never Yeshua. (Greeks don’t have a ‘J’ in their alphabet.). Is the world being set up for a different Jesus, a ‘Yeshua’, to be their saviour?

Option 3: The Greek:

In the Greek system, each letter of the alphabet (and some symbols as well) has a numerical value, The website Ichthys.com explains. “Alpha, the first letter equalling one, and omega, the last letter equalling eight hundred. In our system of Arabic numerals, (our system that does not greatly precede the printing press here in the west), it is true that there is no distinction between the number six hundred and sixty six and its representation by three consecutive sixes:  666.  In the Greek system, however, this is not at all the case.  In Greek, the language of Revelation and therefore the basis for the system that must be employed to understand this issue correctly, six hundred and sixty six would be represented by two letters and a symbol, namely, chi, xi, and stigma.

For example, the Greek transliteration mentioned above for the Hebrew word Messiah (meaning, “anointed one”), is as follows:

Μεσσίας:   Μ = 40 + ε = 5 + σ = 200 + σ = 200 + ί = 10 + α = 1 + ς = 200 >  =  656

By adding the Aramaic imperative “come!” (cf. Marana tha!, “O our Lord, come!”), we create a phrase equalling the requisite number of six hundred and sixty six (because the letters theta and alpha equal nine and one respectively so that θα = +10).  Before the reader gets too excited about all this, let me point out what should be readily obvious, namely that in such a system the number of possibilities for constructing names that add up to 666 is incalculably large (if not literally infinite).”

Revelation 13:18 is thus not a key to figuring out the identity of antichrist before the fact.  On the contrary, it is a tool or test for evaluating the name of the beast to see if he is indeed antichrist after we have a name to work from.

Option 3: English or western name, using the numbered alphabet positions:

This seems very unlikely, for elsewhere in the bible only contemporary associations were made.

Option 4: In this context it may mean that there are six entities to be counted three times.

Under construction……

 

The sealed, the 144 000.

In contrast to those having the mark of the beast, there are the servants of God who are sealed on there foreheads, as a mark of belonging to Christ and God.

The Sealing of the 144,000:

{7:1} And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. {7:2} 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 as given to hurt the earth and the sea, {7:3} Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. {7:4} 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. {7:5} Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. {7:6} Of the tribe of Aser [were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. {7:7} Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. {7:8} Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. {7:9} After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, …………………{7:13} And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? {7:14} And I said unto him, Sir, thou knows. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. {7:15} Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. {7:16} They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. {7:17} For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:1-17. (KJV)

{9:3} And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. {9:4} And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (KJV)

{14:1} 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. {14:2} 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: {14:3} 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 four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. {14:4} These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. 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 14:1-6)….{14:13} 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. {14:14} And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man,... (KJV)

We note the following from the above:

• “And after this” means after the sixth seal.  The sixth seal was the last event of Rev 6,  the previous chapter. The 144 000 are thus sealed before the trumpet judgements begin. Remember that the sixth seal represents the second coming of Jesus Christ on the clouds.
• “…sealed 144 000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel”in Rev 7:4 confirms that the 144000 thus appear  before the trumpet judgements and after the second coming of Jesus on the clouds (ref post 3.9)..
• The 144 000 are from the tribes if Israel, the Jews as we call them today.
• The 144 000 are mentioned to be in heaven at the same time as the (7v13) martyred saints ‘clothed in white robes”, “they which came out of great tribulation “(7v14). Hence their commission does NOT precede the martyrs of the Great tribulation, rather the opposite. The martyred tribulation saints appear in heaven before the commissioning of the 144 000! Both are in heaven between the sixth seal and the first trumpet, but the 144 000 still have a mission to fulfill.
• In Rev 9 those with the “seal of God in their foreheads” cannot be harmed by the fifth trumpet demonic ‘locusts’. it would appear that these sealed men refer to the 144 000, now on earth. They preach the gospel while the trumpet judgements are taking place, hence we can conclude that their ministry is during the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week. It may be the 144 000 who preach the everlasting gospel with the Rev 14:6 first angel.
• In Rev 14 “…having his Father’s name written in their foreheads”. The ‘Father’s name’ presumably is the seal.
• “..a Lamb stood on the mount Sion”. Mount Sion is the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22). Verse 3 confirms this” And they sung as it were a new song before the throne…”. We can agree that the scene in Revelation 14 is once again in heaven, as rev 7 is.
• “…redeemed from among men,  the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb…”. Firstfruits always appear before the main harvest. Hence these people as “firstfruits before the harvest” can only mean that these Jews are deceased saints. They have already been martyred, and are already in heaven before the end-time persecution starts, otherwise they wouldn’t be firstfruits.

The only way to make sense of the picture is to conclude that the 144000 are previously deceased Jewish saints, pure and lacking any guile. They are now sealed in heaven for a special purpose. We don’t quite know what that would be, but it could be that they are sent back to earth to preach to their fellow Jews, as Rev 9:4 seems to indicate. When the antichrist put up the abomination (Rev 12)  a large portion of Jews will have fled to the desert, but many more would have failed to take that window of opportunity, and are now trapped in the hands of the antichrist. Many Jews would also be spread over the whole world. It is these Jews that the 144000 are presumably preaching the gospel to.

1. They are Jewish:

The 144,000 described are clearly ‘Jewish’, i.e. descended from the twelve tribes of Israel (12,000 from each tribe).

Taking note that the 144000 are firstfruits, and thus are previously deceased Jewish saints, care needs to be taken in discussing any “ten lost tribes” scenarios. Firstly  these godly men could have lived before the Israel was conquered by Assyria. The ten tribes of Israel that were deported by Assyria never returned and were absorbed in surrounding nations. Secondly, these may also be saints after the deportation. Even if we accept that all those exiled in the Assyrian deportation became entirely heathen within a few generations, we could easily envisage that there would have been, resident in Judah, sufficient ‘refugee’ stock from each of these ten tribes to continue their tribes. Thus the “ten lost tribes” will be fully represented by each tribe. (cf. 1Chron.9:2; 2Chron.10:17; 11:13-17; 15:9; 30:6; and chapter 34 ). Thirdly, they may also be descendants from the twelve tribes, believers in Jesus Christ, who were the first to be martyred during the great tribulation. This seems the most likely scenario.

In addition, James, the first new testament letter written, settles it. It states: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James had no problem with the concept that Israel, at that time (~50 A.D.), did contain the twelve tribes, whether local or abroad, who were at the same time also authentic Jews.

2. Their location.

Their location seems to be in heaven:

…and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. {14:4} These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Rev 14:3b-5)

The 144 000 are clearly in heaven before their appointment to minister.  Referring back to the introduction, the only way I can make make sense of the picture presented in Rev 7, 9 and 14 is to conclude that the 144000 are previously deceased Jewish saints. They are in heaven and are now sealed for a special purpose. We don’t quite know what that purpose would be, but it could be that they are sent back to earth to preach to their fellow Jews to win them to the gospel.

3. Their character. The most godly men ever described in scriptures.

4. They will face stiff opposition:

We can expect that they will be:

• betrayed by their own family members (Matt.10:21; 10:35-37),
• hated by all men (Matt.10:22), slandered (Matt.10:24-25),
• imprisoned, tortured and falsely accused (Matt.10:17-20), persecuted (Matt.10:23),
• knowing no peace (Matt.10:34), running their course as did our Lord, as did his apostles among ravening “wolves” (Matt.10:16; Lk.10:3),
• faithful until the appointed end when they will give up their lives (Matt.10:39; Rev.14:1-5).

6. They will receive miraculous protection during the days of their ministry.