You may have heard about the mark of the beast. I have been hearing about the mark of the beast since my childhood. I know that my mother’s church taught about it a lot. I have heard my Pastor Bishop Milton Hawkins mention it. I have heard Pastor John Hagee preach detailed series about the mark of the beast. I realize that different ministers have different areas of the Bible that they focus on. Who is the beast in Revelation 13? Much of the information that we know about the mark of the beast comes from Revelation 13. From what I have heard on television and from ministers that have preached about the beast, this is Satan in the flesh. Others say he is the antichrist, a servant of Satan. There’s a lot of speculation. He makes his appearance shortly after the rapture of the Saints.
Revelation 13:1 starts out with “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” From previous teachers that I have heard, the 10 crowns are countries or kingdoms that will form alliances with the beast on that day.
It is important to be prepared because you do not want to get left behind, depending on your particular view of when the rapture will occur. Those who are left behind are not Christians. They more than likely had an opportunity to become saved but turned the other cheek and followed other religions or procrastinated. If you follow any ministries especially some of the ones on television, you know that the mark of the beast represents a few things. Those who are left behind will have the option of taking a mark of the beast in their forehead or hand. This will enable them to obtain food or buy and sell etc. You do not want to take this mark. I do not care how desperate you get for food. You can survive without it. This mark also makes you ineligible to go to heaven. That is why it is important that people are educated about the mark of the beast and that it is not relegated to science fiction. You will also hear reference to the Antichrist or the mark of the beast. These are in the same family.
What Do We Know about the Beast in Revelation 13?
Who is the beast in Revelation 13? A lot of what you read in Revelation 13 is imagery and symbolism. The beast will be a man who has Satan’s agenda on his mind. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13:4). The dragon is the devil, Lucifer, Satan, or whatever name he is going by these days.
There is also a reference to another beast in Revelation 13: 11-12. “Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.” The second beast is the false prophet. It will be able to copycat prophets from early Bible days and anyone who people think highly of. He will perform wonders like making fire come down from heaven. All of this is in Revelation 13.
The whole intent of the theatrics of the beast is to take worship away from God and focus on the beast. This is a deadly deception and can cost people not only salvation but also their eternal resting place. People are already scared because they got left behind, or because of the events of Tribulation (depending on your view of when the rapture takes place). They will be seeking some sort of security. Those who do not worship the beast or take the mark 666 can be killed. Many will be killed for believing in Christ and refusing to worship the beast, but their soul shall be spared. During this seven-year period of tribulation, 144,000 will be sealed. These people will be protected during the time of the beast and Antichrist’s reign.
What Will Happen to the Beast at the End of Revelation?
As always, there is a happy ending. Good will overcome evil. In the book of Revelation chapters 19 and 20, we see reference to Jesus’s return. We read about the battle of Armageddon. We see the end of the beast and the false prophet defeated and thrown into the lake of fire. Also, we see at the end of Revelation 20 that the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire. The torment is continuous, and it lasts forever.
It is important to let friends, relatives, coworkers, and others know that when you leave this earth you will be judged. You will have a final resting place. We must be careful about the trappings of this world. Some may say that you are too serious, but the hereafter is nothing to play with. I like to have fun. I like being happy, but at the center of what I do is how it will be received and perceived by God. At the end of the day, did I do what He asked me to do? It is okay to be somewhere living your best life. You can live your best life with purpose. You can witness to others. If those around you will not hear you, witness to those who will. There are those who are longing for accurate direction and information. We have too many people who are distracting people from salvation. People are longing for something real and authentic to cling to. No other religion except one based on the blood of Jesus can offer you that.
How Will We Know When We See the Beast?
That is a good question. It leads back to who is the beast in Revelation 13. I have seen many writings on how to determine who the beast is. Some believe the Antichrist will have the number 666 somewhere on his scalp. You can tell I have been watching a lot of movies. Some have taken the names of Presidents who are no longer with us trying to see if their names add up to 666. Some said that Hitler was the Antichrist. We know he was demon-possessed, but he was not the Antichrist. Some televangelists say the beast will come out of a country in Europe. I hope all of you reading this article are not on earth at the time to figure out the particulars. I personally do not plan to be here and will be very disappointed if I get left behind. It is important to educate people. Unfortunately, there will be people still here on the earth once Christians get caught up.
Reference Revelation 14:9-11. Here is a warning about not accepting the mark of the beast and what will happen if you do. People who worship the beast are worshipping the devil. It is a deception that life will be easy if you have the mark. The wrath of God will be poured out on those who accept the mark, and their eternal fate will also be sealed to hell and the lake of fire.
I believe a lot of ministers do not preach this a lot because it is not glamourous. As a matter of fact, it is akin to a scary movie. Christians do not have to worry about this. We should all be gone. Matthew 24:22-24 talks about the elect not being here and having their days shortened because of this. I personally believe that a slow rapture of the church is already occurring. It seems like this has been happening for a few years now. Then, we had the coronavirus and that wiped out a lot of people. I have seen a steady stream of people who I know were saved to the bone and doing the work of the Lord leave here. So, I believe that God will continue to take people home until the rapture that is mentioned in the Bible takes place. It is best to stay ready and help to witness and educate others. So many people are being distracted by all sorts of movements at this time. The U. S. government and media are now talking about aliens. Stay focused. Stay prayed up and stay ready.
From some of the movies that I have seen, the beast will be at the forefront of government. It has much to do with a type of world order where you can only conduct business by taking the mark of the beast in your forehead or hand. That means that the world economy will be under one system. That should be a signal to many that something is amiss.
Unfortunately, many will take this mark and unknowingly seal their eternal fate. That is why it is good to have some survival skills. I think the pandemic has sort of taught people how to rough it. I have seen people growing their own food. Many have been making their own clothes. A lot of people have learned how to trade this and that with others. Some have been displaced from their homes and bounced back on their feet. No one knows when the beast or Antichrist will appear. When you see a lot of people missing and you know that they were Christians, prayer warriors, and Saints, that is a good indication that the Antichrist will soon make his appearance. Be prepared and read the Scripture to know the warning signs of the beast’s coming.
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Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORY…THE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi.