Mark of the Beast Options

[Coexist]

So, my mom believes it will be this microchip implanted in people's arm/hand. But, they also believed, way back when, that it was the Social Security number.

What exactly is the Mark, what will happen if you accept it, and how do we know for sure that it is what we think it is?

[jazain]

i dont know. and i remember when ppl thought it was going to be the social security number, and the barcodes on products.

[Misbah (The One)]

666? Number of the Beast?

[jimdi]

If you are really really bord read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_Beast

[Ameriki]

Salaam,

Wasent it the Numerical Value of the name "Nero?"

[Jon]

Yes Issa and the number was actually 616.

[MARANATHA!]

Revelation must be understood first and foremost in the historical context in which it was written. In describing the vision he is given, John the Evangelist borrows from the symbolic and allegorical language of some of the OT Prophets such as Zechariah, Ezekiel and Daniel. It was written to encourage and give hope and consolation to the Church which was under severe persecution. In addition John uses the symbolic meaning of numbers extensively throughout, so it is important to understand what certain numbers mean in order to grasp what he is trying to communicate.

Babylon here is undoubtedly a code word for pagan Rome and elsewhere in 1 Peter 5:3, St Peter sends greeting from "the Church at Babylon" and mentions Sylvanus, a Roman Christian

I am inclined to go with the majority of manuscripts and see the number used as being 666

The number 666 in Revelation would have been very relevant to the persecuted Church at the time, but as with all scripture, it also has a future significance for the Church.

Throughout Revelation, John has used several numbers repeatedly. The number 7 (such as in the 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 stars, 7 lampstands etc) signifies spiritual completion, fullness or perfection.

The number 12, (such as the woman with 12 stars under her feet and as a crown, and pertaining to the celestial Jerusalem) signifies divine governance and therefore represents Israel and the Church.

And the number 6 pertains to man who was created on the 6th day.

In a triad, 666 therefore represents a man who makes himself to be the triune God and demands that his image be worshiped as God and who claims sovereign power over all the world.

In John's world this would indeed have been representative of the Roman Emperor. But for the Church, this person, the Beast who's number is 666, represents a world ruler who seeks world domination and persecutes God's people and makes himself out to be a god.

It is for this reason that throughout history this number has been connected to various people who have persecuted God's people, including Nero, Caligula, Napoleon, and Hitler. But many in the Church still believe the worst of these "Beasts" is yet to come. And if this is the case, then God help us all.

Angie.

This post has been edited by MARANATHA!: Sep 20 2008, 11:08 PM

[Murteza]

maybe u mean thi :

[Jim]

So, my mom believes it will be this microchip implanted in people's arm/hand. But, they also believed, way back when, that it was the Social Security number.

What exactly is the Mark, what will happen if you accept it, and how do we know for sure that it is what we think it is?

I think it is not a literal mark.

This concept (of a 'mark' on a person) is common throughout the bible tradition and theology and serves as a reminder of the one you serve. It is a symbol of allegiance, not a physical mark according to New Testament scripture. The person who is 'marked' is one who is allied with God or the Devil (beast), hence it is his believe, faith and character that is the mark.

Many other scriptures allude to this, for example:

Mark of God - Revelations 7:3 Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

Mark of God - Revelations 9:4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Mark of the Beast - Revelations 13:15-17 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Mark of God - Revelations 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.

Mark of the Harlot - Revelations 17:4-6 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.[a] 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

Mark of God - Revelations 22:3-4 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

Many examples in the Old Testament on this literal reminder to the people. One such example is in Jewish prayer as instructed by the Torah.

In Judaism, when Jewish men pray, they wear (T'fillin) two boxes containing Scriptures. One is worn on the forehead, and the other is strapped to the left biceps with a long leather strap.

The Christian scriptures (similar to issues of atonement) views itself as a shadow of the old law. Thus the old law is no longer relevant in the literal sense but fulfilled and the spiritual shadow of the old.

The Book of Revelations is a Christian portion of the New Testament and must be viewed as such. Hence, the contents are not necessarily literal, especially in this book of Prophecy.

Satan, the Beast and the false prophet are seen as a forged trinity in contrast and based on the real concept of trinity the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hence, Satan is copying God. The mark identifies those who have allegiance to one or the other and is not a literal number, card, chip or whatever issued by a government. It is a spiritual mark identifying to God and the Devil the allegiance of their followers.

[Coexist]

Back in the day, I didn't believe it was a man-made or visible mark. Haven't given it too much thought till recently. The talk of microchip implants in pets, and now in humans to store medical information sometimes brings up a lot of issues for my mother. She seems to think the world bank, new world order, and credit cards are all signs that this mark is coming soon, and of course, that means 'the end' will come soon after.

I haven't read Revelations in years, honestly. But from what she says, people will not be able to buy or sell without the mark? I'm just curious what other people think.

[Jim]

Back in the day, I didn't believe it was a man-made or visible mark. Haven't given it too much thought till recently. The talk of microchip implants in pets, and now in humans to store medical information sometimes brings up a lot of issues for my mother. She seems to think the world bank, new world order, and credit cards are all signs that this mark is coming soon, and of course, that means 'the end' will come soon after.

I haven't read Revelations in years, honestly. But from what she says, people will not be able to buy or sell without the mark? I'm just curious what other people think.

Christians are often short sited when it comes to the bible. Just because it says people cant buy or sell without the "mark" doesnt mean that when you go to the checkout at the supermarket sirens will go off or you are literally tagged or part of the grid. Christians have feared a new world order for centruies and every time there is a new world order, and Jesus doesnt come back, there is not anti-christ (once theout to be Mikael Gorbachev), they move on to the next social or national system to arise. Once they thought it was Rome, then they thought it was the USA, then the European Union, then the USSR, what next!?!

This is a simple boycott against the believers. Of course, Muslims already had this happen to them during the time of the Prophet when the Quraish boycotted the believers. None of them could buy or sell unless they abandoned their faith in Muhammad's Message. None of them were required to be tagged with a literal mark, number system, etc. There mark was their allegiance to God and the Prophet's message

[Coexist]

So how do Christians believe the anti-christ will appear? Is he alive, or will he be born?

Yeah, Jim, my mom believes that, if people don't have the 'mark', they will eventually be executed

[MARANATHA!]

So how do Christians believe the anti-christ will appear? Is he alive, or will he be born?

Yeah, Jim, my mom believes that, if people don't have the 'mark', they will eventually be executed

Antichrist is any opponent of the Messiah, and comes from the Greek antichristos. Since Christ identifies with the people of God, anyone who opposes God and His people is termed antichrist.

The word appears only a few times in the Bible and only in the Epistles of John:

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:18-22 (KJV)




3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 4:2-3 (KJV)




7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

2 John 1:7 (KJV)




And many Christians like your mum, including myself, believe there will appear at the end of the age, the greatest-grand-daddy of all antichrists. He will make all the others before him look like kittens.




Angie.

This post has been edited by MARANATHA!: Sep 30 2008, 03:32 AM