When will people be asked to take 'the mark of the beast'?
Will this be during the tribulation?
Revelation 13:16 - 18
ESV - 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead. 17 So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
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Asked October 08 2015
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sherri nolan
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
I personally believe that it will be somtime shortly after the rapture. My reasoning is that the bible says that the anti christ is going to be so convincing that even the elect would be deceived. So I believe we will know who he is before the rapture. I also believe that the temple has to be rebuilt in Jerusalem before the rapture so that the anti christ will have a place to rule from.
I believe the church age is about over because of the falling away from the tru faith. Most organized churches are either saying that the absolutes taught in the bible are not sin, or going so far the other way saying that we have to obey the law in order to be saved. Both are lies from the father of lies.
Craig Mcelheny
Cindy,
In response to your last comment under JD’s answer, I have two phases of the Second Coming, just like you. The first is the Rapture, occurring within a 45 day period after the Tribulation, defined by the number of days in Dan. 12:11-12. These days are marked off from the mid-point of the Tribulation. Three and one half years is 1278 days, leaving 12 days from the end of the Tribulation until the beginning of the 45 day window. The Rapture is described in vs. 13. It is easier to see in the NASB:
Daniel 12:13 (NASB)
But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.
The “end of the age” has to be the Church Age. Not withstanding Jesus’ release of the prisoners, there was no mass resurrection at the end of the age of the Law and the Prophets.
The second phase is what I described to you and JD as the Second Coming of Christ where He comes down to fight the battle of Armageddon on the earth. It is the last of Seven Bowls in the book of Revelation. It occurs roughly two years after the Rapture, but still within the period of God’s Wrath, known as the Day of the Lord. It is 2.8 years in duration, defined by the 2300 days in Dan. 8:13-14. Note that the 2300 days begins at the mid-point of the Tribulation and the sanctuary is trampled. Note also, that Luke 21:24 and Rev. 11:2 tell us that the Temple is trampled for 42 months by the Gentiles.
Isaiah 1:18
Craig Mcelheny
JD & Cindy,
It seems that both of you are still wrestling with the symbology of the white robes for the “dead in Christ” (Rev. 6:9, 11 and Rev. 7:9) versus the fine linen of the raptured Church (Rev. 19:7-8). It bears particular relevance to the Rapture, as it states in 1 Thess. 4:15, that those who are alive at the time of the Rapture, will not precede those who are the “dead in Christ”. Thus, (Rev. 6:9, 11) are given, simply to show that the “dead in Christ” are clothed in white robes.
Rev. 7:9, however, is a different matter. It is relevant to the timing of the Rapture. This great multitude, that no one could number, is emerging from the Tribulation (Rev. 7:14). Technically, it says they are “coming out of the great tribulation”, but the Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation. They are still clothed in white robes. This means that even after the Tribulation (within the 12 days mentioned in my above response to Cindy) the Rapture still has not transpired. If it had, we would have seen this great multitude dressed in fine linen. The great multitude includes the Church, as it has been shown in Matthew 24:29-31 that the Rapture occurs after the Tribulation.
Isaiah 1:18
Craig Mcelheny
JD & Cindy,
Let’s finish the discussion and put this issue to bed, i.e. does the Church have to face the Mark of the Beast or not. It should be of utmost concern, given the conditions in the Middle East.
We have determined that as late as 12 days after the Tribulation, the Rapture still has not taken place (the great multitude is still dressed in white robes – Rev. 7:9). Yet, both of you remain silent on this issue. Why? I believe it is because the Church is miss-guided in its belief that God’s Wrath must be consummated within the 7 yr. Tribulation period.
I believe this myth comes from a miss-understanding of Dan. 9:24. In particular, the phrase, “to seal up vision and prophecy” (NKJV & NASB). The ESV does a better job with, “to seal both vision and prophet”.
Gabriel is speaking to Daniel at this point (Dan. 9:21), to give him understanding of the vision he had (previously) seen (Dan 9:23) – the vision of the 2300 days (Dan. 8:13-14). It is brought to an end during the Tribulation. I don’t believe it means the 2300 days ends during the Tribulation. I believe it means the 2300 days begins in the middle of the Tribulation, not at the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, as taught by one Bible expositor.
Likewise, prophets of old warned the people of God’s impending judgment. Isn’t that what the two witnesses do in Rev. 11:3? It’s an end to prophets, not an end to prophecy. There are things like the Day of the Lord that still need to happen after the Tribulation.
Isaiah 1:18
Craig Mcelheny
What is the Day of the Lord, and when does it occur?
The Day of the Lord is best described in Zeph. 1:14-15 as a Day of Wrath. It includes the battle of Armageddon (Zeph. 1:16) and the winepress of God’s Wrath (Zeph. 1:17-18). It begins with destruction from the Almighty (Joel 1:14-15). The analogous point in the Book of Revelation is the opening of the Seventh Seal, when the angel throws the golden censer (bowl) to the earth and there are peals of thunder, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake (Rev. 8:5). The opening of the 7th Seal is observed by one half hour of silence (Rev. 8:1), marking a divide between the 7th Seal and the first six Seals, associated with the Tribulation.
When does the Day of the Lord begin? It starts after the Sixth Seal. Joel 2:30-31 tells us that before the Day of the Lord comes, the Sun will be darkened and the Moon will be turned to blood. This is what happens in the Sixth Seal (Rev. 6:12-13). The Sixth Seal occurs immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29). Thus, the Day of the Lord commences after the Tribulation. It lasts for approximately 2.8 years, as derived from the vision of the 2300 days beginning at the mid-point of the Tribulation (Dan. 8:13-14) and lasting for 6.3 years.
JD and Cindy,
Given the fact that a pre- or mid-Tribulation view of the Rapture does not fit with Scripture (Matthew 24:29-31, and the great multitude dressed in white robes – Rev. 7:9), wouldn't that leave a post-Tribulation view as the only viable option?