Cindy Jennings Disciple

If you are on earth now and writing that question, you don't have to worry about the mark of the beast since believers alive at the time of the Rapture will be taken out of earth before the Tribulation begins.

As for the mark, I believe believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit and that's how God marks us now and then. Believers will refuse the mark of the beast. Yes, they will be persecuted and may not survive but they become the Tribulation martyrs with special rewards in Heaven.

And Peter is NOT one of the 144,000 witnesses in the Tribulation since he's already in heaven. Those 144,000 will be Jewish believers who realize, when the Christians disappear, that the NT is right. They will be evangelizing the world as never before, trying to save as many as possible before Jesus comes again in judgment.

August 03 2014 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Craig Mcelheny Christian Author

Without question, the Church WILL have to face the Mark of the Beast. That issue was adjudicated in a discussion involving myself, Cindy Jennings, and JD Abshire at:

https://ebible.com/questions/14525-when-will-people-be-asked-to-take-the-mark-of-the-beast#answer-23185

As for preparation for the Mark of the Beast, I’m not a survivalist or a ‘doomsday prepper’, but I suppose there are some remote places in the world where you could avoid being asked to take the Mark of the Beast. However, I wouldn’t advise taking that course unless you are convinced, through prayer, that it is the Lord’s will for you. The Lord called those whom He foreknew, so that in the end He could justify their behavior. For many, justification will come from the answer they give when confronted with the Mark of the Beast. It is not enough, just to believe and expect eternal life as though it was guaranteed. Look at the Church of Laodicea. They were lukewarm (Rev. 3:14-15), and the Lord spewed them out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).

Therefore, it is paramount that we understand the consequence of taking the Mark. I have been in Bible studies where people will ask questions like: “If we take the Mark, and then later repent for doing so, will the Lord forgive us?” Even here, in the answers to this question, there is confusion over just what the Mark might be.

The word ‘mark’ is defined in Strong’s as: “a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue) :- graven, mark.” It is real. It is ‘received’ (NKJV), ‘given’ (NASB) and ‘marked’ (ESV) by, to, and on the one who accepts the Mark in Rev. 13:16. A symbol does not fit these descriptions. It is given so that no one can buy or sell anything unless they have the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:17). That is bad enough, but pales in comparison to the consequence if you do take the Mark of the Beast:

Revelation 14:9-12 (NASB) 
Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will 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 goes up FOREVER and EVER; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and WHOEVER RECIEVS THE MARK OF HIS NAME." 
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

There is no escaping the reality of taking the Mark of the Beast. It is eternal torment in the Lake of Fire, otherwise known as Gehenna (Matthew 10:28). There is nothing symbolic involving eternal death. It is all very real. Therefore, it seems to me that should we be close to the return of the Lord, we should concern ourselves with drawing ever closer to Him to prepare our hearts for that day.

BTW, you will be given at least 3.5 years advanced notice before the Antichrist will ask people to take the Mark of the Beast. It won’t take place until the mid-point of the Tribulation. Again, this was answered at:

https://ebible.com/questions/14525-when-will-people-be-asked-to-take-the-mark-of-the-beast#answer-23185

If it helps, I have Figure 11 from my book, “The Rapture and the Last Seven Years”, outlining the major events that will take place in and around the last seven year period of remaining prophecy – the Tribulation (Daniel’s Seventieth Week), posted on my website:

https://www.facebook.com/Craig-McElheny-430759656985167/

The Mark of the Beast begins with the Third Seal and lasts the duration of the last half (3.5 years) of the Tribulation.

December 02 2015 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

This mark is not to be interpreted as a physical mark/chip. It is a symbolic mark - and we will all get marks on our foreheads. If I may rephrase the question, "Which mark should I have in my forehead?" 

There are two marks that are symbolically pressed on to the foreheads of people: 

1) The name of the beast, refers to the unrighteous, c.f. Rev 13:18
2) The name of the lamb, refers to the righteous, c.f. Rev 14:1

This is evocative of the last plague of Egypt - and we ask ourselves, "When the day of reckoning comes, which mark do I have on my forehead?"

October 29 2013 • 15 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mike Henson

The "mark of God" on the hand and forehead of His believers, those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, are spiritual marks.

Deuteronomy 11:18 So keep these commandments carefully in mind. Tie them to your hand to remind you to obey them, and tie them to your forehead between your eyes!

Deuteronomy 6:8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

August 08 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report