The Amish Voice 6
Seven “Mark of the Beast” Texts in Revelation
—-
Dr. Conner
In Revelation 13, two animals are pictured
representing two nations or entities that
would rise to power in the world. According
to Daniel 7:17, animals in prophecy represent
nations or powers. The first power is pic-
tured as a composite beast: part leopard, part
bear, and part lion. We shall explain this
beast in the next article. This composite ani-
mal is the one known as the “beast” in the
rest of Revelation. Always keep this in
mind! The “mark” (or sign) of the beast is
then some special characteristic of this pow-
er. We will study the “mark” in the second
future article. The second animal is not de-
scribed with an animal name, but has two
lamb-like horns, and is later called “the false
prophet” in Rev. 19:20. This power will be
the one that sets up the “image to the beast”
or the “image of the beast” that we read
about in Rev. 13:14-15.
Keeping these facts in mind, now let us
look at the seven texts that mention the
“
mark of the beast,” and see what we can
learn.
Revelation 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.”
The first thing that we see here is that
economic pressure will be put upon those
who refuse to follow the beast or his image
by receiving his mark. People won’t be able
to make a living or buy any goods unless
they follow the law laid down by the beast or
his image (which is set up by the second
power in Rev. 13).
These laws will eventually lead to a death
decree against those who refuse to bow to the
beast and his image. Rev. 17:15 states:
“
And
he had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should
both speak and cause that as many as would
not WORSHIP the image of the beast should
be killed.”
This scenario reminds us of Daniel 3, where
the king of Babylon set up a golden image
that everyone had to worship. God’s follow-
ers would not worship the image and were
cast into the fiery furnace. That story is the
basis for what John is telling us here in Reve-
lation. It will happen again.
Note these points:
The “mark of the beast” has something
to do with worship.
Failure to worship as proscribed by the
beast leads to economic pressure and a
death decree.
But there is more. In Rev. 13:14, we see that
all the miracles done by the second power to
convince the world to worship the first beast
are for the purpose of
deceiving
the world:
“
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth
by the means of those miracles which he had
power to do in the sight of the beast; saying
to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an image to the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live.”
Deceive them about what? In Rev. 13:6-7
we read that the first beast is “against” God
and his true people:
“
And he opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blas-
pheme His name, and His tabernacle, and
Over the Christmas
season, we travelled
as a family to visit
some family and
friends. Nobody told
me how much work
it is to travel with
two little ones and three bigger ones in the
wintertime, especially going from house to
house visiting friends. It is exhausting! Come
to think of it, many things about being a
mom are exhausting, as you moms know
well.
Being a mom means self-denial, putting
someone's needs before your own, keeping
on when you think you simply can't, doing
things no one else wants to do, and seeing
the things no one else sees. Being a mom
means you are needed and touched, used and
drawn from all day, every day. While it is
very fulfilling, it can be exhausting. It is even
more exhausting when we lose sight of what
is important and no longer feel fulfilled.
God has been reminding me of something
recently. It is found in Luke 12:31 which
says, "
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
His righteousness, and all these things shall
be added to you as well
."
It also mentions
how God takes care of the birds and lilies,
and not even a king is arrayed with such
splendor. What are we worrying about? I
tend to wear myself out trying to keep things
neat and clean and doing other projects. But I
forget the most important things. God has
allowed me to feel frustrated, so I realize that
when my spirit is fed in Him, and my
children feel loved and appreciated, He will
be able to bless me with these other things
also. That is why He says, "Seek Me first."
When we seek our own things first, and
try to put them before our children, husband,
or God, we only end up spinning our wheels
and becoming exhausted. I am not saying we
will never be tired or busy or frustrated when
we put God first, but we will eliminate much
frustration from our lives and find more rest.
Being a wife and mom is a very demanding,
exhausting job, but if we can learn to "come
apart and rest awhile," we will find more
peace, joy, and fulfillment. God will give us
wisdom for the different situations we face
as we learn to give situations to Him as they
come up, instead of wasting time and energy
worrying and fretting. Most of all, we will
find that rest in Him, the fulfillment that
comes from being in His will, and seeing the
fruits of our labors manifested by happy,
satisfied children and a happy husband.
—
Lynn Miller
A Content Mom
—
Lynn Miller
Continued—Next Page
