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Therefore, John could have expected his audience to solve the riddle, but only if there was a shared pool of understanding concerning the enigmatic nature of the reference. The history of interpretation concerning the correlation of a person with the number has only resulted in endless speculations. One of the most prominent candidates has been the first-century Roman emperor Nero. This rare form of Nero's name was actually found in an Aramaic document from Qumran cf.
John's play on Hebrew words in the Book of Revelation at 9: It is also noteworthy that a variant reading in Greek New Testament manuscripts exits that cites the number as "" rather than " There was also a belief in a revived Nero as the antichrist from the first century cf. Irenaeus, however, wrote within a century of the apostle John and did not mention Nero.
A few modern scholars have noted that the numbers can also argue for a connection with Babylon and Nimrod. The list is expanded with the creative use of numbers during times of modern crises e. It is possible that John merely intended the number to be symbolic of what the beast and his followers represent: John explains in The number 7 is well established as a number of completeness or perfection.
The number 6, being one less than 7, may symbolize humankind, which falls short of perfection. Irenaeus notes that the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar was 60 cubits high by 6 cubits wide. The number could well personify the imperfection of man, even implying in the triple number the unholy trinity of the dragon, antichrist, and the false prophet.
The identity of those who follow the Lamb or the beast is self-evident to the observer, whether it is the first century or the eschatological future. The vision calls John and his audience to discern the spirit of sinful humanity that accompanies the antichrist rather than to decode his identity. The true mark of the beast is a heart that refuses to submit to the commandments and the actions that follow those choices.
Those who choose to obey God, though they lose their lives, will be rewarded with eternal life.
May the Lord help you make the right decision and avoid his wrath in the fearful Day of the Lord Joel 2: What is the mark of the beast? Is it a special number that will be forced upon people?
How big is Satan's evil army? What is the lake of fire? How is related to wealth? What must occur before Jesus returns? The greatest war ever fought! Timeline of Man's last days. What does Revelation The real mark of the beast must be a spiritual mark that is received as a result of us going against God and His law. It cannot be a physical mark.
Satan is going to deceive the world into accepting a law of the Roman Catholic beast, which will go against the law of our Creator God. Take a look at what the result of receiving this mark will be. Did you see what it said? Anyone who "worships" the beast, by accepting its laws and traditions over the law of God will receive its mark. Therefore those who receive the beasts mark will be those who follow the beast Roman Catholic Church , or its image church-state union in America instead of God. And they will be thrown into the lake of fire. The world has a choice to make in the last days, and the choice is to either obey God, or obey satan and his beast.
Yes, and so does the word "beast" in Revelation 13 mean a literal beast. And the "dragon" in Revelation 12 mean a literal dragon.
And the "harlot woman" in Revelation 17, riding a "scarlet beast" means a literal prostitute woman riding a literal red beast. Are we now to say that we will have literal beasts roaming the earth forcing the world to worship them? And a literal prostitute riding a beast, causing the world to follow her?
How could God reject you for just receiving forcibly a chip or ID card, even though you are still loving, obeying and serving Him? Archived from the original on 15 July It cannot be a physical mark. The ecumenical movement is uniting the churches with Rome! Anyone who "worships" the beast, by accepting its laws and traditions over the law of God will receive its mark.
Revelation is FULL of symbolic language. And just because the meaning of a certain word points to the literal thing itself. Doesn't mean it will be literal in real life. Same applies to the mark of the beast. In other words, the true remnant church of God are those who follow in Jesus' footsteps, and what did Jesus say?
Are we not to follow Jesus? The sad thing is, the truth of God's law has been cast down by satan and many professing Christians are deceived into thinking that keeping God's Ten Commandments is not important. Now we know from Revelation 13 that the beast's mark is received either in the forehead or in the hand There is also another set of people that have a mark on their foreheads So during the last days we have two sets of people.
One with the beast's mark and one with God's name written on their foreheads. Now will these people be walking around with a literal mark on their foreheads, or the name of God actually written on their foreheads? I don't believe so, I believe these marks will be spiritual ones.
Remember, the book of Revelation is full of symbolic language. Take the harlot women for instance in Revelation Is this going to be a literal prostitute riding a literal beast with those names on her forehead?
Of course not, this is symbolic, just like the mark of the beast and the seal of God. Is there any significance to receiving the mark in the forehead or hand? Yes there is, which we can see from the following Old Testament scripture. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. What does it mean to bind Gods Words, His law upon our hands and foreheads?
God wasn't asking them to literally write them on their hands and heads. He wanted them to keep His Commandments in their minds to stop them from sinning. Did you know that the front of our brain forehead is where our thoughts and decisions are made?
The hand represents our actions.