The mark of the beast is a metaphor, describing what has transpired within the minds, of those who have chosen to live a carnal life. Whereas, those sealed with the Spirit of Yahweh, are transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2, 1 Cor 2:16, Eph 4:17-19).
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Yahweh – I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts – even more, I shall be unto them Yahweh, and they shall therefore be my people (Heb 8:10).
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
Messiah has sealed the Elect unto the day of redemption (which is our Salvation) and gives us the down payment of His Holy Spirit in our hearts (Eph 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, John 6:27).
- Many will hear the Gospel, then along comes the devil who takes away what is heard, (or causes doubt) so that the word departs from their hearts.
- Others will hear the Good News and receive the word with joy; but because they have no root (or depth to their faith), they will believe for a while but also fall away due to temptations or trials.
- The Word of Yahweh can also become unfruitful or barren when the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, along with the lusts of other carnal things enter in and choke or suffocate the word (Luke 8:5-18, Mark 4:13-20, Mat 13:3-23).
- So then, Satan is indeed able to catch away the word from those who are unable to discern the truth. These shadows of deception can lead to a complete blackout or obstruction of the truth. However, those who are taught by the Holy Spirit that proceeds from Messiah the Savior can readily embrace the light of the world that pierces the darkness (John 3:21, 8:12, 14:26).
Matt 13:19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart.
The meaning of (G726 harpazo) in 1 Thes 4:17, is “to claim for one’s self eagerly. G726, is a derivative of G138, with a meaning of “to choose or prefer.” It also describes seizing with great forcefulness (Mat 11:12, John 10:28-29, Jude 1:23).
the dead <G3498> through <G1722> Messiah <G5547> shall rise <G450> first <G4412>Then <G1899> we <G2249> which <G3588> are alive <G2198>and remain <G4035> shall be caught up <G726> together <G260> with <G4862> them <G846>in <G1722> the clouds <G3507> 1 Thes 4:16-17
1 Thess 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together…
At the second coming, it will be as it was in the days of Lot and Noah. One shall be taken to inherit destruction; however, the chosen ones are gathered to meet up with those who descend with, or through the clouds (1 Thes 4:17, Acts 1:9, 11).
Matt 24:39-40 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken and the other left.
The tribulation period will only strengthen the resolve of the faithful, who witness the arrival of the two witnesses and the beast and false prophet.
Psa 18:30 Yahweh’s way is perfect: the word of Yahweh is pure he is a shield to all those that trust in Him.
The Mark of the Beast and the temple of Yahweh
The word mark, as in mark of the beast, is used eight times in the book of Revelations. This same word is also translated as graven or etched and is used once in the book of Acts.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of Yahweh, we ought not to think that Yahweh is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
The Mark of the Beast is etched into the minds of the deceived. This will include those who will fall away because their faith was lukewarm to begin with. Our faith must not be based on the wisdom of men, or the works of the law, but in the power of Yahweh (2 Thes 2:11, 1 Cor 2:5, Gal 2:16, Rev 3:15-17).
The second advent of Messiah is when the Elect are gathered together, and there is no scriptural validation whatsoever for a pre-tribulation rapture. Messiah will not return until after the man of sin is revealed and a great falling away occurs (2 Thes 2:3, Mark 13:24-26).
Who opposes and also lifts himself up against those who call upon Yahweh, or that worship Him; so that he as a god sits in the temple of god, shewing himself that he is god (2 Thess 2:4).
The Elect of Messiah are His temple, as His Holy Spirit resides in them; this is the mark of a true born-again believer. Likewise, the mark of the beast represents those who have accepted the spirit of this world that resides in their minds and hearts (1 John 4:3, Acts 5:3, John 13:2).
Contrary to the popular teachings of a rebuilt temple for the jewish people, this will not occur. The false teachers in the church do not have an understanding of the temple of Yahweh. The god of this world has blinded them from the true light of the gospel (2 Cor 4:4).
The message that is hidden to most in 2 Thess2:4, is as follows. If anyone worships the man of sin as god, then the temple or dwelling place in us that is designed and set apart for Yahweh, is occupied by this impostor.
The article entitled “He as god sits in the temple of god” will expose this temple misunderstanding, it is available here .
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of Yahweh, and that the Spirit of Yahweh dwells in you?
If any man defiles the temple of Yahweh by becoming marked as belonging to the beast, him shall Yahweh destroy; for the temple of Yahweh is holy, which temple ye are (1 Cor 3:17).
So the phrase,” He as god sits in the temple of god” is no longer a mystery. Scripture informs us that Satan is the god of this world.
Satan imitating Yahweh dwells in his place, showing himself that he is a god (1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Acts 7:48; 17:24; Rev 11:19). This indeed is the mark of the beast.
Yahweh no longer dwells in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48).
The Mark of the Beast from the god of this world
And the Devil said unto Messiah all these things will I give to thee, if thou will fall down and worship me (Matt 4:9).
Our Messiah said ”I am come with my Father’s name (which is Yahweh), and ye receive me not, but if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive (John 5:43).
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The true gospel of Yahweh can only be understood by those who are baptized with His Holy Spirit. The natural man can not truly serve Yahweh, nor can he receive His teachings through that same Spirit. The Word of Yahweh is spiritually discerned, and the carnal mind can not comprehend them (1 Cor 2:14).
The beast known as the man of sin, and the little horn, is the abomination that causes destruction.
Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Matt 24:24 For there shall arise a false messiah, even a false prophet and (he) shall show great signs and wonders…
These signs and wonders that the false prophet performs will deceive all but the very elect (Rev 13:14, 19:20).
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the continual, and place the abomination of desolation
Those who receive the mark of the beast, worship the Dragon or Satan, as well as the Beast that he empowers.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
Instead of fearing and giving glory to Yahweh, who created all things, the deceived will fear the Beast as a result of his signs and lying wonders (Rev 14:7, 2 Thes 2:9).
2 Tim 1:7 For Yahweh hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Satan can easily corrupt the minds of those who are not of the Messiah. The mark of the beast is upon those whom the god of this world has blinded from the gospel of Yahweh (2 Cor 11:3, 2 Cor 4:4 ).
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of the Savior, even for the word of Yahweh, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with the Messiah for a thousand years (Rev 20:4).
This word forehead (G3359) is used eight times, and it is only found in the Book of Revelation. The 144,000 do not have a literal mark, namely Yahweh’s name, written on their foreheads. However His name, is written or etched in their minds (Rev 7:3, 9:4, 22:4).
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having their Father’s name written in their foreheads.
The fact that there are martyr’s for Messiah during the great tribulation proves that the rapture or gathering of the saints does not occur until after the great tribulation.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and also his image, and also whosoever receives the mark of his name.
To take the mark of the beast is to commit idolatry, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Yahweh (Isa 13:9, Rev 14:10).
Rev 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
Those that have the seal of Yahweh, will be protected from the vials of His wrath, that is poured out upon those who have been marked as servants of the beast.
Rev 15:1-2 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of Yahweh. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of Yahweh.
The mark of the beast refers to whosoever receives the mark of his name (Rev 14:11). The very name of the beast will be one of blasphemy. This beast and his followers will blaspheme against the very name of Yahweh (Rev 13:6, 16:9, 11, 21).
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Yahweh, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Some of what proceeds from the hearts of those who have the mark of the beast is adultery, murder, blasphemy and pride (Mark 7:21-22).
Sealed through the Spirit of Yahweh
The second beast, also known as the false prophet, will cause all that are not sealed with Yahweh’s Spirit to accept the mark of the beast. The deceived that follow after the doctrines of men have already been marked with the spirit of unbelief. To honor Yahweh with empty words, that do not come from a transformed mind and heart – this is vanity and a useless pursuit (Mat 15:8-9).
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
To be sealed with the Holy Spirit is not something that is unique to the 144,000 that are mentioned in the book of Revelations.
All of the Elect who are in Messiah, are sealed or set apart unto Him. These will not accept the mark of the beast, as they know who their real Savior is.
It is taught that the 144,000 who are sealed, are end time witnesses during the Great Tribulation after the so-called rapture. This is yet another deceptive doctrine propagated by the false teachers in the Christian church.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath Yahweh the Father sealed.
The earnest, which is a down payment of our inheritance with Yahweh, is that we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. The fulfillment of this contract is our redemption which is realized when our Savior returns with our Salvation (Eph 1:13-14, Eph 4:30, Heb 9:28, 1 Peter 1:5).
And then shall the Son of man appear, and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption is near (Luke 21:27-28).
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
There is nothing in scripture to suggest that the 144,000 who are sealed witness to anyone.
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of Yahweh in their foreheads.
In this verse, the 144,000 are not mentioned, but we know that there are believers in Messiah that are sealed with His Holy Spirit of promise, and thus protected from the fifth trumpet judgment (Rev 9:1-11).
The Beast does not have power over all peoples. The all that he does have control over, represents all of a certain type. All, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life shall take the mark of the beast (Rev 13:8).
The Beast will set up his headquarters in the holy mountain, which is in Jerusalem, but this is not the temple of Yahweh. During the time of the Great Tribulation, Jerusalem is referred to spiritually, as Sodom and Egypt (Dan 11:45, Rev 11:8).
They are marked with the spirit of deception
We can allow the spirit of Yahweh to take up residence within us, and come out of darkness (John 12:46).
We can also be deceived into thinking that the spirit within us is light, when in actuality it is darkness (John 1:5; Luke 11:35).
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Those that don’t accept the mark of the beast achieve victory over Satan (Rev 7:3, 9:4, 15:2). These shall have the name of Yahweh upon their foreheads, (in other words in their minds).
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Yahweh puts His righteous Laws into the minds of His Elect. The enemy defiles the minds of the unbelievers with talmudic judaic fables, and the commandments of men, that turn many from the truth (Titus 1:14-16).
Those who are not firmly grounded in the Word may endure for a season, but when persecution comes for the Word’s sake, immediately they will fall away (1 Peter 4:14, Mark 4:17, Mat 5:11). The mark of the beast represents the power that Satan has on the fearful (Luke 21:26). The sin of fear (which is etched, or marked in their minds) will separate many from Messiah for eternity.
Rev 21:7 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
Those that fall away from the truth because of fear, reject the Savior by their own actions. The mark of the beast is established when Satan is able to suffocate the Word of Yahweh so that it becomes useless. When our minds are preoccupied with the love of this evil world, and the pleasures thereof, the mark of the beast has already taken root (Luke 8:14).
2 Tim 1:7 For Yahweh hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The mark of the beast is upon all who will not partake in afflictions for the sake of the Gospel. These are ashamed of the testimony of our Savior. The Word clearly teaches that we must through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of Yahweh, but very few are willing or able to do so (2 Tim 1:8, Acts 14:22).
Unless we put on the whole armor of Yahweh, we cannot stand against the fiery darts of the Devil (Eph 6:11-18).
1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Yahweh, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Messiah.
Those marked have the spirit of this world
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Yahweh dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is not of Him.
There are only two choices available, so there is no middle ground.
- We can accept the Spirit of truth, and the Seal of Yahweh’s Spirit, that leads to everlasting life (John 6:27, 14:17).
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them
The meaning associated with mark them, is to look at, observe or contemplate those who are marked by or through the beast.
- The mark of the beast may also be chosen. Many will follow after the spirit of the god of this world that leads to eternal destruction (1 Cor 2:12-14).
The word transformed actually describes a metamorphosis. The word picture is one of a new life, where we are transformed into a new Spiritual child of Yahweh. We that once served the lusts of the flesh, become born again, to serve Him with a new Spirit (Rom 7:6, 12:2).
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
The Devil is at war with those that keep the commandments of Yahweh, even the testimony of the Savior (Rev 12:17).
Those who accept the mark of the beast will follow a false messiah. They will also receive the spirit of this world, and embrace a false gospel (1 Cor 2:12, Cor 11:3-4).
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of Yahweh.
It is during this Great Tribulation, that has a duration of three and a half years, that a great battle will be waged for the eternal destiny of much of mankind.
Rev 14:9-10 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Yahweh
The mark of the beast is simply an allegiance to the god of this world, and this represents a spiritual decision. For many, unfortunately, this has already occurred, without any type of force required. Likewise, the Seal of Yahweh is Spiritual as well, and does not involve a physical marking.
Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The world will wonder after the beast, as a result of the incredible deception displayed, and will willingly worship him. Many will readily accept a false messiah, because they are without any spiritual discernment (Mat 7:14, 24:4, 2 Cor 11:4).
Matt 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
The right hand symbolizes our power to put something into action. The parable of the mark of the beast in the right hand, simply represents our willingness to participate in the idolatrous worship of the beast.
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils…