THE ANTICHRIST and the MARK OF THE BEAST

Who is the Antichrist?

No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed he will not be a frightening figure.  In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power. 

There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.

But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.

Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible

• Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
• Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
• Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
• Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
• Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
• Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
• Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
• Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
• Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
• Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
• Controlling:  Daniel 7:25.
• Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.

What is the purpose of the Antichrist?

His purpose is to deceive.  The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.

ANOTHER BEAST  –  The False Prophet

Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

• He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.

• And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

• He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

• And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

• And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

• And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

• and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.

He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worships him to suffer God’s Wrath.  “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”  Revelation 16:2 

Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  Revelation 19:20

WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST

No one knows what ‘the mark’ will actually look like.  There is speculation that it could be an image (icon) or a microchip or a tattooed type of barcode used in place of money or credit cards for tracking, commerce and trade.  But, from scriptures we do know…

• And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

• and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

• Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.  Revelation 13:11-18

WHEN WILL THIS BEAST GIVE HIS MARK?

The most popular idea is that the Antichrist will “cause all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, verse 17. and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  from, Revelation 13:16-17  sometime before the rapture of the Church.

HOWEVER, the Bible tells us that the Antichrist will be revealed before the rapture of the church.

2 Thessalonians2:3 tells us, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” ), which is sometime during the 5th Tribulation Seal period, or just at the beginning of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment or during the 7th Trumpet Judgment, which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.

Revelation 13:16-17 tells us when the Antichrist  “causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, Verse 17. and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  

As I have proposed on numerous occasions, the Tribulation Seal Judgments 1 through 4 (wars and rumors of war, famines, plagues, earthquakes, spread of new diseases) began in or around AD 1.  (click this link for “When Does Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as, the 7 Years of Great Tribulation, begin).

We have seen the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.

The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians 2

Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

1. Verse 3.  “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
2. the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

What this means to you and to me is that some of us will have the opportunity to suffer awhile before God takes us away in the Rapture.  How do we know this?  The Bible says so:

1 Peter1:3  says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

• verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
• verse 5.  who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
• verse 6.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Revelation 6:9 tells us that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal,

• I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; verse 10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

• Verse 11.  And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

The ‘times of distress’ encompass Tribulation Seals 1 through 5.

The Great Tribulation also known as The Wrath of God, that is the Wrath of the Lamb, begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.

NOTE: The final 7 years of Daniel’s 70 Weeks, also known as the 7 Years of the Great Tribulation will begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. It will reach the mid-point (3 1/2 years) at the Blowing of the 7th Trumpet Judgment and will conclude with the pouring out of the 7th Bowl Judgment.

Be comforted by this, that God has not appointed us to His Wrath but to obtain His salvation!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The Mark of the Beast