There have been, and are currently many theories as to what the “mark of the beast” is, however, when we examine the Scriptures and allow the Scriptures to interpret, we can gain a better understanding in what that mark actually is, as well as the mark or seal of God.
I. Frontlets Between the Eyes and Sign on the Hand
To begin, I will bring up the popular verse in Revelation:
Rev 13:16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK IN THEIR RIGHT HAND, OR IN THEIR FOREHEADS:
Okay, so we got that, but is this actually literal? For a future time? Or have been people been receiving the “mark of the beast” for a long time? How do we overcome this mark?
In order to answer these questions, I would like to bring up some passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Let’s see what the Scriptures say pertaining to a mark in the hand, and forehead:
♦Ex 13:9 AND IT SHALL BE FOR A SIGN UNTO THEE UPON THY HAND, AND FOR A MEMORIAL BETWEEN THINE EYES, that the LORD’S(YHWH) law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD(YHWH) brought thee out of Egypt.
♦Ex 13:16AND IT SHALL BE FOR A TOKEN UPON THINE HAND, AND FOR FRONTLETS BETWEEN THINE EYES: for by strength of hand the LORD(YHWH) brought us forth out of Egypt.
♦Deut 6:8AND THOU SHALT BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON THINE HAND, AND THEY SHALL BE AS FRONTLETS BETWEEN THINE EYES. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
♦Deut 11:18Therefore 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.
A “mark” in the right hand designates action, and the forehead represents our thoughts, or the desires of our heart. When we have an intent in our heart, eventually it will be carried out into action. To bind the commandments of God on our hand is to be doing them in action, and to have them on our minds or “frontlets between our eyes” is to have them written on your heart.(Ezek 11:19, Ezek 36:26, Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10-11). “Out of the treasure of the heart the mouth speaks” and does (Matt 12:34; Luke 6:45, Ps 14:1). Our allegiance to whom we serve is poured out from heart to action. It is our actions that show what is in our heart, not simply what we profess. This is not a new concept.
Before I continue, please take 5 minutes to watch this video:
Here is wisdom: the Word interprets the Word. A lot of people go to the book of Revelation, without having studied the rest of the scriptures, and attribute meanings to passages or interpret outside of what has already been provided within the Word. As mentioned in the above video, which I concur, is that 666 (some other manuscripts have 616) is a symbolic number to represent evil. This is a theme throughout the book of Revelation in which numbers are not literal, but symbolic representations.
Many have actually calculated this number to a specific name, however, this is a practice of Gematria. Gematria is esoteric numerology based on the Hebrew Kabbalah. Within Gematria, it is finding a “hidden code” based off the numerical value of the Hebrew letters, and is a practice of fortune telling and divination. Even if we were to calculate such a name, it would only be revealed as an archetype, as it has not just been one man throughout the generations that has got people to receive the “mark”. I see it as more of a distraction, when the scriptures already reveal the truth. This is the difference between man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom, one leads to confusion, and the other to clarity.
If we begin looking at the mark that Cain received, we can see it was a mark that represented Yahweh’s protection:
Gen 4:15And the LORD(YHWH) said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD(YHWH) SET A MARK UPON CAIN, LEST ANY FINDING HIM SHOULD KILL HIM. (KJV)
Did Yahweh set a literal mark upon Cain that those who saw such would not harm him? Or perhaps was this a spiritual sign letting others know that Cain was protected?
Where else do we see this concept?
Ezek 9:4And the LORD(YHWH) said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, AND SET A MARK UPON THE FOREHEADS OF THE MEN that sigh and that CRY FOR ALL THE ABOMINATIONS that be done in the midst thereof. 5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: BUT COME NOT NEAR ANY MAN UPON WHOM IS THE MARK; AND BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.(KJV)
The Hebrew word for “mark” used is “tav”:
◄ 8420. tav ►
Strong’s Concordance
tav: frowardness
Original Word: תָּו
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tav
Phonetic Spelling: (tawv)
Definition: a mark
Brown-Driver-Briggs
תָּו noun masculine mark; — absolute ׳ת, mark on forehead, sign of exemption from judgment Ezekiel 9:4,6 suffix תָּוֺוי Job 31:35 = my (written) mark (in attestation).
This literally tells us what the mark of the beast is, as it is the exact opposite of what the mark of God is: “absolute ׳ת, mark on forehead, sign of exemption from judgment”
The only way to become exempt from judgement, is to have the seal/mark of God. Those who do not have the mark of God, have the mark of the beast. It truly is just that simple.
♦Rev 7:3“Do not harm the land or sea or trees UNTIL WE HAVE SEALED THE FOREHEADS of the servants of our God.”
♦Rev 9:4And it was commanded to 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 GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.
When the Israelites put blood over the doorpost of their homes in Egypt they were protected as those outside of that mark were plagued of the death of the firstborn. The Israelites that went before us, serve as examples, types and shadows to the reality of Yeshua/Jesus and His covenant people. 
Just as those that chose to not stay under the protection of the blood(mark) and went on to worship the golden calf(image of the beast), and were destroyed(received the mark of the beast) the same applies to those under the New Covenant.
♦Rev 14:9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECIEVE HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND, 10THE SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND WHOSOEVER RECEIVETH THE MARK of his name. 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.(KJV)
II. John, Polycarp and First Century Church
This is also why this simply does not pertain to some “end times” scenario from a futuristic premillennial mindset, but was written to those within the first century, and second century, and third century to “overcome the beast and his mark”. When the early Christians were being persecuted, to include the disciples of Yeshua/Jesus, they were all being pressured to deny Christ. If they did not give into that pressure, by whatever afflictions, they were eventually killed. Would not John have written to those in whom he shared in such affliction, offering comfort, as he himself was exiled to Patmos?
Rev 1:9I, John, your brother and PARTNER IN THE TRIBULATION AND KINGDOM and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD AND MY TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS. (BSB)
And what do you notice about the last part of the verse?
Rev 12:11THEY HAVE CONQUERED HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; AND DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO AS TO SHY AWAY FROM DEATH.
While there is some debate as to when the book of Revelation was written (65-95AD), we can at least conclude that it was initially written to the audience that John wrote to.
Rev 1:1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. (KJV)
I believe that Polycarp, the disciple of John, and bishop of Smyrna, happened to be part of that audience that John initially wrote to, as Polycarp would eventually be taken captive and martyred.
Letter to the church of Smyrna:
Rev 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The following is an excerpt from “The Martyrdom of Polycarp“, detailing the martyrdom of Polycarp in roughly 150AD, and translated by J.B. Lightfoot.
“All the martyrdoms which God allowed to happen (remember that the devout will ascribe all things to his sovereignty) were blessed and noble. Who could not admire their honor, their patience, their love for the Lord? They were whipped to shreds till their veins and arteries were exposed, and still endured patiently, while even those that stood by cried for them. They had such courage that none of them let out a sigh or a groan, proving when they suffered such torments they were absent from their bodies – or rather that the Lord then stood by them and talked with them. By the grace of Christ they despised all the cruelties of this world, redeeming themselves from eternal punishment by the suffering of a single hour. The fire of their savage executioners appeared cool to them, because they fixed their eyes on their escape from the eternal unquenchable fire and the good things promised to those who endure – things ‘which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, nor the human heart imagined’ but were revealed to them by the Lord. They were no longer men, but had already become angels. In the same way, those who were condemned to the wild beasts endured dreadful torture. Some were stretched out on beds of spikes. Others were subjected to all kinds of torments, all in the Devil’s attempt to make them deny Christ.
In all that the Devil attempted he failed, thanks be to God. The heroic Germanicus encouraged the weak by his own endurance, and fought bravely with the wild animals: when the Proconsul tried to persuade him to cooperate for the sake of his own youth, he drew the wild beast towards himself and provoked it, in order to escape more quickly from this wicked world. Seeing all this, the amazed crowd of spectators cried out, “Down with the atheists! [i.e. those who do not believe in the Roman gods] Get Polycarp!”
By the way, when Quintus the Phrygian handed himself over for martyrdom with some others, the Proconsul persuaded them to take the oath and sacrifice. This is why we do not approve of voluntary martyrdom, something the Gospel does not teach us to do.”
“As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’” Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said, “Down with the Atheists!” “Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. “It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness.” “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.”
I find that the events described above reveal the main point I bring forth: that those who would not succumb to the denial of Christ overcame the “mark of the beast”; and that what was written in Revelation, was not only for those who it was initially written to, but also the collective Body of Christ.
III. Buying and Selling, Counting the Cost
I want to briefly touch on the aspect of “buying and selling” from Revelation 13:17. While I could elaborate on this more, for brevity purposes I will simply bring up a couple points as “food for thought”:
1.) What is the “cost” of following Messiah? What do you loose by doing so? Yeshua said that we must buy from Him. Is this literal?
Rev 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
2.) From a commentary on Revelation 13:17 that elaborates on what I brought up:
Verse 17. – And that no man might bay or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. “And” is omitted in א, C, some cursives and versions and Fathers: no man should be able to buy, etc. A, B, C, P, and most cursives also omit ἤ, “or,” before “the name,” thus reading, as in the Revised Version: save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast, or the number of his name. This expressly asserts what we might have gathered from the analogy of the mark of the true Christian (see on ver. 16), viz. that “the mark” was “the name” or “the number of his name.” The manner in which this was fulfilled in the early ages of the Church is sufficiently notorious. Then faithfulness to the cause of Christ frequently meant banishment from friends, kindred, and home. St. John himself was feeling the effect of this at the time when he wrote these words in exile at Patmos. So, at the present day, the Jews regard as an utter alien any one of their number who embraces Christianity. So also, at the present day, the faithful Christian is often interdicted the society of the world, is declared a social nuisance, and is shunned by the worldly minded, who pay allegiance to the beast.
In other religions, and countries, you are literally “cut off” from all inheritance and family when becoming a Christian. If you renounce Christ, you can have it all back.
Mat 4:8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
The following is from a recent article (2019) detailing the persecution of Christians in India. In lieu of what I have already covered, pay attention to what is happening, what “mark” did they refuse to take?:
“Christians who worshipped privately in their homes in a village in eastern India were dragged to local leaders last month and forced to bow to a goddess idol, sources said.
The mob action on June 14 followed an announcement two days earlier by the heads of Mahuatoli village, Gumla District in Jharkhand state, that 12 Christian families would be banished if they did not return to the tribal Sarna religion, they said.
Threatened with death, most of the Christian families have fled the village.”
“The leader read out orders for villagers to refrain from mingling with Christians, exclude them from family and social gatherings, and to refrain from speaking with them, buying from or selling to them, or having any communication with them, Gangadhar Munda said.
“It angered them that we raised a voice against them,” he said. “They said, ‘These Christians should be cleansed at the pandal [a raised platform for seating idols].’ But some of the village heads said that we should not be forced, and that if any Christian wants to return to Sarna faith, they should come to the pandal on their own. Nobody among our 12 families accepted this offer. We stood strong in faith and decided that no matter what happens, we will not give up our faith.”
Notice that they were completely rejected from society, also having water supply and electricity disconnected.
Was this a literal physical mark that was causing them to not be able to “buy and sell”? Not only that, but does this not show that the concept in Revelation is not specially for some “end times” but that this has been going on since the first century?
IV. Overcoming or Overcome?
Recently I wrote on the mark of the beast from my blog, “The Earthly Millennium Deception and Revelation 20“, in which this current blog expounds on:
“Pertaining to the later of the verse “not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands who overcome the beast”: The “Mark” of the Beast, is the opposite of the “Mark” of God. Having the “Mark” of God, which is the blood of the lamb over you. The “tav” means “Mark, sign, covenant” and forms a cross. This is why those who are His receive the seal of the Holy Spirit.
Also why those who have His “Mark” have both the Son and the Fathers Name, as it is His blood that was shed for the remission of sins. Through the “mark” of the Spirit we should have the mind of Christ, and would produce the works(through our hand) of righteousness.
♦Ex 13:9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD(YHWH) brought thee out of Egypt.
♦Ex 13:16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD(YHWH) brought us forth out of Egypt.
It would be the opposite of those having the “Mark” or covenant of death through the spirit of anti-christ; and this can be those who profess His Name, regardless of it be Jesus, Yeshua, Yahshua, Iesus, etc. As many can profess Him, but DENY HIM, thus receiving the “mark” of the beast, the spirit of anti-christ.”
In the book of Titus we are told of those who profess Him, but deny Him in their actions:
Titus 1:16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.(KJV)
The Greek word here for “works” is ◄ 2041. ergon ►
2. any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind
This shows that even though they professed with their mouth that they knew God, by their actions they denied Him; revealing that both the thoughts and intents of the heart manifested in their actions were against God. When we look back at the accounts from “Martyrdom of Polycarp”, Quintus, had come to deny Christ in word and deed to the proconsul. Even though he was initially zealous to become a martyr, once he realized the cost, he succumbed to the proconsul’s demands of renouncing Christ, and was overcome by the beast.
♦Mat 10:33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.(BSB)
♦Luk 14:28Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?(BSB)
Does this change over time and somehow the fate of such people will be changed if they do not receive a microchip or vaccine? That you can deny or renounce Christ and yet not be subject to judgement?
If we take the mark and attribute it to something physical like a vaccine or a microchip, then this would mean that if a believer who has the blood of the Lamb over them, is forced against their will to receive it, they will receive the wrath of God upon them and tormented with fire and brimstone.
Does this seem logical? Or just? Or merciful?
Do you see the dilemma here when we start to attribute a physical literal “mark of the beast”? Not only that, but then project it to thousands of years in the future when the first century Christians were already overcoming the true “mark of the beast”?
Many people are concerned with a physical mark, when throughout the centuries, it has been the goal of Satan to get people to deny Christ. How else can Satan overcome the saints unless he gets them to deny Christ? Either in word (mind) or deed(hand). Satan does not get victory over the death of a true disciple of Yeshua/Jesus that has remained faithful to the end.
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”(1 Cor 15:55).
There are only two main kingdoms: the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of darkness and each ruler has their seal over their people. Those who choose to go from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of heaven have the opportunity to overcome, yet, the prince of darkness, knowing he lost one to his kingdom, will do what he can to overcome them to bring them back, and if he does, then woe to that man, for they have sealed their fate to the mark of the beast.
♦Heb 6:4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
♦Col 1:13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
♦Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
The only way you can overcome the mark of the beast is through the blood of the Lamb. You cannot simply refuse a vaccine or microchip without having His “mark” set upon you and expect to overcome the mark of the beast. Only those who have truly counted the cost, and endure to the end, shall have victory! Those who go outside of the protection and ark of the covenant, will find themselves be swept away in the floods of judgement.
♦Rev 12:11THEY HAVE CONQUERED HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; AND DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO AS TO SHY AWAY FROM DEATH.
♦Rev 15:2And 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 God.
Interesting perspective and all. But how do you explain the passages where Satan is released from his prison to deceive the nations one final time, to go against thr holy city to be destroyed?
Flesh and blood can’t enter the kingdom of heaven, so the kingdom would logically have to be on the earth for the nations to encircle it.
Obadiah, thank you! I appreciate your comment, although I am not sure exactly what that really has to do with my blog post of “overcoming the mark of the beast”. As to “overcome” is a constant, regardless of whatever time period. It has been something that has been going on since the first century, and not just a “one-time” futuristic event.
As far as your questions, I think it would depend on how you define “holy city”, as I define it as the heavenly Jerusalem, that is comprised of the Body of Christ, which both dwells here on earth, as well as in heaven. (1 Peter2:4-5, Hebrews 12:22-24). The physical city of Jerusalem is no longer a “holy city” as His Spirit dwells with His covenant people, which are those within the New Covenant, that make up the true holy city, and Nation of Israel.
In that regard, there are those of the Body (of Christ) which dwell safely, in which no sin, death or Satan has anymore hold. They have overcome.
♦Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
This is reiterated again not only by Paul, in 2 Cor 5:1-10 but Peter, in 2 Peter 1:13:15, that once we shed this earthly tabernacle, we put on the incorruptible (immortality-eternal life) that there is no more death, no more sting of sin.
So, that means the only ones Satan can come after, are those who dwell here in the earthly realm. Those of us who have not “finished the race” yet, and are still partakers in the “heavenly city” (Col 1:13)
So, that leads me also into one’s understanding of the Kingdom, as if you understand that the Holy City is a spiritual conglomeration of the Body of Christ, then that would also mean such is true for the Kingdom, as we are considered a “Holy Nation”, and a “kingdom of priests”; which was a shadow from the accounts in Exodus.
♦Ex 19:6And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
♦1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
♦Revelation 1:6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father–to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
I believe that the teachings that surround an earthly kingdom (premil/postmil) to be false, and largely a deception to promote Zionism. That the Kingdom is within us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and when we were told to pray “your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven”, this is through His people, walking in accordance with His Spirit.
♦Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
♦John 18:36 – Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
♦Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
If you’d like to seek more that I have written on this topic, which I do mention in “overcoming the mark”, is called “The Earthly Millennium Deception and Revelation 20” https://apearlinthevineyard.com/the-earthly-millennium-deception-and-revelation-20/
I am not sure if this answers your questions, but perhaps it might give you new insight to these matters.
Blessings,
Kellie
It is still beyond my comprehension that after living with Jesus for over a 1,000 years, especially with Him on Earth, that anyone could possibly choose to fight against Him, or reject Him. After all, the beast and false prophet are already thrown in the lake of fire before the millennium reign begins. Who is Satan using to deceive the nations once again?
Hello Jimmy, I am not sure if you intended your comment to be specifically to Obadiah, or to me, so just a quick response from me on this topic, as I spoke on it a little more at length in response to Obadiah. I do not believe in an earthly millennial reign, which is why I completely reject the doctrines surrounding premillennialism. However, I don’t find it beyond our comprehension to see why many come to reject Christ and/or fight against Him at any period of time. There are many reasons why people come to that state, many who even had the privilege of tasting His Holy Spirit. However, looking back to the very beginning with Adam and Eve, they were lured away through evil desire within their heart. They were in a state of perfection yet chose to rebel against God. Some definite food for thought. Blessings!