Can Someone be Forced to Take the Mark of the Beast?

By Brenda Cathcart

The message that many people hear about the mark of the beast is that we need to be careful not to take it by accident or let the “government” assign a mark to you that may turn out to be the mark of the beast. Back in the 1930’s, when the U.S. government first instituted Social Security numbers, preachers warned that they were the mark of the beast. Back in the 1970’s it was a tattoo, then it was a barcode, now it is a microchip implanted under the skin.

I think we all agree that the beast is a representation of Satan and that Satan wants to be God and imitates God in his deception of mankind. With that in mind, what does the Bible tell us about the mark of the beast? What follows is a short synopsis of a more detailed study in Shadows of Messiah, Volume 2, titled “Sealed for the Day of Redemption.”

1) Revelation 13:16 tells us the mark is on the forehead or the right hand. This is an imitation of the sign God gave the Israelites. They are to bind God’s Word on the foreheads and on the hands (Deut. 6: 6-8) The practice is to write the words of these verses on a tiny scroll placed in a leather box called tefillin which is then tied with leather laces to the forehead and the left hand. The tefillin remind them that God’s commandments are to be on their minds (forehead) and that they are to do them (hand). The left hand is chosen because it is closer to the heart; that is the motivation for doing God’s commandments must be from the heart. The left hand is usually the weaker hand implying that it is God’s strength that enables us to do His commands.

The mark of the beast, in contrast, is to be on the forehead or the right hand indicating that their minds are on the beast and his will. Revelation 14:9 tells us that those who receive the mark of the beast worship him. The right hand is the furthest from the heart and is usually stronger. Man’s motivation is his own selfish interests relying on his own strength.

2) Revelation 13:18 tells us the mark of the beast is the number of the beast’s name. Again, this is an imitation of God! God’s high priest also has a mark on his forehead. This mark is in the form of a gold plate with the words “Holy to Yahweh” on it (Ex. 28:36-38). The high priest wears God’s name on his forehead! Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood with the purpose of proclaiming God’s praises (1 Peter 2:9). So, what does having the number of the name of the beast on one’s forehead indicate? That person belongs to the beast, worships the beast, is set aside for the beast all for the purpose of praising the beast. The number of the beast is 666. Six is the number of man. One is the number of God. When man has God in his life, his number is 6+1=7. Seven is the number of spiritual completeness. Three is the number of divine completeness. So, three sixes is man without God. It indicates that man and man’s accomplishments are supreme. It is the denial of the power or need for God.

3) Those who worship the beast and take his mark will not be written in the book of life and will be thrown in the lake of fire (Rev. 13:8, Rev. 14:9-11). Those taking the mark of the beast cannot be written in the book of life! Yeshua tells us that there is only one sin that will not be forgiven man and that is the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31). So, taking the mark of the beast involves blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 12, Yeshua casts out demons by the Holy Spirit but the Pharisees attribute it to the power of Satan. Yeshua warns them that they are close to committing the unforgiveable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Willfully and knowingly attributing an act of God to Satan and vice versa is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Those who receive the mark of the beast commit blasphemy.

We also receive a mark or a seal. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:30, that the Holy Spirit seals us. Notice that it is an action by the Holy Spirit in response to our profession of faith in Yeshua! We cannot get the seal of God by accident.

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

When we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us that nothing can remove us from God’s hand (Rom 8:38-39). So, we cannot be forced to take the mark of the beast. Even if someone ties us down, implants a chip or tattoos us, we are not receiving the mark of the beast!

4) But wait, doesn’t the Bible say that no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast (Rev 13:17)? Those who both buy and sell are merchants, traders, and businessmen. John tells us in the Revelation that those who mourn the fall of Babylon will be its merchants and traders! There will be no one left to buy their goods (Rev. 18). Zechariah prophesies that every pot in Jerusalem will be “Holy to the LORD.” These are the same words on the plate that the high priest wears on his forehead. Zechariah goes on to say that there will be no Canaanite in the city of Jerusalem. The literal translation of the word Canaanite is “merchant.” Young’s Literal Translation translates the verse this way:

Zec 14:21 And every pot in Jerusalem, and in Judah, Have been holy to Jehovah of Hosts, And all those sacrificing have come in, And have taken of them, and boiled in them, And there is no merchant (Canaanite) any more in the house of Jehovah of Hosts in that day! (YLT)

Those merchants who put greed above God act in the spirit of the Canaanites whom God told the Israelites to drive out of the Promised Land. We see once again that those who take the mark of the beast will be those who elevate mankind above God instead of humbling themselves before God.

Isaiah 23:9-11 NKJV 9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. 10 Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish (a merchant vessel); There is no more strength. 11 He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORD has given a commandment against Canaan (the merchant) To destroy its strongholds.

God will humble all those who lift themselves up in pride, those who think too highly of themselves. He will destroy the stronghold of the merchant. Let me close with the words of Peter as he exhorts us to humble ourselves, to be watchful against the wiles of Satan and to allow God to lift us up when the Good Shepherd returns. Those who follow Peter’s advice are the antithesis of the beast and those who take his mark.

1 Peter 5:1-11 NKJV 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.



שלום ברוך
Shalom and Be Blessed
Dan & Brenda Cathcart