Musing - What Does the “Mark of the Beast” Really Mean?

Hebraic Musing - What Does the “Mark of the Beast” Really Mean?

What does the Bible say about the “Mark of the Beast”?  “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.” Rev.16:2 NASB    A little later in Rev.19:20  “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire…”  Who were the deceived and why?  And who were they worshipping?!?!

We don’t necessarily have to interpret this passage to mean that one day all people will be forced to undergo a medical procedure in which a “chip” will be inserted under human skin of their hand or forehead.  The book of Revelation was written and read with full awareness of first-century Jewish context and with the Torah on their minds and hearts; so let’s look at the meaning of seemingly odd phrases in their context.  What did this mean to first century Christians? 

The “mark of the beast” was clearly an expression in opposition to the commandment to worship the God of Israel alone.  The “Evil Beast” is obviously an enemy of God’s people.  And we understand Rev. 13:16-18 to claim that Christ-followers will be excluded from participating in the “world’s” economy unless they agree to place the mark of the beast upon their forehead and right hand.  We need to recognize the Jewish background in order to understand the meaning of this “mark of the beast” in the culture of that day.  The central text that Jews were to recite two or three times daily declares, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one.”  The next part is less famous but also essential, “You shall bind them (God’s commandments) as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.”

Thus male Jews wore phylacteries as reminders of God and of the obligation to keep the Law during daily life.  They were fastened on the back of their hands and on their foreheads to comply with Deut. 6:4 & 8 above which Moses repeated in Dt.11:18 ““You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” And this was repeated in Exod. 13:9&16.

Christ-followers in the first century wondered deeply about the nature and limits of this commandment in their Torah.  They considered whether it was possible to publicly honor some Roman deities while privately maintaining their worship of Israel’s God through the Jewish Christ.  If that were possible, it could ensure their economic survival and prosperity under the watchful eye of the Roman authorities.  However, the book of Revelation advocates an unapologetically Israelite, anti-Roman position – only the worship of the one true God of Israel is permitted.    And “No other gods before me.”

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Are we supposed to also be monotheistic?

Do we find ourselves tempted to worship the ungodly things of this world?
And in so doing could that be interpreted as accepting and
therefore identifying with (and being “Marked”) by the ungodly “Beast” of the world?

 Are there forces seeking Globalization, Socialism or the “New World Order”
trying to overcome the foundational National Sovereignty of our nation?

Who’s driving the Globalization movement? 
Is Shinar trying to rebuild the Tower of Babel?   Or is there a “Beast”?

Is persecution coming to those refusing to honor the “World” system?

“It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.” Luke 4:8

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     March 17 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”