666 Mark of the beast

[CryOfALion]

christianity is currently the largest religion on Earth, yet the bible teaches sometime in the future the mark of the beast (666) will be put on everyone’s forehead and they will not be allowed to buy or sell anything without this mark.

Islam is the largest religion of the world.

Forehead is an allusion to your conscious, your choices. In gnostics, the "forehead" is the pineal gland - a area of Chakra responsible for spiritual decisions, interaction and influence. The mark is your allegiance. Read Daniel 11: the Enemy knows who will forsake the holy covenant because their spiritual alignment will be apparent to the spirit world.

Do christians today still believe people will allow such a mark to be put on their foreheads? I’ve seen people make claims that stuff like barcodes (11-26 digit numbers on products for sale) were the mark of the beast and claim cause for concern! But the bible says 666 not some 20 digit number, and it has to be put on your forehead; not the products for sale. If people are so sensitive to this that they are willing to point the finger at barcodes, what do you think their reaction would be if the actual numbers 666 were going to be put on their foreheads would have?

It is misinformation. Do you honestly think a creature as intelligent as Heylel would not be able to make his mark more clandestine? Indeed, the mark is your allegiance. These theories are distracting misinformation, just like the misinformation people have thinking Antichrist is Obama.

The bible also says nobody will know when Jesus returns.

This was an idiomatic phrase describing Hebrew culture. Days begin at sundown/moonrise, and end on moonrise. Part of the job of the trumpeter is not only to warn of impending forces or danger, but it was also to signify when the new month and day began - especially for holy convocations. Often times, the moon rose at hours other than the usual 6pm, so, the Watchmen had to watch for the waning to new moon, or whatever the moon phase is for the day. This was referred to as the event in which "no man knows the hour..."

Moreover, in Hebrew ceremonies, the father took care of everything. And, because he took care of everything, the bride and groom stayed in different chambers until the father decided the ceremony was time. This is the "...except for my Father" part, as Christ is the groom, the Church is the bride, and the Most High is the One organizing the wedding. It didn't mean we wouldn't know; it was idiomatic. Chris tells us to watch so that it doesn't come upon us like a thief in the night - that we should be deemed worthy. The 10 women with lamps is an example of this necessary readiness. And, the last 3/7 holy days point to to a near exact date of His return. Again, we are NOT supposed to not know; we were given ample symbols, allusions, literal, psychic and figurative evidence of this.

This also tells tells me if the world is currently in no position to allow this mark of the beast from happening, and this has to happen before Christ returns; that he ain’t coming no time soon.

Again, the mark as a physical entity is a red herring. This war is spiritual, and this enemy will attack the spiritual person that is aligned against him; he will entice those who follow him with flatteries (i.e. opening up your Chakra to gain and harness spiritual power before it's due season. This is rudimentary magic, however, has a price - it may very well be a soul.)

Am I missing something?

Ken

Pretty good questions, but me thinks you have been listening to a lot of BS doctrine, and have pulled away for your own safety. Maybe you will consider my answers BS. I don't blame you, but I would say if you honestly want to know answers from Him then ask Him (seriously.) There is a lot of misinformation out there; don't forsake yourself because some fakes or hypocritical leaders spew misunderstandings and lies.

 

[oi_antz]

...yet the bible teaches sometime in the future the mark of the beast (666) will be put on everyone’s forehead and they will not be allowed to buy or sell anything without this mark

...

Am I missing something?

Ken

At this point, I do think so. I think I must be missing something too, because this is not the impression I have from what I know of biblical writings.

Can you please quote the claims from the bible that you are referring to, it is possible that I haven't considered them to mean this. I will appreciate what you can teach me about this, thank you.

 

[Ken-1122]

Not addressed to me, but I can offer my own position, which is one shared by a great many others.

The Apocalypse does not talk about "the end of the world". We read in the first chapter that John is addressing this letter to "the seven churches that are in Asia". These are actual churches, with real people, and thus the contents of this text is addressed to them and for them.

Thus I must read the entire text of the Apocalypse in such a way as for it to be relevant for a first century audience.

The "Beast" is not a future antichrist, but is the Roman Emperor. The "harlot of Babylon" is the city of Rome itself, the beast she rides is, again, the emperor, or rather the imperial power broadly.

The visions John sees are a form of apocalyptic, a literary style that was popular in Jewish writings in the century or two before Jesus and up and until the 2nd century AD; Daniel is an example of Jewish apocalyptic literature, as is Enoch, and there are many other examples. The Apocalypse of St. John is a Christian apocalypse that utilizes the themes of previous apocalyptic and prophetic literature, most importantly perhaps Daniel and Isaiah.

What is presented in the visions is not an outline of chronological events, instead it may be better to think of them as photographs in a scrapbook or different paintings in a gallery. They aren't telling a chronological series of events, but rather capturing pictures to say something bigger that all function to point to even larger themes and ideas. The central theme of the Apocalypse is that those Christians suffering persecution at the hands of a cruel empire can hope in Jesus Christ who having risen from the dead has victory already over all the powers of the world, and that His coming again will render all these powers obsolete--that there is a future good world beyond the immediate and dreadful reality that they presently find themselves.

Another theme is the sharp contrast between loyalty to Christ and loyalty to Caesar. Loyalty to Caesar is a mark on the right hand or forehead, associated with his name/number (six hundred and sixty-six, almost certainly Nero is intended with this number); whereas the people of God bear the seal of God on their forehead. Both of these point back to the idea where God told the Israelites to wear a mark on their right hand and forehead to keep God's Law close to them.

And so on and so forth.

It's not about the end of the world, or some far off future. It is an intentionally cryptic text addressed to a persecuted Church authored by an imprisoned pastor seeking to give hope to his flock in the midst of their sufferings at the hands of a cruel and tyrannical government.

-CryptoLutheran

Thanx for your perspective

K

 

[Ken-1122]

Islam is the largest religion of the world.

Forehead is an allusion to your conscious, your choices. In gnostics, the "forehead" is the pineal gland - a area of Chakra responsible for spiritual decisions, interaction and influence. The mark is your allegiance. Read Daniel 11: the Enemy knows who will forsake the holy covenant because their spiritual alignment will be apparent to the spirit world.

So if I understand you correctly, the mark represents your allegiance, and in on your forehead represents your conscience? Does the fact that the mark is 666 mean anything? Or do you think any number would do?

Ken

 

[Ken-1122]

At this point, I do think so. I think I must be missing something too, because this is not the impression I have from what I know of biblical writings.

Can you please quote the claims from the bible that you are referring to, it is possible that I haven't considered them to mean this. I will appreciate what you can teach me about this, thank you.

Revelation 13:15-18

K

 

[CryOfALion]

So if I understand you correctly, the mark represents your allegiance, and in on your forehead represents your conscience? Does the fact that the mark is 666 mean anything? Or do you think any number would do?

Ken

6 is the number if man.

The 6th seal, 6th trump, and 6th vial all point to events that are specific to the Enemy, and his fake displays/advent as [anti]Christ - just like 777 represents a perfect holy number, and the 7th vial, seal and trump all point to events specific to Christ's return.

 

[CryOfALion]

7 is a unique holy number of perfection - like the perfection of the creation week.

1 is a number of unity.

7-1 = holy perfection minus unity = 6 = number of man.

6 is a number lacking spiritual unity; it should follow that it is therefore a number of man.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

So if I understand you correctly, the mark represents your allegiance, and in on your forehead represents your conscience? Does the fact that the mark is 666 mean anything? Or do you think any number would do?

Ken

It definitely can have significance, but my view on the number is not one that most Christians could probably see straight off, particularly being that they've 'trained' by Dispensational teachings these last 150 years to see something, and only something, else. In fact, it really isn't so difficult to see, if an interpreter will treat the number in a hermeneutic fashion similar to that of the Beast. In fact, as intelligent as you are, Ken, I'd bet you could see the implications yourself, with some study.

Peace

 

[Hawkins]

So how do you interpret it? What do you think will happen?


Ken

My interpretation is that the Mark refers to our education system. Forehead refers to our mind, right hand refers to our action or behavior. Buy and sell refers to that we generally rely on our education to earn a living.

So basically it says, when the end comes, our secular education system will destroy our faith. It deeply influences people's mind and behavior for them to fight against God. People are forced into such an education system without exception. It's more like everyone's mind and behavior are somehow given a stamp by such a secular (even anti-God) education system.

 

[oi_antz]

Revelation 13:15-18

K

Thank you Ken. This is indeed a difficult passage to understand without doubt, and your idea that should the literal meaning be that people receive a tattoo of the name of the man who is described here as the beast, or the number which represents the name, then it certainly is going to be a long time before the world would accept it (in my estimation). Further to this, I think that should the beast desire to implement this system in the present age, as I expect would be a natural desire, I would suspect that he would have more success putting the mark on the left hand, and then these Christians who accept the barcodes would be inclined to trust it, as they already do by taking their EFTPOS cards. Of course, if that is their response, it surely would require some forfeiting of basic wisdom (Rev 13:18). And a little further, I haven't read the text as necessarily saying that some people will have the option to take the mark on their hand or their forehead, so it seems just as valid that the mark could be applied to either everyone's forehead or everyone's hand, as a global solution.

Above all, we must remember the purpose of this revelation to John and by extension to anyone who hears the words of the prophecy. The whole purpose is to give us a warning about what will happen when the entire world has turned it's back on God. The book uses extremely heavy doses of fear to achieve this effect. So it is natural for anyone who reads it, to associate it as a warning about events that are happening, which are leading to an inevitable crunch between man and the beast he worships, from which only Jesus can save us. With this established, we can understand why people have long been saying we are in the last days and the end is nigh.

I tend to read these warnings in that light, that the world and the beast it worships is indeed heading toward a situation of total control, by taking God out of the picture. It draws parallel to the story of Adam and Eve choosing to be like God, because ultimately the human craves power and control, as it knows these are the means to have the things that please it.

With this understanding, and that which others have already suggested about allegiance, worship and education, the microchip does have potential to be the mark of the beast that is described as the requirement to buy and sell. Google planning a micro chip for people's brains? Engineering boss says sci-fi-style technology will begin by helping disabled people control wheelchairs | Daily Mail Online is an article about tapping into brain waves to communicate with computers, which of course will virtually eliminate authentication and security concerns, but it also brings privacy concerns. In fact, the privacy concerns are exactly of the nature that is reserved for God, that is referred to in Matthew 6:6. Once this technology is widely accepted, and IMO it is likely to happen virtually overnight once people figure out how such an efficient link to technology has enhanced their gaming and general productivity, then alternative systems for currency (ie cash) become too expensive and unpopular to sustain. The fincancial system becomes committed to microchip authentication, and anyone who does not comply with the system of authentication cannot trade in currency. While this is going on, there will be a core of persistently God-fearing people who believe this is the work of the beast, because political and justice systems have taken advantage of the increased accountability, and it has resulted in an incredible reduction in unsolved crime. As part of this social change, people have learned to trust the mainframe computer and expect that it knows their every thought, and it has taken God's place as being the one we are accountable to and who we pray to. This is the image I got today when I read the warning you have shown me here, in the context of the modern age.

Now, how the number 666 comes into it, I cannot see with any certainty. It is possible that this information is not yet public knowledge, as it could be some sort of formal identity, eg a social security number. Further to this, the exact statement translated word for word is six hundred sixty six, which in base ten could be expressed as 600606. Then again, the words that go with it, are "let him count the number of the beast", which if the ledger on which the name of the beast is listed has missing records (eg, a sequential record of company employees where some are no longer employed), the number of his name could be something totally unexpected. I must admit at this time that I just do not know.

So, I suppose I can maintain that unless you have obtained a new understanding since your original post here, then you probably are missing something (your assumption that Jesus is coming no time soon is not necessarily reliable). Also, I have admitted twice in this post that I am missing something that is crucial for my own reliable understanding of this statement, and that all I can do is hear the warning and consider what I might do if I am ever torn between giving worship to God or someone else.

What do you think so far of the reliability of your assumption regarding Jesus' return? Do you think that if He came tonight and resurrected everyone to judgement or everlasting life, the scriptures you are referencing would make sufficient sense to have been true?