Grace's Weblog

“The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.  It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.  This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.  That number is 666.” (Revelation 13:15-18)

As John describes the trials and tribulations he sees unfolding on earth in the last days, one of the things he observed was the requirement that all people, with no exception, were to receive the mark of the beast on either their right hands or their foreheads.  It is said that without it they will be unable to buy or sell anything.

I’ve recently been hearing a lot about what this particular ‘mark’ may be.  But a very realistic possibility seems that it may be a small chip that will be implanted in us.  And truth be told, there are so many obvious reasons why people would think it is great.  For example, if we can buy or sell based on the chip inside, that means issues such as identity theft will no longer be a problem, we won’t have to carry credit cards or cash, or worry about pin numbers and passwords any more.  On the surface, it seems like life will be more convenient, if not safer by the existence of such a chip.

I am not saying it is a chip because I don’t know– with technology changing so rampantly nowadays, who knows what will be available in just a year.  However, we must be on alert and be aware, though, for the mark of the beast.  The verse says that regarding the mark of the beast, it calls for wisdom.  It means that the mark of the beast will not be advertised as that– it won’t be sold with a cautionary warning on the side that it is the mark of the beast and that it is 666.  Most likely, it will be marketed as something convenient, essential, and beneficial– thus, we need wisdom and discernment so as to be able to identify it for what it is so that we can be sure to stay away from it.

The further I read into Revelation, the more I am realizing the need not just for perseverance in times of trial, or patience, but wisdom.  To be in tune with the Lord so as to know what is going on around us so that we will not fall into the trap that may be laid before us.  And fortunately for us, we have not only the Bible with us which has provided for us a guide foretelling what is to come, but also the Holy Spirit who leads us at present so that we may be safe and covered in Jesus.