“And 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.” Revelation 13:16
Had we been in John’s stead, we would have seen and heard exactly what he did. Rather than consent to other people’s speculation about what the mark of the beast is, such as an implanted computer chip, or something else yet to be invented, he would simply affirm, “God showed me, and told me it was a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead.”
A mark is: “a visible trace or impression on a surface.” So to qualify as the “mark” of the beast, it must be according to what a mark is. An implanted computer chip, in and of itself, is not a mark. An implant would take some other device to detect it and read it. Whereas a mark is visible to the naked eye, requiring no other means of detection, except what is self evident from the mark itself. Logically speaking, being on the forehead or hand is for the purpose of being visibly seen. So no matter where or under what circumstances, whether away from other devices, in the jungle or whatever, the mark remains a visible factor. The fear of the beast and the loyalty of deceived hearts and minds (Revelation 13:4) will be the enforcer of this universal law of the anti-Christ, that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, etc.
The Biblical “study guide rules” for the book of Revelation are, “read, hear, and keep” (Revelation 1:3). The word “keep” means: “to observe, and to maintain, or cause to stay or continue in a specified condition.” God also declares that the prophecy of His Word is of no private interpretation, 2 Peter 1:20, and God warns against the adding to or taking away from the words of His prophecy, Revelation 22:18-19.
Human pride loves to be looked up to as an authority on God’s Word. Man’s finite mind finds satisfaction in explaining everything in terms known to his own way of thinking. But in so doing where Bible prophecy is concerned, man limits his understanding and thus closes his heart to the things of God that have properties beyond the finite mind.
To be blessed of God, and leave the door open for spiritual growth and increased understanding by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we need to follow the context of Bible teaching with child-like faith–“read, hear, and keep.” And remember, it was due to human speculation that the fall of man occurred in the Garden of Eden. Due to people respecting what others say over and above what the Bible actually says, is what has opened the gate wide for the admission of false teachings and spiritual error, in spite of what the Bible teaches.
SHARING
