“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. HERE IS WISDOM (capitals mine). Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666).”

Revelation 13:16-18

I am sure we are all well aware of the Biblical warnings concerning the Mark of the Beast. Did you know God also gave us as Believers the wisdom to understand it when it finally does show up? Not only is it one of the best known prophecies in the Bible, it is one that has become technologically now feasible and potentially viable today! Think about this for a moment. This prophecy was written almost 2,000 years ago when John in the Book of Revelation basically told the entire world the day would come when everyone must take a “…mark in their right hand or foreheads”,  without which they would not be able to buy or sell ANYTHING. For almost 2,000 years this was incomprehensible and considered impossible. There was no way someone could track every single buy or sell event for every single person in the whole world! Except, today it is not only possible but it is actually being advocated by a number of people, companies, governments and organizations. In fact, as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, some countries are now actually going cashless because of the possibility the virus could be attached to cash, therefore allowing it to pass between people. A cashless country must mean they are using some other method to “…buy or sell.”

To be quite honest with you, there could be a tremendous value to going cashless. In fact, I wrote The Mark of the Beast just to highlight a few of the benefits society would see if cash was totally eliminated. Things like drug buying/selling, prostitution, theft, etc. would all be stopped because cash no longer was being used and of the ability for law enforcement to track all use of your individual finances on a personalized card, chip or tattoo.

A little over 2 years ago I wrote Could the iPhone be the Mark of the Beast?. When I wrote this, my single intent was to let all know the technology was now readily available to do everything on your iPhone (or Android), from buying groceries and having them delivered directly to your home; apply for loans to buy and close on a house; buy a car; be encouraged by utilities and most service providers to pay directly from your bank account (sorry, no more check writing); and, anything in the past you did with cash or check. This doesn’t apply only to cash transactions but now you can board a plane using your iPhone and facial recognition technology (AI). I admitted to being somewhat facetious in that article because of the folks in the train station I saw holding their phone in their right hand or having it pressed against their forehead (Mark of the Beast?) as they talked. It made me wonder, what can’t you buy or do with an iPhone? Today, amazingly that article is one of my most read in the entire world so I assume it’s possible accuracy has hit home with many. I believe most of us would agree the technology does now exist for the first time in human history to give everyone in the world a “mark” without which they would not be able to buy or sell. Do you agree? If you are a Christian, the question must be asked would you refuse to take the Mark of the Beast, knowing to decline it would cause you not not be able to “…buy or sell?” Guess what? We were warned about that too.

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs, and wonders: insomuch IF IT WERE POSSIBLE , THEY SHALL DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT (capitals mine). Behold, I have told you before.”

Matthew 24:24-25

In other words, even knowing Christians could be deceived by the manner in which the Mark of the Beast is introduced to society. All of us in the world were blindsided a couple of months ago with the COVID-19 pandemic. While there have been many plagues in human history, exactly as we were told by Jesus Himself in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 & 25), none of us have lived through a time like this where laws have been passed requiring we “socially distance” ourselves from everyone else. While the death toll, thankfully, is still lower than earlier expectations, there is an agreement that without an effective vaccine,  it could re-emerge next fall as deadly as this year, or worse depending on it’s possible mutation.

What if this pandemic could be used by those in power to force all to take a mark in order to combat this deadly plague? Guess what? That is already in the works! A few weeks ago I read an interesting article about Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, co-founding a new company (along with the Rockefeller Center, transnational pharmaceutical companies, technology firms, iRespond, iDemia, GSMA, the World Bank, etc.) whose goal is to give every single person on earth a Global Digital ID in order to keep a data base on that individual for identification purposes. Incredibly, biometric data, ID technology, health ratings/vaccination records, and digital commerce are all merging and advancing to the next level. I highlighted one of these new companies, ID2020, in a recent article You know about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) but have you ever heard about ID2020?  I highlighted directly from their own web site their intentions. While it is aimed at philanthropically making it easier for people, especially in third world countries, to establish digital identities which could be used anywhere in the world, it would require a mark of some sort be put on everyone. While it was not clear if this was a chip, a tattoo, or something else, their intent is clear.

Just recently, some more info has become public and candidly, I was absolutely shocked at how close we are to requiring all of us to take a mark without which we would not be able to buy or sell. For example, most people in the world are on some sort of a self quarantine, either voluntary or mandated by government. This has caused many people to lose their jobs and companies to close their doors. In the U.S. we are already setting all time records for unemployment claims and the resulting government stimulation plans. The only thing worse than the pandemic in many people’s eyes is the total potential collapse of the global economy. Right now there are many plans being bantered around trying to figure out ways to reopen stores, restaurants, offices, sporting events, etc. The only problem is if 100 unaffected people go back to work and one employee shows up with the virus, it could start all over.

The answer then is a test to determine if all the people going back to work test negative for the virus. If they do, then they could go back with no fear of catching the virus from others who also test negative. The only problem with this is first, everyone must be tested and secondly, we must have a way to monitor all to see who they interact with. There are already plans underway to track people’s movements using their iPhone. This is called “contact tracing”.  Problem is not everyone has a phone. The other solution is to test everyone and give them what is called an “immunity card”. The problem is this is a card which could easily be lost, stolen or faked. However, there is another solution to this problem being discussed right now!

Using the technology being developed by ID2020 and others, what if they gave you a vaccine and at the same time implanted a chip or gave you an invisible tattoo which would not only show you had been vaccinated but one they could also trace to see who you came in contact with? Without this mark you would not be allowed to get on an airplane, go to a ball game or concert, go to work AND you wouldn’t be able to even go into a grocery store to buy or sell anything! To me it kind of sounds like a non-threatening way to get the Mark of the Beast implemented without raising the alarm of Christians. All of us, even the “…very elect” could be deceived into taking the Mark to ensure we have been vaccinated and would test negative. Would you?

This is not the only possible sign of the coming fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Spain is calling for a global response to the global economy problems. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the creation of a “temporary” global government to fight the virus and the UN Secretary General is calling for all countries to pay 10% of their annual GDP to fight this pandemic. For the US, this would mean we would need to pay over $2.2 TRILLION to the UN! Of course, we all know where that money would go and it wouldn’t be to fight the virus! While I believe all these things could very well be the precursor of so many End Time prophecies, we have also been warned to NOT ever take the Mark of the Beast. If we do, there are eternal consequences!

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14:9-11

While no one knows if this is the ultimate way the Mark of the Beast will be implemented upon society, there is no question this very well could be one of the ways to solve the “problem” the world faces with this pandemic or some future one. Of course, as Christians, we have faith and trust in the Lord that He will see us through these tumultuous times AND we have His Promise to us in Revelation 3:10: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” How much more comforting can it be? We have Jesus’s own Word He will protect us from the trials and tribulation soon to come upon the world by “snatching” us away at the Rapture PRIOR to the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation period. So, whether a vaccine/mark is THE Mark of the Beast, do not be scared, but definitely be aware. Oh yeah, and do as we are all instructed  by Jesus to do and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” I don’t ask this very often any more but I do ask you forward or share this post with your friends and family so they also will be aware of what is coming.

Mar God Bless you as we prepare for His soon Return!