Mark of the Beast?

[ryanoneil]

Very good observation! It is a symbolic book. We will receive the name of Christ on our foreheads, which represents our devotion to him.

Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

The beast is willing for people to do his works alone, hence the mark on their hands… But Christ wants our heart. We do not receive Christ’s name on our hands because works alone are nothing.

Good observation! People’s actions do follow them as witnesses before the court of God though.

I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.” (Rev 14:13)

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I think Revelation does have modern relevance. In the case of the mark of the beast, it does not stand alone but is tied in with the ability to buy and sell. No one will be able to buy or sell without it.

I used to have a booklet here entitled “The Cashless Society”, which was one of a number of publications put out by the ‘Commission for the Future’, an Australian government think-tank of the 1980’s. This particular issue at least was chaired by an atheist, and certainly not a fundamentalist.

In it the comment was made that “As long ago as 1975, a think tank of American lawyers stated the best and most unobtrusive way for a government to monitor the activities of its citizenry would be the compulsory use of electronic cash”. They’d know what you bought, how much, when, where, and could make a fair estimate of what you wanted it for.

Eg. “715am Suspect had breakfast at McDonalds. 8.32 Purchased bus ride to city. 8.45 Bought coffee next to office. 12.23 Visited bookshop cnr. fifth avenue and mark street. Bookshop known as meeting place for Islamic militants. Only purchased small book, so probably there for meeting rather than purchase. etc.”

I personally think it will be some sort of chip which can be passively read. With satellite communication, and assuming they are able to force everyone to have one, complete world wide surveillance would be possible. It would be a dictator’s dream.

To carry out a transaction you would either need to wave your hand over a scanner, or have a scanner passed over your forehead. It would probably be nearly idiot proof as nobody could copy it. With DNA now being read, maybe it will incorporate foolproof identification of the person as well.

it will probably have other features eg. the ability to kill somehow.

That’s my opinion anyway.

As for 666, my understanding is less novel. 7 was the perfect number in Jewish lore, and Revelation appears to have been written by a Jew. 6 falls short of 7, so while 666 may have stood for Nero, in the end it merely means that the “anti-Christ”, for all his vaunted power and wisdom, will simply be a man, falling short of 777 in body, mind and soul.