church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut
Joplin, Missouri

Phone
417-781-2326

1819 E 26th
Jopin, MO  64804

   Worship Schedule

Sunday
    Bible Class              9 am
    Morning Worship    10 am
    Evening Worship      6 pm

Wednesday
     Devotional & Class   7 pm

Upcoming Activities

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16, 17 NASB).

Our brother David Roper wrote:

In recent years, a variety of interpretations have been given to the “mark” of [Revelation] 13:16, 17.  Some think of it as a kind of literal marking where followers of the beast are depicted with the number “666” prominently painted or tattooed on their foreheads.  Since the “mark” has to do with buying and selling (v. 17), some have identified the “mark” as a symbol used in commercial life: bank numbers, bar codes at the supermarket, social security numbers and the like.  During World War II, some in America were convinced that ration stamps were “the mark of the beast.”

Similarly, our brother Howard Winters wrote that, “many are terrified at the very thought of someday being branded with the mark of the beast.”

But what, really, is the “mark of the beast”?  To answer that question, we should look at the context of the passage.  Context always determines meaning.

The chapter begins by speaking of a beast that comes out of the sea (v. 1).  It had seven heads and ten horns and was full of blasphemous names (v. 1).  This same beast appears also in chapter 17 (see verse 3), where he is identified as the Roman Emperor Domitian [the eighth king (Rev. 17:11) of Rome, the city on seven hills (Rev. 17:9) which, in the New Testament days, reigned over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:18)].

Back in chapter 13, we see that this beast spoke “arrogant words and blasphemies” (v. 5 NASB).  In fact, history tells us that Domitian declared himself “Lord God.”  Furthermore this beast (Domitian) was worshipped by all but Christians (v. 4, 8), who were therefore persecuted (v. 7). 

We then see that this evil worship was enforced by another beast, one that came out of the land (vv. 11-15).  Our brother Dan Winkler, in his excellent workbook/commentary on Revelation, identifies the land beast as: “the councilia who crafted images to facilitate emperor worship and the praefectus urbi who enforced this worship.”

Then comes our text: “And he causes all…to be given a mark…, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark.”  Now, coming as it does in this context, what is “the mark of the beast”?  Dan Winkler said it well:

Such had to be a cryptic allusion to the legal document that was annually given to those who bowed before an image of Domitian, burned a pinch of incense and paid their allegiance to his deity.  Of course, the Christians who refused, failed to receive this document; and, were not able to “buy and sell” (13:17).  Such, no doubt, contributed to their poverty (Rev. 6:5-6); and, further identified them as enemies of the state.

In his book, “Revelation Through First-Century Glasses,” our brother W.B. West Jr. gives us a good description of the troubles that our first-century brethren faced in this regard:

         Picture a brother and sister living outside the city of Smyrna.  It is the year 95 A.D.  They are gardeners.  They take what they have raised to sell into the city of Smyrna in one of the Roman markets.  Our brother goes up to the manager of that market and says, “I am a farmer.  My family and I have raised a large crop of vegetables and other kindred things.  I would like to sell them to you and buy some groceries and some clothes for my family for the coming winter.”  The manager of the market looks at him and says, “Mister, have you worshipped the Roman emperor as God and as Lord?  If so, do you have any evidence that you have so done?”  He will say, “I have not worshipped Domitian as Lord and God because I do not believe he is.  Now therefore, I have no evidence of having worshipped him.”  The manager will say, “I cannot buy anything from you, neither can I sell you anything.”  The Romans placed economic pressure on the Christians across the Roman world!