Embracing the Mark
The inhabitants of the earth willingly venerate the Beast and receive its mark, although Christians are not immune from its allure.
Discussions on the Beast's “mark” focus on questions about what it is - medical implant, barcode, tattoo – and the significance of its “number.” As important as these issues are, more critical is the question - How is the mark implemented, and how does the believer avoid taking it?
We tend to see the “False Prophet” busily tricking and compelling anyone and everyone to take the “mark,” using economic pressure, threats of imprisonment, or worse. Apparently, men and women will have no choice but to take the “mark” or suffer deadly consequences. Submit or starve!
Almost certainly, when the “Beast” does appear, his reign will include the employment of coercion. However, Revelation does NOT free individuals from their responsibility for giving allegiance to it - Christian or otherwise.
When he appears, the “False Prophet” will cause the “inhabitants of the earth” to take the “mark of the Beast.” He will “deceive those who are dwelling upon the earth” so they erect an image of the “beast from the sea.” Furthermore, he will “cause” everyone to take its “mark” or “number” - (Revelation 13:11-18).
WILLING PARTICIPATION
The last statement indicates the “mark” is imposed by the “False Prophet” on both the willing and the unwilling. However, that is not the complete story.
The “Beast from the earth” certainly sets things in motion, but the recipients of the “mark” are consciously involved – “taking” the “mark” is part and parcel of “rendering homage to the beast.”
The “False Prophet” may use deceit and threats when needed, nonetheless, the “inhabitants of the earth” are WILLING PARTICIPANTS in the process.
In the series of seven “bowls of wrath,” the first bowl causes “a painful ulcer upon men, those having the mark of the beast and those rendering homage to his image.” “Having” and “rendering homage” represent present tense Greek participles that are in the active voice, and this means the subject performs the action.
Thus, the “inhabitants of the earth” actively engage in taking the “mark” - THEY embrace the system of their own free will. And that is why they suffer the plagues unleashed by the “bowls of wrath” - (Revelation 16:1-2).
In the vision of the “Rider on a White Horse,” the “Beast” and the “False Prophet” are cast alive into the “Lake of Fire” because they “deceived those having taken the mark of the beast.” Again, an active voice participle is used. “Having taken” or lambanō in the clause means to “take” the “mark” - (Revelation 19:17-21).
BELIEVERS MUST CHOOSE
Finally, those who reign with Christ for the “thousand years” do so because “they DID NOT RENDER HOMAGE to the beast,” and they “DID NOT TAKE its mark.”
Once again, active voice verbs are used, in this case, for actions NOT taken by the followers of the “Lamb.” Their decision is set in contrast to that of the “inhabitants of the earth” who chose to give absolute allegiance to the “beast” - (Revelation 20:4-6).
When the “Beast” arrives, Christians and non-Christians alike will have a choice - Whether to bow to the beast or not. Everyone will be held responsible for his or her own choice whether to follow the “Beast” or the “Lamb.”
Thus, Christians must exercise extreme caution before blindly embracing the societal values of the existing world order or submitting to the demands of any political power, ideology, or leader.
