Revelation 13: The Mark of the Beast

Since early last year, our lives have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and as I write these words, it’s still not over. These are confusing and challenging days for everyone, sometimes raising apocalyptic fears and related questions. I was recently asked, “Do you think the programmable mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and their mandatory passports have anything to do with the mark of the beast?” I’m not a vaccine expert, and I’m not giving medical advice, but I don’t think it’s a trojan horse for the mark of the beast.

So, what exactly is the mark of the beast and how do you get it?

With the exception of Christians, the entire population of our planet will one day be deceived by someone or something called the beast. The beast is a satanically empowered false god. Depending on the views of your favorite expositor, it’s an individual, pair, religion, condition or system that’s mentioned about 40 times in the book of Revelation. “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13:8, NIV).

Jesus is the Lamb of God and the names of all born-again Christians are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Before Jesus returns, some type of universal system will be put in place under the headship of the beast that requires a special mark, signifying complete devotion to him. The mark is placed on devotees’ right hands or foreheads, proving allegiance to the beast and allowing them to participate in the religiously based and demonically controlled world economic system. Christians will be excluded because they won’t worship the beast.

There will be eternal torment for people who serve the beast and take his mark; therefore, you definitely don’t want to bow down and get it. “And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name” (Rev. 14:11). Every reference to receiving the mark involves worshiping the beast or an image of the beast. The mark is clearly linked to adulation of the false god in every passage.

Nobody will be allowed to get the mark of the beast without worshipping the beast. You won’t just take a vaccine and receive a mark that irreversibly causes you to go to hell. No matter what type of deception comes, true Christians will refuse to worship any false god.

If you want eternal life and immunity from the mark of the beast, give your heart to Jesus. Your name will be recorded in the Lamb’s book of life on the day you receive Christ, excluding you from damnation. Trust in the Lord and be at peace. Always recall that receiving the mark involves rejecting Jesus and devotion to the beast. {eoa}

Pitts and Mary Evans met at the University of South Carolina and have been married since 1981. They have three adult children, a daughter in-law, a son in-law and eight grandchildren. Pitts first attended Whole Word Fellowship with his parents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was later called to full-time ministry and currently serves as the senior pastor of WWF and the Northern Virginia House of Prayer. He is the voice of our weekday The Whole Word Podcast. Pastor Pitts also directs our international ministry, overseeing humanitarian efforts, combating human trafficking, ministering in pastor’s conferences, Bible schools and seminaries in other nations. His primary calling is for recruiting and equipping the bride of Christ through Bible teaching and preaching. His new book, The Wife of God, is available from Amazon.