What Is the Mark of the Beast?

The Unholy Trinity in Revelation 12 and 13

In Revelation 12 and 13, the Apostle John described an unholy trinity, an imitation of the triune God, consisting of the dragon or Satan, the first beast who is the Antichrist, and the second beast, the false prophet.

The second beast makes all the earth worship the first beast, performing great signs and deceptions, and causes those who wouldn't worship the beast to be slain. Also it causes all to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast, or the number of its name.

The Number of the Beast and Popular End-Times Speculation

It is the number of a man, and his number is 666. The most popular theories about the mark of the beast pop up in End Times fiction. In the old film, A Thief in the Night, the mark is a binary code for 666.

In the Left Behind series, it's a computer chip in the back of the hand or the forehead. But is it possible this mark is not something physical, but spiritual? Notice the beast causes all people to be marked, and the mark is on the right hand or the forehead.

Deuteronomy 6 and Isaiah 41 as Background for the Mark

In Deuteronomy 6, God told Israel, Isaiah 41 .13 says,. Though it may also have a future fulfillment when we understand the text.