"WILL YOU TAKE THE MARK?"

THE MARK OF THE BEAST: A WARNING AND A CHOICE

Teaching by Pastor Carl E. Mitchell III — The Bible Way Toledo
📖 Text: Revelation 13:16–18 (KJV)

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
— Revelation 13:16–18 (KJV)

🔹 I. The Context of the Mark

The mark of the beast appears during the Great Tribulation, a period of global deception and control following the rise of the Antichrist.

Scripture Reference:

Revelation 13:1–8 – describes the beast rising out of the sea (symbolic of nations), empowered by the dragon (Satan).

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 – the man of sin is revealed, “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.”

Teaching Point:
The mark represents more than an outward symbol — it reflects spiritual allegiance. Those who receive it choose loyalty to the Antichrist rather than to Christ.

🔹 II. The Nature of the Mark

The mark is described as being “in their right hand, or in their foreheads.”
This placement signifies action (hand) and thought or belief (forehead).

Scripture Reference:

Deuteronomy 6:6–8 – God told Israel to bind His commandments “upon thine hand, and as frontlets between thine eyes.”

Revelation 14:9–10 – warns that anyone who receives the mark will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”

Teaching Point:
The mark is Satan’s counterfeit of God’s seal.
Where God seals His people with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), the beast marks his followers with a counterfeit seal of allegiance and rebellion.

🔹 III. The Purpose of the Mark

Control and Worship.
The mark is an economic and spiritual control mechanism — connecting survival to worship of the Antichrist.

Scripture Reference:

Revelation 13:17 – “no man might buy or sell” without it.

Revelation 13:15 – those who refuse to worship the image are killed.

Teaching Point:
This system will unite commerce, politics, and religion under satanic rule.
But it’s important to understand — the mark will not appear by accident; it will be accompanied by open worship of the beast (Revelation 14:9).

No one will unknowingly receive the mark; it will be a willful rejection of Christ in exchange for worldly security.

🔹 IV. The Consequence of Receiving the Mark

Eternal Judgment.

Scripture Reference:

Revelation 14:9–11 – “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark… the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”

Revelation 19:20 – the beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:4 – those who refused the mark reign with Christ a thousand years.

Teaching Point:
God’s Word makes it clear: receiving the mark seals one’s eternal fate.
Those who reject it — even at the cost of their lives — will reign with Christ forever.

🔹 V. The Counterpart: The Seal of God

While the enemy marks his followers, God also seals His own.

Scripture Reference:

Revelation 7:2–3 – the servants of God are “sealed in their foreheads.”

Ephesians 4:30 – “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Teaching Point:
The true believer already bears a mark — the mark of redemption.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and no system of man or beast can erase that seal (Romans 8:38–39).

🔹 VI. The Wisdom of the Saints

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast…” — Revelation 13:18

Teaching Point:
The number 666 represents man’s imperfection.
Six falls short of God’s number of perfection — seven.
This is man in rebellion against God, perfected in evil.

The call for “wisdom” is not for curiosity but for discernment — to recognize deception and remain faithful to Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 24:24 – “false Christs and false prophets shall arise.”

Revelation 2:10 – “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

🔹 VII. The Believer’s Response Today

Even though the mark itself has not yet been implemented, the spirit of the beast is already at work in the world — through systems that seek to control thought, belief, and behavior apart from God.

Scripture Reference:

1 John 4:3 – “the spirit of antichrist… even now already is it in the world.”

Romans 12:2 – “be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Teaching Point:
We resist the mark not merely by refusing a symbol — but by remaining faithful in our mind, heart, and actions to Jesus Christ every day.

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Call to Action:
Stay watchful.
Be faithful.
Do not compromise truth for convenience.
Let your allegiance be to the Lamb who was slain, not the beast who deceives.