Facebook and the Mark of the Beast
The biblical concept of the "mark of the beast" originates in the book of Revelation, particularly in chapter 13, where it describes a beast that causes all people to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead [5]. This mark is presented as a precondition for commercial activity, allowing individuals to buy or sell [5]. Those who worship the beast and receive its mark are not listed in the Book of Life [3].
The text of Revelation does not explicitly detail what the mark is or what it looks like [5]. However, it does state that the mark is associated with "the name of the beast" or "the number of his name" [2, 5]. In ancient Greek and Hebrew cultures, letters of the alphabet also represented numbers, meaning names could have a numerical value [5]. The mark is symbolic of allegiance to the beast [2].
Interpretations of the mark of the beast have varied across Christian traditions. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, suggests that the mark imposed by the two-horned beast (often identified as the false prophet) is the "mark of his name," which he interprets as the Latin empire's worship [1]. He connects this to Revelation 14:11, where the mark is explicitly called the mark of the beast's name [1].
Other interpretations view the mark as a symbol rather than a literal, visible brand. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, in their Presbyterian commentary, suggest that the mark, like the sealing of the saints, might not be a visible sign but rather symbolic of allegiance [2]. They draw a parallel to the sign of the cross in Popery and note that the Pope's interdict historically excluded excommunicated individuals from social and commercial interaction [2]. They anticipate that under the final Antichrist, this exclusion will manifest in its most severe form [2]. The act of branding slaves on the right hand or forehead is also suggested as a possible background for the imagery, indicating ownership by the beast [5].
The beast itself is a complex symbol in Revelation. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, describes the beast as rising out of the sea, a monstrous figure whose origin and appearance are emblematic of its nature [7]. Adam Clarke emphasizes the importance of understanding the prophetic symbol of the "beast" by referring to other scriptural passages, as he believes a lack of clarity on this term has led to many differing interpretations [8]. The beast is sometimes understood as an Antichristian world power that returns with satanic influence, worse than before [6].
The concept of the mark of the beast is distinct from general moral failings or human sinfulness. Augustine, for example, discusses the "likeness of beasts" in a different context, referring to a gradual falling away from goodness that begins with a perverse desire and ends in a beast-like state, contrasting with the true honor of humanity, which is the image and likeness of God [4]. This patristic understanding of "beast-like" behavior is a spiritual degradation, not directly linked to the specific "mark" described in Revelation 13.
The discussion of the mark of the beast has historically focused on identifying oppressive political or religious systems that demand ultimate allegiance and control economic life. The imagery of the mark serves as a warning against conformity to such systems, which stand in opposition to God.
Sources
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 13:16: And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark - To ascertain the meaning of the mark which the two-horned beast causes all orders and degrees of men in the Latin world to receive, we need only refer to Rev 14:11, where the mark imposed by the two-horned beast is called the mark of his name. The name of the beast is the Latin empire: the mark of his name must therefore be his Latin worship: for this very reason, that it is the two-horned beast, or false prophet, who causes all descriptions of persons to receive it. Now ”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:17: And--So A, B, and Vulgate read. C, IRENÆUS, 316, Coptic, and Syriac omit it. might buy--Greek, "may be able to buy." the mark, or the name--Greek, "the mark (namely), the name of the beast." The mark may be, as in the case of the sealing of the saints in the forehead, not a visible mark, but symbolical of allegiance. So the sign of the cross in Popery. The Pope's interdict has often shut out the excommunicate from social and commercial intercourse. Under the final Antichrist this shall come to pass in its most violent form. number of his na”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 13:8: 13:8 Those who worshiped the beast receive its mark (13:15-17) and are not listed in the Book of Life (see 20:12).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 11.--THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN MAN. (part 1): 16. For as a snake does not creep on with open steps, but advances by the very minutest efforts of its several scales; so the slippery motion of falling away [from what is good] takes possession of the negligent only gradually, and beginning from a perverse desire for the likeness of God, arrives in the end at the likeness of beasts. Hence it is that being naked of their first garment, they earned by mortality coats of skins.(4) For--the true honor of man is the image and likeness of God, which i”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 13:16: 13:16-17 small and great, rich and poor, free and slave: All humanity is required to accept the beast’s evil mark of ownership (see 14:9, 11; 19:20; 20:4), a precondition for all commerce (the right to buy or sell). The text does not explicitly tell us what the mark is or looks like. • On the right hand or on the forehead suggests the branding of slaves—the beast owns them. • the number representing his name: In both Hebrew and Greek, letters of the alphabet represent numbers, which gave names a numerical value (13:18).”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 17:8: beast . . . was, and is not--(Compare Rev 17:11). The time when the beast "is not" is the time during which it has "the deadly wound"; the time of the seventh head becoming Christian externally, when its beast-like character was put into suspension temporarily. The healing of its wound answers to its ascending out of the bottomless pit. The beast, or Antichristian world power, returns worse than ever, with satanic powers from hell (Rev 11:7), not merely from the sea of convulsed nations (Rev 13:1). Christian civilization gives the beast only a temp”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 13:1: We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. 2. Whence this beast came - out of the sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem it would be ”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 13:1: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea - Before we can proceed in the interpretation of this chapter, it will be highly necessary to ascertain the meaning of the prophetic symbol beast, as the want of a proper understanding of this term has probably been one reason why so many discordant hypotheses have been published to the world. In this investigation it is impossible to resort to a higher authority than Scripture, for the Holy Ghost is his own interpreter. What is therefore meant by the term beast in any one prophetic vis”