The Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13
Revelation 13 describes two beasts, the second of which causes people to receive a "mark" that is essential for economic activity. The passage states, "no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name" [1, 2]. This mark is imposed on "small and great, rich and poor, free and slave," indicating that all humanity is compelled to accept it as a sign of ownership by the beast [4].
The first beast is depicted as rising from the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and is described as having power, a throne, and great authority [5, 6, 9]. This beast is often interpreted as representing the civil power of the Romish antichrist [5]. The second beast, which comes out of the earth, exercises the power of the first beast and deceives the world through false miracles [7, 9]. It is this second beast that mandates the mark [4].
The text does not explicitly detail what the mark looks like [4]. However, the placement "on the right hand or on the forehead" suggests a form of branding, similar to how slaves were marked, signifying that the beast owns those who bear it [4, 8]. Historically, soldiers would voluntarily puncture their arms with marks of their general, and votaries of idols would brand themselves with the idol's symbol [8]. In contrast, God's servants receive His seal and name on their foreheads [8].
The mark is further identified as "the name of the beast or the number of his name" [1, 2]. In both Hebrew and Greek, letters of the alphabet have numerical values, allowing names to be represented by numbers [4]. Those who worship the beast and receive its mark are not listed in the Book of Life [3]. The number associated with the beast is 666 [9].
Sources
- Revelation “Revelation 13:17 (NASB) — and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 13:17 (LEB) — and that no one was able to buy or to sell except the one who had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
- 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).”
- 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 (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 13 This chapter contains a description of the Romish antichrist, under the figure of two beasts, the one representing him in his civil power, the other in his ecclesiastical power. The first beast is described by its origin, the sea, and by the monstrous shape its several parts; its heads seven, in which were the name of blasphemy; its horns ten, on which were crowns; its skin like a leopard, its feet as a bear, and its mouth as a lion; and by its state and condition, having power, a throne, and great authority; and having”
- 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 (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13 (introduction): VISION OF THE BEAST THAT CAME OUT OF THE SEA: THE SECOND BEAST, OUT OF THE EARTH, EXERCISING THE POWER OF THE FIRST BEAST, AND CAUSING THE EARTH TO WORSHIP HIM. (Rev. 13:1-18) I stood--So B, Aleph, and Coptic read. But A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac, "He stood." Standing on the sand of the sea, HE gave his power to the beast that rose out of the sea. upon the sand of the sea--where the four winds were to be seen striving upon the great sea (Dan 7:2). beast--Greek, "wild beast." Man becomes "brutish" when he severs himself from God, the”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:16: to receive a mark--literally, "that they should give them a mark"; such a brand as masters stamp on their slaves, and monarchs on their subjects. Soldiers voluntarily punctured their arms with marks of the general under whom they served. Votaries of idols branded themselves with the idol's cipher or symbol. Thus Antiochus Epiphanes branded the Jews with the ivy leaf, the symbol of Bacchus (2 Maccabees 6:7; 3 Maccabees 2:29). Contrast God's seal and name in the foreheads of His servants, Rev 7:3; Rev 14:1; Rev 22:4; and Gal 6:17, "I bear in my body”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 13 (introduction): The beast rising out of the sea with seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns, Rev 13:1. His description, power, blasphemy, cruelty, etc., Rev 13:2-10. The beast coming out of the earth with two horns, deceiving the world by is false miracles, and causing every one to receive his mark in their right hand, Rev 13:11-17. His number, 666, Rev 13:18.”