Imagine a world where every move is monitored, and a single mark signifies loyalty to a Satanic ruler—the Antichrist. Welcome to the era of the Antichrist and the mark of the beast. This article is taken from the book titled “666: The Mark of the Beast Made Simple.“
With the proper understanding of the context and perspective on Revelation, we shift our focus to a world where 666 and the mark become as commonplace as smartphones today. In this new order, the Antichrist spearheads a worldwide government, unleashing chaos and destruction on Earth. We’ll first examine the man, then his worldwide empire.
The term “Antichrist”
John mentions multiple antichrists in his writing, making it a valid question to ask which one he was referring to in Revelation 13:18.
The term “antichrist” appears only four times in the Bible, all by John in his epistles (1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 Jn. 7), but the concept occurs elsewhere: Beast from the sea (Rev. 13:1); the man of lawlessness (2 Th. 2:3–9); coming prince (Daniel 6:26); or little horn (Daniel 7:8). The term could mean “against Christ” or “in place of Christ.”
John’s use of “antichrist” in his epistles and Revelation conveys a broader meaning as understood by Christians in his time:
- People denying Jesus as Christ (1 John 2:18, 22; 2 John 7), resulting in many antichrists—past and present.
- The spirit of the antichrist, the animating force producing the antichrist attitude in people, is already here and working.
- The Antichrist, a man John saw as a monstrous beast emerging from the sea in a symbolic vision, is still to come.
For our purposes, the Antichrist we are concerned about is a specific individual, a man who will become a worldwide ruler.
The Antichrist
The Antichrist will emerge as a human political ruler, ascending to power and governing a one-world system. He will have a name symbolically represented by 666 and implement a method to identify his adherents—the mark of the beast.
The Bible provides only a sketch of this identity without revealing explicit details. As you now know, we should respect the limits of knowledge imposed in the Bible; we should stop where God stops and not attempt to know or explain what God has concealed until the appointed time. With this in mind, understanding the Antichrist is crucial to understanding 666 and the mark. If the Antichrist were to present himself and his qualifications, his profile would likely resemble the description outlined in Figure 5.
The Global Empire or Government
During the Antichrist’s reign, the mark of the beast will serve as a government-imposed identification to distinguish those who worship the Antichrist (the beast). It will be a global government ID in a forthcoming new world order that grants special privileges to those who bear the mark and imposes severe restrictions on those who don’t.
Remember that this new world is not imaginary or visionary; it will be the real world we know today under different circumstances. Upon examining world events, one can see that they are rapidly changing to fulfill this end-time prophecy. A new world is approaching in which routine tasks, like buying groceries or selling something online, will require a specific ID—the mark of the beast.
The Beast and His Beastly Empire
The Antichrist and his government have a two-fold purpose, a three-fold strategy, and a four-fold power. This explanation is not intended to explain the symbolic meaning of the beast’s appearance in John’s visions, but rather to aid our understanding.
First, the two-fold purpose:
- Erase every footprint of Jesus Christ on Earth and replace Him with the Antichrist.
- Demand worship of the Antichrist and the invisible dragon (Satan) that empowers him.
This two-fold purpose is accomplished through a potent three-fold strategy to turn people from Christ to Antichrist worshippers:
- Lure people by offering pleasure, prosperity, power, and fame to win them over.
- Deceive them through false miracles or teachings.
- Persecute those who resist, punishing them with suffering and death.
Last, the dragon (Satan) and the beast (Antichrist) execute their three-fold strategy through a core four-fold power system:
- Enticement
- Economic control
- Religious influence
- Political power
To understand life under the Satanic ruler, think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar set up the golden image and demanded that the entire world under his control worship it. Babylon will return, and it will be even more devastating this time. People will face a choice like no other: worship the Antichrist for earthly prosperity but eternal doom or worship Christ and face persecution and death. Figure 6 illustrates this human dilemma.
As we’ve explored the bleak reality of life under the Antichrist’s global empire, the significance of the mysterious number 666 and its mark has become increasingly apparent. In the next chapter, “Cracking the Code: Deciphering the Meaning of 666,” we will uncover the hidden meaning behind this number through biblical numerology, prophecies, and ancient texts.
Recommended Read
- Revelation 13: A Simple Guide to Understand this Chapter
- The Context for Understanding 666 and the Mark of the Beast
- What Does 666 Mean?
- What is the Mark of the Beast?
- Watch Book Trailer. 666: The Mark of the Beast Made Simple
- View all Bible Study Topics, including End Times Articles.
- External Resource: Bible Gateway on the Antichrist.
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