Mark of the Beast - Biblical References to a Physical Mark

Revelation isn't the only place we come across a physical mark. The Bible contains several other references to marks that are visible. We see the first reference in Genesis when God marks Cain.

Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Even though God marks Cain to preserve his life and to prevent others from attacking or killing him, the mark still serves as punishment since Cain would rather die than face a life of contempt and wandering. And the mark is obviously visible if others are able to react to it.

In Revelation God commands His angels to seal His servants in order for them to be saved from harm (Revelation 7:2-3). These servants are later contrasted against those who are not sealed, those who like Cain desire to die, those who carry the Mark of the Beast.

Revelation 9:4-6
  1. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
  2. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
  3. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

We can safely assume that those who are not sealed by God are the same that receive The Mark of the Beast. It's interesting that both the Mark of Cain and the Mark of the Beast prevent an immediate death but also allow for a prolonged punishment. The Mark of the Beast will be accepted by many to avoid death but ultimately it will lead to an eternal torment.

Revelation 14:9-12
  1. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
  2. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
  3. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
  4. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

There is another important reference to a physical mark in the Old Testament. Like the seal in Revelation, this mark is commanded by God and protects its recipients from destruction.

Ezekiel 9:3-6
  1. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
  2. And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
  3. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
  4. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

There are some interesting correlations between the writer's inkhorn in Ezekiel and particular verses in Revelation. The Hebrew words translated as writer's inkhorn are caphar and qeceth respectively.

In addition to "writer", Strong's Concordance defines caphar as "to score with a mark as a tally or record... to inscribe, and also to enumerate... count... number..." [1] The parallels with numbers and counting in Revelation 13:18 are obvious. Old Testament translations of caphar also include "tell," "declare," "speak," and "talk," which makes one think of Revelation 13:15.

Another notable translation of caphar specific to the KJV is "penknife." Comparing this definition to the Verichip's syringe (called a cannula) doesn't require a far stretch of the imagination.

Not surprisingly Caphar is also very close to the Hebrew Cphar which is defined as "a census" and "numbering." These definitions allude to King David's numbering of the Israelites.

2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

It's clear that King David was punished for numbering his people, but why was God so angry? It's simple really; when a man ceases to be a living soul and instead becomes a nameless, faceless number, he is no longer valued as a human being but is treated like a disposable commodity. He will be looked at as something to be bought, sold, experimented on, and eliminated at will.

IBM Hollerith poster w/ All Seeing EyeIf one studies the technology surrounding the Holocaust they'll find that a census and numbering system played a pivotal role in a massive genocide. IBM's Hollerith machines were used by The Nazis to sort census data for the identification and systematic extermination of millions [2][3]. This is exactly what a mass numbering system like the Verichip can be used for.

Punch card toolThe IBM Hollerith machines used by Nazi Germany were built using punch card technology. Punch cards are an early form of computing that consists of a grid of numbers printed on a paper card which is physically punched through using a sharp tool to form a machine readable pattern [4]. The punch tool bears a striking resemblance to the special syringe used to implant the Verichip.

What's also interesting is that IBM was a major financial contributor to Applied Digital Solutions and the Verichip [5]. They're also pushing to standardize RFID to allow for a quicker and wider adoption of the technology [6]. One of the companies working with IBM to achieve this goal is MARC Global, which is obviously linked to the Multi-technology Automated Reader Card (MARC) long suspected of involvement in the Mark of the Beast [7].

Another numbering system that IBM is responsible for is the barcode. The barcode is most definitely a contributor along the road to RFID, and yes, all barcodes contain a very prominent 6,6,6 [8].

It's not wise to ignore the signs around us. Just like cancer, something benign can become deadly if left to run its course. The Bible and history both show us examples of physical marks used for identification. Why would the Mark of the Beast be any different?

Back to the Beginning: The Verichip and The Mark of the Beast

References Cited

Summary of verse references (in Canonical order):

Full text of verses with references only (in order of reference, all quoted from the KJV):

Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Revelation 7:2-3
  1. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
  2. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4-6
  1. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
  2. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
  3. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Revelation 14:9-12
  1. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
  2. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
  3. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
  4. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Ezekiel 9:3-6
  1. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
  2. And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
  3. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
  4. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Revelation 13:18 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 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Links referenced in this study:

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