Greetings in Jesus' name.

Someone sent us this question, and when I first saw it, the scenario given below in the answer came to me in a flash. I hope not to jump to conclusions, and desire to always wait and see what the Holy Spirit is saying, and this is just an avenue of showing how we have moved closer and closer to the possibility of these things taking place and not seeming so far-fetched any longer, as they once did. Wisdom comes from above, from the Father of lights - and we know you will trust Him to show about this possibility.

Dear Charlotte and Table of the Remnant,

What does the mark of the beast symbolize?

Do people in our time receive his mark or is it a future mark?

Where is the spirit of Anti-christ manifest today?

Thanks,
A Brother

Our response:

I believe that the mark of the beast is literal. "The beast" is a man who has power in the earth. Although human, he receives power from the enemy. Here is one possible way to look at this: What if something like the following were to occur?

Some wars realigned the balance of power in the world. At the same time, or closely thereafter, major world-wide problems were caused by the Y2K bug. A man comes to power and settles these problems. If someone got the credit for ending a world-war and bring about peace, then he easily could be revered by the world. Because of the computer problems, he would have to have some system of drawing the world back together, after the devastation that the wars caused. He might initiate a "number" to identify each person on earth so that there could be commerce (claiming it was for man's own good, so we can sell and trade) so the nations could trust each other. And the person who came up with this plan, and then implemented it, would be highly praised, by a world recovering from disasters. This new law - that you need a number to buy or sell - might be enforced by the United Nations, or some other world power.

The people in the world would love a man like this. Along with this man in the political realm, will be a false prophet, inspired by Lucifer, who can appear as an angel of light. He will endorse this world leader. The Laodicean church and religious people will be deceived by this false prophet. If they loved the truth, and knew Jesus, they would never be deceived. But this angel of light will do miracles, and have miraculous power, and many will believe it is a "revival" from the Holy Spirit. They will think the number is no more harmful than having a social security number. The angel of light will tell them that the world leader is good, and that only fanatical people are afraid to take the number, and that it is totally innocent. I believe that the false prophet will use Jesus' name, and claim to be a Christian. Many will be deceived. The only ones not deceived, will be those who hear the Holy Spirit's voice, and know Him. "Today is the day of salvation" - now is the time to go to the throne room, to seek the Father. He will respond to those who come to Him now, trusting Him, but there will come a time, when it will be too late to get "more oil".

As I said, I do believe that the mark of the beast is a literal number, and that many will not realize its significance, since they are deceived. The world will receive the beast as their "savior" which is why the Father brings such severe consequences on those who take his mark. Why should mankind insult the Father by rejecting His Son, only to receive this liar and deceiver?

I think this time is coming in the near future. I only gave a possibility of how it could occur, to show that it is no longer far-fetched to imagine how it could come about. You can see that a major war, with nuclear weapons leveling some of the nations, and taking away the power of others, and then Y2K problems could bring about this scenario. And one of the nuclear attacks, bringing great destruction, would be judgment on the prostitute mentioned in Revelations, called "Babylon". This would fulfill that which is foretold in Revelations, yet man would again not recognize the significance. There are so many theories of who mystery Babylon is, that there would not be agreement nor understanding concerning what had happened. People would still be looking in the future for those prophecies to be fulfilled.

The spirit of antichrist (1 John 2) is already manifest in the world, as the enemy attempts to keep man from knowing Jesus, who is the Christ. Jesus, who is alive and came to earth in the flesh, is not known by those who claim His name.

Jesus is talked about and taught about, but that is not enough, we must know Him at least as well as we know anyone on earth that we love. Many pray to Him and never hear Him answer, and they think this is right and normal. The reason they think this is because of the antichrist spirit, which teaches them through the fallen church, not to expect to know the One who came to earth and took on flesh to die for them. This also happens world-wide. The way has been prepared. The greatest antichrist - the beast - will come, and man will be deceived. We who know our God, and hear His voice, and speak for Him, will warn and warn, and will try to draw others to come to Jesus, to know Him, and to get oil for their lamps, and we will be increasingly rejected by the religious, who would rather have a savior from the earth, who appeals to their religiosity, than One who points out their sin. We also will be persecuted by the enemy, and those whom he is deceiving. Yet, the Father will pour out His Holy Spirit to us, as we WAIT ON HIM. That is the most important thing we can do right now, in His eyes. Seek Him, listen for His voice, and then obey Him. Don't go forward until He says. Just go to Him, and trust Him, and wait on Him. He will gladly respond, and send His Spirit, to those who humbly seek Him, with love and trust.

In Jesus' name,
Char Tierney
Table of the Remnant