The Mark of the Beast
The [book of] Revelation provides the most complete information about the career of the Antichrist, even offering an identification of his person in the cryptogram 666. Since the text does not given an explanation for this number, other than that it is the number of a man (i.e., Antichrist), no one until the appropriate hour in the Tribulation will be able to discern this meaning. (Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, pg 45)
What Will It look like?
It could be a tattoo of a Universal Product Code (UPC)...it could be a computer chip embedded into the right hand or forehead...it could be almost anything technology dreams up. I think it will be something of a status symbol. I think people will desire to wear Antichrist's symbol to show their loyalty to his world/global system. It will possibly even be attractive to the eye. Perhaps it will be a hologram of some sort. The bottom line is that at this point in time, nobody knows for certain.
What Do We Know For Certain?
What we do know is that everyone will be forced to take this mark or die. It will be presented as a choice: though there really is no choice involved. For those who claim that the God of the Bible is unfair because He presents one way of Salvation through Christ, Antichrist offers only death. You will have physical death if you choose not to take this mark, yet if you are a believer, you will already have eternal life which Antichrist cannot take away--ever. If you are not a believer and you take the mark (and physically live), you will have eternal death. In other words, if you take the mark there will not be another chance given to you to accept the gospel. Ever. You will spend all of eternity in darkness, in torments, gnashing your teeth and regretting the temporary illusion of comfort--forever. Let this be a warning: the longer you delay believing the gospel, the closer you are to eternally spending forever in the Lake of Fire.
When Will This Event Take Place?
Scripture tells us that this forcing of every living person to take the Mark of the Beast will happen midway through the Tribulation period. This is approximately 3 1/2 years into the Seven-Year peace treaty which Antichrist will sign with Israel. It will be soon after the Antichrist marches into the Temple and proclaims himself 'god' (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
What is the Purpose of the Mark?
The purpose of the mark will be a sign of identification of those who will own the antichrist as their god. Only those who have this number will be permitted to work, to buy, to sell, or simply to make a living.
(The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, pg. 172)
A Numerical Hebrew System?
Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and in the order of numerical value they are as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, and 400.
So everybody's name in Hebrew has a numerical value. The numerical value of the author's name is 966. The name of Jesus Christ has the numerical value of 749. In this passage whatever the personal name of the Antichrist will be, if his name is spelled out in Hebrew characters, the numerical value of his name will be 666. So this is the number that will be put on the worshippers of the Antichrist. Since a number of different calculations can equal 666, it is impossible to figure the name out in advance.
But when he does appear, whatever his personal name will be,it will equal 666. Those who are wise (Rev. 13:18) at that time will be able to point him out in advance.
(The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, pg. 173)
