Mark of the Beast

We've been going through a series of Sunday sermons through the biblical book of Revelation. One of the things I said this morning was that first century Jews expected another Exodus to rescue them from Roman oppression through judgments and a clear demonstration of who belonged to God.

If you remember the story of the Exodus, the Jewish people were oppressed in enslavement to Egypt. God delivers them through a series of 10 plagues or judgments on this nation who finally lets them go.

Revelation has a similar story. During the time Revelation is written, the Jews are either experiencing outright persecution or at least disfavor and under the temptation to declare Caesar as Lord and Savior. It is in this story that the writer of Revelation sees the plagues or judgments from chapter 6 to 16 as God coming against the forces that oppress his people.

Who are his people? They are ones who have the seal of God on them. Who are the ones who are not? They are those with the mark of the beast identified as 666. While there are all sorts of modern day explanations for what this could be; it had to mean something to these readers first.

Most scholars believe that the numbers in Revelation, and really elsewhere in the Bible, are symbolic. Even the most literal interpreter of Revelation would acknowledge that the 144,000 that are seen in heaven are symbolic. Humanity was created on the 6th day according to Genesis and then God rests on the 7th. The number 6 in the Bible is used to symbolize humanity.

Put this together with what we know so far and it seems that the author is simply and yet profoundly making the point that those who yield to Rome out of fear or seduction are those who are marked as worshipping all that is humanity - greed, power, lust, etc. while those who worship God by choosing his way for life are those marked with his seal.

Certainly, there is a lot more that can be said about this and how it applies to our day today. I would love to hear from you - observations, thoughts, questions?