The Mark of the Beast
Are we seeing the forerunner to Revelations 13:17 in society today? Hardly. This letter to the 7 churches about things that would shortly come to pass had 1st century applications before the destuction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Due to the early evangelization of the Jewish-Christian community in the empire promoting that Jesus is Lord “Iesus est dominus”, this offended Nero. Caesar Nero enforced an executive order that no Roman citizen could buy or sell anything without presenting an allegiance certificate recognizing Caesar as Lord. This certficate was carried in the sleeve (hand) or in the headband (the head). Merchants who did not verify the certficate were subject to punishment by death. This order got compliance or death. Many Christians left Rome and went to Greece, Turkey, or Egypt because they would not renounce Christ. Mark of the beast is better translated as “stamp” - charagma. The number 6–6–6 is to emphasize that Nero is the 6th Claudio-Gallo Caesar to which this refers. Be...