What is "the mark of the Beast"?

 

To those concerned about "the Mark of the Beast" in these troubling times (whether that is focused on vaccination, a cashless society, or some other idea), please remember that Revelation is Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. (In this context "Apocalyptic" does not mean "End Times", "End of the World" or anything like that. An "Apocalype" is technically something that has been revealed, which is why the book is called "Revelation". But I digress...)

In Apocalyptic Literature, every reference is symbolic. In Jewish Apocalyptic Literature most of them are connected to symbolism from the Tanakh ("Old Covenant" Scriptures). So, in that context, what does the "mark" (or, more appropriately "sign") refer to? Let's look at Exodus 13, Deuteronomy 6, and Deuteronomy 11 for the answer.

 

In Exodus 13, Israel is told that the observance of Passover "shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt." (NASB)

 

In Deuteronomy 6 is, of course, the Shema, the central prayer of Israel: "“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (NASB)

 

Deuteronomy 11 promises blessing to Israel "...if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul...You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead."

 

Two things to draw from these passages:

1. These are promises made to Israel, the Biblical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If the promises being used as symbols apply to Israel, it is at least arguable that the "sign of the Beast" does also. This is not to say that what affects the 'apple of God's eye" doesn't affect the rest of Creation, but it does say that the events being talked about aren't likely to be centered in the USA, or even in this half of the globe.
2. The "sign" is not a physical thing, except where a physical thing is used as a reminder of a Spiritual thing. It is a matter of cleaving onto the Word of God, and loving Him, and the other human beings He created in His image, above all else
   

Based on this, what is the "Mark of the Beast"? I would argue that it is not a literal, physical, thing. I would argue that it is the "anti-Shema". The Shema calls Israel to a singular focus on one God, supreme over any and all distractions. The "sign" then is made up of the distractions.

In short: The "sign of the Beast" is making anything, or anyone, more central to your thought, words, and actions than God and His Word.

Picking this back up again...

 I just got back on here after a long hiatus (about 6 years!), where I put a lot of my thoughts in Facebook. I have come to understand that Social Media platforms are not the best place to explore ideas in a calm, thoughtful manner.

So, I'm relocating back to my old neighborhood, so to speak.  I'l start by moving some of my commentary on Facebook here, where I'll expand and elaborate on those ideas.

Stay tuned...