Alternative interpretation of the mark of the beast
The mark of the beast and free grace
You could claim that this interpretation of the mark of the beast goes against free grace doctrine because in this interpretation only the good ground go to heaven[1], the other grounds, among thorns and stony places don't go to heaven.
I personally believe that this interpretation of the mark of the beast is not true. If it was true shouldn't those that have supposedly not taking the mark of the beast have been killed.
(Revelation of John 13:15 [KJV]) And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Who do you give your allegiance to?
The alternative interpretation of the mark of the beast is on haue faith that the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16) is what you give your allegiance to after that you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Revelation of John 13:16 [KJV]) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
So how does put your allegiance to relate to in your hand and in your forehead.
(Galatians 2:9 [KJV]) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
In your hand could be referring to who you give the right hands of fellowship to or who you choose to team up with or make a covenant with or who you make a league with or just who you fellowship with after initial salvation.
In your forehead could then mean what you put your mind to, what you swear an oath to or what you plan and execute with your mind or what you invent with your own mind.
(Romans 1:29-30 [KJV])
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
So then the book of revelation is to be interpreted more symbolically and not just in a certain period of the last 7 years but maybe in the life of the believer.
The mark of the beast and the four grounds
A bit similar to the parable of the sower (Mt 13:1-23).
(Matthew 13:1-23 [KJV])
[1] The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
[2] And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
[3] And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
[4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
[5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
[6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
[7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
[8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
[9] Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
[10] And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
[11] He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
[12] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
[13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
[14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
[15] For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
[16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
[17] For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
[18] Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
[19] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
[20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
[21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
[22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
[23] But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
As you can see in the parable of the sower above some of the ground fall away when tribulation comes (stony places) or due to the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches (among thorns). These would be the believers in the book of revelation that don't enter heaven. It is really what they give their allegiance to after they have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ that shows their spiritual allegiance to Satan.
It doesn't mean that salvation is by works but rather that those who work for Satan are condemned by their works while the faithful remain faithful during tribulation and temptation. Being faithful to Jesus can be to do nothing as well.
Who do you fear the most, God or man.
(Proverbs 29:25 [KJV]) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
The mark of the beast and sins before salvation
Notice that Paul obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief. This seems to indicate that your past sins are not counted when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Also if you did it ignorantly, then you didn't really put your mind to it, it was more a mistake you made.
(I Timothy 1:12-13 [KJV])
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
The mark of the beast and Cain
The mark could then be more like your countenance and the mark put on Cain.
Genesis 4:1-15 KJV
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
[3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
[4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
[5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
[6] And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
[7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
[8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
[9] And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
[10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
[11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
[12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
[13] And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
[14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
[15] And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
The mark of the beast and Mammon
(Matthew 6:24 [KJV])
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The argument here is that you cannot serve God and Mammon so then the worship or serving of mammon is the mark of the beast. This fits with Rev 13:17 below that no man can buy or sell without the mark.
(Revelation of John 13:15-18 [KJV])
[15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
[16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
[17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
[18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The number 666 above in Rev 13:18 is the number of the Beast and that number occurs in another place in the bible in 1 Kings 10:14, see below, its the number of talents of gold that Salomon got in a year. So we see that the number 666 in the king james bible is connected to mammon or specifically gold, worldly riches.
(I Kings 10:14 [KJV])
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
Also the fact that the love of money is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10), not some evil but all evil would indicate that the mark of the beast is the worship of money.
(I Timothy 6:10 [KJV]) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Also mystery babylon is described as the mother of harlots (Rev John 17:5). Harlots get cash or other things in exchange for sex. So mammon is deeply involved in a harlots life.
(Revelation of John 17:5 [KJV]) And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
This also indicate that the mark of the beast is about Mammon and the worship of mammon and giving your allegiance to mammon rather than Jesus Christ, the Holy ghost and God the Father in heaven. You could claim that the harlot has an intimate relation with mammon.
See also
References
- ↑ The Parable of the Four Soils: Do the Middle Two Soils Represent Believers or Unbelievers? – Matthew 13:20-22 , https://faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/do-the-middle-two-soils-represent-believers-or-unbelievers/