Mark of the Beast: A clash of the world and the word

According to the Apostle John, a Beast will arise towards the end of the age. The Beast will initially appear to address serious human challenges, but his rule will gradually turn ruthless, with a strict demand for worship. To ensure enforcement, everyone will be required to receive a Mark on their right hand or on the forehead. It is the fear of unknowingly receiving this Mark of the Beast that has caused great apprehension among many across the globe whenever there is a mass registration of any kind by governments. But, is it possible to know if and when one is receiving the Mark of the Beast?

There are at least three basic principles – Revelation, Relevance, and Requirement – that one can use to determine whether or not they are taking the dreaded mark. The principle of Revelation is founded on the fact that God does nothing without first revealing it to His people. Whereas in human justice, ignorance is no defence, in God’s system, ignorance is great defence. God therefore always reveals His demands before He can punish anyone for negligence or disobedience. At creation, God made it absolutely clear to Adam and Eve which tree they were not to eat from. Before the flood, Noah announced to the people about the coming destruction. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was announced beforehand. Accordingly, the principle of Revelation implies that when the Beast appears, it will be revealed so that no one takes the Mark accidentally or out of ignorance.

The Mark of the Beast is also known as 666 – the number of Man. The principle of Relevance therefore means that the purpose and motive behind any mark that qualifies to be the Mark of the Beast must be related to or associated with the imposing of human systems against divine worship. Hence, by taking the mark, one agrees to submit to human philosophies instead of divine principles – to worship man rather than God. On the other hand, the principle of Requirement, means that the mark must be universally mandatory for everyone, and is enforced by dire sanctions. When in the time of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image, he required everybody to bow and worship it. A fiery furnace awaited the defiant. Nebuchadnezzar’s image thus fulfilled all the three principles.

It is clear that today, human systems are becoming greatly exalted above the purposes of God. Humanly established rights are becoming the universal standard for determining what is right or wrong. Abominations are now being pushed as human rights and violations severally punished. Freedom for homosexuals, for example, has been successfully used as a precondition to developing nations for accessing Western aid. In developed nations, “homophobia” can cost you your job, contract or business.

In Kenya, the only time the Church has ever entered into a formal contest against the government and the rest of the citizenry was in 2010 during the Referendum on the new Constitution. At the centre of the duel were some clauses in the Bill of Rights which the Church believed were not only against Biblical teachings but also compromised our cultural and national values. Kenyan voters were thus confronted with the choice between “Human Rights” and God’s principles – a contest between the World versus the Word. Over sixty percent willingly and knowingly stood against the Church. If this were the Mark of the Beast, many took it – knowingly.

What is clear is that the Mark of the Beast will not come as some mysteriously camouflaged item that one can take accidentally. The principle of Revelation ensures that you will know that you are taking the mark or bowing to the image. The principle of Relevance means that the Mark or Image must be an object of worship or requiring worship of man. Thirdly, the principle of Requirement means that it will be universally mandatory and refusal severely punished. Subjected to these three principles, the Credit Card, PIN, or Huduma Namba fail the test.

However, such repository of critical personal data can become a tool for future enforcement of the real thing. If this scares you, forget about the rudimentary Huduma Namba, there already exists technology for inserting a data chip under the skin on the hand or forehead. In Sweden and several other countries, many have had the tiny microchip inserted under their skin to replace the need to carry keys, credit cards and train tickets. For a fact, in just a short while it will be here. How will you determine whether or not to take this chip when it comes?

- The writer is the Presiding Bishop of Christ is the Answer Ministries. [email protected]