Revelation 13:16-18^[1]

“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: 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. 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.”

When the pandemic caused by COVID-19 began, a mandate was unthinkable. At that time, freedom of choice was paramount, as seen by the battles over: the right to determine the fate of the unborn; the right to marry members of the same sex; freedom of speech, the press, and religion; and the equality of each race and sex. However, in just two short years, the idea of a universal mandate is creeping into society, as demonstrated by the actions of leaders throughout the world.

Ironically, many of the proponents of the aforementioned causes of freedom are now the opponents of medical freedom, perhaps better said, individual autonomy. This shift in society has afforded the powers that be control of the narrative to such a degree that many have been duped into accepting unwanted medical procedures, which have proven to be detrimental.

Quite possibly, the best news to come from what humanity has experienced over the last two years is more and more people are beginning to realize the ever-expanding mandates related to COVID-19 are the baby steps necessary for a beguiled world to accept “The ultimate mandate: The Mark of the Beast.”

The pandemic has afforded the global elites the opportunity to test the technologies and mechanisms required for the mark of the beast on a worldwide scale. China began testing the security and surveillance piece of the puzzle some time ago, which operates through its social credit score system; imagine having every move you make be subject to overlords who, unlike our benevolent God, do not have your best intentions involved.

India is seemingly testing the financial puzzle piece as they are moving toward a cashless society. The pandemic has shown Australia to be a test nation for physical control by implementing the harshest of isolation measures, which have seen many relocated to camps similar to those used by Nazi Germany in World War Two. Even Canada has recently demonstrated its bent toward totalitarianism through its mandates and reaction to those who oppose them.

Opposition to mandates is growing at the moment. However, a time will soon arrive when such resistance will bring harsher penalties. After all, the ultimate goal of those who are steering society is to bring the world into the trifecta of a one-world government, religion, and economy (Rev 13). Currently, many are involved in the shaping process, too many to be numbered. However, in the near future, ten kings will arise who will ultimately relinquish their power to one ruler, the antichrist.

Once the chief minion of Satan ascends to the throne, all will be forced to worship him and receive his mark. By this point, refusal will elicit death. Incredibly, Scripture also indicates that, aside from those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, the entire population will willingly worship the antichrist for the latter half of the Tribulation (Rev 13:4-8).

One may ask, how is it possible for this world-rule to come into existence? The short answer is through “The Ultimate Mandate: The Mark of the Beast.”

The current mandates provide clues as to how the ultimate mandate will achieve such success. In the beginning, fear was rolled out and stressed daily on every news network. Most had running statistics displayed on each broadcast, which provided the necessary information to drive the populace, through panic, toward a foreordained destination. The example of driving cattle, though crude, provides a mental picture of what has been happening over the last two years. The world populace has been steered into believing their only hope is intervention by someone greater than them. Just like the virus, this mindset is becoming endemic, meaning it will remain in the population, henceforth.

Another sad reason for the success of the current mandates is the fact that those who have succumbed to the narrative are more than determined to cause all others to follow them on their path to destruction. This is a true case of the blind leading the blind.

It is important to clarify that the measures involved in the mandates, such as masks, social distancing, and injections, are not the primary focus of the mandate. Instead, the mandate is designed to cause people to become used to mandates, which will lead to the eventual acceptance of the ultimate mandate. The fable of the frog and the boiling water is a good example of what is happening. The powers that be hope the people of the world are like the frog who supposedly sits in the water as the temperature is gradually raised until the frog boils to death. The good news is, this is, in fact, a fable, and the frog will jump out of the water when it gets too hot.

Hopefully, those subjected to ever-increasing encroachment through mandates will recognize what is taking place and reject the mandate that brings eternal fire, the mark of the beast.

Hypothetical journey to the future…

Imagine, for a moment, you have been transported into the future to the mid-point of the Tribulation. Quickly, you realize something has changed for the worse, and you begin to research what happened during your absence to bring the world to such a place of absolute control. The first thing you see are reports of those who were considered Christians disappearing.^[2] Next, you see the dismemberment of the ‘old guard’ and the subsequent formation of ‘a new world order’ focused on equality.^[3] Turbulence in the populace seems to have increased to the point that neighbor began to kill neighbor.^[4] As a result of the chaos involved in these changes, famine hit hard. Then pestilence struck amidst warfare, and many died.

You also take note that the western hemisphere, which had previously been magnificent, was the hardest hit by the preceding calamities, resulting in a focal point shift to the Middle East.[5] In fact, most are focused on the tiny country of Israel and its capital Jerusalem. In your effort to understand why, you discover that two witnesses had preached there for the last three and a half years until they were finally killed. Incredibly, the reports say the dead bodies of these men lay in the street for three and half days until they stood up and ascended into heaven. Everyone is still talking about them. Most are glad they are gone because they had defended themselves with fire from their mouths while calling forth plagues and calling for repentance.

You also cannot help but notice that evil is all-encompassing. The one-world government has developed, and a leader has just risen to preeminence. This leader’s position is being touted by a religious overseer who is calling for the worship of the leader while causing all to receive a mark comprised of either the number or name of the leader.

Incredibly, you are beginning to realize that you will not be able to buy, sell, or trade without this mark (Rev 13). In fact, this new form of verification is required for almost everything; it seems to have even supplanted the need for any other type of identification. In the midst of attempting to adjust your thinking to the ‘new normal,’ you are informed that failure to worship the antichrist, which includes taking his mark, means the death penalty. Suddenly, the true gravity of the mandated mark of the beast hits you; without it, you will suffer and die.

Return to the present…

The journey just taken is indicative of what will happen in the near future. The rapture of the church is truly imminent, and society is being prepared for the Tribulation period, which will be a time of trouble like none before it (Jer 30:7). Great chaos will allow the rise of evil on earth, and a battle in heaven will see the dragon of old, Satan, cast to earth along with his angels (Rev 12:7-12). By the mid-point of the Tribulation, only a remnant of the godly will remain on earth. These will be desperately attempting to avoid the minions of the dragon and the mark of the beast.

Living through this awful time will be extremely difficult, nearly impossible. But God will sequester and protect a remnant of the children of Israel (Rev 12:13:16). Others, perhaps saved Gentiles, will somehow survive as indicated by the gathering of the sheep and goats at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation (Matt 25:31-46).

Throughout this period of great adversity, the devil will do everything he can to cause men to choose his side against God by receiving the mark of the beast. Meanwhile, God will provide a way to escape this final trial. In fact, he will even send angels to fly over and preach the everlasting gospel and to warn not to take the mark (Rev 14:6-12). Ultimately, both Satan and the tribulation saints may ‘overcome’ in the same instance. Satan’s chief puppet, the antichrist, is granted permission to make war with the saints and ‘overcome’ them (Rev 13:7). Simultaneously, the believer will ‘overcome’ by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and loving not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11). This indicates that both the antichrist and the saint ultimately ‘overcome’ at the death of the saint.

Death at the hands of the antichrist will most likely come as a result of refusal to comply with the ultimate mandate to receive the mark of the beast. Therefore, those who are martyred for their faith in Christ, which empowered them to resist the wiles of the devil, will be resurrected at the second coming and rule and reign with Christ during the millennium:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev 20:4, emphasis mine).

This passage depicts the paramount importance of refusing the ultimate mandate, known as the mark of the beast. Taking his mark means refusal of God. While acceptance of the mark may save someone’s physical life for a time, it also means one forfeits the resurrection unto life at the Second Coming, which in turn results in loss of eternal life. Worse yet, since the worm of a man, meaning the conscience, never dies (Mark 9:48), each person will spend eternity somewhere. The wicked will spend forever in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). The overcomer, on the other hand, will spend eternity with God (Rev 21).

Conclusion

For the first time in history, man is being subjected to mandates on a global scale. The observant realize the mandate is about the mandate, meaning the mandate is designed to prepare the masses for the future mark of the beast, which will, in fact, be the ultimate mandate. The fact that these mandates have started before the rapture is a wonderful thing since the church is still here to warn the populace of their impending doom. The warnings are going out from every possible source; this article is but one example.

Avoiding the mark is crucial, and, at this point, there is still one way to ensure you will never take it; Turn to Christ. Belief in Jesus is the only way to ensure eternal life. Scripture indicates that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13). Once the rapture happens, it will be very difficult to navigate the entirety of the Tribulation.[6] Therefore, lay down your life now – and live for Christ for the remainder of your time on earth, come grave or rapture.

Website: In His Commission

[1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”
[2] For greater understanding, see the article, “The five W’s of the Rapture.”
[3] For greater understanding, see the article, “First Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
[4] For greater understanding, see the article, “Second Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
[5] For greater understanding, see the article “Back to Babylon.”
[6] For greater understanding, see the article, “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.”