We have talked so much about the “Mark” of the Beast that we may have failed to warn the world of the nature of the Beast. Already our society and culture are being totally saturated with his nature. From dress styles to entertainment, from religious New Age deceptions to major book and television series, Satan and his evil nature is the rage of the world. Jewelry is being created by artists who enter into a state of spirit possession in order to create jewelry that spirits can use to exert control over the wearers. The world of music is rapidly becoming nothing but funky sounds and styles that is controlling instead of inspiring. If devoted Christians should dare try to influence souls for Christ using mind-altering techniques, we would be sued out of existence; and we should be. But the world under satanic influence is using varying methods to capture and control our world for Lucifer and nobody is daresome to sound the warning. Well, friends, I am sounding the warning in the devil’s face.

The Bible warns us that Satan is planning this evil beast, which we call the Antichrist, to rule the world. Once he has established control, no one can buy or sell without his brand or mark on their right hand or forehead. Once you progress to being “marked,” there is no turning back and no repentance. You will be condemned to the eternal insane asylum, the Lake of Fire. John warned us of this hour with a dire prediction. “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.” (Revelation 13:16-18) The Beast that controls this “Mark” is not the Antichrist but the False Prophet or the head of the One World Church. He serves the first beast and is an imitation of Christian religion and a false anointing.

This entire One World Order will be religious to the core. Satan will act like he is the supreme god; his first beast will act like a christ or messiah; and the second beast will imitate the Holy Spirit. Everything in our society is becoming more and more religious, even the public schools, but not anything akin to fundamental Christianity. The new evangelicals are already more liberal than liberal churches were twenty-five years ago. Major newspapers are giving special attention to religion; but it’s their brand not the Bible’s brand. Biblical Christianity is a scourge to them and hated more everyday. The nature of the Beast is religious, and his religion or his brand of religion will soon rule the world.

Anyone that would consider waiting until after the Rapture to be saved should think again. First, the religion of this beast will be so deceptive and convincing that the greater multitude will already have his nature to take his mark will appear to be the simple answer. A person that is now living under the delusion of Antichrist will most likely accept his description of the disappearance of the raptured saints. It will be almost impossible to break with the pattern that will control the world. No wonder Paul said of this Beast, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (II Thessalonians 2:10-12)

If you are capable of discerning the truth, the price of total surrender will require martyrdom. Nowhere in Revelation is there one suggestion that a converted believer can escape death during the Tribulation period. The apostle describes the fate of new believers in the midst of this hell-on-earth. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10-11) The crux of that hour will be “they loved not their lives unto the death.” A genuine remnant will be the escaping few that can stand the pressure and survive the brutal methods of death that the Beast requires. The first Beast will be an Assyrian known for the gruesome slaughter of the conquered foes. The Assyrians would skin their foes alive or impale them with sharp posts driven up the back and leave them to hang until death.

A great majority of the church world, not counting the unconverted masses, has already adopted the personal attributes of this Beast. His music is loud, crude, and emotionally captivating. His religion promotes the flesh with loose dressing, vulgar displays of sensual appetites, and freedom to live without rules. Women act like men, even wearing their hair like men; and men are quickly acting like women. The flesh is the master of this Beast’s lifestyle. If you live after the flesh, you are already copying the nature of the Beast. The “Mark” will certainly end with a “stamp” or a “tattoo;” but, presently, it is the life of his nature. The word “mark” means more than a tattoo. It means the “stamp” of his approval or a “badge” denoting the Beast’s ownership.

After the Rapture when you are totally his property, he will tattoo you with his “666” or whatever that symbol comes to represent. Your time is short. Jesus was filled with sorrow and grief when He said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

Joseph R. Chambers