The mark of the beast

“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or seel unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16-17
There has been much speculation over what the mark of the beast might be. Some have suggested that it is credit cards, barcodes, microchips, a supercomputer in Europe. The truth is, we won’t know until it happens. But let’s see what the text really says.
The taking of the mark of the beast – whatever it is – is an act of pledging allegiance to the beast, the coming world leader, who is commonly called the Antichrist. It is interesting to note the position of the mark: in the forehead or in the right hand. Zechariah 11:17 tells us that the Antichrist is wounded in his arm and his right eye; this is most likely a reference to the fatal wound that he survives, and which the world worships him for (Rev. 13:3-4).
One interesting thing to note is that the Greek actually says ‘in the hand’ and ‘in the forehead’, not ‘on’. Thus the mark is not just something on the skin, like a branding or tattoo, but something that is inserted, perhaps like a microchip or RFID tag. (These are being used today in pets to help identify them; we can imagine that it won't be long before they are inserted into children for the same purpose.) But at the same time, there will be a visible mark, so perhaps it is a combination. We are told here that the mark “is the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:17). Then we are told that the number of the beast is 666 (Rev. 13:18). Again, there has been much speculation as to what this means. Perhaps one of the most interesting I have heard is from Walid Shoebat, a former Muslim who came to faith in Christ.
Whatever it is, it is something that replaces cash and credit cards, thus changing the way that people buy and sell. Because of this, many will take it for convenience – perhaps not knowing that this act is one that will condemn their soul. “There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:11).