There is a lot of sensationalism out there about the mark of the beast, everything from computer chips to vaccines has been posited as the mark. We have to remember that our truth comes from the Testimony of Jehoshua Messiah, which is the Spirit of Prophecy not newspaper articles nor from conspiracy theories.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;
Rev 13:17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Most Christians in the West believe that the mark of the beast is a physical mark, however when we see that the seal of God is a spiritual seal then that means the mark of the beast is also spiritual.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
This is the sealing of the 144,000 and the great multitude. The 144,000 were likely the first century 12 tribes of Israel. The great multitude are the nations that came out of Ephraim, which is basically any Christian that believes that Jehoshua is God's only begotten Son.
Like the mark of the beast, the seal of Jehovah God goes on the forehead. Let's look at what scripture says the seal of God is:
Rev 14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.
This scene is after the second advent of the Son of God and it is the heavenly Zion that the 144,000 and the great multitude stand on (Hebrews 12; Revelation 21). The seal of God is the name of the Son and his Father. This is very revealing in terms of the identity of Jehoshua and the importance of having that identity right.
This verse proves that the seal of God is the Father-Son relationship between Jehovah God and His only begotten Son, Jehoshua Messiah. This Father-Son relationship is rooted in the Davidic covenant (2nd Samuel 7:14). It also has it's roots in the Adamic covenant.
The implication here is that one must believe that the Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jehoshua is literal. A metaphorical or symbolic Sonship is a perversion of the truth and as the apostle John said, no lie is of the truth. Oneness/modalism and the Evangelical Trinity fail the seal of God test.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The 144,000 follow the Lamb wherever he goes, meaning they obey his teachings and follow his example. They were not defiled with women. In bible prophecy, a woman often represents a church. The 144,000/great multitude did/do not defile themselves with false churches. This means they have no fellowship with false churches. In the context of verse 1, this means they do not fellowship with churches that deny the literal Father-Son relationship of Jehovah God and Jehoshua Messiah.
One of the most important if not the most important characteristics of the 144,000/great multitude is that they have no guile. This means they are trustworthy, straight forward and noble in character. What is key about this concept of them having no guile, in terms of this study, is what is said about Nathanael back in John chapter 1 by Jehoshua:
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Joh 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel.
Jehoshua told Nathanael that he was an Israelite without guile and two verses later Nathanael confessed to Jehoshua that he was the Son of God and King of Israel. Nathanael confesses this as a present reality not a future promise. Remember, the 144,000/great multitude also have no guile in them and they overcome the mark, number and name of the beast.
The 144,000/great multitude have the seal of God, which is the Father's name and the Son's name. The Davidic covenant is the root of the Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jehoshua (2nd Samuel 7:14; Psalm 2:7). To have this seal means that they had/have faith that Jehoshua is the truly and literally Jehovah's only begotten Son. That Sonship is inherently connected and rooted in his Kingship.
This shows that the seal of God is the faith that Jehoshua is our now reigning Davidic King of Israel, just as the Israelite without guile, Nathanael confessed. One can rightly say, that the Davidic covenant is the seal of Jehovah God. This then highlights what the mark of the beast is. The mark of the beast is the denial of Jehoshua currently reigning on the throne of David as well as denying his literal Sonship.
What's a blessing is that there is no need for wild conspiracies of what the mark of the beast is, as scripture shows us clearly what it is when we divide the word of truth rightly. John, who penned the revelation verifies this in his epistle concerning what the mark of the beast is:
1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
All Christians know that the mark of the beast comes from the antichrist and what makes someone antichrist? It's denying Jehoshua is the Messiah and the Son of God, both of which are Kingship titles. The royal seed of David is referred to as the Messiah (anointed) in the old testament.
John says that those who deny that Jehoshua is the Messiah and Son of God are antichrist and the mark of the beast comes from the antichrist. Remember, many people in this world give lip service to believing or liking Jehoshua but Paul warned of other "Jehoshua's":
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.
Which Jehoshua did Paul and the other apostles preach? The Jehoshua that is the Son of God (Romans 1:1-4) and currently sits on the throne of David as King (Acts 13:32-34). To have the right Jehoshua, one must believe, have faith in and preach that he is the Son of God and King of Israel. To be King of Israel means he must currently be reigning from the throne of David.
The future antichrist ruler will claim those titles for himself, Son of God and King of Israel. This is according to scripture and the early church fathers. He will rule from earthly Jerusalem as a benevolent world leader, initiating a supposed 1,000 year reign of peace.
It's noteworthy that Jehoshua's last words in the book of Revelation and all of scripture are regarding his Davidic lineage:
Rev 22:16 I Jehoshua have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.
Jehoshua reiterates his Davidic Kingship at the end of the vision, very likely as a reminder to the brethren so as not to be deceived by the antichrist. He acknowledges his lineage from the holy vine of David and uses the star language to denote his Kingship. The prophesied Israelite King (Jehoshua) was called the star in Numbers 24:17, the sun of righteousness in Malachi 4 as the sun is a star. Jehoshua is called the day star in 2 Peter 1 and the morning star in Revelation 2:28.
By Jehoshua declaring his Davidic Kingship at the end of the Revelation it supports that the Davidic covenant plays an integral role in the latter times controversy, of which the mark of the beast is an important component. Paul says that the Davidic covenant is his gospel (2 Timothy 2:8). It must also be our gospel as Paul says to imitate him as he imitated the Messiah.
By holding firmly to the truth of the apostles that Jehoshua ascended to the throne of David at his resurrection and ascension, we will be prevented from being decieved by the antichrist as he will claim to be a Davidic King.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
The spirit of antichrist denies that Jehoshua came in the flesh, whereas the Spirit of Jehovah God confesses that he came in the flesh. What does it mean for Jehoshua to come in the flesh?
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
Coming in the flesh refers to Jehoshua being born of the seed of David, showing that he is literally of the seed of David. This is the main requirement for Jehoshua to be Jehovah's Messiah. To deny this is to have the spirit of antichrist. It is the antichrist which brings the mark of the beast. To deny that Jehoshua came in the flesh of David is to deny his Davidic Kingship. You might say "while don't all Christians admit Jesus is literally of the seed of David?". That is not enough to have the Spirit of Jehovah:
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.
The proof that someone has the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Jehovah) is that they confess that Jehoshua is Lord (King). Contrary to most of Christensom the title "Lord" when applied to Jehoshua doesn't mean "Jehovah" but rather it refers to the "Lord" of Psalm 110:1, which is the prophesied eschatological Davidic King:
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Jehovah is the Father and the Lord is His Son, Jehoshua. This is both a Davidic Kingship passage as well as a Father-Son passage. Remember, the name of the Father and Son is written on the forehead of the 144,000/great multitude and it's their names that are the seal of God.
To overcome the beast you must have no guile just like the 144,000/great multitude and to have no guile you must be like Nathanael and confess the present Israelite/Davidic Kingship of Jehoshua. To deny that Jehoshua presently sits on the throne of David is to deny the testimony of Jehoshua, which is the spirit of prophecy. If the mark of the beast is the opposite of the seal of God then this means the denial of this present truth (Jehoshua's Davidic Kingship) is the mark of the beast.
