What is the mark of the Beast talked about in the book of Revelation?

Bible prophecy describes a powerful leader and his government or empire as the Beast. God's people won't accept the mark of the Beast and will not be permitted to engage in commerce. What is this mark?

The mark of the Beast is associated with the number of the Beast, 666, and the name of the Beast in RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 13:17And 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.
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The following is an excerpt from the United Church of God booklet The Book of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). Unveiled :

"The second beast of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 13 will cause 'all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name' (verses 16-17).

"What's behind this strange-sounding practice? How will it affect people as the time of the end draws near?

"There is historical evidence that, in the ancient Babylonian culture, slaves 'were identified…[by] some kind of mark, either tattooed or branded on the face or the back of the hand' (H.W.H. Saggs, The Greatness That Was Babylon , 1962, p. 173). There may be parallels between this ancient practice and what God reveals will happen in the end time.

"Many have speculated as to the meaning of this puzzling prophecy. Some interpret it in terms of supercomputers, unique personal identity numbers and even microchips imbedded under the skin.

"However, we should consider that receiving a mark on the hand or forehead could well be figurative. Remember from RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 7:3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
See All... that God's servants were sealed on their foreheads. And in Deuteronomy 6 Moses told God's people to 'keep all His statutes and His commandments,' noting, 'You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes' (verses 2, 8). The hand and forehead here represent one's actions and thoughts respectively—which should be dedicated to obeying God.

"Likewise the mark of the Beast is evidently a mark of disobedience to God. Many BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. students have pointed to God's seventh-day Sabbath as an identifying sign of His people in Exodus 31:12-17 [12] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[13] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
[14] Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
[15] Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
[16] Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
[17] It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

See All... and see the mark of the Beast as running counter to it. They believe that forced observance of Sunday—a day originally dedicated to the worship of the sun as a god instead of the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath—could be involved. This view is strengthened by the fact that other prophecies in the book of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). show a great counterfeit religious figure and system will play major roles in leading people away from the true God and play into Satan's hands at this time.

"The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. does not explicitly define the specific methods that the Beast will use to identify those free to participate in commerce at the time of the end. Some sort of advanced surveillance may be involved…

"However this prophecy is fulfilled, it is clear that it will involve compromising and contradicting God's commands. Having proof that one is officially associated in some way with the Beast will be necessary for one to be allowed to engage in the commerce."