Loving Caesar

The Inhabitants of the Earth willingly venerate the Beast and take its mark, although believers also are not immune from its allurements.

Discussions on the “Mark of the Beast” invariably focus on questions about what it is - a medical implant, barcode, or a tattoo – as well as the significance of its “number,” ‘666.’ As important as these questions are, far more critical is the issue of how we as believers can avoid taking the Beast’s mark or its “number.”

We tend to see the “False Prophet” and the “Beast from the Earth” busily compelling everyone to take the Beast’s mark, with economic pressure, threats of imprisonment, or worse. It seems men will have no choice but to take the “mark” or suffer deadly consequences. Submit or starve!

[Seal USA - Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash]

Almost certainly, when the “Beast from the Sea” does appear, his reign will include the employment of coercion. However, the Book of Revelation does not free individuals from responsibility for giving allegiance to it.

When the Beast arrives on the scene, the “False Prophet” causes the “Inhabitants of the Earth” to take its “mark,” and he deceives men so that they erect an image in homage to the “Beast from the Sea” - (Revelation 13:11-18).

The last statement indicates that this “Mark” will be promoted if not imposed by the “False Prophet, the Beast from the Earth,” and he will do so on both the willing and the unwilling. However, that is not the complete story.

The “False Prophet” certainly puts things in motion, but the recipients of the “Mark” or “number” of the first Beast are consciously involved – “taking” its “Mark” is part and parcel of “rendering homage to the Beast.”

The “False Prophet” may use deceit and threats when needed, nonetheless, the “Inhabitants of the Earth” are willing participants in this idolatrous endeavor.

In the series of “Seven Bowls of Wrath,” the First Bowl causes “a painful ulcer upon those who have the Mark of the Beast and those who pay homage to its image.” The English terms “have” and “render homage” represent present tense Greek participles in the active voice, that is, the subject is performing the action.

And so, the “Inhabitants of the Earth” actively engage in taking the “Mark” and erecting the Beast’s image. They embrace the “Beast from the Sea” and the system it represents of their own free will. They take its “mark” willingly. This is why the “Inhabitants of the Earth” suffer the plagues unleashed by the “Seven Bowls of Wrath.” They have brought this punishment upon themselves:

• “And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go! Pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God onto the earth. And the first went, and poured out his bowl onto the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men who had the mark of the Beast, and who worshipped his image”- (Revelation 16:1-2).

In the vision of the “Rider on a White Horse,” the “Beast” and the “False Prophet” are cast alive into the “Lake of Fire” because they “deceived those who took the mark of the Beast.” Once again, an active voice participle is used. “Having taken” or ‘lambanō’ in the clause means to “take,” “receive,” and even to “welcome” the “mark” or “number” of the “Beast from the Sea” - (Revelation 19:17-21).

WE MUST CHOOSE

Finally, those who reign with Jesus for the “thousand years” do so because “they did not render homage to the Beast,” and they “did not take its mark.” Once again, active voice verbs are used, in this case, for actions not taken by the followers of the “Lamb.” The saints who persevere through persecution and tribulation do so by not compromising their allegiance to the “Lamb.”

The decision of overcoming saints to reject the “Beast” and its enticements is contrasted with that of the “Inhabitants of the Earth” who chose to give their allegiance and worship to the “Beast from the Sea” - (Revelation 20:4-6).

When the “Beast” ascends from the sea or “Abyss,” believers and non-believers alike must choose whether to embrace the Beast or not. Every man will be held responsible for his own decision - Whether he decides to submit to the “Beast” or to follow the “Lamb wherever he goes” – Christ or Caesar.

Christ’s disciples must exercise extreme caution before blindly embracing the societal values of the existing world order or submitting to the demands of the political order, especially when doing so compromises their loyalty and commitment to Jesus of Nazareth, the “Slain Lamb.”

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SEE ALSO:

• Empires Rise and Fall - (Imperial arrogance is the legacy of the Tower of Babel, humanity’s first but certainly not last attempt to establish the World Empire)

• Paul on the State - (Paul instructed believers living in the Roman Empire not to resist the government since its existence and authority were arranged by God – Romans 13:1-8)

• Servant or Caesar? - (Jesus rejected Satan’s offer of unlimited political power and instead chose the way of the Suffering Servant - Matthew 4:8-11)

• Golgotha or Rome - (Jesus refused the political power of Rome when Satan offered it. So, why do we insist on seeking the very thing our Master rejected?)