As already said, those who do not accept the mark of the beast will go through a time of persecution. Religiously there will be a forcing to recognise this antichrist system. Economically they will be boycotted who don’t agree with the world trade system at that time. Whosoever does not co-operate with these two powers, the religious and the economical, will be boycotted from the world commerce. Thus we read in Rev. 13: 17, “…and that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Please notice, it does speak about two things, buying and selling. This is very important. It does not only concern the housewife who goes to shop groceries, but also the businessmen who buy and sell and who are also involved in the international trade. It is very clear and obvious to anyone who wishes to see this: the whole business world will have to submit to the Roman Treaty. Those who truly believe and stand on God’s Word, will have a very tough time, whether the buying or the selling is concerned.

As we have seen, there are three main things which we need to understand and watch, of which the Scriptures speaks concerning the last days: the mark, the name, and the number of the beast. As we already stated, the mark of the beast is nothing that can be seen outwardly. So also, the name of the beast and the number of his name cannot be seen at the outside. These things are mentioned and they wind up in the same system. In Rev. 13: 18 we are informed about this matter, “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.”

Now we are coming a little closer to the matter. The number of the beast should be counted, that means it should be figured out. Before we can start doing this, we must know where this religious person is, which is being represented in the beast. It is noteworthy that this man is being identified as a beast. It is the same mysterious man of whom Paul was writing.

Nobody needs to be in darkness about this or guess any longer. The total description and also the counting of the number only applies to one person. Only one has the Latin description which comes to exactly 666. This does not mean that anyone who has the Arabic number 666, has automatically the sign of the antichrist system. Some say, it’s the computer which has this number, some refer to technical inventions, but such presumptions have no biblical foundation. It states very clearly that it is the number of one man which should be counted, that means figured out. Therefore it cannot simply be the number 666. It has to be the counting of the letters making up this number. The Holy Scripture has put it so clearly that one cannot miss it.

Every explanation and interpretation which does not coincide with the Word of God has no foundation. People are being led astray because of various interpretations. Sometimes they almost get panic, because they are afraid that the antichrist system would be the world monitory system which would have the code number 666. Such things have nothing to do with what we are dealing about here in the Book of Revelation.

Also absurd it is to say that if the number 666 is on credit cards, code numbers or some articles that you can buy or telephone numbers or letter heads or even licence plates it would be the Antichrist. Such things have nothing to do with the antichrist and the number which is counted from his title. Some say there is a computer in New York, others say there is one in Brussels, which has the number 666. What a deception, what a misleading and diversion from the real object! A computer is a computer, and a credit card is a credit card. The world monitory system, the world bank and so forth are necessary for the trade to be done internationally.

Also the theory that the mark of the beast will be some kind of an identification which is going to be placed upon the forehead with laser and many others just spring up from the fantasy of man. All who teach and believe such theories have no light from God about the subject. Whosoever writes them, believes them and spreads them around to others does not realise that this is the most cunning trick of Satan to draw away from the real thing which matters. It only can be, because people did not comprehend that the Scripture does not only speak about three “sixes”, but about the sum and the result of the official title of the person concerned.

We have to take seriously what the Scripture says, “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man…” We cannot only childishly repeat 666, we must count and know by the title what the actual number is. The counting then is as follows:

VICA RIVS FILII DEI

5 + 1 + 100 + . . 1 +5.+. 1 + 50 +1 + 1 +500.+1  =  666

Most of the Bible teachers do go wrong and make a big mistake in their thinking. They speak about antichrist governments and movements when they think about non-Christian countries or systems, politically or religiously speaking, for instance, socialism, communism, atheism, Buddhism, Islam and others. Certainly there are religions and also governments who do not embrace Christianity, but that has nothing to do with the Antichrist that the Bible speaks about.

We have to acknowledge and comprehend once for all that the antichrist spirit was already working right at the beginning of the New Testament church, where nobody knew about the Islam or atheism, communism, etc. We also must be aware of the fact that in the days of the apostles heathen religions and idolatry were being practised. But no man of God has ever pointed out those things as though the Antichrist would come from there; in the contrary, John writes with all clarity that the antichrist movement comes from within Christianity, “They went out from us…” (I John 2: 19).

We have to find that system which is within Christianity, but with its practise and doctrines it is contrary to Christ. We must understand, it is the man who claims to be someone instead of Christ here on earth, who does act in His stead. At the same time, He does not lead people to Christ. He doesn’t preach Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and the grace which was bestowed upon us, as Peter, Paul and all of God’s men did. In the contrary, he has many other things of his own by which he tries to impart salvation to his followers. He draws the attention of all towards him and to the institution he represents. Those who believe him are bound to his personality and his doctrine, but not to Christ and the scriptural doctrines and practises.

At the end, there will be only two groups: one will have the seal of God, the others will have the mark of the beast. The true believers are being sealed from above by the Holy Spirit, as it is written, “…in whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1: 13). If someone rejects the Word of Truth, the full gospel of Jesus Christ, he can never be sealed by the Holy Spirit. In that case he resists the Spirit of God. Such people can only believe the lies and the wrong teachings, and finally they receive the mark of the beast, which is the same sign of the antichrist system.

Paul elaborates on the importance of being sealed by the Holy Spirit in Eph. 4: 30, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” When writing to the believers in the church of Corinth, the apostle makes the following statement, “Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (II Cor. 1: 21–22). The seal of God one truly receives through the Holy Spirit is a direct supernatural experience as it is recorded many times in the New Testament church at the beginning (Acts 2: 1–4; 8: 15–17, 10: 44–48; 19: 5–6). By this divine experience, God testifies of having received that individual as His own son or daughter. This is not a religious ceremony, nor something that any man can do, but it’s a divine experience and confirmation that God has received us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Nobody can seriously believe that people will carry some inscription visibly on their foreheads. No, they simply will bow to the system and go along with it, and thereby automatically receive the mark of the antichrist system, just as those who truly follow Christ receive His Spirit and also His seal, which is not visible at all.

If somebody truly follows the Lord, he or she will not remain in darkness concerning this point. The Holy Spirit gives light, and the time is here to understand these things. Many who are honest are still in darkness, because they are misled and have the wrong teaching about the antichrist system, not realising, that when they are a part of a church belonging to the World Council of Churches, they are automatically a part of that system. Such people even listen to the self-styled teachers who try to explain something about the Antichrist. They try to find him in Syria, in Libya and many other countries, including Israel. It shows that their mind is working and not the Holy Spirit revealing the matter.

If we don’t have illumination from above, we might think to be wise in ourselves but go wrong and lead others astray. We might think that we have given a big impression upon those who listen to us. But what about the Truth? Those who make claims without knowing the Truth, should stop fooling at least God’s people. May through this exposition the Spirit of God lead all into the Holy Scriptures and show forth that all things must be in harmony with it, and finally we see who the beast is. We understand about the mark of the beast, the number of the beast, the name and so forth.

As already said, those who do not accept the mark of the beast will go through a time of persecution. Religiously there will be a forcing to recognise this antichrist system. Economically they will be boycotted who don’t agree with the world trade system at that time. Whosoever does not co-operate with these two powers, the religious and the economical, will be boycotted from the world commerce. Thus we read in Rev. 13: 17, “…and that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Please notice, it does speak about two things, buying and selling. This is very important. It does not only concern the housewife who goes to shop groceries, but also the businessmen who buy and sell and who are also involved in the international trade. It is very clear and obvious to anyone who wishes to see this: the whole business world will have to submit to the Roman Treaty. Those who truly believe and stand on God’s Word, will have a very tough time, whether the buying or the selling is concerned.

As we have seen, there are three main things which we need to understand and watch, of which the Scriptures speaks concerning the last days: the mark, the name, and the number of the beast. As we already stated, the mark of the beast is nothing that can be seen outwardly. So also, the name of the beast and the number of his name cannot be seen at the outside. These things are mentioned and they wind up in the same system. In Rev. 13: 18 we are informed about this matter, “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.”

Now we are coming a little closer to the matter. The number of the beast should be counted, that means it should be figured out. Before we can start doing this, we must know where this religious person is, which is being represented in the beast. It is noteworthy that this man is being identified as a beast. It is the same mysterious man of whom Paul was writing.

Nobody needs to be in darkness about this or guess any longer. The total description and also the counting of the number only applies to one person. Only one has the Latin description which comes to exactly 666. This does not mean that anyone who has the Arabic number 666, has automatically the sign of the antichrist system. Some say, it’s the computer which has this number, some refer to technical inventions, but such presumptions have no biblical foundation. It states very clearly that it is the number of one man which should be counted, that means figured out. Therefore it cannot simply be the number 666. It has to be the counting of the letters making up this number. The Holy Scripture has put it so clearly that one cannot miss it.

Every explanation and interpretation which does not coincide with the Word of God has no foundation. People are being led astray because of various interpretations. Sometimes they almost get panic, because they are afraid that the antichrist system would be the world monitory system which would have the code number 666. Such things have nothing to do with what we are dealing about here in the Book of Revelation.

Also absurd it is to say that if the number 666 is on credit cards, code numbers or some articles that you can buy or telephone numbers or letter heads or even licence plates it would be the Antichrist. Such things have nothing to do with the antichrist and the number which is counted from his title. Some say there is a computer in New York, others say there is one in Brussels, which has the number 666. What a deception, what a misleading and diversion from the real object! A computer is a computer, and a credit card is a credit card. The world monitory system, the world bank and so forth are necessary for the trade to be done internationally.

Also the theory that the mark of the beast will be some kind of an identification which is going to be placed upon the forehead with laser and many others just spring up from the fantasy of man. All who teach and believe such theories have no light from God about the subject. Whosoever writes them, believes them and spreads them around to others does not realise that this is the most cunning trick of Satan to draw away from the real thing which matters. It only can be, because people did not comprehend that the Scripture does not only speak about three “sixes”, but about the sum and the result of the official title of the person concerned.

We have to take seriously what the Scripture says, “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man…” We cannot only childishly repeat 666, we must count and know by the title what the actual number is. The counting then is as follows:

V    I    C    A   R    I    V    S       F    I    L    I    I       D    E    I

5 + 1 + 100 + .   .     1 +  5    .  +    .   1 + 50 +1 + 1 +  500  .  +  1  =  666

Most of the Bible teachers do go wrong and make a big mistake in their thinking. They speak about antichrist governments and movements when they think about non-Christian countries or systems, politically or religiously speaking, for instance, socialism, communism, atheism, Buddhism, Islam and others. Certainly there are religions and also governments who do not embrace Christianity, but that has nothing to do with the Antichrist that the Bible speaks about.

We have to acknowledge and comprehend once for all that the antichrist spirit was already working right at the beginning of the New Testament church, where nobody knew about the Islam or atheism, communism, etc. We also must be aware of the fact that in the days of the apostles heathen religions and idolatry were being practised. But no man of God has ever pointed out those things as though the Antichrist would come from there; in the contrary, John writes with all clarity that the antichrist movement comes from within Christianity, “They went out from us…” (I John 2: 19).

We have to find that system which is within Christianity, but with its practise and doctrines it is contrary to Christ. We must understand, it is the man who claims to be someone instead of Christ here on earth, who does act in His stead. At the same time, He does not lead people to Christ. He doesn’t preach Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and the grace which was bestowed upon us, as Peter, Paul and all of God’s men did. In the contrary, he has many other things of his own by which he tries to impart salvation to his followers. He draws the attention of all towards him and to the institution he represents. Those who believe him are bound to his personality and his doctrine, but not to Christ and the scriptural doctrines and practises.

At the end, there will be only two groups: one will have the seal of God, the others will have the mark of the beast. The true believers are being sealed from above by the Holy Spirit, as it is written, “…in whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1: 13). If someone rejects the Word of Truth, the full gospel of Jesus Christ, he can never be sealed by the Holy Spirit. In that case he resists the Spirit of God. Such people can only believe the lies and the wrong teachings, and finally they receive the mark of the beast, which is the same sign of the antichrist system.

Paul elaborates on the importance of being sealed by the Holy Spirit in Eph. 4: 30, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” When writing to the believers in the church of Corinth, the apostle makes the following statement, “Now he who establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (II Cor. 1: 21–22). The seal of God one truly receives through the Holy Spirit is a direct supernatural experience as it is recorded many times in the New Testament church at the beginning (Acts 2: 1–4; 8: 15–17, 10: 44–48; 19: 5–6). By this divine experience, God testifies of having received that individual as His own son or daughter. This is not a religious ceremony, nor something that any man can do, but it’s a divine experience and confirmation that God has received us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Nobody can seriously believe that people will carry some inscription visibly on their foreheads. No, they simply will bow to the system and go along with it, and thereby automatically receive the mark of the antichrist system, just as those who truly follow Christ receive His Spirit and also His seal, which is not visible at all.

If somebody truly follows the Lord, he or she will not remain in darkness concerning this point. The Holy Spirit gives light, and the time is here to understand these things. Many who are honest are still in darkness, because they are misled and have the wrong teaching about the antichrist system, not realising, that when they are a part of a church belonging to the World Council of Churches, they are automatically a part of that system. Such people even listen to the self-styled teachers who try to explain something about the Antichrist. They try to find him in Syria, in Libya and many other countries, including Israel. It shows that their mind is working and not the Holy Spirit revealing the matter.

If we don’t have illumination from above, we might think to be wise in ourselves but go wrong and lead others astray. We might think that we have given a big impression upon those who listen to us. But what about the Truth? Those who make claims without knowing the Truth, should stop fooling at least God’s people. May through this exposition the Spirit of God lead all into the Holy Scriptures and show forth that all things must be in harmony with it, and finally we see who the beast is. We understand about the mark of the beast, the number of the beast, the name and so forth.