The Greek of "The Mark"

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 Ancient Greek is one of the most difficult languages to use and understand in English, but that is what we have to work with when it comes to the New Testament. This is of even greater importance when one tries to understand just what is and what is not the possibilities of the Mark of the Beast of Rev. 13:16. Because we feel, as Christians, that this is one of the most important concepts of prophecy, we need to delve into this topic a little more.   

Remember the verse:   "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor,  free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name." - King James Version, circa 1611 AD There has always been, and yet still is, much debate about what this means and even what is the correct translation of the Ionic Greek. 

One of the more important words in this King James Version is the underscored "receive."  Let's examine this word. The  Greek word used here in most versions is "dose."  It is given the Strong's Concordance number 1325. This is a tense of the prime verb  "didomi", which has various meanings: to give, to bring forth, offer, receive, take, suffer, yield,  etc. It is more often used to mean to give than to receive.   This has lead some to believe that you will "give" a mark of yourself to buy with, instead of receiving a mark from someone else.  (Suggested things like your thumb print of your right hand or the marks of your retina in the back of your eye;  just to name a few.)

 I do believe that the better translation in this verse is the "to give" sense of the verb.  However, when looked at closely in the sentence of it's use, the idea remains "to receive" the mark. For example in the Interlinear Bible, the word by word translation of this verse is:  "And it (the beast) makes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, that it may  give to them a mark on the hand of them the right or on the foreheads of them.." This more literal translation gives a better understanding of the verse.  Moreover, even I, myself, would translate it:    "And it makes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, so that to give to them a mark upon the hand of them the right or upon the foreheads of them."   

This says to me that it can not be something that is on or in your body already.  I do NOT believe that Satan or his beast could put one of his marks upon your physical body (prints, lines, iris, retina, etc.) , unless you are his child to begin with! Since this mark applies to "all", and not all are his children, it can not stand the test of what is the mark. Most all men have thumb prints. Does it only turn into the mark of the beast when you use it to identify yourself in some way?    The other important thing is that this word's (dose/didomi) meaning in this verse must agree with the rest of Revelation scripture.  

"To give" a mark of yourself does NOT agree with the rest of the scriptures that deals with the mark of the beast. There are eight verses in Revelation that contain "the mark."  Four others use the Greek word  "lambano" (number 2983) for "receive."  In these four verses this word is consistently translated "to receive." For instance:   "And the third angel followed , saying with a loud voice, ' If any man worship the beast and his image, and  receive (2983) his mark in his forehead, or in his hand...'" Rev. 14:9.  And verse 11: "..and whosoever receiveth (2983) the mark of his name."  This clearly shows that the idea to receive the mark  translation is the more correct translation in  verse 13:6, and not "to give" it.   As this is the more common use of this Greek word lamboni.  In fact, lamboni is never translated as "to give" in the new testament.  

Therefore,  it is much more reasonable to understand the more likely manner of the usage of the mark will be something that you  will take, accept, receive, or have in the near future that you will use to buy and sell with or allow you to buy and sell; not to drive with, set up bank accounts, board a plane or get a job. This could be a stamp, a  tattoo or a computer RFD chip in your right hand or forehead, if you do not have a hand, or a card with the name of the beast on it. 

DO NOT TAKE IT FOR ANY REASON!!!    This testing of your wisdom, knowledge and faith will mostl likely come about before the start of the great tribulation, the 7th Trumpet, the final plagues, or shortly after the start of the 7th trumpet time.   In fact, the first plague falls upon  " the men which had the mark of the beast..." Rev 16:2.   For the first plague will not fall upon ALL men, only those who have "received" the mark of the beast. Don't be one of those men or women!  But rather be one of those who refused:  

 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of  Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had RECEIVED his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands: and they  lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev. 20:4  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed is he who will take part in it!  Be ye so blessed.  Here is wisdom.  

PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!