"And He will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free or bond, to receive a mark in(on) their right hand or in(on) their forehead; that no man might buy or sell, save he who has the mark, (OR) the name of the beast, OR the number of his name. Here is wisdom, count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore, and six." Rev. 13:15-18 (As translated by the King James people circa 1611 AD.)
This is, by no doubt, one of the most important topics in the Book or Revelations, or even the entire Bible for that matter. But how many take a really close, in depth, look at this scripture? Your eternal life may depend upon your understanding of these verses. So, take some time and do some research and thinking about this MARK OF THE BEAST.
Over the centuries since John penned the book of Revelation, men have tried to figure out what is and is not the mark of the beast. It does not have to be the number 666. It is NOT accepting Sunday as the Sabbath; it is NOT the works of your hands; and it is NOT something you will die, physically, for because you refused to take it! Nevertheless, it is very important, because it is one of the few things, which is not so obvious, that could cause you to lose your salvation in Jesus the Christ (Rev. 14:9-11), and hence, die spiritually the second death.(Rev.20:14) This mark will have to fit the definition as given by John, as it is only mentioned in the book of Revelation. It will be something to allow you to buy and sell , and will be put in, or on, your right hand or forehead.
I say it is "on" or "in" your hand, for a good reason. The translators of all most all present day Bibles have translated here the Greek word "epi" as "in." This word is most always translated in the Bibles as the English "on." But for some reason here, in Revelations, it is translated as "in", twice. It means to be upon something or on it. Why use the word "in"? That word "in" in Greek is usually, and most always, "en." It is important. Will it be on or in your hand? It could be one or the other, but I think "on" is a more correct translation and understanding.
It is, therefore, an economic device or some permit to allow you to buy and sell, and it may or may not have something to do with the number 666. Also, note in verse 17, that it will occur during a time period when many people will have to have one of three (or two) things, not just one, to buy and sell with: the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of the name of the beast. One, two or three things to buy and sell with? This means you will probably NOT HAVE TO have the mark to buy and sell with. You will have an option to take it and use it. How drastic this option is, is yet to be seen, but most will not die an instant death for refusing to take it.
Here is another way to translate those two verses: "And causes by all means the least and the great and the poor and the rich and the free and the slave, so that to offer (or give) to them a mark upon the hand the right (or correct) or upon the foreheads of them and that not any could buy or sell except he having the mark _ the name of the beast or the number of the name of it."
Notice, that the phrase "by all means" replaces the "all" in the King James version. (The usual Greek word for all is "pas.") This gives a different meaning to the verse. The accepted Greek word there is "pantos." This is not a noun! as the King James translation uses, but rather is an adverb and modified the verb causes. This gives a different meaning to the verse. That being that not ALL people everywhere will have to take this mark, but could rather be most of the world or most of a certain region of the world. This implication would allow it to take place in a much shorter time and could be a regional or continental issue. That is a big change in meaning from the King James.
Also, please notice the "or" in parentheses in the prophecy above. The second "or" of that sentence. This is because the King James translators put that second "or" in their translation, but over 85% of the available old Greek manuscripts do not have that "or" in them. Therefore, the correct translation maybe: "no man might buy or sell, save he who has the mark the name of the beast, or the number of his name." This concept is supported by the phrase in Rev. 14:11: "whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Therefore, the mark is associated with a name of some kind. But first came in these times the number, 666, to buy and sell with.
We now have fulfillment of using the number of his name , 666, to buy and sell with. It is used around the world and you have used it many times, perhaps without even knowing; as each UPC (Universal Pricing Code) bar code , developed by IBM, and put on most products around the world uses a basic 666 system:
6IIIIIIII6IIIIIIIII6.
It is hidden slightly in the design, but it is certainly there. Just call IBM sometime and ask them how it works. The identical pair of bars that come down a little further than the rest; at the front, middle and end of the code are all 6's, as compared to these same lines above a 6 on the right side of the UPC bar. As the computer scans the code, it uses these 6's to tell it when to start and stop reading the lines between them. This allows for two numbers to be used in the bar code. Hence 666 is used at each beep of the scanner at the stores today, and is part fulfillment of Rev. 13:17! It fits the definition, and it is on all most all products for sell in our stores around the world. Hereby have wisdom.
Next, we now have candidates for the fulfillment of the name of the beast to buy and sell with. (Remember there are two beasts in the 13th chapter of Revelation.) This name might be either Lord Maitreya, Maarrduk, Europe, Rome, or some other leader out of the EU, England or some other country in the near future. (As we believe Europe is a manifestation of the first beast of Rev. 13, and Maitreya/Maarrduk is the second beast.) We now have a currency in Europe with its name, the Euro (Europe) Dollar. If someday this currency becomes the only world paper money, then it fits the prophecy, and it also fits the definition. However, the use of any of these names on a card, allowing you to buy with, could fulfill this prophecy in these times. (It is very interesting that name Europe, as spelled in Greek, counts to 660! This is important as the last symbol in Rev. 13 for 666 could be a 0, a 1 or a 6. It is also interesting that Maitreya counts to 457, but Lord Maitreya counts to 661!)
Next, the mark , we believe at this time, could likely be fulfilled by a coming computer chip implant for electronic banking that will go under the skin of the hand or forehead, if you do not have a hand. (The mark will have something to do with the name of one of the beasts, and most likely with the name of the first beast.) This chip could come out in Europe banks first, and will be marketed as useful for finding lost people, preventing theft and drug trafficking, etc. In the electronics of this chip implant can be placed the UPC bar code 666 system! It can be scanned at the store and function as a debit card does today to allow you to buy and sell. Do not take any chip/mark for any reason! Your eternal life depends upon your recognition that this fits the definition of the mark of the beast! (Update 2017: This exact chip has now been used by a company in Wisconsin, that implanted it's employees who then used it to buy things out of vending machines!) However, to be the mark a chip implant must be named after the beast or associated with his name in some way. It does not have to be a chip implant. For one thing, it goes in the hand not "on" it. It would also be very difficult to "chip" the entire population of earth in the time we have left before the Advent of Christ in the clouds.
The mark could also be a stamp on your hand or forehead. As that would go "on" your hand or forehead. Also, using the mark of his name "in" your forehead could be having to declare that you believe in this beast and use his name to proclaim it. Or carry a card with his name or organization to flash when required to do so. As such, you are declaring your worship and allegiance to this beast. Just don't do any of these things in the years ahead.
It is most likely the spiritual power of Maitreya/Maarrduk that is behind the development of this mark of the beast system. It is his mark, but it does not have to be his name. It could be the name of the first beast of chapter 13. If you take this mark, you seal your eternal fate to the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20). You also will have to go through the wrath of God on earth, the 7th trumpet. (Rev.16:2) Make no mistake about it, Here is wisdom.
To make sure it is Maitreya/Maarrduk's mark, you must count the number of the beast's name. The name of the beast must count to 666. As we have already stated in this website, Maitreya is difficult to accurately count with the numerical system of the ancient Ionic Greek system. However, it is interesting that "lord Maitreya" counts to 661! However, Maarrduk is a different matter. In Greek Maarrduk is: Mu, Alpha, Alpha, Rho, Rho, Delta, Upsilon, Kappa and each of these letter's value when added together count to exactly 666!
Just who is, or was , this Maarrduk? (See that page on this site.) Maitreya currently is the best candidate for fulfilling the prophecy of a beast of Revelation. We have identified some of the best possibilities for the beast and his mark. We have counted the number of his name, and know where that number is used today to buy and sell with. We know where a name of the first beast is used for buying and selling. YOU must do the rest! You must prepare to avoid taking the mark. You will have to work outside the coming new world order system of the mark of the beast, or some other "mark" system. The task will be difficult. However, you CAN gain victory over this mark, over this beast, over his image and over the number of his name (Rev. 15:2). Get to work and warn others!!!! Be ye so warned!!! And we don't believe at this time that a rapture will occur to allow most of us to escape this test of the Mark. Build up your faith, so that you can be ready to withstand this end times test of your faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord.
God bless your works for his Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen