Are COVID-19 Vaccines the Mark of the Beast?
A reader recently emailed me and asked if I believe the COVID-19 vaccines are the mark of the beast. I figured others may wonder about this (not about what I think, but about whether the vaccines are the mark), so I thought I’d publish my response. Here it is.
I don’t believe the vaccines are the mark of the beast, for the following reasons. In the narrative of Revelation, the mark is first referenced (in Rev. 13:16) in relation to the Second Beast. The Second Beast does the bidding of the First Beast and makes everyone get the mark. But this happens only after both of the beasts have been revealed, and I think it’s safe to say that that hasn’t happened yet. For example, there is not yet a one-world religion and government (13:3-4), and the saints have not yet been conquered (13:7).
If these vaccine mandates get to the point where no one can buy or sell anything without having had the vaccine, I would certainly see the similarity (13:17). But even then, in order to be the mark of the beast, it seems those other things would have to happen first, and the prohibition against buying and selling would have to be a worldwide law under a worldwide government.
I’m more tendentious to see these modern events as fulfillment of Jesus’ saying in Matthew 24:8, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Birth pains come in waves, which get closer together and more intense. In the past century we saw some terrible, world-shaking events (the world wars, and everything related to them). Now we’ve had another terrible, world-shaking event in the form of COVID-19 and different governments’ responses to it. And with the way the culture is going, this may only be the beginning of our troubles; we (Christians in particular, but others as well) may experience great hardships in the years to come. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the end is upon us. It may simply mean that the world is having a contraction, if you will.*
However, at least one thing about our present situation is definitely like Revelation 13: the apostle John writes “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Rev 13:10). Regardless of where we are in relation to end times, we are definitely being called to stand firm right now.
I find solace in Jesus’ words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). ◾️
By the way, if you or someone you know needs help writing a COVID-19 religious exemption request letter, check out this post.
NOTE:
*In fact, the end may still be many years off—potentially centuries. I’m not making a prophecy, just relating a possibility. I hope it’s much closer! But one reason for thinking that the end may not exactly be immanent is that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 teaches Christ will only return after “the man of lawlessness” has been revealed, and that that man will sit in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. It seems from this that the temple of God in Jerusalem will have to be rebuilt first; presently, there sits a Muslim mosque in its place, the Dome of the Rock, so some major changes would have to happen before that verse is fulfilled. Those changes could happen quickly, if God so desired, but still, it’s something to keep in consideration. In addition, Jesus said that before He returns, the gospel would be proclaimed to all nations (Mark 13:10), which also hasn’t happened yet—although we’re working on it!
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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.