On December 20th Israel kickstarted its COVID-19 vaccination campaign and, within two weeks, has vaccinated nearly 2 million people, making it the world leader in vaccinations per capita. Not everyone sees that as a positive statistic. In fact, we have received emails from abroad and calls from worried congregation members raising concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, that it might even be the “mark of the beast” spoken of in the book of Revelation.
Whether the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and ethical, each person must decide for themselves by careful research and prayerful consideration. Careful research means do not take the word of social media posts just because it is not mainstream media. Check claims, sources, and the credentials of the people making them. Whether the COVID-19 vaccine is a candidate for being the mark of the beast is something we can get to the bottom fairly quickly. But, before addressing biblical information regarding the “mark of the beast”, I think we should take a look at where we are at this unprecedented moment in our lifetimes.
BIRTHPANGS?
If you had asked me a year ago if I thought that end time events might occur during my lifetime, my answer would have been “No”. Today I’m not so sure.
We are in the midst of the greatest global crisis since World War II. The period between the end of World War II and the outbreak of COVID-19 was the longest sustained period of growth and prosperity the world has ever known. The last fifteen years in Israel, a country which has lived through cycles of war and struggle since its founding in 1948, have been its most peaceful and prosperous ever.
Without any warning, this microscopic virus appears, and suddenly the world is on its knees. In addition to the health dangers, the pandemic’s effects on us are multifold: isolation, fear, confusion, depression. Add to that mix many hours spent at home in isolation, looking for answers in the vortex of the internet and social media, and voila`: truth becomes a fluid concept and fear nourishes far-flung ideas.
BIBLICAL TRUTH vs THE INTERNET VERSION (is the COVID-19 vaccine a candidate for the mark of the beast?)
In order to have the mark of the beast (the antichrist), the beast has to be on the scene first, right? The Bible is clear on important issues, and being able to recognize the antichrist is very important. According to Revelation 13, he is a charismatic leader who will
- miraculously survive a fatal head-wound which will cause many to worship and fear him. Rev. 13:3-4
- be given “authority over every tribe, people, language and nation” 13:7
- exercise his authority for 3 1/2 years 13:5
- be boastful and blaspheme God, heaven and the host of heaven 13:6
- will be given authority to persecute and kill the people of God. 13:7
However, the beast is not the one who makes people take his mark.
The Second Beast – the false prophet
The false prophet, according to Revelation 13:11-18, is the beast’s PR man and more who:
- forces people to worship the beast
- performs miraculous signs and wonders
- gives “life” to an image of the beast and kills those who refuse to worship it
- forces all people to take the mark of the beast to be able to “buy and sell”
What will happen to those who take the mark of the beast? Revelation 14:9-11 is abundantly clear: they will be thrown into the lake of fire.
PUTTING THE FACTS TOGETHER
Considering the specific identification that the book of Revelation gives, are there any two characters on the world stage right now exerting that type of influence and power globally? Not by any stretch of the imagination. With such important issues, God would not give us information that is highly symbolic and requires extrapolation, just like prophesies of Messiah’s first coming were specific and literal.
KNOW YOUR GOD AND USE LOGIC
God created us in His image and honored us with the freedom of choice. He is the God of life, but He gives us the freedom to choose between life and death:
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)
God would NEVER let people choose death without their knowledge, meaning: you cannot accidentally take the mark of the beast! It will be a choice, a tough choice, but a clear choice, nonetheless. Tricking people into choosing death is what satan does. Not God.
BE ALERT & OF A SOBER MIND 1 Peter 5:8
The events of this last year have proven how quickly and utterly things can change, and what those radical changes and pressures have revealed in society and, more importantly, in the Church, is distressing. In the attempt to grapple with these challenging times, some have fallen down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out who is the wizard behind the curtain pulling the strings on the “new world order”. The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to “command certain people not to…devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” because they “promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.” (I Timothy 1:3-4)
One of the main “signs of the times” is the deception of believers and the great falling away. (Matthew 24:24-25) Spending more time in His Word and in His presence, being connected to a local body of believers is how to keep from being deceived, not by spending hours on end on the internet trying to figure out the next move of the kingdoms of this age.
Despite some troubling trends that have come to light in the Body of Messiah this past year, I am also filled with great hope because I know that God is showing us, in His great mercy, the things in us that hinder His love. I have also seen many believers clinging to Him and His truth more than ever, despite many challenges. God is preparing the Bride to be able to endure and be light in the darkest hour of history, to be a vessel of love, hope and mercy to a lost and dying world. And that is something to be excited about.
by Tamar Afriat
Leandro says:
Hi, i would like to ask some Questions about the 1st Beast of revelation and the 2nd beast as well, who will given them authority to Exercise their authority and execute. Their powers even to the Christians?
Thank you so much in advance for a kind response. God bless you and your ministry.
In Yeshua’s name shalom
Leandro
Chris says:
This vaccine may or may not be the mark, but it is certainly leading us there. You can see the writing on the wall now, people are going to need a “mark” or vaccine passport to travel, be allowed to do certain things. This is social engineering at its best, and NO one should ever take a vaccine when aborted fetal cells, animal and bug DNA are used, not to mention thimerosal, aluminum, formaldehyde and other insidious ingredients per the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf). Plus, NO “man” can ever improve upon what G-d gave us, our immune system. And why anyone would take a vaccine that is meant to reprogram our genetic using mRNA is beyond me; and once taken, you can NEVER undo it.
Pieter van Staden says:
I received Jesus’ forgiveness 50 years ago and have served him ever since. I have come to know his character from hearing/reading his words and doing his will together with likeminded believers. He is not the kind of person who would allow his children to be tricked into accepting a vaccine that would send them to hell. Those who are super scared to make honest mistakes and thereby offend their Maker are like the Pharisees who concentrated all day on keeping 613 laws.
Yeshua says:
It is not Vaccine, so dont call it one. It is a pathogenoc delivery system that will alter ones DNA.
Diane says:
Well done! Thank you for these wonderful insights and direction. It is comforting to know in view of the riots in DC of late that biblical truth is being spoken.
Arionna Barajas says:
I don’t believe that this could be the mark of the beast but I do believe it is worth mentioning to believers to look into the ingredients in these vaccines. Most, if not all, were either grown or tested in aborted baby’s cells. I don’t believe our God would want us to have anything to do with them.
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
(Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19
(Also, this doesn’t just apply to the covid vaccine…there are many others that are produced using these same methods).
Standing wife says:
I don’t believe this is the mark of the beast, but I do believe this is the enemy’s way of grooming people to accept it. There are many things in today’s times that are part of this evil plot.
Yeshua’s Own will be gone when the mark is implemented, yet there are elements of the mark being proposed for/in this vaccine: the tracers , the special “dye” (for want of a better word “) visible with an iPhone app., being able to travel ONLY if you can prove you’ve been vaccinated—all these are grooming tactics of the enemy.
MARANATHA!
Laura Salgado says:
Great word and explanation. Thank you. Brings much clarity and peace.
Cheryl says:
My heart aches over the vaccine “magic” that everyone seems to be dancing over. Because of things in our family, dealing with what can only be called “vaccine injury” I became a helicopter mom & grandma concerning the issues of vaccinating and calling it “the answer.” In my researching, the babies that have been unjustly and conveniently aborted are still present in the research, testing and development of vaccines, including the majority of the Covid-19 vaccines. Some of them even use the babies cell lines in the production of the vaccine itself. Due to this research and as a result, heartbreak as these things began to show in the background information, I have to encourage people to not take the vaccine. With so many doctors on the frontline using therapies and recording success after success after success, it is painful to see them ignored in their success defeating CV-19 in their patients, some even bringing therapies that prevent those exposed from getting ill (contact tracing individuals who have been exposed to a sick CV-19 person). These therapies have been so much less costly than the vaccine, and it hurts to see how the whole world was put on hold and billions of dollars pumped into the vaccine, when we already had answers from doctors on the ground treating the ill. Lord forgive us. The one thing that is evident: this virus and vaccine certainly line the pockets of those intending to get rich off of it. Lord, forgive us.
Barbara says:
Thank you very much for this clear article. It also helps to understand that the Greek “anti” (as in antichrist) does not only mean “against”, but also “instead of”. So the antichrist could well not be someone fighting the Messiah, but someone posing as a (false!) Messiah.
VL says:
Dear Tamar,
Thank you for sharing, it’s very encouraging. Your article reminded us to be alert and to be of a sober mind.
Yes indeed, we are in this world but we are not of this world.
May God’s Spirit help us in not allowing the cares of this world to cloud us. Amen.
I want to praise and thank Him, our wonderful Abba Father.
Lorene says:
Thank you!
Yeshua says:
1. Not a virus
2.. Not a Vaccine
Anonymous says:
I don’t believe getting the vaccine is a renouncement of one’s faith in Jesus Christ. I think saying someone has rejected Christ for getting the vaccine undermines the saving grace of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. If the power and grace of Jesus’ blood isn’t strong enough to cover those who choose to get the vaccine, then he is a shallow and boxable God who doesn’t align with the almighty, all powerful God who sent his son to die for us. We are not being asked to curse God or chant Biden is lord before getting the vaccine. They’re not asking us to choose Jesus or the vaccine. I could go on, but I just don’t think this is the Mark because I think it would be way more obvious.
cloria says:
Thank you this is real truth