Lesson Study 2 Copy

“He causes all … to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the or the of the beast, or the of his name…. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His is 666.”

Many mistakenly believe the mark of the beast is 666 tattooed either in the hand or forehead. But this is not what the Bible says. Notice the number of the beast is different than the mark. The first clue is that six hundred sixty-six is the number of the beast’s name and not his mark.

“Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth… Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth on earth.’”

Beasts in prophecy symbolize kingdoms. Even today, modern nations use animals as national symbols. The U.S.A. uses the eagle, Canada the beaver, and Great Britain the lion. God used beasts in prophecy to represent nations that would influence His people and last day events.

The second clue is that there are two beasts in Revelation 13 that represent two powerful kingdoms. It is these kingdoms that form an image and command the world to worship it or be starved and killed.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits Then a herald cried aloud: ‘To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages you shall fall down and the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.’ “

Both Daniel 3 and Revelation 13 tell of powerful kings who set up images and command the world to worship or be killed. The story in Daniel 3 is prophetic and sheds light on the mark of the beast.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of .”

Almost nine years has passed since the king first heard Daniel interpret his dream in chapter 2. It unsettled him to learn his golden kingdom would one day fall to another. A Babylonian clay tablet, now in the British Museum (B.M 21946), reports the king’s army attempted a serious mutiny in December 594, the tenth year of his reign and the same year Daniel chapter 3 takes place. This attempted coup likely triggered the king to set up the image. Was he telling his subjects his golden kingdom would not fall? Perhaps he hoped to expose other rebels. Either way, Nebuchadnezzar declares in his golden image that he will endure forever—from the head to the toe!

It is prophetically significant that Nebuchadnezzar takes a symbol God used to teach truth in Daniel 2 and alters it to teach a lie. Instead of accurately revealing the future, the golden image now teaches the king’s lie that Babylon is eternal. The third clue to identify the mark is that the mark of the beast has something to do with taking a truth of God and slightly altering it so that it becomes a counterfeit form of worship.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was cubits and its width cubits.”

The golden image is intentionally built 60 Babylonian cubits high and 6 cubits wide (90 feet by 9 feet). The Babylonians had an advanced mathematical system based on the number 60. They divided time by sixty seconds to a minute and sixty minutes to an hour. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign they divided a circle into 360 degrees—another multiple of six. This led them to believe the number six had religious and mystical properties. Anu, their leading god, was assigned the number 60. 666 can be traced to ancient pagan worship. The fourth clue is that the triple six indicates the mark of the beast is connected to pagan worship.

“ the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image.”

When the band sounded the music, all the people dutifully bowed to their knees before the image. That is, everyone except Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The fifth clue is that the mark involves all the world in this false worship.

“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego didn’t need to pray about whether they should bow before the image. They understood the second commandment forbade it. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image … you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4-6). They would not compromise their faith in God even if it meant their death. In like manner, the beast kingdom of Revelation 13 will pass laws to force people to worship in ways contrary to God’s commandments. God’s people in the last days are known for their faithful loyalty like these three Hebrews. They “keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 14:12). The sixth clue is that this counterfeit worship contradicts God’s law. Whenever we find man’s law conflicts with God’s law, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). It is far better to suffer the temporary judgment of man, than to experience the eternal judgment of God.

“And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and them into the burning fiery furnace.”

The king is furious. He has God’s loyal servants arrested and bound as if they are a violent threat to society. This is how Satan always works. He vilifies God’s obedient people. While the Hebrews wait for the furnace to be heated, they have time to reconsider. But no matter how the tempter seeks to get them to compromise, they refuse. This is the way it is with those who truly trust God. Jesus wouldn’t compromise on the cross. Neither would the disciples when they were given the choice to stop professing Christ or die. God’s people will not compromise. They love God too much to be disloyal. The seventh clue, therefore, is that while many compromise true worship, a faithful few are loyal to God.

“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not , and the form of the fourth is like the of God.”

While the intense fire kills the soldiers who cast the Hebrews into the furnace, it does not kill the three Hebrews. The eighth clue—the Son of God comes down from heaven with deliverance!

The reason people often compromise is they are afraid of the threats, ridicule, and punishment that may come from others. What we really need to remember is that we come closest to Jesus when we are faithful. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were blessed to talk with Jesus in the furnace. The ninth clue—God’s end-time people have a special unique relationship to Jesus.

“Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him.’”

Even the king himself and thousands of his subjects were privileged to see an incredible example of God’s love and power. This opportunity would have been lost had these three men failed the test of their faith.

“Then the king Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”

This is the tenth and final clue—God promotes those who honor Him. It may not always happen so quickly as this, but remember, His promise is more dependable than Nebuchadnezzar’s fire!

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