Revelation 13:16 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: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The mark of the beast here mentioned of refers to man's attempts to live independently of God, by instituting laws and systems that are contrary to His revealed will. The word "Cause" is used to denote the stringent religious and economic measures that will be put in place, so that any one who wishes to continue doing business or commerce on this earth will have to subscribe to the mark of the beast in order to do so. Those who by the grace of God refuse such a violation of our religious freedom will have our economic privileges permanently revoked, in that we will not be able to buy or sell anything as the book of Revelation clearly states.
There are three main aspects of our existence which are referred to in the scriptures as being necessary for us to be a complete whole, and these three areas are balanced and fine tuned when we give our lives to The Lord Jesus Christ. Let's read:
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Prosperity in the material world is something that was originally ordained by God Himself, for it was not His will that mankind should become stagnant or retrogressive, and that is why the first command given to the human family was to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. Let's read:
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
But it was also the will of God that man should prosper spiritually too, for if one is only prosperous in the material things of this earth, then a very serious imbalance is created, and if not corrected by the grace of God, will cause a person to lose all material prosperity, and even one's soul. This sacred truth was referred to in the parable of the rich man who had stored all of his goods so that he could live in ease for the rest of his life. Let's read:
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
The third aspect of our existence has to do with our health, which is essential to enjoying any material and spiritual prosperity which may be ours, for if we are gravely sick and bedridden, we cannot enjoy as we would like to, the spiritual and temporal prosperity that God gives, even though it is quite possible to remain true and faithful under such circumstances. A case in point is Job, who remained faithful and true to God when his health and wealth were removed from him. However, if we were to ask Job personally, he would tell us that he would have much more preferred to have his health restored so that the spiritual and material blessings of life could be enjoyed.
The mark of the beast therefore will seek to control these three main areas of our existence, by first enforcing religious dogmas that are in harmony with satanic principles and erroneous forms of worship. It will also have a negative effect on our commerce, in that our economic privileges will be removed so that we could not continue to prosper materially. And finally, the health-care system that will be made available to the subscribers of the beast system, will be withdrawn from the faithful followers of Jesus, for we will not be able to access health-care, when our economic privileges have been revoked. Hence the reason why the word "Cause" is used in Revelation, for the antichrist will "Cause" most of the inhabitants of earth to adopt it's system of independent existence apart from God.
The only solution to this problem when it occurs will be a steadfast adherence to all of the commandments of God, because those difficult days will require faith and obedience to God and God alone, so that His power can be exercised in behalf of those who choose the good over evil. At this troublous time Christ will stand up for the protection and sustenance of His people, and if we are faithful during this period of earth's history, we will experience first-hand, and see with our own two eyes, the miraculous power of God displayed for the well-being of His true Children. That's the reason why we are never to live in fear of what man may do, for The Eternal God is our refuge, and He will soon bring all of satan's devices and man-made schemes to nought.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to lean on the everlasting arms, instead of placing our confidence in the man-made systems of earth that are soon to perish. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. 26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
May The Lord cause us to understand the meaning of these things, and may we live in readiness always, for the time is at hand. God bless!