This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:18).
Many Christians are expecting the mark of the beast to occupy a major part of the great tribulation. The teaching that the image and mark of the beast comes into effect at the same time, or shortly after the Antichrist proclaims himself to be God at the mid-point of the 70th week of Daniel is widespread. (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4). However, the scriptures suggest a late implementation of the mark of the beast that challenge the widely accepted mid-point position. This information does not affect the timing of the rapture or the persecution of Christians during the great tribulation, but only the time that the mark of the beast is implemented.
The mark of the beast is found in the following verses of scripture: Revelation 13:15-18, 14:9, 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20 and 20:4. The fact that the mark is not mentioned at all in the first twelve chapters of the Book of Revelation is perhaps worth noting.
Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image foreshadows the image of the beast: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. Six musical instruments summoned the people to worship the image. (Daniel 3:1-7). Antiochus IV Epiphanes (c.215-164 BC), partially fulfilled Daniel's prophecy when he erected the statue of Zeus Olympios in the temple. Antiochus holds an important key to the final abomination of desolation.
The Antichrist is "revealed" at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel:
Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image foreshadows the image of the beast: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. Six musical instruments summoned the people to worship the image. (Daniel 3:1-7). Antiochus IV Epiphanes (c.215-164 BC), partially fulfilled Daniel's prophecy when he erected the statue of Zeus Olympios in the temple. Antiochus holds an important key to the final abomination of desolation.
The Antichrist is "revealed" at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel:
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 cf. Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15).
The covenant the Antichrist makes with many at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel will be broken at the half way point. This event coincides with his self proclamation of deity.
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:27).
Certain things will happen after the Antichrist is revealed at the mid point of the week and before the mark of the beast becomes compulsory as a condition of buying and selling. As such we can safely rule out an immediate implementation of the mark at the mid point. Firstly, the second beast, the false prophet, deceives those who dwell on the earth by performing great signs. After the people are deceived by the signs, the false prophet instructs them to make an image for the beast. Those who refuse to worship the image are martyred. The third element, the mark i.e. the name of the beast or the number of its name, seems to coincide with the image of the beast. The following is a synopsis of these events rather than a specific timeline:
11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18).
Various scriptures seem to contradict the implementation of the mark of the beast at or around the mid point of the 70th week.
And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. (Daniel 12:11-12).
The length of the tribulation is 3.5 prophetic years or 1260 days (cut short). Various theories exist regarding the 1290 and the 1335 days. We know that Daniel 12 refers to the time of the end, rather than to Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus referred to the "abomination that makes desolate" (abomination of desolation), in Matthew 24:15: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).. In this verse, Jesus referred to and validated Daniel 9:27. If the "abomination of desolation" is the Antichrist as the scriptures suggest, then the later implementation of the image/mark of the beast is excluded from the stated timeline. (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. (Daniel 12:11-12).
The length of the tribulation is 3.5 prophetic years or 1260 days (cut short). Various theories exist regarding the 1290 and the 1335 days. We know that Daniel 12 refers to the time of the end, rather than to Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus referred to the "abomination that makes desolate" (abomination of desolation), in Matthew 24:15: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).. In this verse, Jesus referred to and validated Daniel 9:27. If the "abomination of desolation" is the Antichrist as the scriptures suggest, then the later implementation of the image/mark of the beast is excluded from the stated timeline. (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
The pre-wrath view places the three angels proclamations before the great tribulation is cut short, when God's wrath upon unbelievers becomes imminent. (Revelation 14:6-14). The reason for this view is that the rapture (the harvest of the earth) Revelation 14:14-16, presumes that Revelation 14:6-16 is chronological. However since Revelation 14 is parenthetical, I am unsure of the exact timing of the angels proclamations.
The first angel (Revelation 14:7) proclaims the everlasting gospel and warns of the impending wrath: the hour of his judgement has come. The second angel (Revelation 14:8) proclaims in the prophetic aorist that Babylon the great is fallen. The people of the earth are given one last opportunity to make the critical decision to turn from their sin and trust in Christ to receive His gift of everlasting life. Revelation 14:6 refers to every nation, tribe, language and people. (Matthew 24:14). In particular, the third angel warns people of the consequences of worshipping the beast and its image and taking the mark. It is unlikely that the angels would proclaim the gospel worldwide and give such dire warnings about the mark ex post facto. It seems reasonable to assume that if the mark was compulsory prior to this proclamation, the majority would have taken it rather than face the prospect of starvation. (Revelation 13:17). In other words, if the mark had been compulsory prior to the third angels proclamation, then the warning would be superfluous.
The first angel (Revelation 14:7) proclaims the everlasting gospel and warns of the impending wrath: the hour of his judgement has come. The second angel (Revelation 14:8) proclaims in the prophetic aorist that Babylon the great is fallen. The people of the earth are given one last opportunity to make the critical decision to turn from their sin and trust in Christ to receive His gift of everlasting life. Revelation 14:6 refers to every nation, tribe, language and people. (Matthew 24:14). In particular, the third angel warns people of the consequences of worshipping the beast and its image and taking the mark. It is unlikely that the angels would proclaim the gospel worldwide and give such dire warnings about the mark ex post facto. It seems reasonable to assume that if the mark was compulsory prior to this proclamation, the majority would have taken it rather than face the prospect of starvation. (Revelation 13:17). In other words, if the mark had been compulsory prior to the third angels proclamation, then the warning would be superfluous.
6Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
9And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:6-9).
Following the proclamations of the three angels there is a call for the endurance of the saints. (Revelation 14:12). This indicates a relatively short period of time before the tribulation is cut short and the wrath of God is implemented. Some will die in the Lord during this unknown, but brief period of time. (Revelation 14:13). These particular believers who die in the Lord appear to be the fifth seal martyrs. The fifth seal is a critical marker that refers to the fifth seal martyrs:
9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:9-11).
Those who take the mark of the beast will not be saved. (Revelation 14:10-11 cf. Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel 7:14, Daniel 7:26-27; Revelation 11:15). The eternal gospel proclaimed by the first angel in Revelation 14:6 is the final appeal to unbelievers before the wrath of God is executed on the beast and on those who worship him. The scriptures are unequivocal.. this particular group of people have utterly rejected the eternal unalterable truth of the gospel, and their opportunity to receive eternal salvation has come to an end. This is further confirmed in Revelation 16. Revelation 16:2 is the first instance that refers to those who have taken the mark. The first bowl describes a specific judgement upon the people who have taken the mark after the seventh seal is broken. This does not begin until after the mark of the beast is enacted.
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Revelation 16:2).
Those who take the mark of the beast will not be saved. (Revelation 14:10-11 cf. Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel 7:14, Daniel 7:26-27; Revelation 11:15). The eternal gospel proclaimed by the first angel in Revelation 14:6 is the final appeal to unbelievers before the wrath of God is executed on the beast and on those who worship him. The scriptures are unequivocal.. this particular group of people have utterly rejected the eternal unalterable truth of the gospel, and their opportunity to receive eternal salvation has come to an end. This is further confirmed in Revelation 16. Revelation 16:2 is the first instance that refers to those who have taken the mark. The first bowl describes a specific judgement upon the people who have taken the mark after the seventh seal is broken. This does not begin until after the mark of the beast is enacted.
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Revelation 16:2).
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. (Revelation 16:8-9).
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10-11).
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21).
"The rest of mankind", seems to be an inclusive statement that does not allow for exceptions.