This aspect is discussed in Revelation 13:11-18 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had the power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 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.”
Revelation 13 tells us of two beasts. In verse 1, it tells of the beast which has “and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” In verse 11, we see another beast coming out of the earth and speaking like a dragon. We all know that the dragon is none other than satan. In any case, both the beasts persecute the church of God. Revelation 13:3 states ‘And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.’
In 1798, French General Alexander Berthier took Pope Pius VI into captivity. The pope was arrested in the Sistine Chapel while celebrating the twenty-third anniversary of his coronation. He was taken by French soldiers to southern France, where he remained a prisoner in the fortress city of Valence until his death on August 29, 1799.
With his death, it was thought that the papacy was dead. However, this event marks the fulfillment of the 1260 days/year’s prophecy (538–1798) of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. The head was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed: This prophecy clearly states that the papacy would not be destroyed. It was only to be wounded. In 1929 Benito Mussolini signed an agreement that gave the pope full authority over the Vatican City which became a state covering about 109 acres. Since then, the influence of the papacy has been steadily growing.
Revelation 13:16-17 states “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: 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.” Not receiving the mark would not only be an offense but would also ensure the denial of all social, economic, and political rights, services, benefits, etc. A man without a mark would at best be a criminal on the run. To be penniless, hounded like a fox, shelterless, on the run like a criminal, hungry and thirsty, shall be a lot of the Lords’ people. The only shelter at best would be the hills and mountains, forests, ravines, and deserts. Such a person would be a total outcast with no one and nobody to depend on except his Creator and who live like a fugitive till the coming of the Lord. In Matthew 24:22, the Lord promises, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. “What exactly is the mark of the beast and who is the son of perdition will be revealed at the opportune time as the Lord wills. It is best to watch and wait and stay away from conjecture. As world conditions develop and we continue to study the prophecies of the Bible for guidance, especially the books of Daniel and Revelation, our understanding of last-day events will become clearer with the efflux of time as things unfold.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
www.laddertoheaven.co.in