This verse has been traditionally held as speaking of the Antichrist. Let us compare the words in bold, descriptive of the Antichrist, with another scripture in the New Testament.

Rev. 13:5: The beast was given a MOUTH TO UTTER PROUD WORDS AND BLASPHEMIES and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.
6: It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven. (NIV - emphasis added)

These two verses show us that the Antichrist speaks boastfully, slanders and blasphemes God and all those who live in heaven.

He also usurps the authority and position of God, as the following verses show.

2 Thes. 2:3: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4: who opposes and EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD OR THAT IS WORSHIPPED, SO THAT HE SITS AS GOD IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD. (NKJV - emphasis added)

The following verses further throw a light on the source of his power and his purpose.

2 Thes. 2:9: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10: and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (NKJV)

We can see from the above scriptures that the Antichrist derives his power and authority from Satan himself, which includes the power to work both false signs and wonders.

His power and authority extends over three groups.

Group one: Unbelievers.

2 Thes. 2:9: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10: and with all unrighteous DECEPTION among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (NKJV)

This group comprises all those who have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will in turn be DECEIVED by the Antichrist.

2 Thes. 2:11: And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (NKJV)

This verse shows that God Himself deludes them who have rejected the gospel of truth so that they in turn are deceived by the lying signs and wonders, and propoganda of the Antichrist.

Group two: Saints.

Rev. 13:7a: It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. (NKJV)

The Antichrist sets himself up against and persecutes Christians worldwide. To "make war" does not carry the typical meaning of a gun battle. It is persecution, not a literal war, as logic would dictate it is impossible to fight a physical war against all saints everywhere in the world.

Group three: the World.

Rev. 13:7b: And authority was given him over ever tribe, tongue, and nation.
8: All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (NKJV)

These verses are self-explanatory.

What Is The Mark Of The Beast?

This has always been a fascinating topic, but it is also of vital importance to the knowledge of the believer just who will be subjected to the mark of the beast during the Tribulation period on earth. Let us look at the relevant scriptures.

Rev. 13:16: He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17: and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (NKJV)

Who is the "he" mentioned here? The scriptures preceding verses 16 and 17 put it in full context...

Rev. 13:11: Then I saw ANOTHER BEAST coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
12: And he exercises all the authority of the FIRST BEAST in his presence, and causes the earth and all who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13: He performs great signs so that he makes even fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14: And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15: He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16: He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17: and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (NKJV - emphasis added)

Who is the first beast referred to in verse 12?

He is first introduced in Rev. 11:7:

Rev. 11:7: When they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them and kill them. (NKJV)

He is then reintroduced shortly thereafter:

Rev. 13:1: Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a BEAST rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads a BLASPHEMOUS name.
2: Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3: And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4: So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (NKJV - emphasis added)

The BEAST mentioned in these verses symbolizes the Antichrist. He is also called the FIRST BEAST. When we read about "ANOTHER BEAST" coming out of the earth (Rev. 13:11), he is understood to be the false prophet who gives him power, his throne and great authority.

Now that we have established there are two beasts, the first one akin to a leopard, the second one akin to a dragon, let us discuss what the mark of the beast will translate into in practical terms for the believer.

Scripture tells us there will be a time under the rule of the Antichrist where people will not be allowed to buy or sell except they have a mark either upon their right hand or their forehead. This mark symbolizes the name or the number of the Antichrist.

People who choose to take this mark pledge their allegiance, worship and submission to the Antichrist. Now, over the years there has been much speculation, and many theories as to what form this mark will take, and whether one can can "accidentally" receive or take this mark.

Let us address the latter here. Some believers today are fearful of accidentally receiving or being duped into taking the mark of the beast. However, scripture shows us that this will be a deliberate choice, and the one who chooses to take the mark is entirely cognizant of the authority to which he will submit in doing so. The Antichrist and his blasphemous boasts, his vilifying and persecution of Christians, will set the stage for the implementation of the mark. Christians will be well aware of what it entails in taking the mark upon their right hand or forehead, and need not fear stumbling into taking the mark by mistake.

Revelation 13: 15-17 is a continuous narrative which presents a SINGLE idea, and that which PRECEDES the introduction of the mark is the enforced worship of the image of the beast. This equates to worshipping Satan, and believers will be able to clearly recognise this order and not submit to it, choosing instead to worship the one true God, just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused Nebucadnezzar's order to worship the golden statue, as described in Daniel, chapter 3.

Taking the mark of the beast is associated with the worship of his image and allegiance to his rule and kingdom. It is not merely an isolated event devoid of any connection to the DELIBERATE choice of the individual to worship and submit to the rule of the Antichrist.

Rev. 19:20a: Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by whih h deceived those who RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THOSE WHO WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE. (NKJV - emphasis added)

There is significance of an eternal and permanent nature in taking a mark of a name on one's forehead. It signifies a seal of ownership.

Rev. 14:1: Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS.
Rev. 22:4: They shall see his face, and HIS NAME SHALL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS. (NKJV - emphasis added)

The believer here belongs to God, much in the same way that the unbeliever, by the SEAL/MARK mentioned in Rev. 13:16 taken on their forehead (or right hand), belongs to Satan.

What is the consequence for believers who choose to take the mark?

Rev. 19:20: Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev. 14:11: And the smoke of their TORMENT ascends forever and ever; and they have NO REST DAY OR NIGHT, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (NKJV - emphasis added)

There have been preachers over the decades who have taught that one can take the mark of the beast and still be saved. This is in BLATANT CONTRADICTION to the written word of God, and should be discarded as a heresy, even a damnable one.

To reiterate: one CANNOT take the mark of the beast and later be forgiven, and still have an eternal life in heaven. Their eternal destiny will be along side that of the beast and the false prophet in a place of eternal torment, the Lake of Fire.

Any teaching to the contrary must be discarded as false.