Is the mark of the beast a tattoo?

In a word—no! Unfortunately, many biased Bible translations call the “mark of the beast” a tattoo. I’ve also heard that it will be a computer chip embedded under the skin. There are other strange ideas floating around regarding how this ominous mark will be deployed. But I believe the mark is actually a spiritual symbol that someone has made a choice to turn from God’s law and follow the beast.

The keys to understanding the true nature of this mark are found in the Old Testament. Regarding the commandments, Moses admonished God’s people, “These words … shall be in your heart. … You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 6:6–8).

When Moses says the law of God is to be in our hearts, hands, and foreheads, he is speaking in symbolic terms. The hand represents actions, and the forehead represents thoughts.

It should also be noted that the number 666 is not specifically the mark, but rather a number that helps us identify the beast power. “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 mark … or the number of his name. … Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16–18).

In bank accounts, license plates, phone numbers, and social security numbers, the number 666 might come up randomly. This doesn’t mean anything.

But if a religious power that looks and sounds like it is Christian presents laws that contradict the law of God, we can know that the mark is coming with it. Avoid this Antichrist power!

Key Bible Texts

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (Revelation 14:9 KJV)