Q&A: “Is Revelation 13 being fulfilled now?”
The Scripture
Revelation Chapter 13 is arguably the best known piece of scripture in the Bible. This is the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast. We are going to focus on the last few verses to answer this question, but I encourage you to read the entire chapter for context.
To summarize, there is a dragon (lit. serpent, same as in Revelation 12:3) and two beasts. The first beast is a governing or secular power having the traits of those governments or kingdoms that have gone before and symbolized by the leopard, bear and lion (cf. Daniel 7). The dragon empowers the first beast with seven heads and ten horns. The second beast is a false religion that looks righteous (like a Lamb) but speaks wickedness (like a dragon). The second beast, the false religion, will cause all to serve and take the mark of the first beast, the oppressive government. Historically, this dynamic of religion empowering government has always existed, but not on a worldwide scale. These two entities are the Whore and Beast of Revelation 17.
Now we are going to focus on the last few verses to determine how we will know if or when Revelation 13 is being fulfilled.
…And he (the first beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive their mark in their right hand, and in their foreheads: And that no one might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name (or authority) of the beast, and the number of their name.
Revelation 13:16-17
