Revelation 13:15-16; He Causes All to Receive a Mark

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Revelation 13:15-16 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: 

The mark of the beast will be universal. The world’s population will be coerced to take the mark. All that will not worship the image of the beast should be killed!

There is coming a time when man will have to choose between worshiping Jesus Christ or the beast!

Christians will be the only group upon earth that understands the plan of the enemy. The book of Revelation informs us so that we can discern the sign of the times.

There will be no people group that will be exempted from taking the mark of the beast. The control of the Antichrist will be total.

This is clear from the various classes that are listed. “Small and great” is really an idiom that includes “people of all ages or all stations in life.” This expression often occurs in the Apocalypse (Revelation 11:18; 19:5, 18; 20:12).

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 

Revelation 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

Revelation 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, bothfree and bond, both small and great. 

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Note that the categories are presented as opposites: small and great, rich and poor, free persons and slaves. These are people from all the levels of society.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 393). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.