Revelation 13:16-17
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, 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.
In ancient times, slave owners used to brand their slaves with a stamp. Monarchs too would mark their subjects with a seal. Likewise, soldiers would voluntarily puncture their arms with marks of the general under whom they served and devotees of idols often branded themselves with the idol’s symbol.
Can you see why tattoos today may have more serious implications than we realise? Saints beware! Of course, we are not saying every tattoo necessarily has occultic links, but earnest Christians must not be ignorant of the devil’s devices.
Now, why does the Beast of the Tribulation mark his subjects on the forehead and on the right hand? The reason is that our heads and our hands represent our minds and our work, respectively. Beloved, the devil loves to own our intelligence and our service. God forbid!
Praise God that every truly born again Christian was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after believing the Gospel of truth (Ep 1:13). That is an indelible mark of the Father’s ownership over us. Hallelujah! We are marked for eternity. Indeed, the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). That is why we must not grieve the Holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption (Ep 4:30).
Pastor Josh