IS THE COVID VACCINE THE MARK OF THE BEAST?
Key Facts
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans, 19%, say they won’t get vaccinated for COVID-19 if/when a vaccine arrives. [1]
On July 8th, Kanye West argued that the COVID-19 vaccine was the mark of the beast stating, “It’s so many of our children that are being vaccinated and paralyzed,” he claimed. “So when they say the way we’re going to fix COVID is with a vaccine, I’m extremely cautious. That’s the mark of the beast.” [2]
Historically, some vaccines have been associated with dangerous illnesses and subsequent death. For vaccines still on the market, many have been linked to a very small risk of anaphylaxis (less than two cases per 1,000,000 doses). [3]
Key Scriptures
Revelation 13:15 “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
Revelation 13:17 “and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
Ephesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
Application
Some have suggested that the coming COVID-19 vaccine is the mark of the beast spoken of in Revelation. Many believers are unsure of how to address issues related to the end times and COVID as it relates to the end times is no exception. What does the Bible say about the mark of the beast and could it be the COVID vaccine?
What is the Mark of the Beast
The author of Revelation (John) does not focus on the ‘mark of the beast’ as much as modern Christians do. Revelation was not written to incite fear from believers as talk of the ‘mark of the beast’ does today (Rev. 1:1). That being said, the ‘mark of the beast’ is something that Christians should be aware of along with the other prophecies of the beasts in Revelation. [4] The mark of the beast is described as something that reflects either the name of the beast or the number of his name which is three consecutive sixes (Rev. 13:17). Scholars disagree on whether this reflection of 666 will be literal or if 666 is solely used to contrast between God’s perfection symbolized by the number 7. The Bible does not give one clear description as to what this will be (visible mark, internal mark, spiritual mark, symbolic mark ect.). What the Bible does say (in either symbolic or literal language) is that the mark will be on the right hand or on the forehead of those who worship the beast (Rev. 13:16) and that no one will be able to buy or sell without this mark (Rev. 13:17). Christians should study to become aware of the end times and the evil which is to come. However, this should not distract from the reality that God’s kingdom is mightier than any power of evil (Rev. 17:14).
John uses the language of ‘the beast’ from Daniel 7 which describes these four empires as beasts. He is likely connecting the beast with government or governing authority by using this language and connecting it to the Old Testament.
The Vaccine and the Mark of the Beast
The vaccine can be ruled out as the mark of the beast for a few reasons. First, the mark of the beast is closely associated with worship of the beast (Rev. 13:15). Those who received the mark of the beast are equated with those who are deceived and worshipped the beast (Rev. 19:20). When the angels bring judgement in the end times, it will be poured out on those who both “bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Rev. 16:2). The worship of the beast and the mark of the beast appear to be an inseparable reality for those who have given their allegiance to the beast instead of the one true God.
Second, because of its close relation to the worship of the beast, the mark of the beast is not something that likely can be received accidentally. If a believer is unwilling to worship another god, they will not be given the mark of those who do. Even if it was able to be accidentally marked on a believer, this mark would have no power over the seal of the Holy Spirit that has been placed on believers (Eph. 1:13).
How Should Christians Think About a COVID Vaccine?
Vaccines are an issue that many Christians will disagree on. The COVID-19 vaccine is no different. There are risks associated both with taking vaccines as well as refusing them. Some Christians have opposed vaccines because of the immoral tactics that have been used in their development. [5] Other Christians argue that taking vaccines is a good way to love one another by protecting against illnesses. Each Christian individual will have to use discernment to decide what is best for them and their households.
Conclusion
Through careful study of the book of Revelation, one can comfortably rule out the COVID-19 vaccine as the mark of the beast. However, the vaccine itself is still a matter of discernment, and Christians should discuss how to wisely employ it while allowing for disagreement.
[2] https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-says-he-had-covid-19-speaks-against-vaccines-2703611
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4599698/ ; Note that there are many alternative statistics depending on the specific vaccine and who is sanctioning the study. In addition, those concerned about vaccination may have alternative concerns.
[4] There are other interpretations of Revelation that do not believe that the mark of the beast will be happening in the literal and future sense. You can read about these here http://lifemessenger.org/four-main-approaches-to-interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-studies-in-eschatology/. However, those who are concerned about the mark of the beast or looking for potential marks in modern society have already accepted a futurist approach to the book of Revelation.