Devotional 25 March 2025

March 25, 2025 • Steve Torres

Revelation 13:16.jpg

"And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:15–18, ESV)

The early Christians who received John’s letter would have recognized the imagery in this passage. The speaking image of the beast echoes the Old Testament’s mockery of idols: “They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see” (Psalm 115:5). Lifeless statues, powerless yet worshiped, symbolized the emptiness of false religion. Here in Revelation, however, the false system appears more dangerous — this image is given breath, made to speak, and demands deadly allegiance.

This connects directly to the practice of emperor worship in the Roman Empire. The number 666 points to Nero, a ruler notorious for cruelty who claimed divine status. He styled himself as “the beast,” and many in the first-century church understood this passage as a warning against giving in to the pressure of his corrupt regime.

The mark on the forehead and hand also carries Old Testament significance. God instructed Israel to bind His Word to their foreheads and hands as a constant reminder of His authority over their thoughts and actions (Deuteronomy 6:8). The mark of the beast is a dark inversion of this — a sign that one’s mind and deeds have been given over to a corrupt power.

While this passage directly addressed the first-century church, its warning still speaks today. Systems of power that demand allegiance in place of God continue to arise. Ideologies that shape how people think and act can subtly influence believers, drawing their minds and hands away from God’s truth.

This is why we must ask ourselves: What shapes my thoughts? What directs my actions? The call of Revelation is not just to recognize false systems but to actively resist their influence. Our goal is to be marked by God’s Word — minds renewed by His truth and hands committed to His work.

As culture presses us to compromise or conform, we must be diligent to ensure our hearts are stamped with Scripture. In doing so, we align ourselves not with the beast’s mark, but with the seal of God — a mark of true life and eternal hope.