Is the Covid-19 Vaccine a Sign of 666?

Dear friends of J.D. Kim Ministries,

About two months ago, my friend asked me about 666, which is described as the mark of the beast or the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation (13:15-18), and whether the Covid-19 vaccine is the mark of the beast or not. He was concerned that the government could force people to get vaccinated and that businesses could only allow people who were vaccinated to purchase their products. His concerns were based on the interpretation of Revelation 13:16-17: “It [the second beast] also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark.” In this post, I would like to explain to you that the Covid-19 vaccine cannot be the mark of the beast, by pointing out two necessary and biblical premises for receiving 666 in the context of Revelation 13 (This post is inspired by the writing of Dr. Sung Wook Chung).

Before exploring the two premises, we need to know, “What is the Antichrist?” Antichrist is the first beast that the dragon (Satan) empowers to carry out his world domination agenda (Rev. 13:1-4). The beast defames God openly and persecutes God’s covenant people: “It [the beast] opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” (vv. 6-7). For more descriptions of the Antichrist, see Dan. 7:25; Dan. 9; Mark 13:14; 2 Thes.2:1-2; Rev. 6:2.

Now, the first premise is that the Antichrist must appear in the world. The dragon will give power and authority to the Antichrist who will perform wonders, miracles, and signs. People will follow and worship the Antichrist and even the dragon who gave such authority to the Antichrist. All people of the earth will worship them, except the chosen people of God whose names have been recorded in the Book of the Lamb (vv.7-8). Some people made conspiracy theories that Barack Obama was the Antichrist for delivering socialist policies, and recently, Donald Trump was considered to be another Antichrist candidate. They are nevertheless too ethical and too weak to be the beast. That is, the Antichrist has not appeared in this world yet.

The second premise is that the second beast must set up an image in honor of the Antichrist using his followers (v. 14). This second beast likewise performs signs and wonders and even causes “fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people” (v. 13). It will command his followers to set up an image, which will receive power to “speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed” (v. 15) and force all people to receive the mark, “the name of the beast or the number of its name” (v. 17). We are not yet in the life and death situation to worship the Antichrist and a false image like the time of Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego – who were forced to bow down to the image of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

This present age has not seen such premises yet. Only after the appearance of the Antichrist and unbelievers turning to and worshipping Satan and Antichrist, the second beast will force all people to commit idolatry against God and to receive 666. The message of the beast will be very clear: One must receive the mark of the beast of the Antichrist. And the mark is received in a state that is visibly revealed to all people. That is, everyone will know clearly that he or she is receiving the mark of the beast. The marks would not be hidden in vaccines, so that receiving the vaccination cannot be the mark of 666.

Then, what is the meaning of this passage besides that the Antichrist will deceive all inhabitants of this earth and force all people to receive the mark of the beast? The Antichrist and Satan will persecute God’s chosen people and drive them to deny the lordship of Jesus and to abandon their faith in him; however, God will strengthen his people whose names have been recorded from the foundation of the world in the Lamb’s book of life: They will not bow down to the false gods (Rev. 13:8). Children of God can never fall out of their salvation in the middle of the process of their sanctification and glorification. Will our benevolent God who adopted us as his children suddenly forsake and abandon us? Nein, nein, nein. We will persevere! We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loved us (Rom. 8:37) because he already overcame the world and conquered the authority and principality of Satan when he was resurrected on the third day. Therefore, no one who has true faith will receive 666.

Lastly, then, what is the meaning of the vaccination, if it is not a sign of the beast? Now, have we not prayed to God for his mercy and healing over our nations since the outbreak of the pandemic last year? Does not our God work both immediately without using any means and mediately using all means to execute his righteous plans? Is the invention of the coronavirus vaccination the outcome of God’s compassion on his created beings, of his answering our prayers, and of using scientists and researchers, or simply the outcome of the works of human beings without his providence and intervention? Can a single sparrow fall to the ground without our God knowing and allowing it? Are not those vaccinations already treating people? If the Covid-19 vaccine is not the sign of the beast, I dare wonder if it could be the sign of the feast that God will bring on this world.

Lord, we ask for your mercy and healing over this world.

Blessings,
J.D.