ENES
Chart

The Timing of the Mark of the Beast — Timeline Chart

Biblical Prophecy
ProphecyEschatologyTribulationBook of Revelation
Timeline infographic showing the chronological sequence from the Church Age through the Rapture, the revelation of the Antichrist, the first half of the Tribulation, the midpoint with the abomination of desolation, the False Prophet's worldwide campaign, the introduction of the mark of the Beast, the second half of the Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Christ.
Timeline infographic showing the chronological sequence from the Church Age through the Rapture, the revelation of the Antichrist, the first half of the Tribulation, the midpoint with the abomination of desolation, the False Prophet's worldwide campaign, the introduction of the mark of the Beast, the second half of the Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Christ.

This chart accompanies the book-length study The Mark of the Beast and 666. It illustrates the central argument of that study: the mark of the Beast cannot exist during the present Church Age, because the Antichrist has not yet been revealed and the Rapture has not yet occurred (2 Thess. 2:6-8).

The timeline shows the sequence of events that must take place before the mark can appear: the Rapture of the Church, the revelation of the Antichrist, his rise to global power during the first half of the Tribulation, the midpoint crisis (abomination of desolation, self-deification, and counterfeit resurrection), the False Prophet's worldwide campaign of signs and wonders, and only then the imposition of the mark on all people.

Text equivalent of the chart (for accessibility)

PhaseKey eventsReferences
Church Age / Present AgeThe Antichrist has not been revealed; the mark cannot exist in any form; no technology today is the mark.2 Thess. 2:6-8
Rapture of the ChurchThe Church is removed from the earth; the restrainer is taken out of the way; after this, the man of sin can be revealed.2 Thess. 2:6-8
Antichrist RevealedThe man of sin is revealed to the world; he begins his rise to global power; he confirms a covenant with Israel for 7 years.2 Thess. 2:3, 6-8; Dan. 9:27
First Half of the TribulationPolitical and military consolidation; Antichrist rises to world dominance; no mark yet.—
Midpoint of the TribulationAntichrist breaks the covenant with Israel; abomination of desolation in the temple; Antichrist declares himself god; counterfeit resurrection amazes the world.Dan. 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:3
False Prophet's Worldwide CampaignFalse Prophet performs signs and wonders; fire called down from heaven; image of the Beast given breath and speech; world deceived into worshiping the Antichrist.Rev. 13:13-15; 2 Thess. 2:9-11
Mark of the Beast IntroducedOnly now the mark appears; placed on the right hand or forehead; contains the name of the Beast or 666; required for all buying and selling; inseparable from the worship of the Antichrist.Rev. 13:16-18
Second Half of the Tribulation42 months of global Antichrist rule; believers use gematria to identify the Antichrist by calculating the number of his name; those who refuse the mark are persecuted; no neutrality.Rev. 13:5-7, 18; Rev. 20:4
Second Coming of ChristChrist returns and destroys the Antichrist; the Beast and False Prophet cast into the lake of fire; the faithful reign with Christ for 1,000 years.2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:4
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