Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 7/5/2008

Question
Dear Rev.;
When a Muslim prays, the head makes contact with the ground, over a life time, a mark forms. Mostly on Shiite Muslims. I think so sorry if I'm wrong but, is this the mark we will know them by?
Just recently CNN broadcasted Nelson Mandellas 90th birthday celebration along with some other announcement about international goodwill. The number was 46664, although I am 39 years young I have never seen the number 666 broadcasted in any form EVER! Have you? Do you think there is a connection between the UN End of Times Islam and where do we in the west fit in?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

The mark of the Beast (666) is found in Revelation: "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six" (Rev. 13:16-18 NASB).
Now there's been much speculation as to what appearance this mark will be. Some have suggested an electronic IC chip that is implanted just under the skin. Or possibly a visible or invisible "tattoo" of a bar code that can be scanned with a special ultraviolet or infra red light.
Your suggestion that it could be a mark from Islamic prayers is one I have never heard of.
But the Mark of the Beast is going to be an obvious one. God created the world in 7 days.  These 7 days were complete perfection.  So 6 is incomplete.  So the enemy looks at 6 as his number, mocking God it is tripled so we get 666.  
During the tribulation, Satan will demand worship and LOYALTY.  People will be forced to take a stand to either show their worship and loyalty to the enemy (that is the governmental authority) or lose all right to buy and sell anything.  
Now the symbol 666 could be anything from a bar code to a logo of some type.  All you can say for sure is that it will be visible and people will be proud to have it.  Eventually, you will be forced to take it or die.  The Bible says that if we take it, then we cannot enter heaven.
I don't think we will be tricked into taking it, it will be a conscious choice.  
It is easy in our day in time, to see how this would work.  If our government suddenly said, "In order to root out terrorism, everyone must take this tattoo to show that they are a natural born American and not a terrorist."  Many people would line up tomorrow just to show their patriotism.  
I think it will be a lot like that.  We will be asked to take the sign of the beast, to show our worship and loyalty to him that he is a god.  People will be proud to do so and will dismiss anyone who says this is evil.  

Now as far as the UN is concerned.  We know that in the end times, the beast will establish a one world government.  It could easily happen through the UN since it is already established, but it would be just as easy to start a new one.  

Islam is a lie from Satan himself.  Islam is already "anti-christ".  But, the anti-christ in the end times will want worship directed to himself not to anyone or anything else.  

I hope this answers your question.