Continuing our thought from yesterday, let's look at the other reasons why many believers are refusing to take the vaccine.

 "Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth …  It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast …  By the signs that it is allowed to work … it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast …  And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that [it] might even speak and might cause those who would not worship [it] 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" (Rev. 13:11-18 ESV).

 Personally, to argue that this refers to the COVID vaccine is a giant leap that makes no sense at all. (We will look at the interpretation of such apocalyptic passages tomorrow.)

 John Stevens writes: "Some are influenced by the numerous conspiracy theories circulating online. These include the theory that the vaccine is part of a conspiracy to either control everyone (potentially led by Bill Gates) or create a political or economic reset (which to be fair might well happen anyway!). Some relate this to biblical prophecy that the vaccine is fulfilment of the 'mark of the beast' from Revelation 13:15-17. This idea has been promoted by, amongst others, Kanye West (American rapper). It is just one of numerous eschatological speculations that have disturbed Christians over the years, and is detached from a faithful exegesis of Revelation 13. The idea of the 'mark of the beast' is symbolic rather than literal and refers to those who are known to have worshipped the beast rather than God. There is a sense in which all unbelievers bear the mark of the beast because they belong to the kingdom of Satan, whereas Christians have been redeemed into the kingdom of God and now bear the mark of Jesus’ name." I agree with him.