Q: If the Society says that the Wild Beast of Revelation represents the United Nations then if the Governing Body is making deals with United Nations, doesn't this mean they have the Mark of the Beast and, therefore, are going to be destroyed with the Wild Beast?

Also, how do people get the Mark of the Beast and how can we avoid it? My husband thinks that it could possibly be a literal mark that we are going to be required to receive before or during the Great Tribulation but says that we cannot be sure. Is it okay for him to think that?
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A: The Bible does not definitely tell us what the wild beast is or represents, but I think there is enough information to help us identify it. I don’t like to speculate when it comes to prophecies that are written in signs and symbolic language, as I explain on my website in the article “Prophecies We Need to Understand. . . and those we don’t.” It is clear from the Scriptures that some prophecies won’t be understood until the time of their fulfillment, or even some time thereafter. (Dan. 12:9; Rev. 1:1) Our everlasting life is not dependent on getting the correct understanding of such prophecies at this time, as there is nothing that Jehovah expects of us, or requires us to do in connection with them.

But certain prophecies, such as the one in Revelation 18:4, that tells us to “get out of her my people,” are ones that we need to heed and thus understand, for how else could we take the necessary life-saving action? For that reason, Jehovah has provided enough information for us to identify what it is that we need to get out of, and NO! it is not his household. (Rev. 17:1,2, 5,6, 15; compare 2 Cor. 6:14-18) The same is true in connection with what we are told about “the wild beast” and its “image,” and how we must avoid receiving its mark, for “if anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath.” (Rev. 13:11-17; 14:9,10)

For many decades now, the Watchtower Society has been teaching through its publications that the “wild beast” represents the political element of this world, all governments; while the “image to the wild beast” refers to the United Nations. For example, in 1975 The Watchtower stated:

     The “wild beast” out of the “sea” must represent the global political system made up of the “kings” or ruling powers on earth. It is said to have “ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names.” (Rev. 13:1) So it is Satan’s agelong political organization that has always blasphemed the true God.    

     The identification of the “wild beast” provides the key for determining the identity of its “image.” What organization today is the “image” or reflection of the worldwide political system? Is it not the United Nations organization? Does not that organization mirror the flaws and imperfections of the world’s political system?

     The Bible speaks of a harlot, “Babylon the Great,” as riding on the back of the “scarlet-colored wild beast,” or the political “image” of the “wild beast,” that is, the United Nations of today. When the United Nations organization came into existence, “Babylon the Great,” of which the religions of Christendom are a dominant part, gave her support to it, viewing it as man’s only hope for peace and security. She looked to that organization to prevent conflicts that could result in her annihilation. In this way the United Nations organization has proved to be like a mount under her.—w75 12/15 p. 743 Christendom’s “Holy Place” Soon to Be Desolated.

In view of what that article said about the identity of the wild beast and its image, and the support it received from “Babylon the Great,” it is highly disturbing that the Watchtower Society, with the knowledge and approval of its governing body, would have wanted to be an NGO (Non-governmental organization member of the U.N.) for ten long years, making themselves a part of what they know and understand to be in opposition to Jehovah; an integral part of Satan’s system that will soon be utterly destroyed. By claiming that they did so for the sake of obtaining a simple library card they trivialized the need “to keep oneself without spot from the world,” which is the “form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father.” (James 1:27; 4:4) They still value “the friendship with the world,” and its benefits, for they are still participating in the OSCE conferences. (James 4:4)

In so doing, has the Watchtower Society, that is, everyone involved and those defending their action, received “the mark [and] the name of the wild beast”? What is really meant by the “mark in (or “on”) their right hand or upon their forehead?” (Rev. 13:17, NWT) Is it a literal, visible mark for all to see?

Remember how in the time of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, when Jehovah’s two prophets were commissioned to proclaim the errors and sins of God’s people, with the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the land of Israel, there was also a “marking” going on. This mark identified a person for survival:

And he proceeded to call out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: “HAVE those giving their attention to the city come near, each one with his weapon in his hand for bringing ruin!”
² And, look! there were six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces to the north, each one with his weapon for smashing in his hand; and there was one man in among them clothed with linen, with a secretary’s inkhorn at his hips, and they proceeded to come in and stand beside the copper altar.
³ And as regards the glory of the God of Israel, it was taken up from over the cherubs over which it happened to be to the threshold of the house, and he began calling out to the man that was clothed with the linen, at whose hips there was the secretary’s inkhorn. ⁴ And Jehovah went on to say to him: “Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and you must put a mark on the foreheads of the men that are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the midst of it.”
⁵ And to these [others] he said in my ears: “Pass through the city after him and strike. Let not your eye feel sorry, and do not feel any compassion. ⁶ Old man, young man and virgin and little child and women YOU should kill off—to a ruination. But to any man upon whom there is the mark do not go near, and from my sanctuary YOU should start.” So they started with the old men that were before the house. ⁷ And he said further to them: “Defile the house and fill the courtyards with the slain ones. Go forth!” And they went forth and struck in the city.—Ezekiel 9:1-7.

We know that Jehovah used the Babylonian army against his people to do the headsmashing. The six men and their weapons for smashing were not literal, but they symbolized Jehovah’s execution of his judgment against his people. And neither was the “man clothed with linen, with a secretary’s inkhorn at his hips,” a literal person with a literal inkhorn at his side, going about and performing a literal marking on a literal forehead. It pictured, or symbolized, Jehovah taking note of a person’s attitude toward the wicked conditions that existed in the land. An individual’s agonizing over the horrible sinfulness, his “sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that [were] being done in the midst of it,” marked him for survival, for he shared Jehovah’s own view on the matter, and obviously was not personally participating, or responsible for the condition that God condemned. The individual’s regret over the existing wickedness was plain for all to see, because he also obediently took the necessary action that assured his survival. (Jer. 9:4-9; 27:12-17; compare 2 Peter 2:7-9)

In a similar way, in connection with what the book of Revelation reveals regarding receiving the mark of the wild beast and its image—upon the forehead or upon the hand—it is likewise symbolic. It identifies a person as actively worshiping and supporting the wild beast and its image, which has received its power and authority from Satan, the ruler of this world. (John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4) Whereas the verses in Revelation 13:11-18 help us to understand the identity of the wild beast and its image, Revelation 14:6-20 enables us to put it in the proper context.

Revelation 14:6-7 tells of an angel flying in midheaven, declaring the “everlasting good news, as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth,” proclaiming the message: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.” Jesus had foretold the preaching of the “good news of the kingdom” in all the inhabited earth “for a witness to all the nations,” before the end would come. (Matt. 24:14) This preaching of “glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth” has been accomplished by his disciples and with the support of the angels. (Matt. 28:19,20) Everyone, everywhere, has been invited to worship and submit to Jehovah, for as our Creator he alone is worthy. The time for his kingdom to take over earth’s rulership is quickly approaching. (Dan. 7:13,14, 21, 27; Matt. 6:10)

Revelation 14:8 reveals what follows: “And another, a second angel, followed, saying: ‘She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen, she who made all the nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication!’” The preaching work will not go on indefinitely. Jehovah has an appointed time for everything! It will be followed by the sudden fall, that is, destruction, of “Babylon the Great,” which includes all the world’s religions of Satan’s entire confusing, lying and misleading system of worship that he had set up over the many centuries in opposition to Jehovah’s true worship. (John 4:22-24; Rev. 17:1-5, 15; 18:1-24)

Remember, the angel flying in midheaven had proclaimed that “the hour of the judgment by him has arrived.” By the time Jehovah executes his judgment upon Babylon the Great, he has already judged his own people; for as the apostle Peter foretold, the judgment starts with the house of God, and “if the righteous man [within his house] is being saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly man and the sinner make a showing?” At this point Jesus will have already sent forth his angels, and they will have collected “out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness,” including the self-exalted man of lawlessness. (1 Peter 4:17,18; Matt. 13:40,41; Jude 12-15)

After this what next? Revelation 14:9-11 continues: “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.

It appears that “all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves,” will be put under compulsion to worship the wild beast and its image after the destruction of “Babylon the Great.” We should keep in mind that her destruction came from Jehovah. (Rev. 17:16,17; 18:8) The image to the wild beast will replace the void in worship created by the destruction of the world’s religions. Whereas Babylon the Great was a means for keeping the world divided, Satan now attempts to unite all mankind under his political power that is still left to him. Now there will be a clear distinction between those who worship Jehovah and submit to him, and all others who reject his sovereignty expressed through his kingdom by Christ Jesus. There is no longer any room for neutrality on the issue. (Rev. 19:20; 20:4)

By receiving the symbolic “mark” of the wild beast on their forehead, which denotes their mental acceptance and approval, and the symbolic “mark” of active support on their hand, those receiving the mark indicate their firm rejection of God’s kingdom. This will be a trialsome time for Jehovah’s loyal worshipers. “Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones, those who observe the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (vs. 12) But they will not need to fear! Jehovah loves his sheep, and he has promised that there won’t be a single one of them missing after he has removed all the wicked ones from their midst. (Jer. 23:1, 4) Therefore, they will stand in awe of his protective power, as things will develop very rapidly.

Revelation 14:14 goes on to say: “And I saw, and, look! a white cloud, and upon the cloud someone seated like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.”

The son of man, on a white cloud, and with a golden crown on his head, is, of course, God’s enthroned king Christ Jesus. The appointed time has now arrived to “repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you, but, to you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among you.” (2 Thess. 1:6-10; Dan. 7:13,14, 27; Rev. 1:7)

The long awaited “day of Jehovah” has arrived. (Joel 2:1; Zeph. 1:14-18) Revelation 14:15 continues: “And another angel emerged from the temple [sanctuary], crying with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: “Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is thoroughly ripe.” 16 And the one seated on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 And still another angel emerged from the temple [sanctuary] that is in heaven, he, too, having a sharp sickle.

18 And still another angel emerged from the altar and he had authority over the fire. And he called out with a loud voice to the one that had the sharp sickle, saying: “Put your sharp sickle in and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes have become ripe.” 19 And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great winepress of the anger of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress as high up as the bridles of the horses, for a distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs.”—Rev. 14:14-20.

The reaping of the earth is symbolic of “the great day of God the Almighty” at Armageddon, which Jesus will fight along with his angels. (Rev. 16:14, 16; 19:11-21) Any worshipers of the wild beast and its image, identified by having received its mark, will be reaped and hurled into “the great winepress of the anger of God,” meaning that they will perish! But, in contrast, a great crowd of worshipers of Jehovah, obedient subjects of his kingdom, will survive that greatest of all tribulations, with everlasting life ahead of them. (Rev. 7:9,10, 14-17; Dan. 12:1; John 17:1,2)

Has the Watchtower Society received the mark of the wild beast and its image by having been an NGO member of the United Nations, and continuing to be present at the OSCE conferences? According to my understanding, as explained above, a person gets that mark after the destruction of Babylon the Great and the subsequent developments, when the image of the wild beast will be set up. (Rev. 13:11-17) By that time the Watchtower Society with its governing body will already have been removed from God's temple and brought "to nothing by the manifestation of [the Lord Jesus'] presence." (2 Thess. 2:3,4, 8) Although many have their own opinions at the present time as to the meaning of the mark on the forehead or the hand—whether it is a real physical mark, or merely symbolic—will become clear to God's people when that time arrives; for to understand it at that time will be a matter of life and death. (Rev. 14:9-12)
 

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