“Cain said to God, “My punishment is too much. I can’t take it! You’ve thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I’m a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me.” God told him, “No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over.” God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him.”
(Genesis 4:13–15, The Message)
Marks are used for Protection in the Bible. When someone is marked, they are marked out for protection from being killed. God uses a mark to protect His people. For example, in Ezekiel, God tells the prophet to mark the people who hate the false practices of the people in Jerusalem which were committed against God.
““Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem,” the Lord said to him, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable practices committed in it.” He spoke as I listened to the others, “Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them! Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the older women and little children, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.” (Ezekiel 9:4–6, HCSB)
In Revelation, God’s people are sealed for protection against the Antichrist. People who want to buy and exchange have to be “marked for protection” by the Antichrist. This mark protects people against the violence that will occur for disobeying the Antichrist. In this case, God warns His people not to take the protective mark of the beast. God is in the business of protecting His people. He protects Christians to provide them a way to go through difficulty.
