The Mark of the Beast (1997)

The Mark of the Beast is a 1997 Christian documentary directed by Tom Parasiliti and André van Heerden, narrated by Jack and Rexella Van Impe, that investigates the biblical prophecy in Revelation 13:16-18 about a mark on the right hand or forehead required for commerce in the end times, symbolized by the number 666. The 90-minute film traces the symbol's roots to the Book of Revelation, composed around 95 AD by John on Patmos, interpreting 666 through gematria as potentially referencing Nero Caesar or signifying human imperfection contrasted with divine perfection (777). It incorporates interviews with experts, dramatizations of historical events, and examinations of 1990s technologies like barcodes, RFID chips, and surveillance systems as precursors to a global economic control mechanism. The production discusses early church interpretations by figures such as Irenaeus, who endorsed 666 over the variant 616, and connects the mark to themes of faith, deception, and spiritual vigilance amid advancing digital infrastructures.