Intro
At first glance, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the mark of the beast seem like two completely unrelated topics—one rooted in the Exodus story of Israel’s deliverance, and the other in Revelation’s prophecy of the end times. Yet when we dig into Scripture, we see that both involve remembrance, allegiance, and a visible sign that shapes identity. The Feast of Unleavened Bread marked Israel as God’s covenant people, while the mark of the beast will mark the world in rebellion. Understanding one helps us prepare for the other.
You can read the Feast command here: Exodus 13 (KJV), and the prophecy of the beast here: Revelation 13 (KJV).
The Feast of Unleavened Bread: A Token of Remembrance
In Exodus 13:7–9, God commanded Israel to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread yearly: “And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.”
This feast remembered their hasty deliverance—“they had no time for their dough to rise” (Exod. 12:34, 39)—and symbolized purity, being free from Egypt’s corruption. Every year, the removal of leaven reminded Israel of God’s miraculous power to save them. This was their mark: God’s deliverance imprinted on their actions (hand), their thoughts (eyes), and their testimony (mouth).
Leaven as Corruption
Paul later draws directly on this imagery: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9). Even a small compromise spreads and corrupts the whole. The Feast was a command to purge corruption, just as believers today are told: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7).
The lesson is clear: holiness requires rejecting mixture. God’s people cannot carry Egypt’s leaven into the Promised Land, just as the church cannot carry the world’s compromise into the kingdom of Christ.
God’s Mark vs. the Beast’s Mark
Notice the language in Exodus 13:9—God said the feast would be a sign on the hand and between the eyes. This is not random wording. In Revelation 13:16–17, the beast requires a mark “in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” The imagery is deliberate: both God and Satan mark their people. One mark is remembrance of true deliverance; the other is allegiance to false deliverance.
- God’s mark = obedience, remembrance, testimony (hand, eyes, mouth).
- Beast’s mark = rebellion, deception, counterfeit allegiance.
Revelation 14:1 gives the contrast: the Lamb’s followers have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. Again, this isn’t about ink or tattoos, but about allegiance, thoughts, and identity.
Counterfeit Deliverance and Resurrection
The Exodus was God’s undeniable, miraculous deliverance. Israel walked out free, with Pharaoh broken, Egypt judged, and the sea split before them. It was so obvious that God said, “Never forget. Mark this on your hand and between your eyes.”
Revelation describes the beast imitating this. One of his heads is “wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Rev. 13:3). This counterfeit resurrection is designed to awe the world into worship. Just as Israel remembered the lamb’s blood and God’s strong hand, the world will remember the beast’s false miracle and give him allegiance.
Jesus warned of this very deception: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24). The mark is not merely about buying and selling—it is about whose deliverance you trust, whose miracle you remember.
The Marketplace of Souls
When Revelation says no one can “buy or sell” without the mark (Rev. 13:17), it points beyond economics. In the Bible, the true marketplace is the marketplace of souls. To belong to Christ means your voice, deeds, and allegiance are marked by Him. To belong to the beast means your voice, deeds, and allegiance are marked by him. History shows that refusal often leads to literal consequences—loss of income, persecution, even death—but at the core, it is always about worship and loyalty.
Amos foresaw a famine, not of bread or water, but of hearing God’s Word (Amos 8:11). That famine is the world silencing truth and elevating lies. In the beast’s system, you will not be able to “trade” God’s Word openly in the marketplace of ideas. Only the beast’s religion will be permitted.
The Lamb and the Beast
- The Lamb shed His blood to save the firstborn. The beast will shed the blood of the saints to maintain his rule (Rev. 13:7).
- The Lamb truly died and rose again. The beast will appear to die and rise in counterfeit resurrection.
- The Lamb marks His people with His Word. The beast marks his followers with deception.
The contrast is total. One leads to life eternal, the other to destruction.
Conclusion: Remembering True Deliverance
You can read the full account of this chapter here: Exodus 13 (KJV). For a full overview of Exodus, visit our Summary of Exodus article.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was Israel’s mark of remembrance: a yearly token that God had delivered them with a mighty hand. It imprinted holiness on their actions, thoughts, and testimony. The mark of the beast will be the world’s counterfeit: a false deliverance, a false resurrection, a false allegiance.
The question is simple: which miracle will define you? Will you remember the Lamb’s sacrifice and live unleavened, or will you marvel after the beast and bear his mark?
As Joshua said: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Josh. 24:15 KJV). The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the mark of the beast are not distant opposites—they are mirrors, one holy and one profane, pointing us to the reality that remembrance shapes destiny.