The Right Hand and Forehead
Revelation 13:16 KJV
[16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
We’ve goats to understand what we are looking at. There’s great significance in the right hand and forehead. Let’s dig into it a bit, shall we? To do so let’s go to the book of Exodus and an ancient Israelite custom.
Exodus 13:1-4 KJV
[1] And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. [3] And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. [4] This day came ye out in the month Abib.
The Sovereign Lord is speaking with the great prophet Moses, and He instructed Moses to sanctify or set apart the firstborns to him. Moses went and relayed the message to the Israelites. Let’s continue.
Exodus 13:6-10 KJV
[6] Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. [7] Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. [8] And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
[9] 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. [10] Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
I’m marinating where I’m going with this so you have context on it first. So Moses, the great prophet, said for seven days, the unleavened bread occasion should be celebrated and memorialized and he required they show this to their sons (and daughters). It was a memorial of when they came out of Egypt by the hand of the Sovereign Lord. It is a sign to them upon their hand. The hand represents your work or your labor. Again, the hand represents your work!
Get me the scripture that says, “sit thou at My right hand.”
Psalm 110:1, 5 KJV
[1] The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. [5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
The Father’s right hand is Christ or said another way, at the Father’s right hand is Christ (whichever way you can handle). Again, watch this!
Psalm 44:3 KJV
[3] For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
The children of Israel didn’t get the land by themselves. Christ got it for them!
Psalm 98:1 KJV
[1] O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
John 16:33 KJV
[33] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The Father’s right hand got the victory! He, our Holy Messiah, has overcome the world. Now, Stay with the theme of the right hand for me, and the Spirit will introduce the next concept, which is your works.
John 5:17 KJV
[17] But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Christ works and the Father works too! The work of the Father is represented in Christ, His right hand. Therefore, the Jews or Israelites had a custom that a man’s work is represented in his hand, primarily, his right hand. This is why there is a cultural bias against a child born left-handed in many cultures and ethnic groups. Now, this may be or appear ridiculous, but this is where the origin of the right hand comes from. Nevertheless, it represents a man’s work. Let’s run it back to Exodus.
Exodus 13:9 KJV
[9] 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.
The Lord’s Law should be in your mouth.
Proverbs 31:26 KJV
[26] She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs chapter 31 is speaking of women in general but the ultimate parable is that the church is this virtuous woman. We as a kingdom of priests should have a law of kindness in our mouth and wisdom. Expressly so, once our hands work that which is sealed in our mind.
Therefore in context, the great prophet Moses said let the feast of unleavened bread and the passover work as a sign to you in your hand. That means, as you do these things, you are reminded of the great works the Sovereign Lord did for you to bring you out of Egypt. It is also a memorial between your eyes.
And here’s a side note about the feast of unleavened bread and the Passover; the Passover is the Father through Christ passing over our sins. And the feast of unleavened bread is living a life free of sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, even the law of kindness.
Now, watch this!
Continue to the next post to follow the Mark of the Beast!
The Mark of the Beast Continued… the Phrase Meaning… click here or next post.