Thank you very much for taking the time to reply in perfect explanation that I learned something new ...
We all have varying opinions off of a verse here or there in the bible. The facts we have such as 2 Thess 2:9 The coming of the Lawless ONE will be in accordance with the work of Satan, displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
Paul speaks probably giving us the direct information on this man. The other verses of the bible are like hidden gold in they are in various verses of the prophets who speak on him...a verse here or there...
and we have to find them to bring more light on who this person is.
and this is why we have such varying doctrines on who he is but the most popular one is the RCC as the High Priest there claims himself to be as God..
there are more verses in the bible that are saying who he is and it has been very hard for those taught the RCC to see verses saying something different.
With the dead man who the Islamics are looking to come up from the dead is a King...which does fit Rev 17:11 one who once was, now is not but soon will be...as Jer 50:17 says the last to crush Israel's bones before the Lord makes her sin free is none the less the King Neb....and of course Rev 17:11 says this who once was and now is not is 'AN 8th KING'.....
Then to go on to what is his mark? Well, I would have to say it is exactly what 2 Thess 2:10-11 says it is...a delusion.....this is the MARK OF THE BEAST they worship the BEAST because they have received the delusion....2 Thess 2:12 and so that all will be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in wickedness.
It is very powerful to understand the delusion is pertaining to their mind, they no longer believe the truth, what is truth?....What God says as it is cast to the side and they become religiously engulfed in a delusion that they serve the BEAST.
That brings out the need for all Christians to guard what they have been given in Christ and not turn to wickedness at anytime during this reign of the 8th King who engulfs the world in his limited time of 1260 days. This is a time coming upon the earth and we can see it in motion now as evilness is engulfing the world around us...through the power of the Holy Spirit we are to draw close to our LORD that he will lead us through the time of trouble upon the earth that is the worst our Lord says, in Dan 12:1-2 that has ever been on the earth.
There may be significance in this sign of the false Christ...which is tied into the End, I only know these verses speak of something very dreadful in taking place on the earth, and those who are not close to the Lord Jesus will take the delusion and worship this Beast who is a man...but an
"I" in front of "A man" and you have the Iaman..or the Imam...
When this BEAST comes bringing miracles and he will appear wonderful in causing fire to come down from heaven...(Rev 13:13) having the powers of satan upon him..those perishing because they are wicked in their minds and hearts as this will including Christians who are living in corruption and not in truth..they are going to take the mark and turn from truth as we are entering into this time of the End...Those are the facts in the bible....and this man as Daniel tell us is a commander leading an army...which is another part of the puzzle concerning this Beast.
Dan 8:4-12 speaks on this horn who comes powerfully upon the earth and is in a fight with the ram...as this vision concerns the desolation says Dan 8:13 concerning the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary....this act is speaking of an army that is under the Beast and causes desolation in his coming to Jerusalem to take the sanctuary over....the Pope does not have army abilities as a leader or as a commander over an army of men that will come and cause this desolation to take place...
I could go on forever in the verses stating my opinion much of why I say what I do, because of these verses I have given..but time is near and soon we will all know who are sent a delusion just who the Beast is and all the verses will make perfect sense to all of us...just what the delusion is that is the Mark of this Beast.
In Christ's love