Some Christians may question whether the Covid-19 vaccine is the so-called "mark of the beast," but pastor Greg Laurie says the text of Scripture rules out such a possibility.

Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, addressed the issue on social media Monday, saying emphatically the vaccine is not the mark of the beast.

"Here's how I know: When people take the actual mark of the beast, which of course is 666, they will know they're taking it because you will have to pledge allegiance to the antichrist," Laurie said. "So there can't be a mark without an antichrist, and antichrist cannot be revealed until Jesus Christ returns for His church and catches us up to heaven."

Laurie then quoted from 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8.

"Thessalonians says he who now restrains will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way, then that wicked one will be revealed - that's antichrist - whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of this coming. ... If you were to take the mark, you would know you're taking the mark," Laurie said. "The Bible says an angel will fly to the heavens, saying, 'Don't take the mark of the beast.' So if you take it, you know you're taking it.

"I'm sure it will be very popular," he said of the mark. "... [But] we're not there yet. So don't spend your time worrying about if you've taken the mark or who antichrist is - he's not revealed yet. Focus on Jesus Christ and following Him. But listen, the technology for this mark, it's effectively here. ... We all know that. So if that's close, and the coming of Christ for His church, it's even closer. Look up: Your redemption draws near."

Curtis Chang, a senior fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary and the founder of Redeeming Babel, recorded a video this year also asserting the Covid-19 vaccine is not the mark of the beast.

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