16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
This verse has been the fertile ground for many sermons, books and movies. I pray I am not around when this sequence of events is taking place. Part of Satan’s ruling techniques will be forcing his economic role in the world. Remember, he is about coercion, power and ego. He doesn’t care about the individual; he only cares about exercising his own power. Part of that power will be the imposition of complete control over commerce. No one will be able to engage in the necessary purchases of life. Food, gas, clothing, shelter, everything purchased will be restricted. If you want to buy something you will have to submit to his system. We don’t know the exact details of the implementation of this new economic system, but we do know that those who submit receive some kind of mark. This is where all the speculation comes into play. This mark identifies the wearer as one who has submitted to the beast. By having the mark, either his name or the number representing his name, placed on them they relinquish control of their daily lives to the beast. The next verse states that number, 666. This number probably had a meaning to the first readers that is lost to modern readers. We do know who it is: it is Satan, the beast. Anyone identified by a modern prognosticator would need to fit all the characteristics of the beast that are outlined here in the book of revelation. But the mark itself could be an embedded computer chip, branding or barcode tattoo. The technology exists to make a cashless economy possible, and enforceable. It will take the grace of God to resist this system. Deprivation and death will become the norm for those who resist submission to this system. I am sure there will be an underground economy that will develop, bypassing Satan’s system. Remember, Satan is limited in power. He exists in only one place. He does not know everything. He is unable to know what we are thinking and feeling. There will be those that don’t submit. Today, we have much the same struggle as these people in the future will have. We must choose to give up our will to God in order to receive His benefits. In God’s exchange we give up our sin and He gives us love and forgiveness in return. Satan’s system, even today, offers power and self-importance. But what gets lost in the process is everything of real value.
The Arnold Journey 