Chapter 14

        "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."        Sounds like serious stuff.  Looking back at chapter 13, verse 16-17, "Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name."   Scholars aren't sure if this "mark" is literal or whether it's to whom the heart pledges allegiance.  My thoughts are that it may be in fact literal- especially where technology today is going.   Think of it:  a mark on the right hand or forehead?  I know that there are machines now that accept your fingerprint as a form of payment- all your personal info, including your credit card  number are connected to your fingerprint.  It would be a lot harder to be fraudulent of someone's fingerprint, although I guess anything is possible.  Here are a couple articles: https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-07-29-fingerprint_x.htm

https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-07-29-fingerprint_x.htm

        It's real, and it's happening.  Is the mark of the beast coming next, when people figure out how to reproduce fingerprints?  If you think of it, a tattoo for instance, visible or invisible- or a microchip embedded in the hand or forehead of someone would seem almost impossible to reproduce.  As I said earlier, the "mark" might not be a physical mark, but if it is... it seems we are heading in that direction.   If this is going to be only way to buy or sell anything- including food, how are those who don't receive the mark going to eat?  Remember what this chapter says about anyone who gets the mark:

Verse 9:  "If anyone worships the beast and it's image and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath..."

Verse 11:  "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

And it says right after this,

Verse 12:  "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

        To me, this says that as believers, we are not to be conformed with the way of the world and what seems to be normality.  Isn't the way of world typically the way of destruction?  That is why Paul says in Romans 12, "Do not be conformed to this world...".  To me, this also says, the way of the world will be the mark of the beast, and we as believers should not conform to it.  Does this mean that we won't be able to buy food?  Maybe.  But if the way of the world is destruction and death- than I would rather not eat to satisfy my physical body so that my spiritual body may be resurrected with Christ when the Day of the Lord comes.  

On Revelation Chapter 14

• Leanne