Isn't the main issue with the beast and the dragon
worship rather than technology?
Isn't it possible that not being able to buy or
sell is not to force people to worship the beast, but to
smoke out those who won't?
Revelation 13:3 And I saw
one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his
deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered
after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon
which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying,
Who is like unto the beast? who is
able to make war with him?
8 And all that
dwell upon the earth shall worship
him, whose names are not written in the book
of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.
12 And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before
him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell
therein to worship the
first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
15 And he had power
to give life unto the image of the beast, that the
image of the beast should both speak, and cause that
as many as would not worship
the image of the beast should be killed.
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:
17 And that no man
might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the
name of the beast, or the number of his name.
So how is his name or his number something
brought about by technology? They're not.
However they are in the same list as having
the mark of the beast.
Revelation 14:9 And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the
beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured
out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in
the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence
of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of
their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they
have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Do people go to the lake of fire for
technology? No, receiving the mark is in the same list
as worshipping the beast and his image.
It is about worship, not technology. Receiving
the mark is an act of worship.
Revelation 16:2 And the
first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth;
and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the
men which had the mark of the beast, and upon
them which worshipped
his image.
Revelation 19:20 And the
beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that
wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived
them that had received the mark of the beast, and them
that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire
burning with brimstone.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw
thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was
given unto them: and I saw the souls
of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
In the 70's there were tracts written to
"prove" that bar code technology was the mark of the
beast.
So some Christians who had made purchases in a
grocery store, then read that, wondered if they were now
sealed for the lake of fire.
Then in the late 80's tracts were written to
"prove" that visa cards were the mark of the beast.
Some Christians who had already gotten a visa
card, read that, and found out too late that they were
already sealed for the lake of fire.
Now, at least they're not saying that the
chips actually are the mark of the beast, but merely
getting us ready for it.
Again, I don't think that the devil is looking
for technological superiority.
Rather it looks like he desires to be
worshipped, either directly, or indirectly by worshipping
the beast.
I don't think that people will be tricked into
the mark, they will take it willingly.
I don't think the not buying or selling is to
scare them into taking it, but rather a way to "smoke-out"
those who won't worship the beast.
Once they are smoked out, they will face
having their heads cut off.