The reference to the 'Mark of the Beast' is a reference to its character. The nature of its character is to be found both in its forehead (thoughts) and in its hand (actions).
This applies to all believers, as to which 'mark' (character) that they may have. A person is determined by their thoughts and actions. You are determined internally by what you think - externally by what you do. Oftentimes people do one thing for the world to see, but internally they wish another thing.
If thoughts are evil they are the Mark of the Beast in the forehead, and if actions are evil they are the Mark of the Beast in the hand. In this case the Beast identifies the "Devil" or "Satan", which is a whole subject on its own and not one specific entity as many people imagine.
Actual examples are discussed in related chapters (Rev.13:16,17 - Rev.14:9,11 - Rev.15:2 - Rev.19:20 - Rev.20:4) but this is a spiritual explanation of the subject as compared to the concern that many people currently have about being branded on their foreheads or on their hand or being implanted with a computer chip. Because this is an archetype it is not unreasonable in some instances as seeing the archetype being applied in the latter or similar ways.
Hopefully, those who study the following scriptures, which contain EVERY and ALL references to the Mark of the Beast, will come to understand their true meaning and will live in such a manner that they will have no concerns.
[13:16] 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:
13:16 The power of the Beast, the US/UN was used to create a world finanical/monetary system based upon the world reserve currency of the US/Petrodollars from the Middle East, which all had to use and obtain either through their labor (hands) or some intellectual effort.
Everyone gets the mark, whatever it is, so one need not worry about not getting it - or trying to avoid it.
[13:17] 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.
13:17 This is an apt description of modern currency. You can have cash in hand, or a credit card that you can name, or an ATM or bank number. Those are your three choices. If you don't have one or the other - you are really out of luck. Try living today by means of barter or some other way. Won't work.
In order to buy or sell, everyone has to have the mark (like the German Mark or the US Dollar). One could either have the mark itself or its name. "Will that be cash or credit card?" Or the number of his name, "Insert your ATM card here."
[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,
14:9 Many people misunderstand about "the mark".
Just as people misunderstand they say that "money is the root of all evil", because of the verse -
1 Timothy
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It is NOT money that is the root of all evil. It is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. In reading the verse they somehow miss the word "love". One needs to use money to live, but they should not "love" money.
In reading this verse in the Book of Revelation, some people also miss it, but the operative word here is "AND". In a modern society one has to use money to live. But if instead of just using money for its proper purpose they worship (love) money, the Beast, material things, and they focus on that so that it consumes their mind and activity - that it becomes the purpose of their life, rather than God, well then, as in the next verse -
[14:10] 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:
14:10 It is not those who use money (an example of The Mark of the Beast), but those that "love"/"worship" the Beast (money, power, influence, control, and all the trappings of materialism), who miss the purpose of life. It is much like what Jesus said about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit - which most men don't understand either.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men
[14:11] 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.
14:11 This is what scares people, and well it should. They just don't understand what it means. Do note the problem is worshipping the Beast. The operative word there is again "AND". Someone just properly using money, which is the mark of the Beast's name, need not fear - if they do not worship the Beast, that is to say place their love in money / the Beast rather than loving and worshipping God.
Once again, as stated in the long quote (second below) this applies to "all the peoples of the world" who have turned away from spirituality to materiality and "recognized standards" of decency, which is a meaning of taking the mark in their hand.
Still, there may be specifics for this particular people, the two factions of which have both developed nuclear weapons, "the smoke of their torment ascending up" being a very visual description of a nuclear mushroom cloud and "the torment lasting for ever and ever" an apt one about the long term effects of radiation.
"On the day when the heaven shall give out a palpable smoke, which shall enshroud mankind: this will be an afflictive torment."1 Qur'an (Koran) 44:10.
The symbolic term "smoke" denotes grave dissensions, the abrogation and demolition of recognized standards, and the utter destruction of their narrow-minded exponents. What smoke more dense and overpowering than the one which hath now enshrouded all the peoples of the world, which hath become a torment unto them, and from which they hopelessly fail to deliver themselves, however much they strive? So fierce is this fire of self burning within them, that at every moment they seem to be afflicted with fresh torments...
Ere long, thine eyes will behold the standards of divine power unfurled throughout all regions, and the signs of His triumphant might and sovereignty manifest in every land. As most of the divines have failed to apprehend the meaning of these verses, and have not grasped the significance of the Day of Resurrection, they therefore have foolishly interpreted these verses according to their idle and faulty conception.Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 76
[15:2] And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
15:2 This marvelous sign appeared to John as 'a sea of clear transparent glass mingled with fire'. This was a fire of sacrifice, as many found the new message. With harps they sang their praises, with clear wisdom and understanding and without being clouded by the "mark" and the "name" as explained in previous chapters.
A Prayer:
O God, my God! Thou hast lighted the lamp of Thy Cause with the oil of wisdom; protect it from contrary winds. The lamp is Thine, and the glass is Thine, and all things in the heavens and on earth are in the grasp of Thy power. Bestow justice upon the rulers, and fairness upon the divines.Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 104
[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.
16:2 We identify the First Angel with the Sabean Faith and Native religions throughout the world, the first of the Seven Religions, so this is the beginning of the fifth thread in which each of the religions will be discussed in turn.
The first vial poured upon the earth is the influence of the tyrannical sociopathic leaders that hold sway over humankind. All those who seek the materialism and immorality of the present day, are grievously affected regarding the happiness and contentment of their souls.
"The first angel is a power who will give forth wonderful signs. The first vial really means influence. Through that influence some who were apparently good, but inwardly bad, were destroyed; they were deprived of the light. These people in their characters were really like animals; the 'mark' here signifies character."
The travails of this time will be grevious enough that we do not need to describe them in gory detail, but we all know about the potential of such things as radioactive fallout and what it can cause. Unfortunately, it will fall upon the good and the evil alike.
[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.
19:20 The Beast, the powers of falsity and evil, materialism and immorality, selfishness and hatred, that wreaked havoc on the world finally reach their peak of self-destruction. Their False Prophet (science without religion) whom they had greatly honored, but who deceived them into a false faith that money, the mark of the Beast, was in control, had proven itself as much the source of evil as good, so now they became embroiled in their own machinations that were a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Erelong they will perceive the consequences of what their hands have wrought in the Day of God." "This is the Day," He again has written, "whereon the earth shall tell out her tidings. The workers of iniquity are her burdens... The Crier hath cried out, and men have been torn away, so great hath been the fury of His wrath.Baha'u'llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 194
[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.
20:4 There are many souls who have been martyred because of their allegiance to God. Certainly Jews throughout history and many in other religions. The Babis alone had over twenty thousand martyrs.
In the Christian religion, many followers went against the teachings of the Pope and were admonished for it, as history shows. Some lives were lost and many suffered in other ways. To this day beheadings and killings are taking place of Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists.
We now look forward to a time when people of all religions will live in peace. This peace is supposed to last for a thousand years but eventually the old attractions of the Beast will subvert many.
Not one single Manifestation of Holiness hath appeared but He was afflicted by the denials, the repudiation, and the vehement opposition of the people around Him. Thus it hath been revealed:
[Qur'an 36:30] "O the misery of men! No Messenger cometh unto them but they laugh Him to scorn."
Again He saith:
[Qur'an 40:5] "Each nation hath plotted darkly against their Messenger to lay violent hold on Him, and disputed with vain words to invalidate the truth."Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 4
As has been carefully explained throughout, the Mark of the Beast is not something stamped on people's foreheads, but rather it is their thoughts and intentions, and as regarding their hands - their actions. Those who are devoted to the Lord, the Lord will assist them in overcoming all such difficulties.