Could be a metaphor, too, you know. I know it’s a stretch - it’s not like The Bible has any metaphors in it, you know.
I happen to believe in Bible prophecy. It has always been right in the past. If you choose not to believe it that is your business, but it won't do you much good to try to convince me that something as plainly stated as it is in the verses I quoted represents a metaphor for something else. There is obviously a mark, a name and a number, and the location of the mark is unlikely to be a metaphor for 'in a pyramid on Mars' or whatever. I suppose that you could interpret John 3:16 to mean that there are many ways to salvation if you put your mind to it, but I don't try to find alternate meanings when the one intended is so plain.
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem