Revelation has a lot of symbols in it. I’ll stick my neck out and say the mark of the beast probably doesn’t mean a stunt like this. For one thing the forehead positioning would be rather inconvenient for shopping purposes. It sure sounds to me like it is a symbol for a way of acting (hand) and thinking (head). If you will not think and act like the Beast, then you cannot “buy or sell” your ideas.
I already see stuff like that going on with FR. Classic Christian ideas are frequently considered odd ball, too weak, too wimpy, etc.
I was thinking the mark of the beast is much like the mark I received when I was baptized.
God will recognize his mark.
If you are marked by the beast it will recognize its mark.
These are spiritual marks.
Using RFID technology to “mark people” is more of a secular thing, I don’t think it will spread much beyond urban areas.
I won’t get an implant ever, but that is for health concerns.
Walid Shoebat had an article a couple weeks ago about Turkey demanding that foreign workers put the ‘mark of the beast’ on their hands, and how it will permit them to buy and sell in marketplaces.
Erdogan has been identified, by eastern orthodox Christians, as the antichrist.
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
-- Deuteronomy 6
Question: "What are phylacteries?" (gotquestions.org)
Answer: Phylacteries, sometimes called tefillin, are small, square leather boxes containing portions of Scripture worn by Conservative and Orthodox Jews during prayer services. Phylacteries are worn in pairs—one phylactery is strapped on the left arm, and one is strapped to the forehead of Jewish men during weekday morning prayers. The word phylactery comes from a Greek word meaning “safeguard, protection, or amulet.”
The phylactery strapped to the arm is called the shel yad and has only one compartment; the one on the forehead, containing four compartments, is called the shel rosh. The letter shin (ש) is printed on either side of the head phylactery. Various rules govern the length and width of the connecting straps, the tying of the knots to secure the phylacteries, and the color of the boxes (black). Inside each phylactery are four passages from the Old Testament: Exodus 13:1–10, 11–16; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 11:13–21. The verses must be written in black ink on parchment specially prepared for this purpose, using the skin of a clean animal. Other rules specify the type of writing instrument to be used, the number of printed lines devoted to each verse, the arrangement of the pieces of parchment within each compartment, etc...
http://www.gotquestions.org/phylacteries.html
I believe that what Revelation speaks of also has to do with what we do with our minds (our heads) and our hands (our actions), but it still sounds entirely possible that this will also involve an actual, physical and literal "mark of the Beast" somehow.
The fact that unbelievers are so flippant about this, and openly calling a chip "the mark of the Beast" (and embracing it) should tell us something, I believe.
The chip that is being used now likely isn't it, unless it becomes in widespread use as the Bible says. But a new technology could come along at any time. For instance, while a mark on the head sounds inconvenient for payment, I just heard that companies are using facial recognition technology over cell phones to securely verify purposes - in other words, selfies.
I respectfully submit that it is not symbolic.
More or less my understand (hand doing the work of Satan, and Head using your mind to try to convice others that he IS Jesus)
Glad I’m not the only one.