Did some reading. Seems to be a dispute over the question, “Can someone who took the mark of the beast ever repent?” MacArthur says they could, in theory. Others say they cannot.
Reminds me of the long fought question, “If someone says they believe and have asked for forgiveness and been baptized and then rejects Jesus, did they “fall away”? Or did they never really believe?”
My response would be, “Who gives a rat’s rear? Don’t do it!”
That’s the problem... MacArthur is saying that is okay for people to take the Mark of the Beast.