Someone asked what exactly MacArthur said. I posted the Phil Johnson article as a reply to that question, so yes, I did know that there was a close relationship. (I believe they are both pastors in the same church, so not employee/employer.) In FR it's pretty easy to see who I was replying to, and I did post the question I was answering in italics at the beginning of my post.
I was unable to watch the video on the computer I'm using right now. I did see that you mentioned his name in your comments.
I'm not sure that I agree with MacArthur on this on, but this is really a doctrine that is based on one passage in Revelation. We don't have anything close to a consensus on how to interpret Revelation, and three of the four major interpretive frameworks (preterist, historist, idealist) deny that there are real future events depicted in Revelation, so one would do well to weigh other passages before making firm pronouncements based upon it.
Jesus said there is one unpardonable sin. Does receiving the mark fall under blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? I'd say maybe, but I'm not ready to start calling everyone who disagrees with me a heretic. You might be right, or you might be the end times version of Fred Phelps - "God Hates ______", instead of Repent!
I will say most of the posts on this thread add more heat than light. (Confession: My baby/bathwater comment probably fits that as well.)
Taking the Mark of the Beast means you are worshipping the Beast and this is an irreversible act and an unpardonable sin (which can only be committed during the End Times... never before this time).
MacArthur should know that, but I suspect he still has Freemasonic ties, just as his dad and grandfather did, which alters his thinking.
https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?14,76955,page=32