[metmom]

In Biblical times, livestock was frequently so marked. Even slaves could have been so marked. So, it's not a stretch to imagine ordinary freemen, too, being routinely marked in such a way.

Actually, I disagree with that.

In those days free men were NOT marked. Since it was slaves and livestock which were branded, I think the concept that EVERYONE bear the mark to buy or sell would be foreign to those who were free.

[alexander_busek]

In Biblical times, livestock was frequently so marked. Even slaves could have been so marked. So, it's not a stretch to imagine ordinary freemen, too, being routinely marked in such a way.

Actually, I disagree with that. In those days free men were NOT marked. Since it was slaves and livestock which were branded, I think the concept that EVERYONE bear the mark to buy or sell would be foreign to those who were free.

You have misunderstood me. What I meant was:

So, it's not a stretch to imagine ordinary freemen, too, being routinely marked in such a way - in the "End Times," and as a sign of being beholden to or enthralled by the ANTICHRIST.

The original poster opined that, in a largely pre-literature society, the mere concept of marking people with a NUMBER would have been strange or "ground-breaking." I retorted that the Bible speaks of a SIGN, not a NUMBER, and added that SIGNS were routinely employed to mark possessions ("chattel") - including slaves. So as repellent as the thought would have been to the readers of Revelations, it would not have required a "quantum leap" in imagination to posulate NOMINALLY free men being so marked.

If, on the other hand, Revelations had spoken of the requirement that everyone be marked with a, say, 10-digit alphanumeric string in order to engage in commerce, etc. - then, to us MODERNS, that would, indeed, have been astounding / prescient.

I hope that I have made myself clear, now.

Regards,