Greetings all,
I think the idea of an outward mark, tattoo, microchip, or whatever sealing one's eternal fate is silly, unBiblical, and even refuted by the Book of Revelation itself.
I might as well tell you my conclusion before I give you the Biblical support.
All religion is a matter of the heart and is evidenced by what we
think and
do to a great degree. Or, to put it Biblically, in James' fashion (James 1:26–27), we can say that what we
think and
do is displayed outwardly in our speech and actions. Get it? What we
think and
do. By what is in our
head (heart) and
hand (works). Isn't it obvious? It is the love of and obedience to the world system. This heart matter is the mark of the beast. There may be some outward requirement that goes along with the state of our hearts, like in the early church days by Rome. But the central meaning of (Revelation 13:16) must be a matter of the inner man.
Making much of an outward mark on the forehead or hand is to think like the Pharisees, for whom all religion was almost exclusively an external thing. Jesus often corrected and rebuked them for wrong-headed thinking.
Mark 7:14-23
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Here are a few related Scriptures. You will see that the "mark" received is either altogether spiritual, or represent something spiritual.
Ezekiel 9:4 (KJV)
and the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Isaiah 49:16 (KJV)
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Jeremiah 3:3 (KJV)
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
Ezekiel 3:8–9 (KJV)
Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Revelation 7:3 (KJV)
saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Does anyone think these servants of God received a literal mark? Why then is it so easy to assume the mark of the beast is some outward sign?
You get the idea you could take the mark by accident and thus seal your fate.