The bible is very clear on many things even though it is written in mostly symbolic terms.
Rev_13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to
worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev_13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not
worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev_14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man
worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev_14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
What do all these say---it all centers around worship. That is not a secular objective. It is religious in nature. What was really behind Satan's temptations of Christ in the wilderness?
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.
It is what he wanted from the start
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Throughout scripture the symbolism of the forehead and the hand is mentioned.
So let it be a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for the Lord brought us out of Egypt by the strength of His hand."
Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.
Deut 11:18
"Impress these words of Mine on your hearts and souls, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads.
There are over 23 verses dealing with the foreheads---it is a symbol of the thoughts--in other words, the brain of man, then mind.
The symbolism of the hand is even more prolific in the bible-- countless verses--it refers to action. In Revelation these are not actual marks either. It is symbolism --as are the beasts. The forehead symbolic of the mind, the hand symbolic of action, the beasts symbolic of powers, kingdoms, authority. It so throughout scripture.
This means that this kingdom, power, authority in control of a people, has not only secular power, but also religious power for it demands both religious worship and has the power to decline the right to buy and sell to anyone which is a secular power. If the mark is not a literal one--which it obviously isn't--
then the question would be what is the mark. It is what that power claims it as it's sign of authority. This power demands obedience to it either in mind (actual believe in its authority, or in outward conformity to it)--that at the end tines both sides are sealed by a sign of authority is stated in scriptures.
Rev_7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev_7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
The mark or seal of God is on the forehead alone. The mark or seal of the beast is on both forehead and hand. God wants not just an outward conformity--His seal is on the heart. It prevents an outward conformity to anything else. The question then becomes, what is the seal, the mark the sign of God and what is the seal, the sign, the mark of this religious/secular power?