Taking the mark is at a certain point in time and if we look at all that is going on at that moment it might help to see the significance of this warning. Rev 13
And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Notes after he survives the mortal wound he is given authority to continue for forty two months. The scope is worldwide.
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Note the new authority he has is over every tribe tongue and nation and it is give to those whos names have not been written into the Lambs book of life, from the foundation of the world. This opens up the limited atonement free will election debate. I believe Jesus paid for all out sins and would that we all come to salvation. We have free will but God is omniscient at the same time so this distinction is that those who worship the beast are those not in the book. In 2 Thessalonians it expands on some of the blaspheme the man of sin will use.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[fn] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[fn] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
All of this has just happened which is now the beginning of persecution of both Jews and Tribulation saints. This lasts again 42 months or in Rev 12 a times times and half a time 3 1/2 years 42 months.
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
This is when the 2nd beast initiates the mark of the beast.
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those[fn] who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[fn] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Note it comes after the beast survived his wound and Satan is cast down and given his authority to this person. This person blashphemes God and declares himself to be God and the whole world believes him. This is what a lying sign and wonder that even the elect could be fooled if it were possible. It seems they cannot. The mark if the beast is much more a commitment to worshiping the beast than just a technology tool to buy and sell. This is a replay of Nebuchadnezzar making his image and death to those who would not worship it.
Last note the mark of the beast actually includes 3 options. and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. There may be different classes of marks one for the masses another for the police and another for the elite. Anyways since Revelation says not to ad or take away from the book
this passage is very clear if someone who has no mental capacity is given the mark God is just the crossing the line and choosing to get the mark or not it will be clear that you are affirming that the beast is a God by doing so. 9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
