[Trapped]

Signs and wonders are different from what is, essentially, some kind of "pre-mark". These are two different things. The Bible says there will be things given as a sign. Things like fire from heaven that all can see. It does not indicate anything like.....things a lot like the mark but not actually the mark so people will be conditioned to getting the mark.

Saying "the Bible does not say xyz" is a legitimate observation.

Maybe I should have said it another way. "I don't see anything indicating those who receive the mark will be deceived into doing so, or conditioned to voluntarily accept something that turns out to be the mark (also a form of deception)" can also be flipped to say: "The Bible is pretty clear about first beasts and dragons and images and second beasts and the whole world following in wonder and everyone worshipping it (actual worship, not just "going along" with something) and fire from heaven as a sign that all can see, etc..." Things will be pretty crazy. Like, we ain't seen nothing yet, crazy.

Do I know that credit cards and SSN's and vax are in no way related? Well, Revelation says the mark is "the name of the beast or the number of it's name". That's it. It's the same mark (either its name or the number of its name) on everyone who complies. That doesn't line up with credit cards or SSNs or cell phone numbers. Vaccines are not taken on the forehead or on the right hand, so.......I don't know......kinda seems like not, eh? Per Ohio's point that the mark is financially related, I don't think the mark is a financial mark, unless the name of the beast is somehow financially related, but it will have an effect on what you can and can't do with your finances (buy/sell, etc).

Also, credit cards, SSNs, cell phone numbers, and even vaxxes are......not a common thing around the world. In the U.S. and wealthier countries yes, but in many other poor countries........no. Whatever it is will have to apply to all mankind.

My healthy fear is looking at what's happening, looking at what people are saying, and looking at what the Bible says will happen. If they don't match up, then it's fearmongering, because people aren't reading what the Bible says.

Regarding being "caused" to receive the mark, Revelation 13:8 indicates those who worship the beast are unbelievers......

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

.....and Revelation 14:9-12 sounds like genuine believers will not receive the mark or worship the beast (otherwise we've got genuine believers condemned to eternal destruction)....

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,
10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Those verses together are where I got that thought from. It seems like some don't worship the beast or get the mark. They choose not to.

When I say "I don't see anything", I can surely start to form an opinion or head towards a conclusion. And when I run across new information or understand old information differently, then I can adjust course. Opinions and conclusions can literally never be formed if we cannot do so until we know the truth of a matter because how can we ever be sure there is not some truth we don't know yet? We can only work with what we know at the moment.

This is all I have to say about this topic, and all I have to contribute to this thread. I'm not sure if I brought it off topic.....if so, my apologies.

Trapped