KJV. I just had a break through regarding the mark. It is both spiritual and literal, as is much of Revelation. The image of the beast was worshiped in the temple in full sight of the Jews by way of the Roman ensigns bearing the imago of the Emperor, Vespasian.
Check out this denarius and remember what Christ said about it? "Give until Caesar what is Caesar's and give until God what is God. In other words, "This is Caesar's crappy little idol, let him have it, but give me your hearts, souls and minds." Don't forget the Law concerning "worshiping graven images" which this certainly is.
On the back the inscription reads, "Divine Julius" stamped through sun rays. THE SUN, don't worship it!! On the front, the same graven image of Vespasian would be much larger on the ensigns carried before the Roman legions in battle and sacrificed to on the Temple in full view of all the Jews. Now, contrary to some beliefs, although prior to 66 AD, Jews were allowed to mint their own currency which usually contained an image of wheat or something, non-God like. But they could only use their currency when conducting trade among themselves. When conducting business with Rome, they used Roman currency. Any property titles being bought or sold had to have the seal of Caesar, his likeness stamped on them. After 70 AD, all those remaining in Palestine, of which some where Jews, and of course in Rome, all had to use Roman money as Jewish money was outlawed. So, you can't buy or sell without the name, the number of his name or the mark.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
[17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
The beast causes ALL, that means everybody, to take his mark. Where did Caesar require ALL to take a mark in their right hand or forehead? If it's going to fit, it's going to fit in all ways.
But there's more. Remember how angry Jesus got with the money changers? Remember how He lambasted the scribes and Pharisees and Sanhedrin for their greed? What does Paul say about "greed in Col 3?
[SUP]5 [/SUP]Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. [SUP]6 [/SUP]For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.
Greed = Idolatry
It was because of idolatry that Jerusalem and all those inside were punished with great tribulation, the likes never handed out by God before. But it gets better.
Judas betrayed Christ over what? 30 pieces of silver or "greed."
Now remember the Sanhedrin when they were looking for a reason to kill Jesus, blasphemy wasn't the real reason. The real reason was over money. They knew based on all Christ taught that if He ever became King, He would "drain the swamp." They all stood to lose everything, their status, their power, their wealth, etc. The one thing that kept them in power and in the money was....wait for it.
THE LAW
So, when God, using the Romans to destroy the Temple, He not only ended the Law, He ended their way of life and in most cases, their actual lives.
There is so much more. I was just getting started but have to run...
Bottom line is, the bible and the bible alone will define who the beast is and what his mark is. We study the bible, not history to show ourselves approved. I'm sorry, I can't agree with any of that.