@KalebOutWest, you must be way way out West...lolš...
KalebOutWest said: "They read Revelation and the Bible without any critical type of approach, without any consideration of its ancient form of genre. It isn't a prophecy, it's an apocalypse. Its alternative title is even "The Apocalypse of John."
An apocalypse is a writing containing political intrigue that is filled with commentary on what was happening during the author's lifetime written in the name of a prophet as if they were oracles foretelling the future."
"į¼ĻĪæĪŗĪ¬Ī»Ļ ĻĪ¹Ļ apokĆ”lypsis, ap-ok-al'-oop-sis; from G601; disclosure:āappearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation." (Strong's definitions)
@KalebOutWest, Revelation isn't a "political intrigue". Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean there isn't someone else who does understand it. God had it written and He understands it, and He can let whoever He wants understand it, even the lowliest person on the planet, if He wants to.
KalebOutWest said: "There are countless commentaries explaining what the authors were talking about in the past that academics agree upon (in other words, scholars know more or less what these writers were saying as they were talking about the past, not looking into the future). That's why there are commentaries on the subject."
Most "scholars" don't know jack about what Revelation means. Neither do the youtubers who make stuff up about the mark of the beast, or internet website bloggers who want to beg for donations for supporting their supposed "work for the Lord" (aka, their own pocketbook).
Just because some ridiculous wack-jobs wrongly conclude that the "mark of the beast" is Obamacare or tags or microchips or vaccines or whatever doesn't negate that fact that Revelation is prophecy from God.
There is no "magic potion" to get "saved". There is no "secret sauce" to get "saved". There is no "special number" or "charm" or superstitious hoosiewhatsis to avoid in order to get "saved". Jehovah is not some God of superstition.
Revelation was given in signs. The rest of the Bible and holy spirit helps explain what the signs mean.
Exodus 13:9
"And this will serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial on your forehead, so that Jehovahās law may be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand Jehovah brought you out of Egypt."
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
"These words that I am commanding you today must be on your heart...Tie them as a reminder on your hand, and they must be like a headband on your forehead."
In ancient times, when the Jews were told to keep the Law on tied on their hands and on their foreheads, it didn't mean literally. It meant they should let it guide their thinking and their actions. It's the same with the illustration about the mark of the beast. Those having the mark of the beast are contrasted with those who do not have the mark of the beast on their forehead or hand.
Revelation 20:4
"Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand."
Faithful ones do not let ungodly, beastly ways dominate their thinking and actions.
That's all the mark of the beast is. It's not anything huge. It's not complicated. The mark of the beast just means being morally stupid. It's figurative, not literal.
Revelation 13:18
"This is where it calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a manās number, and its number is 666."
Six is one short of seven. The sabbath rest was on the seventh day. The Kingdom with Christ as King will provide true rest for mankind. Neither the UN nor any part of Satan's political system can provide rest for mankind. The political systems are deficient. Those who rest their hope for salvation on the UN or other parts of Satan's political system will be marked figuratively "666". Their thinking is deficient - if they really think the worldly governments can solve all earth's problems, they really have no clue.
God is Love. Those who let love guide their thinking and actions are not beastly. Love is what will protect people from having the figurative "mark of the beast".