Still, just to put forth a thought here, look at, say, Paula Dean, or that football player that said the ‘n’ word this week. Especially in the case of Paula, they are destroying her career. Of course she will still have money and be able to buy and sell, but what about some poor smuck in the future, when PC has become much worse? And suppose he says it about homosexuals, or heck, maybe at that time pedophilic serial killers will be demanding their civil rights?
I believe that most Bible passages can be read on more than one level, although, I believe that if you skip over the lower, more obvious, levels to skip to the higher ones you will come to serious grief with your interpretations.
On the “mark” issue, it’s pretty clear that NO ONE can buy or sell without it, in any manner whatsoever.
This would require an absolutely intrusive surveillance state that is starting to come to fruition.
I do believe we’re in the season of the Lord’s Return.