The "mark of the beast" may not be something physical. It may be refer to a refusal to conform to the Zeitgeist that will lead to exclusion of some kind. For example, anyone who opposes evolution will be black-banned from being employed by a university ... or anyone who refuses to bake a cake for a same-sex marriage will not be able to own a bakery ... etc, etc, etc. Think of the Nazi exclusion of Jews from German society, but in a different context.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.