This is an absolutely amazing study! Which once again shows the accuracy of the Bible.
 Consider this first, this was written by John almost 2000 years ago. A time when men lived in houses of stone and sticks.

 John clearly stated that the buying and selling of the world would be controlled by a mark in the right hand or forehead.
  Revelation 13:16And 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: 17And 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. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 600 plus 3 score (a score means times twenty) plus 6 = 666.

 We see that everyone will be required to have this mark, and keep in mind the right hand or the forehead.
 The word mark in the original Greek is  charagma= a scratch or etching (as a badge of servitude ) :- graven, mark.
 There's also reference to two other words, charakter, and charax.
 Charakter is = a graver  (the tool or the person).
 Charax is = to sharpen, to a point.

 We see that it is a graven object inserted using a sharp tool, that shows servitude. Now lets look at 666. It just so happens that in the Greek this numerical value also has a word associated with it.
 Chi xi stigma = 666, and reference to stigma = (to "stick", prick) a mark incised or punched ( for recognition of ownership), scar of service :- mark.

 Wow! Written almost 2000 years ago mind you. John is telling us it will be placed with a needle. And no one will be able to buy or sell without it.

 People have become accustom to tracking numbers. Social security, credit cards, and drivers license numbers are an every day thing. These certainly are ways of identifying us, but is there a limit?
 Now we have the  smart cards that contain a small microchip which can contain everything that you would carry in your wallet. Sounds like a good idea. Put all the different numbers on one card and with the addition of your health info you'd have everything you need to go anywhere in the world.
   A problem still remains. The card can still be lost or stolen. What a headache, getting a new card and getting all the info changed. So then, what if they can take all that information and place it on a rice grain sized microchip and place it just beneath the skin of your right hand or forehead. It can never be lost.
 Your identification and health information would be with you permanently. Add a hand or retinal scan and no one could possibly use your id. Seems like a good security measure doesn't it?
 You could travel anywhere in the world, and in the event of a medical emergency the doctors would instantly have access to your medical info.

 It's being presented as a life saving device. You can see how this is going to work itself in.
 It may become your Digital Angel.

 The whole principal of wanting to be able to identify people is a reasonable one.

  The idea of marking or numbering people is nothing new. Right in the beginning we find that God set a mark upon Cain.
 Genesis 4:15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

 We see here again a mark is used to identify.

 Ezekiel 9:4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Those with out the mark were killed.
 This will be the exact method set in place by the Antichrist. Those who do not receive this mark,  will be persecuted and put to death when and if caught.
 If you find yourself at this point, it requires what I would have to call a "great leap of faith". You will have to lay down your life in order to escape it. Believing of course, at the very next moment you will be in the presence of the Lord. Can you do it? If your not taken in the rapture, you will find out.

 Revelation 20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 Antichrist uses the same method that God used in Ezekiel's day. He will send his followers out to destroy those that have not the mark in their foreheads or in their hands. And from what John says, those not marked will be beheaded.

 This mark is all about allegiance. As we learned in the word translations, this mark will be as a badge of servitude, and showing his ownership of those receiving it. It will be placed on the willing individuals, and can not be forced on the unwilling.
 If forced, it wouldn't show willingness of service, so those that refuse it are the ones that lose their heads as an example to others. If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem, right? But we find those that willingly pledge their allegiance to the Antichrist will place themselves under the judgment of the Almighty.

 Revelation 16:1And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

 We see God specifically designed this judgment for those accepting the Antichrist's mark. Noisome meaning severe, and grievous meaning hurtful. A severely painful sore, brought on just by having this mark.

 Already this chip is found to cause problems - Microchip maker 'hid ties to cancer'.
 It's a no win situation.
  Revelation 14:9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

 It would be much better being one of those beheaded for not receiving the mark than fall under the wrath of God.

 Revelation 19:20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 It would certainly be much better to be one of these. Revelation 15:1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

  We know the devil's plan...... To deceive the world, and bring them under the judgment of God. Which in the end will land them in the lake of fire.
 Just how close are we to facing this mark?

 Will that be the Right Hand or the Forehead?