13:17 b
Commerce restricted

     "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." (Rev. 13:17).

   With the financial chaos fast developing as I write, we can see clearly how a restriction on buying and selling would be a natural whip to get those who don't accept one of the three characteristics of the beast, re1317, to conform. This will forbid the righteous access to normal life on this planet. The strength of the labor unions could govern who can work to earn money. The national identification system currently proposed in the US could track everyone in a cashless society and require clearance for transactions, thus excluding those considered heretics! Of course, the US Social Security number tracking already has the same potential to some degree. Other countries require identity cards.
   God's people will need to leave the cities mt24ab where the oppression and mobs and gangs will be the worst so they can live off the land.

Also a spiritual meaning
   We may see, along with the commercial restrictions, spiritual implications in our verse. No one will be permitted to share any religious ideas except those authorized by the image to the beast. The true gospel will be promoted at severe risk. How different is the call of Jesus.
   "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17).
   "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa. 55:1)

The issue
   I have explained what I believe the textual evidence points to as the religious conviction which the end-time power will try to stamp out, r13i. The issue is true worship. "And he [the beast from the earth] exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (Rev. 13:12)
   We see the picture a little clearer as we look at the kings and the merchants in chapter 18 1811.

Threats of death and forbidding to buy and sell also seen in Daniel 11
    "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away [literally "devote to destruction"] many." (Dan. 11:44). This is a verse from the story of the evil king. This means to kill and to cause to die from withholding life support — to destroy and to devote to destruction.

May God keep us faithful to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.