Equally important is to refrain from applying what the Bible says to our current times. Especially based on what we can see with our own eyes. Never in the history of mankind has evil men been able to surveil our every move. There are cameras in space that can pinpoint our homes and cars. There are cameras on countless street corners. The NSA has access to our cell phone and computers and email correspondence. Banks record our every financial transaction. Never in the history of mankind have we found ourselves in the current situation.
The Bible uses metaphoric language (parables, etc.) to describe the events to come. The Bible tells us to be "watchmen on the wall" and to discern the times and the seasons. If we're paying attention, we know of the WEF, IMF, United Nations, the Neo-Vatican, and many other Globalist organizations that are moving the entire world into a situation where only a handful of the most powerful elitists will control every aspect of our lives. We're almost to a point where a computer chip will contain every tidbit of information about you and me (name, address, bank account number, social security number, social networks, political affiliation, etc.). I personally believe that the plan is to make every person accept a "mark" in order to buy or sell. That's a biblical prophecy. Will it be a computer chip implanted on or in our person? Will it be a barcode tattooed on our person? I can't say for sure, but we WILL be required to accept a mark in order to buy and/or sell, and the Bible makes it very clear that Christians NOT accept that mark. And since I can think of no other time in history where taking a "mark" was required to buy or sell, and I can only conclude that it's a future event.