ANSWER: The book of Revelation was written to Christians who were being persecuted at the hands of the Roman Empire to assure them that they would eventually be victorious. The “beast” in this passage has reference to the Roman Empire. It is teaching that only those who lived at that time with allegiance to the Roman Empire would in some way be so identified and, thus, be able to buy and sell. Christians to whom John was writing, and who were opposed to Rome, would not be able to buy and sell. They would, therefore, be caused to suffer temporarily as a result. The passage is not teaching that there is to be a future “great tribulation” during which Christians will live in a “cashless society!”