Actually, there appear to be a total of four
options available:
One must either have the "mark" of the image of the beast
in the (1) "hand" or (2) "forehead"—or (3) the "name of the
beast" or (4) the "number of his name."
Since the marking "image" is a Protestant federation acting like the
"beast," which is the papacy (see #7), these marks would pertain to cooperation
with them. Either would be acceptable.
Not being able to "buy or sell" without one of these marks would restrict
anyone from witnessing or congregating without the permission of the Protestant Federation
or the papacy.
The Revelator does give a confirmation on who the "beast" is by giving the
number 666. In ancient times, letters had numerical equivalents. There seem to be several
ways to compute "the number of his name"—using the languages above our
Savior's head on the cross:
O
LATIN. There
are three Latin words inscribed on the Pope's crown, "Vicarious Filii Die," that
is, "the Vicarious Son of God." He is, of course, not reigning instead of
Christ—this is a false claim. "In Roman computation this contains the number 666, as
will be seen below" (THE RISE AND FALL OF ROME PAPAL, Robert Fleming, First Edition, 1701):
