The Mark of the Beast - Are We Seeing Revelation's Prophecies Revealed in Our Time?

The woman and the dragon from
Revelation by William Blake

I was talking with a friend yesterday about the "mark of the beast" in the Book of Revelation. Many Catholics never read the book because it's difficult and its symbolism is obscure, but they would be familiar with it. Certainly they would recognize this passage which pretty much sums up the condition of many in the pews today:

I know your deeds; I know you are neither hot nor cold. How I wish you were one or the other -- hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold, I will spew out of my mouth. (Rev. 3:15-17)

They would also recognize the passage telling the story of "the woman about to give birth" and the dragon whose tail sweeps a third of the stars from the sky and plans to devour her child when he's born. We hear it on the Feast of the Assumption.

John wrote the Book of Revelation to give hope to the persecuted Christians of his time facing murderous Roman despots like Nero and Domitian: