"If",,,, If God is the cause of this then it could only be the wrath, plaques,viols ect.(seals) being loosed..
If this is the case then one must ponder who the Scriptures state they are poured out on and the Revelation explains multiple times that they are directed towards those who "worship the image,have the name,mark ect." .
Now then if,,,this is happening then the beast has already come and is in the world but no one can identify it/him. If he has come and none have identified him as yet and his image then it would be possible that the people of the earth have his mark and worship his image at present and are deceived but the wrath cannot come unless the beast,his image and mark first come. Then and only then can those who worship it have the wrath of God upon them in punishment for worshiping the image and having it's name or mark .