First of all, many have erroneously approached the book of Revelation as being only symbolic. The way in which it should be read is that, if the literal sense makes good sense, then don't seek any other sense. By applying symbolism to everything, the literal meaning is lost and wrong conclusions are made based on this.
The key to understanding the chorology of Revelation, is found in Rev.1:19 when Jesus told John to write:
What you have seen = Everything thing from Rev.1:1 thru Rev.1:19
What is now = Represented by the letters to the church and which also represents the entire church period
What will take place later = Everything that takes place after the "what is now," i.e. after the church period
We are still living in the "What is now" portion of what John was told to write. Once the Lord comes to gather His church, then the "what must take place later" will begin. That said, everything that takes place from Rev.4:1 are all future events, which are specific to that last seven years.
In Rev.4:1 John hears a voice that sounds like a trumpet saying "come up here and I will show you what must take place after this," which is synonymous with the "what will take place later." The voice that sounds like a trumpet was identified in Rev.1:10 as being the Lord's. It is also synonymous with the 'trumpet call of God' found in 1 Thess.4:16 where the living are changed immortal and caught up.
Rev.4:1 is a prophetic allusion to where the church is gathered. In support of this, in chapters 1 thru 3 the word ekklesia/church is solely used 19 times. After that the word is never used again during the narrative of God's wrath and that because the church is no longer on the earth from that point on and which is a God given clue. The word hagios/saints is used from then on, which is referring to those saints who will have become believers after the church has been gathered and during the time of God's wrath which we are introduced to in Rev.7:9-17, many of whom will be killed during the great tribulation.
We have still with the details of the scripture here, which specifies that the mark will go on/in the right hand or forehead and that without it no one will be able to buy or sell. That said, the social security number does not reside on the hand or forehead and we can buy and sell without it. This mark will be related to electronic crediting and debiting replacing all other methods of buying and selling. Sweden is already using this mark technology by having RFID chips implanted under the skin between the index finger and thumb and are making purchases with it by the scan of their hands. Therefore, we have technology for the literal fulfillment of the mark.
As I already pointed out, the mark of the beast technology is already here in the literal, physical sense.
I Put A Payment Chip In My Hand To Replace My Wallet - Bing video
Why human microchipping is so popular in Sweden | ITV News - Bing video
The 'mark of the beast' has nothing to do with "old Elizabethan English' but the meaning is found in the Greek. The word 'mark' is translated from the Greek 'Charagma' which is defined as 'a stamp, impress, engraving, a stamp, sign. properly, an engraving (etching); (figuratively) a mark providing
undeniable identification, like a symbol giving
irrefutable connection between parties.' In this case, the mark will be an irrefutable connection between the wicked and the beast. Since John was seeing a vision 2000 years into the future, he had nothing to describe the technology of this mark and so the closest description for him was 'charagma.' However, he was able to give us the location of the mark which will be on/in the right hand or forehead. Instead of a card being swiped, the individuals mark will be scanned to electronically credit and debit one's bank account.
Well regarding the events of the past, Jesus said that the events of that coming time period would be great tribulation such as the world has not seen, unequaled from the beginning, till now and never to be equaled again. Therefore, the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, and everything related which is all a part of God's wrath, will be the worst time in the history of the world, unequaled.
When you read the information regarding the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, the results of these plagues will take place literally. As an example, when that 5th trumpet is sounded, there will be real demonic beings resembling locusts coming up out of the Abyss which will torment the inhabitants of the earth with stings like that of scorpions. When the 4th angel pours out his bowl on the sun, it will give power to it which will scorch the inhabitants, searing them with intense heat. These are just examples. All that is written regarding these plagues of wrath will take place literally during that seven year time period. Anything that has already taken place, wars, disease, famine, etc., will be nothing in comparison to what is coming after the church has been removed from the earth.
What those videos above regarding the mark of the beast technology. They demonstrate also that the mark will be in the literal hand or forehead and will eventually become the only way of buying and selling during the last 3 1/2 years of that seven year period. This is why we have been seeing cash and checks being phased out and why the electronic crediting and debiting system is here.