Hi Atwatukee,
I'm aware of the popular understanding and I don't disagree that the subject is a human being, nor am I disagreeing that this speaks to individual human beings but I am considering the possibility that this is addressing all mankind that, individually, fits the category in the same sense that the commandment, "You shall love the Lord thy God...," speaks to all but is offered in the singular (rather than speaking in the plural "Ye') to indicate a direct responsibility to each person individually. This is in following my reasoning that all that receive the mark of the beast essentially identifies himself with him that either professes (false prophet) or promotes (antichrist) the beast (in the same way as we identify ourselves with the body of Christ as one) will also be 'taken out of the way' at the time of the LORD's coming.
I'm aware of the popular understanding and I don't disagree that the subject is a human being, nor am I disagreeing that this speaks to individual human beings but I am considering the possibility that this is addressing all mankind that, individually, fits the category in the same sense that the commandment, "You shall love the Lord thy God...," speaks to all but is offered in the singular (rather than speaking in the plural "Ye') to indicate a direct responsibility to each person individually. This is in following my reasoning that all that receive the mark of the beast essentially identifies himself with him that either professes (false prophet) or promotes (antichrist) the beast (in the same way as we identify ourselves with the body of Christ as one) will also be 'taken out of the way' at the time of the LORD's coming.