I definitely don't want to act as if I know better than the slave, because I definitely do not. I'm one of the domestics, and gladly submit to their direction. Lately, I've been thinking that since we’re so close to the great tribulation, and the mark of the beast will no doubt have its major fulfillment then, that we may get some refinements about this matter. But that's not the only reason. The slaves' teaching makes sense. However, some things cause me to wonder:
Here's a post I made that I’m pasting from an old annual meeting speculation thread that I edited:
I don’t want to speculate what I think the mark could be. But it appears it hasn't been fulfilled yet. Revelation 13:16,17 says the United Nations will put under compulsion all people, not just those they apprehend, to be marked, and that without this mark nobody can buy or sell.
There have been some extreme pressures put on people by some governments to do things their way. But nothing like this from the United Nations. The United Nations has never demanded that all people comply with doing things their way so much that they prohibited people from being able to buy or sell. I know the slaves’ understanding on the prohibition to buy or sell, but I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being literal. This may be one of those scriptures that is best understood while undergoing fulfillment. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a talk warning us to watch how things develop in the future.
It’s true that some governments have jailed and even killed our brothers and sisters for their nuetrality. However, Revelation 13:15 says it will be the image, or the United Nations that will impose this “mark.” As far as I know, the United Nations has never pressured people to do such a thing. Satan is so bent on seeing to it that as many people lose out on everlasting life as possible, that it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he caused his political system to pressure everyone to essentially chose between God’s kingdom or his during the great tribulation. The easiest way to get humans to comply would be to threaten their livelihood, their lives, since self-preservation is probably the strongest human “instinct.” After all, he’s the same one that said no human would serve God when threatened with death and tempted Jesus with food.
There was a morning worship with brother Jackson where he said, ‘We’ll have to wait and see what pressure is put on Jehovah’s people’ during the great tribulation when speaking about the mark of the beast. I'm not saying I'm right. I may be as wrong as two left shoes. But it wouldn't surprise me one bit if satan, given his murderous personality, literally forces everyone to decide between his kingdom or Christ’s in some way during the great tribulation.