The following is excerpted from Bullinger's commentary on Revelation. Even though it was written in the late 19th or early 20th century, it might well have been written today.

xiii. 16. And he (i.e., the Second Beast) causeth all, even the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, to receive ²⁹¹ a mark on their right hands, or upon their foreheads:]      Thus, out of Democracy comes Despotism: out of Liberalism comes "Boycotting" on a large scale: out of Reason comes Idolatry; out of Socialism comes the abrogation of the rights of "Free labour." What was thought impossible in this direction a few years ago is now seen to be an accomplished fact in all directions. In whole districts it is often forbidden to buy or sell either their merchandise or their labour; and none are exempted from this new enslavement. The False Prophet will bring "Boycotting" to perfection, and employ it as a political power and a religious agency. The object is 

xiii. 17.²⁹² That no one should be able to buy or sell, except he who has the mark, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name.]      The plan is truly Satanic in its wisdom: for each one becomes a spy on the other. Living will be made next to impossible: even money will be useless. The rich will be as the poor if they have not this mark. It will be far worse than famine.

The word for "mark" is (...) (charagma) brand. In the Papyri, (...) is always connected with the Emperor, and sometimes contains his name and effigy, with the year of his reign. It was necessary for buying and selling. It is found on all sorts of documents, making them valid; and there are many on "bills of sale." Charagma is therefore the official seal; and this brand will be received by the great majority rather than suffer the torture of death from violence or privation.