This is always a difficult subject to broach. If this helps, I think a comparison of Rev 13 and Rev 14 is helpful. The context is Deut 6:8, where you are to tie the word of God on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Symbolically, they were to keep the Word close, in their minds and in the actions, as a part of their daily lives. John takes that imagery and applies it to the mark of the Beast, hand and forehead in Rev13:16 symbolically they were to be totally sold out to the evil world system so that no one can participate in their system without it. Then he does the same thing with the Seal of God in Rev 14:1, about the people of God also having His Seal on their hands and foreheads, in their minds and actions. The Mark and Seal are being directly compared to each other. Whatever the Mark is, the Seal is comparable. And the rest of the NT tells us that the Holy Spirit of God is our Seal (Eph 4:30 for example). So, I do not think you have to worry about a barcode or a vaccine, or Bitcoin, that is not what binds you to the evil world system. As the Seal of God is not something you can see or touch, it is internal and on the heart. So the money you use, whether it be dollar or peso or BTC, it is always about the heart. And you have the Seal on your heart, you are His, and called by His name, so you have nothing to fear from a computer code. Worry more about making money an idol, and instead use this money for what He has already said to use it for: His glory, building the Church, funding ministry, raising your family, giving to those in need, etc., those actions are the farthest things from the evil world system. Fiat inflation steals from people, and it creates fake value with no work. That's evil.

But this also adopts the frame of the premils. Read James Jordan's "The Vindication of Jesus Christ" for a very different approach to revelation. For example, he considers the idea of buying and selling as symbolic of access to the Jewish temple. Dispensational Premillennialism is a very narrow, historically idiosyncratic approach to revelation, and yet so many people take its framework for granted.

Tell him to ask a priest to exorcize his Bitcoin wallet with some holy water, or something.

He’s thinking of Neuralink.

No, Bitcoin is the exact opposite of the mark of the beast.

The mark is meant to restrict freedom of exchange, and has centralized control as a required feature. No one is able to transact unless they submit to that central authority.

#Bitcoin, on the other hand, is entirely permissionless and has no centralized authority over it; no one we must bow the knee to in order to use it whatsoever.

But too many dispensationals have this idea stuck in their heads that any worldwide digital currency is either the mark of the beast itself or is paving the way for it. They're also usually doomer gold-bugs. They can hfsp.

Bitcoin is a shield of energy against the evils in this world. It's literally humanity's biggest hope against these evils.

Bitcoin is a digital asset that can be used to store and transmit value. I think your friend should pray about it and listen to his conscience. As a Christian, I have no concerns about bitcoin as long as I am not turning into an idol. That would be my greater concern, but that is not limited to bitcoin. Anything that replaces Christ in our hearts is a danger to our souls. Hope that perspective helps.

In my understanding, the mark of the beast is not a currency, it is brands on the body that nonbelievers will willingly accept to show their loyalty to the Antichrist in order to continue to participate in the economy and in society. Now if, in the future, tap signers are required by the state and they are inserted into the forehead and right hand using hot pokers and the process is part of a loyalty ceremony, I would get concerned.

The mark of the beast will some sort of tattoo/barcode on your skin or maybe some sort of digital chip implant. Without it, you won’t be able to buy anything.

I would have to think a CBDC would be a much closer fit to what your friend is thinking.

People should be genuinely embarrassed of such lazy thinking.

I had this exact discussion with someone yesterday. It's crazy that people even use it as an argument, as if zero crime has ever been committed with USD and other fiat currencies. Mind boggling

Win some lose some.

Just keep stacking and it's going to be fine. I'm it for the long term too. I actually quite some Bitcoin since 2016 and sold it before so... :D

It is what it is. :)

is this your calculator or where can I find it?