> some Catholic commentators ... have suggested that only those who have been Confirmed will be able to resist the Mark of the Beast. I can see why they would say this. Faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). The Latin Sacrament of Confirmation is basically the same as the Holy Mystery of Chrismation - being the occasion for the reception of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Orthodox Church, Chrismation is typically received immediately after Baptism in all but the most unusual situations. I’m not familiar with the form the Rite takes in the West, but in my family’s Chrismation, we also received Tonsure, which to my understanding is reserved for monastics in the Roman Communion (correct me if I am wrong). In Orthodoxy, per 1 Peter 2:9, we’re all a “royal priesthood”, so everyone receives Tonsure - though only Clergy recieve Holy Orders. So while the Mark of the Beast will be some innocuous ecumenical rite(s) that includes a conscious renunciation of Christ, the Mark of the Lamb by contrast is these Holy Mysteries that come with conscious acceptance of Christ and reception of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. I suspect there will be people who, for political reasons, choose to reject both Marks, at least for a time. But Scripture seems strongly to affirm that the entire world is *going* to receive one or the other. In light of all that, the picture I’m seeing is that either Mark, rather than being set-in-stone in any particular single event, implies a continual *commitment* to either one or the other; furthermore, that committed *refusal* of the Beast will absolutely require the Grace of God in a continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit - which as I mentioned is symbolically Gifted to us at Chrismation. I think I see what they are saying. *** I suspect the practical side of this will be that the only successful theriomachists will be active participants in the Holy Mysteries of the Church. I suspect many *would-be theriomachists* will be deceived (per Matthew 24:24), trusting in a Communion without Grace, without power to save. Hence, the importance of sound Ecclesiology. There’s an alarming possibility this number may be *very* small, per Luke 18:8. Indeed, “will He find Faith on earth?” Christ refers to the “Little Flock” on a number of occasions, so it’s wisdom *not* to put ones’ Faith in the “majority”. Gentlemen, the picture is quite bleak; but would we expect any different ? I trust in the Goodness of God, and I *know* He’s perfectly capable of delivering His Faithful Remnant through anything. @CHIRO