The "mark of the beast" is an idea with symbolic interpretations applied to it for people of any age/era to try to make sense of it in reference to their time. Don't try too hard to fit the words of some person long ago, that lived in a certain historical content and used parables, allegory, analogy, metaphor and symbolism, into your time now and proclaim it as some "divine" revelation about your time now. People have been doing this for centuries. Everyone thinks their historical time frame is what was being "prophesied" and fall for the same trap of subjective application of some writing to their lives in the now.
Peace.
Good points @krnel in that I likewise said in my own book (circe 1997, briefly quoted above) that we Christians have been guilty of saying "the end" is upon us for 2,000 years based on how "current" events "fit" prophesy - and that for 2,000 years we've always been wrong. Your first sentence has a of of merit, I just happen to also believe in a dual or even cyclical view of interpretation (prophecy or not) - that God (assuming He exists, did inspire the Bible) is actually smart enough to write in double, triple, etc, entendres than can be taken a variety of ways, in a variety of settings and time periods, and still be spot on. (That doesn't mean that men can't also get things wrong or misinterpret things tho - both can be true...). In the case of the mark not being able to "buy or sell" without it being on their "hand or forehead" are pretty specific words tho, that one would be hard pressed to "interpret" symbolically or metaphorically and not tie them to commerce however. There's whole books about the "different views" of Revelation tho, agreed. I'm open to hearing your interpretation of what the mark that one cant buy or sell without might mean however, if you have one. And thanks for the thoughtful comment!
While it is true that Christians have been watching for the fulfillment of these prophesies for 2000 years, this is not a bad thing. In fact, it is exactly what the Lord wants. There are many places where Jesus tells us to be constantly watching. In doing so, we keep our priorities straight in whatever generation we are living. When we come to the generation where it actually applies (in full) that generation will have a special blessing in that they will be prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually. In that sense, they will be in a position to help others and may be among those who Paul speaks about when he says, "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.