The image of the beast is clearly mass media. John said it was a picture that speaks, the kind of description someone from ancient times would say if they saw a television screen.
It was created to lull the church and humanity to sleep, but will be used to enforce mandatory worship when the antichrist is revealed:
Rev_13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
well then if the media is the image that speaks, which it is, then the rest of this verse applies, correct?
rather then the usual religious connotations of worship what is worship? or true worship? Jesus says God would have us worship in Sprit and Truth, therefore walk in His Spirit and honor and believe and trust the Truth (Word of God)
so physically bowing means nothing. and believing and trusting the media to the point where officials enforce it is what?
but in this case of this virus its out of fear and not respecting the fear of the fearful makes the fearful victims, doesn't it? media got a big step to the goal this time around.
keep in mind some time ago when trump and the media was going back and forth the media bragged they where in well over 100 countries.