In fact, the most solemn prophetic warning is yet to be fulfilled. Today, there is nothing more important for us to understand than this prophecy because events are taking place in rapid succession indicating its imminent fulfillment.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" Revelation 14: 9-12.

This fearful warning describes two groups of people. The first group is warned against worshipping the beast and his image, which leads them to receive the mark of the beast; while the second group is viewed positively as keeping the commandments of God. Furthermore, the description of the second coming of Christ directly follows this warning. Therefore, we know that this is the last warning given before the second coming of Christ.

Good question. In order to answer it we need to identify the beast, the image of the beast , and the mark of the beast. It is only logical to assume that God would not warn us about such dangerous entities without helping us to identify them in a conclusive way. Our loving God would not subject us to guesswork, when our eternal destiny is at stake. Not surprisingly then, we find a description of the beast and his image in the previous chapter where many keys are given to unlock their identity.