I think you've hit the nail on the head with "closest to reality in history". I think it's amazing that christians around the world are not pushing back harder against this. I think most are afraid of being labeled "kooks". Personally, we won't be getting anything even remotely like this. There will be many christians who will however. A loving father/mother will get the mark to feed their family. This is where the chaff gets separated. If you have faith that God will provide for you, He will. It may not be in the manner we have grown accustomed to, but He will provide. And lets not forget we are still talking about mankind. There will be black markets that provide food, meds, etc. There are approximately 2.5 billion christians in the world. Half that number is catholics though, and there's a pretty good chance they will roll over when the time comes. As will others. So realistically you're looking at 800m to maybe a billion. Still a pretty good chunk of the world population. The devil already has his minions in the church ranks (all denominations). They will call for peace and "render unto caesar" and this will get used profusely:
Romans 13:1-2
"Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow."
This is what makes the US stand apart from other countries. We are a govt of the people, by the people, and for the people. The citizens are *supposed* to have the ultimate authority. Preaching this from the pulpit will make butts squirm in the pews though. People have a hard time taking control of the power that is supposed to be vested in the people. Some people need to be reminded of 8th grade civics and what a Republic actually is. We are supposed to resist tyranny. Plain and simple. As christians, we are to resist evil. Plain and simple. Notice I didn't say "easy". Because it won't be easy:
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.