Revelation 13:15-17

15 And he is permitted [also] to impart the breath of life into the beast's image, so that the statue of the beast could actually talk and cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast.

You ever notice how much of the world makes huge portraits of their leaders and every dictator has a great statute of himself. Making one talk is nothing and with computers today, it can speak of great things. Notice that the dragon does not cause the image to speak, it is America, who is the false prophet that does. It could easily be miraculous and not worldly at all, that really doesn’t matter though. The fact that matters, is that people will be thinking they are glorifying our Father, while all of the time they are blaspheming Him. I honestly believe that people will be very religious during the Great Tribulation. Yet their religion will always begin with and end with what man is doing. Jesus will be mentioned, as will our Father, but it will always be in the context of what man is doing first. Man will always be the focus. 

16 Also he compels all [alike], both small and great, both the rich and the poor, both free and slave, to be marked with an inscription [stamped] on their right hands or on their foreheads, 

17 So that no one will have power to buy or sell unless he bears the stamp (mark, inscription), [that is] the name of the beast or the number of his name. 

With the instability of the world at this time, of course the anti-christ and America will want total control. Right now the USA believes that it is the policeman of the world, so in these times of great trouble, how much more will it? Especially when a bunch of totally ungodly people will be running the government. Look right now how liberal leaning leaders that think they have to impose their views on the less enlightened people. Then think of how religious right leaning leaders believe they can force their opinions and beliefs on the ungodly. Now in these times of Great Tribulation, think of how in the name of peace and safety that they will force their beliefs, all in the name of stability.