Mr. MacArthur is in error.
Firstly, the Tribulation is not a 7 year period, it is a 3.5 year period ( that begins in the middle of the 70th "week" of years, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-22, Revelation 13:5 ) of the worst plagues, destruction and death that has ever happened ( or will ever happen ) to men.
It will take more lives than any other period of catastrophe except for the Flood of Noah's day.
Secondly, the Bible is very clear about those who take the mark of the beast...
They will indeed suffer the wrath of God, just as Revelation 14:9-11 tells us:
" 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,
10 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:
11 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."
Those who take the mark will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
But we do know from other passages that the "beast", or Anti-Christ, who has been given the power to rule for 42 months, shall not deceive God's elect...
Because false prophets and false christs will not be able to deceive them ( Matthew 24:24 ).
They will neither take his mark, nor will they be deceived into thinking that he is the Lord come again.