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CHRISTIAN COMMENTS by Reg Block
The mark of the beast is 666. Revelation tells us that those who refuse the mark
and refuse to worship the beast, will not be able to buy or sell anything. Many
believe we are nearing the time when a one-world government, supported by technology
and the medical complex, will begin to implant chips into every person on Earth.
Fifty years ago this would have been the stuff science fiction is made of. Today,
we have the technology and the motivation.
Implanted chips at present are approved for safety applications, personal identification,
security clearance and for storing financial data. In addition, manufacturers
would like to see the devices used for emergency purposes, allowing doctors to
readily access medical histories, medications and current health conditions. Bio-ethical
experts maintain that along with some obvious benefits comes the possibility that
unscrupulous individuals and organizations could misuse the technology. Marc Rotenburg
of the Electronic Privacy Information Center refers to ID chips as "electronic
leashes, a form of digital control."
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| Implanted chips at present are approved for safety applications,
personal identification, security clearance and for storing financial data. |
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Imagine a cash-less society with no credit cards, no identity cards and a way
to keep track of the activities of every man, woman and child on the planet. In
1998, Time Magazine and the BBC ran stories on human microchip technology. Furthermore,
Wired News, October 25, 2002, reported, "Applied Digital Solutions (ADS)
has coined the tag line ëGet Chipped’, to market its product, VeriChip."Apparently
ADS was offering a $50 discount for the first 100,000 people to take the chip.
ADS spokesman Matthew Cossolotto was reported saying, "The rice-size device
costs $200. Those implanted with the device must also pay for the doctor’s
injection fee and a monthly $10 database maintenance charge."
Thomas Horn of Worthy News quotes a report written by Elaine Ramish for the Franklin
Pierce Law Center; "A national identification system via microchip implants
could be achieved in two stages: Upon introduction as a voluntary system, the
microchip implantation will appear to be palatable. After there is a familiarity
with the procedure and a knowledge of its benefits, implantation would be mandatory."
Revelation Ch: 13, 16-18 states, "He (Antichrist) will cause all, both small
and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand,
or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the
mark, or the number of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let
him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number
of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
Down through the centuries and recently, Christians have been quick to jump to
conclusions about Antichrist, the mark of the beast and digital implants. Using
various debatable numerological systems, candidates for the 666 label include:
Antiochus Epiphanies, Nero, Charlemagne, The Pope (take your pick), Napoleon,
Mussolini, FDR, Clinton, Gates, Hitler, Stalin, Kennedy, Reagan, Gorbachev, Saddam
Hussein, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Kissinger, Prince Charles, Maitreya and even
Puff the Magic Dragon. However, to date none of these has succeeded in marking,
branding, labeling or bio-chipping the entire population, thereby potentially
fulfilling a key Biblical prophecy of Antichrist.
According to Revelation, there will come a time when the population will be marked
for various purposes. Biochip technology could very well play an important part
in that, tracking commercial activities and movement on the planet. However, the
original Greek used in Revelation says that the mark of the beast or his number
is "engraved upon" the hand or forehead and acceptance of that "etching"
is based on worship of Antichrist. This could not be accomplished literally by
merely injecting a chip under the skin.
Presently digital implant technology (DIT), much like social insurance numbers,
potentially represents a loss of freedom and once widely implemented it too will
become difficult to get rid of. The mark of the beast and the role of DITs is
a complex topic that needs to be weighed in light of various other end time doctrines
like the rapture, the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the abomination
of desolation. The order of these three doctrines determines the relevance of
the mark of the beast to Christians. Time will tell if the mark of the beast will
affect those inside the Christian church-universal or if it is a milestone prophetic
warning to non-believers.
Reg Block is an apologist for the historic Christian faith. Your questions
and comments are welcome reg@commonground.ca
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