666: Just Say No . . . But Why?
And he causeth 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 name of the beast, or the number of his name. “But in a letter obtained by CBN News from the FDA to the VeriChip makers, the microchip is not completely safe. In fact, the letter lists a whole host of health risks associated with the device, including ‘adverse tissue reaction,’ ‘electrical hazards’ and ‘MRI incompatibility’ . . . Albrecht said, 'There's a very serious concern that, already, engineers and people who think along those lines are already thinking like hackers and criminals -- they're already starting to say, how can this system be compromised, how can it be abused? When you are dealing with a radio frequency device, by design, it is transmitting info using invisible radio waves at a distance. In this case, that distance is only a couple of inches or a couple of feet so it’s not a huge distance, but it means that anyone who can get within a couple of inches or a few feet of you, even with a reader device they have hidden in a backpack or a purse, would be able to scan that number, obtain that info and potentially duplicate it.'”
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.
Revelation 13:16,17; 14:19
I have often wondered why taking the mark of the beast would be a sin. I mean, think about it: Every commandment we are given in the Bible, everything that is a sin, has a lot of logic and reason behind it; but when it comes to this commandment, I don't see any.
For example, take the sin of fornication. The list of good reasons behind not committing that sin is three times longer than my child’s Christmas wish list. The same is true of the sins of gossip, lying, adultery, etc. Not only do we not commit these sins because the Word of God forbids it, but we are also prevented from experiencing the negative consequences that inevitably follow. Following the commands of the Word, however difficult they may be, always protect our best interests and those of others.
Not so with the mark of the beast. A mark that allows one to buy and sell is no different from many items we use today such as credit cards, checks, driver license, etc. that allow us to do the same thing. What’s different about this mark that makes taking it so sinful?
Of course, the fact that the Bible warns us against taking the mark is enough for me. I don’t need any other reason to obey scripture other than the fact that it is written in the infallible word of God. But I still can’t help but wonder, what’s so wrong about it?
The VeriChip
Many of you are already aware that the technology is already here and FDA-approved that will allow people to receive implants in their hands. This implant contains a microchip that allows anyone with a special scanner to access information about you from a central supercomputer. With this information, you can complete a financial transaction in the blink of an eye or transmit other information, such as medical records, quickly and easily. Proponents of the chip argue that it would reduce child kidnapping, identity theft, and inept medical care based on faulty information.
To some that sounds good, to me that sounds scary. That the placement of the chip is in the hand is too coincidental to ignore. To me, it sounds suspiciously like the mark of the beast. But still, the questions arise. What’s so sinful about that? How does accepting the implant associate one with the beast? For those who have taken the chip already, does that mean they're doomed to hell with no hope of redemption? I have no idea.
But perhaps this CBN article provides a clue or two:
That answer still isn't satisfactory, is it? The potential hazards of the implant are no worse than the ones you face by using a credit card or driving a car, so the sin can't be in the potential danger. For once, I'm clueless. If you have any theories as to why taking the mark of the beast is so wrong (other than the fact that the Bible forbids it, of course), be sure and let me know; and I'll post it up here!
For more information, check out these articles:
Fox News: Microchip Implants for Buying and Selling Catching on in Nightclubs
ZdNet: Implanted Chip Finds Way Into ERs, Bars
Sierra Times: Big Brother or Mark of the Beast?
Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.
<< Home