Chips Implants could be the "Mark of the Beast!"

MAIN TOPICS:

• Introduction - Exponential Increase In Knowledge
• What is the Mark of the Beast?
• A Cashless Society
• Personal Identification
• Chip Implants
• Computer Tracking and Privacy
• People will want it! ~CONCLUSION
• BIBLIOGRAPHY

Introduction - Exponential Increase In Knowledge

We live in a world of constant change. Everything is changing at an exponential rate. The generations growing up have never seen a world without computers, CNN, ATM's, and email! Knowledge is doubling at a rate of mere years. While all this knowledge is being acquired prophecies in the greatest history book ever written, the Holy Bible, are being fulfilled at an equally exponential rate. In fact the book of Daniel speaks about this increase in knowledge:

"..even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (King James Version, Daniel 12:4)

This passage perfectly describes our society. Families no longer can even find the time to eat together because they are so busy. Wasn't technology supposed to make are lives easier, instead of more hectic? However, as Lalonde says in his video, "Technology in its self is not evil, but rather it's applications." For example, most people will agree that atomic weapons are horrible, but at the same time most people will also agree that nuclear power is a great source of power. In the rest of the paper I am going to write about one specific prophecy of the bible, commonly referred to as "The Mark of The Beast, " and how tomorrows technology could make it possible.

What is the "Mark of the Beast?"

"All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves, they had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name" (Contemporary English Version, Revelation 13: 16-17).

This passage is very powerful and stands for many things. The part I would like to point out that fact that no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark on their right hand or forehead. It is spoken in past tense because the prophet John saw the book of Revelation. This last book of the bible, Revelation, speaks about what will happen in the end times. John wrote this in terms humans used two thousand years ago. Perhaps he could not put into exact words what he was seeing, but with the technology we have today it starts to make sense. Imagine the world spoken of in the book of Revelation, a world torn apart by one disaster after another. One will rise to power and give peace to the world, but at a cost. If you didn't take his mark, you wouldn't be able to live because you can neither buy nor sell without the mark. This mark is not just a spiritual mark, but also a physical one.

How is it possible to make someone unable to buy or sell unless they have a certain mark? Just take a look at today's society; you can almost get by without cash today. You can pump gas, buy groceries, and order pizza all with one credit card. When your credit card bill comes, you can pay for it directly by going on-line and transferring the money from your bank account. The mark could be a chip. This chip would always be on you and all you would have to do is have it scanned and the money is transferred. It couldn't be easier. Everyone would be required to have this chip or inevitably they couldn't buy or sell, sort of like trying to go to Wal-Mart without your wallet.

Buying and selling wouldn't be the only thing that would entice people into taking the mark though. Imagine walking into the supermarket to hear a voice say, "Welcome Mr. Foster," and as you shop the supermarket is running a check on what you usually buy in their store in their database. As you go by the milk aisle the voice points out that there is a special on 2% milk today. At the checkout you just swipe your hand over the scanner and you immediately leave the store. You then arrive to your car and the trunk automatically opens in front of you so that you can put your groceries inside. Once inside your car, it knows who is in it, it automatically adjusts the seat and radio to your preset preferences. Suppose that on your way home you were in an automobile wreck. Fortunately your chip has all your medical records stored away for easy access.

All of this will sound very enticing to people because it sounds great. Even as you are reading this, things are happening in the world to make this possible and the first thing to happen is the disappearance of physical cash.

A Cashless Society

The first step towards a cashless society is a global currency. As the world becomes increasingly tied together through technology borders are becoming meaningless. In January 1999 the Euro was introduced (Schroder 1). Eleven out of the fifteen European Union countries decided to give up their national currencies in favor of one universal currency (Schroder 1). By August 2002 these countries will no longer have their own currencies (Schroder 1). This is a major step toward a world wide universal currency, which would make the transition to a cashless society easier.

Other evidence that the world is moving towards a digital currency is the staggering usage of digital currency already in use. Almost every gas pump now has a "Pay at the Pump" option. The New York Times reports that in upscale areas of Manhattan card readers will be installed in businesses so that digital cash from Chase Manhattan and Citicorp banks can be used. Similar experiments are being done in Ontario (Consumers Research Magazine 1). ATM and Debit card use is also up, mainly among the younger generations. Most ATM users are between 18-20 years old (CardTrak). There is a very good reason for that fact which goes back to the fact that today information is increasing exponentially and the younger generation is more comfortable with technology.

Personal Identification

The major problem with a cashless society is proving that YOU are who YOU claim to be. It would not be feasible in a cashless society to just have a card because others could use that card. Sure, they might have to enter a PIN, but what if they knew that also. What if you misplaced or broke your card and you really need it? There will have to be a way of identification that doesn't require a card. There are many alternatives. Retinal scans, fingerprint scans, and hand scans are all good methods of identification ("Various Identification Schemes" 1). Last January Tussey Mountain School in Pennsylvania started using fingerprint scans to pay for school lunches (Graff 1) . The problems with these types of scanners are simply the price of the scanners themselves. They can reach thousands of dollars.

Bar codes are another very good way of proving who you are. An invisible bar code can be tattooed onto someone in just a few flashes of laser light (Graff 1). Bar codes are already in use all over the world, almost everything you purchase, mail, or check onto an airplane has them. It is also funny that the number of the Beast, 666, is the basis of the bar code system, but that is whole other essay. (Graff 1). While invisible bar codes could certainly accomplish everything described so far in this essay there is one thing, which I will soon point out, that they can't do.

Chip Implants

Chip implants are the ultimate in personal identification. It would be hard to lose them, and no one could steal them short of cutting off your arm, but that would be a little obvious. A chip embedded under the skin would hardly be noticeable. It fits all the descriptions of what the "Mark of the Beast," would have to do. If you didn't have it you couldn't buy or sell because the vender would have to read it. It could store medical records, preferences, and many things never thought of yet. The one advantage chip implants could be the "Mark of the Beast," instead of some sort of bar code is the fact that a chip can be tracked.

Chips implants are currently being used to track pets via global positioning satellites (Graff 2). Last August Los Angeles animal shelters started putting these chips into all animals that came through their shelters (Graff 3). In Germany parents will soon be able to keep track of their children with a tracking device, although not a chip, it shows the possibilities of being able to track humans (Graff 2).

Computer Tracking and Privacy

There is a very good reason why I bring up that chip implants could be used to track humans, but first you have to envision the world of Revelation once again. In Revelation the Beast, more commonly referred to as the 'Antichrist,' will come to power. He will be in total control of the world and everyone around the world will see him. Through the media today it is very possible for the whole world to see events happen live. How can one man rule the entire world? It becomes easy through the use of technology, without it wouldn't be possible. You won't be asked to take the mark, but ordered to take it. If you don't take it you will most likely be killed for defying him.

If everyone in the world had a chip in him or her, the Beast could easily track every human being on Earth and he will certainly want to. He will know where you at and what you're doing and if you disobey, you would probably be imprisoned or killed as well. Chip implants could accomplish all of this. Everything you do would be recorded. There will be no privacy at all. This is starting to happen today. Some grocery stores give you "discounts" if you use their discount cards. It is my believe that these are encouraged simply so they can monitor what your purchasing and how often you shop there. Since you have to give your address to receive them, what would stop them from sending you some extra coupons if you haven't shopped there in a while? Information is currently being traded back and forth like it is a commodity. I would like to show you a good example out of Consumer Reports Magazine:

"Click! It's late at night and you're cruising the web in search of underwear. But you are not alone. As you navigate over to the men's clothing site Internationalmale.com, a tracking program developed by HNC Software called SelectCast is able to tap into your past purchases at the site. Using that information, the site may spot you as being a potential buyer of its scented body lotion and pitch the product to you. With SelectCast's powerful customer-personalization software, Internationalmale.com has doubled its sales performance!" - Consumer Reports May, 2000

This is a great example of what happens while just surfing the web. Information about people is changing hands all the time. Telemarketers purchase these and call you based on what you buy. There are literally thousands of reasons why someone would want your information. One computer that is currently tracking communications is called Echelon ("Echelon Watch"). This computer can tap phone calls, record data transmission, and pick out certain words in emails ("Echelon Watch"). This is proof that there are computers capable of tracking billions of people and what they do, and they will only become faster and more efficient at doing it.

People will want it!

Through the use of all of these technologies the "Mark of the Beast," could easily be accomplished. The 'Antichrist' would be able to track every human on earth. That is becoming more and more possible everyday. There are devices available, which work off the GPS satellites that can tell what your location is within a few feet. The new "Digital Angel," developed by Applied Digital Solutions, satellite is even capable of monitoring someone's heart rate with the use of an implant (Graff 3).

Privacy is also starting to dwindle in today's world, and it will only get worse in the future. If everyone had chip implants there would be no privacy at all. People sitting at a computer console could tell what you were doing 24-7, such as attending an illegal church meeting. Since there will be a universal economy there will be a universal currency. It will be very easy for anyone to find out what you buy and don't buy. This again results in less privacy.

The younger generations are increasingly becoming more comfortable with technology, and future generations will probably think little about putting a chip under their skin. People of the world will be very enticed about what the chip implants can do and will think little about the implications of them.

Chip implants are also the best way of personal identification because they will are always on the body. Chip implants will fulfill every requirement of the "Mark of the Beast," and be able to accomplish everything the 'Antichrist' will want to do like no other way. Also because of the global media every human on Earth will be able to see what is happening. All Technology will be used to achieve the 'Antichrists' goals and most will be centered on his physical "mark." Chip implants are the perfect way of achieving all these goals and could very will be the "Mark of the Beast ."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Cooper Ramo, Joshua. "Will Cash Completely Vanish?" Time 22 May 2000: 70
• Echelon Watch. "Echelon Watch." ACLU 2 February 2001 <http://www.aclu.org/echelonwatch/index.htm>
• Graff, Ron. "Current Events." 1 November 2000 Bible Prophecy 22 February 2001 <http://bible-prophecy.com/mark.htm>
• King James Version Holy Bible Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984 1977
• The Mark of the Beast Performed & Directed by Jack and Roxella Van Impe. JVI Ministries, 1997.
• The Promise Contemporary English Version Holy Bible Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995
• POS ATM Usage UP. 21 April 1998. CardTrak. 22 February 2001 <http://www.cardweb.com/cardtrak/news/1998/april/21b.html>
• Racing Toward the Image of the Beast Performed & Directed by Peter, Paul, and Patti Lalonde. This week in Bible Prophecy, 1998.
• "Small steps toward a 'Cashless' Society." Consumers' Research Magazine Nov. 1997 7
• Schroder, Jurgen. "The Euro, dollar, and international monetary system." Journal of Asian Economics Summer 1999: 237
• Various Identification Schemes. BiblePlus Organization. 22 February 2001 <http://www.bibleplus.org/prophecy/id_schemes.htm>

In the paper above I used two differnt bibles, CEV & KJV, below I would like to show how the other versions read:

Daniel 12:4 CEV

"Daniel I now command you to keep the message of the book secret until the end of time, even though many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it."

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to recieve 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."

"The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories"

Chris Foster
Whitehouse CSE200
school@sent.com
March 27th, 2001
This is a student essay done for CSE 200 (Computer Systems Engineering 200), please note this fact. Thanks for reading!