The Mark of the Beast?
A father murdered his daughter and is caught not by anything the police find while searching, but through the attachment of a GPS (Global Positioning Satelite) unit to his cars. If it wasn't for the device, according to this article, he would not have been caught, as he had buried his daughter far off in a remote place.
They only were able to find convicting evidence by tracking where he went, and then using that evidence to later convict him. That's a great use of technology, but there is a major problem with it, and I think it could be yet another piece of the puzzle that will eventually be used against us.
The problem is that the Appeals Court has ruled that probable cause was not necessary to attach the device onto the murderer's car. That means, theoretically, that a law enforcement agency could stick a GPS unit on most people's car without any particular reason for doing so. Imagine the new found intelligence abilities the state would have — this combined with the USA PATRIOT Act and the up-and-coming Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA) would allow for dramatically improved anti-terror and, more generally, anti-crime measures.
However, in doing so, they continue to soften a number of the rights in the constitution. This is all necessary for the next step, to which the article gives short consideration:Following the Spokane court's reasoning, [Lisa Daugaard] said, “There is no constitutional barrier to the police secretly inserting a tracking device into a suspect's clothes or even his body, because for the most part, people move around from place to place in 'plain view.' “ (emphasis mine)Does this ring of familiarity to anyone yet? I think it does. Before I go on however, consider another recent bit of technology that has been developing:
“Reuters is carrying this story about Applied Digital's VeriChip — a subcutaneous microchip (like the ones they use to tag pets, livestock and wildlife) used as ID for humans. […]They will be also used as tracking beacons and personal ID according to a company exec”
Now do you see where I am going? Yes, yes, the Mark of the Beast. Technologies like the above implant and the softening of laws that prevent things like GPS units being implanted (once the technology is small enough to do so), means that we are potentially seeing the technology coming together for a real, live New World Order to form within years not centuries. Maybe not, I realize people for millennia have tried to speculate how their time was the end time, but I still can't help but consider it.
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, {17} and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. —Revelation 13:16-17
Join the Conversation
RE: The Mark of the Beast?
Bah. Once again, I wrote a long, though-out comment, hit the button, saw it displayed, closed the window, and returned a day later to find it was missing.
Anyway, I think the idea that this sort of a v-chip could be the “mark of the beast” is just silly. Here are a few of my reasons for thinking this:
1) An implant is not a “mark”. The whole idea of the implant is that it cannot be seen. The idea of the “mark” is that it is an identifier that other people can plainly see.
2) Where is the beast? Before there can be a “mark of the beast”, there has to be a beast. The mark is a symbol of allegiance to an evil power. If you want to read Revelation in a literal manner and believe there will be a real “mark of the beast”, you also have to read it to say the “beast” is a being, not an economical system or societal value. So, to say “the beast” is the capitalist consumerism running amok doesn’t fly.
3) The “mark of the beast” if you read literally, comes during the tribulation. Did it start and we all missed it? What about all the other signs that should come before the mark?
RE: The Mark of the Beast?
Hi Kevin, I am reading it literally, but I should have been a bit more clear about what I was suggesting. I don’t think the Mark of the beast is “here,” I just think it is interesting to follow the progress toward it. If there is a technology that could be used as an electronic “mark” that prevented buying and selling if you didn’t have it, that might be a useful technology for the Beast to use during the tribulation (not here yet, IMO) as part of a mark, perhaps.
Sorry to hear your original comment got lost. Perhaps I should have a way to avoid the preview screen.
-Tim
RE: The Mark of the Beast?
See, I think if I’m going to read Revelation that literally, that the “mark” is going to be something obvious and visible, not some nifty technology. Of course, as you know, that’s not how I read Revelation.
RE: The Mark of the Beast?
Yeah, it probably would be, although perhaps some combination of technology and visability might make sense. I’m not a real firm Revelation literalist, I certainly see it as a non-essential, but I still think it is interesting if I can read something into it that is currently apparently progressing.
RE: The Mark of the Beast?
I was doing a search, and I found this site. After reading the comments I was astonished to find how Kevin grossly misinterpreted the Bible. I would like to respond to his comments in this to show him how misinformed he is…
“An implant is not a “mark”. The whole idea of the implant is that it cannot be seen. The idea of the “mark” is that it is an identifier that other people can plainly see.” The implant indeed is a mark. Yes, not everybody can plainly see this mark with the naked eye, but it can be tracked. If Revelations is correct then something as simple as going to the supermarket to buy food will require this mark. It is quite possible that they could scan your forehead or hand to see if you have the chip, making it “plainly seen”.
“Where is the beast? Before there can be a “mark of the beast”, there has to be a beast. The mark is a symbol of allegiance to an evil power. If you want to read Revelation in a literal manner and believe there will be a real “mark of the beast”, you also have to read it to say the “beast” is a being, not an economical system or societal value. So, to say “the beast” is the capitalist consumerism running amok doesn’t fly.” No one really has to get this chip yet. But, it is very possible that everyone will have to get it sometime soon. That’s what the Bible is talking about. I did read it in a “literal manner”. Once the beast comes then everyone will have to get the mark. That’s not to say that it’s not here, just not really in use. The Bible doesn’t say that for the mark to be here the beast has to be in power, but does have to be in power for it to be forced upon people.
“The “mark of the beast” if you read literally, comes during the tribulation. Did it start and we all missed it? What about all the other signs that should come before the mark?” The forcing of the mark of the beast is what comes in tribulation. That has not happened yet. This chip is only casually used by people, and is not yet important.
I would also like to say to Kevin that when you respond to something like this make sure you’re informed. I don’t know what kind of Bible you’re reading, but if it’s a legit Bible then you’re obviously not reading it right and truely understanding what it says:
Revelations 13:16+17 “Also it (the beast) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
This means that everyone has to get the mark, not that the mark has to be made ready. It’s possible that the mark is here and not in use.
-Jen