Microchip technology in humans - a preview of the mark of the beast?

Hopefully by now, wary Christians have heard the news that microchip technology is now being implanted into humans. In a story in my local newspaper this past weekend, there is a company that provides surveillance equipment which implanted microchips into two of its employees who volunteered to receive them.

Certainly, there are practical applications for this technology. The scannable microchips can be used for increased security at facilities of all kinds, for law enforcement, and for a wide variety of areas in the medical field.

However, the potential for abuse even in the present day, both by hi-tech criminals and even by our own government, far outweighs any benefits. It would be relatively simple for a thief with the equipment and the know-how to steal sensitive data from people through the chips, and electronic stalking is almost inevitable. There is great potential for encroachment on the privacy and civil rights of average people by overzealous government entities.

Also, our nation is on its way to becoming a cashless society, a reality that is a stepping stone toward biblical End Times events. By replacing tangible currency with electronic currency, a day is coming when rather than paying cash or writing a check or whatever for, say groceries or other physical necessities, payment for goods would instead involve scanning the implanted microchip. Those without the chip would be unable to make purchases or do any other kind of business needed to survive.

Does it sound far-fetched? Read Revelation 13:16-17. "He (an agent of the coming anti-christ) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name, or the number of his name." The technology for the anti-christ, the earthly chief agent of Satan, to control humankind, is already here; all that is required for that kind of control to be implemented is for the anti-christ to begin stepping into power.

This microchip technology we're presently beginning to see put to use is not the mark of the beast (personally, I still wouldn't let one of these things be placed in me, and I would still advise against anyone else taking one either). Scripturally speaking, the pre-Tribulation view of the rapture of Christ's church in End Times events is the most logical, and the rapture will occur before the anti-christ begins applying his symbol to the people left on earth. Present-day Christians have no reason to be afraid of accidentally taking the mark of Satan; when the time comes, it will be a conscious and active choice between loyalty to God and loyalty to Satan & the anti-christ.

I guess the whole point of this posting is to make both Christians and pre- or non-Christians aware that this technology is a preview of prophetic Scripture that will become reality. We don't know when, so it is so important that we who believe in Christ share the gospel and the spirit of Christ with our friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else we might meet who doesn't know Jesus yet. This is simply a word of warning: a future generation will face terrible trials and a choice that will determine eternal destiny in either salvation or damnation. We need to equip our children and their children and as much of the rest of the world as we can to make the right choice when the time comes.