The "Mark of the Beast" is here... at least in parts!!!

Well, all the pieces are in place now for the development and incorporation of the mark of the Beast outlined in Revelation 13:16-18 "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six." NASB

Consider:
1. We already have a universal pricing and tracking system -- the UPC codes on all the items we purchase. Even perishable items such as fruits and vegetables will soon be tracked by the UPC system with the development of ink stamps that can be scanned and which are edible.
2. Universal currency?? Well, it probably won't be the Euro or any hard currency. It will be data. With computers, we now have the ability to conduct transactions accounting for currency exchange rates in a split second.
3. The advent of wireless technology is allowing for access to information at quicker and quicker rates without the need for cables, etc. It is only a matter of time before technology buffs figure out how to ensure privacy of information over the wireless net... and then you will see a big change in the way business is done.
4. And for the personal touch, we have the RFID chip (read below) allowing people to have access to all their passwords, conduct basic day-to-day operations, and perform business transactions with an implant that works with a reader and computers.


Article: Computer Chips Get Under Skin of Enthusiasts By Jamie McGeever
Thu Jan 5, 9:33 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Forgetting computer passwords is an everyday source of frustration, but a solution may literally be at hand -- in the form of computer chip implants. With a wave of his hand, Amal Graafstra, a 29-year-old entrepreneur based in Vancouver, Canada, opens his front door. With another, he logs onto his computer. Tiny radio frequency identification (RFID) computer chips inserted into Graafstra's hands make it all possible. "I just don't want to be without access to the things that I need to get access to. In the worst case scenario, if I'm in the alley naked, I want to still be able to get in (my house)," Graafstra said in an interview in New York, where he is promoting the technology. "RFID is for me."

The computer chips, which cost about $2, interact with a device installed in computers and other electronics. The chips are activated when they come within 3 inches of a so-called reader, which scans the data on the chips. The "reader" devices are available for as little as $50 (29 pounds). Information about where to buy the chips and readers is available online at the "tagged" forum, (http://tagged.kaos.gen.nz/) where enthusiasts of the technology chat and share information.

Graafstra said at least 20 of his tech-savvy pals have RFID implants. "I can't feel it at all. It doesn't impede me. It doesn't hurt at all. I almost can't tell it's there," agreed Jennifer Tomblin, a 23-year-old marketing student and Graafstra's girlfriend.

Mikey Sklar, a 28-year-old Brooklyn resident, said, "It does give you some sort of power of 'Abracadabra,' of making doors open and passwords enter just by a wave of your hand." The RFID chip in Sklar's hand, which is smaller than a grain of rice and can last up to 100 years, was injected by a surgeon in Los Angeles. Tattoo artists and veterinarians also could insert the chips into people, he said. For years, veterinarians have been injecting similar chips into pets so the animals can be returned to their owners if they are lost.

Graafstra was drawn to RFID tagging to make life easier in this technological age, but Sklar said he was more intrigued by the technology's potential in a broader sense. In the future, technological advances will allow people to store, transmit and access encrypted personal information in an increasing number of wireless ways, Sklar said.

Wary of privacy issues, Sklar said he is developing a fabric "shield" to protect such chips from being read by strangers seeking to steal personal information or identities. One advantage of the RFID chip, Graafstra said, is that it cannot get lost or stolen. And the chip can always be removed from a person's body. "It's kind of a gadget thing, and it's not so impressive to have it on your key chain as it is to have it in you," Sklar said. "But it's not for everyone."

Sklar's girlfriend, Wendy Tremayne, has yet to be convinced. She said she probably would not inject the computer chip into her body unless she thought it was a "necessity." "If it becomes more convenient, I may," said the 38-year-old artist and yoga teacher. "(But) I'd rather have an organic life."


With technology developing as fast as it is, this system could be up and running in developed nations within 5-10 years. I honestly didn't think I'd get to see such things happen in my lifetime. Jesus has always warned us to be ready. Now, more than ever, this is a word to take to heart.

This topic could go a long way, but here are some other things of note to consider:
>The UPC symbol is a compterized numbering system. If you look on a common UPC symbol, you'll notice that it has a beginning, middle, and end set of bars that are longer than the other. The numerical value of these bars is "666."
>Interestingly enough, the UPC scanning/computer system that was developed functioned under only one configuration -- using a system of bars that had permanent values of "666" in the places now found on the UPC symbol.
>The computer that first ran this system was called, jokingly by the developers, "The Beast." Funny how non-believers will do things just to be funny or poke fun at the Christian faith, but sometimes they are unwittingly taking part in prophecy.

For an interestsing website detailing some End times stuff, check out: Daniel's Timeline.
http://www.danielstimeline.com/

The author of this site is, I believe, a Messianic Believer b/c of the terminology he uses. The points he makes for the chronology of the end times (being very soon) is at once intriguing and alarming. I would be interested to hear other opinions about his interpretations.