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How should a Christian view hand based biometrics? Could it be the prologue to the mark of the beast?
My employer is about to compulsorily introduce hand based biometric scans for entry to/exist from the workplace and to access certain systems within the office (ie printers). Refusal to partake, except for physical inability/disability(ie amputees, lack of fingerprints) will result in termination of employment. We have used swipe cards for the last three decades without any apparent significant problems and the use of biometrics in the office seems out of all proportion to any potential security concerns. Even if such biometrics are not the actual MOTB, given it seems to be the prologue to such or corralling us into/softening us up for the likes of the MOTB, how would God view a Christian engaging in the use of such biometrics?
Revelation 13:16 - 17
NKJV - 16 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.
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Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
The mark of the beast is not a physical mark, a chip or some sort of technology – the mark is about worship. If an authority or employer forces people to wear a chip, ID card or whatever, would that stop anyone from worshipping God and keeping His commandments? (Rev 14:7; Rev 14:12) Of course not! Would God reject anyone who is obeying and serving Him but has received a chip or a ID card? Not at all! The only way to receive the mark would be to turn your back to God and His Commandments, and and worship a false god - the beast. This issue is about WORSHIP. Why was Abel killed? (Gens 4) Because he worship God the right way. Why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego cast into the fiery furnace? (Daniel 3) Why was Daniel thrown into the lions’ den? (Daniel 6) Because they refused to worship man-made gods and were faithful to the true God. Now could a chip or ID card be used to keep track of people in the end times? Could this technology be used to stop those who refuse the mark of the beast from "buying and selling"? (Rev 13:17) Absolutely! Imagine trying to use your Credit Card or Apple Pay to buy something and being told that your account is blocked. That would be an economic embargo enforced at the individual's level. But in of itself, technology cannot be the beast's mark that causes God’s wrath. God is concerned with how we worship Him and He is seeking those who worship in spirit and truth. No one should be deceived into thinking that the mark of the beast is a microchip or ID card (Rev 13:14). The real mark of the beast is a spiritual mark that is received as a result of rejecting the true God.
Shaunta Cassady
Supporter
I am a new Christian. But from what I understand from what the word says there will be a mark placed upon humanity during the end times. I think letting anyone place a mark, microchip, tattoo, or any thing on or in the body anywhere is a mistake.
Tim Maas
Supporter
Speaking just for myself, I would not attach any end-times significance to these developments. It seems to me that the mark of the beast is presented in Revelation as a way of making people identical or alike. By contrast, I would say that biomarker technology focuses on the unique characteristics that God has given to each of us as individuals, and that nobody else on earth (except, for some such attributes, in the case of identical siblings) has possessed or will possess in the past, present, or future. For the legitimate security-related purposes for which they are used (such as I encountered during 35 years of working for the U. S. government), there is no more effective or impregnable means of ensuring the level of protection required for highly-sensitive information or work settings.
Paul Stewart
Supporter
IMHO, I would not receive this body modification. It would go against my conscience and my understanding of the Word. I would pray and if you feel uneasy do not receive it. Your faith and obeying the leading of the Lord is more important than any job.
Rich Hazeltine
Supporter
Many believers understand that the mark of the beast was a reference to the Roman requirement for trade and part of the oppressive rule the Jews were under. Caesar declared himself to be god and demanded worship. We also believe that all of this was fulfilled in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed. The idea of a rapture and all that, is an almost exclusively American belief.
Lars Krøgholt
Supporter
I think that the mark of the beast is not the mark of any current entity, be it a company or a state. Whether the mark will be a chip or anything else no one knows. There are theories that it may be a Muslim head-/wrist band or some kind of DNA implant from Nephilim. Thus it does not make sense to me to reject a bioimplant or identification via biometrics thinking that it may pave the way for me taking TMOTB. I think it will be obvious for true born again disciples of Christ that we should not receive TMOTB when it arrives on the scene. Many will be deceived, but I don't think we should fear it. To fear or worry is a sin, and the Holy Spirit will also guide us in this when the time comes.
Dale Richardson
Supporter
What the mark of the beast is is clearly outlined in scripture if one is a diligent student of prophecy. Knowing what the mark of the beast is will let you know what it is not. Like an rfid chip or some of these other ideas like that. A little analysis of the mark and the seal of God: The mark appears in the forehead and in the hand and the seal of God appears only in the forehead. Why is this? What is behind the forehead? The frontal lobes of the brain, the part of the brain where you think, reason and make decisions. The seal of God can only come because you believe God you have to be a willing participant to receive God’s seal. The mark of the beast appears in the right hand or the forehead. The second beast causes the whole world to worship the first beast and his image and in turn the one who gave power to the beast -which in revelation 12 is the devil. He is the dragon that gave the beast his seat and authority. Now the mark of the beast can come in the forehead (if you believe it is right) or in your hand. The hand signifies force, those who yield to the mark because of the economic sanctions or eventually the threat of death. The rfid chip is definitely not the mark of the beast but it could be used to track you. If you don’t have the rfid chip they still can track you through your smartphone or any digital divide that connects to wifi or has a gps in it. So while I personally would not get chipped because it is easier to get rid of a cellphone that to have to cut myself open to get rid of a rfid chip, it is safe to say that it is not the mark of the beast. It may be used to enforce it but so will just about everything else in our society. Revelation is all about worship. After the mark of the beast and worship of the beast is mentioned in chapter 13 the seal of God is contrasted in chapter 14 along with worshipping God who created the heavens and the earth the sea and the fountains of waters. How we live is worship, that is why obedience to God’s commandments are tied to the worship of God.
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