Thousands of northern Europeans are conducting cashless and cardless transactions by using an implanted device the size of a grain of rice. These recipients are the testing ground for the technology the antichrist figure will possibly use to flush out certain Christians, those faithful to the Lord who will not take the mark. This cashless system will also be a means for the Lord to test His saints — will they choose this present world or the kingdom of God?
An increasing number of grocery stores are incorporating checkout self-serve scanning devices to replace human cashiers. Next up will be various means of scanning without cash or cards. All retail businesses will be herded into a cashless state, and these grocers are a visible reminder of that. No one will be able to buy or sell unless the person had the mark in the right hand or forehead. How do we get ready for supporting ourselves in this system?
News disseminated by the top digital businesses — Microsoft, Apple, Twitter, Facebook, Google — are all left-leaning and they are willing to restrict or remove material that reflects conservative views like the traditional family and faith in God. They would be important tools in the hands of an antichrist figure, as their philosophies will line up with his. They are already complying with China and other restrictive countries to comply with their censorship laws. The prevalence of their leftist viewpoints will ensure the rapid spread of their godless ideology to the rest of the interconnected world.
Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and similar interactive devices are popular in the home. They are also a coming privacy nightmare, for their companies are recording all interactions, supposedly with privacy shields in place. With these companies willing to back government officials having similar leftist philosophies, will it not be easy for a powerful, like-minded official to persuade them to overtly monitor private interactions? Will they report to the authorities conversations of those who try to secretly resist the mark? Again, they are already adjusting the software to submit to governments that are hostile to Christianity, such as China.
America is continuing in its debt spiral. This debt is being ignored by those in power. This financial weakness will be necessary for the end times. The nations around Israel are held in check by Israel’s ally, the United States. The armies of the antichrist figure must have no fear of consequences when he surrounds Jerusalem with his armies. Evidently America would not be in a place to defend its Middle Eastern ally. America could possibly implode from its own financial problems since it is trillions of dollars in debt. Perhaps we would not be able to sustain our military as much as we would like to protect Israel or ourselves.
China has implemented facial recognition cameras in many public places, including theaters. This technology is being exported, such as to South Africa. In many cities, the police department uses body cameras. Who knows how long until facial recognition is included in them as well? Then it would be easier for an antichrist regime to pass laws to pinpoint those who haven’t received the mark, since the facial recognition software will be cross-referenced to databases which include such data.
Nevertheless, the privacy of sensitive information is an ongoing concern, and some major online companies are stepping up to reassure the public with transparency practices regarding our data. So this will be a hurdle the antichrist will need to overcome.
The recent popes have made inroads with leaders of other faiths, even to call them brothers. So it’s not unheard of that a liberal religious figure could appear in the last days and unite the world to worship the antichrist.
If you believe in a pretribulation rapture, then this information is merely academic, since you’ll be gone and not have to suffer through it. But what do you think: suppose someone comes to power in the Middle East, makes a 7-year treaty with Israel, and commands that no one may buy or sell unless they take the mark in the right hand or forehead, and the temple is under construction. You haven’t been raptured yet — would you say, “well, the pretrib position is correct, so this can’t be the antichrist or the mark of the beast.” In this scenario, would you take the mark?
Suppose you are a liberal Christian, one who believes “apocalyptic events” will happen in the end, but the end-times events in the bible are merely symbolic. If these events occur literally after all, will you take the mark?
These observations from reading the media depict a tightening of the net over all peoples. No one will escape who wants to refuse the mark. None could hide. If you are in public, the authorities will find you. Home devices are getting ever more sophisticated, so there’s no place to hide there, either. Whether in a building or out, our faceprints, retinal and voice prints could be ways to pin us down.
For a couple of thousands of years, the wheels of prophecy have been turning slowly. But in one moment, with one inciting event, the wheels will accelerate to full speed. Jesus said that the generation that sees the first signs will not pass away until all the prophecy has been fulfilled. Of course — since the final conflict will only last about 7 years. Then the Messiah comes. But when He comes, will He find faith in the earth?
