In October 2018, I started my “Prelude to the Mark of the Beast” series to keep track of the advancement of technology that I believed could be a precursor to the mark of the beast. In the first article I discussed human implantable chips and China’s social credit system. In November 2018 I wrote the second article on the rise in popularity of microchips in Sweden and a cashless society. Now several months later I present to you, Amazon’s new hand scanning technology.
In a recent article written by the New York Post titled Amazon tests Whole Foods payment system that uses hands as ID, they elaborate on Amazon’s new hand scanning technology they’ve been testing in secrecy, “The e-tailing giant’s engineers are quietly testing scanners that can identify an individual human hand as a way to ring up a store purchase, with the goal of rolling them out at its Whole Foods supermarket chain in the coming months, The Post has learned” (New York Post).
The New York Post reported that testing is currently being done at Amazon’s New York office location as they test the technology on vending machines to buy a range of items. The technology also doesn’t require physical contact to be effective, “Instead, they use computer vision and depth geometry to process and identify the shape and size of each hand they scan before charging a credit card on file” (New York Post).
For now, they plan to only limit the use to those who have an amazon prime membership in a select few Whole Foods grocery stores by early next year but eventually want to expand the technology to all their stores throughout the US. Their main selling point for this technology is a faster transaction time; they boast a speed of less than 300 milliseconds compared to regular card transaction times of 3 to 4 seconds which will indeed be a big draw for people.
‘Retailers have always been interested in faster checkout,’ Majd Maksad, founder and CEO of Status Money, a personal finance site, told The Post. ‘You only have to walk into Whole Foods to see the massive lines of people waiting to check out. It’s a massive friction point.’ (New York Post)
Amazon has also launched a chain of convenience stores simply dubbed as “Amazon Go”. The chain launched earlier in 2019 and already has 17 potential and open locations in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and New York City. On the website they state, “Amazon Go is a new kind of store with no checkout required. We created the world’s most advanced shopping technology so you never have to wait in line. With our Just Walk Out Shopping experience, simply use the Amazon Go app to enter the store, take the products you want, and go! No lines, no checkout. (No, seriously.)”.
The Prophetic Implications
To put it bluntly, what I believe we’re witnessing here is the world stage being set up for the coming 7 year tribulation. This is only one of the many signs those who are watching bible prophecy unfold are seeing. Revelation 13:16-17 tells us clearly that there will one day be a mark of the beast system that the antichrist will cause everyone to take, “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, 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”.
I don’t believe hand scanning technology, electronic tattoos, and human implantable chips such as RFID chips are the “mark of the beast” simply because the “beast” (the antichrist) has not been revealed. The ultimate fulfillment of the mark of the beast system will take place during the tribulation period, but until then we are seeing things quickly advance towards that time. Technology in and of itself isn’t “evil” nor do I think we should close ourselves off from the world and avoid technology.
I myself enjoy technology and we know it’s been used for amazing things that have aided in the advancement of humanity as we know it. At the same time, technology can and has been used for nefarious purposes and it’s for this reason we should keep our eyes on this type of technology and let others know about what’s to come.
Amazon Go convenience stores have already been launched allowing shoppers to simply “grab and go”. No need for human cashiers. In the video below, we see a demonstration of how shoppers only need to swipe their phone once they enter the store to log them into their account and from then onward any items they pick up or put back will be added or taken from their online shopping cart.
Now imagine this system not with phones, but with the hand, and not in a few stores, but worldwide. In this scenario we can see how someone who refuses to have this technology – to take the mark – can be easily shut out from buying or selling just as the bible says. This isn’t a far-off scenario that will find its fulfillment in a distant future.
No, this is something that will take the world by storm relatively soon. Although the bible tells us that this future time period and the mark of the beast system will inevitably come, not everyone will be on the earth during these 7 years. Only those who have trusted in Christ for atonement of sins will escape this time in the rapture of the church.
For those who have not yet placed their faith in Christ’s finished work at the cross, they have a terrible future to look forward to that involves either taking the mark of the beast or being killed if you refuse. However, a dire warning is made for those who either choose to accept the mark or are thinking about doing so,
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ (Revelation 14:9-11)
The goal of this article specifically isn’t about what the mark of the beast may be (although I discuss that in the previous 2 articles in this series) but rather is a warning of what’s to come for those not paying attention. For the unbeliever, you have the choice of waving this away as mere coincidence or you can look into it for yourself. I encourage the latter. I can’t force anyone to believe what I (and many other Christians) believe, but what I can do is present the truth. However, what you then do with it is up to you.
Sources
- Amazon tests Whole Foods payment system that uses hands as ID (September 3rd, 2019) – New York Post
- Amazon reportedly tests payment system that scans your hand (September 3rd, 2019) – CNET
- Amazon Go – Amazon website
- Moneywatch: Amazon Reportedly Testing Body Scan Payments Tech (September 5th, 2019) – CBS Sacremento