Prelude to the Mark of the Beast?

China’s Social Credit System

China has recently began a pilot program they call a “social credit” system which they aim to use to monitor every aspect of their 1.4 billion citizens’ lives by 2020 through the use of over 200 million surveillance cameras,  facial recognition technology, surveillance robots along with a myriad of other technologies. They also use records obtained on their citizens by the government such as medical, educational, and financial records including family information, and even internet browsing records.

The program has been enabled by rapid advances in facial recognition, body scanning and geo-tracking. (New York Post)

The social credit system works like this: everyone starts with a score of 800 or 900 (depending on the area) and it can go up or down depending on your lifestyle, who you associate with, what you say, etc. In essence, if you comply with the Chinese government,obey them, and follow their ideologies then you have no issues. Otherwise, you run the risk of having a decreased score which around 10 million Chinese citizens already have.

The higher a score you get, the more rights you get in society and the more freedoms you have, “The benefits of being ranked on the higher end of the scale include waived deposits on hotels and rental cars, VIP treatment at airports, discounted loans, priority job applications and fast-tracking to the most prestigious universities” (China’s ‘social credit’ system is a real-life ‘Black Mirror’ nightmare).

If you have a low score, you can essentially be barred from going to good schools, getting loans, and even travelling. This not only affects you, but your family and others you associate with as well! In turn, what the people you associate with do and say also affects you. The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) reports that, “If your best friend or your dad says something negative about the government, you’ll lose points too”.

Within years, an official Party outline claims, it will ‘allow the trustworthy to roam freely under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step’. (Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC))

Human Implantable Chips

On the other side of the world in the US, a Wisconsin based company known as Three Square Market is making human implantable chips. Last year they developed a chip as a small project and had their employees implanted (willingly). Today, 92 of their 196 employees have been chipped. Todd Wesby, the company’s CEO talks about some of the conveniences the chip brings stating it’s “similar to an ID badge that can never get lost. It assists employees with day-to-day tasks, such as unlocking doors, logging in to computers using printers, and buying snacks” (Chip Party).

After the success with the first chip, they’re now making a more advanced one that is powered by the body, has built in voice control, as well as GPS tracking technology which I’m sure can’t be used to invade the privacy of anyone who decides to take it if it gets into the wrong hands (sarcasm).

Where is this Going?

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.” (Revelation 13:16-17)

As a believer watching for the soon return of our Lord and savior – Jesus Christ – we know where this is headed. We’re told to watch the many signs we’ve been given and being familiar with bible prophecy helps tremendously as well. China’s social credit system and human implantable chips are just 2 examples of the day and age we live in. Imagine what these 2 technologies could do together.

With our current technology, we can easily see how Revelation 13:16-18 can be fulfilled today. So if we can see a prophecy from the tribulation nearing fulfillment, then how much closer is the start of tribulation? Likewise, then how much closer then is the rapture of the church?

I do want to clarify that I do not believe these current implantable chips are the “mark of the beast” but rather that it may eventually lead to the technology for it. Personally, I believe the mark of the beast will be a technology like this combined with DNA altering technology.

This idea of corrupt DNA can be seen in places such as Genesis 6 with fallen angels reproducing with human woman creating hybrid beings that are exempt from salvation. Salvation is a gift only given to descendants of Adam. It’s not for animals, or angels, or any other created being. I believe this is Satan’s last ditch plan to take as many people with him to the lake of fire as he can and also why this is so condemned in Revelation.

We see it in Daniel 2:43 as well in a prophecy of the last kingdom that will come before Jesus’ millennial kingdom, “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay“. 

Jesus even likens the period of time preceding his return to the days of Noah in Matthew 24:37-39, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be“. 

The only guaranteed way to escape this future “mark of the beast” system is to be a part of the body of Christ, meaning you have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For those who don’t, they have a terrible future to look forward to called the tribulation 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)

Whatever form this mark of the beast eventually takes, the main take-away is to not take it. If you’re interested in other articles like this, navigate to my commentary page and follow me on my social media platforms to stay up to date with the latest news. These are amazing times we’re living in as we see bible prophecy unfolding right before our eyes and the world stage being set up for the fulfillment of many prophecies. Time is short and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Make sure you’ve made the right decision about Jesus today! It will be the most important decision of your eternal life. 

Sources:

1. China Rolling out ‘Social Credit’ System
2. China’s ‘social credit’ system is a real-life ‘Black Mirror’ nightmare
3. China is building a vast civilian surveillance network — here are 10 ways it could be feeding its creepy ‘social credit system’
4. Leave no dark corner
5. Chip Party
6. Wisconsin company known for microchipping employees plans GPS tracking chip for dementia patients