We are now more than 10 years past those predictive headlines, and it's amazing to me just how quickly the young generation is accepting a cashless society. Just last week, my husband and I joined our niece and her boyfriend for dinner at a casual restaurant, and there was a prominently displayed sign that proclaimed this was a "cashless establishment" and no longer accepted cash. My husband and I looked at each other with that knowing glance that said, "Yep, we're staring at the beginning of Revelation 13:16-17, Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name". Other translations actually say, He has forced everyone, small and great... Of course, "He" is the Anti-Christ.
So, what is the "it" that the Anti-Christ uses to cause this mayhem to come upon the whole world -- the small and great among us; the rich and the poor; the free and the slave? From the perspective of my Biblical worldview, "it" is a pervasive system of control that will rule the world and we are simply being herded towards it like blind sheep. It's described in the Bible as "the Mark of the Beast", in which no one will be able to buy or sell without this "mark". Secularists will say that this is all nonsense. Mankind is just evolving; we are discovering new and more efficient ways to live our lives, and technology is the means to achieving maximum productivity with a minimum amount of wasted time and effort.
And the younger generations pride themselves on adopting a cashless society and digital currencies, seeing themselves as progressive and socially advanced. This has become their mantra: "I want to have the option to go out without carrying my purse or my wallet, I want to make my life easier, I want to be able to go everywhere without additional weights, all I need is my phone". Checks are becoming obsolete and socially unacceptable. [Just notice the disgusted looks if you write one at the check-out counter]. Even credit cards are becoming passé, with many opting for digital wallets, which are apps that allow you to store funds, make transactions, and track payment histories on devices like your phone or tablet. But these payment methods are only the tip of the iceberg!
We now have terminology like QR code, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, etc. that are used to describe even more methods of buying and selling. But the Beast System is not stopping there! In 2013, Computer Weekly reported that "the new generation of banking customers would rather use biometric security devices than PINs and passwords for authentication, [according to Visa Europe]." It seems that to "Generation Z" it felt like passwords were an unnecessary burden. To them, Biometric authentication using fingerprint recognition or retinal scans offered an ideal solution, combining unique security and ease of use. What's more, more than half of 16 to 24-year-olds thought passwords would no longer be needed or used by the end of 2020, and would be replaced by authentication methods such as facial recognition or fingerprint and retina scanners. We're now 10 years down the road, and their predictions are bearing fruit.
It appears as if the Beast System has slipped in on the heels of technological advancements, and we are seeing the shift from cash to electronic payments across the spectrum of our methods of commerce. We see it in the disbursements of salaries, payments to suppliers, pensions, social welfare stipends, cash-for-work programs, emergency relief payments, and others forms of payments by governments and development communities. But in order to accomplish all these "benefits", we literally pay a price -- we give up all kinds of data that give control over our lives to the system; we give up access to our bank accounts; and, ultimately, we sacrifice our privacy and civil liberties.
We are being told told that it is all for our own good; it is inclusive, convenient, faster and needed. Even now we no longer hear each other's voices when we communicate. It almost feels as if the Powers-That-Be have succeeded in molding us into compliant little robots that create their super-wealth. We have forgotten to think for ourselves because a machine does it for us. We have abdicated our responsibilities as consumers and free-thinking citizens to "systems" that know better than we do what is best for us and our families.
If you are a citizen of the United States, you cannot fail to understand that the value of our currency is on the decline, so a digital currency is already in the wings. Our government [and the governments of the world] are just trying to figure out how to keep us from making it private. They want access and control! As D.D. Nave writes in a January 2023 article on the Elizabeth Star website, "Globalists have been waging a war on cash for years. Globalists have a concerted campaign to shift consumers toward a digital mode of commerce that can be monitored, tracked, tabulated, mined for data, hacked, hijacked and confiscated when convenient". And the author proposes that the QR code, which is already in frequent use, could be the perfect vehicle to accomplish that -- plus it could be a good candidate for the Mark of the Beast.
There has always been a lot of speculation throughout history as to what the implementation of the Mark will look like. We don't exactly know. But what we do know is that it will be used to control trade and commerce. And the Galion Inquirer sums it up quite succinctly: "When a person controls who can buy, he controls demand. A person controls supply when he controls what is sold. He who controls the purse strings has total control. The Antichrist will rule the world’s economy". And Scripture certainly makes it clear who will be able to buy ... those who have accepted the Mark of the Beast.
Let's face it ... the technology is here to implement this Mark. All we're lacking is the repressive, dictatorial system to implement it. But make no mistake, the Anti-Christ will do so quickly and efficiently. So, here is what I want us to be cognizant of: Today -- right now! -- we need to take note that there is a prophecy that all men will be required to accept "a mark" to buy or sell. That means in order to eat, to work, to bank ... to survive ... you will need to comply with "the system".
So, let me ask you this question: Does it look as though technology is taking us to that moment in prophetic time? I think so. And I am deeply concerned that my fellow human beings are being seduced by the temptations of more convenience, ease of use, and cutting-edge technology. Maybe you don't believe in the Bible or the prophecy, but can you deny that it is getting more difficult to act outside the system? Think about it. And then take a moment to consider this thought: what if there is a possibility that the prophecy is true? Do you want to take that chance? Today's Scripture tells you the grave consequences of complying with the system of the Beast. All of us would do well to view technology with new eyes, a new understanding, and a healthy dose of distrust. There is a better "system" to invest in ... and His Name is Jesus!
Revelation 14:9-11 “If anyone
worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead
or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which
has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. They will be
tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of
the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.
There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and
its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
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