The Mark of the Beast

Today’s (5-4-13) headline of the Life section of my local newspaper (The Oklahoman) could hardly be missed: “Marks of the Beast? Scanners prompt biblical concerns.” The related headline also declares: “Technology renews questions on end time, ‘mark of the beast’” (by Carla Hinton).

The article mentions a local woman who “said she was concerned that biometric palm scanners used by her hospital employer to collect patient information were too similar to the ‘mark of the beast’ referenced in the biblical Book of Revelation” (page 1D). Other concerns were raised “about biometric digital photographs such as those used for driver’s licenses in several states. Parents of students in some school districts across the country have become alarmed about vein scanners and student I.D. cards that include a biochip implant system, or radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, to track students on school grounds at all times” (ibid.). Reference is also made, not unexpectedly, to one’s Social Security number as “a possible precursor to the ‘mark of the beast’” (ibid.).

So what are we to make of this? My answer probably won’t be well liked, but I’m growing weary of this sort of thing. In my new book, Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative, I address the matter at some length. So I’ve decided to take selected portions of my discussion on the topic and say something about this ever-present hysteria among many Christians.   Continue at Sam Storms