Prelude to the Mark of the Beast

Months after the launch of their convenience store chain, Amazon Go, Amazon is busy testing hand scanners for their Whole Foods stores. As this type of technology grows in popularity and becomes more commonplace, is it only making the general population comfortable for what the Bible says is on its way – the mark of the beast?

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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.”

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.”

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 fewer 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).

A video from the CBS Sacramento Youtube channel explaining Amazon’s new hand scanning technology. The Amazon story begins at 1:15.

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” (NKJV).

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 toward 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 phones 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.

A video introducing Amazon’s convenience store chain, Amazon Go. Video source here

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 the 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 they 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” (Rev. 14:9-11, NKJV).

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.

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.

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on himitsustudy.com

Featured Image by Stanislav Kondratiev

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Ayo is an energetic blogger striving to use his insights and God given talents to share the Gospel. Through his blog, he aspires to point skeptics of the bible to the truth of the Gospel using apologetics. His aspires to also inform others - both believer and non-believer - regarding the times we're living in preceding the Lord's soon return through the study of prophecy. He hopes to both inform his readers with facts, equip them with tools to communicate the Gospel, and offer hope and encouragement through God's Word.

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