We live in a world that is becoming more and more controlled by technology. Smartphones, computers and a host of other electronically controlled gadgets rule the day. Take, for instance, the “chip party” that a company in Wisconsin had on August 1, 2017. Three Square Market, a company that makes software for vending machines, offered to implant employees who volunteered with a microchip. The microchip, which is the size of a grain of rice, was implanted between the thumb and forefinger. The chips would allow employees to open doors, pay for purchases, share business cards, store medical information and sign in to their computers. All of this could be done with a wave of the hand! The procedure was quick and painless, and the company covered the $300 cost of the implants.
Harmless?
The CEO of Three Square Market, Todd Westby, made this comment: “Eventually, this technology will become standardized, allowing you to use this as your passport, public transit, all purchasing opportunities” and much more. It all seems so sensible, practical and ... harmless. But is that really the case? And how does this tie into future events?
There are considerable roadblocks to becoming a cashless society. There are the homeless and the very young and elderly who do not have bank accounts or credit cards. There are businesses that cannot afford the considerable cost of credit card transactions, because of the low-priced items that they sell. This would include cab drivers, small local retailers and restaurants, and any tip-based business, such as waiters and waitresses, hairdressers and valet parkers. What about those that don’t have Internet access or phones to receive a cash payment — in other words, the receiving end of the transaction? And, up to now, there has been an even greater barrier to microchip implantation — Americans have not been receptive to the idea.
Microchips are not new. Pets and cattle are microchipped. Shipments are microchipped for tracking purposes. But when it comes to implanting them in humans ... to date, most people resist the idea as being too invasive. However, Marlin Schneider, a Wisconsin state representative, made this statement: “Eventually people will find reasons why everyone should have these chips implanted.”
Connection to the Future
Again, how does this tie into future events? What does God’s Word, the Bible have to say about it? Should it even concern us?
Everyone wants to know the future. It excites the curiosity, tickles the imagination and stimulates the intellect. Authors have become famous after writing books that tell what they think will happen in this world in a very graphic and entertaining way. But as time goes on, many inaccuracies appear, and it becomes obvious that they were ... wrong!
But there is one Book that we can have total confidence in. It has been 100% accurate in telling the future, even though it was written over 2000 years ago. Not only does it tell us about the present day that we live in, but it also tells us what will happen in the near future!
How is this even possible? Its Author is God Himself! He alone can tell us the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:9-109Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:9‑10) states, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” There is a reason why God tells us the future: It is to exercise our consciences as to our standing before Him. He wants us to trust Him, love Him and live for Him while we can. He is not interested in merely satisfying our curiosity, imagination or intellect.
Last Days
What does the Bible say that the “last days” will be like? Though it was written over 2000 years ago, it describes the day that we live in to perfection. Here is the prophecy: “This know also, that in the last days perilous [difficult] times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent [of unsubdued passions], fierce [savage], despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more [rather] than lovers of God. ... Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-4,7). Who can deny that this is true, as we see rebellion, anarchy, violence, hatred, immorality and a despising of all that is good and right on every hand? The media and Internet add to it all by sensationalizing and glamorizing every wicked act. Then there are the talking heads that like to endlessly debate in the name of “hearing both sides” while never coming to a just and right conclusion. Clearly, we are living in the “last days”!
What is the very next thing to happen? Those of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior and have put our trust in His shed blood on Calvary’s cross for our sins are just about to be snatched away from this earth to be forever with the Lord. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up ... in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Many Christians call this the Rapture. It will be a worldwide event — absolutely impossible to mistake! Those who do not know the Lord as their Savior will be left behind to face the outpouring of God’s judgment on this earth. “I will also keep thee from the hour of [trial], which shall come upon all the world” (Revelation 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)). “I will also keep thee” refers to those who know the Lord as their own personal Savior, while “the hour of trial” refers to what we call the Tribulation. Which group will you be in?
Please don’t deceive yourself by saying, “Well, I won’t reject the gospel of salvation. I’ll just wait and see what happens. If the Rapture occurs, then I’ll know that it’s true, and then I’ll ask Jesus to forgive my sins and receive Him as my Savior.” The Bible tells us that you won’t be able to. All those who willfully refuse to come to the Lord Jesus for salvation will believe a lie, “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). There is no second chance! Those who reject the Lord have already made their choice! “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). The delusion is “strong” in order to silence men’s consciences as to the truth of their hopeless condition before God.
The Great Tribulation
The Bible tells us that after the Rapture, there is coming a terrible time upon this earth. Jesus described it this way: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:2121For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)). The Tribulation is a period of seven years, which is divided into two parts of three and a half years each. The first three and a half years are bad enough, and that’s just the beginning! Earthquakes, famine, disease and natural disasters, along with increasing moral darkness and civil unrest will cause men’s hearts to fail with fear. In hopeless desperation, they will cry out and say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:16-1716And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:16‑17)).
After this, things get worse — much worse! The Bible tells us that two exceedingly wicked men who are controlled and energized by Satan will rise to power in the Western world, including Israel. One man is called the Antichrist and the other man is called the Beast. Because of the strong delusion and lie that men believe, they will willingly worship the Beast and his image. In an even further act of Satanic wickedness, the Antichrist will attempt to have all men in the Western world and Israel receive the mark of the Beast, either in their forehead or on their right hand. When they do, they will have sealed their doom! “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and 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 ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-119And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9‑11)).
Without this mark, people will not be able to buy or sell things. The Beast will have total control over commerce in the Western world and will have overcome all of the roadblocks for all of society being marked. Here is what he will do: “He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-1716And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16‑17)). This wicked man simply uses some form of modern technology to achieve his wicked end. Whether it’s a microchip or a visible or invisible mark is not what God wants us to be concerned about. God has told us what is going to happen in the future because He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. We are free now to choose trusting Jesus to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). When the Lord comes for His own at the Rapture, the “day of salvation” will be over. God, in love, faithfully warns us what His choice will be towards those who reject His free offer of salvation. Come to Him now, while there is yet time!
After the Great Tribulation will be a time of peace when Jesus Christ reigns over the earth. Read about it in The King of Kings.