| Vol. VI Number 43 | November 10, 2002 |
When you either see the news on television, or hear it on radio, you are seeing and listening to technology that is less than a 100 years old. When you use the Internet you are using something that is only 10 years old. Though these technologies are new, we have come to depend upon them. For instance, 10 years ago I was writing sermons using a computer with only a thought of making a printed copy for the congregation to study. Now I post these sermons on the Internet on a computer that is running all day.
Let's look at the new technologies that we have come to depend upon that is less than 100 years old.
Now with the new technology in the near future you will be charged to receive a paper bill by the mail rather than through the Internet by Email. In the short span of time of 10 years we have come to depend upon the Internet for more and more items. We now do our shopping on the Internet, banking, and even library research. Now with the increased technology let's look at some of the things that are in the news today.
The chip, called the VeriChip, is about the size of a grain of rice, carries a number that identifies you and, the company says, may eventually provide a way to make sure that only the right people gain access to secure sites, corporate offices or even personal computers. The chip could also carry access to personal data, like medical information. Implantable microchips have already been used over the last several years to track pets.
This sounds like the mark of the beast with embedded micro chips. If you read the article then you will see that it is already being promoted as a good thing. Some companies could compel their employees to receive the chip in order to stay employed with the company. The government might make it mandatory to receive the chip in order to receive any government benefits. All of the scenarios are likely to happen in the near future.
This article describes how it is now possible to get airline tickets at a discount rate through the Internet. More and more items are being offered on the Internet. Another example is the site http://www.movietickets.com which is a web site to buy a movie ticket on the Internet so that you do not have to stand in line. This site covers both all of the movie theaters in the United States and Canada. So the Internet is now a place for everyone instead of just for the hackers.
This article tells how to set up a wireless home network allowing several people simultaneous Internet access.
This past week I received a news paper article in the mail concerning the use of MRI to determine truthfulness.
These three articles on the NY Times web site show the rapid growth of technology. Who would have thought ten years ago that we would be buying movie tickets, travel reservations, and even auctions from our own homes? None of the technology is evil, but the way that it is used is evil. The Internet held the promise that there would be a international network for communication and sharing all at the cost of a local phone call. The reality is that 80% of the Internet traffic is used for pornography while the remaining 20% is used for what the Internet was intended to be used for. Here is a wonderful tool that can be used by everyone in the world for the benefit of all, but the reality is that it is primarily used for smut.
Even the embedded chip by itself is not evil, but how it will be forced upon the population and by whom is what will make it evil. Let's look at what the Bible says about the mark of the beast.
Revelation 13:1-18
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And 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:
17 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.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.Revelation 14:1-20
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And 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,
10 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:
11 And 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.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The ones who receive the mark of the beast will worship the beast and they will not worship God. The beast will use the technology for his own nefarious reasons to enslave the human race. Thus the ones who are enslaved by the beast will find themselves worshiping the beast. Thus the technology is not evil, but what men do with the technology is evil. The Lord is a jealous God and does not allow the worship of false Gods and demons.
3014 E Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134
Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637
Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
| Sunday School | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 11:30 AM |
| Sunday Morning Worship | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 12 NOON |
| Sunday Evening | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6:30 PM |
| Wednesday Evening | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 7:30 PM |
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Copyright © 2002 LeRoy D. Cressy
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