Chip Under the Skin?

We’re continually receiving anxious inquiries due to new technologies and rumors about microchips. What are we to make of this?

There’s no doubt that we’re living in exciting times, and experiencing great changes firsthand. First the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, then the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the wars in the Middle East, and now the global coronavirus pandemic, as well as the “successful” peace efforts in and around Israel. There has been much talk of a turning point and a New World Order, and it’s difficult to avoid the impression that the fulfillment of biblical prophecy is accelerating.

As a result of Covid-19, things are becoming possible that would never have been considered feasible nearly a year ago, like compulsory face masks, public temperature-taking via infrared thermometer, and new regulations. There is increasing talk of cashless payments, vaccination certificates, and a chip. For one thing, the speculation and conspiracy theories are getting out of hand. But apart from that, everyone is noticing that something completely new is approaching.

It’s entirely possible that we’ve entered a phase in which humanity—uniformly and globally—is being kindled toward the time described to us in Revelation. In the end, there will be a worldwide kingdom and two anti-Christian rulers. People will be forced to take a mark, without which they can no longer buy or sell (Rev 13). If cash no longer exists, people who don’t bear the mark are without recourse. Through it all, we’re noticing how quickly whole societies can be made compliant. The August 21, 2020 issue of the German newspaper Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung had an article entitled, “The Corona-Crisis Is an Opportunity.” In it, Bundestag (parliament) President Wolfgang Schäuble is quoted as saying, “‘Europe as a whole needs to take on more responsibility, especially in security and defense policy.’ […] At the same time, he describes the Corona crisis as a ‘great opportunity’ for Europe. ‘Resistance to change decreases in a crisis. We’re now able to establish the economic and financial union that we haven’t achieved politically until now.’”

Having said this, we must soberly state that the “mark” is directly related to worship of the “beast,” and has no relation to those who already belong to the Lord Jesus.

“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. 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. 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: 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. 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” (Rev 13:14-18).

In our opinion, a chip or vaccination shouldn’t be equated with the coming mark…but it could bring us partway there.

The following biblical references make it clear that the mark has no relation to the church of born-again Christians:

• According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, the church is destined to judge the world and the angels. Since the time described in the book of Revelation (including chapter 13) is 

the time of God’s judgment on the world, we’re assuming that the church is already in glory with Jesus and will judge the world as His body, together with Him as the head. Only when head and body are brought together is fullness reached, fulfilling all in all; at that, the end-time events take their course (cf. Eph 1:23).

• The church of Jesus is sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13; 4:30). This means that it can’t be sealed with a diabolical, anti-Christian mark at the same time, thereby losing the seal of the Spirit. If the future 144,000 people from the twelve tribes of Israel—who are sealed by God—cannot be harmed (Rev 7:3), how much more is that true of the body of Christ?

• The Bible clearly tells us that the time of Revelation is the time of God’s wrath (Rev 6:16-17), but the church is not appointed to wrath (1 Thess 1:10; 5:9).

Furthermore, the Bible states that only the children of unbelief are destined for this time of God’s wrath (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6).

• The Bible teaches the church a clear assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:17; John 14:16; Rom 8:39; 1 John 2:27; 3:9; 4:13, etc.). In addition, it says that those who have the Spirit of God confess Jesus (1 John 4:2). Conversely, this means that they cannot deny Him with an anti-Christian mark. If the church of Jesus had to go through the time of the Antichrist and the mark, it would always have to fear and have no assurance of salvation. In addition, it would beg the question of why, after 2,000 years, only this remnant of the church would have to go through this terrible time of the Great Tribulation.

• The Church Age ends with the full number of believers from every nation. After that, God turns back to Israel (Rom 11:25-26). Revelation shows us the time when God judges Israel, but in the end saves.

• After the church has been removed and the body of Christ has been completed, it is still possible for people to be saved. But these no longer belong to the church as the body of Christ. They are, therefore, again given conditions by which they can be saved (as in the Gospels); namely, faith and works. Paul, however, explicitly writes about the church’s redemption, faith without works (Rom 3:28). Thus, Tribulation believers are also admonished not to accept the mark, because then they cannot be saved.

Midnight Call - 02/2021