Interpretation of Revelations 13:16-18

[mannisue]

This is only my second post, and again I'm starting with, "I have this friend. . ."

But I do. (Really, I have friends. lol) This friend of mine is flipping out right now over an e-mail he received about the "Mark of the Beast." The gist of it is that we will all soon have to have a chip imbedded in our skin with all of our personal information on it (I've heard this before) and that it's "coming sooner than we think! It's the mark of the beast! Beware--beware!"

This friend of mine is not LDS--he actually leans toward a non-denom type of church, which is fine. We've actually had a conversation on the connotations of the prophesies in Revelations before--he came to me because "I knew the scriptures." Well, I try...I'm not that great. So, in the interest of keeping the dialogue between us alive, I'm trying to find some sort of idea what various people feel to be a correct interpretation of the mark, and what the implications of such a mark are. I've even looked up 4 different translations of the verse, and they seem to say the same thing.

Any help would be appreciated!

[tomk]

666 ??

I don't know. Sounds like someone's locker combination (snorts).

I think it would be "KEWL" to have a chip embedded under my skin, as long as there was equal protection in place to keep other people from getting info from me I don't want them to have.

I think Palm Pilots will eventually get there. We'll use them for everything:

ONE device will:

-Pay for things. Not just at the grocery store. I mean ... EVERYWHERE for EVERYTHING.
-Cell phone
-Home automation (turn lights on and off, grant access to the house)
-Car (grant access, turn the car on)
-Entertainment, movies, mp3, books...
-Organizer / Planner


I think the iPhone is heading in the right direction.


Sorry, this is not what your post was for. I'm a nerd.

[MaidservantX]

Remind your friend that Jesus saves and preserves all those who belong to him. We'll be all right, chip or no.

[Hemidakota]

As an engineer back in 2000, we were asked 10-great things that the US DoD could used by 2050.

Out of the ten submitted, along with a paragraph explaining about our idea, that the grunt or soldier would have a implanted GPS/medical diagnostic/ Personal Record containing chip in his left wrist for the purpose to view the soldier whereabouts and medical information on the battlefield.

Sad to say, possible working prototype maybe forth coming. Why? Another idea was a smart bullet for snipers to lock on an enemy target and him only. Call it a mini computerize Tomahawk missile. That is already in the works.

[mannisue]

Originally Posted by xhenli

Remind your friend that Jesus saves and preserves all those who belong to him. We'll be all right, chip or no.

Thank you, xhenli. That's pretty much what I've told him--as long as we remain vigilant and prepared for His coming, we have nothing to fear.

And no, tomk, you aren't a nerd. I think that the rapid advancement of technology, albeit a bit frightening sometimes, is quite fascinating to watch, let alone be a part of.

I suppose I just get a bit frustrated when people let things like this frighten them to death. Maybe it's just my cavalier LDS attitude, and I've been content just to reflect on things as they happen and refrain from stressing out about it.

What I'm confused by is this--are there going to be some sort of negative, eternal consequences for accepting, as it were, this "mark?" Would we really not be counted in the Book of Life, our salvations in peril? Gah. . .I'm just not smart enough for this. Anyone have a personal interpretation they'd like to share--aside from the "chip" idea?

[mannisue]

Originally Posted by Hemidakota

As an engineer back in 2000, we were asked 10-great things that the US DoD could used by 2050.

Out of the ten submitted, along with a paragraph explaining about our idea, that the grunt or soldier would have a implanted GPS/medical diagnostic/ Personal Record containing chip in his left wrist for the purpose to view the soldier whereabouts and medical information on the battlefield.

Sad to say, possible working prototype maybe forth coming. Why? Another idea was a smart bullet for snipers to lock on an enemy target and him only. Call it a mini computerize Tomahawk missile. That is already in the works.

Sorry, Hemidakota, I missed your reply when I did my last one. The ideas submitted that you mentioned would seem to have some serious implications, both for good and bad. Like I said to tomk, it can be frightening to watch the advancement of our technology at the lightning pace it is moving. But it is also strangely exciting, in a way.

So, do you believe that "the mark" is some sort of device, like a chip imbedded in the skin?

[VisionOfLehi]

You know it'll be the mark of the beast when every man woman and child is required to take it, and it's place on the right hand or the forehead,

If you take the scriptural references literally.

I'm sure there's a compelling argument out there that "head" and "right hand" refer to something symbolic...


There IS a consequence for taking this mark, indeed. I can only assume it'd be Telestial Kingdom for you.

85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

Meaning, thus, during the Millennial Reign, they shall still be in Spirit Prison or something like unto it, suffering for their sins, until the Reign ends and they get resurrected in perfect physical bodies, and enter into Telestial Glory.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by mannisue

Sorry, Hemidakota, I missed your reply when I did my last one. The ideas submitted that you mentioned would seem to have some serious implications, both for good and bad. Like I said to tomk, it can be frightening to watch the advancement of our technology at the lightning pace it is moving. But it is also strangely exciting, in a way.

So, do you believe that "the mark" is some sort of device, like a chip imbedded in the skin?

Yes. I had a dreamed a couple years later, revealing how the AC will take over the largest church and eventually, the UN.

There are others that I cannot list that maybe some issues for the Saints later as we draw closer to the end. I wish I could elaborate more on where this nation is at as to technology. You be shocked.

I will say, we change technology every 8-months now.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by VisionOfLehi

You know it'll be the mark of the beast when every man woman and child is required to take it, and it's place on the right hand or the forehead,

If you take the scriptural references literally.

I'm sure there's a compelling argument out there that "head" and "right hand" refer to something symbolic...


There IS a consequence for taking this mark, indeed. I can only assume it'd be Telestial Kingdom for you.



Meaning, thus, during the Millennial Reign, they shall still be in Spirit Prison or something like unto it, suffering for their sins, until the Reign ends and they get resurrected in perfect physical bodies, and enter into Telestial Glory.

Take a closer look at Richard Drapers book concerning this. I think he hit the nail on the head per say.

[Hemidakota]

Tidbit: DoD/CIA uses LDS active members in there abilities to see [remote viewers].