Web Opinion by Todd Beezley

Anthrax and the Mark

 

Weeks after the Anthrax-related deaths of three average, run-of-the-mill citizens in New York and Connecticut, we're being told they were probably exposed to the deadly spores as a result of "cross-contamination." In other words, spores were passed from purposely contaminated letters to other envelopes by random chance, either through direct or second-hand contact.

Since the first reports of deadly biological agents in transit through the mail, we've learned that some high profile personalities have stopped receiving snail mail and only welcome messages sent by e-mail. The situation apparently became so bad that a trial balloon was recently floated seeking public support for a new Internet tax that would help underwrite losses accrued by the United States Postal Service. Under the plan, computer users would pay five cents apiece for every e-mail message they send. Internet service providers would collect the fees and forward them to Mr. Zip.

Frankly, I don't think such a plan stands the chance of a snowball in Miami...in August. But it does show us just how far the pendulum is swinging toward total dependence on a high-tech lifestyle.

In the days following disclosure of the Anthrax-laden letters sent to prominent politicians and media types, we heard of another major risk to the American people which, so far, thank God, has not materialized.

We were warned that terrorists could easily cripple America financially by contaminating paper money and putting it into circulation.

I certainly see Satan's hoof-prints all over this one.

If you want to set up the world for the establishment of an international, online currency, it would make perfect, diabolical sense to poison the world's financial well. Make people afraid to accept cash and they'd look anywhere for a safe alternative, even at the risk of their eternal souls.

The Bible warns us that an end-times ruler known as the False Prophet will lead the world to accept a "mark" on their right hand or forehead and worship the "beast," known as the Anti-Christ. Without that mark, no one would be able to buy or sell. Of course, anyone taking the mark and worshipping the "beast" will pay for this act of celestial treason with his or her eternal soul.

In order for Satan's game of biological blackmail to work, there must be an alternative waiting in the wings to replace the outdated, demonized paper money.

Don't look now...but it's just over the horizon.

Last week, while visiting one of my favorite Christian Internet bulletin boards, I happened upon a link to a Philippines' debit card website that left me gasping for air. The site was www.mondexphil.com/default.htm. The link led me to a page entitled, "Cash in the Future." The major graphic on the page shows only a man's right eye, hairline and half of his forehead. There, neatly applied to the right side of his forehead was a computer chip...or if you prefer...a mark. A contributor to the Christian website pointed out that Mondex comes from two Latin words meaning "world" and "right hand."

Pretty spooky.

Then, last weekend, I heard an ad on the radio promoting Dodge trucks. It talked about people being perfected by having computer chips implanted in the frontal lobes of their brains.

For more than a decade, now, the trend toward a society without cash or privacy has been established. People were sold on the benefits of having their pets "chipped" so they could more easily be reunited with their "lost" owners. Then, last year, we were being prepared for the Digital Angel system, originally intended to utilize embedded computer chips to track children, monitor medical conditions and assist in financial transactions. Shortly before its unveiling, the Digital Angel creators changed the concept to include a chip that could be worn like a wristwatch rather than physically implanted.

Until recently, my concerns about the mark of the beast being an implanted computer chip were downplayed by our technology guru in the family, my cousin's husband, John. He said a power source could not be manufactured that was small enough to enable such an implanted chip to operate, so I shouldn't worry so much. John develops hi-tech medical advancements for a cutting-edge firm in Florida, so I had to figure he knows his business.

But John isn't laughing anymore. The Digital Angel folks say their new chips could be powered by the electrical current generated by the human body during the flexing of its muscles.

Perhaps the system still has some bugs to work out. Perhaps the timing isn't quite right, yet. We know the Anti-Christ and False Prophet have not yet been revealed. But if you want a study in human psychology revealing how quickly the American populace can be prepared to pay any cost including spiritual damnation merely to reinforce the illusion of temporal security, the recent Anthrax scare should be considered required reading.

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