A Brazilian school district has approved a new system in an effort to reduce truancy rates and keep tabs on the whereabouts of their students. Around 20,000 children in the city of Vitoria da Conquista will take part in the scheme. Pupils will be given what is being dubbed 'intelligent clothing', uniforms that are laced with tiny RFID microchips that can alert school authorities as to the exact location of an individual at any given time. If a child does not turn up for school on time, or is late for a certain class, the system will automatically notify parents via text message. The school board hope the new system will improve relations between parents and teachers.

Quote: “"We noticed that many parents would bring their children to school but would not see if they actually entered the building because they always left in a hurry to get to work," Coriolano Moraes, the city's education director, told the Associated Press, said BBC News. Parents will receive text messages when children arrive at school, or if they are tardy for a class. If the child still does not show up after 20 minutes, the parent will receive a subsequent text stating "Your child has still not arrived at school."

Similar security systems covering a wide range of practical applications are already undergoing trials in other countries. Biometric palm scanners are being used to record the working hours of employees in several large chain hotels and restaurants. Britain uses wearable GPS tags to monitor prisoners under house arrest, and has seriously considered surgically implanting paedophiles and sex offenders with similar devices to allow police to keep tabs on their whereabouts. Many airports are now using eye scanners to keep track of all who enter or leave a country. And we have seen cashless systems introduced into schools, where children are able to pay for school dinners with a wave of their hand or a press of their finger. It seems that no matter where we go in the world today, whether we like it or not, there is little we can do to avoid being scanned, tracked or monitored. It is fast becoming a part of everyday life.

We're not told exactly how it will come about, but the Bible describes a time where every living person will be required to receive an identifying mark on their right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16-17). And without this brand mark, nobody will be able to buy or sell. You can see from today's news that we now have the technology to fulfil this prophecy. Governments are already working on a global identification system. It's not a matter of if but when this will be implemented. Many reasons have been put forward for adopting such a system. The last Labour government tried to make the case that a national identification card could reduce fraud and prevent terrorism. They later admitted that such a card would not have prevented the bombing of the London underground. Nor would it have reduced fraud significantly, as most fraud in this country is not committed by people using falsified or stolen identification, but by people claiming benefits they are not entitled to. Even the MPs are at it. Then when illegal immigration became a major political issue, they claimed the card would help prevent this too. But legal immigration in this country is in such a mess, it is doubtful whether a national ID card would make much difference.

The Bible does not state exactly why the Mark of the Beast will be introduced. Global security, financial turmoil, political upheaval, we aren't told. But the case will be made for it, and people will accept it. Like the Brazilian 'intelligent clothes' and the British national ID card, it will sound like a good idea at the time. People will be told it's for their own benefit. But really it will be about control and power. Control over the economic, political and religious life of every person on earth. The Bible has a stark warning for all who receive the Mark and worship the Beast (Revelation 14:11). But there is no need for a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to fear they may unwittingly accept the Mark of the Beast. Whether we are raptured before it is implemented or not (and I believe we will be), the Bible states that the names of all those who will receive it are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 13:8. 17:8). In other words, if you name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life now, it is impossible for you to accidentally or wilfully receive the Mark of the Beast. We who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation are already sealed with the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). There is no power in heaven or earth that can change that. Praise God! So how can you have your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Through trusting in the Lamb of God (John 1:29), the Lord Jesus Christ, for salvation. Jesus Christ loves you so much, He gave His life for you upon the cross, so that you could know your sins forgiven and have everlasting life (John 3:16). You know there is a greater bondage to that of the Mark of the Beast. The Bible says as long as we remain in our sins, we are slaves to it (John 8:34). And our sin will destroy us (Romans 6:23). But praise God that there is forgiveness of sin and freedom from bondage through Jesus Christ. Turn away from your sin, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Source Digital Journal

VeriTeQ Acquisition Corporation, the new company set up by the former CEO of VeriChip Corporation, has revealed that they intend to market their RFID technology to the manufacturers of breast implants. Thousands of women across Europe are having to consider the possibility of having their breast implants removed after it was discovered that a French firm used industrial silicone, harmful to humans, as a cheaper alternative to the type normally used in the medical profession. Now the European Union is considering passing legislation that would require breast implant manufacturers to electronically 'tag' their products so they can be identified inside the body. Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and CEO of VeriTeQ, believes this is a service VeriChip can provide. The chip has already undergone trials on Alzheimer patients in the US. There had previously been talk of US soldiers and even UK prisoners being chipped, but now patients with artificial implants may find that they have become the next Guinea pig in this grand identification experiment.

Quote: “Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and CEO of VeriTeQ, stated, “The current system for identifying surgically implanted medical devices is archaic and flawed. Once a device is in a person’s body, there is no way to know for certain which company manufactured the device or what the specific device is. Embedding our VeriChip within a medical device prior to insertion enables a healthcare professional to scan the area of the patient’s body where the device is implanted and receive immediate and accurate confirmation of what the device in question is and its manufacturer.”

The Bible states that during the tribulation period, a man will arise who will cause “ 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 13:16-17. Today the technology exists that could fulfil this prophecy. The first time I ever came across the VeriChip was on the internet around seven years ago. The Star Online ran an article on it just following the Asian Tsunami of 2004. In it they mentioned the VeriChip as a possible high-tech solution to the problem of identifying the remains of the quarter of a million people who perished during that cataclysm. This is what they wrote...

Quote: “The VeriChip is about the size of a grain of rice, virtually undetectable and practically indestructible once inserted under the skin – usually in your right hand or forehead. The chip has a special polyethylene sheath that helps skin bond to it, so that it stays in place. Since the chip has no battery, there are no chemicals to worry about and the chip never “runs down” – its expected life is up to 20 years. Tourists entering a country are scanned at the immigration checkpoint. They can pay for their taxis, groceries and hotel rooms with just a swipe of the hand. As they travel throughout their holiday destination, they leave behind an electronic trail which is recorded not only in this country but also in the home credit card company.

...and this is coming from a secular source. In all that time I have only found one other news article that mentions the VeriChip as being implanted in the hand and used for financial transactions.

I don't think this is all just mere coincidence. God, who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), has chosen to reveal to us in His Word what must shortly come to pass (Revelation 1:1). So we should not be at all surprised when we see news like this fulfilling what was written in the Scriptures thousands of years ago. Nor should we be alarmed by it. But it should bring us back to the study of the Scriptures, and encourage us to place our trust more fully in a faithful and wise God. For that is what prophecy is all about (Revelation 19:10). Have your sins been forgiven? Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today (Acts 16:31).

Source Yahoo Finance

New Zealanders attending two New Year's celebrations will be able to pay for food and drink with just a wave of their hand. The La De Da festival in Martinborough and the Rhythm and Vines event in Gisborne are planning to use a cashless system using radio-frequency identification (RFID) wristbands that will come preloaded with electronic money. Event organizers hope that the new system will enable them to gather information on financial transactions more easily and prevent the sale of alcohol to known troublemakers.

Quote: “Partygoers will be fitted with a wristband on entry to the two sites, which will be preloaded with wireless money. They can then pay for items such as food and drink simply by flashing their wrist against a point-of-sale terminal. As a result, organisers will be able to see where money is being spent and also find it easier to block the sale of alcohol to people who have been highlighted as troublemakers.

In other news, SanDisk, the company that manufactures the SD memory cards, have announced that they are planning to integrate GlobalPlatform smart-chip technology into their products. This would enable the information on the memory cards to be electronically protected, allowing the chips to store sensitive information on them such as credit card details or biometric information. Smart applications could be stored on the card, enabling a mobile phone or similar device to be used like a credit card, thus eliminating the need to carry cash.

Quote: “The press release said that the new new smart-chip enabled SD cards in mobile phones could be used to further bring about the advent of a cashless society. "Standardized authentication services on microSD and full-size SD memory cards would transform consumers' mobile phones and CE devices into electronic wallets carrying cashless currency and paperless identification for use in making everyday purchases such as groceries or train tickets, or in receiving customized subscription services like mobile television," it read.

I don't know whether the Bible predicts that society will become completely cashless during the last days or not. We are only told in Revelation 13 that without the mark of the beast, no man should buy or sell. Whether the mark will be used as a method of payment itself, or solely as a means of identification, we are not really told. We are only told 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 13:17. That's why I thought the article on the RFID bracelet was very interesting, for here is an example of this technology being used to prevent someone from buying. And with electronic money being the only acceptable currency at these venues, those who haven't received an RFID bracelet will have a difficult time purchasing anything. That is why a cashless society is ideal from a global governance perspective, because every financial transaction can be traced. Of course RFID bracelets can be lost or stolen. But a microchip in the hand or forehead is a lot harder to steal. And places like the Baja Beach Club in Spain have been using implanted RFID chips as a method of payment for several years.

Clearly the technology is already here to fulfil these prophesies. Coupled with the global financial crisis that the Bible predicted would occur during the last days (James 5:3), along with the current political upheaval in the Middle East, the time is ripening for the appearance of a man who will be offered complete control over this world system (Revelation 13:2). Men think that if only they could establish a global government, they could abolish war and bring about an era of peace and prosperity. But it won't happen.

There is only one person who is capable of governing this planet. That is Jesus Christ. As Creator He has the sovereign right to do it (John 1:10). As King of the Jews He has the legal right to do it (Zechariah 9:10, Luke 1:32, 33). As the Son of God He has the ability to do it, and on several counts... He is without sin, and so is able to judge righteously (Isaiah 32:1). He is eternal, and so has no need of a successor (Revelation 11:15). He is all powerful, and so is able to subdue His enemies (Revelation 19:6). And as Redeemer, He has procured the rights to do it (Genesis 47:23). For through our own sins we became slaves to Satan's rule, but Christ has bought us back (Colossians 1:13). Praise God that He is coming soon. Have you trusted Him for salvation? Who else could be more worthy of your trust? Turn away from your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Source sQuidCard, Tech Radar, BBC

PositiveID, the company that manufactures the VeriChip RFID tag, has announced a deal to provide the Israeli Defence Force with the chip. The VeriChip, which is primarily marketed as a device for retrieving medical records using the VeriMed package, also has a number of other useful applications. PositiveID's VeriPay system, where the chip is used like a credit card to authorize financial transactions, is already employed by the Baja Beach Club in Spain. A few years ago, VeriChip Corporation revealed they were in talks with the US Administration to implant the 1.4 million service personnel with a VeriChip, replacing the metal 'dog tags' currently worn by the troops. The secular news article reported at the time that the "device is usually implanted above the triceps area of an individual’s right arm, but can also by implanted in the hand if scanned at the proper frequency". Other articles have confirmed that the VeriChip is indeed often implanted in the hand rather than behind the shoulder blade. Now it seems the IDF is interested in acquiring the technology.

Quote: "The Company's integration partner intends to provide the microchips to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the State of Israel's military force. Marc Poulshock, PositiveID's Vice President of Business Development, said, "We believe there are many important applications for the VeriChip and our associated intellectual property including next-generation identification and bio-sensing capabilities. Our partner is looking to help healthcare organizations, militaries including the IDF, and governments with their disaster preparedness and emergency response needs."

The IDF have not said what they will use the technology for, but with the recent release of Gilad Shalit, perhaps preventing further kidnappings of its soldiers by Palestinian terrorists might form part of their reasoning for that. While we are overjoyed that Gilad Shalit is returned safe and sound, there is no doubt the deal has strengthened the hand of Hamas considerably. One thousand and twenty seven Palestinian terrorists were freed in order to secure Gilad's release, many of them receiving multiple life-sentences for murder. Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh has stated he regards the release of these prisoners as justification for the capture of Gilad Shalit and the murder of his fellow soldiers, and has vowed to continue the struggle until all the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are freed.

Quote: "“This is a strategic turning point in our struggle against the Zionist enemy,” Haniyeh said at a celebration in Gaza on Tuesday evening, adding “it was thanks to our resistance that we were able to release the land and the people.”

As you can see, there is little sense of justice in the world today. Men who have committed crimes, many of them who have committed murder and are completely unrepentant, are allowed to walk free, and all for the sake of finding 'peace'. Man's peace only seems to come at the expense of truth. You give me what I want and I will give you what you want, and truth and justice are quickly brushed under the carpet. God's peace is not like this. God's peace is based on His absolute truth and perfect justice.

Psalm 85:10-11
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

How are God's mercy and truth met together? How have His righteousness and peace kissed each other? It is made possible through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is able to show us mercy despite the truth about our sin, because of Christ's sacrifice upon the cross. It is through Christ's righteousness that we are able to obtain God's peace (Isaiah 53:11, Colossians 1:20). God does not seek to bring the sinner in the back door of heaven. It is not like these prisoner releases, where men who were found guilty of their crimes and sentenced accordingly, retain their criminal records after they are released and are secreted away from the prying eyes of the world. No. Because the Messiah has borne the penalty for our sins, God can be both “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus”, Romans 3:26. And “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”, Romans 8:1. God is able to bring the sinner in the front door of heaven because of what Jesus Christ has done for us upon the cross. Is the life of one righteous man worth the same as one thousand and twenty seven guilty ones? In our estimation of things, it seems an unequal deal. But praise God there was a Man who gave His own life for many more than that. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation? Believe on Him for salvation today.

Romans 5:7-8
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Source MarketWatch, Haaretz

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a system of wearable electronics that sticks to human skin just like a temporary tattoo. The patches are so thin that they require no adhesive, but attach to the skin using the tiny attracting forces that exist between molecules. Because of their small size, the circuits also require very little power to run, and could be used in a wide range of applications. Experts believe the invention could revolutionize the medical industry by providing sensors that can monitor a patient's vital signs with a minimum of fuss.

Quote: “The new technology is the product of advances in several areas. One is in the active circuit components—transistors, diodes, and other inherently stiff semiconductors—which Rogers's group has flattened and shrunk to the size of the tiniest bumps and wrinkles on the skin. Another is in the material on which these components are arranged: a sheet of rubbery "elastomer" that mimics the mass, thickness, and elasticity of the skin. Like an extra-clingy plastic wrap, the elastomer sticks to the skin naturally, using only the weak, short-range, attractive forces that always exist between neighboring molecules for adhesion. It can stay attached for over 24 hours almost anywhere on the body.

While there is no indication as to whether this particular technology could be used for financial transactions like the VeriChip, this news does show us how the human body is fast becoming just another extension of our electronic world. During the Second World War the Nazi regime tattooed an identifying number on the arms of the Jews that were imprisoned in the concentration camps. IBM developed the computer system that was used to send millions of people to their deaths. Of course we know that technology can be used for both bad and good purposes. The Bible predicts that one day another madman will arise, and he will demand that all people receive an identifying mark in their right hand or forehead. And that without this mark, nobody will be able to buy or sell. Today the world is interconnected more than ever before. Most financial transactions are now made electronically. With the likes of VeriChip and other similar endeavours, the technology exists today to fulfil this prophecy

Revelation 13:16-17
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.

As you can see, the time of Christ's coming is near. The United Nations will soon be debating the division of God's land. There is political upheaval in the Middle East. There is financial turmoil in the global economy. There is ever-increasing immorality in the world today. The Bible predicted all these signs would come to pass before Christ's return. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said that we would know the 'season' of His coming. Surely that season has arrived? I don't intend on being around when it all happens. What about you?

Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Don't be like Lot's sons-in-law, who scoffed at his warning of impending judgement, and perished in the overthrow of Sodom (Genesis 19:14). Be like Noah, who “being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house”, Hebrews 11:7. God has revealed to us through the Scriptures what is to come to pass during the last days. Come into God's ark of salvation. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Science Mag