Xmark, the manufacturers of the implantable VeriChip RFID tag, are planning to launch their first ever direct-to-consumer advertising campaign in South Florida next week, in an effort to boost sales of their VeriMed system and improve their public relations image. This marks a distinct turning point for the company's marketing campaign, which has so far focused on the medical establishment rather than the consumer themselves. The company's VeriMed system has so far been adopted by around 500 hospitals in the United States, and over 1200 physicians have received training on how to bring up a patient's medical records through scanning their implanted microchip. As part of this new marketing campaign, Xmark are planning to change the name of their VeriMed system to Health Link, to make it more appealing to the general public. Xmark have faced much criticism in the past for their targeting of the elderly and vulnerable of society. Around two hundred Alzheimer patients were implanted with VeriChips last year as part of an experiment to test the company's RoamAlert wander-prevention system. Rights groups complained that the Alzheimer sufferers would actually receive less care under the new scheme, for staff would no longer be required to be physically present to look after their patients. Nor can Alzheimer sufferers give fully informed consent on whether or not they want to be implanted with a microchip, for they are incapable of understanding the medical risks involved. It seems that Xmark are continuing their targeting of the vulnerable of society, in partnering with HearUSA, a hearing aid manufacturer. The Health Link system will be made available at every store where HearUSA operates.

Quote: "Health Link is the connection between you and your personal health record. It provides emergency room doctors and nurses with immediate access to your vital medical and emergency contact information, which will help them to treat you rapidly, accurately and safely during an emergency. Health Link utilizes a tiny microchip (similar in size to a grain of rice) and a secure, private, online database that links you to your personal health record. Your Health Link is always with you and cannot be lost or stolen. The Health Link microchip stores only a unique 16-digit identification number and is injected just under the skin in the rear upper portion of the right arm. When a Health Link member presents in an emergency department unconscious, unresponsive or confused, emergency medical personnel use the Health Link scanner to retrieve the member’s identification number to access his or her personal health record.

I still can't get over VeriChip changing their name to Xmark. To me this is surely the Holy Spirit trying to warn believers all over the world of the days that we are now living in. And it seems we have been given a double warning, just in case we second-guess ourselves. If you still haven't got the it yet, read the catchphrase, "Know for sure". Know what for sure? Know that this is the Mark of the Beast for sure? Or at least its prototype. Of course I do not believe that this could be considered the Mark of the Beast just yet, for I believe that the Mark won't be issued until the Antichrist rises to power. But I believe this could well be the prototype, and the fact that Xmark are now marketing this to the general public ought to give us more cause for concern. Or more cause for rejoicing, for we know that our redemption draws nigh. I do believe that the Church will be taken home before the Antichrist can be revealed. But for those living during the time of the tribulation period, there will be no middle ground. The Bible makes it clear, you either accept Jesus Christ as Saviour, or your accept the Mark. And Revelation states that those who accept the Mark of the Beast can never enter heaven (Revelation 17:8). The choice today is similarly stark, although there may be nobody physically pressuring you into making a decision. John 3:18 makes it clear, if you haven't yet accepted Christ for salvation, you are condemned because of your sins already. The only thing left for your to do is to appear at the judgement to receive your sentence, which will be eternal separation from God. But it doesn't have to end that way. God loves you so much that He sent His only Son into the world to take the punishment you deserve for your sins. He bore God's punishment for your sins in His own body on the cross (1st Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ cried out from the cross, "It is finished", John 19:30. Jesus Christ completed the plan of redemption, and God was satisfied with His sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah 53:11). All you have to do is repent of your sins, and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ created you, He loves you, and He wants you to be with Him forever. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 53:3-6
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Source Business Wire, VeriChip Corp

This link from my friend Laura. An increasing number of companies, such as McDonalds, Dunkin' Donuts and the Hilton Hotels group, are now installing biometric palm scanners on their premises in an effort to keep track of how many hours their employees are working. The biometric system has been designed to replace the old time card system, in which employees were required to fill out a card or punch a clock to record the times they start and finish work. The new machines use biometric recognition software that can identify an individual by the shape of their hand rather than through fingerprints or other such methods. The system is designed to reduce the amount of paperwork companies have to process, thus saving time and money, reducing fraud and improving security. Manufacturers sold around $365 million worth of palm-scanning equipment last year, and are expecting these figures to increase as more companies adopt the new system.

Quote: "An increasingly large number of companies are installing biometric palm readers, which require workers to literally put their hand up and swear they've been at their jobs during scheduled hours. Employees in places where the devices have been put in must place their hand on a scanner and allow it to read their palm prints. The information is then sent to a computer.

Not everyone is in favour of the new system though. Some trade union representatives dislike the idea of employers acquiring yet more control over their staff. Union president Claude Fort says that the palm scanners "aren't there for security purposes. It has nothing to do with productivity... It is about control, and that is what makes us nervous". It may not be the 'Mark of the Beast', but I thought the language used in the above quotation was very intriguing. The Bible states that during the tribulation period, the False Prophet - the world religious leader, will compel all people to receive an identifying mark in their right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16-18). We are not told in Scripture exactly how they will be compelled to accept the mark. But as we have seen recently with Britain's national identification card scheme, there could be a number of contributing factors. Personal convenience and security could play a big role in the adoption of this scheme, and perhaps like the identity cards, those refusing to comply could face stiff penalties. According to Scripture, without receiving the mark in your right hand or forehead, you will not be able to buy or sell anything. In the book of Revelation, the launch of the 'Mark of the Beast' system seems to follow a period of global hyper-inflation, during which the price of wheat rises to around the equivalent of a day's wages (Revelation 6:6). Extreme flooding and drought, coupled with a rising global population, a high price of oil and an increased dependence on biofuels, are already pushing the global price of wheat to record levels. And the world's monetary system seems to be tottering on the brink of collapse. Conveniently, world leaders are now calling for a complete overhaul of the world economic system, with the International Monetary Fund to be given wide-ranging powers to prevent further "turbulence" in the global economy. The Bible seems to indicate that during the tribulation period, gold and other commodities may become completely valueless (Ezekiel 7:19, James 5:3). Could it be that following the total collapse of the global economy, the Mark of the Beast system will be launched?

Of course, the Mark of the Beast is not just a method of payment. It is a mark of ownership. Just as cattle are branded by farmers to prove ownership, so those who take the Mark of the Beast upon their hand or forehead are declaring that they are the property of the Antichrist and Satan himself. The places of the forehead and right hand are significant, for the forehead is symbolic of the will and the right hand is symbolic of power (Ezekiel 3:8, Genesis 48:17-19). When the book of Revelation mentions the Mark of the Beast, it is always mentioned in conjunction with worship of the Antichrist. The Bible makes it clear that none of those who take the mark and worship the Beast will ever inherit eternal life. Or perhaps it may be better explained this way, that those who will inherit eternal life will never accept the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:8, 14:9-12). Do you have eternal life? The Bible declares that this is the record, that God has given unto us eternal life, and that this life is found in His Son, Jesus Christ (1st John 5:11). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

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.

Source City News

Quote: "Bank staff, having verified Pete's identity, were not immediately able to work out why the card had been retained. They gave him back his card but, after other attempts to use his card failed, he was faced with the chore of getting his card replaced. After calling Halifax's helpline, Pete was told that the (unsolicited) issue of the contactless card had automatically cancelled his original card, something not mentioned in the paperwork that came with the old card, according to Pete. "Halifax are cancelling peoples' bank cards without permission and without even telling them, and forcing them to use these new cards, which as far as I know nobody has asked for," Pete told El Reg "Who wants these things? Not me. And is there no limit to the level of insecurity they want to introduce to their cards? I guess not, so long as the cardholder can be stuck with the liability," he added. A replacement card also came with the unwanted contactless card technology. Curiously, Pete's wife didn't get a contactless card even though she is joint holder of the same Halifax account. Ultimately, after complaining long and loud, Pete has now received a non-Paywave bank card from Halifax. The incident has left him far from satisfied. Halifax turned down Pete's request for compensation. Halifax declined to speak about individual cases, but confirmed it was conducting a trial of the technology across London, prior to a nationwide rollout.

RFID technology is being promoted as the final solution to our security problems. In the past, the British government has told us that a nationwide identification card could reduce fraud, prevent illegal immigration and combat global terrorism. The government was later forced to admit that it had oversold the benefits of a national identification scheme, and it was unlikely that the card would do any of these things. But the government is still pressing ahead with its plans, and next year all foreign nationals entering the European Union will be required to apply for an identification card. By the year 2010 all British citizens will be required to do the same. It is also proposed that these new RFID payment cards will eliminate the need to carry cash, thus preventing theft. But there is one caveat that is not being addressed by these organizations. If your card gets stolen or lost, with RFID you stand to lose much more than just a wallet full of cash.

The Bible states that during the tribulation period, a global identification scheme will be launched. We are not told explicitly why this scheme will be launched, but the book of Revelation declares that without it, no man will be able to buy or sell (Revelation 13:17). Perhaps like today with RFID, there won't be any single reason given for people to take the Mark of the Beast. Perhaps global economic instability, political turmoil, the threat of global terrorism and practical convenience will all be factors, and the False Prophet will use whatever means he can to persuade people to take the Mark. But the case will be made for its adoption. RFID does seem to be one of the prime contenders for the fulfilment of the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast, because it is now being marketed as a tool that can eliminate the need for carrying cash. It also allows the government to keep a detailed record of every financial transaction you make. The problem of having your card lost or stolen will also be addressed, for this Mark will be taken in your right hand or forehead. And companies like Xmark are already implanting RFID chips into people. As you can see, we are now living in the last days. It is entirely possible that the prophecies of Revelation can now be fulfilled through modern technology. The Bible has been proven 100% accurate in what it has foretold. Jesus Christ is coming back. Have your sins been forgiven? Will you go with Christ to be with Him in heaven, or will you remain behind to face the wrath of a righteous God? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Source The Register

This link from my friends Mike, Darrel and Jim. Sorry Jim, you beat me to it, but I have a few things to add. British MPs are considering implementing a new scheme which will see thousands of prisoners surgically implanted with RFID microchips. The United Kingdom's prison population has risen significantly over the past 10 years, forcing the government to review its sentencing policies. Britain already has a system whereby offenders can be electronically tagged and placed under police curfew, rather than being sent to into prison. The electronic tag is attached to the person's ankle in the form of a bracelet, and sends a signal through the mobile phone network to a central security company. If the wearer leaves their house, or enters a forbidden zone, the security company can notify the police. The tagging system, while alleviating the overcrowding within the prison system, has actually created problems of its own. The electronic tags can be removed by the wearers, and the signals they send can be blocked under certain conditions, thus effectively allowing offenders to breach their curfew without anyone noticing. So now the government is hoping that the implantation of chips which can be tracked by satellite will provide a solution to these problems.

Quote: "A senior Ministry of Justice official last night confirmed that the department hoped to go even further, by extending the geographical range of the internal chips through a link-up with satellite-tracking similar to the system used to trace stolen vehicles. "All the options are on the table, and this is one we would like to pursue," the source added. The move is in line with a proposal from Ken Jones, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), that electronic chips should be surgically implanted into convicted paedophiles and sex offenders in order to track them more easily. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is seen as the favoured method of monitoring such offenders to prevent them going near "forbidden" zones such as primary schools. "We have wanted to take advantage of this technology for several years, because it seems a sensible solution to the problems we are facing in this area," a senior minister said last night. "We have looked at it and gone back to it and worried about the practicalities and the ethics, but when you look at the challenges facing the criminal justice system, it's time has come."

Miniaturization has allowed scientists to create GPS circuits smaller than baby's fingernail, and RFID chips can be made even smaller again, around the size of a grain of sugar. They have even made an RFID ink which can be injected into organic tissue. Xmark, the company formally known as VeriChip, has been manufacturing such devices for several years now. The GPS chips are around the size of a dime, and require actual surgery to implant. The RFID chips are around the size of a grain of rice, and can be injected into the soft tissue of your arm or hand with a relatively simple procedure. The company claims over 2000 people have so far been implanted with their RFID chips. I'll never forget the article that appeared on the internet following the Asian Tsunami of 2004. The article, which as far as I could tell was from a secular source, claimed that these chips are implanted in the right hand or forehead, just like the Bible predicted. Unfortunately the original article seems to have disappeared from the site in question, although I do have a printout of it in a book. 

Quote: "Some current technology could have helped here (Asian Tsunami). Here's one possible scenario: 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. 

This is of course denied by Xmark themselves, who claim that their chips are inserted into the upper arm and not the hand. But one can see the benefits of having a chip inserted in your hand rather than your arm. It's easier to swipe your hand past a scanner than it is your upper arm. And a chip on the forehead would be ideal for those people who have lost limbs. Concerning the Mark of the Beast, the Bible states that it will be the False Prophet 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 forehead", Revelation 13:16. As we can see it's the "bond" that have been chosen to be the guinea pigs for this grand experiment. As the article states, the "all" may soon follow.

Friends, the prophecies are all falling into place. The time is short. As the Bible says, "it is time to seek the Lord", Hosea 10:12. Perhaps you are not a Christian and you know you are not right with God. Talk of the end times makes you feel afraid because you know that if Jesus Christ came today, you would be left behind to face God's judgement. I know what that feels like. I was in that same position 23 years ago. I was only four years old at the time, but I knew Jesus Christ was coming back for the Christians, and even at that age I knew I wasn't right with God. If Jesus Christ came, I knew that my family would go to heaven and I would not. And that thought terrified me. But one day my sister asked me if I wanted to be saved, and I said yes. And she told me just to tell God that I was a sinner, and to ask Him to forgive me for my sins and to thank Jesus Christ for dying for me. I did that, and I knew immediately that I was saved. I can't explain it. I don't know why God chose to save me. But He did. And if a child of four can be saved, then anybody can be saved. Turn to Jesus Christ for salvation today.

1st John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Source Independent