The Mark of the Beast
Written by Tom Beasley in Educational, Opinion at June 18, 2011
The number of the beast is 666, Philadelphia, Rosenbach Museum and Library by William Blake
If you ever find observing conspiracy theorists entertaining then I have a destination to point you towards. The most interesting part is that this particular theory is widespread and closely tied to religion, and mostly to evangelicals. To begin, most of the attention of this group is centered on the product VeriChip. This chip is implanted underneath the skin and contains information like medical records in case of an emergency. The chip could, in the future, pinpoint locations for missing children, be used for security screening at airports, or even be used to purchase goods and services instead of a credit card. To most of us, this raises reasonable ethical concerns — should the government or any agency be able to track where I am at any given time (think about the new IPhone scandal) and what limitations should be placed on this system?
This, however, is not what the religious conspiracy theorists are discussing. They are not discussing the ethical limitations of a device, and if they are, it is in passing. The followers of this theory think that these chips are the mark of the beast. What is concerning about this is that one has to make two distinct irrational leaps. First, you must subscribe to the notion that the Bible is in any way prophetic. Secondly, you must subscribe to the particulars in this theory. The adherents to this theory cite the following passages:
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.
- Revelation 13:16-18
To them, the notion that one could only buy or sell with the VeriChip in the future confirms their prophecy. The chip is clearly inserted somewhere in their bodies and the right hand or forehead is probably going to be in future models (or some such explanation). Lastly, a core theme with all conspiracy theories, is that the government or big brother corporations are in cahoots with the larger forces of evil. Mark Dice, among others, is at the forefront of this theory and discusses it in his book The Resistance Manifesto. Well of course the mark of the beast and the rise of the VeriChip are only necessary and not sufficient to bring about the end times and we also have to consider things like the anti-Christ…
Stories like this might bring up interesting questions regarding spiritual belief and susceptibility to other outlandish claims. Furthermore theories like this lend credibility to the notion that perhaps talking to religious people directly is not generally productive. Of additional interest, even the Church fathers were skeptical about adding the Book of Revelation to the canonical Bible. One should pause to consider that they likely thought: “well, the Great Flood people will believe, but this stuff?”
Further Reading:
Is the VeriChip the Mark of the Beast?
Verichip and the Mark of the Beast
