Implanted RFID Tag To Replace Cash?

Kulic writes "Wired is running a story about using subdermal RFID microchips to pay for goods. Applied Digital Solutions are marketing the VeriChip as the world's only implantable ID technology. CEO Scott Silverman says they could someday replace credit cards, but a final product is a few years away. They are also receiving condemnation from some fundamentalist Christians who believe that this is the fabled 'mark of the beast' of biblical lore." waytoomuchcoffee adds a link to a similar story at CNet.

Comments

From Revelation Chapter 13:

[GR|MLOCK]

16: 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:
17: 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.
18: 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.

Now why on earth would we worry. Strange that the text actually says in the hand or forehead, not on. I wish I could read the originals as they were written...

Re:From Revelation Chapter 13:

[dr_zeus]

The word in Greek is "epi" (as in epidermis). It is found 896 times in the New Testament, and is translated "on" 196 times, "in" 120 times, "upon" 159 times, and other variations the rest.

Although it is interesting that the translators chose the word "in", it doesn't mean they expected the mark to be within the hand. The intended meaning was probably more like the phrase "holding a cup in my hand."

If the author meant "within the hand", he should have used the Greek word "eso" or "en".

Re:From Revelation Chapter 13:

[malaire]

> Now why on earth would we worry. The reason to worry comes from Revelation, Chapter 14, where it's stated that those who take the "Mark of the Beast" will receive full wrath of God.

"The Beast" opposes God, and everyone who supports he, or his mark, get full wrath of God. - And won't go to Heaven either (this is stated later in Revelation, perhaps not in as simple terms).

New American Standard Version:
Rev 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
Rev 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

NIV - New International Version:
Rev 14:9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,
Rev 14:10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."
Rev 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

King James Version:
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Re:I have a bad feeling about this

[robslimo]

What stops people now from rummaging through your garbage, finding your bank statements, and draining your bank accounts?

My paper shredder, that's what. Confetti type; cuts vertically and horizontally. Don't take your trash to the curb without using one first.

Re:I have a bad feeling about this

[Doctor7]

What stops people now from rummaging through your garbage, finding your bank statements, and draining your bank accounts?

I don't know what kind of information is on your bank statement, but mine and every one I've seen only have enough information to allow you to deposit into the account, not withdraw. Some hacking or social engineering would still be required to get to the point of being able to drain the account.

Re:Mark of the Beast ?

[HorrorIsland]

Actually, the joke's on you. Revelations 13, verses 16 and 17 say...

Rev 13:16 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:

Rev 13:17 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.

Of course, it goes on from there. Now at least you know...

Those wacky Xtians...

[Anonymous Coward]

Those wacky polytheistic idol-worshipping Xtians (full disclosure: I'm Jewish) also believed that barcodes were the mark of the beast. (I guess the "beast" is one of their many, many false gods.) Here is one of many references about what xtians think UPC codes are.

Re:Why not retina scans

[tommck]

There is no reason why a determined thief would prefer to remove an implanted RFID chip instead of removing an eyeball, a finger or a hand.

Well, actually, many of the biometric devices out there can detect that a finger or hand or eyeball was removed from the body or is not alive. Many work on pulse detection, amongst other things.
So, biometrics is more secure than a chip, unless it's got a blood pressure monitor built in or something.

T

Re:Christians rejoice! (was: Nope.)

[BeatlesForum.com]

And what happened to all the people who died *before* Christ and didn't even know about him? Are they all burning in hell from being born at the wrong time?

Nope.

As you probably know, there is more than one level of Hell. Those that died before the birth of Christ were sent to one level. After the death and resurrection of Christ, He went there to retrieve those sent there and take them to Heaven.

In all honesty, the one thing that many people (including myself at one point in my past) fail to realize is that God doesn't want to punish anyone. It's a choice and time is growing nearer when people have to stop riding the fence. It's a black-and-white decision: accept Christ and have a mansion in Heaven or not. Being a good person/helping the old lady across the street/never killed anyone doesn't cut the mustard. Christianity is not a works-based religion (contrary to the belief of some cultic variations of my religion). It is only by the acceptance of Christ as your savior that salvation is attained.