"Does the Bible Predict the Future?"

Move over George Orwell and make room for the new kid on the block--Emilott Lantz.

Who's Emilott Lantz, you ask? A 25-year old woman (read guinea pig) from northern Sweden who was among the first of her peers to have a microchip inserted into her right hand.

Lantz attended a futuristic conference in Stockholm last week where "participants were offered to get a microchip fitted for free--an opportunity Lantz jumped at," according to "The Local", Sweden's News in English.

"I don't feel as though this is the future--this is the present. To me, it's weird that we haven't seen this sooner," Lantz said.

A growing trend in Sweden, micro chipping humans is not without controversy.

"The technology isn't new, but the subject becomes sensitive just because it's in the human body," says Lantz. "I'm not surprised that people think it's a big deal--it's not that common yet, but I think it will be. We're already modifying our bodies. Why should this be different?"

As tiny as a grain of rice, implantable RFID microchips are capable of holding all our personal data without the fear it can be lost or stolen, not to mention the convenience of having this info at our fingertips:

• medical / health / allergy records
• financial / banking / credit / debit capabilities
• keyless entry for our cars, homes, office

And to top it off? They can track you. No more lost / stolen children or wandering elderly.

Never happen, you say? People value their privacy too much too ever accept an implantable data system equipped with GPS?

Well, if you own a cellphone, you're carrying an RFID chip that can track your every move right now. How long before the inconvenience of not  being chipped "forces" us to consider it?

Face it, people. The future (as predicted in the Bible) is almost upon us.

"He required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave and free--to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is '666'." -- Revelation 13:16-18

A wise man once said: "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."  --Albert Einstein

News:

• The Washington Post: Cellphone tracking device goes vertical, estimates a user's altitude within a few feet.
• NBC News: Pilots report drones flying near JFK flight path sparking fears of reckless endangerment.
• CBC News: Crime-fighting robots go on patrol in Silicon Valley using similar technology as the self-driving Google car.

"Kiss Your Privacy Good-bye--Update"

Remember back in the day when airport TSA x-ray scanners capable of seeing through your clothes seemed unbelievable?

Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Apparently, street lights are going high-tech and they're not just for lighting anymore.

These new-and-improved street lights are now capable of:

• video surveillance
• emergency alerts
• tracking "RFID-equipped staff"
• data harvesting (huh?)

According to researcher Paul Joseph Watson, 

"The company behind the 'smart' street lighting system which is being rolled out in major cities like Las Vegas admits that the technology has the capability of analyzing voices and tracking people, features that will aid the Department of Homeland Security in protecting its citizens."

(In Europe, where a similar system has been in place for a few years, they actually debated whether or not to x-ray to detect what people were concealing under their clothes!)

Illuminating Concepts, the inventor of Intellistreets, is working with the government to install the street lighting systems in parts of Chicago, Detroit, Auburn Hills, Asbury Park, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. (Though Vegas denies they are going to use the surveillance functions, you gotta wonder--why have 'em?)

"The ability to record street conversations is merely one special feature of the Intellistreets lighting system, which is linked to a central data hub via an ubiquitous wi-fi connection," says Watson.

What happens if they record something incriminating, you ask?

Can these recorded 'street conversations' be used in a court of law?

Legally, if there's no expectation of privacy, they can.

(sigh)

Remember back in the day when the expectation of privacy seemed believable?

Las Vegas and the Intellistreets system

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and loved to think about Him.

""They will be My people," says the Lord Almighty. "On that day when I act, they will be My own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."" (Malachi 3:16-18)

A wise man once said: "This verse explains that every time you talk about the LORD with another, God is paying close attention. In fact, the phrase Malachi uses here means 'to bend down so as not to miss a word'." -- Pastor Greg Laurie

News:

• Washington Free Beacon: Iran announces development of ballistic missile technology just days after signing deal aimed at curbing nuclear activities
• Daily Caller: EPA preparing to unleash a deluge of new regulations in the coming New Year.
• CBN: A book of Psalms, published in 1640, sells for $14.2 million in NY auction. Believed to be first book published in what is now the U.S.

"RFID Alert"

What do Mickey Mouse and the Son of Perdition (aka the Antichrist) have in common?

You guessed it--RFID technology! That's right. Big Brother has invaded Disney World, "The Most Magical Place on Earth".

Sigh. It was only a matter of time.

This week, in an effort to "push the boundaries of creativity and innovation," Disney announced their intention of "taking the Disney guest experience to the next level." Yes indeedy, friends and neighbors, the day of the E-ticket is looo-oo--ng gone. (If you don't know what an E-ticket is, ask Grandma).

Disney's billion dollar NextGen project features "Magic Bands", a wristband containing radio frequency identification. Designed to make life in the Magic Kingdom even more magical, Disney hopes the change will be a welcome one.

NBC reports "the wristbands will enable theme park officials to collect information such as purchasing and riding patterns as well as location data. Linked to customer's names and credit card information, the bands will function as room keys and park entry passes." Patrons will have the option of loading as much personal information into the chip as they like, depending on how "customized" they want their park experience to be. And get this--you can even send gifts ahead to be presented to your child by their favorite Disney character. Imagine the squeals of delight! The New York Times celebrated the idea of Disney characters "roaming the park, able to greet visiting children by name, and even being able to wish them a happy birthday." Sound fantastic?

Not everyone is thrilled, of course. Some commentors on the Stitch Kingdom Disney fan site said they felt "a bit creeped out" and "not terribly comfortable with the idea." Others believe it's "a blatant attempt to acclimatize kids to being tracked."

We believe it's an idea whose time has come; and, oh yeah...just one more example, one more tiny baby step in the direction the Bible indicates technology will eventually take us.

"Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say,  'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but you can't interpret these present times" (Luke 12:54-56).

A wise man once said: "The new birth, or regeneration, is the act by which God imparts spiritual life to one who trusts Christ. Without this spiritual birth, a person cannot perceive spiritual things, nor can he enter the Kingdom of God."--H. Wayne House, Th.D., J.D.

News:

• NOAA: 2012 historic year for "extreme" weather with 11 disasters that surpassed $1 billion in losses in contiguous U.S.
• CNN: USDA designated 597 counties in 14 states national disaster areas due to severe drought for crop year 2013 sparking fears of food inflation.
• New York Times: Unemployment hits new high in Eurozone: 56% for Greece's youth.
• New York Post: Estimated 25% of welfare recipients withdrew cash in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos.
• Fox News Channel: 45 million Americans now on food stamps; up from less than 3 million in late 1960s.
• KFI Radio: NRA up-in-arms over Veep Biden's comment that president could change gun laws by Executive Order.
• Daily Mail: Survey of current crop of college students think they are the "Greatest Generation ever"
• Centers for Disease Control: Boston declares public health emergency as 700 confirmed flu patients overwhelm hospitals; Many thousands unconfirmed cases. CDC says 29 states reporting high numbers of cases and vaccine shortages.