Sometimes I think technology is advancing too quickly.  I’ll use this as an example.  There’s a company headquartered in Sweden called Epicenter.  They build office buildings, workspaces and labs and help new businesses set up operations.  Recently, the company offered its 2,000 employees the opportunity to each have an RFID microchip implanted in their bodies.  In particular, the chip would be in your hand between your thumb and index finger.

What Epicenter wants to do is give employees the ability to open locked doors and use photocopiers without having to carry around a card, key or fob of any kind.  To do these things you would simply wave your hand.  The computer in the lock or copier would read your imbedded chip.  Eventually, the company wants employees to be able to get food in the company cafeteria and just wave their hand in front of the cash register to pay.

This is the part that raises concern, especially with those who believe a literal interpretation of the Bible.  In the book of Revelation, part of what is revealed to John is that once the “beast” shows up on earth, money will not exist anymore, and the only people who will be able to buy or trade are those who have a special mark on either their forehead or their right hand.  Naturally, it’s the same mark carried by the beast.

In most versions of the Bible, the number is 666, or six hundred and three score and six.  In the movie “The Omen”, which is about the birth and childhood of the son of Satan, the mark looks like three curlycues hooked together resembling the number 666.  But there are some biblical scholars who claim that numerology was widely used about the time that Revelation was written, and that 666 is the numerical equivalent of the name of Emperor Nero, whose hobby was putting Christians to death.

So far, 150 of the 2,000 Epicenter employees have signed up.  The other 1,850 either said no or haven’t made up their minds yet.  As for me, I can see how the microchip might make life a little more convenient, but I’ve never considered carrying a wallet or keys or wearing a lanyard to be particularly taxing.  If I worked for Epicenter, I’d probably turn down the chip.  I don’t really like the idea of having something electronic implanted inside me unless it’s necessary to keep my heart beating.  And if I found out the CEO of Epicenter had horns like a goat, I’d also give my two weeks’ notice.