Are we in danger of becoming mere puppets, manipulated and controlled? If so, by whom? Is our future already written, our fate sealed? Or is there a way out?

One of the principal characters of Revelation is a man who will rise to head a global government. He is symbolized in John’s vision as a monstrous beast, and in another book of the Bible John calls this man “the Antichrist.” The Bible also tells us that his reign will last seven years, and end at the cataclysmic Battle of Armageddon.

The savior-like Antichrist will at first enact polices that will be hailed as masterful breakthroughs in bringing about world peace and economic stability, but in the last three and a half years of his reign his government will become the most oppressive dictatorial regime in all of history. John’s description of how “the Beast” will control and manipulate the world seemed impossibly far-fetched—until now.

In the thirteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, John sees two beasts. The first represents the Antichrist, the other a false prophet—his chief aide—who deceives the world, makes an image to the Antichrist, and brings the image to life:

He [the false prophet] was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Revelation 13:15-18

To give “life” to an image, possibly some sort of computerized robot, is no longer an alien concept—not in light of the many advances being made in artificial intelligence. But what about the last part of this passage? How could the Antichrist possibly control all commerce worldwide through this “mark of the beast” that is somehow linked to the number 666? Thanks to modern technology, cashless commerce is not only feasible, but rapidly becoming the norm. Could e-commerce develop into the economic system foretold in this chilling passage? Absolutely!

One of the major obstacles to the total acceptance of e-commerce is the current lack of security. Institutions’ computer networks get hacked and citizens are subject to identity theft through stolen credit cards and credit card information. A final switchover to digital commerce will only be possible when a foolproof identity verification system is perfected, effectively monitoring and controlling both those who operate and those who are served by the brave new computerized world.

One of the most promising technologies in its day, the smart card, looks like a credit card, but has a computer chip that can store vast amounts of personal information, along with digital money. But smart cards are vulnerable to theft or loss. The logical solution to this and other identification problems is to dispense with the card and simply attach the silicon data chip to its owner. What surer way to accomplish this than to implant this rice-sized biochip under the skin, and what better place than the hand or forehead?

And what about the number 666? It could possibly have something to do with people being assigned a unique multidigit number, along the lines of a personal identification number, or PIN.

A complete switch from clumsy cash to efficient electronic currency would certainly make life easier by rendering financial transactions quicker, more convenient, and more secure. However, it would also raise privacy concerns and make it possible for every purchase made, every place visited, every TV show watched or web page perused, and every phone call to be monitored and recorded in a central database.

According to the Bible, the driving force behind the coming one-world order is the most evil entity the world has ever known. The Devil’s goal has always been to have people worship him instead of God. In the last half of the Antichrist’s rule, the horrific three and a half years that the Bible describes as the “Great Tribulation,” he will pull out all the stops in order to achieve this.

Revelation tells us that accepting the mark of the beast will not be an entirely financial decision. It will also be a decision to embrace the Beast and what he stands for. We are also told what will become of those who worship the Beast and willingly bear his mark: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:9-10).

Although the Beast will rant and rave on the world’s stage for a few short years, he and his followers will be the ultimate losers. At the end of the Antichrist’s seven-year reign, Jesus Christ will return with the hosts of heaven to right all wrongs, and He and those who love and follow Him will emerge from the Great Tribulation as the glorious and eternal winners.

You can be a sure winner too, by accepting Jesus as your Savior. Two thousand years ago when He walked the earth, Jesus gave His life on the cross for the sins of the world so that you could experience His love and live forever in the next. You can personally receive Jesus into your heart and life by sincerely praying this prayer:

Dear Jesus, I thank You for the amazing love You have shown by coming to earth and dying on the cross for me. Please forgive me for all my sins. I believe that You are the Son of God, and I ask You to come into my life. I open the door and I invite You into my heart. Please help me to tell others about You so that they may come to know You too. Amen.

Receive Jesus today, and He will never leave you. He will be with you through the troublous times that are to come, and beyond!