Influence of Modern Technology The world is at its climax and is yet still aiming for higher achievements regarding technology. However, is it only good that technology is soaring so high as to allowing modern day people to rely on the convenience almost too easily? Cell phones and computers are only a small percentage of the technology in which we are almost depending on too much. There are robots that clean our carpets, and even small chips that are to hold our entire identity in the near future. Barack Obama, the current American president, had promised a massive change to “modernize health care by making all health records standardized and electronic.” A group of Senators and the President have as a matter of fact already convened to put together a bill to have every citizen have Bio-metric ID or VeriChip in their bodies. This idea has approached from Obama’s ambition for computerizing of all medical records in order to make health care more cost-effective. If this bill passes and becomes a law in the United States, the microchip will be forced to be inserted typically in every individual’s right arm in order to legally have a job. The microchip will consist of a barcode that will provide such information when scanned: fingerprints, retinal scans, and every other possible identification of an individual – allowing the government to track every move of a person. This chip will be produced using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) technology, and will have unlimited personal information about anyone at any accessible time. A new revolution in technology is approaching. It is understandable that the government and the President are aiming for a more cost-effective medical technology, but do the citizens really want to be “tagged like an animal”? Medical experiments on such chips show that it will not only allow access of every move of a being, but also control of the people, and in religious views, there is a possibility that this is the prophecy of the end of the world approaching – the “Mark of the Beast”. The full capacity of VeriChip is terribly astonishing. Although approved by the FDA towards the end of March 2010 to be marketed for medical purposes, such chips to “speed vital information about a patient’s medical history to doctors and hospitals” is not too promising in the confidentiality of one’s medical records. When the VeriChip is scanned in a doctor’s office or in case of emergency, it will unlock a portion of a secure database that consists of all of the person’s prior medical information. In response to the bill proposed, H.R.3200 (America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009) by the 111th Congress, the privacy advocates have opposed and warned of potential abuse of privacy, not only regarding the concern of confidentiality of an individual’s medical records, but also due to the microchip’s secondary function as a tracking device, which may lead the government to easily abuse the civil liberties. On the other hand, there are some health providers who have claimed such new technology to be useful. “One of the big problems in health care has been the medical records situation. So much of it is still on paper,” stated David Ellis, the center’s chief futurist and co-founder of the Michigan Electronic Medical Records Initiative. However, having a microchip inserted in the body of a human being with the risk of having less secure confidentiality as an individual and the possibility of having less freedom by letting the government track every our every single move is not a pleasant anticipation. Moreover, experiments which had been carried out on animals show that the microchip is even capable of mind control. For instance, when the VeriChip was inserted into a bull or a cat, they were able to be controlled by the humans as they wanted as if they were merely a toy car being controlled by a child. Some have referred to this as “psychic manipulation.” Imagine how the world may be once we start becoming controlled by the officials, as they want us to behave. Would it really depict a country of liberty? Not only will the microchip be tracking our every single move, but also it will control everything! Modern technology, as long as it develops in the right manner, may be “for the people”, but such technology that watches and controls humans’ moves may remove the humane aspects of the people. What kind of society would the world be if every human being acts and responds in a mechanical and routine manner in which the government wants? How much different would it be from a society full of nothing but robots? Obama’s proposal of such a bill has caused numerous religious groups to rise against it. The Bible prophesizes that: “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand which is the name of the beast or the number of his name … His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:16~18) There have been many claims that VeriChip is in face the “Mark of the Beast” for several different reasons. Numerically, the name “VeriChip” adds up to be the number 666, and the chip is typically inserted in a person’s arm. It also seems like the VeriChip Corporation is planning not only to chip those who wish to get one, but everyone. As a matter of fact, Danish Company is working on a sniper to chip a person from as far as 1.1km away, without the person feeling the pain for more than a hundredth of a second! Why would they plan on chipping people who does not wish to be chipped? In Revelation 14: 9~10, the Bible also prophesizes that “If anyone worships the beast as his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury.” Revelation describes the prophecies of the “end of the world” in which Satan comes to separate the people from God, so that he will not be the only one in hell after Judgment. According to the Bible, the “Mark of the Beast” is a symbol which will allow Satan to do so. In other words, receiving the “Mart of the Beast” may as well be considered as receiving a “Mark of Satan” and losing freedom eternally. Prophecies of the Bible compared with the capabilities of the VeriChip shows how the microchip is most likely to eventually become the “Mark of the Beast.” The original purpose of the VeriChip is for the benefit of the medical technology and the costly medical examinations. There may not have been any negative intent when the bill was proposed, but knowing that there are so many risks to having the microchip inserted in our bodies, do we really want this bill to be passed? The studies so far have proved that if we get the microchip inserted in us, which will definitely not be an easy decision to make, there will be a possibility that we will lose our liberty: be watched and tracked against our free will. Also in the religious view, whether one is a Christian or not, give us the uncomfortable feeling of being a follower of Satan and receiving the consequences from doing so. For any reason, this is a very careful matter, hopefully not only to me, but also to many others. A small voice this essay may be, but before passing this bill, may the officials consider the dark possibilities of VeriChip thoroughly.

Works cited
Kouri,Jim. “Obama Health Plan Poses Danger to American Freedoms.” Alex jone’sInforwarms.com. January 14, 2009. Alex jones’. 14 Feb. 2012< http://www.infowars.com/obama-health-plan-poses-danger-to-american-freedoms/>
Associated Press. “FDA approves computer chip for humans” msnbc.com. 13 Oct 2004. msn. 16 Feb 2012 < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6237364/#.T07uq3K3Cho>
Icke, David. “Mind Control Microchip Verichip - Welcome to the Machines.” Davidicke.com. 01 Oct. 2007. 21 Feb 2012