Soon now, very soon...

Around 1 in 4 American's believe the Lord Jesus Christ could return (for the rapture of the Church) in 2007, according to a recent poll by Ipsos. The group carried out the survey by telephone over the Christmas period, which involved 1000 adults...

Quote: "A poll by Ipsos, an international polling firm, found that 11 percent of respondents said it is "very likely" that Jesus will return to Earth this year and 14 percent said it was "somewhat likely." Among white evangelical Christians, 46 percent said it's at least somewhat likely that Jesus will return in 2007 compared to 17 percent of Catholics and 10 percent of those with no religion. Overall, 25 percent said it was "not too likely" that Jesus will make his second coming this year and 42 percent said it was "not at all likely."

I don't know how these figures compare to previous polls, but it's encouraging to see that many Christians believe that the Lord's return for His Church is imminent. While we don't necessarily know if this will come in 2007 or not, the events that are happening around us do point to the soon return of Jesus Christ to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Lord Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for their failure to recognize His first coming. He said, you can discern the face of the sky, yet how is it you cannot discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3). The Pharisees had asked Him for a sign, yet they completely ignored the miracles that Jesus did, how He made the deaf to hear, the blind see, the lame walk, raised the dead and the preached the gospel (Luke 7:22), all things that the prophesied Messiah would accomplish. Daniel prophesied the very day the Lord Jesus would enter in through the gates of Jerusalem, and only a handful of people recognized who He was. Jesus later wept over Jerusalem, and said if only they had known the day of their visitation (Luke 19:42-44).
Friends, the time of our visitation is drawing to a close. Christians across the world are discerning the signs of the times, but millions of the unsaved aren't. To them the "red sky in the morning" is just another sign of global warming, and not a sign of impending judgement. God has stated in His Word, My Spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3). One day the events prophesied in the Scriptures concerning the end times will take place. Like 9-11, to many it may seem like just another day, but for those who aren't saved it may just be the day that seals their fate. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Luke 21:29-32 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Digital but not so Angelic...

A few years ago, Digital Angel Corporation, the company that markets a wearable GPS device, unveiled the prototype of a new implantable version at a New York show. The company had unveiled a prototype, a chip around the size of a dime, which will require surgery to implant into the human body. The Digital Angel implant will contain a GPS circuit, along with biological sensors such as body temperature and pulse. This information can be relayed to satellite and transmitted across the internet.

Quote: "Similar to microchip technologies currently used as electronic ID tags for pets, Digital Angel® is a dime-sized implant, inserted just under the skin. When implanted within a human body, the device is powered electromechanically through the movement of muscles and can be activated either by the "wearer" or by a monitoring facility. Applied Digital Solutions is also exploring avenues for utilizing Digital Angel® without implanting it.

At one stage the company claimed it was not pursuing implant technology for their device. These articles are from 2000, 2001...
Quote: "Digital Angel® is no longer pursuing implant technology for humans, a spokesman for the company said yesterday. Dr. Lawrence Webber of Digital Angel Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Digital Solutions, told WorldNetDaily the company has "no plan at this time for implant technology." Rather, the company's patented sensor technology is being used in externally worn devices only, such as watches and pagers.

...but it seems that Digital Angel implants were too lucrative to pass up. The chip implant is currently being used in cattle, but it is thought Digital Angel Corporation may soon move to "people" implants. The president of the Digital Angel Corporation claims to be a Christian [something that everyone and their dog seems to think they are], and states that Christians should not be concerned about its connotations with the Mark of the Beast, as described in the book of Revelation. But his comments that Digital Angel will allow humans to become a "hybrid" of electronics and their "own soul" does not inspire me with confidence.

Quote: "Digital Angel®, said Zhou, "will be a connection from yourself to the electronic world. It will be your guardian, protector. It will bring good things to you." He added, "We will be a hybrid of electronic intelligence and our own soul."... Additional concerns have been raised by Christians, who contend Digital Angel® could be the fulfilment of a biblical prediction found in the book of Revelation. Zhou, president of DigitalAngel.net, Inc., disagrees. "I am a Christian, but I don't think [that argument] makes sense," he told WND in March. "The purpose of the device is to save your life and improve the quality of life. There's no connection to the Bible." As the technology becomes more commonplace, the debate, as well as sales, are likely to continue growing.

Considering the souls of those who accept the Mark of the Beast will be damned to hell (Revelation 14:9-11), and considering we are commanded in the Scriptures not to make any cuttings or marks in our flesh, I would rather take the benefit of the doubt and not get any implants of this nature full-stop.