Marine Worries ID Is Satanic

A 26-year-old marine pilot who is a Christian sees an eerie resemblance between a multitechnology automated reader card (MARC) that marines are required to wear at his base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and another mark-the mark of the beast described in the Book of Revelation.

Capt. Joel Kirk has thus far avoided having his picture taken for the new identification card, which carries name, rank, serial number-and a two-kilobyte computer chip designed to hold whatever information and records the military deems appropriate.

The military says it will use the MARC to deploy troops faster. But Kirk worries it will be required for every kind of transaction. “When you take that card and they put the reader scanners into the commissaries and exchanges and weapons draw, you become a slave to that system,” he says. And there’s little difference, Kirk suggests, between a mark held in your hand and one implanted in your hand. With a deadline to obtain the MARC approaching, Kirk has sought the advice of the base chaplain and of prophecy watcher Tim LaHaye. He is weighing an official protest.

“As long as it doesn’t have the prefix 666, which is the mark of the Antichrist, on it, I don’t see anything wrong with using these cards from a spiritual standpoint,” LaHaye says. But LaHaye says such cards illustrate “technology is already in place when the coming world ruler comes on the scene, and then he can just stamp it with 666.”

Copyright © 1995 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Fifty Years with Billy, Part 2

Cover Story

A Workman That Needeth Not to Be Ashamed

News

News Briefs: November 13, 1995

Vietnam Missionary, Church Threats Continue

'Heal Our Land' Prayers in Russia Initiated

Haircut Ordeal Messy for School

Ministry Fund Suit Appeal Filed

Religion Is Big News in Dallas

Tent Crusade Kicks Off Campaign

BOOKS: Worth Mentioning

CHARLES COLSON: Who Speaks for Leonard?

Empowering the Laity

Jury Awards $4.8 Million in Deprogramming Case

Academia Loses Interest in Excavations

Top Evangelicals Confer with Pope

Tentmaking Movement Puts Down Stakes

Farrakhan March Reveals "Psychological Apartheid"

A Christian Community Makes Waves, Not War

Principle or Pragmatism?

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from November 13, 1995

ARTS: Martha’s Angels

ARTS: A Brush with Prophecy

Cult Watchers Make Amends

To Hell on a Cream Puff

Graham's Smallest Audience

CONVERSATIONS: China’s Cross: Jonathan Chao

BOOKS: The Post-closet Era

BOOKS: Making It Strange

BOOKS: When Boomers Become CEOs

BOOKS: Jesus’ Women

Grace Under Fire

SIDEBAR: Billy’s Rib

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Can the Sheep Save Their Shepherds?

Editorial

EDITORIALS: Post-Simpson America

LETTERS: Life is Full of Odd Things

Against the Tide

God's Affirmative Justice

Tributes to Billy Graham

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