666

[Socrates]

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' date='May 5 2005, 02:52 AM'] So I’m guessing this chip implant being “the mark” talk is more of a modern American protestant interpretation, like the whole “rapture” belief? Or not? [/quote]
Not at all! It's ancient Catholic Tradition. Most of the Church Fathers agree this Scripture passage concerns a high-tech electronic microchip device which will be linked to powerful global supercomputer network . . . Kidding!

[Guest T-Bone]

Forgot to mention that NCR stands for National Cash Register, the largest supplier of cash registers and bar code scanners in the US...

[MilesChristi]

[quote]Forgot to mention that NCR stands for National Cash Register[/quote]

When I saw NCR, I thought you meant the [i]National Catholic Reporter[/i]

[philothea]

[quote name='thessalonian' date='May 5 2005, 10:49 AM'] Read my post above. I agree credit cards in and of themselves are not evil. Yet, they could be used for evil purposes and I would expect and anti-christ figure to use the latest technology available. At one time telephone numbers were the mark of the beast and fundies were afraid of them. Then social security numbers. Now the chip so it does get a little nutty, but we must be careful in still being open to the possibility that there may eventually be a wolf and he will use technology for evil. I'm not saying that is chips or whatever. Just excercising a bit of caution. More detail in my reply to theoketos.
[/quote]
I understand, I think. I used to worry about these things myself.

But then reading further... that whole tormented in burning sulfur thing. Sticking with Church teaching, obviously accepting that mark is a mortal sin. It would, by definition, have to be something we understand as wrong.

I am certain God isn't going to show up with "Ha! Gotcha, it was IP addresses. Off into the sulfur you go." Or whatever.

I don't know what it will be, but if there is some physical device, IMO, it would also be a sign that you deny God.

[theculturewarrior]

One thing I completely disagree with, is that the mark is (or was or will be) indelible, in a way that puts you outside of God's mercy. There is no sin too big for God's mercy.

[Aloysius]

well it really depends at what point the structure of time we are subject to begins to break down... as soon as you're out of a temporal state and into an eternal state you're done for. so those who are on the anti-Christ's side really aren't going to have a chance when Christ comes... cause when Christ comes all bets are off and they've already sealed their fate.

being on the side of the anti-Christ isn't exactly a "sin" to be "forgiven"... it's more of a final choice between heaven and hell and you just picked hell. it's the end of time baby, no second chances.