A conversation looking into the 2020 "sign of the times"

Technology continues to get closer and closer to our bodies, from the phones in our pockets to the smartwatches on our wrists. Now, for some people, it's getting under their skin. In Sweden, a country rich with technological advancement, thousands have had microchips inserted into their hands. The chips are designed to speed up users' daily routines and make their lives more convenient — accessing their homes, offices, and gyms are as easy as swiping their hands against digital readers.Revelation 13:15-1815  "The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666."

Lately, everywhere I look this business about "microchip implant" has caused me to recall that scripture I remember all too well; the simple - yet mysterious - story that talks about the "mark of the beast." The Book of Revelation is a biblical story full of "good news" and "bad news" predictions about events that have happened and are yet to happen. Admittedly, it's a story full of allegories and symbolism, yet the book explains in verse 6 of the 22nd chapter "The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true." Based on that proclamation, it seems worthwhile to take a look elsewhere in scripture to try and get an idea of what this might all be about.