servantbettyusa,
Let me say that my beliefs are Evangelical Christian. I believe in God. And I use the Bible.
Unlike you, am not opposed to the use of biometrics to guard against personal security at this stage of technology. I personally think that the use of retinal scanners would be the best measure at this point to help protect sensitive information. Although no technology is failsafe, I think that the fingerprint scanners, voice or face recognition could prevent even the correct user from accessing the information. A burn, a cut, or other minor injuries occur much more fequently on your fingers then on the eyes; and voices vary illness. Couldn't you possibly be 'locked' out of your own information if you fell ill, put some soup on the stove, reached for the pot and seared the tips of your fingers?
As to your worry that these are ushering in the end of the earth, allow me to address that, none of these devices thus far require an alteration or addition to our bodies such as microchips inserted under the skin.
Second, don't be so quick to jump on the barcode 666 bandwagon. Be aware that numerology can be manipulated to make the outcome read what you want it to. The barcode 666 argument converts the numbers to its BCD (binary coded decimal) form, then basically states that inside the code, once translated into BCD the scanner reads a 6 to start the process, a 6 as the mid-point, and a 6 to end the code. That is a bunch of nonsense, as barcodes vary for each and every product. Will you find the occasional barcode that will support the 666 arguments, yes, but you will find many others that don't. Also, did you know that if you add the numeric values of the letters of the word computer together is adds up to the number 111 multiply that by the factor of man which is 6 and you get 666. But, oh wait, it gets even more dangerous, you probably use a credit card, if so, toss away your VISA. For you see, VI is the Roman numeral for 6, S is similar to the Greek numeral for 6 and A is similar the Hebrew numeral for 6. Ooo creepy! You swipe the card with your right hand and enter a pin number which you have memorized, stored in your head! (''He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.'' Rev 13:16-17 NIV) Nothing is 'calculated' the same way twice yet too many people put some stock in what numerolgy 'says'. Don't believe it.
The signs of the end are also over exaggerated. Every couple of generations from the time of Christ has made the claim to the end of the world. But only one thing remains true; no one, not even the Son of God, knows neither the day nor the hour. Despite all of our 'signs' that the doomsayers rely so heavily on they miss that too many of the prophecy has yet to pass. Without getting into the other 'signs' that people base too much faith on, let me say that each generation for eons has had it own 'Beast' heck, even Ronald Reagan was once touted as the Beast for his radical ideas and because of a house that he once lived in had an address that was 666. A barcode scanner, a retinal scanner, or a fingerprint scanner is not a sign of the mark of the beast, nor of Christ's return; it is merely a piece of technology design to safeguard your sensitive records from getting into the hands of the unscrupulous.
I could write much, much more on the 'signs' that people are putting their faith on as to the end of the world as we no it, from weather systems to technology, and why they aren't what many zealots believe them to be, but this is not the place to do so.
Gates