Genetic Upgrade on the Mark of the Beast?
(from GM)
Some have put forth the hypothesis that "gene-editing" may very well play a role in the Biblical mark of the beast. Such a proposal would not be far-fetched, knowing that such technology does in-fact exist today.
Consider the possibility of the Antichrist offering humanity a "life-extension" gene-therapy, in an attempt to reverse the curse of sin and death, and prove to the world there is no God, and no heaven or hell hereafter. What if the Mark of the Beast is a genetic upgrade of the human genome, but it comes with a price? You must worship an evolutionary scientific God, and deny the God of all creation.
Think of what people might be willing to pay if they were offered an extension of years in life? The vast majority would gladly sell their souls. People today are so enamored with this world's technological toys and gadgets, they can't even separate themselves from them. Then think of what they'd be willing to pay, for life itself, even if it turns out to be a lie, a strong delusion, because they received not the love of the truth.
Whether or not the biblical Mark of the Beast is in fact a genetic upgrade remains to be seen. But it is certainly plausible given the historical background of scripture and the Technology that exists in the world today.
The Temple Of God
In the New Testament there are over a dozen scriptures that very clearly and unequivocally identify "the Temple Of God" as the human body, made in the very image and likeness of God.
The Bible also tells us “that man of sin [will] be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thes 2:3-4)
Who is to say this is a physical temple?
God never told the Jews to build a temple of lifeless stone. So maybe this reference to Satan sitting in the temple of God also has a more spiritual interpretation?
Perhaps Satan does not desire a physical temple, but he wants to re-write and edit the human genome "in his own Image, after his likeness". And the "son of perdition", whose coming is after the "genetic" workings of Satan will be the first in succession to lead humanity in the worship of the devil. (2 Thes 2:9)
The prophet Isaiah foretold of Satan's future plans and desires "to be like the most High".
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14)
Satan wants to be "like the most High" and the most High does not dwell in lifeless temples of stone. Will Satan offer humanity a genetic life-extension upgrade to deceive the human race into believing they could reverse the curse of sin and death? And prove God is a liar?
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thes 2:3-4)
The “temple” in the above scripture, is not a reference to the Jewish temple. The Greek word is "naos", used by Paul eight times in his epistles. Never does Paul employ this term to the Jewish temple. In fact, after the death of Christ the Jewish temple is never again called the temple of God. Rather it is used as a Christian believers body (1 Cor. 6:19) or of the church as God’s spiritual house (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; Eph. 2:21) in all of Paul's epistles.
In the book of Acts there are 24 scripture references to the Jewish Temple, and never is the Jewish Temple called the "Temple of God" in the book of Acts.
Will the son of perdition inhabit the "Temple of God" in the same way Jesus Christ also did? A Temple that Jesus called his body, made in the image and likeness of God? Jesus had God's genetic make-up dwell within him; will the son of perdition have Satan's genetic make-up dwell within him? Father the "son of perdition"?
Excerpt from ‘A Beautiful Delusion‘
(The Coming Anti-Christ)
by William Kinney
Dr. Francis Crick and Dr. Watson are credited with discovering the double helix structure of DNA. At the time, the Human Genome project was underway. Dr. Crick was asked about how many genes they had identified so far. He answered, 140,000 and we expect to find 4,000 more. I almost fell out of my chair. How could anyone miss the significance of that number? 144,000.
In Revelation, 144,000 are sealed with the seal of God (in their foreheads). 144,000 stand on Mount Zion with Christ, having the name of God written in their foreheads. What if this number, instead of referring to a number of individuals, actually refers to the immortal life genome? In other words, to be sealed by God is to have your genetic code supernaturally sequenced back to an immortal state.
Since the human body (and its homeostasis) is a closed system, Adam and Eve did not destroy the genes that enable immortal life, they reorganized the sequence. This proprietary information was not annihilated, it was merely suppressed.
Life Extension Magazine interviewed Dr. Michael D. West about a breakthrough published in the journal “Regenerative Medicine.” He said (regarding immortality): “The goal of gerontology for many years has been to find the reason that our reproductive lineage continues to make babies generation after generation while the other cells in our body, called somatic cells, have a finite life span and are mortal, ... The answer is that we come from a lineage of cells that have been proliferating since the dawn of life on earth. The cells that made us have no dead ancestors.”
We come from immortality, and much of the genetic research performed today is focused on immortality. New Scientist Magazine featured an article about Scientists at the University of Cambridge (UK), who have created a new way of using the genetic code: “[that] could eventually lead to the creation of new or improved life forms.” One of these new life forms will be a triple helix structure, as featured in "Scientific American" magazine: Triple Helix: Designing a New Molecule of Life …a synthetic hybrid of protein and DNA, ... unlike anything found in nature. In the original immortal life genome, a double helix structure with 144,000 genes; means that both strands of DNA would have 72,000 (each).
In a triple helix structure the number would be 216,000 (3x72,000). The earliest Greek manuscripts describe the number of the beast as 600 and 60 and 6. If we multiply 600 x 60 x 6, we arrive at the number 216,000. This is the number of “the beast,” it is his genetic code. Satan will use this synthetic genome to offer the people of earth, a counterfeit version of immortal life. It will be a Beautiful Delusion.
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
Satan, who once told Eve that she could become like "god," will make the same offer to the people of earth – in the last days. His offer will be the offer of immortal life. With the help of medical science, specifically genetic technology, a form of immortal life will be made available through a process called "life extension therapy." Sick and mutated genes will be replaced by healthy genes by way of nanotechnology; the lame will walk, the deaf will hear, the dead will come back to life!
In the same way, the anti‑Christ (who once received a mortal wound) will LIVE AGAIN!
All of these occurrences will completely mimic the work of God’s true Messiah. You can imagine the implications. If someone could escape pain and suffering, even death in this life (by using the immortal life therapy) would they have the faith to wait on Christ and believe in His promise of eternal life?
What if this option was posed to the entire world in one great moment of decision? I speculate that many would have little to no apprehension accepting this offer. They will reason with themselves, this therapy will do so much good it must come from God!
The anti‑Christ is a creation of Satan. He will entice the people to take his immortal life therapy ‑ to live forever! But the scriptures say that those who take the mark of the beast, and alter their genome in the hope of obtaining an immortal life apart from Christ; will not be redeemed:
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Rev 14:9‑11 KJV)
They are tormented for ever and ever. Not because the God of the Universe delights in their torment; but rather, because they changed their image and form into the immortal and unnatural genome of the anti‑Christ. They would not wait on Christ and his promise of eternal life.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (Rev 9:6 KJV)
Have the people being referred to in this scripture verse above, partaken of the anti‑Christ’s life extension therapy and become "immortal?" Do they now regret changing their image into the image (genome) of the beast, and would prefer to die (but cannot)?
Jon
I had never known this: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thes 2:3-4)
The “temple” in the above scripture, is not a reference to the Jewish temple. The Greek word is "naos", used by Paul eight times in his epistles. Never does Paul employ this term to the Jewish temple. In fact, after the death of Christ the Jewish temple is never again called the temple of God.
Thanks GM for doing the research on this!
GM
For anyone reading this, check out the Related song posted by Jon under “Music”, a Beatles-song-parody by N.T. Wright and Francis Collins.
Dr. Francis Collins was the head of the Human Genome Project, and is a believer. Joining him is N.T. Wright. “They are of our generation, the time of the Flower Children, Jesus Revolution.“