Nov 08, 2005

Changing the way the world pays

Biometrics is a technology that enables consumers to pay for products by merely scanning a finger, but some question whether it could make it easier to steal personal information

By Melanie Cleveland
The San Luis Obispo Tribune

Imagine buying groceries by scanning your index finger. No cash, checks or credit cards required.

It may sound like science fiction, but systems that use biometric technology to identify people using their fingerprints have already debuted in major grocery stores across the country, including Albertsons, Kroger Foods, Lowes Foods and Piggly Wiggly.

It hasn't arrived in San Luis Obispo County. But Pay By Touch Solutions, the company that installed the systems in a pilot program with Albertsons and Piggly Wiggly stores in nine states, says one grocery store giant -- with a large West Coast presence -- will announce a rollout of the technology THIS MONTH.

The pay-by-finger touch system works by storing a consumer's finger images and personal financial information in a retail outlet's database. Shoppers can tap into that information on a touch pad when they make a purchase. A computer recognizes their finger image, automatically charges their account, and the transaction is complete.

"We are changing the way the world pays," said John Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of San Francisco-based Pay By Touch.

Grocery stores are only the beginning, he said. Rogers hopes that Pay By Touch will be used in more than 10,000 locations -- hotels, gas stations, fast food restaurants, health care facilities and sports stadiums -- by the end of 2006.

"The opportunities," Rogers said, "are boundless."

His company, funded by the Gordon P. Getty Family Trust and other major investment groups, recently received a major cash boost --

$130 million -- to ramp up its development of biometric products and services.

BioPay, which is Pay By Touch's closest competitor, already has 2 million consumers across the United States who use the system to purchase items and to cash payroll checks. That translates to 17 million transactions worth $6.9 billion as of June 2005, said Donita Prakash, vice president of marketing.

Technology in use for years

Biometric technology has been used for years by the military, to identify criminals and control access into high-security facilities. The technology's recent foray into the grocery industry and other retail outlets was prompted by worries about identity theft and heightened security concerns after Sept. 11, 2001.

Service providers and customers worry more about key personal information being stolen and used fraudulently from PIN numbers and ID cards -- so a system that requires nothing but a finger image to access and protect financial information is more convenient and secure, say industry experts.

"There's no question it can help identity fraud," said Albertsons spokeswoman Shannon Bennett. "Only the customer can access this system: It's easier and faster and safer."

Biometrics technology and its associated software have also become more sophisticated and reliable because of recent advances in computer science and trials in the marketplace.

"For instance, algorithms that the system uses to match the minutia in a finger image to a person's financial information in a store database have gotten more efficient," said Walter Hamilton, chairman of the International Biometric Industry Association.

"If a customer has difficulty using the device, a manufacturer will come out with a newer product to answer their concerns," Hamilton said.


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No one has to tell us that we live in perilous times, as Timothy wrote about in New Testament days. One of the greatest perils a person could fall into, even though unawares, would be to take the mark of the beast or the anti-christ, who will very likely enter the world stage within this generation, according to Jesus' words in Matthew 24 and John in the Book of Revelation. After the catching away of those who are saved by the Blood of Jesus, known also as the rapture, the anti-christ will make his appearance on the world scene, and he will cause everyone, except those who refuse, to take a mark in their right hand and their forehead. Without the mark of the beast, no person can buy or sell during those years of tribulation. So, please, dear ones, be forewarned! You can see how this technology is being used even today in the purchase of goods. Never take any mark in your right hand and your forehead. It will cost you your eternity, because the Word of God says that those who do take the mark in their right hand and their forehead will spend eternity with the devil and his angels in the place known as hell.

You don't have to face an eternity like that. You can receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior today. Call upon the Name of the Lord today and be saved.

Pray this prayer with me from your heart. "Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, and I need You as my Savior and Lord. I turn wholly toward You, Lord Jesus, and I want to follow You all the days of my life and spend eternity in Heaven with You. Thank You, Lord, for washing my sins away in Your cleansing blood and saving me. Help me to live for You, day by day, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit power. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

You are now a member of the Heavenly Father's family. Your faith and trust in Jesus has saved you by His grace. It is important that you grow in the Lord, and the best ways to grow in Him are to read your Bible and pray daily. Fellowshipping with believers in a Bible-believing church or group will also be a real strength to you. Jesus loves you so very much!

We love you in the love of the Lord. On our websites, you will find many messages that will help you in your walk with the Lord.

PLEASE, before reading any further, take a moment to pray to the Lord that the Holy Spirit interpret and guide you as you read the following. I feel it was the Holy Spirit that prompted me(pushed! is more like it-- I didn't really want to, but he wouldn't leave me alone! ) and I sought his guidance before I typed a word.








I agree with this! One thing though, I have come to learn Biblically something startling regarding the mark of the beast. Let's look at what the Bible says about it:

Revelation 16:2 - And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Revelation 19:20 - And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.



Contrastingly:

Revelation 9:4 - And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Revelation 7:3 - Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 -And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 20:4 - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 22:4 - And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.




Since those with the mark of the beast suffer "a noisome and grievous sore" and those with the seal of God are protected, I realized that Everyone will be "marked" in some fashion.

Thing is, since Revalation speaks in both literal and figurative terms, I wondered if these will be figurative "marks". Look at Rev. 22:4- - it says "his name shall be in their foreheads. " He also tells us his Law will be written in our hearts. Under prayer, I am convicted that this is not to be taken literally in a physical sense, but rather as "the mark" will be evidenced through a person's thoughts and actions.

Also, As cunning as Satan is, it seems a little dubious to me that he would use something so obvious to avoid(a literal mark in the hand or the forehead/mind) wto denote his followers from Christ's. So I'm searching for something a little more subtle than a microchip, etc.

What if the mark is symbolic? The forehead represents "thoughts" (or the mind) and the hand represents "deeds"........... What does the bible say?


Acts 14:2 - But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren

Acts 17:11 - These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace
... and many, many more.........


Mark 9:43 - And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched

Luke 1:1 -Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us

Acts 4:28 - For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done

Acts 7:41 - And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

2 Corinthians 6:7 - By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Revelation 1:16 - And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
..and more...


To me this (along with my other studying, too much to put here) shows that the mark is symbolic, not literal. Our mark/seal will show by our actions(in the hand) and our beliefs (in the forehead).

So, since I want to recieve the "seal of God", what is it?


Seal:
tr.v. sealed, seal·ing, seals
To affix a seal to in order to prove authenticity or attest to accuracy, legal weight, quality, or another standard.
To close with or as if with a seal.
To close hermetically.
To make fast or fill up, as with plaster or cement.
To apply a waterproof coating to: seal a blacktop driveway.
To grant, certify, or designate under seal or authority.
To establish or determine irrevocably: .

Main Entry: seal
Function: noun
Etymology: Old French seel, from Latin sigillum, from diminutive of signum mark, sign
: a device (as an emblem, symbol, or word) used to identify or replace a signature and to authenticate (as at common law) written matter —see also contract under seal at CONTRACT—under seal : with an authenticating seal affixed


John 3:33 - He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true

Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

So.... God's seal authenticateshis contract/law with those that keep it.
What is God's law? The 10 commandments.

A seal denotes three things: 1.WHO is making the decree. 2. By what authority he is making the decree-- i.e. his position, and 3. The area over which he rules.
For example: the U.S. seal , the presidents seal, a king's seal. Basically, it's an authoritative stamp of approval.

So what is God's seal?

Isaiah 8:16, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples."

Since seals have to do with law, I looked for God's seal in his law.The only commandment containing all three stipulations is at the heart of the law, in the middle:

Exodus 20:
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

So... regarding the seal above: 1. Who? the Lord 2. what authority? he is GOD 3. over whom? the heavens and the earth

This is the only place a could find a "seal" of God regarding his law.

So it seems to me that the seal of God is His Sabbath. Now this makes sense to me.

(Please don't crucify me for explaining this-- I'm aware this is a hot subject but one I am burdened to share! This is as I have studied it and researched it-- I know that truth is often unpopular and the VERY LAST thing I want to do is offend anyone-- but I will also give an account to God for both things I do as well as those I don't do and I feel very led to share this)

Here are the facts regarding the Sabbath:

Exodus 31:13 - Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
14 - Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 - Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:16 - Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant

Isaiah 56:6 - Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; (covenant=seal? )

Ezekiel 20:12 - Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Ezekiel 20:20 - And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

Ezekiel 44:24 - And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Mark 2:28 - Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.


So I looked to see when Jesus changed the Sabbath from the seventh day to Suday. I've always been told it was done to commemorate the ressurection but I wanted scriptural proof as undeniable as the commandment he wrote in stone with his finger.

Here's what I found:
Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 - For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled

Uh, oh. Seems clear now that Jesus didn't change the law when he rose. He went so far as to say that nothing in the 10 commandments was to be done away with until heaven and earth pass.........Hmmmmm..


So I looked further into Sunday v. Saturday as Sabbath contenders and here's what I found:

From the Encyclopaedia Britannica under the article "Sunday" : "It was Constantine who first made a law for the proper observance of Sunday, and who ... appointed that it should be regularly celebrated throughout the Roman Empire."

From the Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV, p. 153: "The Church ... after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the third commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's day."
(makes me think of Daniel talking about someone changing the times and laws)

Rev. Stephen Keenan's A Doctrinal Catechism has this to say: "Question - Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept? Answer - Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority." Please note the word "substituted," a term we have used over and over to describe the activities of this power.

Rev. John A. O'Brien in the book Understanding the Catholic Faith, p. 13, 1955 edition, states: "The Bible does not contain all the teachings of the Catholic religion, nor does it formulate all the duties of its members. Take, for instance, the matter of Sunday observance, attendance at divine service, and abstention from unnecessary servile work on that day. This is a matter upon which our Protestant neighbors have for many years laid great emphasis; yet nowhere in the Bible is the Sunday designated as the Lord's day; the day mentioned is the Sabbath, the last day of the week. The early Church, conscious of her authority to teach in the name of Christ, deliberately changed the day to Sunday."

and Cardinal Gibbons, in his book The Question Box states:"Is it not strange that those who make the Bible their only teacher, should inconsistently follow in this matter the tradition of the Catholic Church?"

Father Enright, President of Redemptorist College in America: "It was the Holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week. And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but urged all persons to labor on the seventh day under pain of anathema. Protestants ... profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church.

To sum up I've been led that the mark of the beast verses the seal of God will ultimately come down to those that keep his law.

Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

James 2:14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:18 - Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

By the grace of God we are all saved. It is our thoughts(God knows all!) and are works (our testimonies to others) that SHOW the change that takes place in a person when he seeks and develops a relationship with our Savior.

I have been faithfully keeping the Sabbth for several months and it has been such a supernatural, miraculous, experience. I never felt this way going to church on Sunday. I can't explain it to you anymore than you can explain to someone who has never really been in love what it is like. But God has been Faithful in opening his truths to me as I come to him and for that I am eternally thankful!!! All I know is that I understand why it is a holy day. It indeeds feel Holy, Blessed, Sanctified, unlike any other day. That is when I keep it as I have been shown to do.

Once I back-slid and didn't and I felt so estranged from him. SO... bad. I couldn't wait for the next Sabbath to come around!! I knew I had missed out on so many blessings by doing what I wanted to do instead of what he commanded me to do.
I pray that the Lord blesses you all in the same ways he has blessed me!

I'm quite sorry about the lenght of this post, but like I said, I felt a terrible burden to share this. Please, I'm expecting some attacks, but understand, I in no way seek to offend!! I only yearn to share with you what I have been shown.

You are not offending me and this is not an attack
You are correct in that we have to keep the Sabbath, the only difference is that it has become EVERY day now, instead of one day in the week. God says that we have to move into His rest. We have to die to self and rest from our works.Only then will we see the works of God arise in our lives.
The law as a letter is gone, but is written on our hearts now. God has removed the hearts of stone (the written law) . You now have a heart of flesh and His law of love is written in it.
We can now all enter into the Sabbath, for ever.
Paul gets rather heated at the Galatians, who wants to go back under the Law and seems to keep on missing the message of Grace.
Also in Acts 15 you can read where the apostles get worried about which laws to pass on to the Gentiles, the Gentiles were getting worried that they did not know which laws to keep, so they were relieved to receive a message from the apostles:
Acts 15:28-30

"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you any greater burden than these indispensable requirements:
That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from tasting blood and eating the meat of animals that have been strangled and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourself from these things, you will do well. Farewell , be strong!"
The Sabbath has always been a shadow sign for the rest of God.
As is indeed that the Old Covenant.We now have a New TESTAMENT, Somebody (Jesus).. died and left us something.We inherit we don't do or earn it.Its all by His Grace. Praise God
But I do agree that its great to take a day off and rest the body too, that's good to do, but not in order to fulfill some religious law.

I know the Lord is talking to you here and I think you must allow Him to stretch you just that little bit further into His freedom.
I agree with the mark being invisible to the natural eye. I also think we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Marked with the Blood of the Lamb so the angel of death will pass us by.
Love in the Lord
Cornelius

lov4all, I appreciate all your time you put into sharing this with us. I do need to read it over again. My kids are all trying to talk to me and I know I didn't absorb everything like I wanted to. But, I thank you for sharing your heart with us
I will read this over again when the house gets quiet

lovingHIM!!
I was told that mark in the ancient greek translation means TO PRICK OF OWNERSHIP. I beleive that the chip is part of the mark. We are in the early stages of the public introduction of this rfid chip. A friends brother used to work for DATA BANK who invented the credit card and bank card years ago. He said that it is a slow process to get the human mind used to this system. He said that they can take hundreds of years to wait for the right time to advertise. DATA BANK have four offices world wide that gather info from governments super computers of every living person. DATA BANK have organised the advertisment of rfid years before it was introduced. He said that the gimmick to sell this chip is so cleverly organised that it will suck many to like it. Thats why everything has gone digital now...Cameras, T.vs..etc. One step before the end.

whant to see something that will blow our mind, do some research on a company called digital angel corp. It is part of a larger corporation and is tied very heavily to the EU
Also check out the galileo constilation

For me the debate if the Mark is symbolic or literal is swayed to the literal because this mark will be needed to buy or sell anyone not having it will not be able to buy or sell anything. It does not matter what beliefs one holds hindu islamic catholic buddhist or Christian any man who has access to money can buy things. The scriptures make it quite clear that one will be unable to buy or sell anything without the mark.


As for the seal that will be received by those who will be protected from the wrath. It says that angels will place the seal on them. So it matters not if the seal is visible or not.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Good point.
Cornelius

Adstar, yes that is what the bible says.
That is what I am holding on to. We will
know if it is the mark, just like you pointed out.

We cannot buy or sell without having it.
Guess I am going to starve then.
I certainly am not taking that mark.

God's will be done. I am giving Him total control
He already knows in my heart that I won't deny.
Him or the Trinity. If I can't buy or sell I say oh
well, if God still wants me here for a reason He
will help me with His supernatural power and
show me the way-His way, can't go wrong there!!!

We will be with Jesus in the end and see Him
face to face. Oh how I long for that day!!

I'll be praying for manna! Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. We'll have what we need even if angels have to bring it to us. If we ask for bread, He won't give us a stone. He will provide. Ask and ye shall receive.

In the last two days I have seen some realloy weird things about paying for things come about. I think they are doing it in the name of "no money, no reason to rob us".

Do you know that a STAGGERING 78% of Americans eat out on a regular basis? That is so foreign to me it boggles my brain....

But now, the three major chains, McDonalds, BurgerKing alows follows them, and Sonic have their own credit cards. You load them with funds and then swipe adn get your stuff without money. Everything can be done using numbers and no actual paper changes hands except maybe a check which is useless to a robber.

If it continues and become the normal practice, 78% of the people will need a swipe card to eat out....

I don't know....I just find it creepy. All that info is put into FAT BOY (the name for the main frame).

Maybe it is nothing...maybe it is everyone getting mroe used to processing for what they want or need....maybe it is no better or worse than money...although they don't track that....

Just thought I would throw in a concern. Paranoia perhaps. Just so...cold and calculated and tracked.

leia