Mark of the Beast Part 1: Introduction

The Image Is “Smart”
Anyone who studies Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) proliferation (e.g. Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil) knows it to be like “eating from the tree of knowledge” all over again. The temptation to “become like gods” is repeating itself exponentially. We seem to be accelerating toward what Kurzweil (a technophile) calls “The Singularity,” the merging of humans and A.I. Elon Musk (Pay pal, Tesla) calls it “summoning the demon…It could be terrible, it could be great…but we will not control it.” Musk initially proclaimed himself a prophet, warning the world’s military industrial complexes against A.I., but has resigned from that effort. Instead, he recently launched a new brain chip technology: Neuralink, a two-way brain/internet interface. He thinks a hands-free, 24-hour full immersion into the “internet of things” is our only hope of surviving A.I. Electronic devices implanted in the brain, like vagus nerve stimulators for depression, and vestibular implants, are yesteryear’s “child’s play” compared to the sci-fi microchip nightmares Musk has planned.
If there is anything we know about idols in the Bible, it is their limitations: they can’t talk, walk, fight, hear, etc. In the 2020s, that is all changing. Once again, the Bible predicts that very same unimaginable change: Rev. 13:15 “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Man has always loved and worshipped idols that couldn’t walk, talk, or think. Imagine what man will do with the “idol of his dreams!”
“Let no one deceive you.” “They” will turn [even the wisest] heart away. There are entities which actively promote idolatry; tempting, luring, and deceiving even the elect to partake. “They will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods” is the warning of inevitability given in Deut. 7:4. Yes, Jeroboam is still saying: “Behold your gods!” in the 2020s. And he will make spiritual Israel to sin. The gods of today are still Daniel’s Image and the Tower of Babel, with the addition of the Image of the Beast. In future chapters, the modern-day manifestations of these mind-transforming idols will be uncovered. Answers will be attempted for Who, What, Why, and How. Hopefully, this knowledge will help prevent us from getting “fooled again” by “angels of light” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing” which are incrementally herding us into their nether gloom. Hopefully, this knowledge will give us the confidence to echo the words of Shadrach in Dan. 3:18 “be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up!”