Question: Is the mark of the beast in Obamacare?

As a pastor, I often get questions from people about various things. Sometimes, I feel others might be asking the same questions, so I share these exchanges here. I’m not the Bible Answer Man, but I hope my answers are helpful. 

Q: Obamacare supposedly has the chip system involved and could have prophetic significance and could be a sign of just how close the Lord’s return really is. Could you read (this link) and let me know your thoughts? (The link led to the following text which can now be found on numerous websites.)

“There’s a pretty starling thing in the bill that 95% of Americans won’t like.
The Obama Health care bill under Class II (Paragraph 1, Section B) specifically includes ‘‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable.” Then on page 1004 it describes what the term “data” means in paragraph 1, section B:
14 ‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘data’ refers to in15
formation respecting a device described in paragraph (1),
16 including claims data, patient survey data, standardized
17 analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of
18 data from disparate data environments, electronic health
19 records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the
20 Secretary”

What exactly is a class II device that is implantable? Lets see…Approved by the FDA, a class II implantable device is a “implantable radiofrequency transponder system for patient identification and health information.” The purpose of a class II device is to collect data in medical patients such as “claims data, patient survey data, standardized analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of data from disparate data environments, electronic health records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the Secretary.”
This sort of device would be implanted in the majority of people who opt to become covered by the public health care option. With the reform of the private insurance companies, who charge outrageous rates, many people will switch their coverage to a more affordable insurance plan. This means the number of people who choose the public option will increase. This also means the number of people chipped will be plentiful as well. The adults who choose to have a chip implanted are the lucky (yes, lucky) ones in this case. Children who are “born in the United States who at the time of birth is not otherwise covered under acceptable coverage” will be qualified and placed into the CHIP or Children’s Health Insurance Program (what a convenient name). With a name like CHIP it would seem consistent to have the chip implanted into a child. Children conceived by parents who are already covered under the public option will more than likely be implanted with a chip by the consent of the parent. Eventually everyone will be implanted with a chip. And with the price and coverage of the public option being so competitive with the private companies, the private company may not survive.”

A: I looked at the text of the health care bill (http://docs.house.gov/rules/hr4872/111_hr4872_reported.pdf) and it does contain the section about a “class II device that is implantable.” When you read the entire context though, right after “implantable” is “life-saving or life-supporting”. In other words, it is discussing many medical devices that are implantable. It’s about doing analysis of devices that are “life-saving or life-supporting”—not devices used for tracking people. I found a short list of Class I and Class II devices on the FDA website (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/315.cfm) and the FDA’s definition of a Class II device: “Most medical devices are considered Class II devices. Examples of Class II devices include powered wheelchairs and some pregnancy test kits. 43% of medical devices fall under this category” (http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ResourcesforYou/Consumers/ucm142523.htm). I also found this page (http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/ucm072141.htm) which does discuss the “implantable radiofrequency transponder system”. That technology is very real, but it’s just one type of Class II device. In other words, the text of the health care bill that supposedly is mandating that we all get a tracking device under our skin is not saying that at all—whoever originally wrote the text for the link you sent me was deliberately misrepresenting the truth! The language in the health care bill is about how one of the new government agencies created by this health care monstrosity will be doing analysis on “most medical devices”—tools used for health care. But, this transponder thing is not being mandated by the health care bill.

I’m certainly no fan of Obamacare, but this legislation has no direct connection with prophecy or the Antichrist or the mark of the beast. I found the article on the FDA’s website about “implantable radiofrequency transponders” fascinating because this kind of technology could very well be used by the Antichrist. But, we’ve known for decades that this technology was available, so it’s not a big revelation at this point.

The mark of the beast will be voluntary and people will know exactly what they’re getting—and it won’t happen until the Tribulation. Even if it was in this legislation, an implant to get health care before the Rapture is not the mark of the beast.

For now, let me recommend you avoid websites like the one your link took me to. This world is getting crazier all the time, but we’ve got to keep our heads…and do our ministry: “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Tim 4:5, NIV). I’m afraid reading sites like the one you sent me is going to get you sidetracked.

Let me recommend the best website out there regarding prophecy: The Pre-Trib Research Center: http://www.pre-trib.org.
And here’s a great article I hope you’ll read—it’s about the mark of the beast: http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/mark-of-beast.

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