They've Got Your Number

Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz in his most recent book, “They’re Coming for You” writes about the disturbing process of data collection and activity monitoring on everyday American citizens. It is a frightening description of how government is collecting and accessing information about you using AI technologies, the internet, social media apps, business transactions, banking, credit cards, GPS recordings, biometrics via touch sensors and cameras using facial recognition software that is sophisticated enough to identify a person simply by how they walk from as far as 50 yards away. That information is collated together to form millions of personal and unauthorized profiles and then electronically warehoused in massive data centers and accessed as needed. The use of the information is not necessarily nefarious… at least for the most part, at the present. There are some positive uses of the data for sure. But Chaffetz also suggest that it has been politically misused in recent elections to try and assist the left in voter registration against right sided candidates and platforms, among other things.

He does point out the dangers that all of this collected data could produce if it falls into the hands of leaders who are malicious and are willing to use the information to manipulate or restrict Americans freedoms.

For example, Chaffetz who chaired the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and served on the Homeland Security Committee writes, “Biometric technology is also becoming more sophisticated. The Federal Trade Commission issued a policy statement in 2023 warning of the increasing risks of biometric technology—described as using physical and biological traits from a person’s body. The FTC advises that “using biometric information technologies to identify consumers in certain locations could reveal sensitive personal information about them such as whether they accessed particular types of healthcare, attended religious services, or attended political or union meetings. Large databases of biometric information could also be attractive targets for malicious actors who could misuse such information.”

Why do I write of these things? To remind you that we are indeed living in the days of prophecy being fulfilled in unprecedented ways. In Revelation 13:6-7 John writes, “Also it [the beast] causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Imagine checking out at a grocery store, a bank, your doctor’s office, or restaurant only to be told that your digital ID has been denied… in the wrong hands, it might be denied because of your beliefs, political position, health convictions, etc.

Are we there yet? Not quiet. However, Britain recently announced that it is preparing mandatory digital ID cards for all adults. Accordingly, every adult would be required to hold a digital ID to rent, work, and have access to essential services. This is no longer fiction this is fact. The UK proponents have argued that this will aid in the control of immigration, welfare, banking, housing, and commerce by linking them into a centralized framework. But what starts out as a convenience or aid to security hides a potentially darker reality. A mandatory digital ID centralizes unprecedented power by the state over the entire population… we are still away off, but the path is becoming clearer, just like the scriptures predict. It made me think of Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

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