July/August 2002

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<div> Dear Readers, </div> <div> We find in Revelation a prophecy that clearly points to a day when a marketing system will be imposed. While thinking upon this prophecy, it brought to mind a television commercial. The commercial starts by asking, "Does your bank treat you like this?" Then it continues by showing a well dressed young man walking up to a teller window. The teller then picks up a staple gun and staples a bar code on the young man's forehead! After his natural response of "Ouch," the teller points him to a second teller's window, with a long line of people all of which had bar codes stapled on their foreheads. The commercial then shows a man, in this second line, bent over a scanner with the teller at the window running his forehead back and forth over the scanner. The teller remarks, "These things never work!" </div> <div> In a similar way, in the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John ties a marking system to the Beast's control of the economy. Exactly what form this economic control will take cannot be answered with absolute certainty. But a marking system like the kind John describes has already been developed. "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: And 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. 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" (Rev. 13:16-18). Such a marking system has been in operation since 1973! It is called the "Universal Product Code" [UPC.]. This code identifies practically every item found in grocery stores, retail stores, and wholesale stores. </div> <div> Almost 30 years ago, the August 25, 1974 issue of the Los Angeles Times explained this marking system by saying, "The grocery store industry has developed what is called the Universal Product Code [U.P.C.] which to the consumer looks like a series of vertical lines covering an area about the size of a postage stamp." </div> <div> What should be of interest to us is every "U.P.C." Code contains three unidentified marks corresponding to the number 6 6 6. These three sixes are the key working numbers for every version of the U.P.C. code and they cannot be changed. Most of the marks or bars in the U.P.C. symbols are identified by a number at the bottom of each mark. But, there are always at least 3 bars that are not identified - that add up to 6. They are located on the left, middle, and far right of every bar code. They appear as two vertical lines. Computer technicians say that 6 is a perfect number, because a computer works on a series of six cores, that allows the current to change directions, in order to perform switching operations. The technicians also say the numerical formula for this switching operation is 6 - 60 - 6. In order to number a card, person, or item, the transaction must be prefixed six hundred, threescore, and six. This same invisible bar code system, is on all credit and bank cards. It is hidden in the magnetic strip on the back side of the card! </div> <div> John's statement in Revelation is interesting. "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" (Rev 13: 18). The number 6 is always related to man and his activities. With just a little more automation, it would be a simple matter to generate a personal record of every person's purchases, bank transactions and buying and selling - all controlled by the government! </div> <div> [SEE EXAMPLE OF BAR CODE ON ANY PRODUCT] </div> <div> All of the marks , or bars, in figure one are There are always at least three unidentified identified by numbers at the bottom of marks in every U.P.C. code. Three of these the code except for three marks. The mark unidentified marks are always the number at the far right , in the middle and at the "6" uncovering the coded use of the number the far left are not identified. "666" in every bar code. </div> <div> Today the technology for a cash less society already exists. Think about it, credit cards make the introduction of a national identification card possible right now! We also know existing laser technology could be used to implant information beneath the skin, on the head, arm or some other part of the body. The resources and knowledge of how to implement what John prophesied over 1900 years ago, is already in place. Today, there are stores in the State of Washington that allow customers to use their finger print to buy groceries! There is no money, no debit card, just your finger print! </div> <div> Nine years ago we wrote in our booklet, "Postponements, Another Mystery of the Ages" on page 28, "Let's find out what this MARK is and what it has to do with the postponements?" Page 29, "Nero Caesar, when written in Hebrew was 666. "Lateinos" [Latin] the language of Rome in Greek comes to 666. In the New Testament, the letters of the Greek word cuporia, from which the word wealth is translated, totals 666. Out of all the 2000 Greek nouns of the New Testament, there is only one other word that has this number value, the word paradosis, translated "tradition" [Acts 19:25; Matt. 15:2-3]. Wealth and tradition- interestingly enough were the two great corrupters of Rome and the Roman church. Wealth corrupted their practice and honesty; tradition corrupted their doctrine. Here is a deceived church and therefore used by Satan to deceive the world." </div> <div> Those who have the mark refuse to keep the commandments. The mark therefore involves the rejection of the commandments of God, or any one of them as we find in James 2:10. For if we are guilty of breaking one, we are guilty of breaking all of them." </div> <div> Through the prophet Hosea God put His finger, so to speak on one of the base sins of His people Israel: "He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress" (Hos. 12:7). Honesty in business was to be a basic virtue among God's people. God condemns them for violating the law. "Completely ignoring this standard of righteousness Israel was boasting of their gains regardless of the unjust manner in which their wealth was being acquired. Their attitude was that God was prospering them, so what they were doing could not be as sinful as the prophet described it to be in Hosea 12:8. Through the prophet Hosea God put His finger, so to speak on one of the base sins of His people: "He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress" (Hos. 12:7). Honesty in business was to be a basic virtue among God's people. God condemns them for violating the law. "Completely ignoring this standard of righteousness Israel was boasting of their gains regardless of the unjust manner in which their wealth was being acquired. Their attitude was that God was prospering them, so what they were doing could not be as sinful as the prophet described it to be in Hosea 12: 8. "And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin." Such an attitude is often assumed by those who do evil when the retribution which is expected to be the result does not immediately manifest itself. Success in the acquiring of wealth, they reason, justifies the means used, thus making the successful accumulation of wealth itself the criterion or right" (Study of Hoses, by Howard Rand). </div> <div> God wants us to look at and examine our life. Have we let the standards that God has set in His Word slip? Have we let the cares of this world take our mind off the true purpose of life? Have we become lukewarm, not really hot or cold for God's truth and His laws? Be sure to read the article in this issue "God's Spoiled Americans" on page 9. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Church of God, In Truth </div> <div> GOD'S FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2002 </div> <div> Greetings from the Church of God, In Truth. Once again, excitement continues to build when we talk about God's Feast of Tabernacles. </div> <div> For the seventh year the Church of God, In Truth will be observing God's festival at its appointed time in Branson West, Missouri. Branson West is about 10 miles west of the city of Branson, Missouri. The area overlooks Table Rock Lake with two other lakes near by. Lake Tannycomo and Bull Shoal. They are deep blue with their tree lined shore, an awesome sight to see. </div> <div> The Ozark mountain country is bursting with activities. Do you enjoy fishing, boating, golf, tennis, walking trails or horse back riding? Maybe you prefer a dinner cruise at sunset on the showboat Branson Bell? There are many live entertainment shows in the town of Branson and the area is filled with restaurants of your choice. Plan to be there — Branson is family oriented and has something to offer everyone! </div> <div> For more information to help you finalize your plans for the Feast with us, please phone, write or </div> <div> e-mail us </div> <div> Church of God, In Truth Tel.: 909-737-0559 </div> <div> P.O. Box 2109 Fax: 909-279-7302 </div> <div> Corona, Ca. 92878-2109 E-mail: cogit@flash.net </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>