The Truth about RFID Implantation in the New Healthcare Bill

One of the hardest things about being a premillennialist is being inevitably associated with other premillennialists.   Among the many qualified, biblically sound and sane Biblicists out there also exist a panicky, superstitious and downright dishonest fringe (ok… it may be a pretty wide “fringe”) which will stop at nothing to “prove” their postulates; even if it means that the truth must be entirely misrepresented in the process. 

The latest from the cutting edge of over-interpretation is the complete misrepresentation of last week’s health care “reform” legislation.  Let me preface this article by first affirming wholeheartedly that I am not in any way favorable toward this legislation, nor any nationalization of healthcare.  In fact, it kills me to be placed in the position of  having to defend it against the half-truths of the half-baked.  But alas, I believe the truth is worthy of defense.  I likewise believe that the true prophetic record of scripture will assert itself in history without the deceptive and/or “helpful” nudges of any certain eschatological fan base. 

The misrepresentation of the facts in this case centers around some very artistic use of the English language as it relates to the establishment of a national medical device registry.

The RFID Issue

If you are not a premillennialist you may well not understand the hype which has been generated regarding RFIDs.  You may not even know what an RFID is, so at this time I will shed some light on the subject. 

RFID stands for “radio frequency identification.”  In short, they are tiny electronic devices that use radio technology to transmit, track and store information.  RFIDs are used as tracking devices for criminal offenders, livestock and pets.  These devices are very small, in some cases the size of a grain of rice, and can be implanted under the skin of their host for virtually permanent application.   As creepy as that all sounds, it actually gets worse.  In 2004 the Verichip RFID was approved by the FDA for human implantation.  From that event has flourished an increasing surge of applications for RFID usage.

While mainline RFIDs have the ability to store data, the implantable Verichip currently only contains a unique 16 digit number.  It does not store “onboard” any additional information.  However, external software allows the bearer of that unique number to be positively identified for medical or financial transactions.

Wikipedia has noted numerous usages to have evolved for the Verichip in its current state. 

In 2004 Conrad Chase offered implanted chips in his night clubs in Barcelona and Rotterdam to identify their VIP customers, who in turn use it to pay for drinks.
In 2004, the Mexican Attorney General’s office implanted 18 of its staff members with the Verichip to control access to a secure data room. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification#Human_implants)

With new applications being dreamed up daily for the use of RFIDs, many feel that it will only be a short time before the Verichips catch up to their non-implantable counterparts and boast a more useful set of features.  Such prospecting is what is bothersome about RFIDs as the scripture is taken into account.

According to a more stringently “common language” and literal approach to the book of Revelation, RFIDs are proposed by some to potentially play a key role in the herding of the human population during the latter half of the tribulation period.  During this period, a one world governmental system will exist under a singular evil dictator.  Of this man, Revelation notes,

Revelation 13:7-8 (NIV)
⁷ He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. ⁸ All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

This global governmental system will furthermore exercise authority over mankind in a manner never before observed in history.  This government will force every inhabitant of the earth into a single economy by enforcing a type of business license, without which no one can purchase or sell.  This license is authenticated by a mark on one’s forehead or right hand.

Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)
¹⁶ He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷ so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Thus, a popular theory plays out as follows:

Antichrist creates a global financial system by which all financial transactions are to be conducted.  Some presume a cashless system which can be monitored entirely via electronic surveillance.  For anyone to conduct business then, he will be required an electronic device to authenticate  his identity and even perhaps carry a walking register of his account status. 

RFIDs are certainly a possible means by which the prophesies of Revelation 13 could be carried out.  Of course, there are other possible means as well.  However, even I postulated in my book that an RFID based transaction system is a possibility for such massive control over spending. 
We must be very careful to keep postulates and prophesies very separate in our thoughts and teaching.  However, watching the world stage for the fulfillment – or potential fulfillment – of prophecy is a pass-time that has caused a good deal of eager water cooler banter concerning the flourishing potential of RFIDs in recent years. 

It is very possible that such technology, implanted in the hand or forehead, will be the means by which Antichrist will control his population’s buying and selling, thus forcing them into loyalty to himself.  Thus, any action which presumes to force RFID implantation upon the public would necessarily be met with passionate resistance by those who anticipate such possibilities in the future.

The Charge

According to numerous emails, websites and YouTube videos now churning at full steam, H.R. 3200 will require the implantation of RFIDs into every American Citizen when it is fully implemented.  Admittedly, if true, this would rile even an Amillennialist, if only in his desire to not be force-fed an exercise that both imposes a surgical procedure and obliterates privacy.  The problem, of course, is that the charge is not true.  It is not even partially true.

Sadly, I’m pretty sure that I’ve read more of H.R. 3200 than most of the men who voted it into law.  In the process, I have now repeatedly searched its contents for information related to the RFID rumors which purport a mandatory “chipping” of every American citizen.

One website notes plainly that “The new Health Care Bill, H.R. 3200, just passed by Congress has within it the requirement that all people thereunder shall be microchiped.”  This assertion is based on a reading of “Subtitle C—National Medical Device Registry,” found on page 1000 or 1001 of the document, depending on the version you have available.  (The Ways and Means Committee has a publicly viewable copy here.)

The operative decree of this section reads as follows:

The Secretary shall establish a national medical device registry (in this subsection referred to as the ‘registry’) to facilitate analysis of postmarket safety and outcomes data on each device that—
           ‘‘(A) is or has been used in or on a patient; and
           ‘‘(B) is ‘‘(i) a class III device; or ‘‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable, life-supporting, or life-sustaining.

Did you catch that?  You’ve really got to pay attention.  Here’s what it says again:

The Secretary shall establish a national medical device registry….

Yes, folks, that’s right.  The new government healthcare bill absolutely and unashamedly affirms the creation of a new medical device registry for the tracking of various devices – including, but not limited to implantable RFID-type devices.

I’m not sure what the average RFID-patrol thinks a registry is, so here is a small primer on THAT subject, that we all may sleep a bit easier this evening.

reg·is·try definition
Pronunciation: /ˈrej-ə-strē/
Function: n
Inflected Form: pl -tries
1 : a place where data, records, or laboratory samples are kept and usually are made available for research or comparative study <a cancer registry>
(“registry.” Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. 31 Mar. 2010. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/registry>.)

Make no mistake; there is absolutely no suggestion in the 1018 page health care abduction bill that RFIDs will be unwillingly embedded into anyone; be they human or canine.  Instead, there are a few paragraphs about the creation of a database registry which will hold information concerning such devices; as they do in fact exist and the government has (I’m sure very noble) reasons for wanting to know where they all are.  The creation of a Medical Device Registry no more forces RFID implantation than the establishment of the Sexual Offenders Registry forced people to become rapists.  This RFID rumor is a unmitigated misrepresentation of the facts.

The Real Issue

I can’t help but wonder why a few paltry paragraphs of this monstrosity of a bill have taken so many people on such an adventure in missing the point.  One does not need to be a lawyer to simply read and acknowledge that forced RFID implantation is not even hinted at in this bill.  There are however, real issues at stake which pave many more miles of the road which may lead to the global economy of Antichrist.  Perhaps we should all take calm and sensible stabs at properly representing those issues.

First, there is a sincere RFID implication in the bill.  They are obviously not being forced on anyone at this point, but the info structure necessary to track them is certainly being created.  I am not saying that RFIDs will necessarily be used by Antichrist to limit buying and selling.  I am saying that if they are, then what happened in the bill is significant.  With the creation of the registry, every new RFID will be documented and entered into a system which was created solely to keep tabs on it.  For the record, Revelation 13 stipulates the forcing of the mark to involve only the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation.  What would have to come first is the creation of an info structure which would provide governmental oversight into RFID records.  It is entirely possible that this bill has established that necessity (if RFIDs are to be used in such a manner in the tribulation).

Second, there is a considerable global economy contribution in the bill.  Health care in the US accounts currently for 15% of GDP.  Of course, once government has fumbled around with it for a few years it will be at 25% and growing.  Essentially, this has been the single largest ever growth catalyst of the US government.  It has swollen massively with the slightest stroke of a pen.  Before Antichrist can enforce himself as leader of the world in the second half of the tribulation, he will fight wars the world over concerning the globalization of existing governments.  In the case of the US, a great step in the reduction of private ownership and increase on government dependence has now been taken.  Banks, auto companies and now the medical profession itself – under the guise of fiscal responsibility – have been literally absconded with by a power hungry government.  That exercise, like others, will be more easily repeated once initially performed.

Conclusion

I take no issue with the position that last week’s health care bill passage was a decisive step toward globalization which will afford Antichrist a much easier task in the acquisition of the United States when that time comes.  I do however take issue with the fact that so many live to acrimoniously whip their followers into frenzies over an inexcusable misinterpretation of a “keyword” subject while allowing the real issues to once again saunter right out from under their noses. 

There are plenty of justifiably disquieting issues to be upset about in government at this moment.  Mandatory RFID chipping is not only not one of them, it is an accusation which so badly misrepresents the facts that one’s voice is discredited for having even mentioned it.  Such embellishment is the nature of our enemy.  It is of no value in the good fight.