VISA Really is the Mark of the Beast

Does anyone remember back in the early-mid 90’s when there was the “huge” phenomenon amongst the conservative Christians proclaiming that the company VISA was the Mark of the Beast and if you got one of their credit cards that meant you were aligning yourself with the antichrist?  Remember?

These guys are really pumped with the new APR rates they are receiving

In case you don’t remember, the idea was that the mark of the beast (as stated in Revelation 13.16-18) would mean that nobody could purchase anything without the mark.  And, along comes these new “credit” card devices that were gaining popularity.  One of these companies was evilly named VISA.  And some crazy people dissected the name VISA to get to 666 – the mark of the beast. VI is 6 in Roman Numerals. S was 6 in ancient Egypt. A was 6 in Sanskrit. VISA, see, is 666.  Then there are meanings in the symbols of VISA that the term VISA is required for transport between countries, and without too much effort you have yourself a nice, fresh conspiracy theory that by purchasing a credit card, you have now aligned yourself with the devil. (don’t you love Christians?)

Now, I want to clear up a couple of things first and foremost.  I am really not going to be discussing the fact of VISA actually being the mark of the beast…..that’s stupid.  I am not even going to touch the new idea of the mark of the beast – the idea being that ID chips and other biomedic devices that might be placed in our skin which contain all of our information, bank accounts, and other stuff.  That too is hogwash. (if I need to explain why, you are not intelligent….do you really think that by getting a microchip placed in your body to help make “tracking” or other information easier to get to for doctors, stores, even government that this will take away my salvation?  really?)  Finally, LET ME MAKE THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR TO ALL CHRISTIANS, the mark of the beast actually doesn’t even appear until AFTER the rapture when the antichrist comes into power to unify the world.  So, there is no way that anything developed or put into place before the rapture is going to be the mark of the beast.  Seriously, try reading the Bible every once in a while crazy Christians.

Oh, wait…this is for a later post

But, my point remains that the title of this blog post is that VISA is the Mark of the Beast.  So, I have to explain myself somehow.  Here is my explanation:  VISA really is the Mark of the Beast.  Fantastic isn’t it?

Bear with me (this post may stem from my frustration with finances and other circumstances, but this entire blog is just designed to look at things from different perspectives, so that’s what I’m doing).

The entire point of the mark of the beast is a means of identification.  To have the mark of the beast on your hand or forehead is a direct contrast to how the Israelites were commanded to place God’s law on their hands and foreheads to signify God’s authority over them (Duet. 6.8).  So, when one gets the mark of the beast (whatever that actually is, whether physical or not) it really is just an indication that you are placing your trust and allegiance and control in a secular being that is not God.

Here’s where my idea starts taking shape: when we started using credit cards, what was the reason for using them?  Think about it?  We use our credit cards to purchase items that we cannot afford at the current time.  (there may be arguments to this, but stick with me)  In our current culture we are told we need credit cards to build up a credit history so our loans will have a low interest rate and we will be approved for higher mortgages (weird when you think about it…build debt to get approved for more debt….oh well).  That in and of itself not a bad thing…..as long as you have the self control to pay your bill off every month.  But who among us did that in their “early days”.  Why did we then rack up credit card debt?  Why does the average American owe more than $16,000 in credit card bills? (ed. note: holy crap that is a lot)

I knew those devil horns should have been a clue to something

The reason we racked up those bills was because we were selfish and wanted material goods right away.  We may not have realized it at the time, but if we would have had more patience, more self-control, more wisdom, we could have very easily avoided any debt at all.

**Maybe I should change this whole “we” to “I” since I can really only speak from personal experience from this point on, although I’m 99% sure this will apply to you as well.**

Here is my new thinking (and the more I look at it, the more a true God follower looks extremely radical in their actions): when we choose to put ourselves in debt we are rejecting God’s promise that he will provide for us financially.  When we put ourselves in debt we are showing with our actions that we “need” things that God just can’t provide in our selfish timeline.  Think about all of your debt and why it is there….could it have been avoided?  With a little more patience, maybe some more hard work, definitely some more self-control, should you have any credit card debt or any other debt at all?  (8 out of 10 people are already agreeing, 1 out of 10 is just ignoring the obvious because they are too proud to admit they messed up, and the other 1 is too rich to care) To me, there is absolutely no reason to. If you “have to have debt” to survive, then you are living outside of your means and you are simply not relying on God’s sovereign control over your life.  God promised to provide for all of our needs.  Going into debt is the exact opposite of that.  I don’t feel like I am explaining my thoughts very well right now, but let me take it a step further to really make you mad. 

Think about all of your debt and why you have it?  Most of us have credit card debt (the bane of my existence) and some of us have school bill debt (thankfully, I do not have this thanks to my generous parents).  Could any of this debt have been avoided?  In my opinion, very easily.  Listen, I really want to get my masters and eventually my doctorate.  But to do that requires money, and lots of it.  We still have credit card debt and our budget right now, with Beth staying home, consists of cutting every possible corner and living as meagerly as possible just to get to even…not to save…just to get to even, and there seem to be months where this just isn’t possible.  That is a scary place to be.  But, even though it would advance my career and improve my job, how in the world could I live with myself if I took out a huge student loan and placed my family in even more debt just to pursue a goal right now?  Couldn’t I just wait, continue to be smart with money, pray with God incessantly, and see what happens in the future?  If God wants me to get my masters, He will provide the finances for this.  Who am I to play God and try to take control of my life with debt? (I so wish this was a lesson I learned 10 years ago)

My opinion as of now (subject to change) really is becoming rather strong in this matter.  Most people agree on the credit card debt, but what about the next major debt inducer – student loans.  Who says that a kid straight out of high school has to go to college for the next 4 years?  If he can’t afford it, is that a Biblical thing to just say screw it, society expects this so I will go into debt, put my “faith” in the financial system, not in God’s system and pursue my “dreams” right now?  How selfish does that sound?  Isn’t it entirely possible for that kid to work hard, take a few classes a year, continue to trust that God will provide and reward his hard work, go to school for 6 or 7 years and finally, with no debt, become rewarded with a degree, then move on with his life?  Which sounds more Biblical and God-fearing and trusting to you?

Again, I’m making this post extremely long and I really don’t feel like I’m explaining it too well as of now (finishing this up on a Saturday morning in detention…brain not functioning on all cylinders).  But I really do feel as if racking up debt, whether credit, school, loans (a house loan is a whole other issue), etc., really means that you are placing your faith and allegiance outside of God’s domain.  To me, that is what the mark of the beast is about, so I stand by my original title. 

“Money is the root of all evil.”  That statement is not just talking about rich people not needing God (how it is normally preached), but it is stating that we need to place our trust, no matter how rich or poor, in God’s hands.  He will provide for all of our needs in HIS OWN TIMING.  I can’t wait to be done with credit card debt (if ever….God will need to work miracles for this) and be done with credit cards.  But for now, I need to continue to place my faith that God will provide, live within my means (and if I can’t, something needs to change in my life), and continue to thank God for the roof over my head and the food on my plate…..and for Hulu for free TV.

AMEN!