This important article comes from the online ministry of John McTernan, Ph.D
which can be found HERE
Revelation 13:15
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Background: Science Fiction
Since I can remember, I loved science fiction. Not horror movies, but it was the pure science fiction that intrigued me. The first science fiction movie I remember was The Forbidden Planet. This movie was released in 1956, so I was just eight at the time. I must have watched this movie a dozen times through the years. It never gets old to me.
Dr Morbius' Monster From the id
The movie ends with Dr. Morbius throwing himself in front of this monster from his id, which is himself. He dies along with the force. Dr. Morbius's death saves the rest of the expedition. This movie is loaded with technology and action. It definitely was way ahead of its time. There are three concepts which stand out in this movie that have importance for today.
1. There is Roby a robot that interacts with humans and operates with artificial intelligence. It is like the robot C-3PO of Star Wars.
2. Dr. Morbius is able to interact with the Krell electronics to greatly boost his intellect. This represents the merging of biology and machines.
3. Man's technology can go beyond man to destroy him. (In this case, it was the Krell's technology but the principle is the same.)
1. There is Roby a robot that interacts with humans and operates with artificial intelligence. It is like the robot C-3PO of Star Wars.
2. Dr. Morbius is able to interact with the Krell electronics to greatly boost his intellect. This represents the merging of biology and machines.
3. Man's technology can go beyond man to destroy him. (In this case, it was the Krell's technology but the principle is the same.)
Many of the great science fiction movies that followed built on this foundation. Let us examine a few to show how these themes are developed.
In Star Trek: The Next Generation series, there was the android Data. He was actually modeled after Roby from The Forbidden Planet. Data looks human, but he is completely mechanical.
The major nemesis of this Star Trek series is cyborgs (an organism that has both artificial and natural systems) called the Borg. A Borg drone is created by the merging of the biological with mechanical parts.
The idea of a cyborg was fully developed as far back as the early 1970s with both the movie and TV series the Six Million Dollar Man, along with the female counterpart show, The Bionic Woman. In the Six Million Dollar Man, the hero is severely injured in a crash. The show begins with the phrase: "We can rebuild him: We have the technology." He is then "rebuilt" by having his right arm, both legs and the left eye replaced with bionic implants; thus he has greatly enhanced strength, speed and vision far above human natural ability. He now can run 60 miles per hour while his eye has a 20:1 zoom lens with infrared capabilities.
A Borg Drone
The movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day fully develops the idea of androids so far technologically advanced, that they have destroyed the human race. The androids with artificial intelligence have taken over the world. The Terminator is an android that completely interacts with humans and looks and acts human. In this film, man has created beings that can think and operate as a human.
In The Matrix intelligent machines that man created have conquered mankind. They use the heat from human bodies to survive. To harness the heat, the machines keep the human minds connected to a matrix where the machines control reality. A connection is placed in the back of the human skull by the machines and then the brain is wired to a computer which creates the matrix. This is the complete merging of the brain with a computer. Thoughts and knowledge can be downloaded directly into the brain and become part of the thought pattern.
These movies are more than science fiction. I believe there is a prophetic element to them. The ideas that were first introduced in The Forbidden Planet can become a reality in our lifetime. This type of science fiction has been preparing the public to accept artificial intelligence as a form of life. The merging of humans with machines is a theme which the public is now familiar. Technological concepts that were unimaginable before WW ll are now very familiar with the public. What was pure science fiction in 1956 is becoming reality in the Twenty-first Century.
Man has the ability to create whatever he can think or imagine. This is because mankind is made in God's image. The ability through science fiction to imagine artificial life, or as we call it today "artificial intelligence," means that it is possible to create such life. The idea of creating a cyborg by merging the human body with mechanical devices means that one day it could be accomplished. This idea of man creating what he can imagine is supported by the Bible.
Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
The Hebrew word for imagine is very interesting. It means to give thought and involves planning. It involves thought with focus. In addition to imagine, this word is also translated: consider, devise, plot, purpose, and think (evil). This concept means that if man focuses on an idea, he can bring it to reality.
If man imagines merging his brain with a computer and creating a cyborg, it can be done. I am sure that man is limited to working within the physical laws that God created. But, within this framework if man thinks of something, with time, effort and advanced technology, it will come to pass. The Forbidden Planet is the perfect example. Man thought of a robot that could interact with humans and today we are in the early stages of developing artificial intelligence along with advanced robots. Man is a long way down the road to interfacing the brain with computers. All this took less than 60 years!
Singularity
Singularity: The merging of man's biological thinking and existence with technology to the point there is no distinction between human and machine.
The purpose of this article is to give you an understanding of Singularity; to make you aware of what is happening and the direction science is taking; and to relate Bible prophecy so you can see what is the conclusion of Singularity. This article is not exhaustive but simply lays out the big picture. On my blog, John McTernan's Insights I will regularly update scientific advancements leading to Singularity, so you can follow along and see the rapid progress toward this concept.
The concept of Singularity and its exact definition are somewhat elusive, but in simple terms it means that man and machines have become interchangeable. Thus, when the biological and technical have merged, then Singularity will have been achieved. It is a word that few have heard or understand, but mankind is now in a technological explosion that is directly leading to Singularity. The science fiction that started in the 1950s has slowly become a reality. Roby the robot and the machine that vastly increased Dr. Morbius's intelligence are now coming into focus as reality. Singularity is no longer science fiction: it is reality.
Entire fields of science are now racing towards achieving Singularity. Old science such as physics and biology are involved, but entire new fields of science are being created that deal with advancing Singularity. These new fields include: synthetic biology, biocomputing, biotechnology, nanotechnology, neuroprosthetics, and biomedical engineering. There are now breakthroughs towards Singularity nearly every day. In most cases, the scientists have no idea that science is racing to create Singularity. In some cases, the scientists are well aware of what they are doing and are directing all their energy to create Singularity. What can appear to be fractured advancements are really just parts of a puzzle coming together. As Singularity gets closer, there will be direct cooperation with all scientific disciplines to bring it to completion. Ultimately, the objective of this explosion in technology will be to bring Singularity to pass.
There is a spiritual aspect to Singularity that is part of Bible prophecy that must come to pass. Man is racing toward a scientific conclusion and many have no idea that they are working to bring this about. When mankind reaches Singularity it will result in an incredible confrontation between man and God. This confrontation along with Bible prophecy will be fully explored in the next section of this article. There is an information lag between the advancement of science and knowledge reaching the public.
For example, the concept of the Internet was known in scientific circles for many years before it reached the pubic. Today the Internet and all the technology surrounding it is used everyday by huge numbers of the public. The scientists were working on cloning long before the first sheep was cloned. The same concept holds true with Singularity as it is taking place "under the radar." Mankind is a long way down the road to accomplishing it, yet the general public has little knowledge of what is happening. Humans are being blended with machines. Many of the ways are beneficial and therefore, are protected from criticism. Who can question an artificial eye for the blind, or a microchip implanted into the brain to help a quadriplegic? If science is cloaked in health or medicine for alleviating human suffering, it is virtually impossible to question the application of this technology. I do not think that many of these advancements are evil, but in the end, the blending of human biology with mechanical technology will be used for evil.
As I studied Singularity, it became apparent that most of the breakthroughs occurred in the last few years. It seems that starting in 2007, the technology greatly accelerated. The Futurists/scientists who predict the progress of Singularity claim the great technological breakthrough will occur between 2009 and 2019. Mankind may very well be on the verge of a huge breakthrough in technology that will be altering current reality.
The accelerating scientific knowledge that advances Singularity is increasing exponentially. This means that rate of knowledge is exploding and right now knowledge has reached the point where mankind is on the verge of making science fiction, reality. At the present rate of exponential growth of knowledge, the next 100 years of progress will accelerate to be like 20,000 years. This is why Futurists think the 10 year window between 2009 and 2019 is so critical. The two key concepts to follow toward Singularity are the merging of the human body with mechanical technology and the creation of artificial intelligence. The following is a partial list of scientific achievements showing these concepts are getting very close to fulfillment. The articles are listed along with the website link and a key paragraph which highlights the achievement. The articles follow:
Merging Humans With Mechanical Technology
Researchers develop neural implant that learns with the brain 6/24/08
"Devices known as brain-machine interfaces could someday be used routinely to help paralyzed patients and amputees control prosthetic limbs with just their thoughts. Now, University of Florida researchers have taken the concept a step further, devising a way for computerized devices not only to translate brain signals into movement but also to evolve with the brain as it learns." http://www.news.health.ufl.edu/news/story.aspx?ID=5103
US Army Invests in 'Thought Helmet' Technology for Voiceless Communication 09/22/08
"At the moment, the thought helmet concept consists of 128 sensors buried in a soldier's helmet. Soldiers would need to think in clear, formulaic ways, which is similar to how they are already trained to talk. The key challenge to making the system work is a software system that can read an electroencephalogram (EEG) generated by the sensor data, and pick out when a soldier is thinking words, and what those words are." http://www.physorg.com/news141314439.html
Nanotubes on the Brain: Neural implants benefit from coated electrodes 09/23/08
"Metal electrodes are increasingly being used in brain implants that help treat depression and the tremors of Parkinson's disease, and in ever more sophisticated prosthetic devices." http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/21407/
Longer-Lasting Artificial Eyes: An improved retinal implant stimulates neurons to restore sight. 09/25/08
"For many blind or partially sighted people, implants that stimulate healthy nerve cells connected to their retinas could help restore some normal vision. Researchers have been working on such implants since the 1980s but with only limited success. A major hurdle is making an implant that can stay in the eye for years without declining in performance or causing inflammation. Now researchers ... have developed hardware they say overcomes such issues. The implants have been tested in animals, and the group plans to start human trials by 2010." http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/21420/
The Future Of Medicine: Insert Chip, Cure Disease? 07/25/08
"Imagine a chip, strategically placed in the brain, that could prevent epileptic seizures or allow someone who has lost a limb to control an artificial arm just by thinking about it." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070724145124.htm
Conceptualizing A Cyborg: New Ideas On Developing Thought-Controlled Artificial Limbs 01/22/08
"The central feature of the proposed interface is the ability to create transplantable living nervous tissue already coupled to electrodes. Like an extension cord, of sorts, the non-electrode end of the lab-grown nervous tissue could integrate with a patient's nerve, relaying the signals to and from the electrode side, in turn connected to an electronic device." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070118121238.htm
Artificial Intelligence
Smart Brain-Computer Interface Learns with the Brain 06/27/08
"Until now, brain-machine interfaces have been designed as one-way conversations between the brain and a computer, with the brain doing all the talking and the computer following commands. The system UF engineers created actually allows the computer to have a say in that conversation, too ... In the grand scheme of brain-machine interfaces, this is a complete paradigm change ... This idea opens up all kinds of possibilities for how we interact with devices. It's not just about giving instructions but about those devices assisting us in a common goal. You know the goal, the computer knows the goal and you work together to solve the task." source - MedGadget
Scientist: Humans and machines will merge in future 07/15/08
"According to Bostrom, anticipate a coming era where biotechnology, molecular nanotechnologies, artificial intelligence and other new types of cognitive tools will be used to amplify our intellectual capacity, improve our physical capabilities and even enhance our emotional well-being." http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/14/bio.tech/
Alive and clicking, the computer made from life itself \ 11/12/06 (This is the area where the big break through is needed to complete Singularity. Many of the Futurists believe it will occur between 2009 and 2019.)
"The computer that haunts Martyn Amos's dreams literally comes to life when he switches it on. With the potential of awesome computing power it bears little resemblance to a conventional machine. Where you might expect silicon chips to lurk is a noodle soup of cells, chemicals and DNA strands. And to keep it going, Amos has to ensure it is supplied with nutrients, not electricity. For the computer of the future will not be a mass of inert circuitry. It will be alive." http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article633928.ece
"What is Life?" Evolution of Robots is Causing Scientists to Question 07/01/08
"One of Brooks of his longtime goals has been to create a robot so "alive" that you feel bad about switching it off. Brooks pioneered the movement that teaching robots how to "learn" was more sensible that trying to program them to automatically do complex things, such as walk. Brooks work has evolved around artificial intelligence systems that learn to do things in a "natural" process like a human baby does. This approach has come to be known as embodied intelligence." http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/07/what-is-life-ev.html
In A First, Scientists Develop Tiny Implantable Biocomputers 05/22/07
"Each human cell already has all of the tools required to build these biocomputers on its own ... All that must be provided is a genetic blueprint of the machine and our own biology will do the rest. Your cells will literally build these biocomputers for you." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521140917.htm
Computer Scientists Program Robots To Play Soccer, Communicate With Bees 07/01/08
"Engineers built humanoid robots that can recognize objects by color by processing information from a camera mounted on the robot's head. The robots are programmed to play soccer, with the intention of creating a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots able to compete against a championship human team by 2050. They have also designed tiny robots to mimic the communicative "waggle dance" of bees. A world of robots may seem like something out of a movie, but it could be closer to reality than you think. Engineers have created robotic soccer players, bees and even a spider that will send chills up your spine just like the real thing. They're big ... they're strong ... they're fast! Your favorite big screen robots may become a reality" http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0707-the_future_of_robots.htm
Mobile Robotic Arm Taught To Manipulate Objects Such As Scissors And Shears 06/04/08
"Movies portray robots that can move through the world as easily as humans, and use their hands to operate everything from dishwashers to computers with ease. But in reality, the creation of robots with these skills remains a major challenge. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are solving this problem by giving a mobile robotic arm the ability to "see" its environment through a digital camera." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603184624.htm
Cognitive Revolution: Integrating Computing, Nanotech, Simulation And You 08/19 /07
"A large portion of Sandia's program today focuses on the uniqueness of the individual interacting with others and with machines. It involves using machines to help humans perform more efficiently and embedding cognitive models in machines so they interact with users more like people interact with one another. The result is the ability for researchers to take advantage of the basic strengths of humans and machines while mitigating the weaknesses of each." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070811213026.htm
The scientists are racing to create what they call a transhuman being! Transhuman is the result of achieving Singularity. This being is far superior in intelligence to "normal" humans. The transhumans will have either intelligence amplification or artificial intelligence. There will be direct brain to computer interface and possible mind transfer. This means all the thoughts and emotions in a person's mind could be downloaded into a computer and stored or transferred to another location. This concept of mind transfer is very important for understanding what the Bible describes as The Image of the Beast.
The entire move toward Singularity is an attack on the integrity of mankind. The humanity of man is under attack as man is being transformed from flesh and blood into a mechanical being. The promoters of transhumanism justify this blurring as the advancement of evolution. When reading their writings and the justification of this horror, often the underlying support is the advancement of evolution. Some actually write that Singularity is speeding up evolution. The idea that man somehow would naturally evolve into a machine over a million year time period is beyond ridiculous. These scientists believe that man has evolved beyond evolution and now can control the direction of the evolutionary process.
They look at the biological human as bound in a frail limited body that through the process of evolution can advance into a new species, a Cyber Sapiens! The evolution of technology is just the continuation of biological evolution. This idea of technological evolution as a natural process is not being promoted by kooks, but by many leaders of these scientific fields. This is not coming from some fringe element, but from the leading centers of science from all over the world! The following are two articles which capture the evolutionary thinking behind Singularity:
Cyber Sapiens 10/26/06
"Our current situation is unlike anything nature has seen before because we are not simply a by-product of evolution, we are ourselves now an agent of evolution. We are this animal, filled with ancient emotions and needs, amplified by our intellects and a conscious mind, embarking on a new century where we are creating fresh tools and technologies so rapidly that we are struggling to keep pace with the very changes we are bringing to the table." http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=memelist.html?m=4%23687
Is Robot Evolution Mimicking the Evolution of Life? 06/20/08
"According to Hans Moravec, pioneer in mobile robot researcher and founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, our robot creations are evolving similar to how life on Earth evolved, only at warp speed. By his calculations, by mid-century no human task, physical or intellectual, will be beyond the scope of robots. Moravec says, "I see a strong parallel between the evolution of robot intelligence and the biological intelligence that preceded it. The largest nervous systems doubled in size about every fifteen million years since the Cambrian explosion 550 million years ago. Robot controllers double in complexity (processing power) every year or two. They are now barely at the lower range of vertebrate complexity, but should catch up with us within a half century." On the other hand, others believe that it is humans who will evolve into advanced "robots". Their belief is that with futuristic technologies being developed in multiple fields, human intelligence may eventually be able to "escape its ensnarement in biological tissue" and be able to move freely across boundaries that can't support flesh and blood--while still retaining our identities."
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/06/robot_evolution.html#more
What is so foolish in all this thinking is that technological evolution is not happening randomly, but it is being guided by an intelligent being: Man! Only someone who is self deceived could think that the development of a transhuman is happening by evolution. Singularity is being accomplished by an intelligent being applying knowledge. It appears that the promoters of Singularity have committed intellectual suicide to advance their agenda based on some process of evolution. It is obvious that the architects of Singularity have brilliant minds with vast amounts of knowledge, but they are devoid of understanding and the ability to reason.
This delusion on the part of huge numbers of people is going to lead them into a direct confrontation with the Creator. A side issue with Singularity is the striving to create immortality. Many adherents see this as a way to avoid death. When Singularity is reached, they believe all of a person's thoughts and emotions can be stored or transferred into a cyborg. A person can now live forever because the mind can be fully preserved and transferred from one location to another. With artificial intelligence one's mind could forever be learning and experiencing emotions. From a materialist's perspective, this achievement represents eternal life.
The following articles show the idea of virtual immortality that Singularity seems to offer:
Virtual Immortality -How To Live Forever
"The goal is to combine artificial intelligence with the latest advanced graphics and video game-type technology to enable us to create historical archives of people beyond what can be achieved using traditional technologies such as text, audio, and video footage," says Jason Leigh of the University of Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory. The researchers plan on taking the appearance, mannerisms, voice, and even the knowledge of a real person and synthesizing the data into a "virtual person" or avatar. The goal is to create an avatar that will be able to respond to questions and convincingly represent its human counterpart." (In transhuman terms an avatar is an "object" representing the embodiment of the user.) http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/06/virtual_immorta.html
The scientists are now wondering if the creation of artificial intelligence in a computer is a form of life. They believe because this form of intelligence can think; therefore, it is a new form of life similar to biological life. These scientists are actually grappling with the concept that they are creating a new form of life. Because artificial intelligence can be programmed for emotions, they believe a new species of life is being formed. Many of the scientists involved with Singularity are obsessed with their achievements and the direction of science.
The following article captures how scientists believe they are creating a new form of life:
"What is Life?" Evolution of Robots is Causing Scientists to Question 07/01/08
"There is ongoing debate about what constitutes life ... "We're all machines," says Rodney Brooks author of "Flesh and Machines," and former director of M.I.T.'s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, "Robots are made of different sorts of components than we are. We are made of biomaterials; they are silicon and steel, but in principle, even human emotions are mechanistic." A robot's level of a feeling like sadness could be set as a number in computer code ... Why should a robot's numbers be any less authentic than a human's? One of Brooks of his longtime goals has been to create a robot so "alive" that you feel bad about switching it off. Brooks pioneered the movement that teaching robots how to "learn" was more sensible that trying to program them to automatically do complex things, such as walk. Brooks work has evolved around artificial intelligence systems that learn to do things in a "natural" process like a human baby does. This approach has come to be known as embodied intelligence." http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/07/what-is-life-ev.html
The Image of the Beast
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
This tremendous explosion in knowledge is leading to a direct confrontation with the Creator, the holy God of Israel. God created man is His likeness or image, hence a representative figure. The Bible makes it clear that God does not have a flesh and blood body, but the way man was created makes him in the likeness of God. Singularity alters man's likeness to God, and thus man is no longer in the image of God.
Tampering with man's integrity is very serious business with God. It appears from Bible prophecy that man will reach Singularity just prior to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This is found in Revelation 13, one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. This chapter reveals two infamous men referred to as Beasts. They are called beasts because of their inner character and the havoc they bring to mankind. The first Beast is commonly known as the Anti-Christ (See 1John 2:18) while the second is commonly known as the False Prophet (See Revelation 19:20.) These two appear on the world stage as both political and military leaders. The entire world is going to follow after them, and all the world is going to come under their control.
During the time of their rule, the False Prophet directs the entire world to create The Image of the Beast, or as he is now known as the Anti-Christ. Notice the entire world is involved in this project. This Image is a creation of man, and it is the False Prophet who directs this project and gives life to The Image. This verse follows:
Revelation 13:14 "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast (Anti-Christ); saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast ... (15) And he (False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak ..."
The Greek word translated image means: a likeness, and literally a statue, or figuratively a representation, resemblance. This is identical to the Hebrew word used for man being created in God's image. The past commentators of the Bible had no idea what was "The Image of the Beast." Many just thought it was a statue that miraculously came to life. It was impossible for anyone, other than during the time we live, to understand that The Image of the Beast is a prototype of Singularity. Man is now a creator of "life."
From Revelation 13, it appears that the False Prophet is involved with science and directs a world involvement to create The Image. He is evidently an evolutionist who is aware of Singularity and uses the resources of all the scientists and research centers to bring it to pass. In the near future, there will be a breakthrough in knowledge which enables the creation the first transhuman. The False Prophet is able to harness all the resources needed to successfully produce the first prototype! Man has reached Singularity.
When the prototype is completed, the False Prophet is the one who brings The Image to life. This is why I think he has a tremendous scientific background. Creating The Image is his idea from start to finish. He is aware of Singularity, and he knows how to direct the merging of man and machine. The Image is manmade, but it has life and the technology to speak. The Bible states that The Image will be alive. This creates interesting speculation on what exactly is The Image. Because it is alive, I believe it will be part human and thus a cyborg. The human part could be the brain. Currently, scientists have used nerve cells from rat fetuses to create a computer type brain that can think. The nerve cells are coupled to electrodes and these primitive brains can move mechanical arms. It is very possible that The Image's brain could come from the nerve cells of aborted babies merged with a computer. Then the thoughts and emotions of the Anti-Christ could be down loaded into this brain: thus, you have The Image of the Beast. It will be an exact likeness of the Anti-Christ in its thinking.
I doubt that The Image will have a body like a human although it is possible. I do not think it will resemble Data of Star Trek. The Image will most likely look crude as it is the prototype. It is the thinking process that will be at the heart of The Image. The technology to complete this has not been reached, but in the near future there will be astonishing breakthroughs to allow it. Man is heading in this direction. I am just speculating on how
The Image will be built. There could be another way, but a cyborg that is part human seems logical. In time, the exact path will be known, so now one can just speculate. It will be very interesting to watch man moving toward Singularity. One thing is for sure, that man is on a course to create the being described in Revelation 13:14 and the technology to complete it is coming on line. The Bible reveals that God does not recognize The Image as a human being. Whatever is created by man, and although it has some form of life, it is not recognized by God as human. This can be seen at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Bible describes the return Jesus Christ in Revelation 19. When Jesus Christ returns it will be during the battle of Armageddon. The Lord Jesus is going to annihilate the Beast (Anti-Christ) and the False Prophet and cast them both alive into hell. The Bible mentions that they created The Image, but it is not cast into hell. There is no more mention of it. The Image just disappears from the Bible. The verse to show this follows:
Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
From the direction that science is now taking and what Bible prophecy states is going to happen, there are several conclusions that one can make. There are going to be incredible breakthroughs in science that are going to astound the world. In the near future, everyone is going to know about Singularity. The belief in evolution is going to gain more and more control over people's thinking. The God of the Bible is going to be rejected as Creator by vast numbers or people. In the mind of these people, there is no longer any need for God.
The Warning
When man creates The Image, it is not just for a scientific accomplishment. There is a sinister evil motive behind it. The goal is to show that man is the now the creator. There is a new leap in evolution. Man can achieve eternal life on this own. God is out of the picture, and man is now the creator. Man can have eternal life without the Creator! This attempt for eternal life is pitiful: a cyborg!
The False Prophet takes the creation of The Image into the spiritual realm. He demands that everyone on earth worship The Image and the Anti-Christ. This is man worshipping himself. It is a way to determining who is not a believer in the Anti-Christ and evolution. Those who do not participate in worshipping The Image will be killed:
Revelation 13:15 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
The Bible issues stern warnings about worshipping The Image; it is strictly forbidden. All that submit and worship the Anti-Christ and his Image are eternally separated from the true Creator. Modern science, which is based on evolution, will merge into a religion that worships a man and his creation. It is pure idolatry at its core. They worship a man and his cyborg as if they were God.
The Bible warns that those who worship The Image will suffer judgment on earth. A grievous sore will break out upon them and they will greatly suffer.
Revelation 16:2 "... there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."
Upon death, those that worshipped The Image will suffer eternal torment. They will be separated from their true Creator forever. What a terrible insult to the real Creator, to have His creation reject Him and worship a cyborg. God's warning is absolutely clear to those who reject Him and worship a man and his cyborg:
Revelation 14:9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image ... (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image ... "
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,"
This entire false religious-scientific system will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. All the efforts currently being put into Singularity will be destroyed. The tampering with the integrity of God created humanity will come to an end. The false belief in evolution will come to a very abrupt end. The rebellion against the true Creator will cease.
Man's attempt for eternal life through a cyborg or android is pitiful and pathetic. God freely offers eternal life with Him. This offer comes through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Man was created in God's image but sinned and this separated him from His Creator and brought death. Through the death of Jesus Christ and His shed blood for sin, God reversed what man had brought on himself. By faith in Jesus Christ, God will provide a new body that is not fashioned like a cyborg but it is like the resurrected body of Jesus Christ. God promises you and offers to all believers the assurance of eternal life with Him.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
The future for those that are trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord is eternity with the Creator in a body that never grows old and is not subject to disease or death:
1 Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
Modern man denies sin and that man has a sin nature. If God did not eventually intervene and stop man at the creation of The Image, man would destroy himself like the Krell of The Forbidden Planet. In the movie, the Krell died from "Monster from the id; however, man would destroy himself from the monster of his sin nature. Man has a bent toward sin and evil and only through being born again spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ can this evil sinful nature be broken.
Mankind is racing toward Singularity and the confrontation with the true Creator. Now is time to trust God and turn to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. In the near future, you are going to be forced or coerced to worship The Image under the threat of death. Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation.
Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
These movies are more than science fiction. I believe there is a prophetic element to them. The ideas that were first introduced in The Forbidden Planet can become a reality in our lifetime. This type of science fiction has been preparing the public to accept artificial intelligence as a form of life. The merging of humans with machines is a theme which the public is now familiar. Technological concepts that were unimaginable before WW ll are now very familiar with the public. What was pure science fiction in 1956 is becoming reality in the Twenty-first Century.
Man has the ability to create whatever he can think or imagine. This is because mankind is made in God's image. The ability through science fiction to imagine artificial life, or as we call it today "artificial intelligence," means that it is possible to create such life. The idea of creating a cyborg by merging the human body with mechanical devices means that one day it could be accomplished. This idea of man creating what he can imagine is supported by the Bible.
Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
The Hebrew word for imagine is very interesting. It means to give thought and involves planning. It involves thought with focus. In addition to imagine, this word is also translated: consider, devise, plot, purpose, and think (evil). This concept means that if man focuses on an idea, he can bring it to reality.
If man imagines merging his brain with a computer and creating a cyborg, it can be done. I am sure that man is limited to working within the physical laws that God created. But, within this framework if man thinks of something, with time, effort and advanced technology, it will come to pass. The Forbidden Planet is the perfect example. Man thought of a robot that could interact with humans and today we are in the early stages of developing artificial intelligence along with advanced robots. Man is a long way down the road to interfacing the brain with computers. All this took less than 60 years!
Singularity
Singularity: The merging of man's biological thinking and existence with technology to the point there is no distinction between human and machine.
The purpose of this article is to give you an understanding of Singularity; to make you aware of what is happening and the direction science is taking; and to relate Bible prophecy so you can see what is the conclusion of Singularity. This article is not exhaustive but simply lays out the big picture. On my blog, John McTernan's Insights I will regularly update scientific advancements leading to Singularity, so you can follow along and see the rapid progress toward this concept.
The concept of Singularity and its exact definition are somewhat elusive, but in simple terms it means that man and machines have become interchangeable. Thus, when the biological and technical have merged, then Singularity will have been achieved. It is a word that few have heard or understand, but mankind is now in a technological explosion that is directly leading to Singularity. The science fiction that started in the 1950s has slowly become a reality. Roby the robot and the machine that vastly increased Dr. Morbius's intelligence are now coming into focus as reality. Singularity is no longer science fiction: it is reality.
Entire fields of science are now racing towards achieving Singularity. Old science such as physics and biology are involved, but entire new fields of science are being created that deal with advancing Singularity. These new fields include: synthetic biology, biocomputing, biotechnology, nanotechnology, neuroprosthetics, and biomedical engineering. There are now breakthroughs towards Singularity nearly every day. In most cases, the scientists have no idea that science is racing to create Singularity. In some cases, the scientists are well aware of what they are doing and are directing all their energy to create Singularity. What can appear to be fractured advancements are really just parts of a puzzle coming together. As Singularity gets closer, there will be direct cooperation with all scientific disciplines to bring it to completion. Ultimately, the objective of this explosion in technology will be to bring Singularity to pass.
There is a spiritual aspect to Singularity that is part of Bible prophecy that must come to pass. Man is racing toward a scientific conclusion and many have no idea that they are working to bring this about. When mankind reaches Singularity it will result in an incredible confrontation between man and God. This confrontation along with Bible prophecy will be fully explored in the next section of this article. There is an information lag between the advancement of science and knowledge reaching the public.
For example, the concept of the Internet was known in scientific circles for many years before it reached the pubic. Today the Internet and all the technology surrounding it is used everyday by huge numbers of the public. The scientists were working on cloning long before the first sheep was cloned. The same concept holds true with Singularity as it is taking place "under the radar." Mankind is a long way down the road to accomplishing it, yet the general public has little knowledge of what is happening. Humans are being blended with machines. Many of the ways are beneficial and therefore, are protected from criticism. Who can question an artificial eye for the blind, or a microchip implanted into the brain to help a quadriplegic? If science is cloaked in health or medicine for alleviating human suffering, it is virtually impossible to question the application of this technology. I do not think that many of these advancements are evil, but in the end, the blending of human biology with mechanical technology will be used for evil.
As I studied Singularity, it became apparent that most of the breakthroughs occurred in the last few years. It seems that starting in 2007, the technology greatly accelerated. The Futurists/scientists who predict the progress of Singularity claim the great technological breakthrough will occur between 2009 and 2019. Mankind may very well be on the verge of a huge breakthrough in technology that will be altering current reality.
The accelerating scientific knowledge that advances Singularity is increasing exponentially. This means that rate of knowledge is exploding and right now knowledge has reached the point where mankind is on the verge of making science fiction, reality. At the present rate of exponential growth of knowledge, the next 100 years of progress will accelerate to be like 20,000 years. This is why Futurists think the 10 year window between 2009 and 2019 is so critical. The two key concepts to follow toward Singularity are the merging of the human body with mechanical technology and the creation of artificial intelligence. The following is a partial list of scientific achievements showing these concepts are getting very close to fulfillment. The articles are listed along with the website link and a key paragraph which highlights the achievement. The articles follow:
Merging Humans With Mechanical Technology
Researchers develop neural implant that learns with the brain 6/24/08
"Devices known as brain-machine interfaces could someday be used routinely to help paralyzed patients and amputees control prosthetic limbs with just their thoughts. Now, University of Florida researchers have taken the concept a step further, devising a way for computerized devices not only to translate brain signals into movement but also to evolve with the brain as it learns." http://www.news.health.ufl.edu/news/story.aspx?ID=5103
US Army Invests in 'Thought Helmet' Technology for Voiceless Communication 09/22/08
"At the moment, the thought helmet concept consists of 128 sensors buried in a soldier's helmet. Soldiers would need to think in clear, formulaic ways, which is similar to how they are already trained to talk. The key challenge to making the system work is a software system that can read an electroencephalogram (EEG) generated by the sensor data, and pick out when a soldier is thinking words, and what those words are." http://www.physorg.com/news141314439.html
Nanotubes on the Brain: Neural implants benefit from coated electrodes 09/23/08
"Metal electrodes are increasingly being used in brain implants that help treat depression and the tremors of Parkinson's disease, and in ever more sophisticated prosthetic devices." http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/21407/
Longer-Lasting Artificial Eyes: An improved retinal implant stimulates neurons to restore sight. 09/25/08
"For many blind or partially sighted people, implants that stimulate healthy nerve cells connected to their retinas could help restore some normal vision. Researchers have been working on such implants since the 1980s but with only limited success. A major hurdle is making an implant that can stay in the eye for years without declining in performance or causing inflammation. Now researchers ... have developed hardware they say overcomes such issues. The implants have been tested in animals, and the group plans to start human trials by 2010." http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/21420/
The Future Of Medicine: Insert Chip, Cure Disease? 07/25/08
"Imagine a chip, strategically placed in the brain, that could prevent epileptic seizures or allow someone who has lost a limb to control an artificial arm just by thinking about it." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070724145124.htm
Conceptualizing A Cyborg: New Ideas On Developing Thought-Controlled Artificial Limbs 01/22/08
"The central feature of the proposed interface is the ability to create transplantable living nervous tissue already coupled to electrodes. Like an extension cord, of sorts, the non-electrode end of the lab-grown nervous tissue could integrate with a patient's nerve, relaying the signals to and from the electrode side, in turn connected to an electronic device." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070118121238.htm
Artificial Intelligence
Smart Brain-Computer Interface Learns with the Brain 06/27/08
"Until now, brain-machine interfaces have been designed as one-way conversations between the brain and a computer, with the brain doing all the talking and the computer following commands. The system UF engineers created actually allows the computer to have a say in that conversation, too ... In the grand scheme of brain-machine interfaces, this is a complete paradigm change ... This idea opens up all kinds of possibilities for how we interact with devices. It's not just about giving instructions but about those devices assisting us in a common goal. You know the goal, the computer knows the goal and you work together to solve the task." source - MedGadget
Scientist: Humans and machines will merge in future 07/15/08
"According to Bostrom, anticipate a coming era where biotechnology, molecular nanotechnologies, artificial intelligence and other new types of cognitive tools will be used to amplify our intellectual capacity, improve our physical capabilities and even enhance our emotional well-being." http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/14/bio.tech/
Alive and clicking, the computer made from life itself \ 11/12/06 (This is the area where the big break through is needed to complete Singularity. Many of the Futurists believe it will occur between 2009 and 2019.)
"The computer that haunts Martyn Amos's dreams literally comes to life when he switches it on. With the potential of awesome computing power it bears little resemblance to a conventional machine. Where you might expect silicon chips to lurk is a noodle soup of cells, chemicals and DNA strands. And to keep it going, Amos has to ensure it is supplied with nutrients, not electricity. For the computer of the future will not be a mass of inert circuitry. It will be alive." http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article633928.ece
"What is Life?" Evolution of Robots is Causing Scientists to Question 07/01/08
"One of Brooks of his longtime goals has been to create a robot so "alive" that you feel bad about switching it off. Brooks pioneered the movement that teaching robots how to "learn" was more sensible that trying to program them to automatically do complex things, such as walk. Brooks work has evolved around artificial intelligence systems that learn to do things in a "natural" process like a human baby does. This approach has come to be known as embodied intelligence." http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/07/what-is-life-ev.html
In A First, Scientists Develop Tiny Implantable Biocomputers 05/22/07
"Each human cell already has all of the tools required to build these biocomputers on its own ... All that must be provided is a genetic blueprint of the machine and our own biology will do the rest. Your cells will literally build these biocomputers for you." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521140917.htm
Computer Scientists Program Robots To Play Soccer, Communicate With Bees 07/01/08
"Engineers built humanoid robots that can recognize objects by color by processing information from a camera mounted on the robot's head. The robots are programmed to play soccer, with the intention of creating a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots able to compete against a championship human team by 2050. They have also designed tiny robots to mimic the communicative "waggle dance" of bees. A world of robots may seem like something out of a movie, but it could be closer to reality than you think. Engineers have created robotic soccer players, bees and even a spider that will send chills up your spine just like the real thing. They're big ... they're strong ... they're fast! Your favorite big screen robots may become a reality" http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0707-the_future_of_robots.htm
Mobile Robotic Arm Taught To Manipulate Objects Such As Scissors And Shears 06/04/08
"Movies portray robots that can move through the world as easily as humans, and use their hands to operate everything from dishwashers to computers with ease. But in reality, the creation of robots with these skills remains a major challenge. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are solving this problem by giving a mobile robotic arm the ability to "see" its environment through a digital camera." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603184624.htm
Cognitive Revolution: Integrating Computing, Nanotech, Simulation And You 08/19 /07
"A large portion of Sandia's program today focuses on the uniqueness of the individual interacting with others and with machines. It involves using machines to help humans perform more efficiently and embedding cognitive models in machines so they interact with users more like people interact with one another. The result is the ability for researchers to take advantage of the basic strengths of humans and machines while mitigating the weaknesses of each." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070811213026.htm
The scientists are racing to create what they call a transhuman being! Transhuman is the result of achieving Singularity. This being is far superior in intelligence to "normal" humans. The transhumans will have either intelligence amplification or artificial intelligence. There will be direct brain to computer interface and possible mind transfer. This means all the thoughts and emotions in a person's mind could be downloaded into a computer and stored or transferred to another location. This concept of mind transfer is very important for understanding what the Bible describes as The Image of the Beast.
The entire move toward Singularity is an attack on the integrity of mankind. The humanity of man is under attack as man is being transformed from flesh and blood into a mechanical being. The promoters of transhumanism justify this blurring as the advancement of evolution. When reading their writings and the justification of this horror, often the underlying support is the advancement of evolution. Some actually write that Singularity is speeding up evolution. The idea that man somehow would naturally evolve into a machine over a million year time period is beyond ridiculous. These scientists believe that man has evolved beyond evolution and now can control the direction of the evolutionary process.
They look at the biological human as bound in a frail limited body that through the process of evolution can advance into a new species, a Cyber Sapiens! The evolution of technology is just the continuation of biological evolution. This idea of technological evolution as a natural process is not being promoted by kooks, but by many leaders of these scientific fields. This is not coming from some fringe element, but from the leading centers of science from all over the world! The following are two articles which capture the evolutionary thinking behind Singularity:
Cyber Sapiens 10/26/06
"Our current situation is unlike anything nature has seen before because we are not simply a by-product of evolution, we are ourselves now an agent of evolution. We are this animal, filled with ancient emotions and needs, amplified by our intellects and a conscious mind, embarking on a new century where we are creating fresh tools and technologies so rapidly that we are struggling to keep pace with the very changes we are bringing to the table." http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=memelist.html?m=4%23687
Is Robot Evolution Mimicking the Evolution of Life? 06/20/08
"According to Hans Moravec, pioneer in mobile robot researcher and founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, our robot creations are evolving similar to how life on Earth evolved, only at warp speed. By his calculations, by mid-century no human task, physical or intellectual, will be beyond the scope of robots. Moravec says, "I see a strong parallel between the evolution of robot intelligence and the biological intelligence that preceded it. The largest nervous systems doubled in size about every fifteen million years since the Cambrian explosion 550 million years ago. Robot controllers double in complexity (processing power) every year or two. They are now barely at the lower range of vertebrate complexity, but should catch up with us within a half century." On the other hand, others believe that it is humans who will evolve into advanced "robots". Their belief is that with futuristic technologies being developed in multiple fields, human intelligence may eventually be able to "escape its ensnarement in biological tissue" and be able to move freely across boundaries that can't support flesh and blood--while still retaining our identities."
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/06/robot_evolution.html#more
What is so foolish in all this thinking is that technological evolution is not happening randomly, but it is being guided by an intelligent being: Man! Only someone who is self deceived could think that the development of a transhuman is happening by evolution. Singularity is being accomplished by an intelligent being applying knowledge. It appears that the promoters of Singularity have committed intellectual suicide to advance their agenda based on some process of evolution. It is obvious that the architects of Singularity have brilliant minds with vast amounts of knowledge, but they are devoid of understanding and the ability to reason.
This delusion on the part of huge numbers of people is going to lead them into a direct confrontation with the Creator. A side issue with Singularity is the striving to create immortality. Many adherents see this as a way to avoid death. When Singularity is reached, they believe all of a person's thoughts and emotions can be stored or transferred into a cyborg. A person can now live forever because the mind can be fully preserved and transferred from one location to another. With artificial intelligence one's mind could forever be learning and experiencing emotions. From a materialist's perspective, this achievement represents eternal life.
The following articles show the idea of virtual immortality that Singularity seems to offer:
Virtual Immortality -How To Live Forever
"The goal is to combine artificial intelligence with the latest advanced graphics and video game-type technology to enable us to create historical archives of people beyond what can be achieved using traditional technologies such as text, audio, and video footage," says Jason Leigh of the University of Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory. The researchers plan on taking the appearance, mannerisms, voice, and even the knowledge of a real person and synthesizing the data into a "virtual person" or avatar. The goal is to create an avatar that will be able to respond to questions and convincingly represent its human counterpart." (In transhuman terms an avatar is an "object" representing the embodiment of the user.) http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/06/virtual_immorta.html
The scientists are now wondering if the creation of artificial intelligence in a computer is a form of life. They believe because this form of intelligence can think; therefore, it is a new form of life similar to biological life. These scientists are actually grappling with the concept that they are creating a new form of life. Because artificial intelligence can be programmed for emotions, they believe a new species of life is being formed. Many of the scientists involved with Singularity are obsessed with their achievements and the direction of science.
The following article captures how scientists believe they are creating a new form of life:
"What is Life?" Evolution of Robots is Causing Scientists to Question 07/01/08
"There is ongoing debate about what constitutes life ... "We're all machines," says Rodney Brooks author of "Flesh and Machines," and former director of M.I.T.'s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, "Robots are made of different sorts of components than we are. We are made of biomaterials; they are silicon and steel, but in principle, even human emotions are mechanistic." A robot's level of a feeling like sadness could be set as a number in computer code ... Why should a robot's numbers be any less authentic than a human's? One of Brooks of his longtime goals has been to create a robot so "alive" that you feel bad about switching it off. Brooks pioneered the movement that teaching robots how to "learn" was more sensible that trying to program them to automatically do complex things, such as walk. Brooks work has evolved around artificial intelligence systems that learn to do things in a "natural" process like a human baby does. This approach has come to be known as embodied intelligence." http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/07/what-is-life-ev.html
The Image of the Beast
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
This tremendous explosion in knowledge is leading to a direct confrontation with the Creator, the holy God of Israel. God created man is His likeness or image, hence a representative figure. The Bible makes it clear that God does not have a flesh and blood body, but the way man was created makes him in the likeness of God. Singularity alters man's likeness to God, and thus man is no longer in the image of God.
Tampering with man's integrity is very serious business with God. It appears from Bible prophecy that man will reach Singularity just prior to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This is found in Revelation 13, one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. This chapter reveals two infamous men referred to as Beasts. They are called beasts because of their inner character and the havoc they bring to mankind. The first Beast is commonly known as the Anti-Christ (See 1John 2:18) while the second is commonly known as the False Prophet (See Revelation 19:20.) These two appear on the world stage as both political and military leaders. The entire world is going to follow after them, and all the world is going to come under their control.
During the time of their rule, the False Prophet directs the entire world to create The Image of the Beast, or as he is now known as the Anti-Christ. Notice the entire world is involved in this project. This Image is a creation of man, and it is the False Prophet who directs this project and gives life to The Image. This verse follows:
Revelation 13:14 "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast (Anti-Christ); saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast ... (15) And he (False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak ..."
The Greek word translated image means: a likeness, and literally a statue, or figuratively a representation, resemblance. This is identical to the Hebrew word used for man being created in God's image. The past commentators of the Bible had no idea what was "The Image of the Beast." Many just thought it was a statue that miraculously came to life. It was impossible for anyone, other than during the time we live, to understand that The Image of the Beast is a prototype of Singularity. Man is now a creator of "life."
From Revelation 13, it appears that the False Prophet is involved with science and directs a world involvement to create The Image. He is evidently an evolutionist who is aware of Singularity and uses the resources of all the scientists and research centers to bring it to pass. In the near future, there will be a breakthrough in knowledge which enables the creation the first transhuman. The False Prophet is able to harness all the resources needed to successfully produce the first prototype! Man has reached Singularity.
When the prototype is completed, the False Prophet is the one who brings The Image to life. This is why I think he has a tremendous scientific background. Creating The Image is his idea from start to finish. He is aware of Singularity, and he knows how to direct the merging of man and machine. The Image is manmade, but it has life and the technology to speak. The Bible states that The Image will be alive. This creates interesting speculation on what exactly is The Image. Because it is alive, I believe it will be part human and thus a cyborg. The human part could be the brain. Currently, scientists have used nerve cells from rat fetuses to create a computer type brain that can think. The nerve cells are coupled to electrodes and these primitive brains can move mechanical arms. It is very possible that The Image's brain could come from the nerve cells of aborted babies merged with a computer. Then the thoughts and emotions of the Anti-Christ could be down loaded into this brain: thus, you have The Image of the Beast. It will be an exact likeness of the Anti-Christ in its thinking.
I doubt that The Image will have a body like a human although it is possible. I do not think it will resemble Data of Star Trek. The Image will most likely look crude as it is the prototype. It is the thinking process that will be at the heart of The Image. The technology to complete this has not been reached, but in the near future there will be astonishing breakthroughs to allow it. Man is heading in this direction. I am just speculating on how
The Image will be built. There could be another way, but a cyborg that is part human seems logical. In time, the exact path will be known, so now one can just speculate. It will be very interesting to watch man moving toward Singularity. One thing is for sure, that man is on a course to create the being described in Revelation 13:14 and the technology to complete it is coming on line. The Bible reveals that God does not recognize The Image as a human being. Whatever is created by man, and although it has some form of life, it is not recognized by God as human. This can be seen at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Bible describes the return Jesus Christ in Revelation 19. When Jesus Christ returns it will be during the battle of Armageddon. The Lord Jesus is going to annihilate the Beast (Anti-Christ) and the False Prophet and cast them both alive into hell. The Bible mentions that they created The Image, but it is not cast into hell. There is no more mention of it. The Image just disappears from the Bible. The verse to show this follows:
Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
From the direction that science is now taking and what Bible prophecy states is going to happen, there are several conclusions that one can make. There are going to be incredible breakthroughs in science that are going to astound the world. In the near future, everyone is going to know about Singularity. The belief in evolution is going to gain more and more control over people's thinking. The God of the Bible is going to be rejected as Creator by vast numbers or people. In the mind of these people, there is no longer any need for God.
The Warning
When man creates The Image, it is not just for a scientific accomplishment. There is a sinister evil motive behind it. The goal is to show that man is the now the creator. There is a new leap in evolution. Man can achieve eternal life on this own. God is out of the picture, and man is now the creator. Man can have eternal life without the Creator! This attempt for eternal life is pitiful: a cyborg!
The False Prophet takes the creation of The Image into the spiritual realm. He demands that everyone on earth worship The Image and the Anti-Christ. This is man worshipping himself. It is a way to determining who is not a believer in the Anti-Christ and evolution. Those who do not participate in worshipping The Image will be killed:
Revelation 13:15 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
The Bible issues stern warnings about worshipping The Image; it is strictly forbidden. All that submit and worship the Anti-Christ and his Image are eternally separated from the true Creator. Modern science, which is based on evolution, will merge into a religion that worships a man and his creation. It is pure idolatry at its core. They worship a man and his cyborg as if they were God.
The Bible warns that those who worship The Image will suffer judgment on earth. A grievous sore will break out upon them and they will greatly suffer.
Revelation 16:2 "... there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."
Upon death, those that worshipped The Image will suffer eternal torment. They will be separated from their true Creator forever. What a terrible insult to the real Creator, to have His creation reject Him and worship a cyborg. God's warning is absolutely clear to those who reject Him and worship a man and his cyborg:
Revelation 14:9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image ... (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image ... "
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,"
This entire false religious-scientific system will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. All the efforts currently being put into Singularity will be destroyed. The tampering with the integrity of God created humanity will come to an end. The false belief in evolution will come to a very abrupt end. The rebellion against the true Creator will cease.
Man's attempt for eternal life through a cyborg or android is pitiful and pathetic. God freely offers eternal life with Him. This offer comes through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Man was created in God's image but sinned and this separated him from His Creator and brought death. Through the death of Jesus Christ and His shed blood for sin, God reversed what man had brought on himself. By faith in Jesus Christ, God will provide a new body that is not fashioned like a cyborg but it is like the resurrected body of Jesus Christ. God promises you and offers to all believers the assurance of eternal life with Him.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
The future for those that are trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord is eternity with the Creator in a body that never grows old and is not subject to disease or death:
1 Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
Modern man denies sin and that man has a sin nature. If God did not eventually intervene and stop man at the creation of The Image, man would destroy himself like the Krell of The Forbidden Planet. In the movie, the Krell died from "Monster from the id; however, man would destroy himself from the monster of his sin nature. Man has a bent toward sin and evil and only through being born again spiritually through faith in Jesus Christ can this evil sinful nature be broken.
Mankind is racing toward Singularity and the confrontation with the true Creator. Now is time to trust God and turn to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. In the near future, you are going to be forced or coerced to worship The Image under the threat of death. Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation.
Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
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ROYAL HEIR
Feel free to email me at: creyner@yahoo.com
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