I had a dream last night that the “beast” mentioned in the Book of Revelation is related to Big Tech and that the head that appeared to have received a mortal wound and then his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the beast was Facebook. I specifically saw M.Z.’s face.
When I woke up, I got to thinking about the parallels to Big Tech and the “heads” of John the Revelator’s “Beast.” And no, I’m not saying that my dream is a literal prophecy of any kind… just something to make me think. As a lifelong student of the Bible, I have learned that the Bible has multiple layers, applications and symbolic meanings that can be applied to many things.
So, let’s apply the beast metaphor to Big Tech for just a moment … just for fun … and insight.
The Beast has Seven Heads and Ten Horns.
A quick search reveals that “the seven most valuable U.S. technology companies — Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, Tesla and Nvidia — picked up a combined $3.4 trillion in market cap in 2020, powering through a global pandemic and broader economic crisis.” (CNBC “Techs Top Seven Companies Added 3.4 Trillion in Value in 2020, December 31, 2020)
“The Beast was like a Leopard (Germany), and his feet were as the feet of a bear (Russia), and his mouth as the mouth of a lion (Britain), and the dragon (China) gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Revelations 13:2)
“And I saw one of his heads as if it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (In my dream this was Facebook. But it could just be a symbol to me for a Big Tech company and a recognizable face.)
“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”
We’re all sitting around looking at our phones, bowing our heads to them. We won’t leave home without them. Could this be viewed as worship? And aren’t you starting to wonder like I am, “Who can stand up to these people? They control everything? If they want to shut you down, you’re gone. If they want to silence you, you’re silenced. If they want you fired, you’re fired.”
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” (Revelations 13:5-7)
There is a war being waged on the voices of conservatives. People are being silenced. God and religion are scoffed and ridiculed, and Biblical principles are deemed hate speech and politically incorrect. We can easily see how if their ability to censor and control continues, it could completely silence any voices that do not align with their agenda.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” (Revelation 13:11-12)
As we move to global governance, will some other tech conglomerate come into play? I keep seeing this image of everyone bowing their heads to their phones and their devices. Did this look like worshipping to John the Revelator?
“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.“
Tesla put all those satellites into space. They’re about communication, but what else can they do?
“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; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” (Revelation 13:13)
The entire world is constantly being deceived because of Big Tech and by Big Tech. John would have perceived what Big Tech can do as miracles! He’d seen nothing like it!
“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.” (Revelations 13:15)
The image of the beast … the pictures, the videos, the technology that SPEAKS. If we don’t worship it (use it / buy it / integrate it / go along with its messaging), how bad will it get?
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16-17)
Notice the right hand (we hold our phones in our right hands, and we’re aiming our foreheads at our devices. Our foreheads represent our minds and what we feed them and what we think about. Big Tech DOES control many people’s minds and what we look at / view.
I’m already seeing stores that won’t let you get cash back, then there is the coin shortage… we’re moving completely to digital currency. If we don’t use Big Tech, will we be able to buy or sell before long without it? Will sick people be able to buy their medications without it? Will people be able to buy food without it? What about gas? Or pay your mortgage?
Again, I’m not prophesying or even saying we shouldn’t use technology. But I am saying, we should be mindful of how we let it control us and our minds! How much time, energy and money are we giving to these things? Is it a form of “worship?” Definitely something to self-reflect on. And perhaps we need to start looking at more ways to be self-sustainable where we are not so reliant on them.