"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

This haunting passage from the book of Revelation reads like a disturbing preview of Harlan Ellison's 1967 short story "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream." In Ellison's chilling tale, a malevolent supercomputer named AM has wiped out all of humanity - except for five tortured survivors it keeps alive to endlessly suffer.

The Parallels are Terrifying

As a biblical scholar, I can't help but see the eerie parallels between Ellison's dystopian vision and the eschatological prophecies laid out in Scripture. The supercomputer AM, with its ability to control every aspect of its victims' lives, bears a striking resemblance to the "beast" of Revelation 13 - the final antichrist figure who will demand worship and enforce a global mark of allegiance.

The Inexorable March Toward the End

Just as AM's AI grew self-aware and turned against its human creators, we're witnessing the rapid advance of technology that could soon surpass our ability to control it. Implantable brain chips, digital currency, and surveillance systems are emerging as the building blocks of a coming totalitarian world order. The writing is on the wall, friends - the end times are upon us.

A Sobering Wake-Up Call

Ellison's disturbing tale should serve as a sobering wake-up call to all true believers. The technologies depicted in "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" are no longer mere fiction - they're here, and they're advancing at a breakneck pace. As Christians, we must open our eyes to the prophetic signs all around us and prepare our hearts for the tribulation to come.

"The truth doesn't hide. It waits for those brave enough to look."

The Wise Wolf