The COVID-19 pandemic is something that the modern world has never seen before. However, with the COVID-19 vaccine widely available, most people hope that things will go back to how we knew them before the pandemic.

With cases surging globally, some countries are trying to develop ways to view vaccination cards simply and reliably. Some residents have gotten a vaccine passport chip implanted under their skin in Sweden. Critics call this chip implant the mark of the beast described in the Bible, but Evangelist Franklin Graham has different thoughts. He says that the implant is harmless, but it could lead to more harmful technology.

The 69-year-old son of the late evangelist Billy Graham shared a statement on Facebook commenting on the recent news that some Swedes are having microchips the size of a grain of rice implanted under their skin, storing COVID-19 vaccine passport information and other personal data.

The microchip, created by tech firm, Dsruptive Subdermals, can store various data accessible through smartphones and other devices. Thousands of people in Sweden have had chips implanted into their hands. The chips are usually installed just above the thumb through a procedure that costs as low as about 100 euros (roughly $113).

Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelist Association, stated that the Bible says that there will be a one-world system in the end times. Revelation 13:16-17 describes the mark of the beast, saying that it also forced all people, rich and poor, to receive a mark on their right hands or foreheads so they couldn’t buy or sell unless they had the mark.

Graham shared that he isn’t opposed to vaccinations and believes that getting vaccinated is vital to help save lives. However, he believes that political leaders are using COVID-19 to exert more control since more leaders are utilizing the pandemic to lock down their countries. Still, Graham says that the thought of a vaccine chip implant may be frightening, but those who believe in Jesus Christ shouldn’t be afraid.

Outside of being compared to the mark of the beast, some believe that these vaccine chip implants could lead to security or privacy concerns. However, Hannes Sjoblad, managing director of Dsruptive Subdermals, says that chips allow people to communicate effortlessly with their devices. He maintains that people should see chips as a form of identification rather than a surveillance technology.

These are scary times that we’re enduring, but we must remember to cling to God and trust in Him. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live their lives for the foreseeable future. A vaccine microchip may not be the mark of the beast, but it’s a possible way to keep everyone safe.

Franklin Graham believes that we shouldn’t worry about the vaccine microchip, but it could open doors for other potentially harmful technology. He also believes that world leaders are using the pandemic to their advantage. While the pandemic is still ravaging countries, it’s essential to do your part to keep yourself and others around you safe.