Jesus warned that in the last days there would be “birth pains” that signal the coming of the end. Wars and rumors of wars, lawlessness, pestilence, and systems of control are not random but are signs that prophecy is unfolding before our eyes. Christians are told to stay awake, watch and discern the times. One of the clearest warnings is about a future system of global control that will strip people of their freedom and demand their compliance.
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In the United Kingdom, we are seeing the foundation for such a system being laid.
According to the Financial Times, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is “reportedly set to unveil plans for digital ID cards for Brits within days as part of his strategy to tackle illegal immigration.” The report notes the official rollout could be announced at the Labour Party conference beginning September 28.
This plan is not about immigration. It is about power. It would require every British national and lawful resident to obtain a digital ID stored on their phone and tied to their ability to work, rent a home and access essential services. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood revealed her position clearly: “My long-term personal political view has always been in favor of ID cards.” She boasted that such a system could “help with illegal working enforcement” and “deal with the pull factors that are making the UK a destination of choice.”
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Starmer himself defended the idea by saying, “We all carry a lot more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago.” That kind of reasoning attempts to normalize a dangerous precedent. A poll cited by More in Common found “over half of Brits supported a digital identification system, with 53% in favor. A fifth were against it.”
Public opinion is being steered to accept a policy that will be used to tighten control over people’s daily lives.
This is not a minor administrative change. It is the latest in a long line of moves toward the prophetic reality described in Revelation. The digital ID is nothing less than a tool for oppression. Here are just some of the dangers believers must recognize:
The Prophetic Dangers of Digital IDs
- Conditioning Toward the Mark of the Beast
Revelation 13:16-17 warns of a time when no one will be able to “buy or sell” without the mark. Digital IDs tie basic rights like employment and housing to state approval, preparing society to accept exactly the kind of control Scripture warns us about. - Total Surveillance and State Control
By centralizing information about where you live, how you work, and what services you access, the government gains unprecedented control. Revelation 13:7 speaks of authority being given to the Antichrist over “every tribe, people, language and nation.” Systems like this make such global control possible. - Global Integration and Loss of Sovereignty
A national digital ID can quickly expand into an international one. Revelation 17:13 describes kings giving their power to one ruler. Digital ID systems are a step toward that prophesied unity under a single oppressive authority. - Exclusion of the Non-Compliant
Those who refuse to comply will be shut out of society. Revelation 20:4 says those who refused the mark were killed for their faith. While today’s consequences may begin with denial of work or housing, the prophetic pattern shows this system will grow harsher with time. - False Security and Deception
The policy is sold as safety and order, but 1 Thessalonians 5:3 warns, “When they say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then sudden destruction comes upon them.” Digital IDs are not peace and safety. They are the infrastructure of oppression dressed up as progress.
This scheme should not cause Christians to shrink back in fear but to stand firm in discernment. Digital IDs are part of the growing web of control that mirrors the very systems Scripture warns about. We are not called to panic but to recognize these “birth pains” for what they are: signs pointing to the soon return of Christ.
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With eyes fixed on Jesus and hearts anchored in His Word, believers can live with confidence, courage and clarity in a world rushing toward the fulfillment of prophecy.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
