- '666' Bar Code Tax Number
To Be Given Every
Russian Citizen
-
- From "Russia Today"
By Mikhail Kotov - Staff Writer
http://www.gazeta.ru/english.shtml
3-14-00
- Bar Code of the Beast
"And
he causes 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, unless he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom; Let him that has
understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a
man; and his number is six hundred sixty six."
(Revelation 13:16-18)
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-
- The Ministry of Taxation has revealed plans to
introduce individual tax numbers for every citizen. The Synod of the
Russian Orthodox Church says the project is evil, for the bar code
used by tax officials contains the fiendish number, 666. The Synod has
proposed that a national electronic language be formed.
-
- The Russian Orthodox Church understands that the
system of tax collection must be improved, but gathering information
about individuals without their consent breeches article 24 of the
Russian Constitution. Although the clergy does not oppose the existing
passport, pension and conscription apparatus, they suspect that the
proposed tax collection system is harmful for the common people.
-
![]() Russia's
Holy Synod has declared that, "many Christians revere their names
given them at baptism as holy and consider it undignified to be given
new numerical "names" by the government."
-
- Some priests are saying that acquiring an Individual
Taxpayer Number (ITN) constitutes a sin, and unless believers repent,
they would be denied Holy Communion. Although the Synod disapproves of
such statements, its main concern is the symbols used in the new
registration system, which has already been introduced in some places.
The pilot social welfare cards feature three bar codes, each of which
includes the number 6. Clergymen believe the codes contain the number
of the Antichrist, 666, mentioned in the Apocalypse of St. John the
Evangelist (13: 16-18). Having consulted with experts, the prelates
have concluded that there is no great necessity to use these
particular bars. Their conclusion is that "the authors of the
global bar code system, widely used today in statistics, trade and
many other spheres, have consciously or unconsciously chosen a symbol
which is insulting and disturbing to Christians. At the very least, it
looks like an outrageous mockery."
-
- Orthodox prelates suggest that the government get
rid of the "blasphemous" symbol by "changing the
international system of the symbols involved. If this proves
impossible, we must create an alternative national electronic
language".
-
- As Russian citizens, another aspect worrying
clergymen is that, "Soon those who do not have a tax code or
plastic card could be completely deprived of social and even medical
aid. If this happens, there will be every reason to doubt the
existence of equality and freedom of conscience, so actively promoted
by modern civilization. Therefore we insist on having an alternative
system of personal registration for social, medical, insurance and
other aid".
-
- Tomorrow (Friday), Gazeta.Ru will find out whether
the Minister of Taxation Aleksandr Pochinok has been excommunicated
for his blasphemous deeds.
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