March 18, 2014

A question came to me recently that I feel needs to be answered ... not just to the questioner, but to all of you. ... Here it is .... "Why do you talk so much about the economy, and how does it play into the prophecies of the last days?" ..... Allow me to explain. .....

There is no question the world is careening out of control, and the world's economy is playing a HUGE role in this fact. ... Consider the U.S. economy for example. ... Signs abound that America is headed for a financial collapse of historic proportions. ... The dollar is under attack on almost all fronts and is rapidly declining in value ... The national debt is fast approaching $18 Trillion and is now over 100% of GDP ... The U.S.'s biggest creditors are threatening to call in its loans ... The Federal Reserve is printing tons of 'monopoly money' out of thin air because America can't find enough lenders to feed its voracious greed ... Russia, China, India, France , Germany and Brazil all want a new reserve currency which, if this were to happen, would financially destroy America as we know it ....    

Now what about the rest of the world? ... Country after country is seeing massive civil disobedience and chaos in their streets because their economies are in shambles .... Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, most all of the southern EU nations such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal  .... Even China is showing an alarming slowdown in their recently robust economy ..... the list goes on. .... The bottom line here is this ... the world's governments are collectively over $100 Trillion in debt. ... Why? ... Since the recession of 2008, they have all been borrowing money at a frantic pace so as to try and 'buy' their way out of deep financial trouble. .... Sadly, the lender is soon to be knocking on the door .....

OK ... So now Red, why does this matter and how does it translate to the prophetic word? .... Glad you asked! ... Let's now go to Scripture and look at Revelation Chapter 6, verses 1 & 2. ... Here we see a rider upon a white horse, which happens to be the first of the "Four horsemen of the Apocalypse" ..... Verse 2 says, "I looked, and there before me was a white horse!  Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conquerer bent on conquest." ... Sadly, some have confused this rider as being Christ because of the white horse. ... While it is true that Christ does appear on a white horse upon his triumphant return, that will take place in Chapter 19 of Revelation. ... This particular rider in chapter 6 is none other than the soon-coming world ruler, the anti-christ. ... Now notice that he comes with a bow and a crown. ... The crown of course depicts him to be a ruler or king of some sort .... and while this ruler is said to be carrying a bow, there is no mention of any arrows! ... He has the 'gun' but no bullets! .... So what does this mean? ... Simply that he will come to power, but that it will be accomplished by non-military means. ... He doesn't need the arrows because he will 'take control' by other means.

Now a bit of history .... Let's go back to pre-World War 2 Germany for just a moment. ... We know that their economy was in shambles in the 1930's. ... In fact this brief story tells of how bad it really was .... "A mother and father desperately needed bread for their starving family. ... They loaded all their money into a wheel barrow and went off to the local bakery to buy a loaf. ... When they arrived, they briefly went in to talk to the proprietor and upon returning, someone had stolen the wheel barrow but left the money." ... The story goes on to say that the only thing that would have bought that loaf of bread was the wheel barrow. ... A truckload of German currency wouldn't have been enough. ... It was totally worthless! ..... 

So what happened in this period of history, and why am I putting you through this? .... A deranged little man named Adolph Hitler rose to power during this time of national desperation, and how did he do it? ... Simply by promising the masses prosperity, security and happiness. ... The only thing they had to do was follow him. ... We all know the rest of Hitler's story .... world war, mass murder, atrocities beyond our imaginations .....

Back to today .... The world's economy is collapsing and no one person seems to have the answers as to how to 'fix' it ... and America is literally collapsing as the world's only super-power and watch-dog because of moral depravity and economic stupidity, leaving no stabilizing presence against the advancing pagan forces of this dark world. ...  

So what's next? ... Once again, we shall go to Bible prophecy to answer this question. ... In Daniel chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a giant statue, and then in chapter 7, Daniel had a dream of four beasts ... both translate to show the progression of the world's dominating empires up until the time of Christ's return. ... And in each dream, the final kingdom would be the revived Roman Empire. ... Where could that be today? ... You got it! .. The rising European Union! ... We must remember that the original Roman Empire encompassed most of what is known as Europe today. ... Now, soon we will see a rising 'star' ... a fierce young leader that will be extremely charismatic, and will have all the answers to a world falling faster and faster into chaos ... a leader that will promise all the starving .. the persecuted .. the deprived people a renewed and prosperous future .. one in which they will be safe and secure ..... just like they were in the 1930's with Adolph Hitler!

So who will this soon-coming leader be? .... We don't know his name yet, but we do know he will come out of this region of the world, and with all the other prophecies lining up by the moment, it won't be long. .... I truly believe this coming leader, the eventual anti-christ, is alive today! ... The prophet Daniel, in his chapter 8, tells us that he will be "a completely wicked, stern-faced king, a master of intrigue." ...  He goes on to say that he will succeed in whatever he does and will destroy the holy people. ... He also will cause deceit to prosper and will consider himself superior in all ways. .... So how can he accomplish all this? ... The prophecy goes on to say that it will be done NOT by his own power. ... So by whose power? .. None other than the 'king of darkness' ... satan himself!

Finally, go back to Revelation 6 for a moment and remember that this coming world ruler will not take control of the world's government by making war, but by other means .... and what is the obvious 'means' showing its ugly head right now? ... A total collapse of the world's economy! ... People will be desperate for anything, or anyone to step forward to help them. ... This coming rising personality out of the reviving European Union will seem to have all the  answers and the people will flock to him for what seems to be their only hope for survival! ....

And this is why I do focus on the economy as one of the major players of today's prophetic landscape. ... There's no question we are seeing the signs that our world is in a desperate state .... large-scale natural disasters are increasing .. floods .. drought .. earthquakes .. wildfires .. tornadoes .. volcanoes .. records falling by the moment all over the world! ... And at the same time, our world is filled with increasing civil unrest and upheaval, with governmental corruption and incompetence out of control. ..... On the surface, to the average non-follower of Jesus Christ, it would seem they do need someone to 'rise out of the ashes' to save us! ..... Well, he's coming, and soon! ... The anti-christ is now rising up through the ranks in some country in Europe right now! .... We shall watch closely!

I could go on for hours & hours about this stuff, and I guess I do. ... Thanks so much for 'putting up with me' .... and I do truly hope you can learn from the prophecies of our Holy Scriptures. ... Know that I am praying for each of you, and more so as we draw ever nearer to our gracious Lord's return. ...... so ......

Until next time,

Red