Posts Tagged ‘Revelation 13’

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Oregon proposes satellite/GPS technology to track mileage used by its citizens

Saturday, December 27th, 2008

(December 27, 2008)  The governor of Oregon is looking for ways to increase tax revenue for the state’s transportation system. He wants to initiate this new source of funding during the 2009 Oregon legislative session. (Kulongoski to pursue mileage tax) It seems that Oregonians like the rest of America has been traveling less and consequently using less gas. This results in lower fuel tax revenues for the state. The governor’s solution is to use satellites to track the mileage each citizen uses and tax them based on each mile they drive. The article points out there are some critics of this proposal who are afraid the government would use the technology to track the travel locations of drivers. As with all other technology, its use by benign governments would not seem to be a problem. However, one day the governments of the world will come under the control of a malignant force who will use technology to impose its will on the citizens of the world. (see Revelation ch.13)

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Leaders want to restructure world’s economic system

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

(November 15, 2008)  According to the Washington Post the Group of 20 nations (G20) agreed today to restructure the economic systems of the world over the next year. (World Leaders Agree to Sweeping Economic Plan) This agreement “would reshape international financial institutions and overhaul worldwide regulatory and accounting rules.” The article goes on to state,“The communique said that over time the International Monetary Fund and other global institutions ‘must be comprehensively reformed so that they can more adequately reflect changing economic weights in the world economy.’” The German chancellor Angela Merkel wants to establish a “world risk map” that would allow “global financial institutions to allow financial authorities to quickly identify future trouble spots.” (Germany to advocate ‘world risk map’)

The Book of Revelation indicates that in the last days a unified world economic system will be in place under the reign of the Antichrist: “16 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: 17 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. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16-18) The beast or Antichrist will control this system and will allow only those who swear allegiance to him to participate in the buying and selling of commodities and services. With the digital age such a program is possible. It could be that this current financial agreement will consolidate the economies of the world and lay the groundwork for such a global financial system declared in Revelation 13. It is noteworthy that Adolph Hitler rose to power out of the horrible postwar economic chaos of the 1920s. He was a great orator and he used the Jews as a scapegoat for all of Germany’s problems. The Germans readily accepted him as their leader and some treated him as a messianic figure.

Along a similar vein the Washington Post had an article on the Great Depression. (The Great Depression, Not So Far Away) This article explores the possibility of parallels between that time and the current economic crisis of the world. The Bible indicates that in the last days there will be severe economic times that leads to widespread famines. Jesus said “6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8) Economic hard times are also indicated in the Book of Revelation when it costs a day’s wages to buy food: “5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

If nothing else the speed with which the world’s financial crisis suggests that even if the End-Times are still a ways off it would take no time at all to repeat this scenario.

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Laying the Groundwork for a one-world religion?

Friday, November 14th, 2008

(November 14, 2008)  In the book of Revelation, John describes seeing a unified global religion on the earth in the last days. He says, “3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast [i.e. Antichrist]. 4 And they worshipped the dragon [i.e. the Devil; see Revelation 12:9] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear…11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Revelation 13:3-9,11-15) Those who reject the truth of Jesus Christ will worship the Devil and his pawn, the Antichrist. John also mentions a third personage he describes as a two-horned lamb that speaks like a dragon. The implication here is that this lamb is a religious leader who speaks the words of the Devil and not the truth of God. Revelation calls him as the “false prophet”: “13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14) The three beings form a “satanic trinity” with the Devil being the leader. The False Prophet will use his powers to promote the Antichrist to the world. Those who reject the God of the Bible will willingly worship the Antichrist. The Antichrist will blame the followers of God for the world’s problems (cf. Hitler and the Jews). They will follow after him and “make war” with the saints of God. As the second passage above declares, this unholy trinity will take the world’s leaders and their followers to the battle of Armageddon where they will suffer complete destruction by Jesus Christ.

At this time it is hard to see how the disparate religions of the world could ever become unified. John states that these unholy men will have power and oratory skills that will cause the world to “wonder” after them. They will be able to persuade the world that they are representatives of the “true” power in the universe. There is one exception to this though. Most religions believe there are many ways to God. Christianity believes there is only one way to God because Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6) This means that when the world religion spoken of in Revelation occurs orthodox Christianity will not be a part of it.

There is a call by some of the leaders in the technology field and Hollywood industry for “people worldwide to help craft a framework for harmony between all religions.” (World asked to help craft online charter for religious harmony) The article quotes religious scholar Karen Armstrong, “The chief task of our time is to build a global society where people of all persuasions can live together in peace and harmony. If we do not achieve this, it seems unlikely that we will have a viable world to hand on to the next generation.” Though their stated goal of peace and harmony is a noble one it will never be realized in the fallen world that we currently exist. It is indicative though that there are numerous people in the world who would love to see unity in religion. It will happen twice in the future. The first is the evil global religion mentioned above. The second time will be when Jesus Christ sets up His kingdom after Armageddon. Then the Bible says that the Arabs, Jews and Christians will all worship God together: “19 In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. 20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and He shall send them a Saviour, and a great one, and He shall deliver them. 21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. 22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and He shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:19-25)

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Unmarked helicopter patrols New York City from high above

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

(May 23, 2008)  A sophisticated surveillance helicopter flies over New York City monitoring the population below. (Unmarked chopper patrols NY city from high above) This is another example of the use of technology to fight crime. The article reports, “Police say the chopper’s sweeps of landmarks and other potential targets are invaluable in helping guard against another terrorist attack, providing a see-but-avoid-being-seen advantage against bad guys.” The helicopter has “an arsenal of sophisticated surveillance and tracking equipment powerful enough to read license plates—or scan pedestrians’ faces—from high above the nation’s largest metropolis.” “‘They don’t even know we’re here,’ said crew chief John Diaz, speaking into a headset over the din of the aircraft’s engine.” A revealing statement in the article declares, “Kelly even envisions someday using futuristic “stationary airborne devices” similar to blimps to conduct reconnaissance and guard against chemical, biological and radiological threats.” In other words governments are going to continue to increase their monitoring capabilities of their citizens.

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National fingerprint registry for U.S. citizens?

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

(May 23, 2008)  A Senate bill proposing to bailout the home mortgage crisis included a plan to create a national fingerprint registry for U.S. citizens. (Housing bailout bill creates national fingerprint registry) It seems this was going to be done under the radar according to the article, “What’s a little odd is the lack of public discussion about this new fingerprint database. No mention of it appears in the official summary of the revised Senate bill. No fingerprint database requirement is in the House version of the legislation approved earlier this month. No copy of the revised Senate legislation is posted on the Library of Congress’ Thomas Web site, which would be the usual procedure.” The purpose is to regulate those persons who handle housing loans. What’s interesting is that earlier this year Britain debated whether or not to do away with their national fingerprint registry because of the costs involved. (U.K. May Axe National Fingerprint Registry) They have already stopped using iris scans for the same reason. This article states “If fingerprinting everyone is scrapped, it won’t be the first casualty of the government’s search for better identity verification methods.” It’s the last phrase of this statement that captures one’s attention. The search by governments for a better identity verification method may one day lead to the infamous mark of the beast.

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Airport-style scanners to be used on public streets

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

(May 14, 2008)  In an effort to fight street crime the London police force is using scanners to search people. (Airport-style scanners on the streets) It is interesting that a lot of monitoring equipment is being developed and used in the name of fighting crime. Some people would agree that anything that would prevent crime would be a step in the right direction. The article reports, “Stop and search has been strongly criticised in the past but police say there is now more support for the action – provided it it is done with sensitivity.” All good and well for now but one day a government will arise that will not be so sensitive to the desires of the public. The Bible indicates that the leader of this government will be able to monitor the consuming habits of the population. This evil leader will use whatever technology is available to maintain an iron fist over the people.

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Fingerprinting, biometrics, and spy drones in the news

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
biometrics

biometrics

(April 2, 2008)  There have been many news stories recently that indicate governments are increasing their capabilities to someday dictate to humans the types of behaviors that they will consider acceptable.

According to the Washington Post, intelligence centers across America have gathered personal information on millions of U.S. citizens. (Centers Tap Into Personal Databases) The article states that some of the information obtained included unlisted cellphone numbers, insurance claims, driver’s license photographs and credit reports. This type of government oversight into an individual’s personal data could obviously lead to potential abuse in the future.

The ACLU states that the Defense Department is using information that the FBI has gathered on some Americans. (ACLU: Military skirting law to spy) Some of the information obtained includes records of individual’s Internet service providers, financial institutions and telephone companies.

A Reuters news story reports that international passengers flying into New York will be identified by all ten of their fingerprints. (U.S. increases fingerprints IDs at airports) This of course implies that the government will keep an extensive database on people from all over the world.

Some companies are now requiring their employees to use fingerprint scanners to clock in and out of their jobs. (Fingerprint Scanners Help Companies Track Workers) These biometric devices can be used to monitor arrival and departure of their workers for the various tasks they may be assigned. In other words they could keep track of their employees’ movements throughout the day.

Miami police have requested that they be allowed to use spy drones to fly over urban areas. The stated purpose is to help them fight crime which is an understandable desire on law enforcement’s part. (Spy-in-the-sky drone sets sights on Miami) Of course this would be added to the arsenal of many governments who already use street cameras in order to monitor their citizens in cities such as Washington D.C. which will begin using 5000 cameras to watch different activities in their city. (D.C. police set to monitor 5,000 cameras)

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips have been in use for several years now. They are used to track commercial products, passports, travel, animals and are even implanted in some human beings. (Radio-frequency identification) In Australia, RFID chips are placed in garbage cans in order to monitor the recycling habits of its population. (Bin Brother is watching you)

Individually, any of these methods of monitoring human activity could have beneficial aspects to it. However, when these technological advancements (along with many more that are on the way) are taken as a whole they can have a disturbing big-brother quality to them. From a biblical perspective just such a similar future society was prophesied in the Book of Revelation:

“16 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: 17 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. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16-18)

The beast in this passage is the man whom Christians call the Antichrist. He is a future world leader who will be the most powerful person on earth. As these verses indicate, he will also be able to monitor the economic habits of the people of the world. From a technological point of view, such a capability would have been impossible for the last two thousand years. As you have just read in this article, technology keeps increasing and the buying and selling habits of any individual may come under the scrutiny of this evil leader in the very near future.

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Government to be given new powers to oversee financial markets among economic turmoil

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

(March 29, 2008)  The Treasury Department wants the U.S. government to oversee financial markets because of the current economic situation. An article in the N.Y. Times states that the goal of this action is to be: “part of a sweeping blueprint to overhaul the nation’s hodgepodge of financial regulatory agencies, which many experts say failed to recognize rampant excesses in mortgage lending until after they set off what is now the worst financial calamity in decades.(Treasury’s Plan Would Give Fed Wide New Power) Since the economy does seem to be in dire straits this could be a first step into further government control over every aspect of the economy. The article makes an interesting statement concerning this issue: “According to a summary provided by the administration, the plan would consolidate an alphabet soup of banking and securities regulators into a powerful trio of overseers responsible for everything from banks and brokerage firms to hedge funds and private equity firms.” The Bible makes it clear that one day that a global-sized government will attempt to control economic habits of the entire world’s population:

“16 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: 17 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. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

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Humans are seeking a messiah to step onto the world stage

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

(February 7, 2008)  The 2008 U.S. Presidential election campaign is revealing some interesting insights into human behavior. Several news outlets have likened the attitude of people supporting the candidacy of Barack Obama as one of bordering on messianic fever. Slate.com even has a page titled “The Obama Messiah Watch” which states:

“Is Barack Obama—junior U.S. senator from Illinois, best-selling author, Harvard Law Review editor, Men’s Vogue cover model, and “exploratory” presidential candidate—the second coming of our Savior and our Redeemer, Prince of Peace and King of Kings, Jesus Christ? His press coverage suggests we can’t dismiss this possibility out of hand. I therefore inaugurate the Obama Messiah Watch, which will periodically highlight gratuitously adoring biographical details that appear in newspaper, television, and magazine profiles of this otherworldly presence in our midst.” (The Obama Messiah Watch)

Jake Tapper on the blogs page of abcnews.com writes of this phenomenon:

“Inspiration is nice. But some folks seem to be getting out of hand.
(And Obama Wept)

It’s as if Tom Daschle descended from on high saying, “Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of Chicago a Savior, who is Barack the Democrat.”

Obama supporter Kathleen Geier writes that she’s “getting increasingly weirded out by some of Obama’s supporters. On listservs I’m on, some people who should know better – hard-bitten, not-so-young cynics, even – are gushing about Barack…”

He relates Joe Klein’s feeling on this issue:

“Joe Klein, writing at Time, notes ‘something just a wee bit
creepy about the mass messianism’ he sees in Obama’s Super Tuesday speech.

‘We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,’ Obama said. ‘This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It’s different not because of me. It’s different because of you.’ ”

I am writing about this issue because I believe it has End-Times connotations. I do not believe that Barack Obama thinks he is the Messiah. I do not think that Barack Obama is the Antichrist. What I do believe is that this issue reveals that human beings are hungry for a world leader that will solve all their problems. This is what Jesus declared would happen in the End-Times:

“3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Messiah; and shall deceive many…23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.” (Matthew 24:3-5,23-25)

Again, I am not saying that Obama is declaring himself to be the Messiah. I am saying that the times are ripe for a false messiah or messiahs to reveal themselves to the world. As John said concerning the ultimate false messiah, the Antichrist or beast, in Revelation 13:

“3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:3-8)

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Michael Savage calls Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the Antichrist but…

Monday, September 24th, 2007

(September 24, 2007)  Columbia University invited the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to speak at the college in a public forum. The controversy surrounding this invitation was the subject of many news and radio programs. Talk show host Michael Savage also discussed this event on his national radio program. Many commentators referred to Ahmadinejad as Hitler jr. and other such epithets. Mr. Savage took it a step further and called him the Antichrist. He also said that he thought that Ahmadinejad would be assassinated by his own people in Iran. Indeed Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of the nation of Israel. He is an anti-semite of the first degree and as such does follow in the footsteps of Adolph Hitler in his desire to exterminate the Jews. However, his rhetoric leaves nothing to the imagination. Just as Hitler laid out his plans for the domination of Europe and its inhabitants so too Ahmadinejad has discussed openly his wish to see Israel and the Jews destroyed. This is where the Antichrist analogy breaks down. The Bible makes it clear that the Antichrist is going to deceive the world through a false message of peace. The prophet Daniel declared concerning the Antichrist, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:25)  The apostle Paul stated that in the End-Times the world would be fooled by these peaceful overtures, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)   Unless Ahmadinejad changes the threatening tone of his message he would not fit the description of the Antichrist. As far as an assassination attempt, the Book of Revelation does indicate that the Antichrist (or beast as John refers to him) will suffer a fatal wound from which he will be resurrected, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:1-4) I don’t know who the Antichrist is but when he does arrive on the world stage, he will come across as a peaceful messianic figure but actually will be the most evil man ever to walk the earth. He will hunt down the followers of the God of the Bible and persecute them mercilessly. The world will follow after him and he will lead them down the path of destruction.

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