DID THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE
JUST DIE YESTERDAY?
THE IMPLICATIONS OF BREXIT
A Glimmer of Hope?
The people are being heard. Globalism is not inevitable. Nation states can still enjoy sovereignty. The prophetic scenarios of the past may not guide us into the future. We are closing in on Independence Day (only 10 days away). Maybe there is cause for celebrating a restoration of America and its constitution.
Might this be the case? Is there a glimmer of hope? Is the deadline assigned for doomsday about to be rescinded? Can America be saved? Is Donald Trump the answer? Let’s hold onto our hats for a moment and think about what is happening and what has to happen before we can celebrate.
It’s exciting to contemplate that maybe the “power of the people” is winning over the elites. It’s enheartening to think that “the awakening” is underway and the populace will see that they have been hoodwinked in the past… that things don’t have to continue down the dismal path we’ve been pursuing for the past half-century.
Yesterday, Britains voted to exit the European Union. The vote was close, only 52% voted to exit. The British exit — the Brexit — certainly spells doom for the European Union. Or does it? Is this a temporary setback or a sea change signaling an inevitable outcome? Let’s take a closer look.
Friedman’s Assessment
This morning, geopolitical analyst George Friedman provided some wonderful analysis as he usually does. His only challenge is he lacks any prophetic context. I will seek to provide that, but allow me to let Mr. Friedman speak about what he sees as the causes for the British to say “No!” to the E.U. He suggests there are three major reasons for the Brits to say “stuff it” to the globalists (Forgive the colorful vulgarity, although most Americans might have to guess at its meaning). Writing in his “Reality Check” for June 24, 2016, Friedman spells out what is important to understand about the Brexit vote on June 23. Here is my summarization of his comments.
- The E.U. is dysfunctional as an economic entity. It has been ineffective in solving its financial issues since 2008. Unemployment in Europe’s south runs greater than 20%. The French have high unemployment too. Only the Germans enjoy a 4% unemployment rate (they are the export kings to Europe and to the rest of the world). While the globalists insisted that it would be a fiscal disaster for the Brits to leave the E.U., the claim was hollow. Europe couldn’t even help itself, let alone help the English. After all, England has ruled the roost fiscally for 200 years. Anglo-American bankers are the monetary rulers of the world, despite what other Europeans may believe or hope would be true. In effect, the British would not experience retaliation from the E.U. The Europeans lack the power to land a punch. The E.U. is a mess.
- The surge is toward sovereignty. During the last decade or two, Nationalism has been associated with Fascism. [But that link is not necessarily accurate. “National socialists” — the Nazis — were devilish autocrats seeking the New World Order. They just wanted Germany at the helm.] Friedman states that it isn’t just the E.U. which has failed. Other World War II organizations have outlived their usefulness. He cites NATO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). [Both organizations have been dominated by American and British leadership.] Only those that have drunk the Kool-Aid believe these organizations are necessary. The people see them as prime culprits in reducing national sovereignty. Why bother? Its time to retire them. What really pushed the issue over the edge? It takes little imagination–it was immigration forced upon the people by impassioned progressive leaders with no thoughts for the consequences and less than a modicum of common sense about the inability to assimilate Muslims into secular society (I would like to say Christian… but Europe is so post-Christian it would be deceptive to assert such).
- Standard political party affiliations and alliances are being rejected. Both Conservative and Labour parties pushed to remain in the E.U. Those in power didn’t want to rock the boat. Nevertheless, courageous individuals from both parties stood up to their leaders and disagreed. These “free thinkers” banded together and pushed back. They rejected the “status quo” and influenced the country’s voters yesterday to get clear of the E.U. A majority of the British concluded “The establishment is the enemy”. While financial markets panicked at the thought of a split-up of the E.U., the game has changed since the financial collapse of world markets in 2008. Opinions are different. No longer would politicians put their faith in the financial elite. Says Friedman, “It appears to this third group [those breaking away from the two traditional parties] that the financial industry’s recklessness and incompetence had created a disaster for many.” In other words, maybe there was a time when it was nice to think of these bankers holed up in England’s “City of London” as “homies” — sort of like supporting the home town team. But British bankers (like their American counterparts) had proven to the people that they were in it for themselves and not for the nation or its citizens. The people decided that the cries of the elite for Britain to remain in the E.U. and to support “Globalism” generally, was just moral camouflage cloaking their wretched self-interest and greed.
Friedman points out that the undercurrents are strong and may spell change is coming. It transcends the Brexit vote only yesterday.
This is not a British phenomenon by any means. It is something that is sweeping Europe and China. It is also present in the United States, in the figure of Donald Trump whose entire strategy is to attack both the Democratic and Republican leadership and the elite who have contempt for the nationalism and moral principles of those beneath them. It is a general process the West is undergoing, and it came to London yesterday.
However, the fight has barely begin. Most Americans sense that something is changing but they don’t quite understand it and they certainly don’t have laid out before them any sort of agenda — a task plan if you will — for what needs to be done next. Americans need an articulate voice to explain what is taking place. Does such a voice exist? I’m not sure who to point to in this regard. Most evangelical leaders are either part of the problem or they are so out of touch with political realities that they can’t spell out what we must do that constitutes much of a remedy.
I doubt that Alex Jones will be that voice (although I sometimes join in with his rants — growing increasingly strident I might add). And I’m not sure that there are any Christian intellectuals with enough huxpah to speak out and declare that globalism must be forsaken because it is a formula for totalitarianism and ultimately, handing over the reigns to Lucifer.
If there is to be victory over those who would be our masters, much remains to be done. The wealthy aren’t likely to buckle under too easily. Their agenda is hardcore and their response is predictable. What do I mean by this assertion? Something cataclysmic must happen to get the masses back in their pins. The people are revolting; rebellion is at hand. Something must be done to deal with those who have stepped out of line and are calling for real change in the way things are done in Washington. The politicians are at risk. The gravy train may get derailed. They can’t afford to allow this insurrection, however peaceable currently, to go too far.
So, what do we do? First, let’s hope for the best, but we best plan for the worst. We must take a step back and ask, “What does the Bible say is going to happen?”
The Prophetic Picture
The answer really isn’t a return to flag waving and calls for more patriotism. That is part of the story and we certainly would hope that Americans would come to their senses and rid themselves of political cronyism.
But a “Trumpist” Revolution isn’t going to make much headway without a moral alteration of course. Believing that American patriotism will overcome the determination of a world religion that has been in play for over 4,000 years is theologically ignorant and politically naive. Babylon lives and Babylon will continue to challenge the independence of the people and their ability to choose. The Spirit of Nimrod (aka Antichrist) thrives today as never before. He still wants people to make bricks and build a tower to heaven so “we can make a name for ourselves”. The goal is still to be like the gods. The elite strive for this. Napoleon did. So did Hitler. The Clinton’s do too. And they all still want us to make bricks so they can be elevated to commune with the gods.
Isn’t it interesting, in passing, how Europe selected the tower of Babel to design their headquarters building? Was this bit of hubris a foreshadowing of things to come? Or a curse that caused the E.U. to fail?
The Final Babylon
Three years ago, my coauthors and I released The Final Babylon: America and the Coming of Antichrist. In the book, we argued that it was time to rethink the conventional prophetic scenario of Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, and Grant Jeffrey. We began the book by saying, “Rome Has Not Revived”.
Our book was a careful argument to suggest that America was then and would continue to be, the dominant player pushing for the New World Order. 50 years ago, The Late Great Planet Earth put forth the view that the U.S. was about ready to fold the tent. America would grow weak and Europe would grow strong. But our assessment was that this view had proven false. Despite the momentum insisting the Antichrist would come from Europe, we said, “No, it’s much more likely he will be an American.” We really weren’t attempting to be prophetic. We had no “word of knowledge”. We were simply looking at what had been happening in the world and we said, “America looks like, smells like, and most importantly, acts like” Mystery Babylon. All the attributes pointed clearly in that direction. [See yesterday’s post about THE U.S. IS IN BIBLE PROPHECY to get a link to an extensive PPT presentation in PDF format that digs into the real story].
Since then, I have tempered my personal view a bit. I have attempted to be a bit more articulate and to distinguish the daughter of Babylon (the subject of 223 verses in the Old Testament) from Mystery, Babylon of Revelation. I see the daughter of Babylon as the evolution of the Canaanites, the Phoenicians, the Tyrians, and those calling Tarshish home. It is the great merchant of the world. It is not insignificant that in Ezekiel 28, the prophecy against the King of Tyre (conservative theologians uniformly associate him with Satan) scolds him for his presumption that his riches have made him immortal and impervious to destruction. From Ezekiel 38:
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
While capitalism could be seen as a corrupter, I don’t take that view. Profits and wages are not the enemy. But consumerism and unethical commerce certainly are. As I said, it is intriguing that “the anointed cherub that covereth” is chided for merchandise and trafficking goods. In our day, “Corporatism” is really just another word for “Babylon”. And the United States has that down pat.
To gain more perspective, I would recommend we take a look at the world not just geopolitically but prophetically. I will conclude this article with a recommendation that you take the time to read the first chapter of The Final Babylon. I’m providing it below for free. For the course we need to set is far more than caucusing politically and voting “The Donald” into office. He may help in some ways and hurt in others. The political solution is only part of what we need to do. The change demanded of us goes far deeper than merely changing the old guard in Washington.
Here’s a link to the book THE FINAL BABYLON. This weekend the Kindle version of the book is on sale for $4.59. I hope you read this and reflect on the fact that geopolitical realities are pushing us toward a great event that might not be a happy time for the United States.
While we can hope that politically we are moving away from Globalism and toward a much needed national sovereignty once more, by itself, this reversal will not bring about our salvation as a nation. We still must individually repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We must trust Him to take away our sin. And as a nation, we must realize that must has been done to harm and exploit others: our citizens, our allies, and our enemies.
To whet your appetite, here is a PDF of Chapter 1 of The Final Babylon, “The Contrarian Prophetic Scenario”. Link–> Ch1 The Final Babylon. Complete with color pictures no less!
Still doubt that America might be the daughter of Babylon? Here is the PowerPoint once again that I shared yesterday. Click Here. It is a 200 MB file stored on DropBox, so count on it downloading for awhile. But it provides the 12 most compelling reasons why the U.S. fills the bill to fulfill the prophecies regarding the daughter of Babylon.
American Exceptionalism is a label we can appropriately apply to ourselves in our best moments. But it fails to account for those times that we weren’t so exceptional — which have been many. As a nation, we must humble ourselves before God… admit that we have not always acted in accordance to His will… that we deserve His judgment, and yet, we plead for His mercy. He is a merciful God. His lovingkindness extends to all generations. But we must also remember, and this is vital, that His mercy will only be granted if we genuinely change course. That is, after all, what repentance means. It is much more than merely “saying I’m sorry”. It literally means doing “an about face” and heading in a completely different direction. It’s time to realize real change now — before it is too late.
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