Students of Bible Prophecy have long anticipated the rise of a powerful, authoritarian government that will dominate world affairs just before the return of Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation depicts a union of nations that will exert a totalitarian vice like grip on the entire world.
For Americans, and those who have lived in nations that protect individual civil liberties and rights, a world ruling government with absolute power over subjects is the stuff of ancient history, or fascist, socialist and communist regimes of the 20th and 21st centuries.
In a world that has been dominated by freedom and liberty loving America, it is hard to imagine a future time in which the entire world is ruled by a savage dictator. Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse-tung (Zedong) were collectively responsible for the deaths of over 100 million people in the 20th century, and their ideologies encouraged the death and suffering of millions more.
On the prophetic horizon, foretold in your Bible, is the specter of unimaginable horror and nightmare, led by men more brutal than any despot in history. You need to be aware that the foundation of sinister schemes and plans may well be in their formative stages today.
Even if you are familiar with Bible Prophecy, there may be several reasons it is difficult to understand what may be unfolding on the world scene, even now.
First, if you live in America, you may be subject to “cycle bias.” It may also be true in other nations that allow individual liberties and freedoms. What is “cycle bias?” You may well be used to periods in business or economy where there are “booms and busts.” For decades, the markets go up, then may fall precipitously, as in 1987,1999/2000, 2008 and 2020. For various reasons, the stock market suddenly dropped, investors lost 30-50% of their investments, but then the markets rose, each time recovering quickly to reach new highs. We are subject to cycle bias in politics as well; the pendulum swings conservative, then more liberal, back, and forth, and with the division of power between Judicial, Congressional and Executive branches in the United States, middle ground is sought. Cycle bias helps explain our inclination to believe that dire circumstances will be followed by a return to the status quo, and to reject the potential of vast, far reaching, cataclysmic change.
You may also have a very rational “NQ.” NQ is “normalcy quotient.” Everyone I know yearns for the world to “return to normal.” Normal means back to work, to school, no more shutdowns and lockdowns. As a rational, sensible person, you were probably willing to put up with inconvenience, with the hope of returning to normal.
For 16 months, the world has been held captive by a virus that is most dangerous to those 75 years and older, (who should be protected vigorously) and those with multiple co-morbid conditions, in combination with advancing age. For everyone else, the recovery rate without treatment is 99.8%. And it may be even higher – if all the deaths attributed to Covid 19 which were really caused by automobile accident, shooting, suicide, pneumonia, etc., were eliminated from the death tolls.
It is difficult for many people to accept that those in authority may have ulterior motives in directing the movements of virtually everyone on earth. Like a high Intelligence Quotient, its good to have a high NQ, but you might also consider that something may be going on that is far more dangerous to humanity than a virus.
One of the warnings of the “last days” from the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 3:1) is that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (Verse 13) How do evil men go from “bad to worse,” as some translations read? By practice! They find control in lying and deceiving, and they perfect their skill. And if there is no accountability, they are emboldened to take evil to the next level.
This is where you, your cycle bias and NQ need to take a serious pause and consider that much of what you have been told to do in the name of public health hasn’t been helpful and has been accompanied by a great deal of fraud and deception.
The deception, lying and evil spiritual influence has infiltrated every fiber of society, infecting our world and especially leaders of nations, who in turn have been responsible for a type of bondage unique in our history. The spiritual impact of Covid 19 will have far greater consequences than health related.
Is what we have experienced in 2020/2021 a prelude to the rise of the greatest totalitarian power in man’s history? Have the enforced mandates and lockdowns been a test case to see how submissive we will be to the dictates of governmental leaders?
A “new normal” is described in Revelation 18. This chapter foretells the destruction of the last great, yet incredibly evil economic, political, and religious system. It is framed under the title “Babylon.” Babylon was the site of the first city/state after the Flood. It represents the best man can do apart from God, influenced by the “god of this world,” Satan.
The end time Babylon is shown to be unbelievably wealthy (Revelation 18:7), having made the leaders of the earth – Kings and Merchants, fabulously wealthy and successful (Verses 9-16), but at the expense of the “bodies and souls” of men.
The destruction of this ungodly society, one that has enveloped the world just prior to Jesus’ return, will be tragically mourned by the elites of the world. (Verses 16-19) Totalitarian systems have a few winners, and almost always traffic in human slavery. China has shown that high profit can be achieved with virtual slave labor in many of their growing industries.
Revelation 18 declares the end of all unjust systems of man. “Babylon” or man searching for his own way apart from God’s inspiration is coming to an end. The devilish and demonic influence of Babylon will cease to be part of man’s culture, commerce, and everyday life. (Verses 21-23)
This vile and persuasive system must be destroyed at Christ’s coming (Revelation 19) as it, and it alone has been responsible for the death of all God’s servants, as well as all those “slain on the earth.” (v.24)
Is “Babylon” here today? Emphatically yes! It is the foundation upon which this world has been built. It has been the ideas, the agendas, and the sin of man that required the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Revelation 13:8).
The Good News is that the destruction of “Babylon” and all its false ideologies and “isms” will be defeated by Jesus Christ, as illustrated in Revelation 19, upon His return to earth.
“Babylon” will be replaced with the governance of Jesus Christ, ruling as the beneficent “King of Kings,” and the result will be spectacular! At the very outset of His reign for 1,000 years, on earth, notice the excitement and enthusiasm of all mankind to unlearn the falsehoods of the previous age, and their excitement to embrace the truth of God:
Isaiah 2 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of he Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
For now, carefully watch for the desire of men to rule over others. Evaluate, think critically, and above all, look to God for His guidance and inspiration for the difficult days ahead!
WN&PR
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