One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in the correct identification of the Antichrist.

Lately, it seems this subject has created a rift within the community of those who study bible prophecy.

One side believes scripture points to the Antichrist coming from Assyria and the Eastern portion of the ancient Roman Empire, while the other side believes scripture points to the Antichrist coming from Italy and the Western portion of the ancient Roman Empire.

Many, but not all, of those in both camps believe their side is right and the other side is wrong.

Fortunately, the Bible provides us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality…

His Italian Roman Nationality

Although much debate surrounds the Antichrist’s national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will rise from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple.

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The City and the Temple referenced in this passage were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse.

Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the Antichrist.

According to Daniel, the Antichrist will be connected in some way to the people who destroyed the Temple.

Therefore, we can be certain that the Antichrist will rise not only from the resurrected Roman Empire, but from among people connected to the Roman people of the ancient Italian peninsula.

Despite arguments by some that the Roman armies were populated by persons from various ethnic backgrounds, including Assyrians, the fact remains that Titus is the prince who led the siege on the Temple.  And the earthly power and authority of Titus came from Rome.

While Assyria may have been a part of the Roman Empire, the directive and the people responsible for the destruction of the Temple came forth from Rome, not Assyria.

So it’s rather hasty to dismiss the geopolitical significance of the City of Rome’s role in the destruction of the Temple, not to mention the City of Rome’s significance in the career of the Antichrist.

Does This Mean the Antichrist is Not Syrian?

Absolutely not.

Daniel Chapter 8 provides us with further clues in regard to the life and times of the Antichrist.

The angel Gabriel explains Daniel’s vision of a Ram and Goat as events relating to the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great.  In a claim verified by history, Gabriel states that, following the death of Alexander, the empire will be divided into four parts.

From one of those four parts, the Antichrist will arise:

“The shaggy male goat represents the king of the Greek Empire. The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four sections with four kings, none of them as great as the first. At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people.” Daniel 8:21-24 (NLT)

Daniel Chapter 11 provides an in-depth examination of the history of the breakup Alexander’s empire, describing historical events relating to the King of the North and the King of the South. The latter part of the chapter describes the Antichrist, identifying him with other historical figures who have held the title “King of the North.”

This, along with the passage cited above, clearly links the Antichrist to the Northern Kingdom of the divided Greek Empire. This kingdom was ruled by one of Alexander’s generals, Seleucus, who ruled the areas of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the Antichrist will in some way be linked to this geographic area of the Middle East as well.

Isaiah Chapter 10

In addition to Daniel 8, the prophet Isaiah also offers some interesting insight concerning a “king of Assyria”:

“After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purposes in Jerusalem, he will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him – for he is proud and arrogant. He boasts, ‘By my own power and wisdom I have won these wars. By my own strength I have captured many lands, destroyed their kings, and carried off their treasures. By my greatness I have robbed their nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.” Isaiah 10:12-14 (NLT)

Although not directly identified by Isaiah, this king of Assyria bears a striking resemblance to the Antichrist. Both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation describe the Antichrist as proud and arrogant, boasting arrogantly and blaspheming God Himself. His boast that “no one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest” also fits the description of the Antichrist as given in the Book of Revelation:

“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)

Isaiah 10, coupled with Daniel 8, lends support to the idea that the Antichrist will somehow be connected, either by ethnic origin or political power, to this region of the world.

Is It East or West?

It is an absolute certainty that the Antichrist will arrive on the world scene as the ruler of a revived Roman empire. However, it is less certain whether or not he will be of actual Italian descent or some other ethnic background. And it’s also uncertain whether his central power base will initially be located in the eastern or western portion of the ancient Roman Empire. 

Several verses of scripture offer the possibility that he could be Assyrian, Italian, Greek, or Jewish.  But none offer us the definitive statement contained in Daniel 9:26.

So how do we rectify these seemingly contradictory prophecies concerning the Antichrist’s nationality? Is he Roman? Italian? Jewish? Assyrian? Greek?

Who says the Antichrist has to be exclusively one or the other?

Maybe he’s an Assyrian Jew born and raised in Italy, or maybe he’s an Italian who brings Assyria to the pinnacle of world political and military power.  Any number of possible combinations are possible.  We simply don’t know for certain.

But history indicates that each of these prophecies will be harmonized when the Antichrist finally appears.

The Origins of the Messiah…

How can I be so sure?

Because two thousand years ago, the seemingly contradictory prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah were all harmonized in the life of one man, Jesus Christ – the Nazarene born in Bethlehem who came out of Egypt.

The Messiah will come out of Bethlehem….

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” Micah 5:2 (NLT)

The Messiah will come out of Galilee…

“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiless, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” Isaiah 9:1-2 (NLT)

The Messiah will come out of Egypt…

“When Israel was a child, I loved him as a son, and I called my son out of Egypt.” Hosea 11:1 (NLT)

Before Jesus Christ fulfilled these prophecies, Jewish factions debated the origins of the Messiah.  They found it difficult to imagine that one man could fulfill all these prophecies.

With the benefit of hindsight, we now see how this was possible…

But for the Jewish scholars who lived before and during the ministry of Jesus, these prophecies sparked intense debate.

Would the Messiah come from Galilee, Bethlehem, or Egypt?

These differing viewpoints are put on display in the Book of John:

“When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.’  Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others said, ‘But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?  For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.’  So the crowd was divided about him.  Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.”  John 7:40-44 (NLT)

and

“‘Have you been led astray, too?’ the Pharisees mocked.  ‘Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?  This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law.  God’s curse is on them!’  Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up.  ‘Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?’ he asked.  They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself – no prophet ever comes from Galilee!’”  John 7:47-52 (NLT)

The complete answer eluded both the crowds and the Pharisees.

Since each person was absolutely convinced his position was the correct position, all of them failed to recognize the true and complete picture.

In similar fashion, a debate continues today in regard to the prophecies of the Antichrist and his national identity.

But regardless of how much we speculate on the ultimate real-life fulfillment of the scriptures, no one but God will know the absolute truth until it’s revealed at the appointed time.

Therefore, it’s unwise to establish a hard line position on a particular theory regarding this prophecy’s fulfillment – even those theories based on iron clad scriptural references.  After all, even though your belief may be 100% accurate, that doesn’t mean someone else’s belief is false. 

In many cases, two viewpoints which seem diametrically opposed, are in fact both true.

Your eyes offer a perfect illustration…

Close your left eye and look at the world through your right.

Now, close your right eye and look at the world through your left.

What did you see?

Both eyes saw the same thing from two different perspectives.  But they didn’t see exactly the same thing…

Now, what if the left eye argued that the right was wrong; and the right eye argued that the left was wrong?

If that happens, both eyes fail to see that, taken separately or taken together, each viewpoint is correct…

Am I saying that no belief or viewpoint is false?

Absolutely not.

Some things are true, and some things are false.

But this case illustrates that just because one belief is true, that isn’t proof in-and-of itself that another belief is false.

So don’t become wedded to the idea that the Antichrist is Assyrian, and therefore anyone who says the Antichrist will come from Western Europe is wrong.  Likewise, don’t become wedded to the idea that the Antichrist is Italian, and therefore anyone who says he’ll come from Assyria is wrong.

You might both be right.

But the importance of the matter has nothing to do with who is right and who is wrong.  The importance is in each belief’s scriptural origin.  For the study of bible prophecy leads people to examine God’s Word, and by examining God’s Word, people are led to Christ.

So by studying these prophecies and teaching them to others, Christians of the end times generation will be able to positively identify the Antichrist based on the sound Scriptural evidence outlined by those who trod before them.

And the work of that last generation will be much easier if we present them with a unified body of unbiased scriptural references – starting points so they can examine the bible themselves…

This is one of the greatest benefits of studying bible prophecy, and upon His Return, I hope the Lord Jesus Christ finds us actively engaged in spreading knowledge of the truth found in His Word and not our deeply held human beliefs.

In the meantime, may we live with a patient and enduring faith that His Return is soon upon us.

Britt

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Since posting “Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?” I’ve received a number of emails from well-intentioned individuals who have been quick to point out the folly of my reasoning in definitively stating that he is not.  Most responses have centered around Barack Obama’s lineage and how he can still fulfill the prophecies of the Antichrist for varying reasons which differ depending on the emailer.

This is my fault.  I apologize for writing a post that was incomplete in its analysis of the prophecies which identify the Antichrist and his various character traits.  As previously stated, I certainly understand why this speculation surrounds Barack Obama.  He is a unique figure in modern American politics.  However, he simply does not fulfill the prophecies of the Antichrist.

Our authoritative source on the Antichrist’s identity should not be human theories or speculations, no matter how badly we want them to be true.  Our authoritative source should be the Word of God only.  When we turn to scripture, we will find the unfiltered truth.

Here’s what Paul had to say about the Antichrist:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.  Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.  Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction.  He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?  And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.  For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.  Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.”  2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NLT)

Notice what Paul says – “Do not be easily alarmed or shaken by those who say the Day of the Lord has already begun.”  Although we are certainly living in the end times, the Tribulation has not yet begun.  And the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, will not be revealed until the Tribulation begins.

As Paul states:

“And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.  For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.  Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed…”  2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (NLT)

The Antichrist is currently being held back by the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer on earth.  Once the followers of Christ are taken into heaven following the rapture, then and only then, will it be possible for the identity of the Antichrist to be revealed.  According to Paul, the Antichrist’s identity will remain a secret until that time.

Does Paul say, “You’ll have suspicions about who the Antichrist is, but they’ll only be confirmed after the rapture and once the Tribulation begins”?  No.  Paul states, “it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.”  This is a clear statement from Paul that prior to the Tribulation, no one will know the Antichrist’s identity.

Undoubtedly, I’ll still get emails saying I’m wrong, and Paul didn’t really mean what he said – that what Paul really meant was that Christians couldn’t be certain about the identity of the Antichrist until that time, but in the meantime, they could know or have an idea or certainly make an educated guess.

Yet, the scriptures are clear.  Paul plainly states that, prior to the Tribulation, the identity of the Antichrist “will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.”

If this is the case, then why study prophecies concerning the Antichrist?

This is a good question.

As Christians, it’s our duty to study the scriptures and teach others as guided by the Holy Spirit.  By teaching scriptural prophecies concerning the Antichrist, we will enable those who are living on earth during the Tribulation to clearly understand who the Antichrist is once he is revealed.  Our hope is that his widely recognized fulfillment of these prophecies will verify the accuracy of scripture for non-believers, and in turn, they will become believers who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Current speculations on the identity of the Antichrist don’t serve this purpose.  Instead, they serve to undermine prophecy and Christianity in the eyes of non-believers.  Those who don’t take the time to study the scriptures look back on various historical Christian speculations concerning the identity of the Antichrist and see a long list of failed candidates – Nero, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Hitler, Ronald Reagan, Saddam Hussein, and countless others.  In due time, when Barack Obama’s name is added to the list of failed candidates, all the current speculation surrounding him will have come to nothing.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should diligently study prophecy and the Word of God, but we shouldn’t spend our time diligently scanning the geopolitical landscape in a search for the Antichrist.  We should spend our time diligently scanning the scriptures and searching the sky for Jesus Christ.

He is our hope.  He should be our central focus.

The identity of the Antichrist will be revealed at its appointed time.

Britt

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For over a year now, I’ve heard people from various walks of life speculate that Barack Obama is the Antichrist.  Why is this?  Well, there’s a number of reasons.  Unprecedented crowds of adoring fans throwing themselves at an American politician – both in the United States and abroad.  Spectators crying and fainting after hearing him speak.  Worldwide adoration and praise, with a near universal belief among supporters that Barack Obama can bring “change” which will bring about world peace…  Oh, and talk of a civilian defense force stronger than the U.S. military doesn’t help – that only adds fuel to the fire.

Throw in a few stories like the following, and it’s easy to see why some are drawing a link between Barack Obama and the bible’s most infamous world leader…

Obama Is Like Biblical Joshua

From CNSNews:

President Barack Obama is similar to the Biblical character of Joshua and Martin Luther King Jr. was like Moses, boxing promoter Don King told CNSNews.com on Tuesday.  Celebrities, including Jay-Z, Smokey Robinson, Don King, Denzel Washington, and Oprah Winfrey, spoke with CNSNews.com in the hours before the inauguration just a few feet from the rostrum where Obama was sworn-in as the nation’s 44th president. They spoke about how Obama had changed their lives and which Biblical character they think he most resembles. [More…]

While Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the office of President of United States is historical in nature, it only makes light of his accomplishment to compare him to biblical heroes of the past.  This tendency of supporters to ascribe a quasi-religious significance to Barack Obama’s career is exactly what makes so many people uneasy.  American politicians aren’t usually treated with such reverence.

I Pledge Allegiance to Obama

From WorldNetDaily:

In a new YouTube video produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, dozens of celebrities – television and movie actors, sports heroes, musicians and more – describe how they will pledge to “be the change” and “be a servant to our president.” [More…]

Again, the United States is unique among the world’s nations in that it was founded on the basic idea that government and government office holders should exist to serve the people – not the other way around.  In contrast, totalitarian governments are founded on the premise that the people exist to serve the state and its leaders.  The zealotry with which some people submit their lives to a mere man is what has so many people worried.

The article continues:

Actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher begin the closing scene by saying, “I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind.”

Need I comment?

World Greets Obama With Jubilation and Worry

From the Sydney Mourning Herald:

Millions followed the inauguration around the world and underscoring the huge show of faith, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: “We are eager for him to get to work so that with him we can change the world.”  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed Obama’s inauguration as a “new chapter in both American history and the world’s history.”  Obama was a “man of great vision,” Brown said. “He’s not only the first black American president but he sets out with the determination to solve the world’s problems.” [More…]

Even fellow heads of state are quick to assign messianic significance to Barack Obama.  He’s going to “change the world” and “solve the world’s problems.”  Where does this blind faith in Obama come from?  It’s no wonder that skeptics have speculated over Obama’s ultimate legacy.

So back to our original question.  Is Barack Obama the Antichrist?

As students of the bible, we can confidently say, “No.”  How can we be so confident?

Because the bible has a lot to say about the life of the Antichrist, and the life of Barack Obama simply doesn’t match the narrative.  In The Nationality of the Antichrist, I lay out the biblical case for the Antichrist’s ethnic and national background. Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple:

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The Romans destroyed the Temple.  Therefore, the Antichrist will arise from among the geographic and ethnic descendants of the Roman Empire.  Barack Obama doesn’t fit this profile.  Neither his ties to Kenya, Hawaii, or Illinois qualify him in this respect.

In addition, the bible outlines other aspects of the Antichrist’s life which simply don’t fit with the idea that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but an extensive review of these is well beyond the scope of a blog post.  Needless to say, no one should lie awake at night worried that Barack Obama is the Antichrist.

However, watchful observers should note the danger of the atmosphere surrounding Obama’s rise to political stardom.  The frenzied crowds and zealous support portend a day when the real Antichrist will arrive on the scene.  The political ascendancy of Barack Obama and the aura which surrounds his image only serves to set the stage for that day.

Britt

If you find this site helpful, please consider a donation to support this ministry.

Some interesting updates in the world of nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing.

Nano’s Big Kick Coming Soon

Interesting blog post by Tihamer Toth-Fejel over at The Center For Responsible Nanotechnology blog:

One of the points to remember is that Moore’s Law is exponential — or even faster, if Ray Kurzweil is correct. So it’s not really a question of what kind of technology did we have 92 years ago…we should ask about 920 years ago, or even 9200 years ago.  In other words, if Freitas, Merkle, and Moriarty succeed next year, all heck will break loose. Not immediately, of course, but diamond is a very useful engineering material.  If we could use it to make cars and buildings, we would.  Everything depends on availability and cost — and both depend on technology.  [More…]

So what is it that “Freitas, Merkle, and Moriarty” could succeed at next year?  A five-year $3 million grant by the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to perform a series of laboratory experiments designed to investigate the possibility of diamond mechanosynthesis (DMS). 

Essentially, if such a breakthrough succeeds, it would blow open the doors to the age of molecular manufacturing.  As this site has previously stated, the development of molecular manufacturing is nothing to take lightly, and it is certain to result in a global government.

Europeans More Open To Nanotech Than Americans

Who would lead such a global government?  EurActiv.com provides one possibility:

Nanotech challenges the traditional values of Americans, while more secular Europeans are generally more supportive of the technology, reveals a new report.  People with stronger religious beliefs tend to be opposed to nanotechnology, which is said to have the potential to alter the fundamentals of nature, according to the report, published last December in the Nature Nanotechnology journal.  In the US and European countries where religion still plays a large role in everyday life, notably Italy, Austria and Ireland, nanotech is thus much less acceptable than in more secular France and Germany, found the report, which saw researchers compare attitudes to nanotechnology in 12 European countries and the US.  [More…]

I think this study fails to address the larger issue.  Do people with “stronger religious beliefs” oppose technology?  Do they refuse life saving medical treatments, avoid using cell phones and computers, or ride horses rather than drive automobiles?  In some cases, yes.  But in the majority of cases, no.  So why then are people classified as holding “stronger religious beliefs” opposing the development of nanotechnology?

I would submit that it’s not the development of nanotechnology that they oppose, but rather the unrestrained use of it.  No technology is inherently evil, and nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing are no exception.  However, technologies throughout history (especially recent history) have been used by sinful mankind to wage large-scale war, oppress individual liberty, and commit genocide on a mass scale.

The problem is not technological development.  The problem is sin.  The power of technology serves to amplify that sin.  And the solution is not a change in public attitude.  The solution is the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Russia’s Crash Nano Program

From Michael Berger at Nanowerk:

This week’s successful international nanotechnology forum Rusnanotech in Moscow has put a spotlight on Russia’s ambitions to catch up with the leading nanotechnology nations.  While Russia has the money, the political will, and a well educated scientific base to be a leading player, it has completely missed the boat on developing its nanoscience programs and nanotechnology infrastructure.   In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), Russia ranks as the eleventh largest economy in the world. But while many smaller countries such as Australia or South Korea, not to mention all of the bigger nations, have invested steadily and broadly in all areas of nanosciences and nanotechnologies for years now, Russia has had no coordinated science policy, no industrial policy, and no commercial industrial base to develop its nanotechnology capabilities. Until last year, that is. In April 2007, the Russian president signed off on a public policy paper that ordered a multi-billion dollar program to develop a world-class Russian nanotechnology industry by 2015. [More…]

While the above article focuses on Russian investment in nanoscale sciences, without directly mentioning molecular manufacturing, you can be sure that Russia is one of many countries engaged in a race to develop the breakthrough technology.  The stakes are simply too high.

The country which first develops molecular manufacturing will, if it wishes, have all the nations of the world for the taking.  To my knowledge, the only man in history who turned down such an offer was Jesus Christ:

“Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”  Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”  Luke 4:5-8 (NLT)

My guess is that next time the world won’t be so lucky.  The next person who is offered the world will give into Satan’s temptation:

“And the dragon gave him his own power and throne and great authority.” Revelation 13:2 (NLT)

Britt

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Today begins a new era for BrittGillette.Com.  While the site has typically been home to longer, 5 to 7-page bible prophecy articles, I feel an additional need exists to provide regular analysis of news headlines which indicate the nearness of Christ’s return.  This does not mean that the longer articles will disappear, although I realize they have been rather sparse lately.  I will continue to post more lengthy articles as time allows, but in the meantime, be on the lookout for regular supplemental analysis of current events in relation to bible prophecy. 

Feel free to click on the headlines in order to read the referenced articles in their entirety.  I hope you like this new edition to the site’s content, and please feel free to email me your thoughts and comments accordingly.

So without further delay, here goes…

Forecast 2009: Deflation and Recession

Financial expert John Mauldin’s recent newsletter predicts 2009 to be a year of deflation:

For a very long time, I have been adamant that deflation is in our future. In the next few pages I outline how inflation might come back, but I doubt it will be this year. For now, deflation is the economic factor that the Fed and central banks will be battling. And believe me, it will be a very large and controversial battle…

For the three months ending last November, the compound annual rate for the CPI was a negative(!) -10.2%, reflecting the almost 70% drop in energy. Annualized core CPI for the last three months ending November was a very low 0.4%. November CPI was a flat 0.0%. It has been falling steadily for the last five months.

December is likely to be negative. There is a trend here, and if you are a central banker it is not one you like. And that trend is being manifested in every part of the developed and much of the developing world. It is a global problem.

Given how high inflation was last summer, how could I credibly maintain that deflation was in our future? For reasons that I wrote about extensively then. Briefly, we were in a recession. Recessions are almost by definition deflationary. We had two massive bubbles bursting: the very visible housing bubble which was massively destroying wealth, and the less visible but even more powerful bursting of the credit bubble, which was accompanied by profound deleveraging and the destruction of what Paul McCulley termed the Shadow Banking System.

It would be a strange, strange world indeed if inflation could get any real traction in such an environment, and it didn’t.

  [More…]

This is an excellent newsletter, but I would make one amendment.  Mr. Mauldin’s article should be titled “Forecast 2009: Deflation and Depression”.  The threat of deflation was underestimated in analyst forecasts in January 2008, and the same failures seem to be taking place in 2009.  As outlined in “Hyperinflation?,” a decades long credit bubble has burst, deflating the value of just about asset class on the planet.  Central banks are racing toward 0% interest rates, with the United States at the head of the line.

As mounting job losses take their toll, the global economy will see a monumental shift toward the frugality mindset of the Great Depression generation.  As a result, more businesses will go under as consumer spending contracts, leading to higher unemployment – and the vicious cycle will repeat itself until we hit bottom. 

Don’t believe the financial “experts” who predict a turnaround in late 2009.  Did they predict a meltdown in 2008?  Instead, prepare yourself for the following: The Great Depression 2.0

On a regional basis, look for 2009 to be a year of greater government control over private businesses and individual civil liberties.  On a global basis, look for more and more calls for greater cooperation between national governments and an overall trend toward global government.

All of this is paving the way for the Antichrist.

Is The Stock Market Cheap?

Mike Shedlock challenges the conventional wisdom:

Think the stock market is cheap? Let’s do the math. The S&P closed at 910. If those earnings estimates hold, the effective PE is 21.53. The historical average PE is about 15. At a PE of 15 the S&P would drop to 634. That is a huge drop of 30% from today’s closing price.

What happens if the stock market over shoots as it typically does in bear markets. Assume a PE of 12. At 12, one might expect to see the S&P at 507. That would be an even bigger decline of 44% from here.  [More…]

This is the perfect illustration of why the financial “experts” are wrong.  Their forecasts for 2009 and beyond are based on a reality that no longer exists.  Consumers are no longer engaged in a “borrow and spend” lifestyle.  Due to rising unemployment, a 40% drop in global stock markets, and a tanking housing market, they just can’t afford to – even if they wanted to.
As a result, watch for earnings estimates on Wall Street to be revised downward for quite sometime.  The call for a quick recovery in the stock market is well-intentioned, but severely misguided.  In similar fashion, the stock market crash in October 1929 was followed by a decent year-end rally, but 1930 led to further declines.  And so did 1931.  People said it couldn’t get worse, and it did.  People are saying the same thing now.

This is people’s Exhibit A as to why the only well-placed faith a person can have is a faith that is placed in Jesus Christ.

European Leaders Call For New Global Order

From the Associated Press:

The leaders of France and Germany appeared to put disagreements over economic policy behind them Thursday, calling on the U.S. to join global efforts to address the financial crisis…

Merkel deplored huge debts that governments are accumulating to spend their way out of the present crisis. But she said she recognized, for the moment, that “there is no other possibility.”

Sarkozy blamed financial speculators for encouraging a system fueled on debt. He called financial capitalism based on speculation “an immoral system” that has “perverted the logic of capitalism.”  “It’s a system where wealth goes to the wealthy, where work is devalued, where production is devalued, where entrepreneurial spirit is devalued,” he said.  But no more: “In capitalism of the 21st century, there is room for the state,” he said.  [More…]

This is a clear sign that world “leaders” are intending to take full advantage of the global financial downturn to consolidate ever greater power for centralized government.  I have to question Merkel’s intelligence when she says “there is no other possibility” but profligate and irresponsible government spending.  Here’s an alternative – how about people and governments stop spending money they don’t have?  Stop going into debt.  Lower the tax and regulatory burden, thus allowing individuals to enjoy their God-given freedom.  Such policies would never even occur to European “leaders” because they take the world in the opposite direction of greater government control.

Even more confounding are Sarkozy’s remarks, “In capitalism of the 21st century, there is room for the state.”  The inference is that capitalism in the 20th Century didn’t have room for the state, but it certainly did – most prominently in National Socialist Germany, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China.

This push toward global government should not be confused with a push toward global freedom.  It’s nothing more than a ploy for greater government control.

Blair Reappears on Shortlist to Head EU

From the Financial Times:

Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, is re-emerging as a possible choice to be the European Union’s first full-time president after four momentous crises reinforced the argument for having a high-profile international personality in the job.  According to EU officials and diplomats, the impressive performance of Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president, during his six-month spell in charge of the EU last year has strengthened the hand of those who say a big name should guide the 27-nation bloc.  [More…]

Notice that the emphasis in this article is on creating a position for a single leader of the European Union.  European politicians seem to be clamouring not for the correct person to be appointed or the correct office to be created, but for a “big name” and a “high-profile international personality” who can speak on behalf of the European Union.  The European nations, whose power and influence on the world stage has remained largely irrelevant since the end of World War II, are eager to start throwing their weight around again.

In due time, they will get their wish for a “big name” office holder, and he will speak in such a way that all the world will hear him:

“This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.” Daniel 7:8 (NLT)

Britt

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Lately, I’ve run across a number of articles warning people to prepare themselves for hyperinflation in the United States.  Inevitably, these warnings are accompanied by comparisons to Germany’s Weimar Republic and its infamous bout with hyperinflation in the aftermath of World War I.  But is this really something to be worried about?

To answer that question, we must first understand what hyperinflation is.  In simple terms, hyperinflation is a rapid increase in the general price of goods and services, brought about as a result of a rapidly expanding money supply.

Given the current worldwide credit crunch and subsequent actions by the Federal Reserve, a number of people are predicting a period of hyperinflation for the United States.  These commentators point to the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the massive amounts of “liquidity” each institution is injecting into the marketplace.  Their theory rests on the assumption that in its drive to end the current credit crisis, the federal government is essentially printing money in order to stimulate economic activity.  Since the U.S. dollar is a fiat currency, meaning its sole value is derived from a holder’s faith in the promise of the U.S. government to back it up, no limits exist on how much currency the government can print.  The theory goes that as the U.S. government prints more and more dollars and extends more and more credit, the value of its fiat currency is eroded and the world is flooded with an excess supply of U.S. dollars.  As a direct result, it takes more and more U.S. dollars to purchase goods and services.

Based on these assumptions, quite a few websites are advising readers to be on the look out for hyperinflation and to prepare themselves and their families accordingly.  As such, people are being encouraged to buy gold, silver, and other precious metals as a hedge against hyperinflation.  This is sound advice if the diagnosis of hyperinflation is correct.  But unfortunately, it’s not.

The Real Threat

I know I’ll receive a barrage of emails from well-intentioned people who are convinced our current economic environment is setting people up for a nasty bout of hyperinflation.  But it’s just not true, and in good conscience, I can’t let these claims go unanswered.  United States citizens, and most people throughout the world, should not be preparing for the mythical threat of hyperinflation.  In fact, they should be preparing for the exact opposite.

The real threat of the current financial crisis is deflation – a general decrease in the price of all goods and services as a result of a contraction of the global money supply.  In short, deflation is a net contraction of base money and credit while inflation and hyperinflation are the opposite.

What’s Really Happening…

The hyperinflation argument is built on the faulty premise that the money supply will dramatically increase in the near future, while demand remains steady, thus increasing the general price of all goods and services.  However, if we observe the world around us, we see the exact opposite forces in effect.

This is because the money supply is a total of all currency, coin, and credit in the marketplace.  Take note that physical U.S. dollars a person can actually hold in his hand account for only a small fraction of the money supply.  The remainder of the money supply essentially consists of credit or IOUs held in the form of various financial instruments.  In our fractional reserve banking system, the money supply expands in tandem with the expansion of credit.  Yet, right now, all the indicators are signaling that the days of easy credit are over.  The extension and acceptance of credit is contracting.

Simply put, fewer institutions are willing to lend money, and fewer institutions and individuals are willing (or able) to borrow.  As individuals and institutions default on their debts, the debt instruments (money) decline in value, effectively decreasing the money supply.

While I’ve put this in very simplistic terms, the fact of the matter is that we’re in the midst of a massive global credit crunch, the effective result of which is a worldwide contraction of the money supply.

Furthermore, we’re witnessing a tectonic shift in consumer spending attitudes as people turn away from the recent past behavior of borrow and spend to a more realistic view of work and save.  This means total demand for consumer products throughout the economy is in general decline.

While it’s true that the United States is issuing new currency and coins at an unprecedented rate, this increase in the base money supply (physical currency) is increasing at nowhere near the pace at which credit and consumer demand are being destroyed.  The net effect is deflation.

In an earlier article, I wrote about the declining value of the U.S. dollar:

“Anyone in touch with the world today knows that the dollar is losing value on an almost daily basis.  The dollar has fallen relative to oil, gold, silver, and every other commodity on the planet.  Although this fall won’t last forever, it’s a clear symptom of an ominous future for the dollar’s underlying value.”

When the above statement was made, the world was near the pinnacle of the largest credit bubble in world history.  The easy extension of credit over the course of several consecutive years dramatically increased the money supply.  Since demand for the dollar remained relatively stable over that same time period, an increase in supply resulted in a lower price for dollars.  In other words, the dollar lost value.  As credit expanded (increasing the money supply along with it), it took more and more dollars to purchase gold, oil, silver, food, gasoline, houses, and just about everything.  Essentially, the world experienced rampant inflation for the greater part of this decade.

The idea that “peak oil” or increased demand or anything other than speculation and a general decline in the value of fiat currency was responsible for $147 a barrel oil is simply dead wrong.  An ounce of gold will purchase approximately the same number of barrels of oil today as it would have purchased ten years ago.  Inflation, caused by the rapid expansion of credit, was the driving force in the rising price of oil – as well as the rising price of just about everything else.

What’s Going On Now…

When the massive credit bubble burst, it led to an immediate contraction of the global money supply – a contraction that is still in the process of unraveling.  This isn’t entirely the result of massive debt defaults, but also the product of a global race to hoard cash in order to service debt and make adequate provision for the future.  Financial institutions are hoarding cash in order to guard against future losses and meet government reserve requirements.  Corporations are hoarding cash as they watch past lines of credit disappear.  And individuals are hoarding cash as they face the prospect of job layoffs as well as mounting debt obligations.  So, not only is the money supply contracting, but demand for cash has increased.

This demand for cash has had, and will continue to have, worldwide  implications.  In an effort to increase their cash holdings, corporations, hedge funds, and individuals have been selling assets.  As a result, we’ve witnessed a general price decrease in just about every asset class.  The price of gold is down.  The price of oil and gasoline is down.  The housing market is down, and the stock market is down.

In such a world, the idea of hyperinflation is almost laughable.  This isn’t an environment that breeds hyperinflation.  It is an environment of widespread deflation.

The Deflationary Spiral

Unfortunately, a deflationary environment is one of the worst economic situations possible.  Consumers, faced with unemployment, or the very real prospect of unemployment, curtail discretionary spending, and the collective result of their efforts is lower profits for many businesses.  Faced with decreased demand and poor cash flows, businesses throughout the economy respond by trimming their workforce.  This, in turn, further derails consumer spending as the jobless are not a reliable customer base for most businesses.  In addition, the gainfully employed cut back on spending and hoard cash in preparation for the next round of layoffs.  And on and on…  The vicious cycle just feeds itself.

This is the same situation which plunged the world into the Great Depression.

So where does it all end?  Unfortunately, government efforts to “fix” a crisis government created in the first place will inevitably fail.  The Federal Reserve Board can cut the discount rate and the fed funds rate.  Other central banks throughout the world can follow suit, and they have.  Governments can guarantee bank deposits, buy up debt obligations, nationalize banks, and run the printing presses night and day.  But in the end, all of these efforts will be futile in attempting to spur economic activity.

Why?

Because, in the end, governments can’t make lenders lend and borrowers borrow.

And until lenders are willing to lend, and borrowers are willing (and able) to borrow, the credit side of the money supply equation will continue to contract, and the economic landscape will continue to deteriorate.

Collapsing debt obligations, rising foreclosures, rising credit card defaults, and rising unemployment are deflationary forces. And these events are not exclusive to the United States.  The credit crisis is worldwide.  Only after the debt bubble fully deflates (i.e. the foreclosures and bankruptcies end), then – and only then – will credit and economic activity expand.  Once that happens, inflation will become a threat once again.  But for the moment, inflation and hyperinflation are no where on the horizon.

That said, we remain in a severe global economic downturn.  So what does all this have to do with bible prophecy?

Economic Crises Give Rise to Despots

If history provides any indication, times of economic crisis are especially susceptible to the rise of demagogues and despots.  Historically, political leaders take advantage of both perceived and real crises in order to increase the power and scope of government.  The current credit crisis is no different.  Already governments throughout the world have taken advantage of public fear and hysteria, drafting massive bailout packages to select corporations and industries, temporarily suspending the rules and regulations of financial markets, and forcing the nationalization of banks and other private industries.  Recently, several prominent world leaders issued a clarion call to “rewrite the rules of international finance.”  In the meantime, each of these government power grabs occurs against the backdrop of a citizenry which is ever increasingly looking toward government as its Savior.

In an environment such as this one, ambitious individuals have been know to push through bold and radical agendas with relatively opposition from the public.  A hungry and unemployed public places far more emphasis on jobs and security rather than freedom and liberty.  Our last deflationary spiral, The Great Depression, should be instructive in this regard.  The economic deflation of the 1930’s gave rise to Adolf Hitler in Europe and Huey Long in the United States.  Few people realize that Huey Long had successfully transformed Louisiana into his own personal police state.  Had he not been assassinated in 1935, Huey Long might well have become President of the United States, effectively giving America its own dictator.

History is clear, an economic crisis is fertile ground for a demagogue.

The Antichrist

As world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown issue calls for building a “global society,” the stage is being set for the most infamous dictator in human history to seize power.  Known as the Antichrist, the bible states that, in the last days, this man will come to control all of the world’s economic activity:

“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)

In fact, he will exercise complete power over every person on earth:

“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

This is why the current economic crisis is of dire consequence to the people of the world.  While we can’t know for sure whether this particular crisis will give rise to the Antichrist, we can be certain that the calls for increased global cooperation, global government, and governmental power over the free markets are setting the stage for a single man to seize control of the entire earth.

How the World Can Recover

While most of the world anxiously looks toward government for answers to the current economic turmoil, Christians can move forward with bold confidence.  Why?  Because the bible provides us with the guiding principles for curing this economic ailment.  If the rest of the world had followed, or would dare to follow, biblical principles in its financial dealings, then the current economic crisis would be a non event.

While most of the world grew drunk on the excesses of debt, the bible issued dire warnings of its pitfalls:

“Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.  If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.” Proverbs 22:26-27 (NLT)

“Owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another.” Romans 13:8 (NLT)

“Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 (NLT)

It’s not too late for the world to start following the biblical principles of finance, but unfortunately, the world will follow its own path.

Conclusion

Hyperinflation is not a concern right now.  The world is in the midst of a deflationary spiral similar to that which caused the Great Depression, and this period will probably last several months or years.  Nevertheless, Christians shouldn’t be overly concerned with our preparations for dealing with the ills of this world.  While we should make wise provision for the future, if we first pursue the Kingdom of Heaven above all else, then we will be capable of easily enduring any number of economic conditions, from deflation to inflation and hyperinflation.

A life which glorifies Jesus Christ should not be overly concerned with the fleeting value of earthly wealth.  For it can thrive in any condition:

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

Regardless of the material condition in which we find ourselves, we should live our lives in the service of Christ.

Our faith should not be in stock markets, pensions, or job security.  Our faith shouldn’t be in the provisions we’ve made or the gold and silver we’ve hoarded in anticipation of an economic collapse.  Our faith should be in Christ alone.  For this faith is the foundation of all the wealth we will ever have:

“The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.”  Proverbs 18:11 (NLT)

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”  1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT)

Christians have far more than the riches of this world; we have the riches of Christ.

“And anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” 1 Peter 2:6 (NLT)

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”  Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

Source: Hyperinflation? 

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Much has been written about the last days and the end times just prior to the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But just how do these events fit together?  What is the chronology of events which will take place in the last days?  While the following timeline is by no means an exhaustive examination of the end times, my hope is that it will provide a summary overview of the sequence of major events set to take place during this time period:

1) The Rapture of the Church

In all likelihood, the next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church.  Loosely translated, the word ‘rapture’ means to ‘catch up’ or ‘snatch away.’  Prior to the Tribulation period, Jesus Christ will return in the clouds to gather all earthly believers unto Himself.  Paul revealed this event in his letter to the Corinthians:

“But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NLT)

Paul is clear in his statement that not every Christian will die.  Some will be transformed “in the blinking of an eye” before their earthly lives have come to an end.  But will this event happen before, during, or after the Tribulation?  The answer is clear when this passage is taken in context with other biblical passages.

When Least Expected

Jesus taught His disciples to expect His return at any moment, for no one can know the day of His coming:

“So you, too, must keep watch!  For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.  You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”  Matthew 24:42-44 (NLT)

The rapture will occur unexpectedly, much like a thief in the night.  This is consistent with the teaching of Jesus that no one will know the day or the hour of His coming:

“However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 24:36-39 (NLT)

If the return of Jesus to rapture His followers is a truly unexpected event which takes the world by surprise, then by definition most of the world can not be waiting in anticipation.  Therefore, the rapture must occur before the Tribulation.  Why?  Because once the numerous and specific prophecies concerning the Tribulation are being fulfilled in world events, most of the world will take notice.  The events of the tribulation will be so earth-shattering in nature, and the corresponding bible prophecies so clear, that a large portion of the world will come to anticipate the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.

The Promise of Christ

Lest there be any doubt that the rapture occurs before the Tribulation, make note of this promise from Jesus Himself:

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.” Revelation 3:10 (NLT)

Jesus has promised to protect those who follow Him from “the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world.”  This time exists to test “those who belong to this world,” not those who belong to Him.  Therefore, God’s Word in all its consistency reveals that the rapture will occur before the Tribulation.

2) The War of Gog and Magog

The next event on God’s prophetic timeline is the War of Gog and Magog.  The leader of Russia will form a military coalition which includes the nations Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, and Turkey, and he will lead them against the nation of Israel.

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, and you will cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future. I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 38:14-16 (NLT)

God will display His glory to all the nations of the world by personally destroying this Russian military coalition.  This will happen either at the beginning of, or sometime before, the tribulation.  How do we know?  Because God tells us the nation of Israel will use the leftover implements of this war as fuel for seven years:

“Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years!”  Ezekiel 39:9 (NLT)

It seems unlikely that Israel will use these weapons as fuel during the Millennial Kingdom, since Jesus Christ will provide all the light and energy that is needed for daily living.  And since the tribulation leading up to the Millennial Kingdom lasts a total of seven years, it’s only logical that the War of Gog and Magog either takes place before the tribulation or else marks it beginning.

3) The Antichrist’s 7-Year Covenant with Israel

The Antichrist will reveal himself by confirming a covenant with the nation of Israel:

“He will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

The details and nature of this treaty are yet unknown, but many have speculated that in a bid for Middle Eastern peace, Israel will agree to rely on the Antichrist for its national defense.  It is generally accepted that the signing of this accord with Israel will mark the beginning of the Tribulation period.

4) The Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week)

As previously stated, the War of Gog and Magog either occurs at the beginning of the tribulation or signals its approach.  The tribulation is a period of seven years of turmoil and horror which will come upon the world.  The time period is also known as Daniel’s seventieth week, as the concept was laid out by God in the Book of Daniel:

“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” Daniel 9:24 (NLT)

This passage clearly states that a period of 490 years is allotted for the nation of Israel to accomplish God’s purposes.  It also reveals that 483 of those years have already passed:

“Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler – the Anointed One – comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.” Daniel 9:24-25 (NLT)

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ appeared 483 years after the command was given to rebuild Jerusalem.  The arrival of Jesus Christ fulfilled 69 of the prophetic 7-year periods outlined in the Book of Daniel, with one period yet remaining:

“After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

This time period will also witness the 7 Seal Judgments (Revelation 6:1-17) and the 7 Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8:1-9:21)

Since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the world has been living on borrowed time.  Once the rapture of the church puts an end to the “Age of Grace,” the final seven year period will begin.  This is widely known as the Tribulation, and it officially begins with the Antichrist’s confirmation of a covenant with Israel.

5) Global Government

During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will consolidate his power quickly.  All the nations of the world will soon fall under his authority:

“And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

In fact, not one person will escape the reach of the Antichrist and his governmental dominion:

“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)

The Antichrist will have unprecedented control over the world’s financial transactions. He will have so much power that he will be able to determine on a case-by-case basis which individuals will be allowed to buy or sell anything.

6) Satan Thrown to the Earth

At the midpoint of the Tribulation period, a war will break out in heaven:

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, ‘It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.’” Revelation 12:7-12 (NLT)

Traditionally, people have believed Satan resides in Hell, but Hell is actually his future destination.  Up until the midpoint of the Tribulation, Satan will continue to reside in Heaven.  The Book of Job confirms the assertion that Satan resides in Heaven, where he accuses mankind before the Lord, day and night:

“One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.”  Job 1:6 (NLT)

Many have often wondered why God allows evil to exist.  They fail to understand that we live in the midst of an epic spiritual war, pitting the forces of evil (Satan) against the forces of righteousness (Jesus).  To mankind, Satan’s rebellion is an event from the ancient past, but on God’s eternal timeline, it’s a relatively recent event.  Nevertheless, God will not tolerate Satan’s rebellion, and the ultimate victor in this war is clear.  Satan will lose, and his defeat in the battle for heaven will result in his being thrown down to earth.

This event will occur at the mid-point of the Tribulation, and it will mark a terrible time for those who live on the earth.

7) The Abomination of Desolation

Satan’s crushing defeat and subsequent fall to earth will coincide with another prophesied event – the abomination of desolation.  In fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, the Antichrist will enter the Jewish Temple and proclaim himself to be God. He will set up an image in the Holy Place and demand the world worship it:

“He will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler.” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

Jesus warned His disciples of this terrible event:

“The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” Matthew 24:16 (NLT)

And the apostle Paul also described this abominable act:

“He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

The bible is clear that the abomination of desolation will occur at the mid-point of the Tribulation:

“The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

8) The Jews Flee Israel

Following the abomination of desolation, the Jews will flee Israel:

“‘The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about – the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.’ (Reader, pay attention!) ‘Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.’” Matthew 24:15-21 (NLT)

The Jewish people, the nation of Israel, will flee into the wilderness where God Himself will supernaturally protect them from a second holocaust at the hands of the Antichrist:

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.” Revelation 12:6 (NLT)

The Jews who escape will remain under God’s protection for the duration of the Tribulation period, three and a half years.

9) The Mark of the Beast

As part of his nefarious system of self-worship, the Antichrist will establish a global financial system by which no one can buy or sell without his permission:

“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.” Revelation 13:16-17 (NLT)

The Antichrist and his followers will pay a hefty price for accepting the mark of the beast. The Bible tells us that ALL who accept the mark of the beast will face eternal judgment for their decision. The following verses reveal the consequences of this rebellion against God:

“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, ‘Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand must drink the wine of God’s wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11 (NLT)

Acceptance of the mark is not a matter to be taken lightly. Anyone who accepts the mark denies Christ in favor of a false god. This decision, once made, is irrevocable, and the consequences are everlasting.

10) The Great Tribulation

The final three and a half years of the Tribulation will be known as The Great Tribulation, a time of unrivaled horror.  The 7 Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16:1-21) will take place during this time.  And the Antichrist, demanding the world worship him as if he were God Almighty, will institute a world-wide campaign to murder and destroy all those who worship the one true God.  This period is known as The Great Tribulation, and it comprises the final three and a half years of the seven year Tribulation:

“He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.” Daniel 7:25 (NLT)

“Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months.” Revelation 13:5 (NLT)

“There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.” Revelation 12:14 (NLT)

“They will trample the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.” Revelation 11:2-3 (NLT)

The bible is clear in stating that the Great Tribulation will occur in the last three and a half years before the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ.

11) The Appearance of the Two Witnesses

During this time, God will give power to two witnesses, who will prophesy throughout the Great Tribulation:

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in sackcloth and will prophesy during those 1,260 days. These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from the mouths of the prophets and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut the skies so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to send every kind of plague upon the earth as often as they wish.” Revelation 11:3-6 (NLT)

For 1,260 days, these two witnesses will prophesy to the world, and despite a plethora of enemies, no one will be able to harm them. During that time, they will have the power to end rainfall, turn the rivers and oceans to blood, and send every kind of plague upon the earth.

12) Babylon Destroyed in One Hour

In the last days, the City of Babylon will not only rise to worldly prominence once again, but it will face the judgment of God Almighty in a single day:

“Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day – death and mourning and famine.  She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.  And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains.  They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, ‘How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city!  In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.’”  Revelation 18:8-10 (NLT)

The merchants and kings of the world will mourn the destruction of this worldly city, which had been the apex of human rebellion.  The city of Babylon will become a city of unparalleled wealth and opulence, as well as a city of debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, sexual immorality, and every other sort of unholy abomination.  In the aftermath of its judgment, those who reveled in its sins will literally sob because of its loss.

13) The Death of the Two Witnesses

At the end of the Great Tribulation, when their testimony is complete, the two witnesses of God will be killed.  Their bodies will lie unburied in the main street of Jerusalem as the world celebrates its good fortune:

“When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them. He will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city which is called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt,’ the city where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will come to stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.” Revelation 11:7-10 (NLT)

However, what happens next will strike fear in those who dare to celebrate:

“But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered them, and they stood up! And terror struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice shouted from heaven, ‘Come up here!’ And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched. And in the same hour there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake. And everyone who did not die was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:11-13 (NLT)

Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead after three days and three nights, so will His two witnesses be resurrected after three and a half days. The Book of Revelation tells us that terror will strike all those who are staring at them.

14) The Gathering at Armageddon

In the aftermath of Satan being thrown to the earth, mankind will attempt to cast off every restraint of God’s authority.  The evil demons under his command will convince the leaders of the world to gather together in order to do battle against God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ:

“And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT)

The final gathering place for this battle will be a geographical location in the nation of Israel, known as Armageddon:

“And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” Revelation 16:16 (NLT)

It is here, at Armageddon, that the final human attempt at world government will come to an end.  In fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the statue which represents human government will be smashed by the supernatural.  The Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ will take its place, and it will never be destroyed.

15) The Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ

While gathered at Armageddon, rebellious humanity will witness the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ:

“For as lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 24:27 (NLT)

The appearance of Christ in the sky will be unmistakable to the people of this world.  As they gather to do battle with Him, Christ will take up their challenge and take on the entire human race:

“Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.” Zechariah 14:3-5 (NLT)

As the Lord’s feet touch down on the Mount of Olives, a giant earthquake will split the ground.  Jesus Christ will come in vengeance against His enemies, as the Commander of Heaven’s Armies.

16) The Birth of the Millennial Kingdom

Following His victory over the enemies of God, Jesus Christ will establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth:

“On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, yet there will be continuous day! Only the Lord knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light. On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord – his name alone will be worshiped.” Zechariah 14:6-9 (NLT)

And the world will rejoice, because the world will finally be filled with peace and justice!

Source: An End Times Timeline

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The following news story was recently brought to my attention, and I think it’s worth noting:

“Secret Killing Program is Key in Iraq, Woodward Says”

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The dramatic drop in violence in Iraq is due in large part to a secret program the U.S. military has used to kill terrorists, according to a new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward.

The program — which Woodward compares to the World War II era Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb — must remain secret for now or it would “get people killed,” Woodward said Monday on CNN’s Larry King Live. [Read more…]

If this is true, then it raises a number of interesting questions.  What is the purpose and/or product of this secret program?  Is molecular manufacturing part of this undertaking? 

Regardless of the true identity of the secret weapon Bob Woodward says exists, in all likelihood, it is not molecular manufacturing.  Although molecular manufacturing would allow American forces to easily track and destroy terrorists, it would also be quite difficult to conceal for a protracted period of time.  This is due to the need to avoid a molecular manufacturing arms race, which would quickly result in unprecedented global destruction.  To avoid such a dire outcome, the establishment of global government is inevitable.

Since Woodward’s so called secret weapon has been deployed for some time, we can be all but certain it isn’t molecular manufacturing.  However, Woodward’s claim indirectly supports the idea that the development of molecular manufacturing is rapidly approaching.

I wrote the following back in 2002:

“The proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons provides terrorists with an almost infinite number of options for attacking the global economic system.  The financial and logistical impossibility of guarding against every possible attack necessitates the development of molecular manufacturing to defend our way of life.  Just as December 7th catapulted the world into the Nuclear Age, September 11th will plunge it into the Nanotechnic Age.”

In other words, the need to put an immediate end to a costly worldwide conflict in the early 1940’s ultimately led to a heated race to create an atomic bomb.  Likewise, the global war on terror, as well as more traditional geopolitical competition, will ultimately lead to the creation of molecular manufacturing.

At the very least, Bob Woodward is telling us that the United States government is engaged in serious military research and development efforts in order to achieve a breakthrough victory in the war on terror.  While it’s doubtful that the breakthrough Woodward is celebrating is molecular manufacturing, we should have no doubt that the United States, or most likely another nation (or coalition of nations), will develop molecular manufacturing as a result of today’s geopolitical climate.

When that happens, the developing nation(s) will begin a campaign for complete global domination – a campaign that will lead to the very Tribulation warned of by Jesus and the Prophets centuries ago.

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I recently had the pleasure of appearing as a guest on Live with Jeff & Lee on KKMS 980 AM in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. The main topic of the one hour interview was “Recognizing Signs of Christ’s Return,” but a number of subjects were broached, including molecular manufacturing. For those who want to listen to the interview, an MP3 can be downloaded by clicking here. Some of the topics addressed include:

Peter’s Prophecy
Israel’s Re-Emergence
The War of Gog Magog
General Signs of Christ’s Return
The Role of Molecular Manufacturing

and more…

I praise God for this wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel over the airwaves, and I encourage all of you to share this audio file with friends and relatives.

For the past year, I’ve posted a number of articles on the future development of molecular manufacturing (MM) and its relation to bible prophecy.  In the time since those articles were first written, researchers have achieved some major milestones in the development of this powerful technology.  So I thought I would provide an update for those who are interested:

Nanotechnology Milestone #1: (Protein Design)

Chemists from UCLA and the University of Washington recently collaborated in the creation of “designer enzymes,” an achievement with major implications.  The project makes it feasible for the human race to create customized enzymes that don’t normally occur in nature for the express purpose of enabling chemical reactions.  This is a major stepping stone in the goal of human computational control of chemical reactions and eventual human control over all matter itself.

Read more on the CRN blog: “Nanotechnology Milestone”

Nanotechnology Milestone #2: (“Nano-Brain”)

Essentially a molecular switch, scientists in Japan have created a molecular device which can be used to send messages to other molecular devices.  This “chemical brain” is actually a single molecule surrounded by 16 additional molecules.  Using a scanning tunneling microscope, researchers can change the chemical state of the central molecule, which then effects the chemical state of all the surrounding molecules.  The result is a configuration that “allows four billion different possible combinations of outcome”.  In due time, such a breakthrough will serve as an important bridge between human desire and the ultimate manipulation of matter.

Read more on BCC: “Chemical Brain Controls Nanobots”

Nanotechnology Milestone #3: Atomically Precise Manufacturing (APM)

A $15 million research project at The University of Texas – Dallas aims to design a manufacturing process that takes place at the molecular level.  Once achieved, this process will allow researchers to manufacture products with absolute atomic precision – meaning every single atom will be in its proper position.  Molecular manufacturing includes this ability, along with other notable characteristics, such as the ability to self-replicate, so by itself this breakthrough will not result in molecular manufacturing.  However, it will lead to a dramatic increase in the power and potency of certain products manufactured using this process, and it represents a major stepping stone in the race to achieve molecular manufacturing.

Read more on Nanotechnology Now: “Researchers Drafting Plans for Tiny Assembly Lines”

This last story calls for closer examination.  The real news story is not the ambitious goal of atomically precise manufacturing (APM), but rather the details of the undertaking itself.  A university is expected to achieve this milestone for the relatively low cost of $15 million?  If this turns out to be true, then the development of molecular manufacturing could be much closer than people believe.

Think about it. 

As major milestones on the road to molecular manufacturing begin to fall within the boundaries of universities and corporations, requiring only millions instead of billions of dollars to achieve, then those same milestones are easily within reach of governments all across the globe who have tens of billions of dollars to devote to covert molecular manufacturing programs.  Given the profound advantages to developing MM first, coupled with the profound negative consequences of not developing it first, it seems more than likely that multiple governments have sufficiently advanced covert molecular manufacturing programs currently underway.  If corporations and university researchers can make such rapid progress with limited resources, what could a well-funded government military project achieve?

The answer will change the geopolitical realities of our time by crowning the winner of this new arms race undisputed ruler of the world.

Which leads us to an update on another question often tackled on this site… 

Who will develop molecular manufacturing first?

This was the subject of a recent commentary by Mike Treder for Nanotechnology Now.

Read the full article: “Who will win the nano race?”

This is an interesting commentary, and I highly recommend reading it in its entirety.  The article sets out to predict who will win the global race to create an MM capability and it attempts to draw some conclusions based on two variables:

1) Publication of peer reviewed papers on the subject of nanotechnology

2) Public and private funding of nanotechnology

While neither of these variables is sufficient to predict the winner of the race to molecular manufacturing, they do provide great insight into the amount of interest and focus on the subject by the respective scientific communities of the nations involved.  Treder’s commentary leans toward the conclusion that the United States maintains a decent lead in both areas.  However, further examination of the data reveals a different story.

In my opinion, funding is a less reliable indicator of commitment due to the fact that a covert government project is not counted in the final figures.  Therefore, we can’t really analyze accurate figures of each nation’s final expenditures in regard to nanotechnology.  However, peer reviewed papers offer a more reliable indicator because they illustrate the true depth and breadth of knowledge retained by a local research community concerning a particular area of scientific study.

At first glance, this chart appears to show a decisive advantage for the United States with the following figures* representing the total number of scientific publications originating in each country:

United States  18,200
Japan   8,000
China   7,200
Germany   7,000
United Kingdom  4,200
France   4,000
Italy   3,000
South Korea  2,000
Canada   1,800
Spain   1,700
Russia   1,600

*(all figures are approximate numbers)

However, the chart should actually indicate the following:

European Union  19,900
United States  18,200
Japan   8,000
China   7,200
South Korea  2,000
Canada   1,800
Russia   1,600

When the core nations of the European Union are treated as a single nation (which they should be in this instance given the cooperative nature of the Western European Union in the development of military armaments), it becomes clear that the United States is not the world leader in nanotechnology expertise – the European Union is.

If this is true, then the European Union is on its way to becoming the world’s ruling power, a development that isn’t surprising to those familiar with bible prophecy.  Afterall, the bible is clear that the final gentile world empire will be a revived version of the Roman Empire.

What Does All This Mean?

For those who missed previous articles on the subject of molecular manufacturing and its relation to bible prophecy, below is a list of past articles featured on BrittGillette.Com:

Revelation 6 (Part 1): The Rider on the White Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 2): The Rider on the Red Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 3): The Rider on the Black Horse
Revelation 6 (Part 4): The Rider on the Pale Green Horse
Paving the Way for the Antichrist
Who Will Develop Molecular Manufacturing?
Material Abundance In The End Times
Why Global Government Is Inevitable
Deception In The End Times
The Necessity of Global Government Confirmed

These articles shed light on the general direction in which this world is headed.  Although the bible does not explicitly mention molecular manufacturing, it does provide a description of the state of human affairs in the last days.  Much of what the bible describes parallels human predictions for the era of molecular manufacturing.

Does this mean molecular manufacturing is the tool with which the Antichrist will conquer the world?  Not necessarily.

But what we do know is that an alternative method for the establishment of the Antichrist’s diabolical kingdom has only a short window of time to materialize before the maturation of molecular manufacturing.  Since the development of molecular manufacturing will inevitably lead to the establishment of a global regime, and the bible states that a truly global government will not exist until the appearance of the Antichrist, then one can logically conclude that if the Antichrist does not appear before the development of molecular manufacturing, he must appear in tandem with it.

The aforementioned breakthroughs in the race to develop this powerful technology illustrate just how close the world is to the seven year Tribulation and the subsequent Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ.  This means the timing of the rapture is even closer.  In fact, the rapture is immiment, even more imminent than it ever has been if that makes sense.  All one has to do is examine the signs of our times, which the bible says are unmistakable signs of the last days:

1) The Jews are Gathered in the Land of Israel
2) Russia is Forming an Unprecedented Alliance with Muslim Nations
3) The Emerging World Power is the European Union
4) The Various Signs about which Jesus Spoke are now Present

Not all the signs of our times are mentioned here, but they are plentiful, and the development of molecular manufacturing is just one more bullet point to add to this list, since it has to occur in tandem with the Antichrist if this son of perdition has not already appeared by the time of its maturation.

Regardless, the signs are clears, our generation will witness the end of this age. 

Jesus Christ is standing right at the door, knocking for anyone willing to listen.  Soon, He will announce His presence to the world through means of the rapture, and soon thereafter He will establish His everlasting Kingdom where righteousness and justice will prevail forever and ever.

Will you be worthy of entering His Kingdom?  If you’re not sure, read “How Do I Get To Heaven?”  Rest assured that Christ has prepared a place for you in His Kingdom.  All you have to do is claim it.

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