With amazing brevity, our all-knowing God gave all who will pay attention an incredible glimpse of the future almost two thousand years before it happens. The Almighty said:
“And he [the False Prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [the image of the Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak [a high-tech image], and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed [death or no freedom of religion].
And he causeth all [a global society], both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell [a controlled society], save he that had the mark [a monitored society], or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15-17).
Concerning a high-tech image that can speak, science is going forward at such a rapid pace it is difficult for non-techies like me to keep up. The Bible doesn’t say that the False Prophet’s violent talking toy will be a robot. But robots that can speak to each other and carry on a normal conversation already exist, and more revolutionary robots are on the way. One company called Hanson Robotics has built almost two-dozen robots in the last decade. They believe it is possible to create robots more intelligent than human beings and just as socially adept.
Concerning no freedom of religion, President Obama has taken away the freedom of religious speech by our military personnel, denied military personnel the right to have a Bible on their desk and is forcing Christians to buy insurance that pays for abortions and morning after pills. Concerning persecution, he wants to fine Christians who don’t buy the insurance, he has sued some who object to buying the insurance on religious grounds, and his administration was caught delaying the tax-exempt applications of Christians based on their position on abortion and homosexuality, the prayers they prayed and the books they read.
Concerning a global society, that’s what the New World Order is all about. On December 3, 2012, Pope Benedict called for the establishment of a world government. On April 5, 2013, Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Export Import Bank Conference in Washington, DC and said, “The affirmative task we have now is to actually create a new world order.” Books have been written on the subject, but the fact that a former Pope and the Vice President of the U.S. have both called for it should cause people to pay attention.
Concerning a controlled society, President Obama has signed hundreds of executive orders empowering him to take control of almost everything in the United States. He has purged close to 200 of America’s top military leaders who disagree with his policies on women and gays in the military. Some who have taken civilian jobs say they have been warned not to criticize his policies. And CNN recently reported that some of America’s largest insurance companies have been warned that they should not say anything negative about the Affordable Healthcare Act and that they should not release information on how many insurance policies have been cancelled.
Concerning a monitored society, the NSA is monitoring our Internet searches, text messages, e-mails, Facebook postings, live chats and phone calls and the CIA is monitoring international money transfers. There are surveillance cameras everywhere. And drones that can track everything that moves in a 15 square mile area are becoming more and more common.
And over in the EU, the so-called model for the world, politicians are considering a bill (called the European Framework National Statute for the Promotion of Tolerance) to establish special administrative units to monitor all of their citizens who are suspected of being intolerant. As I understand it, their idea of intolerance includes individuals such as Islamophobes and homophobes; parents who teach their children moral values that are not politically correct; faith-based groups; privately owned newspapers, radio and TV stations; government critics and more.
As I was writing this, several verses of Scripture came to my mind. First,“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Second, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). Third, “when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33). Fourth, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
FYI: God Has Spoken (And We Know It) by Daymond Duck is available, (linked to my publisher @ https://www.raptureready.com/terry/book17.html). Books and a Kindle version are available at amazon.com. A Nook version is available at bn.com. Check out what it says about Syria, Russia, Iran, Egypt, natural disasters, the Two-State Solution, etc.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck