One of the greatest yet most subtle lies that has ever been foisted upon mankind has been in redefining what happiness means. At least in the realm of modern Western civilization, happiness has become synonymous with success and freedom. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with happiness, freedom, or success, but I want to address the version this world has become accustomed to, meaning freedom and success are always being associated with wealth or, at a minimum, financial liberty (i.e., not beholden to anyone).

If we think back to the old commercials from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, they almost always went something like “Live your best life” (Oprah’s brand), “Go for the gusto” (Schlitz), “Success is a Journey, Not a Destination,” (American Express), etc. Commercial marketing agencies spend billions of dollars each year crafting a relentless barrage of slick marketing campaigns aimed at creating this desire in all of us for something tangible. They are masters of creating whatever want or need they need to create in the minds of their consumers. This want or need creates a false illusion in the consumer that if they only had this thing, or that car, or this trip, or that lifestyle, they would finally find happiness and contentment.

Moreover, the world relentlessly pushes these messages out, equating the pursuit of consumerism and materialism as the be-all-end-all source of our joy, which they define by things and stuff. So, let’s break down the worldly definition of success:

• You are wealthy
• You are comfortable
• You are content
• You are independent

They argue this should lead to freedom. Thus, the definition of freedom (in light of success) is that you are:

• Wealthy: You have financial independence
• Comfortable: You have ample means to provide for your happiness
• Content: You have need of nothing
• Independence: You are beholden to no one

However, Jesus summarizes material wealth and success in this world with the following passage:

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36).

Indeed. What profit is it to the wealthiest man or woman in the world who lives anywhere for 70-100 years but then dies and now must spend eternity separated from his or her Creator? What good would all the trillions of dollars, euros, yens, yuans, bitcoins, etc. account for if you have no access to it the very second your heart pumps its last beat? The old saying (or any variation) is, “Life is short; follow your dreams.” This, too, is a lie from the pit of hell.

The reality is, “Life is short; eternity is forever.”

The only way to prepare for eternity is to go to the Author of Eternity and make your petition before Him at the foot of the Cross. We are not simply physical beings, like animals, who live, die, and then blink off into nothingness. No, we are amphibious (so to speak) in that we are both physical and spiritual beings. Our flesh was designed for mortality, our spirit for immortality. [See here for Pets.]

At the end of our lives (however long that may be), our bodies die, but our spirit will live on for all eternity in either one of two destinations. Yes, there are only two destinations that a human soul can go to after death, either with God or apart from Him. The Bible is crystal clear that God is the source of all that is good, holy, joyful, peaceful, restful, loving, light, fun, comfort, and so forth. Ergo, if you are separated from your Creator at the point of death, God will respect your wishes and allow you to enter into the destination YOU chose that is apart from Himself.

Now, if you remove God (and all He represents) from that location you chose, it is a place of eternal darkness, pain, misery, discomfort, anger, bitterness, wickedness, hate, hopelessness, torment, loneliness, regret, fear, thirst, hunger, desolation, and despair. This is what the Bible describes hell (sheol, hades) as being – a place devoid of God and all that is good. At the end of this present age, even hell will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15), where you will spend eternity drowning in a burning sulfuric lake whose fire is never quenched nor even provides a place to stand (footing) unless that footing comes by stepping on the head of another person beneath you. As in the case of this life or the next, there is no rest for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

Alternative

But that horrific and terrifying thought doesn’t have to be your fate. In Christ, you can not only have peace in the life to come but in this life as well. Now, before moving forward, we need to give a Biblical definition of peace:

• “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22).

You see, our default position coming into this world is eternal damnation. That isn’t your fault or mine because that began with the first two humans, Adam and Eve. We have inherited a sinful nature.

• Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—”
• Psalm 51:5: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”
• Ephesians 2:1-2: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”
• Ephesians 2:3: “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

But God, who is loving and longsuffering that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), came in the form of a Man through a miraculous virgin birth, then lived the life as a man, doing so perfectly without sin, became the perfect propitiatory sacrifice as the sinless Lamb of God satiating God’s wrath against sin by transferring that wrath upon Himself. This sacrifice was perfect and met the impossible demands (impossible for us, not for God), thereby providing a way through to eternal life to live with God in peace and happiness, forever (Gen. 22:8, Lev. 17:11, John 1:29, Heb. 10:14, Rev 5:12).

But it is not in Christ’s death alone that we have eternal life. He provides the perfect sacrifice through His death, for which we find our justification. But we have eternal life in His resurrection. Because if the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and Christ never sinned, therefore death had no hold or power over Him.

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).

Thus, if we are covered in the blood of His Son, then God the Father no longer looks at me and sees me simply as a “son of disobedience” destined for eternal wrath but sees me covered in the blood of His only Son, who satisfied the impossible demands of God’s perfect law. Thus, Christ extends His perfect righteousness to cover me (a fallen sinner) to now become acceptable before God the Father.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Most of the modern world states that inner peace can only come through financial success and personal freedom. But as we all have found out, your wealth and freedom can be taken from you. If you seek true peace and happiness now, you MUST first reconcile yourself to God through Jesus Christ. We cannot find inner peace within ourselves because we are (as stated above) born into a state of sinfulness where our thoughts are constantly at enmity with God.

But at the moment of our spiritual rebirth (John 3:3), the Father deposits God the Holy Spirit in us a deposit, sealing us until the day of redemption (the Rapture) so that we cannot lose our salvation (Eph. 1:11-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22, Eph. 4:30). With the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we (our newly reborn spiritual man) become attuned to the things of God rather than the things of man. This new nature opens our eyes and changes our perspective as to what is important in this life and what is not.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Now, that is not to say that all born-again believers are dutiful in listening to the still small voice of God. Some of the most miserable people I’ve ever met have been born-again believers still living in the carnality of this world. I should know; I was one of them. But when God sorts us out and pulls His lost sheep back into the fold, God can then begin to use us to great effect. It is then that we can find true freedom in Christ, which means we are finally at peace with God. Success!

FREEDOM:

1. John 8:36: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
2. Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
3. 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
4. Romans 8:2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
5. Psalm 118:5: “I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.”

SUCCESS:

1. Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
2. Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”
3. Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
4. Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
5. Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
6. Deuteronomy 8:18: “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
7. Proverbs 21:31: “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord.”

Conclusion

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).

Let me close with this thought. I know many will look around at their present circumstances and allow perplexion to lay siege to their thoughts. They will ask things like, I’m following God. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. So why am I broke? Why do I have all these health issues? Why is my marriage falling apart? Why are my kids so rebellious toward God? Why..Why…Why?

Perhaps it’s not as black and white as I am making it appear? Yes, life can become incredibly complicated. But those complications (regardless of their intricacies and entanglements) apply to us finite beings, not to an infinite God. Why God allows certain circumstances in our lives is often a mystery to us, but they are not a mystery to God. There is a reason, and whatever that reason is, you can rest assured that its purpose and conclusion are not superfluous.

“‘ For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.
‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The truth is, while we are making our best attempts at reconciling ourselves before God in the here and now, the choices we make (and have made) often have lasting and durable consequences. This goes back to the push and pull of free will versus predestination. Yes, God knows the end from the beginning (Isa 46:9-10, Matt 25:34, Eph. 1:4, et al.), but we still have the free will to determine what path we will take even if God’s sovereignty dictates that He already knows what will become of that path. I am particularly drawn to Ironside’s description of this dilemma in putting it in a picture that makes the best sense.

It has been pictured in this way. Here is a vast host of people hurrying down the broad road with their minds fixed upon their sins, and one stands calling attention to yonder door, the entrance into the narrow way that leads to life eternal. On it is plainly depicted the text, “Whosoever will, let him come.”… [But some will say], “I am going inside: I will accept the invitation; I will enter that door,” and he presses his way in, and it shuts behind him. As he turns about, he finds written on the inside of the door the words, “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.” Harry A. Ironside, In the Heavenlies (Ephesians), pages 27-28.

God, who knew you before He created the world, decided you would live in this time and at this place (wherever you are). He saw your life play out without Him in it and then pre-positioned Himself so that the Gospel of your salvation would either be accepted or rejected in some sense that would represent a form of finality (sealing up as it were) your destination. Knowing that God is longsuffering that NONE should perish, He puts the Gospel in your life to every degree possible so that if you reject this free offer of salvation, it would only be because you crawled over the cross and refused it anyway.

If I may build upon Ironside’s analogy of the door, consider this: Many who make the right choice—entering through the door that leads to eternal life—never venture much further beyond the threshold. While the door is the only entrance to eternal life, standing just inside it is not the destination. It opens to a journey, one marked by sanctification—the process by which we grow in Christ.

The question is: Do we remain spiritual infants, content with milk, or do we press forward, embracing the deeper truths that strengthen our faith and deepen our knowledge of the Lord (Eph. 4:11-16)? Too many believers step inside, only to settle just beyond the doorway, fetally curled up in complacency, nursing milk bottles as if nothing more were required of them. From their vantage point, they glance back, still captivated by their former life, longing for the company of those who, though appearing to enjoy themselves, are blindly marching toward eternal destruction.

The door was never meant to be a stopping point. It is the beginning of the greatest journey of all.

Still, the growing and laboring in the Lord does not rest in our sanctification alone, as if neverending learning was, in itself, the end state. No, our rest comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, in His finished work, knowing that we cannot add one iota to our own salvation. The works we do after our spiritual rebirth are done for His glory and in His strength. Thus, the journey of sanctification, regardless of how the born-again believer chooses to travel it, will one day result in our glorification (post-mortality), which comes either at the moment we die and graduate into glory, or we are caught up alive to be with our Lord in the heavenly realms.

Either way, we will be with the Lord in glory forever.

Now, I do not possess the answers to all the questions that people have regarding their hardships in this life. No human does. But our Father in Heaven does. And He put you and I here to live in this moment in time, to do what He has called us to do, according to His sovereign purposes. And whatever trials and tribulations lie in our paths, know that our Father believes we are up to the task, or else He wouldn’t have allowed it in our lives. You and I do not know the future; we only know the past and the present. But God knows the future, and whatever it is that is set before us, we must trust in the infinite goodness, longsuffering, and kindness of God, that it is something He will give us the strength to endure for His name’s sake.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

The truth is, no true believer in Jesus Christ can exist without being broken. We must be broken when we come to the foot of the cross and acknowledge our inability to save ourselves. And once this happens, the world (which is presently under the control of Satan) will invest everything it has to break us down and make us of no effect. If they can’t get to us, they will go through our friends and family. We are enemy number one to the countless ranks of principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Eph 6:12). We, like Peter, are walking targets earmarked by Satan who seeks to ‘sift you like wheat’ (Luke 22:31). We are like sheep being led to the slaughter, earmarked for their destruction.

But God.

God alone knows how to restore and transform us into the new man or woman He has called us to be. The old self must be cast off, and the new must take its place. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

We must remember that even the Devil is God’s devil—he has no power beyond what God permits. Not a single hair on your head can be touched without His sovereign will. And if God allows it, it is for His glory, and there is victory in the refining. But perhaps the greater question is this: If you are not facing opposition from Satan or his forces in this life, why not?

To those suffering, yes, life is unfair—sometimes unbearably so. But how do we respond to that unfairness? Do we endure it with the steadfastness of Job? Do we rationalize it away, like his friends? Or do we curse it, like his wife?

That choice is yours. But one thing remains certain:

“…that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

 

Schwab’s Intelligence Age: A Preview of the Antichrist Beast System?

At the 2025 World Governments Summit in Dubai, Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, presented his vision for the role of governments in what he terms the “Intelligent Age.” His speech emphasized global cooperation, rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), and a future shaped by technological advancements under government guidance. Among his key points were the need for a global regulatory framework, the importance of digital transformation, and the necessity of vaccinating populations every six months to combat emerging health threats.

While Schwab framed his speech as a call for responsible governance, we can see parallels between his proposals and the prophetic warnings of Revelation 13, which describes the coming Antichrist’s beast system – a global government that will exert unprecedented control over humanity. Could Schwab’s vision be an early stage of what the Bible foretells?

A Global Governance System: A Step Toward the Beast’s Control?

One of the main themes in Schwab’s address was the necessity of governments working together to regulate AI and technological advancements. He warned that without proper oversight, AI could spiral out of control, causing societal instability. However, his proposed solution, a globally unified framework, sounds strikingly similar to the centralized authority described in Revelation 13:7, which says the Antichrist will have “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.”

Schwab’s push for a digitally integrated society echoes the biblical warning of a future world leader who will enforce economic control over all people. Revelation 13:16-17 describes this system in chilling detail:

“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).

Schwab’s insistence that AI, digital IDs, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) must be implemented in a responsible, global manner raises concerns that such a system could eventually evolve into a form of financial and societal control. One that could be used to enforce compliance with a future world leader’s decrees.

Vaccinating the World: A Prelude to Global Health Control?

One of the most controversial elements of Schwab’s speech was his advocacy for a vaccination system requiring the global population to receive shots every six months. While his stated goal was to protect against emerging health threats, his remarks revive concerns about government overreach in public health policies.

During the COVID-19 plandemic, vaccine mandates became a major flashpoint, with governments around the world imposing restrictions on those who refused vaccination. Some fear that future health policies could go even further, requiring digital health passports or biometric verification to participate in basic economic activities. Something that could become a forerunner to the Mark of the Beast system described in Revelation 13.

While vaccinations themselves are not inherently evil, the infrastructure being put in place, a system that can track and regulate individuals based on their medical status, raises questions about how such technology could be used in the wrong hands. Jesus warned that in the last days, deception would be rampant:

“See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many” (Matthew 24:4-5).

The question believers must ask is whether such policies are truly for the common good, or whether they are laying the groundwork for a system that could be used to coerce compliance with a future global government.

The Push for AI and Transhumanism: Redefining What It Means to Be Human

Another key aspect of Schwab’s speech was the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping society. He emphasized the importance of public education to “demystify” AI and help people accept its integration into daily life. However, the broader trend of AI development, including its intersection with transhumanism, suggests that this is more than just an economic shift. It is an attempt to redefine what it means to be human.

Transhumanism, the idea that humanity can evolve beyond its biological limits through technology, aligns with many of the goals discussed at the World Economic Forum and other globalist think tanks. Schwab himself has previously promoted the idea of merging humans with AI, stating that the “fourth industrial revolution” will lead to “a fusion of our physical, digital, and biological identities.”

This echoes another chilling passage in Revelation, where the false prophet breathes life into an image of the beast, allowing it to speak and enforce worship:

“And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15).

Could AI play a role in this prophetic scenario? As technology advances and people grow more comfortable with AI-driven decision-making, the world is being primed for a future where digital governance and control could dictate not just economic activity, but belief systems as well.

Larry Ellison’s Biometric Initiative: A Move Toward Digital Identification

At the same summit, Oracle’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, Larry Ellison, announced a significant shift in cybersecurity measures. He declared that Oracle plans to eliminate the use of passwords within the next year, transitioning instead to biometric authentication methods. Ellison criticized traditional passwords as insecure and outdated, advocating for biometrics as a more reliable alternative. This move reflects a broader trend in the tech industry toward enhanced security measures that rely on unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition.

While biometric authentication can offer improved security, it also raises concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse. The creation of comprehensive biometric databases could, in the wrong hands, facilitate unprecedented surveillance and control over individuals. This development aligns with the concept of a centralized system capable of monitoring and regulating personal identity, reminiscent of the control described in Revelation 13.

The Shift Toward Biometric Control: A Digital Precursor to the Mark of the Beast?

The shift to biometric authentication, as promoted by Ellison, is part of a larger movement toward digital identification systems. The use of biometrics ensures that access to critical services, whether banking, healthcare, or government resources, is tied to a person’s physical characteristics rather than traditional credentials. This is already being implemented in various countries, with digital IDs becoming increasingly necessary for travel, finance, and public services.

While this is marketed as a security improvement, the implications are profound. Once access to financial and social systems is tied to biometrics, those who refuse to comply with specific mandates could find themselves locked out of essential services. This mirrors the warning in Revelation 13:17, which states:

“and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

If a global biometric system becomes the only means of authentication, it could lay the foundation for a future system where compliance with governmental or ideological requirements determines access to society. Those who resist could be shut out, much like those who refuse the Mark of the Beast in the last days.

Digital Surveillance State

The World Governments Summit focused heavily on artificial intelligence and its role in governance, economics, and security. Several speakers highlighted how AI can enhance government efficiency, improve public safety, and streamline regulatory enforcement. However, AI also enables a digital surveillance state unlike anything seen before. Governments and corporations are increasingly deploying AI-driven tools to monitor communications, track movements, and predict behaviors.

The merging of AI with surveillance systems could be a critical component in the Antichrist’s future control over the world. Revelation 13:15 warns that the image of the beast will have power to speak and to enforce worship, which could suggest some form of AI-driven enforcement mechanism.

Today’s AI is fast approaching such power with the rapid advancements in machine learning, robotics, and deepfake technology. This suggests a future where digital entities could exert real-world influence over people’s lives. In fact, one could suggest that we are already there in some aspects.

The Road Ahead: A Biblical Perspective

As believers, we must approach these developments with discernment. The Bible warns that before the return of Christ, the world will experience a time of deception, control, and persecution of those who refuse to conform to the system of the Antichrist. Schwab’s vision for the Intelligent Age is not, in itself, the beast system of Revelation 13, but it lays the groundwork for such a system to emerge.

Paul warned us that in the last days, there would be an increase in lawlessness and deception:

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

The rise of global governance, digital control, and AI-driven systems should remind us to be vigilant, always looking to God’s Word for guidance. Our hope is not in earthly institutions, but in Jesus Christ, who will ultimately return to establish His kingdom. Until then, we must remain “battle ready,” understanding the signs of the times and standing firm in our faith.

Conclusion: The Path to Global Compliance

Klaus Schwab’s vision for the Intelligent Age is one of centralized governance, technological integration, and enhanced control through AI, biometrics, and digital identification. While he frames these advancements as necessary for global stability, Christians must recognize the underlying trajectory. The policies and technologies being promoted today are setting the stage for a system of total control, one that mirrors the beast system prophesied in Revelation 13.

As these developments unfold, believers must remain vigilant, discerning the times and standing firm in biblical truth. While technology itself is not inherently evil, its use in establishing global compliance and restricting freedom should raise alarm. The warnings of Scripture are clear: a time is coming when allegiance to a world leader will be mandated, and those who resist will be persecuted.

In light of these revelations, Christians must continue to spread the Gospel, warn others of the coming deception, and place their trust not in global governance but in the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ. As we see these signs accelerating, we must remember the words of our Lord:

“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).