Showing posts with label Bible prophecy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible prophecy. Show all posts

Monday, July 13, 2015

The Illuminati, the New World Order, and Biblical Prophecy


Secret Societies and Biblical Prophecy




Video Source:
Youtube/NeverSurrender
Radio Transcript Source: The Cutting Edge
Link: About.me



The following is an excellent production from a Canadian filmmaker. In this presentation Leonard Ulrich lays out the formation and structure of the major secret societies and how they have been and are in the process of establishing the framework for a New World Order, a 'Golden Age'. Their Alchemical/Hermetical Process (of engineering, programming, conforming, and conditioning humanity) is almost complete as evidenced by their continual Revelation of the Method.
Please read the radio transcript from Cutting Edge (below the video.)









NWO PLANS FULFILL BIBLICAL PROPHECY



(Radio Show Transcript Follows)

Source: the Cutting Edge radio program


"This is David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries."

"And this is the Cutting Edge, a radio program dedicated to warning and informing God's people. We are committed to the study and exposition of the inerrant, inspired and authoritative Word of God. The views expressed belong to us, and are not necessarily shared by this station.

Our society is deteriorating, and Bible-believing Christians are ill-prepared to face that deterioration. This radio program is dedicated to preparing God's people to meet the challenges of the Day, and to encourage obedience to the Word of God in being separated from worldliness and false doctrine.

The moral bankruptcy of our society is well-documented.

Few people understand why we have become morally bankrupt. However, when we look at society through the eyes of God, through the Bible, we can easily see why we are facing the unprecedented troubles today. This study of America through the eyes of God is what we will always do try to here; stay with us for some eye-opening truths.

In several of our previous programs, we have mentioned that many of the Plans of the New World Order, if they are realized, would fulfill Biblical Prophecy to an astonishing degree. In addition, doctrines of the New World Order, as stated, do fulfill those Biblical Prophecies which apply to the beliefs of the kingdom of Anti-Christ.

Today, we will examine some of these instances, and in so doing, will enable your faith in God's Omnipotent power and Foreknowledge to grow dramatically.

We will proceed by explaining the specific plank of the New World Order Plan and then the specific Biblical prophecy which foretold it."


1. NWO: The world will be united under One-world Government, led by the Maitreya the Christ.

BP: Revelation 13:15-17 clearly shows that the Beast will rule the world with absolute authority. Only a One-World Government would have the ability to force all the peoples of the world to worship him and to take his mark, without which no one could buy or sell.

2. NWO: The world's religions will be united into one Religion.

BP: Revelation 13:11-15 shows that the False Prophet will assist the world in worship. He will force all men of the world to worship the image of the beast, under the pain of death. This is a One-World Religion.

3. NWO: The world's Economy will be united into one global system.

BP: Revelation 13:16-17, foretells that the Beast, aided by the False Prophet, will force everyone on earth to take a mark, without which they cannot buy or sell. Only a Global System, backed by political and spiritual authority, could accomplish such a feat.

4. NWO: When Maitreya the Christ arises, he will claim to be the Christ. By using these 2 words, The Christ, Maitreya will be laying claim to the office of Messiah while separating it from the person, Jesus.

BP: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-Christ..." (1 John 4:3). Literally, this passage means that anyone who would seek to separate Jesus the Man/God from the office of Messiah is of the spirit of Anti-Christ. This is precisely what Maitreya will be doing.

5. NWO: The One-World Economy will control the world's food supply, and will force all nations to share equally.

BP: Clearly, if the Global Government as foretold in Revelation 13:16-17, could force everyone to take a mark which would be utilized economically, they could also control the world's food supply.

6. NWO: Soon after Maitreya the Christ arises, the peoples of the world will be forced to undergo a massive, "World-Wide Luciferian Initiation". Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be killed. Christians and orthodox Jews are specifically targeted.

BP: "And he shall speak great words against the Most and shall wear out the saints of God...and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3 1/2 years)". (Daniel 7:25). Revelation also speaks of God allowing Anti-Christ to kill many saints of God, in 6:9-11;7:14-17; 12:11; 13:5-7; 14:12-13; and 20:4.

Benjamin Creme has repeatedly threatened the sword of cleavage against all who refuse to cooperate with Maitreya. This brings to mind the Biblical prophecy in Revelation 20:4 that "I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God..."

7. NWO: "Guiding Spirits" of the New World Order leaders have begun to tell them to be prepared for a simultaneous, world-wide disappearance of millions of people. These spirits ascribe this phenomenon to the fact that these people will never be able to accept Maitreya the Christ. Their continued existence on this plane will inhibit the full implementation of the New World Order; therefore, the Masters of the Illuminati have made the decision to transport them into another dimension, where their spirits will be retrained to accept the New World Order.

BP: "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God...Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together...in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air..." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-7).

8. NWO: The New Age teaches that each human has a potential godhead dwelling within them. All that is necessary for anyone to fulfill this potential is to "expand their consciousness" level properly. But, the bottom line message is: "You Are All Gods". (Alice Bailey, Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 663). This teaching seems very alluring to someone who is not saved, for they are being promised godhood.

BP -- "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils..." (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

9. NWO: Peter LeMesurier, in his book, The Armageddon Script, states that tremendous miracles will surround the appearance of Maitreya. These miracles will be part technology, part deliberate staging, and part media hype by the world's mass media. Cumbey, in her book, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, quotes writings which reveal plans to utilize 3-dimensional laser beams from satellites to create the image of Maitreya to speak to all the world simultaneously, speaking to each area in their particular language. [Research the Blue Beam Project] Finally, in a seminar which I attended in Boston, August, 1991, given by the New England Director of the Theosophical Society, it was revealed that Maitreya will be able to appear as different beings to different people. He will appear as a woman to a woman, as a man to a man; he will appear as a Caucasian to a Caucasian, as Black to a Black, etc.

Further, New World Order planners intend to beam down streams of fire from the heavens, using Supernatural Psychic power, to impress people as to the divine nature of Maitreya.

BP: Revelation 13:13-14, "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceivth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles..."

10. NWO: New Age Leaders, including the Illuminati, worship the Lord of this World, whose name is Sanat Kumara (Alice Bailey, Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p.676, 709, 725; and Elizabeth Van Buren, The Secret of the Illuminati, p. 1). Bailey goes on to explain that Sanat Kumara is the "life and the forming intelligence", presiding over the Council of Shamballa [the Heaven according to New Age doctrine]. (The New Age Dictionary, p. 172) Further, Sanat Kumara is "the eternal youth from the Plant Venus. Lucifer is known in occultic lore as Venus. Therefore, Sanat Kumara is merely another name for Satan or Lucifer. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow.)

BP: It is impossible to overlook the fact that Sanat is just a translocation of the spelling, Satan. And the Bible calls Satan the "God Of This World". (2 Cor 4:4). Remember, the context is worship of Sanat Kumara (Satan). Revelation 13:15, "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast...and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Thus, in accordance with Biblical prophecy, the Plan envisions worship of Sanat Kumara.

11. NWO: When a person can come into full accord with the attribute of the Love of the Great One, they may "enter fully into the Spirit of God of Force." (Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, p.16). It is very obvious that New Agers literally worship Lucifer, the god of Forces. This worship is littered all throughout their writings.

BP: Daniel 11:38 -- "But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces..." New Age leaders and followers literally worship Lucifer, the god of forces.

12. NWO: Jesus was not THE ONE AND ONLY Divine Son of God; rather, he was an Avatar, a world teacher who periodically has come to earth during a particular time in world history to lead mankind to a new level of consciousness. Human Jesus experienced the infilling of the Divine Christ Consciousness at the time of His baptism by John The Baptist. This Christ Consciousness then left Him at the Cross. This Divine Consciousness has never left the earth, but is just waiting for the right moment to reappear in the human body of Maitreya the Christ. (Alice Bailey, The Reappearance of The Christ, p. 36-60, and Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Gospel, p. 14).

BP: "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1). This New Age denial of one of THE key doctrines of Christianity, taught by Jesus personally, is a doctrine of devils. Jesus refuted this lie most succinctly when He said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).

13. NWO: New Age leaders have consistently taught that the earth is seriously overpopulated. Friends of the Earth has most succinctly stated this position, stating, "an earth population of 6 billion, already overburdened by 4 billion." (Cumbey, A Planned Deception: The Staging of A New Age Messiah, p. 164-5). Further, they have set a time limit on this overpopulation -- 2,000 AD. New Age leaders seem to be fixated on the number two-thirds regarding population reduction. Why two-thirds? Scripture holds the understanding. I believe that, since these leaders are Satanists, we have to examine possible reasons that Satan may hate two-thirds of mankind.

BP: Revelation 12:4, "And his (Satan's) tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them down to the earth..." This Scripture reveals that, when Satan fell because of his rebellion against God, one-third of the angels of Heaven decided to become a part of his rebellion. This statistic means that two-thirds of God's angels remained faithful to God. Satan must hate these angels, but he cannot overcome God's power so that he could punish these angels. I believe it possible that Satan then turned his anger toward the being which was made in God's image (man), and against God's chosen race (the Jews).

Zechariah 13:8 (the time frame is End Times Prophecy), "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land (Israel), saith the Lord, two parts (two-thirds) therein shall be cut off and die, but the third part shall be left..." God is going to allow Satan to kill two-thirds of the Jewish population at the time of the end, during the Great Tribulation but will preserve the remnant of one-third. The parallel is found in Revelation 12, where God protects Israel in the wilderness for 42 months.

In this regard, we cannot ignore an interesting fact of recent history. Adolf Hitler believed that he was the Anti-Christ; as such, his unfathomable hatred of the Jews reflected the burning hatred of Satan. We see, throughout the Scriptures, that Satan hates the Jews and is constantly attempting to destroy them. Hitler's goal was to totally eliminate the Jewish population. New Age author Nigel Pennick, states in his book, Hitler's Secret Sciences, in Chapter 14, entitled Genocide -- An Act Of Black Magic, that Hitler intended, prior to WWII, that the Genocide program against the Jews would require physically conquering countries in Europe from Britain to Russia. Thus, Hitler's war effort was determined by his desire to conquer countries with Jewish populations so he could complete his world-wide program of genocide. This startling concept certainly explains why precious resources continued to flow to the death camps, even during the last stages of the war, when men, material, and transportation facilities were desperately needed by the military. Pennick concludes, "Genocide was the magical act whereby the history of the world would forever be transformed..the elimination of the Jews...would leave a vacuum for the ascendance of the demonic powers ...controlling the Third Reich." (p. 137)

God allowed Hitler to kill two-thirds of the world's population of Jews, preserving the one-third remnant to establish the nation of Israel in 1948. In precisely the same manner, God will allow Anti-Christ to kill two-thirds of the Jews during the last half of the Great Tribulation, preserving the one-third remnant to establish the Israel for the return of Jesus Christ.

I believe that the reason the New World Order seems so intent on killing two-thirds of mankind is that two-thirds of God's angels remained true to Him when Satan rebelled.

14. NWO: This New World Religion will be a re-establishment of the ancient Mysteries of Initiation. (Alice Bailey, The Reappearance of the Christ, p. 71; Bailey, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 511-515). Literally, this statement means that the Ancient Satanic Mysteries of Babylon and Egypt will be re-established as the religion of the world. In other words, public Satanism will be established, and will be practiced as openly as Christianity is today!

BP: "And at the latter end of the kingdom...a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark trickery and craftiness shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power..." (Daniel 8:23-24) The words "understanding dark trickery and craftiness" refers to the knowledge of the occultic arts. This has been the goal of members of secret societies for over 3,000 years. The Ancient Satanic Mysteries of Babylon will be re-established.

15. NWO: The Christian Trinity is inferior to the Solar Logos Trinity. This false Trinity is not a personal godhead but a godhead of Forces. The Bailey writings list a hierarchy of superior offices, and at the bottom, many masters. Guess who is at the bottom of the masters? Jesus. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 65-67).

BP: Daniel 11:36 (The context in this passage is the Anti-Christ), "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous (literally, astonishing) things against the God of gods..."

This Scripture literally means that Anti-Christ shall utter the most blasphemous words possible against God. No one can say anything more blasphemous than to say that Jesus is not God, but just a lowly master, far more lowly than Sanat Kumara (Satan).

16. NWO: Threatens violence and extermination of anyone who will not cooperate with Maitreya. Special hatred is vented toward fundamental Christians and Jews. David Spangler, in his book, Revelation: The Birth Of A New Age, states that those who will not cooperate will be sent to "another level of Earth's own consciousness where they can be contained and ministered to until such time as they can be released safely into physical embodiment again". (p. 163-4)

Obviously, to be released back into physical embodiment again means that these people must be first separated from their present physical embodiment. The only way to accomplish this separation is to physically kill those who cannot accept Maitreya.

BP: "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God..." Revelation 6:9.

"As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them." (Daniel 7:21)

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them..." (Revelation 13:7)

17. NWO: "Since most people will not exercise [economic] restraint [from over-consumption, we must] take control of the world...to reduce the economic inductance of the world to a safe level by a process of benevolent slavery and genocide." (William Cooper, Behold A Pale Horse, p. 49). This statement is incredibly arrogant. The last time that a New Age Disciple threatened benevolent genocide was during the 1930's when Hitler was threatening to exterminate the Jews; Hitler viewed his planned extermination as benevolent for Germany, the world, and even the Jews. This statement is clearly a call for war against all people who are deemed unworthy for the New World Order.

BP:
"And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given unto him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword." (Revelation 6:4).

Notice that the sword given to this rider of the Red Horse of War was a great sword. How great? We get an excellent idea from Alice Bailey's, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 548, "As a means in the hands of the United Nations...the atomic bomb does not belong to the... nations who...own the secrets at present...It belongs to the United Nations for use...or threatened use..." Certainly, the atomic bomb would qualify as a great sword.

18. NWO: The New World Order will be a combined system of Progressive Socialism and Fascism, in which the means of production and distribution will be tightly controlled and in which national currencies will have been replaced by a universal monetary exchange. (Bailey, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 580-1). Bailey further deals specifically with the change-over in economic thinking and systems on page 666, with the revelation that this change-over will be regulated by a specific Master Ashram (demonic angel). It is no accident that economic change is specifically covered on page 666.

BP: The Bible states that the identifying number of the economic system of Anti-Christ shall be the number 666 (Revelation 13:18).

19. NWO: "Eventually, every individual element of the [economic] structure come under computer control...with identified consumers identified via association with the use of a credit card and later a permanent tattooed body number invisible under normal ambient illumination." (Cooper, Behold A Pale Horse, p. 44). ]

BP: "And he causeth all, 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, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17)

20. NWO: As the world proceeds to full implementation of the New World Order, the present line-up of 170 sovereign nations must give way to a regionalization. Specifically, the world should be reorganized into 10 Super Nations:

1. North America
2. Western Europe
3. Japan
4. Australia, South Africa, and the rest of the market economy of the developed world.
5. Eastern Europe, including Russia
6. Latin America
7. North Africa and the Middle East
8. Tropical Africa
9. South and Southeast Asia
10. China (Eduard Pestel, Mankind At The Turning Point, Reader's Digest Press, 1974).


Map of Ten Kingdoms
The Ten Kingdoms


Why did the leaders of the New World Order conceive of 10 nations, instead of some other number? The answer, from man's point of view, lies in a knowledge of occultism. Occultists consider the Number 10 a magical symbol, consisting of an upright man (as represented by the vertical 1) standing before the circle (as represented by the zero). In magical terms, the most important part of this symbol, 10, is the space between the 1 and the 0. This space represents an upright man contemplating the universe in freedom. (Frederick Goodman, Magic Symbols, p. 46-7).

Freedom from what? Freedom from religion, as represented by the 0. Thus, man is arrogantly pictured as standing apart from organized religion. The number 10 is the ultimate expression of the prideful way in which the New World Order leaders conceive of themselves in relation to the world and to religion.

BP: Daniel 7:7, "And this I saw in the night visions, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly...and it had ten horns..." Biblical prophecy clearly states that the kingdom of Anti-Christ will be global and will consist of 10 horns (nations). We see this picture again in Revelation 17:16-17.

No other single Scripture of prophecy convinces more of God's Sovereignty than Revelation 17:17. "For God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill His will...until the words of God shall be fulfilled." If Satan were more powerful than God, he would choose any number other than ten for the number of his final national reorganization; the very fact that New World Order leaders chose the number 10 for the global reorganization prior to the appearance of Anti-Christ shows God's absolute sovereignty.

21. NWO: Writing in August, 1939, Alice Bailey stated, "In the preparatory period for the New World Order there will be a steady and regulated disarmament. It will not be optional. No nation will be permitted to produce and organize any equipment for destructive purposes or to infringe the security of any other nation." (The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 191).

Certainly, no one could ever argue with this premise; if this plan were ever really carried out, we would have peace and safety. Indeed, peace and safety of all nations is precisely the goal of the New World Order.

BP: Biblical prophecy is also quite clear that this is the way in which the Anti-Christ will obtain his kingdom. Daniel 11:21b states, "he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom with flatteries". Paul also states that the peoples of the world at the time of the end will believe that they have achieved peace and safety. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

However, Paul warns that this belief will prove to be false, because, just when they are saying this to one another, sudden and complete judgment falls upon them. This judgment falls so quickly and completely that no one escapes it awful destruction. What weapon in the history of warfare will destroy this completely and suddenly? Clearly, only nuclear warfare.

Does Bailey shed any further light on this matter? Yes, writing in April, 1946, in The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, she states, "The atomic bomb does not belong to the...nations who...own the secrets at present...It belongs to the United Nations for use (or...for threatened use when aggressive action on the part of any nation rears its ugly head." (p. 548) Wow! The Planners of the New World Order have plans to wage nuclear war against any nation or group of people who threaten the rule of Maitreya the Christ. Now we can understand how the next horse out of heaven after the white horse of Anti-Christ is the horse of war, carrying a great sword.

22. NWO: Part of the New World Order Plan is to abolish traditional religious holidays, substituting pagan festivals such as good Friday and Christmas. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers Of The Rainbow, p. 83).

BP: "And he shall...think to change times and laws". (Daniel 7:25)
[See also: Time, CERN, and the Bible]

23. NWO: Bailey states repeatedly in The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy that traditional Protestant religions must change their doctrines prior to the establishment of the New World Order. They must abandon their insistence on rigid doctrinal positions. Mankind has a great "need for spiritual unity and to throw overboard all separative theological attitudes and dogmas in every field of thought." (p. 378). These old dogmatic doctrines must give way to the ancient Satanic Mysteries, as we have already quoted.

BP: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1).

24. NWO: Teaches the doctrine that Maitreya will be greater than Jesus Christ. "While Jesus had had a resurrected body after the crucifixion, he had to forfeit that body because he had not earned the right to keep it [because] Jesus was only a fourth level initiate, whereas Gautama Buddha was a sixth level initiate. However, Lord Maitreya himself was a seventh level initiate and the only one eligible for such a high level of initiation." (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 96-7).

BP: "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished.." (Daniel 11:36). ALSO:

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Clearly, the arrogant attitude on the part of Maitreya which will cause him to claim to be God is present in these incredible blasphemies against the person of Jesus Christ. Remember, also, that these planned heresies were written by people who claim that their writings have been inspired by their 'guiding spirits'.

We have examined over 20 instances where New World Order doctrines and plans precisely mirror Biblical prophecy. According to the Laws of Probability, the odds against only 20 prophecies coming to pass accidentally are 1,048,000 to 1. To arrive at this figure, we did not figure into the equation any time frame or sequence of fulfillment, which would make the numbers higher. All we calculated is the chance that such a prophecy could be accidentally fulfilled.

Clearly, this exercise builds one's confidence that we are living in the very end of the age. When you have this amount of potential Biblical prophecy fulfillment, simultaneously occurring at the same time as many other Biblical prophecies, such as the restoration of Israel, you must seriously conclude that Jesus Christ is most probably at the door.


You have been listening to the Cutting Edge, a radio program of Old Paths Ministries.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Hyperinflation

Eschatology Banner




HYPERINFLATION?




Author: Britt Gilette
Source: End Times Bible Prophecy - 11.13.2008



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.

Pre-war Germany Hyperinflation


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.

Deflationary-Spiral



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.

Spiral of Deflation



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's 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 since the jobless are not a reliable source of customers 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 little 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, is 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)



Britt Gillette is the founder of End Times Bible Prophecy and the author of Signs Of The Second Coming: 11 Reasons Jesus Will Return in Our Lifetime.