Is a “Cashless Society” a Sign of the End?

American Vision ^ | July 20, 2009 | Gary DeMar

[topcat54]

I’m beginning to see that prophetic speculation is taking place on the fringes of the Christian publishing industry. Of course, you will still find the occasional prophetic pot-boiler. Mark Hitchcock writes a couple of prophecy books a year. They are mostly exercises in “newspaper exegesis,” driven more by current events than the Bible. Consider these three, all to be published in 2009: The Late Great United States (Multnomah), 2012, the Bible, and the End of the World (Harvest House), and Cashless: Bible Prophecy, Economic Chaos, and the Future Financial Order (Harvest House). How do you go from The Late Great Planet Earth, Hal Lindsey’s mega-best seller from the 1970s, to the end of America? It seems to me that The Late Great Planet Earth would have included the United States. Anyone familiar with Lindsey’s timetable will remember that it was all to happen before 1988. Of course, these publishers are counting on people not remembering or not even knowing of past failed predictions. As P.T. Barnum is reportedly to have said (it was actually David Hannum), “There’s a sucker born every minute,” and these suckers make money for companies that continue to publish out-of-date prophecy books that end up being an embarrassment to the Christian faith.

The cashless society argument has been done before. Hitchcock’s former co-author, Thomas Ice, wrote The Coming Cashless Society in 1996 with Timothy Demy. Where does the Bible mention a “cashless society”? Revelation 13:17 is used as the operating prophetic text on this issue: “And [the Beast] 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 provides 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.” How does this translate into a cashless society? The “mark” is the key to the transaction. Nothing is said about what the people are using to buy or sell. It just says that they can’t buy or sell without the “mark,” and the mark has to be 666 on the forehead and right hand, not an imbedded microchip. If it’s a microchip in Revelation 13, then it’s a microchip in Revelation 14:1.

What if the world decides to make gold the coin of the realm? Wouldn’t this be a good thing? How could we oppose a world currency based on gold since it’s written into our constitution? “No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility” (Art. 1, sec. 10). Even the Bible considers gold to be a normative currency for everyone.

The meaning of Revelation 13:17 has to be found contextually. Like much of Revelation, its familiar symbols are meant to represent familiar concepts to its first readers. This is why Revelation must be read against the backdrop of the Old Testament and the contemporary historical context. As Ferrel Jenkins writes: “The book of Revelation is the most thoroughly Jewish in its language and imagery of any New Testament book. This book speaks not the language of Paul, but of the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.”[1] The beasts, both sea (Rome) and land (Israel), the mark on the hand or head (Deut. 6:8), and the number 666 should be interpreted in light of the Old Testament (1 Kings 10:14), similar to the way Sodom (Rev. 11:8), Egypt (11:8), Jezebel (2:20), Balaam (2:14), and Babylon (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21) are interpreted in Revelation. By understanding the way the Old Testament uses and applies marks and the significance of 666 (spiritual adultery with the nations: 1 Kings 11), it is not that difficult to determine what John is describing in Revelation 13.

There is an article on the Always Ready Apologetics Ministry Blog (ARAMB) website with the title “A One World Monetary System” (July 14, 2009). The “evidence” that Revelation 13:17 could be in the process of being fulfilled is that Russia, China, and other nations want to switch from the Dollar to a “united future world currency.” This must mean that at the present, the Dollar is the united world currency; it’s been so since after World War II. So why wasn’t the Dollar the fulfillment of Revelation 13:17? Charlie Campbell, the Director of ARAMB, doesn’t offer a sound biblical argument for his claim that “the Book of Revelation speaks of a time when there will be a one world monetary system in place (see Revelation 13:16–18).” His interpretation is based on an already adopted dispensational system. But there is no real exegesis to back it up. Campbell should take notice of his May 13, 2009 article “Hermeneutics 101: Interpret Scripture with Scripture.” He offers some very good advice:

A correct interpretation of the Bible will always be consistent with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, it is essential for us as students of the Bible to interpret a passage in light of what the rest of the Scriptures say on the topic.

Whoever carried the mark of the beast would be identified as someone who aligned himself with the beast, and whoever carried the mark of the Lamb would be identified with the blood and seal of the Lamb (Rev. 14:1). Those who identified with Rome against Jesus Christ died in the destruction of Jerusalem when Titus and his army swept in to destroy the temple and the city. These are the ones who drank “of the wine of the wrath of God” (14:10). Those who carried the name of Jesus’ Father “written on their foreheads . . . follow the lamb wherever He goes” (14:1, 4). The two marks identified two groups of people: one for Christ and one against Christ. As far back as Genesis, we find the division: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heal” (Gen. 3:15). Cain and Abel fit the pattern throughout biblical history that will one day culminate in the final judgment. Revelation 13:17–18 is not about economics.

The control of economic transactions drives modern claims of a one-world government controlled by the antichrist during the great tribulation. This sensationalistic but popular view is outlined by Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy in their book The Coming Cashless Society:

Using every means at his disposal, including the technology of a cashless society, the Antichrist and his demands will bring the world into its greatest-ever moral and economic turmoil. Such chaos will make the stock market crash of 1929 look like a minor economic adjustment.

Revelation 13:16, 17 is the biblical point of entry for discussion of the cashless society, a one-world government, global economics, and biblical prophecy.[2]

Revelation 13:16–17 says nothing about a “cashless society.” Having gone out on a limb with their prediction, the authors come back to biblical reality and write, “The Bible does not specifically predict computers, the Internet, credit cards, or any of the other trimmings that facilitate the modern electronic banking system.”[3] In fact, Revelation 13:16–17 does not describe the control of financial transactions but rather access to the temple controlled by the Jewish anti-Christian religious establishment. The key to interpreting the passage is the prohibition “to buy or to sell” (13:17) if a worshipper does not have the mark of the beast.

Buying and selling, properly understood, are worship-related rituals (Isa. 55:1–2). “This is established in [Revelation] 3:18 (and compare 21:6). When those who refuse the mark of the Beast are not allowed to buy and sell, it means that they are expelled from the synagogue and Temple. The merchants of the land in Revelation 18 are those who worshipped at the Temple and synagogue.”[4] “Babylon the Great,” described as “the great city” (18:2, 10, 21) is Jerusalem (11:8; 16:19). Jesus foretold that this would happen: “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue; but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Keep in mind that it is the “beast coming up out of the land” that is involved in these events. The land beast is most certainly associated with first-century Israel, especially the priests who control the temple.

Early in the church’s history the disciples went to the temple to preach the gospel (Acts 5:20–21, 24, 42; 24:12). At first, they were welcomed (Acts 2:46). Peter and John frequented the temple during “the hour of prayer” (Acts 3:1). Jewish Christians continued to use the temple, even participating in some of its rituals (Acts 21:26). After the temple officials learned that these Jews were preaching that Jesus was the Messiah—the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—Paul was “dragged . . . out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut” (21:26–30).

Jesus tells the church of Laodicea, “‘I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich. . .’” (Rev. 3:18). How were the people to buy gold from God? Buying gold refined by fire is symbolic and relates to spiritual worship. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that the reference to “buying and selling” in Revelation 13:17 is also symbolic and related to worship.

The interpretive background for understanding Revelation 13:17 can be found in the gospels. During Jesus’ ministry, the temple officials were “selling,” and worshippers were “buying,” access to the temple (Matt. 21:12). Their “buying and selling” turned “God’s house” into a “robbers’ den” (21:12–13), a “synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9; 3:9). Only those Jews who aligned themselves with the priests, the sacrificial system, and the temple buildings were allowed to enter the temple for worship. If anyone approaching the temple did not have the mark of the beast, that is, if they did not align themselves with what the temple now represented apart from Christ, they could not “buy or sell” in order to offer the appropriate sacrifices.

To take the “mark of the beast” meant a person denied that Jesus was the Messiah, the true temple of God, the only sufficient sacrifice. Of course, Christian Jews avoided the “mark of the beast” and showed their true allegiance to Jesus, “having His name and the name of his father written on their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1). They did this through public professions of faith and allegiance to Jesus over against the corrupt priesthood that had chosen Caesar over Christ (John 19:15).

When commanded not to “speak to any man in this name,” Peter and John responded, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:18–20). When the disciples heard Peter and John’s account of their encounter with the priests Annas and Caiaphas, they turned to Psalm 110 for understanding: “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples devise futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ’” (Acts 4:25-26). This “rage” only intensified as Jews made their decisions regarding Jesus more resolute.

All of these passages fit together nicely since true redemption comes from Mt. Zion where “the Lamb was standing.” And where is this “Mount Zion”?: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriad of angels” (Heb. 12:22). Revelation 13 and 14 contrast two ways of salvation: access to the stone temple through the mark of the beast (Rev. 11:1–2) or through Jesus the true temple (John 2:13–25) and the mark of the Lamb (rev. 14:1)

Endnotes:
[1] Ferrel Jenkins, The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1976), 22.
[2] Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy, The Coming Cashless Society (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1996), 69–70.
[3] Ice and Demy, The Coming Cashless Society, 85.
[4] James B. Jordan, A Brief Reader’s Guide to Revelation (Niceville, FL: Transfiguration Press, 1999), 19.

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Permission to reprint granted by American Vision, P.O. Box 220, Powder Springs, GA 30127, 800-628-9460.

[Quix]

I prefer to communicate such truth to those with ears to hear and eyes to see.

There are ample places on the web if one’s own synapses have trouble arriving at a list of possibilities and choosing the most plausible one.

[just me]

I am complete in Christ... I know this.. God is with us... All we have to do is believe..... May God bless you with the truth..... Free in Christ is a beautiful thing.

[jusduat]

I know that I am in my end times. If Jesus delays his
return, it will not be very many years until I go to him.
Even so.....

[guitarplayer1953]

There is the parable of the man retrieved by the good Samaritan brought to the inn and he paid two days lodgings and then said that he would return. one day = 1000 years two days and I will return = 2000 years the time is neigh.

10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 00504 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,(spirit & new birth) and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 00505 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence,(two days wages) and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

[Quix]

Amen and likewise.

Blessings,

[Quix]

You are not alone in such a state!

Blessings,

[Jo Nuvark]

Interesting to use the story of the good Samaritan
as a metaphor for when Jesus will return for us.

[Frumanchu]

I prefer to communicate such truth to those with ears to hear and eyes to see. There are ample places on the web if one’s own synapses have trouble arriving at a list of possibilities and choosing the most plausible one.

Wow...and we Calvinists are the ones who get accused of selectively preaching and browbeating?

Your witness stinks, friend. The fact that you show such open contempt and hostility towards those who do not share your eschatological views makes it clear that a) your priorities are WAY out of whack, and b) you don't seem to be interested in extended much grace to anyone, regardless of the fact that they profess faith in the same Christ that extended you and I both enough grace to save our rotten, sinful souls.

How you can be at ease professing Christ out of the same mouth you use to attack others is truly beyond me.

[Quix]

Am quite happy to extend grace to individuals.

Perspectives that I believe will result in folks needlessly ending up in hell are a serious concern.

Some I have a fair amount of hostility toward those perspectives.

[Quix]

Thanks for your very personal assessment of my witness and my priorities.

I shall take your assessment under prayerful advisement.

Cheers.

[Lee N. Field]

What is replacementarian?

Quix's personal term for those of us who happen to believe what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

[topcat54]

Your characteristic paradoxical confirmation of the truth is persistently welcome.

And your largely vacuous comments are never welcome, just annoying.

[Quix]

Another confirmation.

How nice.

Thanks.

[BuckeyeTexan]

I've been following a little bit of the discussion on "Replacementarians."

From what I gather, Quix believes you're one if you believe that the Christians replaced Abraham's seed (children.)

Lee N. Field references Ephesians 2 which says that our faith in Christ makes us eligible to the promises of God's covenant with Abraham. (made us both one)

Nowhere does the Bible say that we replace Abraham's seed. On the contrary, the Bible says we are joined together with Abraham's seed and counted eligible to the promises God made to Abraham.

No one has yet received the promises God made to Abraham, not even Abraham. Hebrews says this is so.

Hebrews 11 (known as the "By Faith" chapter) Verse 13:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Verse 39:

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

So, I'm confused what all the fuss is about. We Christians didn't replace Abraham's seed, we are counted as his seed by faith. Together, with Abraham and them, we will receive the promises God made to Abraham. There can be no argument to that truth.

[Lee N. Field]

Nowhere does the Bible say that we replace Abraham's seed. On the contrary, the Bible says we are joined together with Abraham's seed and counted eligible to the promises God made to Abraham.

You got it.

"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. "

[Cvengr]

"But never fear that you will be deceived into receiving the mark of the beast because if you love and serve God, you will not and cannot reject him."

We are also commanded to never sin again. Technically, if we remain in fellowship with Him in all things, it isn't necessary for believers to sin again, yet we also know that if we calim we do not sin, we are liars. A parallel argument could be made that if we love and serve Him, we will not and cannot sin again.

On the other hand, there might have been a reason for our Lord and Savior to have made a statement about a series of events which wouldn't transpire for several millennium, but had such devastating consequences for the souls which He loved, that He believed it appropriate to foretell these events, even some 2 millennium in advance of their fruition.

These events might be so ever literal that they were well foretold millennium in advance of their actual occurrence.

[BuckeyeTexan]

There is a difference between sin committed by unbelievers and sin committed by believers. The former sin leads to death, the latter does not.

I John 5:16-18

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

I'm not sure I agree with the parallel argument you suggest. I'll have to think about that one and get back to you.

My point in the statement you quoted was really that loving and serving God is a choice and it is, by definition, the opposite choice of rejecting God. Those receive the mark will make a conscious choice to reject God. We have already made our choice and therefore need not fear changing our minds. The parallel you offer is that of choosing sin. Continuing to sin as a believer is the flesh struggling with the spirit. There is no parallel struggling that takes place in loving and serving God. You either love him or you don't. (Note that I'm not implying that there aren't times when we are closer to God in our walk with than at other times.)

I'm not following your last two paragraphs. To what are you referring?

[Cvengr]

It is true, that He provides for our Spiritual Life, but it is false to assume Israel and the Church are the same.

Go back and read Scripture containing His Word.

Let God provide for our understanding, rather than resting upon our understanding to know Him.

[Cvengr]

Why do you teach, since in that time, His Word will be written in the hearts and minds of His people, no longer requiring one to teach one other about His Word.

[Cvengr]

The issues of sin have already been resolved at the Judgment at the Cross. Sin isn’t the issue.

The issue is to remain in fellowship with Him in all things. There is also explicit warnings given regarding the Mark of the Beast.

There are plenty of heinous, very evil sin, much more evil than taking on a mark of the Beast or even pledging allegiance to the devil, which are forgiven upon returning to God and confessing one’s sins to Him. The significance of the Mark of the Beast is much more profound, worthy of His Prophecy some 2 millennium before the event.

Some, if not the majority of Prophecy is very literal, not symbolic.

Technically, all sin leads to death, a state of existence involving separation, but in the case of believers, our post-salvation sin isn’t as much an issue as us returning to Him, so that we might continue in His Plan, and for Him to further sanctify us.

With respect to unbelievers, they already are condemned for they do not have a regenerated human spirit, nor are able to perceive the spiritual life until they have faith alone in Christ alone.

With respect to believers, the sin unto death is a state wherein our continued life in the body and soul out of fellowship, and continuing to reject Him, no longer has potential for any good by divine standards to perform His Plan.

Many believers sin, after salvation, never able to lose salvation, but simply are leaving rewards on the shelf as eternal memorials of our foolishness.