Posted on 12/06/2025 9:32:55 AM PST by Roman_War_Criminal
One prophetic element stands out in considering the seven-year Tribulation era regarding the Antichrist regime. That is the economic platform prophesied to be at the heart of the Beast system.
With so many signals in view that point to the brewing Tribulation tempest, we should expect—if we’re reading the end-times signals correctly—that this heart of the Beast should be well along in its construction. We’ve covered all the indicators found within current issues and events that we believe are signals like those given by Jesus and the prophets. National and world economies have been dealt with in our efforts to make prophetic sense of the dynamic rearrangements taking place in recent times.
America’s staggering weight of debt and threat of economic decline, despite the Trump administration’s determination and successful efforts to begin restoring fiscal responsibility and produce recovery, is front and center in pointing to the fact that this is the generation that stands at the end of one dispensation (the Church Age) and upon the precipice of the next (the Tribulation). Each hour seems to bring additional confirmation that the Tribulation storm is about to break upon an uncomprehending world. We see such confirmation in abundance in the realm of geopolitics and global economics.
Since Bible prophecy clearly says the Antichrist government, thus the economic engine that will power that absolute dictatorship, will emerge from Europe, we need to keep our prophetic antennae pointed in that direction. In other words, we must be especially alert to news involving movement within Europe to cause significant changes to the global economic structure.
The following excerpt from the European Union hierarchy registers an interesting blip on my own end-times radar screen.
“Geopolitical shifts and heightened policy uncertainty remind us that no currency’s global position is guaranteed,” Christine Lagarde told EU policymakers…
The European Union must “do its homework” and seize the unprecedented opportunity to strengthen the global role of the euro at the expense of the US dollar, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde urged on Monday.
Speaking to the European Parliament’s economy committee, the ECB chief said that current geopolitical instability provides EU policymakers with a “unique opportunity … to strengthen the euro’s role on the global stage.”
“The world is in transition,” Lagarde added. “Geopolitical shifts and heightened policy uncertainty remind us that no currency’s global position is guaranteed. It has to be earned.”
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs and attacks on the US Federal Reserve’s independence have sparked deep investor unease about the future of the US dollar, which has dominated global finance since the end of the Second World War…
Many non-Western countries, including the ‘BRICS’ group of nations – which includes China and Russia – have [like the EU] sought to “de-dollarise” the global payments system in recent years, despite Trump’s threats to impose 100% tariffs on nations seeking to move away from the US dollar.
A more “global” euro would allow businesses, households, and governments in the 20-country single currency area to enjoy lower borrowing costs, Lagarde said – much as global demand for dollar-denominated assets has afforded Washington the “exorbitant privilege” of consistently low interest rates despite years of widening budget deficits.
But for this to be achieved, “Europe must do its homework and strengthen its foundations” by integrating capital markets, safeguarding central bank independence, deepening trade links with third countries, developing a “digital euro” that isn’t dependent on US payment infrastructure, and issuing a “safe and liquid pool of EU public debt,” Lagarde said.
“The euro can be more than the currency of a continent and a symbol of unity; it can become a global anchor of trust,” she said, adding that the bloc’s policymakers should help “transform that vision, that dream into a reality.” (“EU must seize ‘unique opportunity’ to supplant US dollar dominance, says ECB president,” https://www.euractiv.com)
Prophecy scholars and others have long pondered why the US, the most powerful nation in history, isn’t mentioned by name—or even by significant reference—in God’s Word. We continue to flounder in attempts at finding an exact answer for that question. However, with the recent astonishing changes nationally and abroad, the answer seems to be in the process of forming.
Monetary manipulation is at the root of the change taking place. The American dollar must be removed as the currency standard so that a global currency not underwritten by any national monetary unit can be established. This is precisely the Beast economic order I’m convinced Bible prophecy describes, as outlined in the following:
“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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Rev. 13:16-18).
This speaks to me of a computer system—a hybrid Internet whereby all citizens of the global economic order will be absolutely controlled at every level of life. Probably, it will consist at its heart of electronic funds transfer (EFT)–a system of special drawing rights (SDR)—all governed, no doubt, by an ultra-advanced AI technology along with Antichrist’s demonic evil. Anyone refusing to toe the mark of the Antichrist’s regime will face having his or her SDR account blocked or entirely removed from the system. Fear of starvation is a mighty motivator to comply.
Pressures are mounting for a completely changed global economic order. Even the king of the kings of the East, China, is at the center of the dynamics driving the changes.
Most economists who are honest will admit that the current building economic heap of debt cannot continue to accumulate. They are amazed, in fact, that everything hasn’t already collapsed into total, worldwide depression. I again offer my belief that it will be the Rapture that causes the ultimate implosion and collapse.
The great world leader called “the Beast” in Revelation will be there to implement a satanically inspired economic scheme that will at first offer hope; it will, for a time, “cause craft to prosper” (Daniel 8:25). But Antichrist’s plan will achieve what it will be designed to do: enslave most of the world in electronic bondage.
Jesus offers the opposite of what the counterfeit, Antichrist, will produce. Jesus promises: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). We must at every opportunity lift up the Holy name of Jesus before the eyes of a world headed into the terrors of the Tribulation.
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2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Maranatha!
Now, the question is are we there yet?
Right now...no. But we're getting closer.
I've always thought the mark of the beast would be sold along the lines of security and convenience.
Consider, if you're chipped you never have to worry about forgetting your wallet or credit card and losing it would be almost impossible. It's right there on you.
We're already being conditioned to this with the "tap" chip in credit cards.
Can this be done on a worldwide basis? Not yet. But we're getting there.
Or, there is just an elimination of a lot of folks who don't have access to the technology.
With every day that passes we’re getting closer for sure.
I think there’s a good argument to be had about TMOTB being sold for security, convenience, and “protection”.
If you have it, you won’t have to be worried about being “taken” by whoever took the other millions of people that vanished. Imagine the fear associated with the Harpazo.
Seems like a health level up is associated with it too since folks literally cannot die during the Tribulation even if they wanted to (Revelation 9:6, Revelation 16:10).
The younger generations are so clueless about freedom and convenience (you can’t have both in abundance at the same time) that they’ll fall for it easily.
Bkmk
Steve Wood, the Bible teacher in your link, is correct. The Church will face a final test of tribulation and persecution at the hands of the Antichrist. Steve cites CCC 675 which is consistent with what most of the early Church Fathers wrote and, more importantly, what the Bible says on the topic.
Early Church Fathers anticipated a final intense persecution before Christ’s return, often associated with the Antichrist.
Justin Martyr discussed the Antichrist acting against Christians in a period of tribulation before Christ’s reign.
Irenaeus of Lyons connected prophecies to the Antichrist as a false messiah who would persecute the Church.
Hippolytus of Rome detailed the Antichrist as a deceptive figure leading a great persecution.
Cyprian of Carthage taught that a period of great tribulation would precede Christ’s return.
Tertullian viewed persecution as a divine test for the Church.
Victorinus of Pettau interpreted a passage in Revelation as the “very last persecution”.
The Bible distinguishes between the tribulations, persecutions, and other adverities that Christians must face as opposed to the wrath of God from which we have been delivered.
The one issue I have with Steve’s teaching in the link you provided is that it does not resolve the common confusion of treating the rapture as the same thing as the second coming.
I do agree that both are connected and arrive together. The difference is that the rapture is an event, and the second coming is a time period. That time period is also called the Day of the Lord and the Day of Wrath. It is the “Second Coming” and begins with the rapture.
But his overall explanation is correct. I fear that the popular teaching that the rapture is going to rescue believers from the earth before the bad things prophecied happen is going to lead many professing believers to fall away and betray one another when they discover that it is not true.
Matthew 13:20-21 NKJV
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Matthew 24:9-10 NKJV
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
I do agree that both are connected and arrive together. The difference is that the rapture is an event, and the second coming is a time period. That time period is also called the Day of the Lord and the Day of Wrath. It is the “Second Coming” and begins with the rapture.
But his overall explanation is correct. I fear that the popular teaching that the rapture is going to rescue believers from the earth before the bad things prophecied happen is going to lead many professing believers to fall away and betray one another when they discover that it is not true.
It might interest you to know that St. Thomas Aquinas basically agrees with you. He taught that the great taking up of the living and the dead to meet the Lord (what some call a distinct event called "the Rapture") is what will happen at the Second Coming, of which no man knows the day or hour. It resolves the problem of what will happen to living believers at the time of the Second Coming: along with the dead, they also will experience some kind of death at that time but, also like the dead, their souls will be united with their bodies and with the dead will meet Christ as creation is renewed, a new heavens and new earth will appear, and the Final Judgement of all men will occur. All this will happen at that time. When Christ comes, it will be his final coming and then will be the consummation of all things.
How many have a clue who the fake jesus literally is??? ... IF not then the deception is well down the hour glass of time.
WHO tempted Christ??? What did the devil offer Christ IF Christ would bend a knee ... Christ was teaching WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY .... these things need be ... Have you never read?
Very telling that you agree with a Roman Catholic on theology and eschatology.
Thanks for confirming my suspicions about you!
You also have such little faith in the Power of The Holy Spirit to help us Believers “Hold Fast” to the truth as The Lord admonishes those who belonged to the Church of Ephesus.
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Your “fears” are unfounded for True Believers.
I find it flattering that there are more enemies within the “church” than outside of its walls.
“Very telling that you agree with a Roman Catholic on theology and eschatology.”
You don’t know what you’re talking about. I agreed with the contents of one brief video. Perhaps you should check it out before drawing conclusions. I even pointed out my area of disagreement with it. Ironically, your view has the same error in that it fails to recognize that the Second Coming is not an event but a time period containing a series of events. It is the same time period as the Day of the Lord which is also called the Day of Wrath.
What’s next? Are you going to say I’m a secret Catholic for being against abortion?
“Thanks for confirming my suspicions about you!”
You’re making me suspicious of you. LOL. All of my life I’ve heard pretributionalists claim that this specific doctrine is not essential to fellowship, in contrast with essential doctrines such as the deity of Christ, for example. You cannot have fellowship with false teachers. But in practice, they hold their view so highly that any disagreement might as well make those who disagree false teachers. The reality is that you can’t find any two Christians who are going to agree about everything. It is important to agree about the essentials.
A major prophecy of Christ is that many of those who follow Him are going to stumble due to trials and persecutions, and they will even betray eachother and hate eachother. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
Are you ready for that? Is it possible that YOU might do this to another believer? Before you anwser that, remember what the apostles did when Christ was arrested.
Interestingly, to a certain extent, this has already happened. Catholics vs Protestants. Protestants vs Catholics. Protestants vs Protestants. Catholics vs Catholics. Professing followers of Christ have had other professing followers of Christ imprisoned, tortured, and killed.
“You also have such little faith in the Power of The Holy Spirit to help us Believers ‘Hold Fast’ to the truth as The Lord admonishes those who belonged to the Church of Ephesus.”
I am aware of God’s keeping power, and the help He provides to endure these trials:
https://freerepublic.com/~unlearner/
“Your ‘fears’ are unfounded for True Believers.”
Perhaps, but “True Believers” are, by definition those who endure:
Hebrews 10:39 NKJV
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NKJV
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
When I say, “I fear that the popular teaching [about] the rapture... is going to lead many professing believers to fall away and betray one another”, it is a way of expressing extreme concern.
Galatian 4:11 NKJV
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
And the Galatians falling away is exactly what Paul was a afraid of happening.
Hebrews 10:26, 27, & 31 NKJV
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries...
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(This admonition is followed with encouragement.)
So, true, God wants us to “fear not”, but this is based on obedience and truth. If we are disobedient or believing something that is false, we need to be warned and corrected.
“I find it flattering that there are more enemies within the ‘church’ than outside of its walls.”
Galatians 4:16 NKJV
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
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