A widely covered event of late 2010 was the public release of thousands of secret diplomatic communications by WikiLeaks. Due to the nature of the content and its sheer volume, it sparked both praise and criticism from around the world.
Just who or what is WikiLeaks? It is an international “virtual” organization, founded in 2006, allegedly comprised of dissidents, computer hackers, and anti-authoritarian technical experts. Its purpose is to gather information from informants and other anonymous new sources and publish it on the Internet. Its chief spokesman, Julian Assange, is an Australian, who initially gained repute as a formidable computer hacker.
WikiLeaks claims that its objective is to make public—namely, to leak—information that is classified, secret or private. On its website, it states:
Our primary interest is in exposing oppressive regimes […] but we also expect to be of assistance to people of all regions who wish to reveal unethical behavior in their governments and corporations. We aim for maximum political impact. […] We have received over 1.2 million documents so far from dissident communities and anonymous sources.1
In 2010, several major information “exposés” were made by WikiLeaks. First, in April, a compilation of 76,900 documents about the war in Afghanistan was released for public scrutiny. Later, in October, the organization released over 400,000 documents relating to the Iraqi war. Then, as of November, it began releasing thousands of diplomatic cables from the U.S. State Department. Most critically, this triggered a retributive response by the U.S. government, as most of these communications involved the correspondence of its diplomats and government servants. Mr. Assange stayed in hiding, fearing arrest … or possible assault. He eventually surfaced in theUK.
Just what is the significance of the WikiLeaks phenomenon? Actually, there are several aspects to ponder, not the least of which are its confirmations of several “Bible leaks.” What we mean by the cryptic of “Bible leaks” is simply an acknowledgment of what the Bible already reveals, including prophecy.
Significance of Leaks Prophetic?
Julian Assange brags about the significance of the impact of his organization, claiming that world history will now be defined as the eras of pre- and post-WikiLeaks. While he most certainly is overstating the importance of his organization, there are some aspects to this saga that should serve as an alert to Christians.
To begin, it must be realized that it is not yet clear whether Mr. Assange and/or WikiLeaks engaged in any illegal acts. Yet, because of the enraged responses of various governments—even some U.S. politicians calling for Mr. Assange’s assassination—WikiLeaks was attacked on a grand scale. By consensus (rather than through due legal process), the world suddenly decided that WikiLeaks was an enemy to its established order. Following the information releases of November, its bank accounts were frozen and payment organizations VISA and Paypal disabled its accounts. In relatively short order, WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization, was cut off from funding.
Here we witness an instance of world consensus arbitrarily deciding to shut down an organization through financial means. While such a facility has already existed for some time, it nevertheless pointedly reconfirms that world affairs today are controlled by the “horse’s bit” of financial systems. Just as Revelation 13:17 has prophesied for almost two thousand years, the world would someday be controlled where “ […] no one could buy or sell.” After some 1900 years, that prophesied world now exists today.
Please understand that we are not wishing to praise WikiLeaks as a virtuous force. Far from it. Mr. Assange is no angel. Yet, its situation clearly shows the scope and power of the world’s capricious judgments. The systems of mankind’s global community that have decided to shut down WikiLeaks will someday be used against Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Christians.
Today, terrorism is being fought in the same way. In line with the resolutions of the United Nations, worldwide money systems are being controlled in the pursuit of illicit monies that might be supporting terrorism or crime. Most countries today, under the imperatives of Anti Money Laundering (AML) legislation, strictly monitor money flows. Employees of financial institutions are required by law to report any suspicious money transitions or cash deposits.
Most likely, everyone will agree that the pursuit of criminal activity through systemic financial controls is a worthy cause. Nevertheless, it represents a financial infrastructure that can be employed against any and all public enemies. And, someday, people of God may be declared public enemies. As the Bible says, there will come the day where the world will be so twisted morally that it will deny God and persecute his people. Jesus himself warned that “[…] a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God” (John 16:2).
A second “Bible leak” revealed by the Wikileak releases of diplomatic correspondence, is the moral character of world geopolitics. While none of the documents that were released were of a top classified nature, they nevertheless revealed a world of “intrigue” … a world of “lying and stealing.” Geopolitics can be a competitive arena of deception—a global contest for influence, power, wealth and geography. Zechariah’s 5th and 6th visions (chapter 5) reveal just such an endtime world; a world so corrupted and cursed that its very “timbers and stones” (Zechariah 5:4) would be consumed. What this phrase means is that the entire structural foundation of world conditions will someday completely collapse.
The techniques of lying and stealing today are highly sophisticated. The world that Zechariah saw in his visions was one marked by “thieves” and those who “swear falsely” (Zechariah 5:3). In other words, that endtime world would be characterized by geopolitical conditions dependent upon the endorsed practice of “lying” and “stealing.”
No New Revelations
The title of this article also refers to things “newly revealed.” Of course, we know that the 66 books of the Bible in their original language have remained virtually unchanged for 2000 years (and, we trust on the testimony of Jesus, even much longer). In that sense, there is nothing “newly revealed.” But for most people, including a large number of Christians, anything from the Bible may just as well be new revelation. Why? Few people today are in the habit of reading the Bible regularly. Many places of congregation that claim to be Christian, hardly expound from the Bible, let alone consider its literal words the immutable communications to mankind from God. In fact, many people wouldn’t recognize a quote from Scripture if they were not told otherwise.
Surveys conclude that many people who call themselves Christians or attend church regularly read the Bible infrequently. One such survey in England established that approximately one-third of regular churchgoers had not read the Bible at all in the previous year. 2 A survey conducted in Australia in 2006, the National Church Life Survey, arrived at similar conclusions. 3 Over 40% of declared Christians read the Bible infrequently or not at all. While evangelicals read the Bible more frequently, on the other hand, 59% of Roman Catholics declared that they rarely consult the Book.
While this may be the sad state of apparent and masquerading Christianity today, the outlook bodes no better. No amount of “Bible leaks” will change the tide of mankind today, according to prophecy. The truth is being rejected … the nations rage against God. As David prophesied, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1).
The Bible’s View on Knowledge
Yet, there is one group of people who will some day respond to a significant “Bible leak.” The Jewish people will again respond to the “knowledge” of the Scriptures. Rather than knowledge of information, the knowledge spoken of in the Bible refers to knowledge of eternal significance. It is the knowledge of God and His purposes.
While an increase in information—trivia, distractions and cares of this world—appears to be in alignment with last day trends and developments, it coincides with a soaring boom in ignorance of what the Bible calls knowledge. The explosion of different kinds of media today, most of it catering to amusement and promoting “non-thinking,” would certainly compete with the quiet time required for Bible reading.
In the book of Daniel, we read: “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge”(Daniel 12:4). A popular interpretation of this verse is that not only will knowledge (i.e. information and data) increase in the world, but also travel. While this may not be a harmful interpretation, for a number of reasons, it is not likely that this text refers to such phenomena at all.
As it was, Daniel’s prophecies are concerned with the Jewish people and their future. Just as Hosea 4:6 (“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”) is expressly spoken to the Jews, so likely is Daniel’s prophecy of an increase of knowledge. The word knowledge here does not refer to technical and scientific information, but rather to the knowing of God’s plan and His laws. The prophets had often castigated the Hebrews for their lack of knowledge. “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge” said Isaiah (56:10).
Hosea confirms that the knowledge lacked refers to the ignorance of God and His Laws. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children”(Hosea 4:6). In Biblical terms, the word “knowledge” is more aptly defined as the “act of knowing.” In this sense, it is not knowledge that increases, but rather the knowing of it. For this and other reasons, we are safer to interpret this passage as referring to an increase in understanding of historical prophecy and Scripture, not an increase of information.
During the last days, the Jewish people will again come to an increasing understanding of their destiny and purpose. Finally, at the end of the Great Tribulation, a remnant will receive a full understanding. “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land, declares the LORD […]” (Jeremiah 3:15-16). The full content and revelation of the Bible will be “leaked” … in other words, rediscovered and revealed in the light of truth.
Thoughts to Ponder
Sadly, all of us living in the super-charged media and commercialized culture of our time, struggle in attaining the type of devotion that Scripture upholds. Apostle Paul was already worried about this type of assault upon the minds of Christians 2000 years ago.
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Yes, Paul may not have understood the “somehow.” But today, we do recognize the devices and means that are being employed to lead our minds astray from the Bible.
The Bible has the first and last word on knowledge. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). Here, we clearly see that knowledge is the foundational information that matters for an eternity.
Scriptures allow us no excuse for lacking this type of knowledge. All of creation points to God: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
The only thing that has changed is man’s understanding, and more importantly, mankind’s willingness to understand. And understanding begins with the recognition of God’s sovereignty and truth, says the Bible. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7).
What can we do? We can acknowledge this encouragement: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3). But in our time of a massive, coordinated assault upon the functions of people’s minds, more than acknowledgement is required. We must also wilfully act to govern and guard our minds.
The Bible provides much counsel on this task. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (I Peter 1:13-16).
Notes
1http://web.archive.org/web/20080314204422/http://www.WikiLeaks.org/wiki/WikiLeaks:About; Accessed December 27, 2010.
2 http://www.citw.org.uk/research.htm; Accessed December 27, 2010.
3 http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/259865?tp; Accessed December 27, 2010.