This issue, we return to our series of “Ripening Times—Discerning Trends of Significance.” Before we proceed, a short review is in order.

We live in a season where the world is experiencing unprecedented conditions of rapid change. Not only are there sudden developments, but they are also accelerating. Our generation assumes that this rate of change is normal … a symptom of modernity. But, really, only the last several generations or so have been witnesses of this extraordinary phenomenon. Which trends should we observe? What is it all about?

Well, Christians should always be on the alert for “significant” world trends. Why? Because the Bible instructs us to do so. We are expressly mandated to recognize the season and to “watch.” To recall, Jesus said: “[…] keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). Therefore, let us keep watch. We know that the “last days” are treacherous and will close like a trap (Luke 21:34).

However, if we are to be watching, then what should we be looking for? What would qualify as a “significant” sign of the Lord’s season? A concise answer would be this: Anything that has to do with the Bible’s prophetic timeline and the Lord’s promises.

In our opinion, our age today is “ripe” with many such “significant” trends. No one will doubt that the world has embarked on an accelerating course over recent decades and centuries. Humanity is on a rushed agenda to “rendezvous with history.”

The Bible uses the metaphor of ripening grapes to indicate time for judgment. “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!” (Joel 3:13; cf. Revelation 14:18). In this sense, we indeed see that the world is ripe with last-day preparatory trends and is quickly approaching the time of fruition.

What then should be the diagnostics that one can use to discern the candidate “cosmologically significant” trends today? It is important to have a solid framework for doing so. Many people, however, have no framework and consequently spread misinformation and speculative opinions. To begin, one must have a rock-solid Biblical worldview—one that is based on the literal, plain-sense interpretation of the Bible. However, in doing so, one must not go beyond what Scripture says (1 Corinthians 4:6).

With such a foundation, one is then better able to discern trends and developments that “enable,” signify, or “precede” actual fulfilled prophecies.

Briefly reviewed, there are at least eight characteristics that will help us identify possible candidates qualifying as a “significant” world trend:

1. Evidence of Acceleration: A crucial qualifier is any emerging trend showing “acceleration” … particularly so since the 1880s. Why then? That is the beginning of Zionism … a key marker of prophecy beginning to be fulfilled. Recognizing this, it would then be strategically crucial as of that point for the Enemy of Israel to launch countermeasures. As soon as signs of a return to Israel began to be manifested, Satan realized that little time remained. Even more significant would be any accelerating trend beginning after 1948. That is the time that God’s timepiece, Israel, again became a sovereign entity in its original land. We, therefore, should not be surprised that the surge of significant world trends of recent history will have been spurred by an evil architect with urgent objectives and a tight timeline.
2. Recency. A recent trend showing steepening acceleration (particularly so over the last 70 plus years since the return to Israel) is potentially much more notable than one having started a long time ago. Why? Because the time is becoming increasingly short, and the Bible frequently tells us that last-day events will come “quickly.” “The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly” (Zephaniah 1:14). The Book of Revelation mentions that several events happen in “one hour.” Pre-Rapture Christians should be able to discern increasing intensity in world affairs and the convergence of significant signs that lead to final events. This writer believes that once the Rapture occurs, world developments will indeed move to hyper-speed.
3. Improbability: We observe many rapid world developments today that we had not anticipated. We find ourselves asking “why” their emergence … and why now and not at some other time of history? The very improbability and inexplicability of such emerging trends can indicate “significance.”
4. Global Scope & Impact: To qualify as a “significant trend,” a development must have worldwide influence (not just applying locally—or to North America only). Eschatology is focused globally. For example, the Tribulation applies to the entire earth. It is the collective of the world’s leaders that conspire to unshackle their chains (Psalms 2:3), not just a local ruler. Therefore, one should be particularly alert for “global” trends. (We do observe a tendency among Bible prophecy interpreters to cite only evidence seen domestically—i.e. the United States—and not “global” manifestations.)
5. Interconnection: Any trend that has confluence or interconnection with another accelerating trend of “significance”—interweaving and reinforcing each other—may qualify as being a “significant trend.”
6. Suddenness: A reader may well question whether the concept of “suddenness” overlaps with that of “acceleration” and “recency” (already discussed above). Though the differences may be subtle, we would regard “suddenness” as a distinct factor. Why? The Bible uses the word “suddenly” frequently, meaning that something occurs surprisingly and unsuspectingly. For example: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3); or, “[…] that day will close on you suddenly like a trap” (Luke 21:34).
7. Humanist Agenda: It follows that very few, if any last-day trends will be marked by pure and godly motives. Rather, quite likely, the opposite will be the case. “Significant trends” are likely to be in the service of Mammon, humanism, greed, immorality, and other objectives that Satan may have. It would not be a surprise if “significant trends” also cater to the “lust of the flesh.”

We have listed seven potential diagnostic identifiers of world “significant trends.” Crucially, there is one more qualifier, and it is the most important of all. What is it? Bible prophecy itself. Any trend that lines up with Bible prophecy or is an expression of prophecy that is being fulfilled or a prophecy enabler, is most obviously validated as “significant.”

This Biblical validation is vital and sufficient alone to discern a “significant trend.” No matter what the other seven qualifiers indicate, if a candidate “significant trend” does not align with Scripture, it does not qualify.

While mankind has been on earth for many millennia, it is only over the last several hundred years that such a burst of “significant trends” has taken place. Change today is on a hot boil.

To date in this column, we have qualified four “significant trends”: A Wealth Explosion; spreading Post-Familialism; Honored Elites (emergence of global plutocrats); and, Advances of the Titans (the sudden emergence of multinational companies). There are many more “significant trends” yet to be discussed.

Next on our list, we will discuss the phenomenon of a rising Asia, a controversial topic these days. At the time of this writing, the United States had been conducting a trade war with China … also concertedly trying to slow down China’s ascendancy. We will not provide any perspectives on these geopolitical matters. However, it is true—in fact, incredibly unprecedented—that the rise of Asia has been very rapid. How can this be explained? Why has this emergence occurred so suddenly?

Will an Asian group of countries continue to gain strength, perhaps even eventually dominating world trade and geopolitics? Are the developments the world is witnessing in Asia today of prophetic significance?

Our answer to the latter question would be “yes.” We definitely consider the sudden rising of Asia as another sign of the ripening times. In the next part, we will explain why and will also identify aligning prophecies from the Bible.

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Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.

You can contact Wilfred at: staff@eternalvalue.com

 

Over the past decade, a fractious geopolitical environment has come into view. Why? A number of reasons, but mainly because global economic growth has slumped. Major economic players are jostling for a greater share of world trade, water rights, and whatever else is valuable. They are threatening each other … also becoming more nationalistic. One needs no imagination to see the parallels in animal behavior. Consider the Australian spadefoot frog. When water is plentiful, all is fine and placid. However, once the water puddles begin to dry up, the tadpoles become cannibals … eating each other. It is similar with the hippopotamus. When they are enjoying marsh vegetation and deep rivers, they are mostly peaceful. However, once the waterways dry up, they become a heaving mass of ill-tempered creatures.

Given these unstable economic conditions, central bankers are desperately trying to solve the world’s economic problems. It has been over a decade since the traumatic Global Financial Crisis (GFC) struck the globe. Yet, they remain perplexed. Once the financial bloodbath of the GFC meltdown had been staunched, policymakers were optimistic that the worst was over. Soon would come a recovery period of growth and prosperity … or so they thought. However, to most everyone’s surprise, that was not the outcome. Policymakers discovered that they needed to continue pump-priming … meaning trying to stimulate economies in various degrees by suppressing interest rates and supporting bond markets.

What do we see a decade later? Even the U.S. Federal Reserve is worried about another economic downturn, and is again lowering its administered interest rates. More shocking is to observe European interest-rates dropping to new lows. Nay, they have dropped to the lowest negative rate level on record. Imagine that some $13 trillion of the world’s government bond market is priced for underwater yields. No doubt, most readers may be scratching their heads trying to imagine a negative interest yield. Were you to make a deposit, say, Euro 100, in a German bank, this institution would likely ask you to pay them a quarter of a percent or so just to hold your deposit for a year.

Does this all make sense? We will say, yes, though we originally were as surprised as everybody else when this condition first appeared. We say yes … but only because mankind has made some perverse choices. What is unfolding therefore is logical given the misleading perspectives and choices that are being adopted by humanity. We will explain further.

In the meantime, policymakers think they have a new solution—Modern Monetary Theory (or MMT). What is it? It is a group of aggressive monetary and budgetary measures. The only thing modern about this collective group of policies is the level of chicanery. In reality, MMT is just a new name … new wine put into old wineskins, so to speak. And, the outcome will also likely be the same as always … split wineskins.

But that is not to say that such policies do not have consequences or impact. They do. Very simply explained, MMT argues that as long as inflation rates are low and non-threatening, governments can run large budget deficits. The reasoning is that government debt can be perpetually forgiven (notionally at least) by having the central bank buy up the debt.

Such monetary policy is very similar to “money printing,” the difference being that the money is being spent by the government. Anything paid for by the proceeds of borrowed government money—even perhaps the lowering of personal taxes—will almost certainly boost spending. That will stimulate economic activity. After all, what government of elected representatives will not spend free money? Most households, too, will tend to spend their income-tax refunds. Therefore, these new MMT policies can achieve the appearance of success, at least for a period of time.

But, doesn’t all this debt-financed money—actually, money from thin air that will never be paid back—have any consequences? Yes, very definitely, there are critical consequences. And, that is where the chicanery comes home to roost. The longer-term consequences are ignored … not disclosed. Everything in this world has a consequence. God is not mocked. So says Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” So it is with monetary policy.

The most worrisome side-effect (consequence) of the MMT schemes is that it leads to a greater hoarding of wealth. The ultra-wealthy class will continue to become wealthier. Why? There are a number of links, but we will keep our explanations simple. Government deficits provide a profit boost to the corporate/business sector. Senior executives and stock owners therefore stand to benefit from gains. However, the vast majority of citizens do not have large stock holdings. They do not gain from this rise in stock prices. To the contrary, labor in general is squeezed in its share of national income.

As such, we can document that the rich are getting richer … in fact, there is an increase in the wealth of the super-rich. These individuals can become very powerful, pushing their interests with politicians and people that manage the capital markets. This leads to plutocracy. We would wager to say that America and other nations are well on the road to plutocracy. What is very interesting about these developments is that the Bible says these exact same conditions will become very pronounced in the last days. We will refer to the supporting Bible references in the conclusion.

The Imperative of Cash Flow

Just where do we find the sources of new wealth today?

The Bible says that the love of money is the source of all evil. In our modern day, we could rephrase this to “the love of future cash flow is the motivator of virtually all economic life … and evil.” Whether we consciously know it or not, most people will tend to direct their lives according to the sources and prospects for future cash flow.

While this is understandable, few people really grasp how powerful are the global forces behind future cash flow. Given the concentration of wealth that we see in the world today, there are very big players that muscle their way into new cash-flow channels.

Consider the most recent example of a tsunami-like cash flow eruption. It was the smartphone boom. It was enormous, to the point that just a few companies who exploited this trend now represent as much as 10% of the value of some countries’ stock markets. Trillions in worth was created. But, the hunt goes on: Where are the next cash-flow waves expected?

That’s the question that any business analyst or senior corporate executive must determine an answer to. Most analysts anticipate this will apply to the “Internet of Things” … namely, the global communications and information infrastructure. Companies providing network and internet communications systems stand to boom. They already have. As such, a brutal competition is under way. There are no rules. Why? The potential for value and wealth gains are so great … perhaps $100 trillion and more!

One contender in this competition is Huawei (a Chinese firm). It appeared to be headed to take the lead in this industry, cashing in on the “Internet of Things.” However, the stakes are so great, this company has been thwarted by Western nations who want to capture some of the anticipated cash flow themselves (particularly so the US).

Without a doubt, the potential of big money attracts diabolic-like and brutal forces. The World of Mammon is assuredly more ruthless than the illustrated instinct-driven behavior seen in nature’s battles for survival of the fittest. Many wars have been fought over opportunities for economic growth and future cash flows. Sadly, that is the history of mankind.

The Next Cash-Flow Surges

One prominent analyst with BlackRock (one of the world’s largest asset managers) makes a case for sources of future cash flow. Consider that, already, the value of the Internet today exceeds that of the entirety of global real estate. Furthermore, the Internet is expected to increase to a value of $550 trillion over the next decade, approximately 2.5 times the value of real estate.

Ponder this: Google today offers a lot of free services to its users. For example: free maps, free email, free web search. What would people pay for these services if they were no longer free? Particularly GPS services (geo-positioning system that uses maps) could be extremely valuable in a world of driverless cars and more Uber taxis. Other sources of potential future cash flows include water, property underneath major urban centers, and alternate energy sources. The “big money” in the world is positioning themselves for these potential cash flows.

What is notable about economic developments unfolding today is that changes are transmitted very rapidly. Information-intensive services face no shipping costs, nor large capital requirements. The penetration of these services or devices can be very rapid. It took a century of automobile manufacturing before there were enough autos and trucks registered equivalent to one per person. By contrast, the smartphone reached a 60% adoption rate in only little more than a decade. Indeed, as the end of the age approaches, change itself is accelerating. Suddenness is a mark of that era (see Zephaniah 1:14, 18).

Seeing the monumental narrowing of wealth ownership in the world today (with much larger heaps yet possible with future cash-flow surges) and more inventive monetary policies, can we connect these trends to the last days? After all, these are unprecedented trends of human choices about finances and economies. Our answer: Yes, this writer believes that there are too many parallels with Bible prophecy unfolding today for these to be the result of simple chance.

That said, we cannot (and should not) speak with any certainty as to specific timing of a specific prophecy. This is impossible, apart from recognizing a season. Moreover, the Bible warns us not to do so. “Do not go beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6).

However, collectively and seasonally, we do identify a world that is “ripening” for the final fulfillment of prophecy. (Please see the previous articles in our series on Ripening Times.) These trends are all unprecedented and are in alignment for a prophesied time where “[…] truth was thrown to the ground” (Daniel 8:12), and “deceit [caused] to prosper” (verse 25).

Thoughts to Ponder

Does the Bible anticipate and warn about an endtime boom in commercialism, materialism and greed?

Monetary corruption is being coordinated around the world as never before in human history. The Bible warns repeatedly about malfeasance. God expressly and often says that He “hates” dishonest scales. Numerous times this is expressed in the Bible.

Apostle James speaks of hoarding in the last days: “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you […]. You have hoarded wealth in the last days” (James 5:1, 3).

Also, we see evidence of other dramatic economic distortions in the Book of Revelation. Consider Revelation 6:6: “[…] Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” This prophecy gives evidence of severe income and wealth imbalances.

In conclusion, MMT is just one of the stepping stones toward delusion and the final outcome of judgment that the Bible sees unfolding in the Tribulation period. In the meantime, earthly consequences will continue to worsen so long as the Lord tarries.

In this age where pursuit of “future cash flow” defines a frenzied world, the Bible has something to say to Christians:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrew 13:5).

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Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.

You can contact Wilfred at: staff@eternalvalue.com