Prophesied Final Financial Manipulations :: By Wilfred Hahn

Published on: April 20, 2017April 24, 2017 by RR7

It is a topic that is heavily contested and often misinterpreted. Will there be a cashless world at some point in the future? Cash still plays an essential role in the U.S., facilitating some 40% of transactions. Many countries have an even higher reliance upon cash transactions.

Yet, the Bible clearly indicates that a new global transactional system will exist by the time of the events of Revelation 13. It will indeed be a cashless system. But why the change?

It is a topic we have touched upon before. In an earlier article (See MCM “No One Buy Nor Sell: How Close Are We? Part I,” January 2014), we laid out a broad outline as to what steps must occur before a worldwide controlled transactional system can be operational, in which all buying and selling can be controlled.

In this article, we explore somewhat of a different focus. Why do financial institutions and governments continue to attempt to suppress cash usage; to introduce “cashless” payment systems in our present day, when there is relatively little incentive to do so for consumers?

We may be observing another puzzling example of mankind`s determination to rebel against God`s order, even though it may not make sense.

Senseless Monetary Developments

We observe a nonsensical, conspiracy of “global mankind” playing out in the world’s monetary developments.

Consider that cashless payment systems have been introduced for many decades. Some attempts with digital cards, for example, have been unsuccessful. Do readers remember Mondex (called Visa Cash in North America), which was introduced in the early 1990s? This was a stored-value card. It did not catch on. Nevertheless, the low-level war on removing cash from circulation has continued.

Who is pushing demonetization? It is not consumers. Very few see the need for new money technologies … certainly not the complete abolition of cash. For example, paying with a card at a checkout counter can take 25% to 50% longer than paying with cash. Polls show that consumers are content using physical money for some transactions, and see no reason for its complete eradication.

Also, the claim that a cashless society is safer than one employing physical cash is not verified by facts. Theft and crime involving physical money is actually quite modest when compared to crimes involving physical property (i.e. stolen cars … etc.).

Yet, new money technologies continue to advance, and government anti-cash measures increase. This is even more puzzling, given the fact that electronic payment systems are expensive to set up. Servicing these payment systems is often much more expensive than handling cash.

Clearly, given that an immediate profit motive cannot explain the continued advance of demonetization, there must be other motives. Why do financial institutions and governments continue to push “cashless” payment systems though they are expensive, at best marginally profitable, and capital intensive?

Supposedly, if a one-world financial system could be built which ALL transactions are forced to use, an enormous “rent” could be charged. Such a monopolistic system could be enormously profitable, so long as all other means of payment were supressed or banned. However, to do so requires a “conspiracy” … a worldwide collective agreement … to do so for other peculiar reasons.

Just what might these reasons be? We present several.

The occurrence of negative interest rates in many countries creates a major problem for policymakers, who are trying to steer world economies. Negative interest rates on bank deposits will cause people to move some of their assets to “currency in circulation” (this being cash). This makes sense since one would be avoiding charges to one’s bank account. (Money held in a mattress is more productive than in a bank which charges negative interest.) With negative interest rates, money will leave the banking system. Demonetization, on the other hand, would eliminate this “leakiness” of the money systems. (Some banks in Europe have already eliminated cash handling.)
The more that all transactions can be confined to a cashless payments system, the better governments are able to track Gross Domestic Product (economic activity). In turn, this allows for the maximization of tax revenues. Incidentally, a concerted attempt to achieve this result is now unfolding in India. Higher denomination bills (paper money) are being removed from circulation, in order to force undocumented transactions into the banking system and into the recorded economy. Greece and Portugal (among other nations) recently lowered the maximum transaction size employing cash.
Given the worldwide continuation of financial crisis and the expectation that new and more powerful monetary policy tools will be required, a demonetized system must be in place. This conveniently allows policymaker more options to “control” societies and human actions.
As many studies have shown, cash is filthy—literally. Paper bills can be bacteria laden and covered with fungus or worse. It may be surprising that a very large amount of paper currency is contaminated by drugs such as cocaine. In short, some make the case to do away with cash simply because it would be healthier.

The above-mentioned reasons would certainly satisfy the objectives of various “human” policymakers. In doing so, these global elites show their arrogant perspective: that they know what is best for collective humanity and its future. It fits hand-in-glove with the needs of a one-world ruler, who expressly wishes to ensnare humans and to force them to acknowledge him as god. This is the conspiracy already underway today.

The Last Failed Financial Economist

We return to our earlier question: How can we know that the Bible foretells a cashless monetary system? We read in Revelation 13:15-17: “The second beast was given power […]. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”

Here we see that a global transactional system would be put in place. It applies to “all” people on earth, no matter their privileged position, economic or political status. Everyone will be subject to this new system. Only those who received the “mark” and worshiped the First Beast (verse 15) were enabled to “buy and sell.” We do not know what form the “mark” will take. However, it can be validly deduced that this transactional system enabled by the “mark” must be centrally controlled.

Logistically, how else could such a system be put into place worldwide? It is not possible to “buy and sell” anything outside of this new system. It must be an impregnable payments system which cannot be circumvented by cash—or even gold.

Prophecy by Choice

As mentioned, Bible prophecy confirms that a “cashless” system will be put in force someday. Though prophesied, it is also true that God does not force mankind to conform to and carry out the fulfillment of His prophecies. In other words, mankind will not develop a cashless society out of obedience to the Bible.

Rather, mankind does so volitionally for his own reasons. Prophecy (oftentimes) reveals in advance what mankind will freely “choose” to do in the future. Yet, at the same time, though human free agency (choice) is involved, all that is prophesied in the Bible will be fulfilled. Admittedly, the logic here may appear convoluted.

It is puzzling to observe that mankind will choose to make unwise choices—inexplicable ones—which show no logic or sense. It is as if humankind would rather spite its nose to its own detriment rather than to be obedient to God. The Psalmist asks a parallel question: “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1). “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (verse 4).

Next Steps to a Cashless Society

Essentially, for Revelation 13:17 to be fulfilled (grossly simplified), at least four things have to happen:

A globally integrated and closed financial system must exist. Necessary and common technologies must be in place. That means that not even a little bank in Tupelo, Mississippi or the Island of Tuvalu will be able to facilitate any type of transaction (whether buying food or selling a house) outside of this closed system.
A system of central banking must be endorsed everywhere and centrally coordinated. This must result in a commonly-shared monetary philosophy around the world, which, most importantly, achieves a strong influence over market and human behavior. In other words, the entire world must agree to play by the same rules and values, thereby obeying and following the actions of monetary officials (the modern money equivalent to suzerains).
The legal statutes and regulatory institutions that oversee the financial activities of individual countries, must be superseded by a centralized, worldwide authority in order for unified actions to be enforced.
Finally, a unified global “political economy” must exist (either taking the form of a very small group of powerful countries or a single autocrat) that is powerful.

Steps #1 and #2 are largely completed. Stage #3 is underway. However, further development in this direction is difficult. Why? Because individual countries must first give up a measure of sovereignty for this to occur. They will do so only very reluctantly. However, as technocrats and political strategists well know, there is nothing as effective as a crisis to unify political consensus or to compel change. Quoting Milton Friedman (well-known monetarist economist): “Only a crisis, real or perceived, produces real change.”

In desperate times, thinking they have no choice, people will strike bad deals … ceding freedoms and potentially being held hostage. An example of this tendency is shown in the Old Testament Genesis account of the 7 year famine during the time of Joseph. In its later stages, people became so desperate they said: “[…] buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh” (Genesis 47:19).

We should not think that Tribulational developments will be delayed by the elements of Phase #3 not being completed. As was observed during the depths of the recent Global Financial Crisis (GFC), policymakers repeatedly ignored laws and broke the rules. They felt justified doing so, given the gravity of the crisis. Once the Antichrist is on the scene, having received the authority of 10 kings and the power of the Dragon, he can overrule all laws and conventions.

As such, the events of Revelation 13 can be much nearer than commonly thought. The final events of the Church Age and the preparatory ones enabling the events of the Tribulation happen “suddenly” (Luke 21:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:3) and over “one hour” (Rev 17:12).

Thoughts to Ponder

There is no more powerful, worldwide, earthly control mechanism possible of humans than an integrated “cashless” financial system. We see that the Beast readily takes advantage of mankind’s proclivity to worship Mammon. Christ admonished that “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:24-25).

The monetary controls put in by the Second Beast “force” compliance and worship of the First Beast (this the Antichrist, who receives his power from the Dragon). The threat of losing access to food, drink and clothes drives Mammon worshipers to receive the “mark.”

On the other hand, those who reject the Beast`s entreaties will be those who do “not worry about” their lives, nor about what they will eat. They know that life is “more than food.”

The Bible says that all those who refused to worship the First Beast (“those who persevere to the end”: Matthew 24:13) will be killed. This is the policy of a discriminatory Tribulational regime (lasting 42 months), which seeks to consolidate obedience to the First Beast, rejecting God and the Lamb and all those whose names are in the Book of Life.

However, the Lord has the last say. John the Revelator shows us the final outcome:

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Those who had shortsightedly given their worship to the Antichrist, also will encounter a discriminatory regime. We read how the third angel “[…] said in a loud voice: If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name” (Revelation 14:9-11).

For resources on “endtime economics” and to subscribe to the free newsletter, Eternal Value Review, visit Wilfred’s website www.eternalvalue.com or contact him at: staff@eternalvalue.com

About the Author: 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. His newest book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the future.

Too Many Good Things Gone Bad :: By Wilfred Hahn

Published on: April 4, 2017April 4, 2017 by RR7

Oh, if we all could live in a world of “milk and honey.” Everyone knows what that phrase means—a land of no cares, a land of plenty and easy living. In this present era of ever-increasing piles of wealth and a shrinking middle class, most would be content with just that.

However, just where did this phrase come from—“milk and honey”? Way, way back in the Old Testament. Today, several millennia later, it is a phrase still in common usage. Etymology (the study of the origin of words) and idioms can reveal fascinating connections with ancient societies.

The phrase “milk and honey” first appears in Exodus 3:8, where Lord Jehovah says to Moses:

“So I have come down to rescue them [my people] from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.”

Jehovah had revealed to Abraham much earlier (and many times) that he would possess the land of Canaan and “All the land that you see” (Genesis 13:15). This land was promised by Jehovah to be given to Abraham and his descendants “forever” and for “everlasting” (Genesis 17:8).

However, the first time that the phrase “milk and honey” appears in the Bible, was in a revelation and reminder to Moses that this Promised Land was full of great bounty. It could be supposed that since Abraham had lived in this land, that there was no need to promise him “milk and honey.” He would have known this to be the case. Moses, many years later, may have needed the incentive of “milk and honey”—a carrot on a stick, so to speak—to entice the Hebrews to leave Egypt and embark on the Exodus to this new Promised Land.

It is surely significant that the phrase “milk and honey” appears exactly 21 times (three times seven) in the Old Testament. It certainly is a promise that will be kept by God Himself (as it has yet to occur fully).

A Land of Excess

Throughout history, mankind has been busily boosting economic growth through various means and productivity gains. Growth of economic output (what we today popularly call Gross Domestic Product or GDP) has become a most important geopolitical measure of wealth and the key indicator of so-called “human progress.” It is the underlying essence of humanism. As such, today we live in an era where many countries suffer from excesses … not shortages. Why?

There is too much supply and not enough demand. In fact, in many countries it is easier to buy something than to sell. Indeed, there are parts of the world where buying is more difficult than selling and where there are shortages of food. This need not be the case in our day. Greed, corruption, kleptocracy and human strife, whether by war or political competition, are the root causes in such cases.

Nevertheless, it would be valid to state that industrialization and the profit motive imbedded in the pursuit of commerce and trade have created a world of surplus with respect to consumer goods and calories. There are many proofs. Most certainly with respect to “an excess of calories,” a worldwide epidemic of obesity (as stated by the World Health Organization) is partial evidence (though in no way wishing to oversimply this complex problem).

The “excess of food” reminds me of an old German fairy tale. As a child, I was exposed to the popular story called “Mecki in Schlaraffenland.” Years later, I located a version translated into English, which I read to my grandkids. As with most old fairy tales (Grimm’s, Wilhelm Busch … etc.), they are considered somewhat too grisly for young kids in our day. In any case, Mecki lives in Schlaraffenland, which is a land of excesses. Milk and honey everywhere … not to mention bacon, cakes and every savory food that one might want to eat.

In this tale, everything from back bacon to roasted chickens fly into one’s mouth if carelessly left open. To be sure, it depicted a hyper-charged land of “milk and honey.”

However, an excess of anything is not ideal. Far from it. The side-effects can include loss of health, addiction, destruction of profitability … etc. We humans indeed have a propensity for large appetites and ambitions, but only limited capacity to fulfill them. Balanced and modest satiation is enjoyable. But excesses—even of tasty and luxury items—lead to trouble.

Overwhelmed by Honey and Milk

Today, believe it or not, the milk and honey industries are suffering from excess supply. Both commodities are being produced in overwhelming volumes. Consider this quote about the milk industry: “If you ever felt like crying over spilled milk, now’s the time. Dairy farmers in the United States have dumped more than 43 million gallons of milk between January and August of 2016. This milk has been poured into fields, manure lagoons, and animal feed, or down the drain at processing plants. According to the Wall Street Journal, this amount of milk is enough to fill 66 Olympic-sized swimming pools and is the most wasted in [the] last 16 years.”1

Apparently, there is so much surplus milk one could literally allow people to bathe in it. Actually, this was a practice of the ultra-wealthy centuries ago. A bath of warm milk promoted soft skin.

“The problem is that the United States is in the midst of a massive dairy glut,” so says the article. There is a similar condition in Europe, which also extends to huge stockpiles of cheese. Canadians, too, even though milk supplies are controlled, have far more capacity than demand.

Believe it or not, the world even suffers from too much honey. (Can there ever be too much of a good thing?) America is indeed overflowing with honey. In Canada, an influx of imported honey from China, Zambia, Vietnam (and other countries) is causing many beekeepers to close shop. The wholesale price of honey has halved in recent years.

The land of “milk and honey” that was in the eye of the ancient Hebrews is today nothing more than a quaint story in our time of excess. There is certainly no shortage of excesses and gluts in North America.

Hoarding versus Flows

As mentioned, excesses can also lead to problems. Consider stockpiling and hoarding. James comments on the end-time appearance of hoarding: “You have hoarded wealth in the last days” (James 5:3 NIV). The KJV uses the phrase “heaped.” Hoarded wealth (which must mean a widening chasm between the “haves and have-nots”) is here clearly cited as a condition of the last days. Stockpiling is repudiated throughout the Bible, where it involves denial of supply or greed. Here, we find a significant connection to the Old Testament’s use of the phrase of “milk and honey.”

But first, we must make an admission. Earlier, I mentioned that the phrase “milk and honey” is found exactly 21 times in the Bible. Actually, this is wrong. To be exact, it is the phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” (NIV) that appears 21 times. In every instance of “milk and honey” being mentioned, it is in the context of a “land” in which “milk and honey” is “flowing.”

This is significant.

Why? For a number of reasons. However, we want to focus on why the word “flowing” (“floweth” in the KJV) is always included. The word “flowing” implies something being used or active, or being distributed. It is not “stockpiling.” The promised land of “flowing milk and honey” was not to be one of a storehouse of milk and honey. Honey and milk are not being stockpiled or hoarded, but are flowing. They were to be consumed and made available to all.

The Bible promotes flows. Consider that the Lord’s Prayer specifically requests that the Lord “give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). We are not instructed to ask for a larder of bread that will last a month, but rather just for a day. Similarly, we note that the Israelites received manna daily and not in a form that could be stockpiled (with the exception of the second day portion for the Sabbath).

Thoughts to Ponder

Christians are to be “flow people” and not hoarders.

God’s economy is mainly composed of flows, not overstuffed storehouses of idle money. Just as God is love in motion—love lived—so it should be with money. Of course, we need to save for our anticipated needs and to fund the activities of our businesses and livelihoods. However, there comes a point where the act of saving becomes hoarding. In this sense, for the saints, all saving must be done in a spirit of stewardship.

In contrast, the world promotes the spirit of hoarding; the pursuit of earthly wealth as a measure of success; a bulwark of security; to satisfy boasts. Most all of God’s gifts to us, whether the gifts of the Spirit or material resources, are meant for sharing and blessing others through our giving. We ourselves can be the source of “flowing” milk and honey for those in need.

Be a flow-person, not a hoarder.

All Christians (though they may not be “Israelites”) have the symbolic promise of a “land flowing with milk and honey.” Someday, when we all arrive at the New Jerusalem, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:4-5).

For resources on “end-time economics” and to subscribe to the free newsletter, Eternal Value Review, visit Wilfred’s website: www.eternalvalue.com or contact him at: staff@eternalvalue.com

About the Author: 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 end-time 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 End-time Money Snare: How to Live Free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. His newest book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving True Riches in an Age of Deception and Trouble, Looks Further into the Future.

1 http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/43-million-gallons-milk-have-been-dumped-so-far-year.html