We continue our theme of 12 Endtime Fuses Burning. They all represent a change in the beliefs or the idolatries of humanity. Crucially, all of these changes are relatively recent in the timeline of human history; and all have the potential for explosive impact.

We quote from an article written by Mr. Robert Kaplan, Chief Geopolitical Analyst for Stratfor, entitled “Machiavelli’s Virtue”:

What is modernity? Is it skyscrapers, smart phones, wonder drugs, atomic bombs? You’re not even close. Modernity, at least in the West, is the journey away from religious virtue toward secular self-interest. Religious virtue is fine for one’s family and the world of private morality. But the state—that defining political structure of modern times—requires something colder, more chilling. For the state must organize the lives of millions of strangers and protect their need to selfishly acquire material possessions. […] The state appeals not to God, but to individual selfishness. Thus, it clears the path for progress.

Mr. Kaplan may just as well have provided an exegesis of various Bible Scriptures, because his observations are correct. The Bible clearly does confirm the values upon which worldly affairs would be conducted—self-interest (or vested-interest). What Mr. Kaplan neglects to mention is that the world and its leaders would be “cursed” because of this state of affairs (for example, see Isaiah 24:3-6).

The world in this present state is surely run by self- and vested-interest. That’s not to say that there are not people who are other-worldly; to whom the things of this world appear strangely dim; or whose motives are inspired by love. It is just that there are much less of them. The values of the world, its societies and people, have been roundly turned toward materialism in recent times.

A century of humanistic influences has revised the definitions of human happiness, achievement, and progress. None of these are any longer defined by “eternal values” or from an eternal timeline. Success in these endeavors is defined solely in terms of material wealth, net worth, GDP growth, a rising standard of living or a rising MSCI World All-Country Index (representing the global stock market value).

By necessity, a world that is defined by the “need to selfishly acquire material possessions,” and is set apart from “private morals” or conscience and “religious virtue,” must be terrifyingly competitive. It would be a world of deceit and theft. And, indeed, such conduct and doctrine is accepted today in the world of geopolitics and political economy.

Not surprisingly, the Bible prophesies exactly such conditions. We find this message in the two visions of the Prophet Zechariah, found in chapter 5 of the book of the same name. Here are mentioned the two sins that would define the world of the last days—lying and stealing (verse 3). A two-part article series entitled “Flying Scrolls and Baskets: A Vision of Today,” outlines these connections (MCM May and June 2007 issues).

These sins tie in directly to the commercialized global corruption and political globalism that we see enveloping the world today. This short chapter in Zechariah of only 11 verses, contains two separate but important visions of the endtimes. Readers will recall the account of a giant scroll that is levitating in the air (verses 1 to 4). Right after this, the angel speaking to Zechariah shows him another vision. We then see a strange picture of an ephah (measuring basket) being transported by two women with the wings of storks.

We concluded that the false witness (lying) and the stealing being mentioned specifically had to do with the global idolatrous materialism and corruption of all human life on earth of the last days. Pinpointed were the two sins that are mainly responsible for the filthy idolatry that was shown in the flying ephah—lying and stealing.

Encompassed in these visions, we concluded, was everything from the elevation of manipulative and global monetary systems, fiat money, capitalism, competitive globalism based on the vested interest of intertwined worldwide trading systems, accounting shenanigans, corporatism and debt-based wealth to grand larceny. To this end, dishonesty and corruption must be accepted by the world as being the norm. All together it represents a humanity that denies truth. Yet, it is even much worse than that: It is a world which insists that untruth and deceit … for instance, a bit of inflation … is necessary to grease the wheels of daily life and progress.

According to Zechariah’s visions, we see that the corrosiveness and imbalances of these moral liberalities literally consumed “the timber thereof and the stones thereof” (Zechariah 5:4), this symbolizing the collapse of mankind’s societies. Policymakers and leaders fail to recognize that permissiveness and endorsement of such ungodly values must have an impact on the morality (actually a two-way cause and effect) of entire societies. Eventually a complete moral breakdown occurs, whether in commerce or sexual mores.

Lying and Stealing for Mankind’s Good

Let’s next examine the roles of these two endtime conditions of institutionalized lying and stealing.

Firstly lying—in other words, swearing falsely in the name of truth. It is the lubricant of our world’s economic and geopolitical systems. At the highest levels, lying is mirrored in the institution of contract law. Most contracts today are made on the premise of what is legally allowable as opposed to what is right or moral. The same attitude applies to the world of geopolitics. The “lie” is the most deftly used technique in the pursuit of a nation’s interests. Lying and deceit are definitely essential. The same applies to statecraft in dealing with the public.

What about stealing? In our time, stealing is more prevalent than ever before. Moreover, it has become much more sophisticated. There are numerous types of stealing that are institutionalized into world systems. For example, consider the phenomenon of inflation (the price of goods continually rising in currency terms). It is one of the biggest and most deceiving forms of stealing. Yet, every central bank in the world today will argue that some stealing (inflation) is necessary for the smooth and safe functioning of economies and financial systems. In fact, currently, a number of the world’s largest central banks are deliberately trying to encourage inflation.

Stealing is endemic and accepted in many other areas. Corporate executives steal from shareholders (like never before), and countries try to steal precious resources from other countries (oil, for example), although such motivations are couched in official policy-speak such as “securing our interests” or “gaining access through free trade.” Such techniques are the norm today.

Without a doubt, we see that swearing falsely and stealing are at the very root and apex of man’s global endtime edifice.

Returning to the earlier-quoted Mr. Kaplan, despite his cogent perspectives on the world’s state of affairs, he concludes: “This is not something to lament, however. For in the last analysis, self-interest can lead to peace while rigid moral principles can lead to war. Self-interest informs compromise with other human beings.”

He chooses to have faith that Global Man can tame and harness Mammon for the good of mankind by using Machiavellian techniques (namely, the endorsed lying and stealing among other ungodly tactics). He couldn’t be more wrong. One day there will be a new order, one diametrically opposite to what we have today. It will not be defined by self-interest or vested-interest. Truth, peace, justice and love will prevail. That will occur to an extent in the 1,000-year kingdom outlined in the Bible. The final perfect state occurs after this period when the eternal New Jerusalem descends.

Last Day Deceits and Corruption
Zechariah’s message aligns with that of many other prophecies in the Bible. Deception is shown to be a key characteristic of the last days in much prophetic Scripture (both in the Old and New Testaments). Of course, deceit has always existed. However, the book of Daniel clearly forewarns that the last regime—the one that ultimately gives rise to the Antichrist and the final rebellion against God—is one marked by great deception. “[…] a master of intrigue will arise […] He will cause deceit to prosper” (8:23-25); “It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground” (8:12).

Not only will there be rampant spiritual and religious deception during the last days1—clearly evident today—but deceit and corruption will infuse the entire world in every respect, including politics and commerce. The two go hand-in-hand.

The Bible tells of a similar time that met God’s great displeasure … so much so that He sent His prophets to warn about the consequences. Said Jeremiah:

“[…] Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years. Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land,” declares the LORD. “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit” (Jeremiah 6:11-13).

Old Testament prophets decried the apostate and corrupt state of Judah. 2500 hundred years ago, there was no shortage of prophets willing to foretell sweet and pleasing falsehoods. “[…] Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things […]” (Isaiah 30:10). Said Micah: “If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ he would be just the prophet for this people!” (2:11).

None of these “pillow” prophets actually spoke the truth … actually heard from God. “[…] They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own mind,” said Jeremiah (14:14). These false prophets were all lying, endorsing the stealing that was being perpetrated by the elites. It lulled people into a comfortable complacency and moral laxity. Destruction and judgment eventually followed. It’s not much different today; in fact, it is a global phenomenon.

Points to Ponder

Deception is rampant today; many are deceived. And, there are plenty who seek to validate the dishonesty. Says one incisive observer, “There are two types of economic theologians. The first is an economist who functions as a theologian for progress by helping to provide an ethical foundation for society. If economic progress is the route to ‘salvation,’ these ‘priests’ will be the experts on how to achieve that progress. Because society looks to economists for this knowledge, they logically become the leading priesthood of the age. The second […] study economics from a theological perspective.”2

It is this second variety of theologian that holds to the boundary stones and pathways of that which is right according to Scriptures. The other variety has firmly set the ethical foundation that allowsdishonesty and deceit to be deemed necessary and irreversible today.

In fact, dishonesty and deceit have become so entrenched that society fears that if we eradicate them entirely, the economic strength of our nations will collapse. This perspective is illustrated in this comment by Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States. Referring to alleged criminal activities of large financial companies, he said, “I am concerned that the size of these [financial] institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them when we are hit with indications that if you do prosecute, if you do bring a criminal charge, it will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy.”

What he basically said was that the government dare not prosecute any of the banks or other financial players for fear that rocking the boat in this way may risk bringing down the entire economy. That’s the state of affairs that we have today in many nations. The corruption is so endemic and deep, that to uproot these tares would risk jeopardizing the entire field, disrupting what prospects for prosperity that may remain.

Could it really have been as Jeremiah said—that it is possible that an entire society from “the least to the greatest” all practiced deceit? Those who believe the Bible as the literal Word of God will accept Jeremiah’s words for their plain meaning. But are things really different today? What can a little cheating, self-interest and greed hurt? The prevailing thinking is that it makes the world go around; it can pay the bills, lead to a better chance for prosperity, and faster growing and more competitive economies. That may be the popular thinking, but not with God.

We know from God’s dealings with Israel and Judah just what judgments will eventually follow. Little reward can be expected from the world for not conforming to this new norm. Jeremiah whined to God, “[…] I have never lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me” (Jeremiah 15:10). He was not participating in a commercial system that operated to oppress the poor and transfer wealth to the “experts in greed.” Apparently, because he wasn’t, people thought that Jeremiah was being judgmental. Not really. He was simply honoring God through obedience. We have the liberty to do the same.

1 “[…] Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he’” (Luke 21:8).
2 Nelson, Robert H. “Religion, Economics, and the Market Paradox.” Religion and Liberty, Volume 12, Number 1 (January/February 2002).

We continue with our theme of 12 endtime fuses. Crucially, each of these “fuses” identifies a shift in mankind’s beliefs of endtime significance. This segment of the series discusses the 6th of these—a willing conversion to the immorality underlying a global economic/monetary system.

Money—assuredly one of the key factors that makes humans different from animals—is the commandeered medium of Mammon. Its strategic significance in the cosmology of mankind is more than it just being the chief temptation that qualifies “the love of money” as being “the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Crucially, “money systems” also play a strategic eschatological role as can no other form of earthly rule. Why is this the case?

There is no more effective earthly way of controlling the entire world than through a worldwide money system. This offers an essential and strategic possibility to Satan and his hierarchy of fallen angels. They do not have omnipresence as does God, so they must use other means to achieve their objective of leading the entire world astray, the Bible tells us: “[…] that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9). And, as is usually the case, “the way of Balaam” (2 Peter 2:15) lures many to complicity with this system that is also energized by the “love of money.”

That there will be such a controlling money system can be deduced from Bible prophecy. Revelation 13:17 tells us that it will be possible someday to control buying and selling worldwide. How is that achieved? With a closed, global financial system, outside of which no commerce can be possible, as is already the case for the most part today.

But how does such a system come about? It requires cooperation in the beliefs and confidence of most all mankind. If this were not so, there could be no global integrated system of money and commerce. These required beliefs of humanity have contributed to the proliferation of just such a system relatively recently … these being the acceptance of the theories of modern macroeconomics and monetarism.

Readers may be surprised to learn that this system is really dependent upon “beliefs.” As such, this trend qualifies as one of our 12 endtime “burning” fuses. We will explain why, as well as the potential for its rather sudden impact.

Recent Unorthodox Trends in Central Banking

As has been happening in recent years, central banks have created a lot of money … literally out of thin air. Consider the scale of these central bank interventions. Globally, we note that the 8 largest central banks of the world have expanded their balance sheets (an indication of how much printed money they are pushing into the commercial banking system as well as non-bank sectors) from $5 trillion to $15 trillion since 2007. These figures are shockingly large, yet few are warning about the disastrous consequences for the world.

Today, these central banks have swelled in size to the equivalent of nearly 25% of world GDP (gross domestic product)! This is incredible, as no one would have thought this possible even a few years ago. Yet, recently, the Bank of Japan has upped the recklessness even more, in relative terms virtually tripling the money creation of even the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Such central bankers as Dr. Ben Bernanke (head of the U.S. Central Bank), Mario Draghi (head of the European Central Bank), and Haruhiko Kuroda (the new head of the Bank of Japan) are the most powerful men in the world. They are celebrated today for their actions of massive illicit money printing and contributing to increasing government indebtedness. In this they are considered to be acting lawfully, and moreover, are considered geniuses for having supposedly forestalled deeper economic recessions.

But, the kudos are much too early. The final and most terrible consequences have yet to come. Observers and commentators confuse the pleasures of sin with the wages of sin. Short-term deferrals only lead to greater consequences over the long-term. The Bible outlines the folly of denying these truths. The world is assured that it will reap what it sows. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8). Yet, for the time being, the world chooses to believe what it wants to believe.

No Escape of Consequences

Once on the path of infinite money, there is no easy road back. The ability to “create” unlimited money (whether technically, temporarily, or permanently) is a most powerful policy tool. Yet, the fact remains that governments alone cannot create wealth or growth. They may be able to delay the consequences of bad policies. But they cannot prevent the inevitable and consequential damages. Ultimately, all destruction of productive capital and illicit wealth transfers will come to roost, though its results may be diverted for a time.

God did not give mankind the ability to create wealth through money falsehoods, but only through labor and savings. Nevertheless, the human race has always been prone to believe “get rich” schemes. In this sense, modern-day central bankers and macroeconomists delude themselves, as well as all people who put their hope in them.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Similarly, there is no such thing as costless, fabricated money or effortless prosperity. Ultimately, all money is owned by someone or some entity. When money is created fictitiously by the stroke of a pen, it may seem effortless, but it is not free. Over time it causes painful societal distortions, economic dysfunctions and uneven wealth distribution. It all leads to (or is symptomatic of) increasing distrust and lawlessness at many levels.

How did this state of false money come about?

The History of Fractional Reserve Banking

Central banking is a relatively new concept in human history. Only as recently as the year 1900, there were just 18 such institutions in the world. At the time, all of these were in Europe, with the single exception of the Bank of Japan. The system of central banking then spread widely between the two World Wars. By 1980, over 100 or so were in operation. Following the rapid spread of globalization, there are now over 170. Even former and presently Communist countries followed suit. Consider that China’s central bank is today the second largest in the world. Readers will understand just how recent this global system of central banks has emerged.

By and large, all central banks have adopted the same basic operating policies. They claim that they can regulate the ebb and flow of inflation as well as debt growth in the commercial banking system. They do so through various means (the details of which we will spare the reader). Some central banks may be more constrained than others due to different country statutes and laws.

All the same, all central banks have one most powerful ability. Technically, they can “create” money out of thin air. Think about this for a moment: You the reader, and this writer, can only accumulate money through earnings and investment gains. We cannot lawfully create money; perhaps adding zeros to our bank account, or printing counterfeit notes. However, a central bank can effectively redistribute the existing savings of the entire country (and, we should add, the whole world) by creating more money.  And, incidentally, central bankers are not elected officials.

Economic Beliefs Proven to be Immoral

Are macroeconomics and fractional reserve monetary systems immoral? Using the Bible as our reference point, the answer must be in the affirmative. Let’s next cite a few simple examples as proof.

It is a virtual consensus today that countries need to have their own currencies if they are to weather the unwanted consequences of their unwise fiscal or monetary policies. Why? So they can better shove the burden of their economic misalignments upon the rest of the world through currency debasement. In a number of ways, this is the same as stealing. It forces losses on foreign creditors and also has the stealthy impact of illicitly transferring wealth. But that would be considered inconsequential. To do so is considered “wise policy,” endorsed by highly revered economists. The morality of such “science” is never questioned.

Consider this question facing economists today: How to rescue a country’s economy without raising debt levels further. Why, you must print new money…literally creating money with a stroke of the pen. As we have already documented, this is indeed occurring around the globe. In short, what this means again is that illicit wealth transfers between different members of society and theft must be officially endorsed. The victims may be the retired, the elderly, or the defenseless. Those in the know or in advantageous positions become wealthier; the unwitting ever poorer. These effects are known by economists, but shockingly, these policies are endorsed nonetheless.

There are plenty of shaman policy economists today who counsel the wisdom of debt default to individual countries. What they fail to recognize is that were all the nations of the world to do so, we would have an utter collapse of global financial systems.

We will highlight one last accepted immoral foundation of today’s economic policymakers: It is validly acknowledged that over-indebtedness has been a major contributor to financial and economic ailments facing the world today. Yet, well-known economists seriously recommend that much higher government debt levels are required to boost economies back into recovery mode and long-term health.

Only a senseless person without reference to Biblical morality, would make the argument that what made the patient sick should also be prescribed to again make them better. Such medicine would be considered flimflammery. Yet, the political economics establishment experiences no shame or loss of credibility believing such things.

There are other delusions that are being prescribed by political economists today that we could outline. Nevertheless, policymakers still search out their advice. Suffice it to make the observation that the attitude of the nations is pretty much as it was in the time of Isaiah, “They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see visions,’ and to the prophets, ‘Don’t give us visions of what is right! Instead, tell us welcome things, prophesy illusions’” (Isaiah 30:10).

The only difference today is that this condition applies globally, not to just one or two countries, such as was the case during the times of ancient Israel. Though we may think that our era deserves greater awe due to its apparently advanced knowledge and “science,” it is no different than any other in this one respect: Its shamans were always given great respect and credibility, though they were exactly that—shamans and false prophets.

The Biblical Standard of Moral Money

The Bible frequently talks of scales (“balances” in the KJV). Honest scales were a command to the Hebrews: “Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin” (Leviticus 19:36). The prophet Ezekiel warned Israel and Judah: “You are to use accurate scales, an accurate ephah and an accurate bath” (Ezekiel 45:10). Also, spoke the Prophet Micah, “Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?” (Micah 6:11). There are many other Scriptures that we could quote.

Crucially, it is these “known” weights that were tampered with. In so doing, they were tampering with God’s truths. It is He who provides the measuring line…the ancient boundary stones. For, “Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making” (Proverbs 16:11).

The OT prophets indicate to us how corrupt Israel had become economically. A culture of deceit and fraud was imbedded in society. “‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales […]” (Amos 8:5). Skimping, boosting, and cheating were standard practices. In our day, an interconnected global money system has been built on exactly such a foundation.

In this writer’s opinion, conditions today are similar, yet much, much worse. Of note is the fact that the words “scales” and “balances” are in the plural form.

Thoughts to Ponder

Without a doubt, we are now witnessing an era where economic policymakers and the major central banks of the world are desperate. They have chosen to break all the rules and have abandoned any semblance of probity and integrity. They are manipulating monetary systems and are creating “infinite” money as never before, openly and brazenly corrupting the “scales.” They have gone past the point of no return, knowingly and willing choosing to brazenly “steal and thieve.” It is awe-striking to witness.

But, what about the potential for explosiveness of this endtime “burning fuse”? More than anything, financial systems are highly prone to sudden changes. This is for two reasons. First, the workings of this system are dependent upon confidence. Human confidence can disappear in an instant. Second, financial systems are based on debt and fractional reserve banking. That produces a condition of acute instability … a very low margin for error.

Observers of financial systems have noted that while it may take a long, long time for crises to finally break out, when they do so they unfold extremely quickly. As such, the collapse of the financial belief systems can indeed be sudden and explosive. Bible prophecy appears to forewarn of the “suddenness” of key events.

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). Though our Lord may be tarrying, when the time of judgment arrives it will unfold with lightning speed. We also note the suddenness of the final world power regime that will rule the world. Prior to the appearance of the Antichrist, it will come to form very quickly and will be on the stage for only “one hour” (Revelation 17:12). As well, the Antichrist, who is also identified as the 8th king who belongs to the prior 7 world hegemonic kingdoms, will exist but a “little while” (Revelation 17:10).