Prophecy Watch: The Merging of Countries into Economic Communities
From the Scriptures, it is apparent that the economies of the entire earth dúring the time of the Antichrist will be unified. Apparently, everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) will have to identify with the Antichrist and his regime.
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
(Revelation 13:6-7 NKJV)
Today, there are different groups of nations who have made joint agreements economically. In 2001, Europe created a common currency for fifteen countries, called the Euro. Now, it is effectively the currency for 25 countries in Europe. Also in 2001, a group of countries in Africa ratified an agreement to join economically and politically in the same vein as the European Union (EU). In 2002, many of the countries in Africa joined together and formed the African Union(AU).
Regional economic unions like ASEAN, the Arab League and OPEC have been making political decisions that beforehand individual nations used to make. In South America, economic failures and bailouts by the World Bank will one day cause this continent to merge. (The South American nations have already begun to discuss the idea of more cooperative ties.)
In the end, there will no longer be national economies. Instead, the earth will be divided into regional economies. If these regional economies follow the EU model, they will exert their powers economically. They will have little political and military power.
The Bible talks of nations and kingdoms who will rule under one economic system. The economic system is called “the woman”, who is the harlot and her will be “Babylon”.
And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
(Revelation 17:5 NKJV)
The “woman” sits on seven “mountains”, which are also political centers with seven “kings” or leaders. In this prophecy, the “beast” she rides is a combination of economic power and false political power. The seven “kings” of history to which this prophecy refers included Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The sixth is unidentified. The seventh will be Babylon. The eighth will be a combination of “kings” with the Antichrist. The “woman” will be an economic system that rules these “kings”.
“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
(Revelation 17:12-13 NKJV)
And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
(Revelation 17:16-18 NKJV)
In interpreting this text, it is also apparent that the “kings” (political power) are directed by the “woman” (the combined and unified economic power). As recent history is showing, the power of small political states is diminishing. There will be a future climate in which economy will drive policy. In the end, ten “kings” (or some sort of combined authorities) will be given power. They, in turn, will give their power to Antichrist. They will try to attack Jesus Christ, and they will be unsuccessful. The ten “kings” will then turn in their defeat against the “woman” who gave them their power. They will destroy her because like a “harlot”, she has used them for her own pleasure.
It will be the worst political and economic marriage in history. Economically, the “woman” will make some people rich; small and large business will flourish.
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
(Revelation 18:3 NKJV)
The politicians will mourn her destruction.
“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
(Revelation 18:9-10 NKJV)
The people who lead these businesses and the nations that joined this economic power, will be saddened by her destruction.
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore…
(Revelation 18:11 NKJV)
The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
(Revelation 18:15 NKJV)
For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, “What is like this great city?’ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, “Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
(Revelation 18:17-19 NKJV)
Eventually, this economic and political marriage will fail. The marriage based on selfishness and greed will end. The desire for power, security, and ease of access (which we begin to see now with the merging of currencies and political powers) will culminate in the worst regime the world has ever known, and this regime will end in failure.
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
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