The End Times Economy

The End Times Economy
John R. Petrilli

With the economy so much on the minds of folks the world over, it seemed a good time to revisit the Scriptures to catch a glimpse of ‘economic things to come’, and what the future holds for a world embattled in a fight for its economic life. Is there a brighter day ahead? Will things get worse before they get better? Believe it or not, the Word of God has some provocative answers to these and other questions concerning things economic. It provides fascinating details about the nature and outcome of the global economy just down the road. Here’s some of what it has to say on this hot topic.

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL BE GLOBALLY CONTROLLED BY AN INTELLIGENT, MALEVOLENT DICTATOR. Rev. 13:5-17

“[The Beast] was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” Rev. 13:7b

Having come to the economic ends of themselves, the governments of the world will welcome with open arms an individual who will possess the solutions which eluded them. Disguised as a man of global peace, this individual will gradually gain political momentum using his phenomenal diplomatic skills to peacefully take over the world one nation at a time (Rev. 6:2). Martin R. DeHaan II states, “The time is coming when the Western world will be united under an incredibly intelligent, tremendously dynamic, awesomely powerful, but frighteningly evil man”. Known as the Beast, this global dictator will suddenly change his tactics, launching the world into all out war (Rev. 6:3-4). With a great war comes great shortages of everything that’s basic for human survival. During the Tribulation period this Beast will institute and micromanage a global economy that will ‘save the day’ for all of humanity the world over. For this he will attain god-like status among the unsaved of earth (Rev. 13:8). His purposes and methods will be deceptive to the core (2 Thess. 2:3-4 ; Rev. 13:14 ; 19:19-20a), and his campaign to secure universal compliance will take no prisoners (Rev. 13:15b).

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL BE OUTRAGEOUSLY INFLATED. Rev. 6:5-6

“I looked and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine.’ ”

Our world has indeed seen its share of famine and poverty. As I write these very words, millions of people are dying of starvation. That’s hard to conceive when so many in our world live in relative luxury with plenty of life’s basic necessities and then some. This is the picture the apostle John paints once the ravages of global warfare have left the world economically devastated. While some are dying of starvation, others will be scrambling to protect their supplies of such luxury items as oils and wines. Major inflation usually follows a major war, and the end times will be no different. Having experienced sweeping devastation, the world will witness unprecedented scarcity and all the inflation that goes with it. The price of food will escalate to levels completely out of reach to the common man, seeing as much as a twelve-hundred percent rise (The Wiersbe Commentary, p.1053, comment on verses 5 and 6).

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL BE TOTALLY CASHLESS. Rev. 13:16-17

“[The Beast] forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark.”

A cashless society and world might have seemed like some fantasy just a few decades ago, but modern technology has quickly turned that fantasy into a fast-approaching reality. Bar codes, scanners, credit cards and ‘e-business’ are rapidly turning the dollar bill into a relic of the past. Electronic transactions are now responsible for processing and recording most of the world’s business. Microchip implants in animals are already used to monitor their whereabouts, and ways to implement this technology for human applications are being developed and proposed as we speak. The exponential spike in computer capacities makes a global information system powerful enough to manage all this a matter of “When”, not “If”.

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL DEPRIVE MILLIONS OF BASIC NECESSITIES. Rev. 13:17a

“No one could buy or sell UNLESS he had the mark.”

Imagine what life would be like if, suddenly, without warning, your cash supply, checkbook and credit cards became worthless. You’d be economically marooned! No money for gas, or food, or the house or car payment. No resources whatsoever to sustain and maintain life as you know it. Pretty dark day, huh? Unfortunately, that day is coming for millions all around the globe. The Beast’s electronic system is designed for the express purpose of weeding out all who refuse to comply with his unconditional demand for worship. That means that millions, perhaps billions, will suffer a complete economic lockout. Without his imprimatur mark on their hand or forehead, their chances for survival are close to nil. Not only will they face the likelihood of death by starvation, they will also be identified as enemies of the state by citizens they come into contact with, resulting in their apprehension and execution (Rev. 13:15). John MacArthur writes, “In the Roman Empire [a mark] was a normal identifying symbol or brand that slaves and soldiers bore on their bodies. Some of the ancient mystical cults delighted in such tattoos, which identified members with a form of worship. Antichrist will have a similar requirement, one that will need to be visible on the hand or forehead.”

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL BE INSEPARABLY LINKED TO A GLOBAL, MANDATORY RELIGIOUS SYSTEM. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (Message) ; Rev. 17:1-9

“The Anarchist, a real dog of Satan, will defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he’ll then set himself up in God’s Temple as ‘God Almighty’ ”.

Strange as it may seem, there will come a day when a mere man will march into the Temple in Jerusalem and announce to the world that he is God. While that seems so implausible from our current perspective, this will take place in the context of a world that has undergone massive changes in its political, social and religious institutions. After pulling-off the greatest economic comeback in world history, some will understandably be inclined to view the Beast as a divine being. After all, he does manage to engineer a false assassination and resurrection from the dead. And there will no longer be any nation capable of challenging him militarily (Rev. 13:4). He will single-handedly win over every nation of the world, a feat no one has ever accomplished! Hero worship is on the rise as people long to adore and glorify something or someone bigger than themselves. Whether it’s rock stars, movie stars, or sports figures, the culture of worshipping a person as something more human is gaining increased popularity and momentum. This mentality of finding and following a megastar is a subtle way of preparing the world for the arrival of the ultimate superstar, and come he will. His overreaching financial machine will rob people of their economic freedom, while his overarching religious system of compulsory worship will rob them of their souls. A better description of Satan’s diabolical purposes can’t be found. He wants complete control, and will stop at nothing to get it.

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL COMPLETELY CRASH. Rev. 18:1-24

“I saw another angel coming down from heaven. With a mighty voice he shouted, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great!” (1-2). The merchants who gained their wealth from Babylon stand afar off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city … in one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ ” (15-16).

The year 1929 rings a bell for most Americans still living. Like the phrase “9/11”, it immediately evokes one of America’s darkest memories. Like the tragic crash of the Stock Market that fateful day, there’s coming a future day when the global stock market will collapse in an unexpected and lightning quick manner. Headquartered a city named Babylon, the economic clout of the entire world will go up in smoke under the hand of divine judgment. All its agricultural wealth, jewelry industries, slave trades, clothing goods, luxury items, and industrial resources will utterly vanish in a moment’s time. While earth mourns over their catastrophic economic loss, heaven celebrates the downfall of her worst enemy (20).

THE END TIMES ECONOMY WILL BE REPLACED BY A HEALTHY, WEALTHY ECONOMY. Rev. 21:1-7, 10-21 ; 22:1-4

“I saw the Holy City” (21:2). “The city [was made] of pure gold. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone” (21:18-19a). “The angel showed me the river of the water of life … On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (22:1-4).

“Heaven on earth” is often what the political campaign rhetoric promises its citizenry. An economic paradise. The truth is, that will only become a reality when a new, perfect and permanent management takes over the affairs of this world. When Jesus comes to power, things will be different … real different … and forever different. Under His all-wise government, the world will experience a global peace and prosperity that will totally eclipse anything it has ever seen before. The opulence John describes speaks of the city’s economic wealth, while the agricultural and human productivity reveal its economic health. It will be a place bustling with life whose output will abundantly satisfy all who inhabit its rich environs. The scourges of inflation, recession, depression, and economic collapse will be relegated to the history books. Best of all, the inhabitants of the New Earth will be able to stand before the One Who gave His life for them, proudly displaying the forehead mark of their beloved ruler. Amen!