Generosity: A Plan For the “Evil Time”
I strongly believe we are at the beginning of the "evil time" so thoroughly described in the Bible. Evil is the absence of God. It isn't a force equal and opposite to God. Darkness is the absence of light, cold is the absence of heat, and evil is the absence of God. Because mankind was given dominion over the earth, our choices to agree with, or disagree with, God are given great dignity. This means “everybody gets what they want” in the end. This means righteousness AND evil are both increasing.
One aspect of the evil time coming is famine. David prophesied about the evil time coming. He said the prescription to survive the evil time begins with trust in God that manifests itself in the form of generosity:
Psalms 37:18-23 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord , Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord , And He delights in his way.
Jesus backed up David's words in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said the key to financial well being for a Christian is generosity, not a good savings plan, not a better job. The key to being a person whose foundation is set on a rock is to cast off the world's economy of time, money and strength, and practically apply the principles of the Sermon on the Mount to your actual choices with your checkbook and calendar. If you want to know what you REALLY believe, one of the best gauges is to simply consider how generous you are with both your time and your money:
Matthew 6:19-21, 24, 31-33 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Jesus said all this because living this way is PRACTICAL...not just a lofty ideal. In fact, living this way is essential. Jesus said living this way is a big part of how you "get ready" for the evil time:
Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
According to Jesus himself, calling out to Jesus is NOT ENOUGH to stay standing through the evil time. There is much preparation to do. It is obeying Jesus now, not just with money, but money is a HUGE part of getting ready. Learning to be generous is what breaks the heart-tie that we have with money so that we are not susceptible to the plan of the enemy in the evil time.
The plan of the enemy, which will be unrestrained soon, is very simple: God is going to allow the enemy to use money in order to manipulate the whole earth into worshiping him. If you have any love for money, it will be VERY HARD for you to resist being manipulated by the enemy threatening to take it away. The only way to truly be safe from this clear trap is to have no love for...no trust or obedience to...money. Jesus equated love to obedience.
John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
To not "love" money means you don't obey the world's rules about money, instead you operate in God's economy. In the world's economy, if you want more money you exercise discipline to store it up, even at the cost of helping someone in need. In God's Sermon on the Mount economy, you actually search for ways to give more money away, to the point that you are actually taking a RISK! If you don't give enough away to make it feel risky…make it feel irresponsible...if you don't give enough away to actually feel like it is a risk...then you really aren't breaking any heart ties to money...you are still loving money. Just like any exercise, it should make your heart sore if it is really building the muscle of faith!
This is what Jesus demonstrated time and time again. Jesus let Judas carry the money! Judas was a thief and Jesus knew it! Jesus relied on the Father to provide moment by moment. Jesus taught AGAINST saving on earth. This isn't a popular message in western churches, but this IS Jesus' message:
Jesus on financial planning:
Matthew 17:27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
John 12:4-7 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, (5) "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. (7) But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.
Luke 10:2-4 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (3) Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. (4) Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
Jesus on storing wealth:
Luke 12:18-21 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Jesus even instructed the rich young ruler to “sell everything he had, give the money to the poor, and come follow Jesus.” Selling everything right this second and giving it all away would be presumptuous, unless Jesus was specifically calling you to that, BUT Jesus really wants us to practically see “open handedness” as our financial plan and increasing generosity as savings that last forever. Having excess isn't bad, but TRUSTING excess is EVIL...absent God. If storing up something for when you need it is your plan for the future, I guarantee your plan will fail. Just one more example from Jesus, and then I'll explain why this is something very practical for our day:
Mark 12:12, 41-44 ...so they left him and went away. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
How could Jesus let some poor widow throw in everything she had into some temple offering plate...especially when the temple was a "den of thieves" at the time?! Was Jesus reckless and wanting that little old lady to starve?! Why didn’t He stop her if it was really all she had to live on? The poor dumb widow? No! Jesus knew that she was the only one in that crowd that really understood life, and who was providing it. Jesus knew of all the people they were watching, she was the only one actually FREE from the snare of money. The widow with the two peenies was the most financially responsible person in the crowd that day, from heaven’s point of view.
If the thought of giving enough to actually cut into next week’s or next month’s obligations scares you, you are not as free as the little widow. You simply don’t have heaven’s perspective. If the thought of giving scares you, you have some heart ties to money, and Jesus would say you are not getting ready for the evil time to come.
Every time Jesus talked about His return He said at least one of these three things: watch, pray, and BE READY. You really need to get ready…like now…The PRIMARY WAY YOU GET READY TO ENDURE THE TRIBULATION IS TO LIVE THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT…now…while there is time to practice it. Jesus’ plan is to get His whole Bride to make Him their ONLY strength. That means you will need to live supernaturally in the years leading up to His return. Manna for food, water from a rock, communities of believers living the Acts lifestyle. This is what the believers will be doing globally in the final years of tribulation:
Acts 4:34-37 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (36) And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, (37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
This is the way the church lives in MUCH of the world right now!! BUT, you are at a huge disadvantage. Because of the great wealth in the western culture, we have learned to be “financially independent.” We actually value this in our churches…ugh! Jesus warned about this:
Revelation 3:15-19 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! (16) But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth! (17) You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (18) So I advise you to buy gold from Me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. (19) I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Jesus wants us financially DEPENDANT, on Him and each other. These are the two highest values in the Bride: 1. loving God (obeying God, including generosity) with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 2. loving your neighbor as yourself (including with extravagant generosity). If this isn’t your current realty, you need to get ready, because this reality is going to be forced on you, one way or the other. Get ready now, and the transition won’t hurt much at all. Put it off and you are in for a world of hurt. For real. If you think you don’t have enough money to be generous, you are in serious trouble. The widow only had two pennies and was still generous. Everyone has enough money to be generous, according to Jesus.
This is a very practical warning. The entire world economy is about to change, and when it does, it will change quickly and dramatically. 2008 was a warning to the earth.
This is how I believe the Bible indicates this negative economic change will happen: The man who confirms the peace in Israel with his military strength is going to, around the same time, save the world from “near financial collapse” with his financial “strength” or clout.
Remember 2008? Remember how in December 2008 one day we went to bed and the economy seemed ok, and the next day we woke up and all the politicians were saying "the economy is going to collapse unless we save it!" The collapse of one investment bank led to a chain reaction through the whole system, we were told. George Bush took the extreme measure of basically loaning a trillion dollars to banks that were “too big to fail.” As a country, we went on to borrow and print trillions of dollars to "save our economy (it doesn't feel all that saved, btw).
This same basic scenario is promised to play out globally. A threatened collapse of not the investment banking system, but the CENTRAL BANKING SYSTEM, is going to require an emergency "solution," and that solution is going to be this: a new global currency that requires a mark somewhere near the head or hand. If you participate in the world economy by accepting the new currency, the Bible says you are agreeing to worship the antichrist. If you don't take the mark, the Bible says you will lose all your ability to use money...no work, no grocery store, no gas for the ride...this is really going to happen:
Revelation 13:16-17 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
Taking the mark is to choose the antichrist instead of trusting in invisible Jesus. This means once you take the mark, you cannot be saved. God's people are expected to know this and "be ready" to endure, according to the Bible:
Revelation 14:9-12 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
You get ready to endure this by "practicing" not loving money now. You want to kill that part of your heart that trusts money, and instead learn to trust in supernatural provision. Supernatural means “irresponsible” to people that don’t know Jesus. This is not natural, and requires advanced practice. It means you practicing regularly giving enough to make it hurt your heart. You choose to kill your heart tie to money BEFORE antichrist tries to use that heart tie to get you to rebel against God.
No one can kill you if you are already dead! I want my love for money totally dead so the government is simply kicking a dead carcass by threatening to take my money away! If your love for money is dead, then this event will hardly affect you. If you have been practicing letting God provide supernaturally, then it will be easy to live that way when you NEED it. If you have been practicing generosity, it will be easy to live that way when whole communities in the cities of safety need it. Those who never practiced these things will be offended by the sudden choice and will be tempted intensely to take the mark. False teachers are promised to tell you it is ok. Fear of lack is a very strong motivator. That is why Jesus addressed it over and over.
Those who give in and take the mark will suffer famine, for sure. This is one of the first judgments to hit those who have taken the mark:
Revelation 6:5-8 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. (6) And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." (7) When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" (8) I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
The antichrist has a plan that sounds really good to make the world “fair.” This plan is the same one that has been tried numerous times by men like Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Castro. His plan is to promise to confiscate from the rich to give to the poor. Only problem is that this never works. One small group of leaders always confiscates the money for themselves and leaves the masses starving. If you agree with the coming one world economy, you WILL suffer famine. You want to agree with the economy of heaven now and escape the one world economy. David promised that those who are generous now will have no trouble in the evil time. For real.
Psalms 37:18-23 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord , Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord , And He delights in his way.
One aspect of the evil time coming is famine. David prophesied about the evil time coming. He said the prescription to survive the evil time begins with trust in God that manifests itself in the form of generosity:
Psalms 37:18-23 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord , Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord , And He delights in his way.
Jesus backed up David's words in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said the key to financial well being for a Christian is generosity, not a good savings plan, not a better job. The key to being a person whose foundation is set on a rock is to cast off the world's economy of time, money and strength, and practically apply the principles of the Sermon on the Mount to your actual choices with your checkbook and calendar. If you want to know what you REALLY believe, one of the best gauges is to simply consider how generous you are with both your time and your money:
Matthew 6:19-21, 24, 31-33 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Jesus said all this because living this way is PRACTICAL...not just a lofty ideal. In fact, living this way is essential. Jesus said living this way is a big part of how you "get ready" for the evil time:
Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
According to Jesus himself, calling out to Jesus is NOT ENOUGH to stay standing through the evil time. There is much preparation to do. It is obeying Jesus now, not just with money, but money is a HUGE part of getting ready. Learning to be generous is what breaks the heart-tie that we have with money so that we are not susceptible to the plan of the enemy in the evil time.
The plan of the enemy, which will be unrestrained soon, is very simple: God is going to allow the enemy to use money in order to manipulate the whole earth into worshiping him. If you have any love for money, it will be VERY HARD for you to resist being manipulated by the enemy threatening to take it away. The only way to truly be safe from this clear trap is to have no love for...no trust or obedience to...money. Jesus equated love to obedience.
John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
To not "love" money means you don't obey the world's rules about money, instead you operate in God's economy. In the world's economy, if you want more money you exercise discipline to store it up, even at the cost of helping someone in need. In God's Sermon on the Mount economy, you actually search for ways to give more money away, to the point that you are actually taking a RISK! If you don't give enough away to make it feel risky…make it feel irresponsible...if you don't give enough away to actually feel like it is a risk...then you really aren't breaking any heart ties to money...you are still loving money. Just like any exercise, it should make your heart sore if it is really building the muscle of faith!
This is what Jesus demonstrated time and time again. Jesus let Judas carry the money! Judas was a thief and Jesus knew it! Jesus relied on the Father to provide moment by moment. Jesus taught AGAINST saving on earth. This isn't a popular message in western churches, but this IS Jesus' message:
Jesus on financial planning:
Matthew 17:27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
John 12:4-7 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, (5) "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. (7) But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.
Luke 10:2-4 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (3) Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. (4) Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
Jesus on storing wealth:
Luke 12:18-21 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Jesus even instructed the rich young ruler to “sell everything he had, give the money to the poor, and come follow Jesus.” Selling everything right this second and giving it all away would be presumptuous, unless Jesus was specifically calling you to that, BUT Jesus really wants us to practically see “open handedness” as our financial plan and increasing generosity as savings that last forever. Having excess isn't bad, but TRUSTING excess is EVIL...absent God. If storing up something for when you need it is your plan for the future, I guarantee your plan will fail. Just one more example from Jesus, and then I'll explain why this is something very practical for our day:
Mark 12:12, 41-44 ...so they left him and went away. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
How could Jesus let some poor widow throw in everything she had into some temple offering plate...especially when the temple was a "den of thieves" at the time?! Was Jesus reckless and wanting that little old lady to starve?! Why didn’t He stop her if it was really all she had to live on? The poor dumb widow? No! Jesus knew that she was the only one in that crowd that really understood life, and who was providing it. Jesus knew of all the people they were watching, she was the only one actually FREE from the snare of money. The widow with the two peenies was the most financially responsible person in the crowd that day, from heaven’s point of view.
If the thought of giving enough to actually cut into next week’s or next month’s obligations scares you, you are not as free as the little widow. You simply don’t have heaven’s perspective. If the thought of giving scares you, you have some heart ties to money, and Jesus would say you are not getting ready for the evil time to come.
Every time Jesus talked about His return He said at least one of these three things: watch, pray, and BE READY. You really need to get ready…like now…The PRIMARY WAY YOU GET READY TO ENDURE THE TRIBULATION IS TO LIVE THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT…now…while there is time to practice it. Jesus’ plan is to get His whole Bride to make Him their ONLY strength. That means you will need to live supernaturally in the years leading up to His return. Manna for food, water from a rock, communities of believers living the Acts lifestyle. This is what the believers will be doing globally in the final years of tribulation:
Acts 4:34-37 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (36) And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, (37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
This is the way the church lives in MUCH of the world right now!! BUT, you are at a huge disadvantage. Because of the great wealth in the western culture, we have learned to be “financially independent.” We actually value this in our churches…ugh! Jesus warned about this:
Revelation 3:15-19 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! (16) But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth! (17) You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (18) So I advise you to buy gold from Me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. (19) I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Jesus wants us financially DEPENDANT, on Him and each other. These are the two highest values in the Bride: 1. loving God (obeying God, including generosity) with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 2. loving your neighbor as yourself (including with extravagant generosity). If this isn’t your current realty, you need to get ready, because this reality is going to be forced on you, one way or the other. Get ready now, and the transition won’t hurt much at all. Put it off and you are in for a world of hurt. For real. If you think you don’t have enough money to be generous, you are in serious trouble. The widow only had two pennies and was still generous. Everyone has enough money to be generous, according to Jesus.
This is a very practical warning. The entire world economy is about to change, and when it does, it will change quickly and dramatically. 2008 was a warning to the earth.
This is how I believe the Bible indicates this negative economic change will happen: The man who confirms the peace in Israel with his military strength is going to, around the same time, save the world from “near financial collapse” with his financial “strength” or clout.
Remember 2008? Remember how in December 2008 one day we went to bed and the economy seemed ok, and the next day we woke up and all the politicians were saying "the economy is going to collapse unless we save it!" The collapse of one investment bank led to a chain reaction through the whole system, we were told. George Bush took the extreme measure of basically loaning a trillion dollars to banks that were “too big to fail.” As a country, we went on to borrow and print trillions of dollars to "save our economy (it doesn't feel all that saved, btw).
This same basic scenario is promised to play out globally. A threatened collapse of not the investment banking system, but the CENTRAL BANKING SYSTEM, is going to require an emergency "solution," and that solution is going to be this: a new global currency that requires a mark somewhere near the head or hand. If you participate in the world economy by accepting the new currency, the Bible says you are agreeing to worship the antichrist. If you don't take the mark, the Bible says you will lose all your ability to use money...no work, no grocery store, no gas for the ride...this is really going to happen:
Revelation 13:16-17 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
Taking the mark is to choose the antichrist instead of trusting in invisible Jesus. This means once you take the mark, you cannot be saved. God's people are expected to know this and "be ready" to endure, according to the Bible:
Revelation 14:9-12 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
You get ready to endure this by "practicing" not loving money now. You want to kill that part of your heart that trusts money, and instead learn to trust in supernatural provision. Supernatural means “irresponsible” to people that don’t know Jesus. This is not natural, and requires advanced practice. It means you practicing regularly giving enough to make it hurt your heart. You choose to kill your heart tie to money BEFORE antichrist tries to use that heart tie to get you to rebel against God.
No one can kill you if you are already dead! I want my love for money totally dead so the government is simply kicking a dead carcass by threatening to take my money away! If your love for money is dead, then this event will hardly affect you. If you have been practicing letting God provide supernaturally, then it will be easy to live that way when you NEED it. If you have been practicing generosity, it will be easy to live that way when whole communities in the cities of safety need it. Those who never practiced these things will be offended by the sudden choice and will be tempted intensely to take the mark. False teachers are promised to tell you it is ok. Fear of lack is a very strong motivator. That is why Jesus addressed it over and over.
Those who give in and take the mark will suffer famine, for sure. This is one of the first judgments to hit those who have taken the mark:
Revelation 6:5-8 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. (6) And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and wine." (7) When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" (8) I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
The antichrist has a plan that sounds really good to make the world “fair.” This plan is the same one that has been tried numerous times by men like Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Castro. His plan is to promise to confiscate from the rich to give to the poor. Only problem is that this never works. One small group of leaders always confiscates the money for themselves and leaves the masses starving. If you agree with the coming one world economy, you WILL suffer famine. You want to agree with the economy of heaven now and escape the one world economy. David promised that those who are generous now will have no trouble in the evil time. For real.
Psalms 37:18-23 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord , Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord , And He delights in his way.
Comments
Post a Comment
I appreciate your comments.