Coronavirus Lockdowns and Restrictions
The first of these 2020 trends is obvious. COVID-19 has dominated headlines all year. And as with any crisis, politicians have taken advantage of the situation to grab more power and control. While complete lockdowns on freedom of movement and economic activity weren’t surprising in Chinese cities like Wuhan, it was a surprise to see similar lockdowns in the western world.
Countries such as Italy, Spain, and France announced nationwide lockdowns, ordering all “non-essential” workers to stay home and shelter in place. Draconian restrictions governed when people could leave their homes and who they could interact with. Police raided private residences to break up illegal parties, and many people turned in their neighbors.
The Coming Global Tyranny
None of this should surprise you. Long ago, the Book of Revelation foretold the establishment of a global authoritarian regime. The Bible says a global dictator known as the Antichrist will one day rule over every “tribe, people, language, and nation” (Revelation 13:7). He will have unprecedented power and control over the world population. This control will include the ability to require everyone on earth to receive a mark on the right hand or the forehead (Revelation 13:16). Without this mark, the people of the world will be unable to buy or sell anything (Revelation 13:17). How will this work? It remains to be seen. But the worldwide rush to create government-sponsored cryptocurrencies provides us with a glimpse as to how such a system might work. A global government-controlled cryptocurrency will provide him with such a system.
In addition, Big Tech companies and artificial intelligence will give the Antichrist unprecedented access to personal communications and massive power to decide what news is shared, who receives a platform, and who is allowed to participate in societal debate. The trend toward cancel culture and vilification of political opponents also provides fertile ground for such a dictator.
So, what does all this mean? It means we’re fast approaching a time the prophets warned about. We’re in the midst of a global pandemic (Luke 21:11). Israel is back in the land (Jeremiah 23:7-8). The Jewish people are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28). And the Gospel is being preached throughout the world (Matthew 24:14). The end times approach. The tribulation, the Antichrist, and global government aren’t far behind. But this means the rapture is also near. So don’t despair. While it appears the world is falling apart, all this is part of God’s divine plan. It’s a plan that should fill every Christian with peace. We know how this ends. It ends with Jesus coming (Revelation 22:20), and He’s coming soon!
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