SSttaanndd PPrreeppaarreedd:: Wilfred J. Hahn is a global portfolio manager and senior partner with HAHN Investment Stewards & Company Inc. and founder of The 99 SSccrriippttuurraall Mulberry Ministry, publisher of Eternal Value Review, written for “thinking Christians seeking to understand the times.” PPeerrssppeeccttiivveess oonn His views and research are particularly relevant to Christians living in the endtimes, a time of great prosperity, financial slavery and economic GGlloobbaalliizzaattiioonn aanndd injustice. Wilfred J. Hahn EEnnddttiimmee MMoonneeyy MMaanniiaa The Mulberry Ministry, publishers of Eternal Value Review. All rights reserved worldwide. One-time reproductions and excerpts are encouraged without permission. For multiple reproductions please provide and acknowledgement to The Mulberry Ministry, P.0. Box 2609, Station R, Kelowna BC, Canada V1X 6A7. The use of this publication for the promotion of any other commercial activity or pursuit is expressly prohibited. The Mulberry Ministry does not endorse any third- party financial product, service or any promotion of an investment scheme. If not otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. THE MULBERRY MINISTRY PO Box 2609 Wilfred J. Hahn Station R Kelowna BC CANADA V1X 6A7 www.eternalvalue.com www.eternalvalue.com MMB-013 Stand Prepared: 9 Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania Table of Contents C H A P T E R 1 The Babylon Occlusion Here and Now 3 C H A P T E R 2 The Rise and Fall of Endtime Tyre 15 C H A P T E R 3 Rising Food Prices and the Black Horse of the 29 Apocalypse C H A P T E R 4 39 Money Changers in the Temple: Then and Now C H A P T E R 5 Great Glee: How Wall Street Will Deal in the 51 Tribulation C H A P T E R 6 63 Food Crisis and the Coming False-joseph C H A P T E R 7 73 Omri: The Merger King C H A P T E R 8 83 Final Offer: An Endtime Rewards Program C H A P T E R 9 93 Financial Armageddon Approaching THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 1 Stand Prepared: 9 Scriptural Perspectives on Globalization and Endtime Money Mania Wilfred J. Hahn Copyright ©2008, Mulberry Press Inc. The booklet is comprised of a collection of 10 chapters on the general theme of last-day trends that challenge Christians today. Each chapter is based upon a previous article originally published between November 2003 and August 2008 in one or more publications. Each of these articles have been edited from their original. 2 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania Chapter 1 The Babylon Occlusion Here and Now: Can you see it? T he topic of Babylon in prophetic scripture is one of the most actively debated in Christian circles. The most contested portion, of course, has to do with questions of yet future fulfillment. Here we see a virtual myriad of interpretations ranging from the increasingly popular position that modern-day America is endtime Babylon, on through to strict literal interpretations that emphasize an actual physical rebuilding of Babylon (situated in present-day Iraq) as the final totality of fulfillment. There seem to be tens of interpretations in between, a number of them quite bizarre. The word “Babylon” appears 294 times in the Bible (KJV). Not surprisingly, there are numerous prophetic statements about this entity in its various forms, many of them already fulfilled. A number of these prophecies are mirrored in the treatments of Tyre in scripture, another city of which prophecy often speaks (at least 23 times). The topic of Babylon is obviously a very important topic. Therefore it is unfortunate that so much THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 3 Chapter 1: The Babylon Occlusion Here and Now Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania confusion exists related to its yet future fulfillments. Just what is Tribulation period, consider then that this would require no the Babylon of future fulfillment? watchfulness, no preparedness, nor a full supply of oil for the lamp. Since the start of the Tribulation period is clearly marked We have commented in the past on what it is not … i.e. by the Antichrist’s peace deal with Israel, Christians would then America. While America may be a major contributor to the know that the end of the age is clearly measured, shortly to tick development of the characteristics of a modern-day Babylonian down to its close within a seven year period. Those who are in system — a la Revelation 18 — it alone is certainly not endtime this scenario would not merit much reward in comparison with Babylon. (Please see our 3-part series, The American Economic those who are prepared for the Rapture "in the hour that we Colossus: A Foreshadow of Endtime Babylon or Endtime know not." Fulfillment? published by Midnight Call, August, September, October 2005 or visit our website.) However, it is reasonably sure Therefore, “Pray that you may be able to escape all that is that Babylon takes forms and manifestations at a number of about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the different levels in prophecy. This view does not deny in any way Son of Man" (Luke 21:36). that all Bible prophecy culminates in literal fulfillment … sooner or NOTES later. Dave Hunt, Y2K: A Reasoned Response to Mass Hysteria, 1999, However, the same challenge on the topic of Babylon may Harvest House. arise as faced the Jews on the question of identifying their Thomas Ice, “The Earth Dwellers of Revelation,” February 2008, Messiah. The mistake made, was to assume that only one Pre-Trib Perspectives. appearance of the Messiah was to be expected. Though scriptures said that Christ will appear as “mighty […] upon on the throne of David” (Isaiah 9:6-7) and as the one “they have Based on the article: Financial Armageddon Approaching , pierced” (Zechariah 12:10) they looked for these contradictory Midnight Cal Magazine, June 2008. signs in one event. The Jews nationally rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah, one of the reasons being that he did not first come as the long-awaited king. Today, a similar confusion exists with respect to the expected return of Christ. He will appear again at a time that people think not — a time of “eating and drinking, marrying” (Matthew 24:38) as was the case just prior to the Great Flood during Noah’s time. Yet, He also returns at a time marked by great tribulation (Mark 13:24-26). It is the same type of problem. These prophecies cannot be reconciled in one single event. Therefore, there must be at least two. 4 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 1 0 1 Chapter 9: Financial Armageddon Approaching Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania such an assault and still stand ready at all times for His coming? The same concept of multiple occurrences (or manifestations) could apply to endtime Babylon. All of its literal prophetic Thoughts to Ponder characteristics may not take the form of one single manifestation It is common to encounter ridicule on the Bible’s teaching on or physical entity. Let’s keep this possibility open as we continue the Rapture. Supposedly, it is “soft-headed” Christians who have our examination. (A further perspective on Babylonian forms is dreamt up this theory, so as to be able to escape tough times. treated in the Personal Perspective. Please see Back Page.) Indeed, it is true that there are many Christians who think the However, rather than try to conclusively answer the broader Rapture is their easy escape route. Rather than looking for His question of Babylon’s endtime identity (or identities), we want to coming in order to be with Him, they barter for the utility of an here focus upon just one set of its characteristics — its global escape option. reach and its commercialism. But before delving into these, we However, just because many Christians may misinterpret the need to be sure that we have the correct mindset. concept of the Rapture, it does not invalidate Scripture. When The Western Occlusion one reviews the character of the people who were raptured in the Old Testament (Enoch and Elijah … perhaps also Moses) one Olden time Bible readers could see that one day, when the can legitimately wonder how many people today, living in the systemic form of Babylon would stretch its tentacles across the present evil times, are worthy to be raptured. Most so-called whole earth, that it would involve the intertwining of commerce Christians live and behave as “earth dwellers” who are very and religion. Imbedded in it would be enormous power. attached to this world. Consider these comments excerpted from B.W Newton’s If there is any error about the “[…] blessed hope—the writings, penned in 1843.1 (Thank you to the reader who made us glorious appearing“ (Titus 2:13), it may be how remarkably few aware of this old book.) would qualify for that home going. Who today, living during our “When we consider this, we cannot but confess that such a evil, false-gospel times, is untainted and able to be fully separate spectacle has never yet been presented in the history of from the world ... in other words, ready to face the Bema Seat human things. It is the marvelous exhibition of a power yet to and likely to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew be. It is all the more marvelous, because it will be the power 25:21)? We surely must rely upon grace and His promises. not of an individual, but of a system, which, though long Thankfully, people will come to Christ during the Tribulation prepared in secret (see Zechariah 5:5), will suddenly burst in period. However, there is a big difference between following development upon the eyes of men. “When I saw the woman,” Christ out of last minute fear (in the Tribulation period) versus a says the apostle, “I wondered with a great spirit of separation and devotion while waiting for His appearance wonder” (Revelation 17:6). at the Rapture at a time that the world is partying,- "eating, What features can be more clearly marked as indicative of the drinking and marrying.” Babylonish period than commercial greatness, the supremacy Were there no Rapture and the Church were to enter the of wealth and the mixing of iron and miry clay in the 100 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 5 Chapter 1: The Babylon Occlusion Here and Now Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania government of the kingdom? they show themselves to be “earth dwellers. 2” In response, we remind ourselves of these three points: The supremacy of commercial wealth is an unusual feature in the history of men. I do not mean that there have never been Above all, the Lord’s return is imminent. Whatever the cities like Tyre, Corinth, Carthage, or Venice, that have theories or speculations, we could be with Him at any time and flourished commercially: but their influence has been little felt our sojourn upon earth completed. We would have no more beyond their own immediate sphere, nor have they by their chance to set things right … to shed our idolatries and institutions ever imparted a character to the general system of worldliness. The Bema Seat lies ahead. the nations. Commerce was not supreme either in the early Secondly, certainty about the specific time of future events in native monarchy of Nimrod, nor in the Chaldean, Persian, this present dispensation has not been given to man. We can Grecian, or Roman empires. None of these empires were know the general season and such things as the destination distinctively commercial. They all would have emblazoned the point of the path upon which the world is traveling, but we are not sword rather than the ephah on their banners. given the hour or the day. This means that even though we may In times past, democrats were wont to assist democrats, and theorize that another global economic cycle may be underway at despots to aid despots. But now men have found a new and some point and that the final “big financial meltdown” need wait more efficacious centre of union in their commercial interests, until the Tribulation, these give no assurances of anything near- and they feel themselves mutually dependent upon each other term. for the preservation as well as the increase of their riches. With respect to the world’s headlong rush into the “last days When the ruin of one involves the danger of all, men in such super-religion” — the merging of God and Mammon — we can circumstances become wonderfully careful of each other’s be sure of its occurrence. The world is on a path to destruction … interests. This is the kind of dependence into which nations morally, economically and spiritually. We have the more sure are being brought, one on the other. word of prophecy on this point. On this road, there are serious, That peace may be promoted in this way is beyond doubt. The scary financial tremors (also wars, pestilences, earthquakes … sword is not mentioned in all the detail of the greatness of etc.) through which many people (greedy, naïve or otherwise) will Babylon. Instead “merchandise of gold, and silver, and suffer or profit greatly. precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and This brings us to the third and final point. Deception and silk, and scarlet, and all thyme wood, and vessels of ivory, and corruption remain the mode of the world’s developing systems. vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and The successive economic booms of the world … the temptations marble, and cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and of the rising endtime apparition of great wealth or the frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and “deceitfulness of wealth” (Matthew 13:22) … the greater material beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and bodies and comforts or the “worries of this life” … the “anxieties of life” (Luke souls of men” (18: 12-13) are its stabilizers.” 21:34) … the ever ensnaring end-time money trap … they all Newton, writing in the 1800s, realized that the Babylon of play upon the affections of Christians. Who then can sustain 6 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 9 9 Chapter 9: Financial Armageddon Approaching Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania the actions of policymakers and central banks around the globe. Revelation 17-18 was to include a global, commercial “system,” They are fighting the current financial crisis tooth and nail, using though it indeed may eventually find its centre in a specific city. every possible trick of financial alchemy in their toolkit. As this He clearly sees the picture of the ephah shown in Zechariah 5:5- takes place, the seeds for the next financial boom are being laid 11 as being related to endtime commercial Babylon. (In previous … the next stage of globalization and world deception. Should articles, we reviewed this vision, but more importantly, also its the Lord tarry, at least one more inflationary world boom will companion vision — Zechariah’s sixth — which shows a flying begin, though there is no telling how soon this might occur. Near scroll. The interpretation of this vision is crucial in understanding the peak of one of these booms (if not the next one) may be the the Babylon Occlusion.) time when “as ye think not” (Matthew 24:44) that the Lord may Neither the system, nor the yet future city, existed in in the day come ... when people are “eating, drinking, marrying” (Luke of his writing (1840s). He says “that this system is not as yet 17:27). Of course, we must not speculate on the exact timing as developed, so that we must not expect at present to be able fully we are told three times that we are not to know the “day nor the and accurately to trace its details […].” hour” (Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:36; 25:13). However, it is also Yet, reading scripture, he could see that the day would arrive true that the Lord’s appearance will not be in the midst of a where the enjoining of Mammon would almost be universally world-spanning crisis. It is the Antichrist and the False Prophet accepted as the sure “road to peace” and the basis for world that are likely to seek their advantage during that time. union and power. Rather than Christ guiding “our feet in a More Globalization Ahead? straight line into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79) the common If past trends are any guide, we should expect the next interests of money and prosperity are seen as the glue and economic boom to be world scale, enveloping the entirety of all catalyst for world peace and unity. However, the exact opposite nations; ever more firmly entrenching mankind in the last-day would result — tyranny and an insurrection against God. money snare — the systemic Babylonian colossus of Bible Christ’s first coming was not at all about peace. Rather he prophecy. It could be argued that over 60% of the world’s said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the population are yet only marginal participants in the world’s earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew emerging commercial structure. While there have been great 10:34) Truth and the kingdom of God (in the hearts of believers strides to date in this respect, much more globalization could lie during the dispensation) would bring turmoil into the world. Only ahead. Christ himself, in the role of Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), brings But before anyone might get elated about this prospect, let’s peace in the Millennium. ground our perspective in a Dispensationalist, pre-Tribulational Christian Blindness view. This is an important discussion, as there are many Sadly, much of today’s Church has swallowed the lie that Christians today who take delight in the belief that they will not enduring peace among men can only be found in the bowels of suffer in any troubles of the Tribulation period … particularly Mammon — particularly those branches of Christendom that financial losses. Why? Because their hearts and affections are endorse Replacement Theology (the Church being substituted entirely ensnared in materialism and greed right now. Doing so, 98 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 7 Chapter 1: The Babylon Occlusion Here and Now Scriptural Perspectives On Globalization & Endtime Money Mania for Israel) and aspects of Dominion Theology (which is Consider this perspective: If one believes that the current dominating political circles today), but not exclusively so. Even financial meltdown is the very start of “the” global financial and much of North America’s pre-Millennial, evangelical community economic bust, then you may have missed the Rapture. The suffers from this Babylonian occlusion. We think our riches and simple point here is that were we now witnessing the final power in the world (also evangelical political power) is a useful financial meltdown — which is to occur in the Tribulation Period tool for God to disseminate faith in the world. We spout and — by definition, the Rapture would already have occurred. That shout judgment, a particular form of righteousness, and is not the case (at least, at the time of this writing). Of course, sanctified destiny, replete and comfortable from the bowels of the saying this does not at all deny the imminency of the Rapture, a most materialistic societies in the world. doctrine we consider as inviolable. The fact that we are even considering this question should quicken our hopes to the What exactly is this occlusion? It is an optical one for the most promise of His coming very soon! part (not to say that it does not have spiritual dimensions also). Living inside the systemic Babylon now suffusing the world and The Antichrist needs an integrated, functioning, global living in its present hot spots (certainly including North America) financial system to carry out his agenda. Otherwise, how would it — the time of Babylon the Great, the great city, the global village be possible for the False Prophet to implement the controlled of commercial religion — they (we) cannot see. The sliver has conditions of “buying and selling” (Revelation 13:7)? Therefore, become so large, it has become a log. "Why do you look at the what is being postulated here is that the final world-spanning speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to financial crisis cannot occur until well into the Tribulation period the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) — probably not until its mid-point. Before that time (and today), smaller financial crises will occur, but these will all be survivable They (we) cannot see clearly for several reasons. The most and play a necessary role in prodding further global commercial crucial one is that our point of reference has become the world, and monetary convergence. In that context, the present financial not the Bible. The world enjoins us, shouting that the “future is tremors should be considered smaller in scope. friendly, 2” that peace is attainable through the eradication of poverty (meaning equality and wealth for all), that the objective of As it happens, the direct impact of the credit system a prosperous heaven on earth is found in religious and breakdowns of late are largely confined to the Western nations. commercial Babylon. That is not to say that there will not be reverberations around the world. Yet, once this period has passed, some countries will A second reason is that the same smugness and confidence emerge much weakened, and others will be in a more powerful found in ancient Babylon is evident today. "Sit in silence, go into position. (Likely, the United States will have lost some strength darkness, Daughter of the Babylonians; […] You said, `I will and authority). However, the key thing to see is that world will continue forever— the eternal queen!' But you did not consider have moved to a more centralized, globally-coordinated state. these things or reflect on what might happen.” "Now then, listen, What we are witnessing today is simply part of the pattern of that you wanton creature, lounging in your security and saying to long-continuing process. yourself, `I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.' Both of these will overtake The great financial fears (as in the Y2K saga) now hasten 8 THE MULBERRY MINISTRY THE MULBERRY MINISTRY 9 7
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