In this blog, I am going to share with the readers what I observed are three major trends that seem to grip THREE major groups of people and are being fulfilled according to end-time prophecy. Generally speaking, it may seem that one group has distinct advantages over the other two groups, but from God's perspective, this is not necessarily so.
1. The Haves vs The Haves-Not
The past couple of decades had seen the shift towards globalisation, where the world has become a global village. Such trend has resulted in unprecedented wealth creation in the history of mankind. Those with the capital - the investors/capitalists - and those with the required skills - the professionals - have greater mobility to move their funds in various capital markets and their choice of employment worldwide. However, those without the capital and or required skills are often being left behind as the world passes them by. Hence, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer in relative terms.
Such dichotomy between labor (the haves-not) and the capital (the haves) is a recipe for tensions and conflicts in this divided world. James 5:1-8 warns those who are rich in this world not to heap up riches at the expense of the poor - in these last days.
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned, you have murdered the just, he does not resist you.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (Jas 5:1-8).
2. Moral Decadence
The rich of this world are often less willing to share their riches with the poor and needy. Instead, they would rather spend their wealth on the pleasures and the material trappings of this world. That is why billions are spent on marketing campaigns targetting at the well-heeled and famous. Little wonder that businesses that cater to purchases of luxurious penthouses, branded marques, exquisite watches and exotic vacations are doing extremely well, especially in major cities of the world where the wealthy congregate.
Such observation is consistent with 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where it warns of the things to come in the last days.
" But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such peoepele turn away."
3. Mark of the Beast
In the end-time scenario prophesised in Revelation 13:15-17, there is a group of people who are under the 'spirit of domination' in almost every aspects of their lives. They lose all personal rights and civil liberties, and are being dominated by a system with the mark of the beast, with the number being 666. This could refer to a current religious system that dominates the lives of over one billion people of the earth's population.
It will rise up to challenge the democratic freedom of modern civilisation as most of the world's population is currently living under.
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