Remember those crazy preachers with a blow horn in one hand and a Bible in the other? They had some board strapped across them proclaiming the end of the world is near. They made predictions Jesus would come back in 1988, then again in 1989. Seems like there is always someone calculating the end of time from some Bible code or complex Greek algorithm they devised.

Though the Bible is not clear on dates and hours…

Mark 13: 32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

…the Bible does lay out certain hints to keep on the look out for. The book of Revelation lays out the blueprint used by a socialist dictator some time in the future. He will not allow anyone to buy and sell anything without utilizing his economic system. Whatever his system is and whatever the mark of the beast might be, there is one thing we can know for sure: His economic system is designed to destroy liberty, steal people’s prosperity, and consolidate control for himself, like every dictator observed in human history.

Rev 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

A hundred years ago, one couldn’t imagine a way to control commerce and restrict economics to accomplish this verse. It would require a global, one world government, some type of global currency, and some type of banking system that could control and restrict purchases. With the invention of credit and debit cards and digital commerce over the past century, the predictions made by the Bible are more plausible than ever. If you combine today’s technology with contemporary headlines showing Russia has created a one world currency and is out trying to recruit backers for the idea, it does make one at least pause and wonder if the sandwich sign guys might have a small percentage of the truth.
Today, 420 banks worldwide are beginning to pressure and petition for a one world currency laid out by Russia as a proposed option.

          Just because a certain technology will be used for evil, doesn’t make that idea or technology inherently evil. There is no reason to look for conspiracy theories behind every bush, but followers of Christ need to always be on the look out for any system that is moving us to snuff out the candle of liberty. We must always be cautious of any “good idea” that consolidates power to one group, rather than limiting and dispersing power to the many. We must be shrewd as serpents as we examine the seemingly altruistic motives of some group -somewhere- who promises to do the right thing, even if we don’t know them, don’t elect them, and have no way of holding them accountable.