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Author
and financial planner Ethan Pope is hardly a sensationalist.
He impressed me so much on air this past weekend reviewing
his book, "Cashing it in: Getting Ready for a World Without
Money" that I am, frankly, doing a short book review and
encouraging you to purchase it at a Christian bookstore.
If they don't have it, they will order it from Moody Publishers.
The weekend program will be posted to my "radio archives"
today, Monday, here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/radio/mp3/
Pope
believes the coming one world global currency, all electronic,
will be here in a few short years. Not a prophet, obviously
he will not put a date on this. But we see shades of it
even now with debit cards, credit cards, electronic banking,
and more. The effort is global, not just the Western world.
Pope frankly says, "change or be left behind."
Since
at some point all of this will require technology, all
will need to be familiar with a computer or have a family
member or friend deal with the issue. It is likely that
someday the Antichrist will also communicate en mass via
the computer. The world is pressing forward with this;
it is just a matter of time. Already some consumers are
ready to sacrifice some privacy due to the threat of more
terrorist attacks. But how much will we be willing to
compromise? Maybe a lot when the "benefits" are realized,
but remember, for each benefit, there is a down side.
· There would be a decrease
in crime and as a result a savings to Americans alone
of about $1 billion a year.
· Expect a decrease in all violent
crime related to money.
· The elimination of counterfeit
money.
· The elimination of money laundering
and a decrease in drug trafficking.
· No check writing, stolen checks,
or lost checks.
· Global transactions will be
easy. You can buy anything simply all over the world.
· Since everything will have
an RFID chip (hear our radio show on this on February
25, 2006, on "radio archives"), nothing will ever be lost.
However, there is huge potential for abuse here.
And
what about the negatives?
· Hackers and other criminals
can get your information through identity theft. They
may not be able to steal your wallet with $25 in it, but
they can steal ALL of your money electronically.
· Someone will view every transaction
you make.
· This will require a national
identification system and every transaction you make will
be recorded.
Some
segments of society are already 80% cashless. The IRS
wants forms filed electronically though it is not yet
mandatory.
E-cash
is on the way. Will this just play out in the Tribulation
with the one world system when cash is worthless anyway
and a "mark" necessary? The author speculates that this
is a run-up to that and I would second that. However,
there is nothing intrinsically bad about a cashless society
UNLESS evil people control it and monitor it. But the
further we move into the last days, the more evil will
intensify.
If
you have eyes to see, things are coming to pass as predicted.
For the believer, we look up. For the unbeliever, is it
any wonder the Bible says that men's hearts would fail
them for fear? Only "God is the stability of our times,"
(Is. 33:6).
To
learn more about issues related to current events and
Bible prophecy, check out our "Prophecy Watch" link at
our Web site http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/prophecy.shtml
There are many stories there to substantiate this issue
and dozens more.
Olive
Tree Ministries will carry Ethan Pope's book in our print
newsletter and Web site hopefully within two weeks.
Awaiting
His return,
Jan Markell |