End Time Economics

FACT: The New World Order becomes more of a reality each day.

In the Bible, this was prophesied long ago. The spectre of an end time persecution of GOD's people is consistently foretold. Revelation puts it bluntly:

{12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Emphatic calls for God's people to "come out of Babylon" feature prominently. This coincides with a period in which anyone who will not have the mark of the beast will not able to buy or sell, besides being automatically prone to persecution and martyrdom for rejection of said mark.

How are the people of GOD to survive? Being unable to buy or sell is a major handicap, and coming out of Babylon is another major sacrifice. But I have found a clue in the Biblical record of how the early church managed.

They willingly sold their property and gave it to the church to divide amongst its members.

Sounds crazy? Certainly, doctrinaire capitalists would cry wolf, calling out the Socialism bogeyman. Organized religion would call them a cult if they pulled that stunt today. But that's exactly what members of the early church did.

Here’s a practical look at how economics among GOD's people "outside Babylon" in the end times will look like (I think), based on how the early church did it in the face of persecution. Take it from Acts of the Apostles (King James Version):

{4:32} And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
{4:33} And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
{4:34} Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
{4:35} And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
{4:36} And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
{4:37} Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The obstacles against such collective action today are obvious. First, the need to overcome the urge to accumulate wealth, justified by capitalist doctrine. Second, the unfortunate past record of religious misleaders who defrauded their followers of their wealth (and in one famous case, conned them into suicide). Third - let's just say there are many obstacles.

But consider it from the perspective of purpose. The early church recorded a signal success in spreading the gospel and winning converts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which mission remains to this day its divine Great Commission - its overarching purpose. The Holy Spirit blessed the early church's efforts with success, a fact recorded in Acts of the Apostles.

{5:14} And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
{5:15} Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
{5:16} There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Prophecy does not sugarcoat it: the tribulation era will be a hard time for believers; what, with persecution and inability to buy or sell. Yet they'll certainly have each other, and the promised latter rain (abundance) of the Holy Spirit, with the promise of eternal life. Eternal life. The "economic viability" of GOD's projects balances out eventually.

{12:11} And they overcame him (the dragon, the devil, Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.