End Times - Part 9

Biblical Trends Related to Globalization (Dan. 12:4)

I.                   Globalization

A.           Many nations will work together under the Antichrist’s authority which will impact many areas of life—economics, military, government, religion, etc. The stage is being set today for this by the rapidly increasing integration of many areas of life by many different nations, i.e. by globalization.

³…all the world marveled and followed the beast [Antichrist]…⁷authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. ⁸All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life… (Rev. 13:3-8)

B.            Globalization as a new term became popular in the mainstream culture in the 1980s and speaks of the processes by which the peoples of the world are beginning to function as single world society.
It implies a worldwide interconnectedness of knowledge, products, media, economics, technologies, transportation, religion, peoples, military forces, and more in a way that is unhindered by national boundaries. Its goal is to facilitate the exchange of resources and ideas to improve lives by creating greater opportunities throughout the world.

C.            The most challenging issues facing the nations are international in nature, including the global war on terror, the global financial crisis, and global environmental concerns (pollution, clean water, etc.). The tension in the financial crisis is the global financial market without global rule of law.
The crisis creates an atmosphere in which “global governance” and a unified global economy will be a more attractive option for finding solutions.

D.           Global infrastructures are moving us from being nation-based to a globally unified expression, with one world technology, economy, trade, communication, religion, geopolitics, and military action.

E.            Globalization includes the manner in which finances, commerce, communication, religion, and geopolitics are converging, not in a nation-based context but as a globally unified expression.

F.             Globalization must overcome obstacles such as nationalism and religion. Policies will be created for the nations to work together without religious resistance, which might happen quickly in context to a nuclear strike by terrorists, an economic crisis, or a global plague needing global participation.

G.           In 2016, the number of people with internet access in their home is 3.3 billion. Of the top 10 internet sites in the world (measured by unique monthly visitors), 8 are American-owned companies including Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, Amazon, and Wikipedia. Yet 80% of the users responsible for this traffic come from outside the United States, showing globalization in full force.

H.           Globalization and the acceleration of good and evil are related to the unprecedented increase of travel and knowledge (via technology). They facilitate the collaboration and synergism of good and evil resulting in the gospel being preached in all nations and evil coming to fullness (Dan. 12:10).

¹⁰Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly…
(Dan. 12:10)

II.           Daniel prophesied the increase of knowledge and travel (Dan. 12:4)

A.           A mighty angel assured Daniel of the triumph of God’s kingdom related to the Great Tribulation.
It will be the most unique, powerful, violent, difficult, yet glorious generation in history. Jesus is sovereignly leading the nations into this time that will result in the glory of God filling the earth. There is coming a time of trouble that will result in an unprecedented victory for God’s people.

¹“At that time Michael shall stand up…there shall be a time of trouble [Great Tribulation], such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time your people [Israel] shall be delivered…²Many of those who sleep in the dust…shall awake [the resurrection]… ³…those who turn many to righteousness [will shine] like the stars forever…⁴seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Dan. 12:1-4)

B.            Several significant things will occur in the same time frame—Michael stands up (indicating angelic activity and great miracles as many turn to righteousness; 12:1, 3), the Great Tribulation, the salvation of Israel (delivered spiritually and physically; 12:1), the resurrection (12:2), and globalization made possible by travel and knowledge increasing in an unprecedented way (12:4).

C.            Michael shall stand up: Michael the archangel “shall stand up”—he will arise to action. This indicates that an unprecedented increase of angelic activity with supernatural miracles will be manifested in the end times. Michael and his angels will cast Satan and his demons out of heaven in the end times (Rev. 12:7-9). Great miracles occurred when angels were manifested in the book of Acts. This supernatural activity will impact many people who will turn to righteousness (12:1-3).

⁷And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the…dragon and his angels fought…⁹and Satan…was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev. 12:7-9)

³…those who turn many to righteousness…¹⁰Many shall be purified… (Dan. 12:3, 10)

D.           Great Tribulation: In Matthew 24:21, Jesus referred directly to the time of trouble (12:1) when He spoke of a great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world. He described this time as being so violent that, if the time were not cut short, no one would survive physically.

¹…there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation… (Dan. 12:1)

²¹There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world…
(Mt. 24:21)

E.            Salvation of Israel: The angel told Daniel that his people would be delivered—they will be delivered spiritually from sin and unbelief and physically from persecution and oppression.

F.             Resurrection: In the resurrection the saints will recover all that was lost in the persecution.
The saints are emboldened by the certainty of the rapture, resurrection, and rewards (12:2-3).

G.           Globalization: Daniel was told about two developments significant enough to mention in context to Michael standing up, the Great Tribulation, the salvation of Israel, and the resurrection—increased travel (to run and fro) and increased knowledge, making globalization possible.

⁴“…many shall run to and fro [travel], and knowledge shall increase [information age].”
(Dan. 12:4)

III.        seal the book

A.           Daniel was commanded to seal the vision, and then he was given two signs of the end-time times– an unprecedented increased of travel (to run and fro) and knowledge (information age). Today, we we can clearly see the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy! Most major technological advances have taken place within the last 40 years—satellite television, cell phones, computers, etc.

⁴“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro [unprecedented travel], and knowledge shall increase [information age].” (Dan. 12:4)

B.            Two areas that greatly affect the economic, relational, and spiritual dynamics of the entire earth are international travel and knowledge including scientific, medical, communications, technology, etc.

C.            Seal the book: To seal a vision can mean different things. It can mean to preserve it by writing it down and seeing it is protected and not changed by adding to or taking from it (Dan. 8:26; 12:4), or to hide its full meaning (Dan. 12:9), or to authenticate and fulfill what is promised in it (Dan. 9:24). The sealing of the vision here does not indicate concealing it, but rather preserving it so it could be read by many. The original document was closed up or put in a place to be preserved.

1.              Daniel was in his mid 80s living in the Persian court in Babylon. He was called to make sure his prophecies were preserved until scribes were established who would copy them.

2.              The sealing of Jeremiah’s property deed was not to hide the contents, but to preserve it. Jeremiah made this transaction in presence of witnesses who signed the deed (Jer. 32:9-12)

⁹So I bought the field…¹⁰I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses…¹¹So I took the purchase deed, both that which was sealed according to the law…¹²I gave the purchase deed to Baruch…in the presence of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed…
(Jer. 32:9-12)

IV.        an unprecedented Increase of knowledge

A.           I believe that Daniel 12:4 speaks of an increase of knowledge in general as well as an increase of the knowledge of Daniel’s prophecies. Some commentators limit their view of this verse to an increase of knowledge of the book of Daniel—I do not think that captures the fullness of the remarkable truth highlighted by this mighty angel.

B.            Commentators who see Daniel 12:4 as including an increase of travel and general knowledge include John Walvoord, Leon Wood, Richard DeHaan, Eugene Faulstich, James Coffman, Uriah Smith, Gary Fisher, Scott MacGregor, and many others.

C.            Knowledge currently doubles every 12 months, but soon it will double every 12 hours. “Until 1900 knowledge doubled about every century. By the end of World War II, knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Today, on average, knowledge is doubling every 13 months. According to IBM, internet technology will lead to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours.” See the article by David Shilling (April 2013) Knowledge Doubling Every 12 months, Soon To Be Every 12 Hours.

D.           Knowledge doubled from 100 BC to 1700 (1800 years).
It doubled from 1700-1900 (200 years).
It doubled from 1900-1950 (50 years).
It doubled from 1950-1970 (20 years).
It doubled from 1970-1980 (10 years).
It doubled from 1980-1988 (8 years).
It now doubles every 12 months.
Soon it will double every 12 hours.

E.            Different types of knowledge have different rates of growth. For example:
Online information doubles every 6 months.
Biological information doubles every 6 months.
Corporate information doubles every 18 months.
Genetic information doubles every 18 months.
Technical knowledge doubles every 18 months.
Clinical knowledge doubles every 18 months.

F.             Over 80% of all the scientists who have ever lived are alive today. The scientific revolution is the most obvious development in the 20th Century, including the discovery of X-rays, radioactivity, sub-atomic particles, relativity, quantum theory, even splitting atoms, and manipulating DNA. 

G.           Each year about one million books are printed (that’s titles, not copies), 25,000 newspapers are published (separate newspaper titles), along with 40,000 scholarly journals, 80,000 mass-market periodicals, and 40,000 newsletters.

H.           Over 3 billion people or about 40% of the world population has an internet connection today.
In 1995, it was less than 1%. The first billion was reached in 2005, the second billion in 2010, and the third billion in 2014. There are 2.5 billion searches performed on Google every month, and there are currently over 150 million websites.

I.              A.  Clem Chambers, in a Forbes article on Amazon’s “Mechanical Turk” believes leading computer technology will be combined with artificial intelligence allowing collective problem-solving on a larger scale and the creation of vast amounts of data.

J.              Instant communication: Satellite transmission & internet communication (Rev. 11:9).

⁹Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three–and–a–half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. (Rev. 11:9)

K.           The mark of the Beast will be a public mark on people’s right hand or forehead. It will be used to regularly identify the people who commit to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17). A worldwide system of economics and technology will be necessary for the legislation seen in Rev. 13:16-17.

¹⁶He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor…to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, ¹⁷and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark… (Rev. 13:16-17)

L.            The mark of the Beast implies the existence of modern technology, a cashless society, and a one-world economic system. Today’s new imbedded chip technology and a global, cashless society make this possible for the first time in history (Rev. 13:16-17).

1.              The mark will be one’s personal access to the global economic system. Those who refuse this mark will not be allowed to buy or sell the necessities of life. They will be viewed as criminals of the state who are guilty of the death penalty.

2.              The mark will probably be contained in a microchip. The ability to enforce the mark system worldwide implies implanted microchips, a cashless society, and a one-world economic system. These systems must be developed and refined before the Antichrist unveils his evil.

3.              Microchip technology itself is not evil, but it gives us insight into how the mark could operate. I assume that the mark of the Beast will be far advanced beyond today’s technology.

4.              The technology of biometrics highlights each person’s unique biological characteristics.

V.           an unprecedented Increase of Travel

A.           The unprecedented increase of knowledge has made the unprecedented increase of travel possible.

B.            For 6,000 years, until the beginning of the 20^th century, the horse and carriage was the most modern form of transportation. By horseback and horse-drawn carriage, the fastest man could travel was about 25 miles per hour. Travel under these conditions was limited to 1,000 miles per person per year for those who traveled often. There were very limited changes in travel for almost 6,000 years!  

C.            Today, a space shuttle can travel at 18,000 miles per hour while in orbit.

D.           The British Virgin Group is developing commercial spacecraft to provide spaceflights to tourists.

E.            In the 20^th century, transportation with the automobile, trains, and airplanes increased the distance traveled per year from 1,000 miles to 25,000 miles per person per year (for those who travel often). In the last 100 years men increased the speed of their travel from 25 miles per hour to 18,000 miles!

F.             In the 1800s, a Pony Express rider took about 20 days to travel from NYC to San Francisco.
Today, someone can travel from NYC to San Francisco by plane in 5 hours.

G.           In 1890, Nellie Bly completed a record trip around the world in 72 days.
In 1924, an airplane flew around the earth in 15 days.
In 1933, Wiley Post made the first solo flight around the world in 7 days.
In 1962, John Glenn circled the earth in 12 hours.

H.           Worldwide there are over 35 million flights a year (100,000 a day) with 5 billion passengers. In 1914, just over 1200 passengers flew commercially. By 1935, the number of passengers reached one million. In 1995, it reached one billion. Today, there are over 5 billion passengers a year.

I.              Travel & tourism generated over $7 trillion and 284 million jobs to the global economy in 2015.

VI.        more advanced technology

A.           Holograms: involves projected images which can be interacted with. Holographic technology can transmit three-dimensional images that move. Holographic telepresence records a three-dimensional image in one location and shows it in another location, in real-time, anywhere in the world.

1.              Ian O’Connell, a developer of hologram technology, wrote, “One of the main uses we envisage is celebrity cameos at conferences or concerts. This technology will allow people to appear live and take questions from the audience. Musicians we’re talking to want this technology to provide live cameo performances from stars at their concerts.”

2.              Today’s 3D projection systems can produce static holograms with excellent depth and resolution. New technology combines motion with an impression of genuine solidity.

3.              Researchers are developing a full-color system to capture the human body capable of smooth and realistic movements.

B.            Virtual reality: This technology completely immerses the person wearing a headset in an alternate, 360-degree, 3D-environment, virtual world with sound and motion-tracking with either live action or computer-animated action.

1.              It transports the wearer to another environment—they escape the real world—to engage in games, movies, sporting events, and travel. It blocks the real world out and is used in private.

2.              Virtual-reality technology will allow people to surf or fly a helicopter or do many other things without leaving their home. This will revolutionize the way people live, play, work, and learn. For example, surgeons will be able to practice a surgery, using a holographic image of the patient, prior to conducting the surgery.

C.            Augmented reality: This technology enhances what we see via smartglasses that overlays 3D graphics on to the wearer’s view of the real-world environment. It adds layers to the real world. Wearer remains engaged in the real world. It keeps the wearer’s hands free and uses glasses rather than headset. It designed to be used in public and to enhance social interaction.

D.           Artificial intelligence: intelligence exhibited by computers capable of intelligent behavior. It can perceive its environment and takes actions to maximize its chances of success. It is the science of making intelligent machines—computers capable of reasoning, planning, learning, processing, communication, perception, with the ability to move and manipulate objects.

E.            Robots: machines guided by a high-tech computers—industrial robots, medical operating robots, patent assist robots, and microscopic nano-robots. They are being developed with artificial intelligence to make decisions. Robots can work in extreme environments such as outer space or the bottom of the sea. They can take the place of humans in dangerous environments or in repetitive or difficult manufacturing processes, and can resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and cognition.

F.             Drones: aircrafts that are remotely controlled. They can be used in warfare, policing, surveillance, aerial filming, as well as for drone racing.