Financial Storm

• To be agreed 3
• To be agreed 4
• Financial Storm

Financial Storm

Introduction 

Since the 2008 financial crisis, considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, here in the West we’ve experienced the threat of a total collapse of large financial institutions, the bailout of banks by national governments, and downturns in stock markets around the world.  The crisis played a significant role in the failure of key businesses, declines in consumer wealth estimated in trillions of US dollars and a downturn in economic activity leading to the 2008-2012 global recession and contributing to the European sovereign-debt crisis.

That was then, and today every news bulletin we hear assures us that things are getting better - but are they?  We think not!  We believe the events of the last few years were just the first rumblings of a devastating and inevitable global financial storm, the consequences of which are prophesied in the Bible.  If so, how should we view these events and what should our response be?

The men of Issachar

Our prime responsibility is to learn to view world events with a prophetic eye.  The men of Issachar, the renowned strategists in David’s army, ‘could understand the times, and tell Israel what to do (1 Ch 12:32).’  Because they were spiritually gifted, they could see beyond the immediate event, to grasp its deeper significance.  We need this gift today like never before!  As Christians we also need to learn the ‘language and literature of the Babylonians’ (Daniel 1:4) – that of financiers, politicians, the media, corporations, global institutions, etc. 

Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon and soon we’ll be in the midst of the greatest financial crisis the world will have ever known.  Its magnitude and scope are such that when it breaks it will impact like a tsunami.  Overnight, first world nations will become third world nations, and individual fortunes will be made and lost.  Yet we seldom, if ever, read or hear about it in the media.  This is a deliberate strategy on the part of the global elite. 

World leaders, powerless to prevent it, bury their heads in the sand!  They hope against hope that their national financial wizards will be able to conjure up more of their financial slight of hand and magic at the 11th hour.  But the Lord, who does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7), is now drip-feeding revelation, to enable us to fit the different pieces of the jigsaw together. 

Only revelation from the Lord will enable us to discern the true nature and magnitude of what is coming.  This gives us the opportunity to prepare in advance to weather the worst of the storm.  But more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to bring a wake-up call and to speak prophetically to a world that is about to face the consequences of craving for wealth and the power it brings.  We live at a critical time in history, when a clear trumpet call is needed; and it’s for us, the Church, to sound the alarm.

Four aspects to the storm

i    God is sovereign over the affairs of mankind and the nations.  We do not live in a chaotic, dysfunctional and disordered universe, which God has left to its own fate and devices.  For those with faith in God, who we know determines the end from the beginning, we’re able to see a discernible pattern – a gradual and ordered moving forward of human history.  Through many interrelated events such as this one, we’re moving towards God’s predetermined End-Game. 

Whilst the whole world is said to be under the control of Satan, he’s still limited in what he can do.  God even knows Satan’s strategies in advance, and can turn them to his own advantage.  He works all things together for good, according to his declared purposes (Rom 8:28).  Therefore, we can be absolutely confident and reassured that the coming financial storm is not outside of God’s ultimate control or sovereignty.

 ii   The crisis relates to the End Times.  There’s sufficient biblical evidence, signs in the land and in creation, demonic activity and prophetic revelation, to suggest that the coming financial storm is eschatological in nature, i.e. it’s a critical element in God’s predetermined End-Time strategy.

We believe we’ve entered a new season in salvation history, and the events leading to the return of Jesus Christ are now accelerating and coming into sharper focus.  The coming financial storm therefore, is simply another sign that we’re living in the period immediately prior to his return.

iii  The coming storm will not be the main event.  However devastating it will be, what will take place following it, and as a consequence of it, will be of far greater significance.  The coming storm will prove to be the catalyst for the coming global economic system prophesied in scripture.  This new world order is already well advanced and discernable for those with eyes to see.  It will give the soon to emerge Antichrist global domination over every financial transaction.  People will not be able to buy or sell, unless they’ve received what the Bible describes as the ‘mark of the beast.’ 

Financial control, as an issue of national sovereignty, is only ever yielded reluctantly, but every crisis provides the globalists with another opportunity to persuade sovereign states to yield more control.  A crisis of this magnitude cannot fail to have far-reaching consequences.

iv  Behind the coming financial storm, unseen forces are at work, albeit within the sovereignty of God.  If we need any persuading of this, the Bible makes it very clear.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12). 

We will not only have to deal with fallen man and fallen institutions as this storm develops, but also with fallen heavenly powers.  Discerning demonic activity is critical therefore if we’re to minimise its impact, and to release the purposes of God.  Like the prophets Elisha and Daniel, the unseen realm will need to become as real to us as the seen realm.

There are several responses to this global crisis.  Some may bow to the inevitable and passively wait for it to happen, others may be scaremongers, increasing alarm and fear.  Better than these options, we believe we should be realistic and raise awareness and understanding whilst putting in place strategies for weathering the storm.  Then we can equip the Church to bring a wake-up call to friends, family, unsaved neighbours and the leaders of the nation.

This is vitally needed, since much of the Church, at least in the UK, is ignorant of these coming events.  She carries on business as usual, oblivious of the gathering storm clouds.  She’s no longer the prophetic, subversive or counter-cultural movement that she’s meant to be.  Yet if our nation is to find help and mercy in the lead up to, and in the midst of the coming storm, it’s critical that the Church rises up and rediscovers her true identity and destiny as a living and prophetic organism.

This is what we believe the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church:

Apostles and prophets: seek the mind of the Lord, like the men of Issachar.  You need to be ready, as opportunities arise, to speak prophetically to the leaders of our nation.

Church leaders and pastors: prepare for the coming battle.  Advance contingency thinking is critical.  When the storm breaks, the people under your care will turn to you for help and guidance.

Teachers: weigh what we’re saying against the prophetic scriptures and seek opportunities to bring this message to the wider Church.

Evangelists: now is the time to prepare strategies for what will be a glorious opportunity to witness to the reality of Jesus Christ; a time when the hearts of men will be failing them for fear.

Church communities: this is a time when it’s important to work together, not to look after your own needs or interests.  Every faith community has an opportunity to express the love of Christ in the midst of crisis – especially to family, friends and unsaved neighbours.

Facing the coming storm will not be easy, but God destined us to be alive for such a time as this, and for such a task as this.  With the help of the Holy Spirit we can rise to the challenge, and interpret the signs of the times as Amos did:

When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble?
When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared - who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken - who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:6-8)

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