As we approach the year 2000, a number of very troubling situations are developing in the world. This nation is in turmoil as it deals with the President's problems. The international economic picture looks grim. The US military has been weakened to the point that its capability to deal with the threat of terrorism is questionable. Of course, many are predicting severe consequences because of the Y2K problem. This is a time which requires much discernment. People become most vulnerable in such a climate of uncertainty and threats. Being overwhelmed with numerous problems, people are susceptible to a bold move by Satan. We must be discerning, especially as we consider the presidential election of the year 2000.

Throughout the nineties, it has been most evident that there exist "powers behind the scene" that dominate the national political process in this country. (Please note relative articles in previous newsletters.-ed) We have suggested that a conspiracy exists which can be understood in the following way:

Level: Highest (Spiritual)
Conspirator: Satan
Motivation: To control mankind through suitable vessels

Level: Intermediate (Physical)
Conspirator: Banking, Commercial and Industrial leaders
Motivation: To consolidate power and wealth

Level: Lowest (Physical)
Conspirator: Political Leaders
Motivation: To obtain personal glory, power, and wealth.

Satan is gaining control of mankind through the "Great Harlot".

In the book of Revelation, John describes the Serpent who gives its authority to the Beast which dominates the whole world. The Beast is seen as the "Anti-Christ" empire which is led by political leaders who willingly sell their souls for glory, power, and wealth. Later in the same book, John describes the "Great Harlot", who entices political leaders through their lust for riches and all the associated goods. The "Great Harlot" is international commerce which is under the control of "Banking, Commercial and Industrial leaders". Satan is gaining control of mankind through this mechanism.

The conspiracy is very subtle. Many people envision a corporation boardroom in New York City with select members of groups such as the Trilateral Commission who are scheming to take over the world. Undoubtedly, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Club of Rome, and groups like these are involved; however, their motivation is to amass power and wealth in the world. The conspiracy is spiritual in nature. Satan operates behind the scene in order to pull the whole of mankind into unity. Inevitably this union will be in rebellion against God and His purpose. Satan uses people whose lust for power, wealth, and glory renders them susceptible to his control.

We can establish that the political process is satanic in nature by applying a few simple rules. The first test is the trend toward globalism. Satan desperately desires to dominate all of mankind. As a result of God's intervention at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), man was divided into a host of distinct ethnic groups which were scattered across the world. Satan is desperate to overcome what God did at Babel. The Serpent conspires to bring all of man into a common global village. Political leaders manifest Satan's desire as soon as they come into national power. No matter how nationalistic they were previously, they instantly transform into globalists once they take office.

A second test is the disposition of world leaders relative to Israel. World political leaders, as well as business leaders, will invariably oppose Israel. This is a sign of Satanic influence. Satan hates Israel because Israel is the witness of the Holy One revealed in the Bible. Over the past twenty-five years we have witnessed a number of aspiring political leaders who vocally supported and admired Israel, but when they assumed national office, completely reversed their posture and acted in opposition to Israel.

Satan will likely make a bold and sinister move to advance his program in the coming national elections scheduled for 2000. Most people are sick of the continuous disgraceful example set forth by the Clintons. People are ready for a change; if not now, they certainly will be in another two years. It will be very instructive to watch this particular coming election. If the economic, political and security situations continue to degenerate around the world, people will begin to look for someone with real solutions to their problems. Satan moves boldly in this type of setting.

The American people, tired of controversy and instability, will willingly yield their personal rights and the sovereignty of this nation in return for international assurances from the types of uncertainties that they face.

Most likely, the next president will be a Republican with a clean moral record. He will probably be a family man with an untarnished reputation. Such a person will seem very desirable in light of the disastrous Clinton administration. However, the next president will undoubtedly set forth an aggressive international program in order to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. Already we are hearing the call for an international "Federal Reserve Banking System" that would stabilize faltering economies throughout the world. A coalescent global army (UN), capable of suppressing regional disputes, will likely be formed. The American people, tired of controversy and instability, will willingly yield their personal rights and the sovereignty of this nation in return for international assurances from the types of uncertainties that they face. Along with the rest of the world, the US could move radically closer to the Anti-Christ/Beast government system envisioned in the Bible.

The Bible warns us not to take the mark of the Beast. Many take comfort in their belief that the mark will be physical in nature and will be visibly applied to the forehead and the arm. In such a case, little discernment would be required of them to determine that such a mark constitutes that cited in the Bible . In fact, Satan uses subtle means in order to deceive people. Most likely, the mark is spiritual in nature; the person's will is allied to and supportive of the beast system (mark of the forehead), and his strength is expended to sustain the system (mark on the hand). For Christians who see the Clintons as a moral affront, who are worried about the security of their jobs and savings, and who are deeply concerned about the threat of terrorism that they now face in their own country, it will be very tempting to embrace a candidate whose program appears to solve all of these problems. What if we lose a bit of our sovereignty? What if we move closer to a one-world global community? Why should we have to face the difficulty of opposing such a system? It will be very easy to ignore the warnings of the Bible and to embrace such a system, but God says that He will take it quite personal,

"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" (Revelation 14:9b-11).