“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” – Matthew 6:24
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” – Exodus 23:3
“You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.” – Exodus 20:23
Where does your security rest? Is it in the material things of this world or is it in your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Since the beginning of time, man has forsaken God and turned towards the idols of this world. Every case has been a disaster. Why would God’s Word change now?
I am not a modern historicist. What is that you ask? Well, Many of the reformers were and still are called historicists when it comes to their view of last days events. Because they knew the Catholic Church of their day needed reforming, they thought that the Pope was part of the “spirit of anti-Christ.” Some thought he was to be the anti-Christ. People still believe in one of these two ideas.
Modern historicists have taken it a step further. They have interpreted most of the book of Revelation as having already been fulfilled. An example would be these verses from Revelation 13:
15 “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
Many Modern Historicists think this:
“The Jesuits covertly control the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank of Settlements, the Federal Reserve Bank, and Central Banks in almost every country. In their New World Order, they will control the monetary system, to dictate who buys and sells.”
In other words, they think Revelation 13 has already been fulfilled. You can see more here if you like.
Note: I Admire John Gill a great deal but I disagree with his comments on these verses. Of course, I have an advantage over Mr. Gill as I am living at a time that is closer to Jesus’ return. There are still missing many pieces that need to come into view.
I think the above verses from Revelation speak of a one world leader who will have enemies but will rule over a one world government. He will control the financial system: “he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark.”
I have never been interested in information involving money. However, in recent years I have become more interested because I think that the financial mess the world’s in may help lead to the rise of the man who is called the “man of lawlessness.”
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction…” – 2 Thess. 2:3
Of course, many things including an apostasy must come before this man takes power. I have heard more than one good pastor say that we may be in or are entering that time of apostasy. I don’t like date setters. If they don’t use the word “may” I won’t listen to them. However, we are much closer to Christ’s return than the great scholar John Gill was. Though dim, the picture is getting clearer. How close are we to Jesus’ return? How will it all take place? I don’t know. But I am watching as the Lord instructed us to do:
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. – Matt. 24:42
Chris Reimers
Related: Sweden almost cashless now, completely cashless in 5 years
Wings of the Wind 
Chris, i think the apostasy is here now. Christianity is shrinking in so many places especially in the United States.
I tend to agree, Manny.