ARCHIVE NUMBER 21
News Flash: Autumn 2004
Running Downhill to Disaster
Contents of this News Alert
- NEW! Roman Empire Returns, says EU Exhibition
- Olympic Ceremony Honours Pagan Gods
- Microsoft Patent for Human Computers
ROMAN EMPIRE RETURNS!
Just as prophesied by Daniel, so many years ago, the Roman Empire of old is being restored and coming back to power, in the form of the United European Nations. This, I believe, is a deliberate act to create a new Superpower able to rule the world. Now, in an exhibition launched in Brussels (capital of the EU) the agenda is boldly displayed:
Art show sees Europe as 'new Roman Empire'
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels (Daily Telegraph 14th September 2004)
The European Union is poised to overtake America to become the premier superpower, according to an EU exhibition launched yesterday in the heart of Brussels. The pop-art collage mounted in a tent outside the European Commission narrates 50 years of EU history and projects events into the future in an unusually frank display of European ambition.
Segments sketched across 80 yards of canvas predict that the 21st century will be the "European Century" as the EU pushes its borders deep into Eurasia, North Africa, and the Middle East and comes to dominate world affairs through its vast "legal and moral reach".
Under the heading the "Roman Empire returns", it says the EU will be renamed "The Union" once it grows to 50 states over the next three decades. The United Nations headquarters will be moved to Gibraltar as the EU defends the international order against the "American onslaught".The euro will break the "overbearing monopoly of the dollar" by 2010 as China and India switch their reserves to punish America for its "stratospheric deficit".
Casting the United States as the villain of modern times, it says: "The lonely superpower can bribe, bully or impose its will almost anywhere in the world, but when its back is turned, its policy is weakened."
Entitled "The Image of Europe", the display is not a formal expression of EU policy but it captures views that can be heard every day in the corridors and canteens of the Union's institutions. The exhibit was co-ordinated by the European Commission and sponsored by the European Council. The EU's Dutch presidency said yesterday it was designed to narrow Europe's "iconographic deficit" by conjuring up forceful images.
Daniel foresaw the rise of many kingdoms, including that of Rome [the iron kingdom] around the time of Christ, an Empire that divided into two "legs" - East and West - both in terms of military and political might, and religious observance. Daniel also said that at the time of the End, this iron kingdom would become one of mixed clay and iron, made up of nations both weak and strong, not truly united yet a final and most dreadful superpower, crushing all in its path.
Dan 2:40-45
"And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold -- the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
The good news is that, in the time of this final kingdom, God will act decisively to smash all human might and power, and set up His own Kingdom of peace and righteousness. If the European Union is indeed the final iron-and-clay empire, then we know that we are in the time of the End, when God will come onto the world scene and draw all things to a close.
A similar prophecy is found in Daniel Chapter Seven, where Daniel sees four beasts, the final one of which is the iron kingdom which crushes all the earth. Out of this iron kingdom come ten "horns" and a final "little horn" whom many have identified as the Antichrist and/or his kingdom. (Sir Isaac Newton and others have said that after the fall of Rome, ten kingdoms emerged. Also please see this interesting study, written more than 50 years ago, which has some very up to date statements relevant to today's European Union.)
Daniel's prophecy again takes us to the time of the End:
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. Dan 7:9-11
An angel explains this prophecy to Daniel, and gives us our most certain clue that the "little horn" is indeed the world master who is to come:
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Dan 7:23-27)
Comparing this prophecy with those of Revelation we find that the time of three and a half years is specific to the persecution of the Antichrist. (See for example Rev 12:14)
What can we learn from these things? First, that we are drawing near to a time when the EU will make a bid for world supremacy, and - since it plans to set up a Constitution and President - that a leader will arise or be elected who will put all dictators into the shade. Second, that in the time of this leadership (which surely must be no more than a few years away?) the Lord will act to save and deliver His righteous and obedient, believing people! So, while we can keep one eye on the world events, we can rejoice that this old worn-out world in coming to an end!
Just as in Norway in 1994 (see this report) and Atlanta in 1996, pagan allegory rules at the Olympics. We should not be surprised, for the Olympic Games were not originally about athletic prowess nor competition, but a display of human expertise, bloodshed and sacrifice dedicated to the gods of Ancient Greece.
Having just watched the Opening Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympics, I can confirm that the theme of pagan worship continues unabated.
In a historic panorama of tableaux that portrayed 3000 years of Greek history, the only Person forgotten was God and his Son Jesus Christ. The gods on display were all those of Greek mythology, presided over by Eros (opposite) the "god of love" - in truth, the god of sexual arousal, promiscuity and hedonism now worshipped by all the world.
Beginning by "drumming up" the spiritual powers of the past, the Opening Ceremony continued its pagan theme to the end, when Eros finally presented the Games with a heavily-pregnant woman, whose belly shone like the sun-globe. To a background illustration of strands of DNA, the woman became one of the "thousand points of light" in the centre of the one EYE that dominated the Ceremony.
All-Seeing Eye
The single eye, which I am sure represents the "All-Seeing-Eye-of God" presiding over the Games, was an oval container which contained the millions of gallons of water that featured in the presentation, at first a lake for a "paper boat", then set on fire by a comet to display the five Olympic rings, and last - as I said - lit up by thousands of lights as if illuminated by man's dedication to the gods! These lights lit up not only the central "eye" but the stands with its audience of 75,000 people.
This gradual switching on of man's "illumination" to spirituality has been progressing for centuries, but has now reached full flower. It was the Theosophist Alice Bailey, co-founder of Lucis Trust and the Arcane School, who seems to have coined the phrase in her 1957 book The Externaliztion of the Hierarchy. There she explains what a Point of Light is. "...[T]he men who comprise the occult leadership group known as the New Group of World Servers." These individuals, she remarks, are in service to 'the work of the Brotherhood...the Forces of Light.' They are the ones who are to usher all of mankind from the darkness of outmoded Christianity and faded nationalism into the bright and shining ' New World Order.'" In her book, Discipleship in a New Age , Bailey tells her occult followers to repeat, "I am a point of light within a greater light...I am a spark of sacrificial Fire, focused within the fiery will of (the Sun) God."
The aim is to blend all the single "points of light" to create one massive wave of illumination that awakens civilisation to the "New Order" - the Age of the Spirit.
To mark the "birth of the New Age", the pregnant woman revealed that her unborn child was a "point of light", illuminated by the central satanic light of the "sun-god". I could not help but recall another Pregnant Woman - she of Revelation chapter 12 who is "waiting to give birth" and usher in an entirely different kind of New Age - one of God's judgement.
Just as Israel's rule was that of twelve tribes and twelve elders, under God on Mount Zion, so the new religion is that of the "Twelve Gods" of the Greek Pantheon on its Mount Olympus. Just as the twelve stars circle the head of Revelation's Woman, so we now have to display a flag containing twelve stars, suggesting that we are being overtaken by the New Rule of European gods.
The rule of TWELVE did not begin with Greece and Rome, however. It went back to the gods of Egypt and BABYLON. See for instance this page http://www.geocities.com/elchasqui_2/ZSitchinh.html.
Olympics Paganism Grows
The Olympics have always exalted globalism and paganism. However, the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway took this to new heights. Prayers to Zeus and honor given to Vettas (spirits worshiped by Vikings) were given special prominence.
The opening ceremonies for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta were replete with references to pagan gods, including ritualistic dances to "summon" the gods of the world's five major cultures to be present during the games. A replicated temple of Zeus was also included, with honor given the pagan ancient Olympic games which have served as the pattern for the modern Olympiad.
The original physical contests -- conducted in the nude to display the athletes' ideal bodies -- were sandwiched between processions, sacrifices, altar rituals and banquets. "There was no such thing as secular athletics," said David Gilman Romano, who has written extensively about Olympic origins. "Feats of prowess and agility were meant to please Zeus."
It was another kind of competition that put an end to Olympic Games in A.D. 393 after more than 1,000 years: Christianity vs. paganism. In a single edict, Holy Roman Emperor Theodosius, fearful of the continuing popularity of pagan festivals including the Olympics, abolished the games. Though some athletic competitions continued to exist, it would be 1,500 years before the the concept of the Olympics as a peaceful competition among all nations was resurrected.
In 1894, a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin promoted the reborn Olympics as "a new civil religion," replete with symbols, traditions, rites and ceremonies. (From http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/dgr/otherclips/olyreligion.html)
As if in confirmation of this new pagan ideal, some Greeks are in open rebellion against Christianity and are being "baptised" on Mount Olympus, and returning to the worship of the "Twelve Gods" headed by Zeus. [See this report and this.]
Certainly the Globalism was apparent right from the start, and the flourish that ended the 2004 Opening Ceremony was all about "world peace and unity". A huge representation of the Goddess Athena rose from the pupil of the eye of "god" and turned into a mountain topped by a sacred olive tree - said by the commentator to represent "the olive branch" that brings peace to the world. There are too many occult symbols here to speak of briefly, so I will pass on to other matters.
Bjork Inspired by Paganism
The Icelandic singer Bjork performed on the opening night of the Olympics. One website dedicated to her said that she was "inspired by paganism". In an interview she states: “I started doing everything with my voice. Then suddenly I didn't want to work with any musicians, which is a bit weird. I only wanted to work with vocalists." She was inspired, she says, by paganism, and the rather esoteric idea of returning to a universe that is entirely human – without tools or religion or nationalities.
Clearly she was a perfect choice for the opening ceremonies. “I'm trying to write a song where the words don't say ‘We Are the World,' or ‘Ebony and Ivory,'” she says with a laugh.
As it happens, the song she wrote and performed was strange to say the least. Appearing as a massive representation of Mother Ocean (which makes a change from Mother Earth at least) she squirmed around telling mankind that he'd come a long way since he had crawled out of her wet embrace, and "your sweat is salty, I am why".
Again, with the theme of pregnancy and birth, the Universal Woman and now the Ocean, the prophecies of Revelation (the beast rising from the Sea) came to mind. Is it now time to look for the Beast I wonder?
Believers Seduced by Paganism
All of the above is only to be expected in a world that denies God. But what of the Church (or, the supposed Church, because we need to think of another less biblical name for an organisation that is rapidly espousing every occult and spiritualist fantasy in the book).
The Church above all is reverting to the worship of other gods and false spirituality! This has been a continuing process over a number of years, to the point where it's sometimes impossible to "see the joins" between one religion and another, one belief system and another.
Back in 1994, it was pointed out that the laughter launched by men such as Rodney Howard Browne (which sparked off the modern day "revival") was no different to the yogic laughter classes designed to put people in touch with the Vedic Gods, summoned by the opening of the spirit to "drink the laughter cup" and chanting Ho Ho Ho.
Other practices have flooded in since then - beating the ground with sticks, chanting, frantic dancing and jumping, walking the labyrinth, summoning "angels", seeking spirit guides, engaging in "combat" with supernatural powers, prolonged fasting, astral projection, drumming, - and above all the psychic and demonic powers that are displayed by many leaders, as they "cast spells" over the meeting, cause men and women to fall down and exhibit strange manifestations, and "impart" spiritual power to their willing victims.
Much terminology is so close to that of the New Age that I am puzzled that those still in churches are prepared to accept what they are told. Are they heedless, foolish or just unconverted?
The Apostate Church is also looking to the Pregnant Woman and awaiting the "birth of the new age" according to some apostolic/prophetic literature. What, in essence, is the difference between the paganism of the Olympics and the paganism of the churches, even though it is dressed up in bible terminology and Christian symbols? Once again, the only Person being forgotten is the God of All, who made us and will call us to account.
Closer than we think?
Are we drawing near to the culmination of these things? The world and the church are sliding downhill at a very rapid pace. Such is the decline, that it is now unstoppable. Unless we learn to place our entire trust in GOD, we too may be sucked into the vortex of false worship, or else succumb to fear, doubt, confusion or the love of this world. Jesus warned that at the end it would not just be false teaching and persecution that would assault our faith, but "riches and the cares of this world" that would ensnare us.
Never has a people been so rich in worldly goods - technology, comforts, entertainment, transport - yet so poor, blind and naked! Never has it been so easy to "fall asleep" and miss the Coming of the Lord.
Microsoft Patents Human Skin
As just one sign of things to come, the technology giant Microsoft recently applied for a US patent which allowed for human sweat and skin to be used as a conductor for computing. In effect, Microsoft were asking for permission to develop the human body as a walking computer. This has to be the next step. The diagram accompanying this application was of a human body with miniature computing devices attached to feet, head and both wrists. Whether or not those devices were implanted under the skin was not specified - but i suspect that they eventually will be!
When we first read of computer chips the size of a grain of rice, most scoffed at the idea that they could ever be implanted in humans. Now, the chipping of animals is routine. Before long, we are told, prisoners will be chipped, the confused elderly will be chipped to stop them wandering away from home and babies will be chipped at birth "for security", each one given a "number for life". I have no doubt that the recent inexplicable move to digitised signatures for credit cards (the PIN which has to be typed in at the shop counter) and digital passports are steps towards digitisation of all data and the replacement of personal details with numbers.
Website Status
Because of a number of factors I have not been able to update the website and its links nor to make any corrections. The website work is giving way to a more personal interaction and this new phase will take us beyond "information" and into "participation" which is what the Lord always intended.
May God continue to bless and guide you as you stand for truth.
LINKS
- Pagan origins of the Olympic Games and reports on recent pagan opening ceremonies
- Watchman Expositor report on Olympic Games
- Microsoft Patent
Looking for earlier News Flash reports, but unable to find them?
See this page for a list of ARCHIVED PREVIOUS REPORTS
© 2004 Tricia Tillin of Banner Ministries. All rights reserved. Cross+Word Website: http://www.banner.org.uk/ This document is the property of its author and is not to be displayed on other websites, redistributed, sold, reprinted, or reproduced in printed in any other format without permission. Websites may link to this article, if they provide proper title and author information. One copy may be downloaded, stored and/or printed for personal research. All spelling and phraseology is UK English.