YOUR ORDERS Previous Orders / Re-Order
What does the Bible say about world conspiracy theories? Do they belong to the prophetic Word? In this series, we will consider this and other questions connected with the topic. Here is Part 1.
In 2 Peter 1:19-21, it says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” I have deliberately quoted these verses at the beginning of this article on the subject of “World conspiracy in light of the Bible.” What shines like a light in a dark place is the prophetic Word of the Bible. It is the sole measure and guideline for all the things which we are confronted with in the end times. This does not mean the prophetic Word alone, but the whole of the Word of God, as we read in Psalm 119:105 and other places.
Everyone from the Bible-believing camp will be in agreement with this introduction. And yet we must continually examine anew whether we interpret the trains of thought, philosophies and movements that we are confronted with in the light of the Bible, or whether we are beginning to judge and to interpret the Bible in the light of these thoughts, philosophies and tendencies. In this connection, I am discovering a dangerous tendency among Bible-believers. In recent times, I have been confronted more and more, in churches and by individuals, with world conspiracy theories that are claimed to be the fulfillment of end-times prophecies. Moreover, within the Bible-believing camp, an ever-growing field of experts in these matters is manifesting itself.
Whether it is about the election of a US president, the events of 9/11, swine flu or the world financial crisis: behind them, it is alleged, are the Freemasons, the Bilderbergers and Illuminati, which use the UN, as well as the whole of world politics and the mass media, as instruments for their own purposes and that they are determining fate. They allegedly direct the course of world history and world economics with a firm hand and lead everything, step by step, according to a plan, toward world dominion and the appearing of the Antichrist. As their Biblical basis, they say that the Scriptures predict the appearing of the last great world dictator and opponent of Christ. The question as to whether all these theories are in agreement with what the Word of God says about the course of history and the end-times developments individually is not sufficiently taken into consideration. For this reason, I am returning to the beginning. Are all these world conspiracy theories really examined in the light of the Bible, or have people begun—perhaps with good motives—to read and interpret the Bible in the light of these theories?
My greatest fear is that the second and not the first possibility is gaining ground among Bible-believers. From a Biblical standpoint, I consider it meanwhile to be more and more possible that all these conspiracy theories are a part of the end-times deception. Twenty-nine years ago, I was confronted with these theories for the first time, which fascinated and captivated me as a Christian teenager.
It was the testimony of the alleged ex-Illuminatist, John Todd, who belonged to the supreme committee of this occultic secret brotherhood, and after his conversion revealed the “truth” about world dominion. Added to this was the alleged former supreme witch, Rebecca Brown, as well as the alleged former Jesuit Father, Alberto Rivera (known from the Chick-Comics), which both testify of the destruction and undermining of the Evangelicals. Through these revelations, I came across the books by Des Griffin: Who Rules the World? and The Rulers: Lucifer’s Fifth Colony, which also testified to the world rule of the Freemasons and Illuminati. In addition to this came the books by Gary Allen: The Insider, The Rockefeller File and Dark Man in the White House. This was, so to speak, my personal introduction into the allegedly true background of world events, which, as I thought then, was in agreement with Biblical prophecy.
John Todd, the alleged former high-level Illuminatist, reported, for example, how the Illuminati donated millions of dollars to the Jesus People movement to enable them to bring Christian rock music into churches as a destructive element. This was breathtaking news. Unfortunately, the Illuminatist, John Todd, the supreme witch, Rebecca Brown, and also the alleged Jesuit, Alberto Rivera, were found to be untrustworthy and liars. I only found this out many years later, though.
Looking back, it was other reasons, and above all an ever-increasing study of the Bible itself that made me question and doubt the whole idea of world conspiracy theories. As I have mentioned, today I think it is even very probable that they are a very cunning and piously camouflaged work of darkness which draws many Christians away from the simplicity in Christ and deceives them into thinking beyond what is written. My views are not intended to be the ultimate wisdom, but correspond with my present degree of knowledge. I want to remain open to correction in future also. This series should simultaneously serve as a challenge to the individual to continually consider alleged facts from a Biblical point of view, and not to let themselves be drawn in any direction.
It is without question that we are living in the end times, and sin and evil are ripening worldwide. Apostasy is apparent, even in the Church. This lawlessness will culminate in the appearing of the Antichrist. A completely different question, however, is whether the whole thing is a process steered by secret brotherhoods that is pursued, step by step, over decades, or whether the appearing of the Antichrist will come about simply through the ripening of sin and godlessness, as well as the powers of darkness connected with this.
As a second basic fact, we must remember that the Freemasons, the Bilderbergers and other organizations are permeated with the spirit of this world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the influence of darkness (1 John 2:16). A worldwide striving for power of these unions is possible. In certain events, such as the French Revolution, the influence of the Freemasons can be seen.
The question as to whether these unions have the influence and power in world politics that is attributed to them in the conspiracy theories is another matter entirely. Perhaps you have noticed that I have left out the Illuminati in the previous paragraph.. There is a reason for this, which I will go into in the next part of this article. The question should also be allowed as to whether the whole effort to achieve world unity really is led by a central organization ultimately, or whether it is simply the expression of the increasing godlessness and the ripening of sin, and thereby the blindness which comes from the god of this world, as Paul calls Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4). When we look at the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament, we see that no secret organization was necessary to advance the desire for world unity. The sinful human heart and godlessness connected with it were sufficient for this.
Further, it is to be noted that the conspiracy theories have increased explosively through the Internet. Apparently, anyone can become an expert within a short space of time about the true background regarding world rule, the Illuminati, Freemasonry, September 11th or the swine flu.
It is not just in Bible-believing circles that the Internet, despite many worthy characteristics, is looked upon as an instrument for the falsification and manipulation of the truth to an immense extent. Experts agree that through the Internet, true knowledge is decreasing, and more and more superficial information and pseudo-knowledge is being spread. Besides true academic forums and personalities that can be taken seriously, there are also a whole number of professors, doctors and others who, out of personal vanity, thirst for esteem, or out of hurt feelings make sweeping statements and invent adventurous theses. The question is asked far too seldom, what ideological aim the individuals are pursuing with their statements. Moreover, in many cases it is not even clear whether the self-appointed experts truly possess all their alleged scientific titles, and whether their daring theses even belong to their field of expertise. Particularly in connection with the swine flu, there were also scientists with an esoteric background, and those who advocate fringe medical practices among the conspiracy theorists.
I have made an interesting observation in Bible-believing circles. On the one hand, they warn of the deception through the Internet. On the other hand, many of the self-appointed conspiracy experts refer to their research on the Internet. This should give us food for thought.
A fourth note is that far more important than all that has been said thus far, our task should be to find out what the Bible really says about the end-time developments. Superficially, some things in the conspiracy theories may agree with the Scriptures, as these speak of a world government and world dictatorship at the end. When we take a closer look, however, I find in prophecy a line which fundamentally challenges the elaborate conspiracy theories, and in large part even contradicts them. I will be returning to this fact later. In the next article, I would like to illuminate the call of the Bible to sobriety.
(MR0111/428)
