In Biblical Study, the acceleration and fulfillment of the stated TRENDS always leads to the fulfillment of specific prophetic events once the TRENDS reach their peak.

TREND SET #2:
These involve the things that the Bible says will happen DURING the Tribulation Period that would require some "set-up" in order to happen. For example, the Book of the Revelation, in Chapter 13:7-8, 13:11-12, and 13:16-17 refer to (in order): a world government; a world religion; and a world cashless economy. Since we know that these types of world-wide coordinated efforts cannot just "appear" overnight, we understand that they would require a time of "building up to them". The more we see these things building, and the faster we see them coming toward us, we know that the "end times" are drawing nearer.

TREND SET #3:
Other trends that we see in Scripture relating to the "end times" include an increased focus on a national Israel by the world, particularly dealing with peace treaties and the city of Jerusalem (Zecheriah 12:3). Observing the current world focus on the supposed "peace process; and the world's insistence that "everyone" be involved, it is easy to see that this trend is growing.

LESSON 2:
The Set-Up of World Events For Revelation 13 Revelation 13:1-7, 11-12, 16-17 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "?Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him??" 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

TREND SET #2 (again):
These involve the things that the Bible says will happen DURING the Tribulation Period that would require some "set-up" in order to happen. For example, the Book of the Revelation, in Chapter 13:7-8, 13:11-12, and 13:16-17 refer to (in order): a world government; a world religion; and a world cashless economy. Since we know that these types of world-wide coordinated efforts cannot just "appear" overnight, we understand that they would require a time of "building up to them". The more we see these things building, and the faster we see them coming toward us, we know that the "end times" are drawing nearer.

The following quotes show how we are moving in these directions at an accelerating pace. On "World Government": All of the following are from an article by Joan Veon, as reported by "News With Views" on January 27, 2005, reporting on the World Economic Forum held in Davos Switzerland. Underline added for emphasis.

"This year the CEO's are being given a crash course in "world government". French President Jacques Chirac delivered the opening address and called for a global tax to pay for helping poor countries out of poverty."

"The World Economic Forum is a facilitator for the goals and objectives of the United Nations - which is world government. In fact, this year, if you know what to look for, you can see that the undercurrent of this years meeting is to sell the participants on the "Reform of the United Nations", a report released in December of 2004."

"The "Reform of the United Nations" recommends basically a world military state in which the UN has a rapid deployment force (which is already set up), the Security Council is enlarged with power to enforce sanctions, member states provide additional troops for disbursement to the UN at any time, the UN is given a legal mechanism to enforce the International Criminal Court Statutes, a global police force is set up for peacekeeping, and a peace-building commission is established to help countries avoid the state of collapse and sliding into war by "transitioning" from war to peace."

On World Religion:
The following quotes are from the "UNITED RELIGIONS" website. UNITED RELIGIONS is an organization that was formed in 2000 as a "spiritual counter-part" to the United Nations.

"The United Religions Initiative logo is based on the origami form created at the June 1996 Global Summit by 10-year-old Walter Gray. The folded together a multi-colored form that he shifted from a circle into a star, and offered the following narrative: "Once the religions were far apart. These different colored pieces are like all different religions. Slowly, the religions get closer to understanding each other. And when they understand and make peace with each other, there will be something there no one expected - a star!"

"Introduction to the URI Charter: The URI is a growing global community dedicated to promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, ending religiously motivated violence, and creating cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings. Working across continents, people from different religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions are creating unprecedented levels of enduring global cooperation. People's hopes are rising with visions of a better world. It is a world where the values and teachings of the great wisdom traditions guide peoples service, where people respect one another's beliefs, and where the resourcefulness and passion of people working together bring healing and a more hopeful future to the Earth community. The URI, in time, aspires to have the visibility and stature of the United Nations."

On A Global, Cashless Economy:
From PRNewswire-First Call - December 7, 2004

"USA Technologies, Inc., announced today that it has invested in an extensive product line of cashless technology that can capitalize on the Federal Reserve finding that electronic transactions had outpaced check payments for the first time. "The Federal Reserve's finding support our vision of a wireless networked, cashless global marketplace,....."

"We're seeing the emergence of the cashless, networked economy where a vast number of different types of machines will be connected to the WEB, allowing consumers to make payments when they please, with just about whatever payment device they please - credit/debit card, keycard, ID Card, payroll deduction, cellular phone, PDA, RFID, or something as simple as keying a PIN number on a pop-up screen."

From the VERICHIP Website news archive, updated in September, 2005

"Applied Digital Solutions CEO Announces "VERIPAY" Secure, Subdermal (below the skin") Solution for Payment and Credit Transactions at ID-World 2003 in Paris. VERIPAY is intended to be a secure, subdermal RFID (radio frequency identification) payment technology for cash and credit transactions."

"At ID-World 2003 in Paris, Mr. Silverman made the point that the subdermal RFID VERIPAY technology specifically addresses the security issue. VERIPAY's unique, under-the-skin format offers a much more secure, tamper-proof, and loss-proof solution. VERIPAY brings to consumers the benefits of a fast and reliable RFID technology along with the security of a subdermal format."

LESSON 3: What Now?
2nd Peter 3:1-18 1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "?Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.?" 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation-as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Part One: Warnings

1. Do Not Be Deceived (2nd Timothy 3:12-17)
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. Do Not Be Troubled (John 14:27)
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

3. Do Not Be Confused (Ephesians 4:11-16)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

4. Do Not Be Beguiled (1st John 2:15-17)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Part Two: Instructions

1. Do Business Until I Come (Luke 19:12-26)
12 Therefore He said: "?A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, '?Do business till I come.?' 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, '?We will not have this man to reign over us.?' 15 "?And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, '?Master, your mina has earned ten minas.?' 17 And he said to him, '?Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.?' 18 And the second came, saying, '?Master, your mina has earned five minas.?' 19 Likewise he said to him, '?You also be over five cities.?' 20 "?Then another came, saying, '?Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.?' 22 And he said to him, '?Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest??' 24 "?And he said to those who stood by, '?Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.?' 25 (But they said to him, '?Master, he has ten minas.?') 26 '?For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

2. Evangelize Until I Come (Acts 1:6-8)
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "?Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel??" 7 And He said to them, "?It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.?"

3. Edify One Another Until I Come (Ephesians 4:11-16)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

4. Live in Hope Until I Come (1st Peter 1:3-9)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.

Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid? (Romans 8:33-39)
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "?For Your sake we are killed all day long;We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.?" 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.