We resume our exposé of the Endtime Pagan Man. He has evolved to sophisticated heights. We review the remaining characteristics #3 to #5.
- Concern About Tomorrow
Societies that do not put their faith in God, by definition, must worry about the uncertainties of tomorrow. The Bible says that it should be otherwise: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34). Those verses are connected to the two verses before, which speak of pagan practices.
In this context, we understand that worrying about tomorrow is a “pagan” preoccupation of the “ethnos.” These worries about the uncertainties of tomorrow have driven a monumental amount of economic and financial evolution over past decades and centuries, and have clearly added to the intensity of the commercialization of human life.
The introduction of insurance services is one such example. No doubt, the vast array of insurance products available does provide useful services. In recent decades, there has been a boom in sophisticated financial instruments, which in turn has underpinned an unprecedented rise in global financial wealth. Many of these instruments are based on mathematical theorems that seek to overcome the uncertainties and unknowns of tomorrow.
Few people are expert in or even aware of these trends in the wild jungles of advanced economic and financial innovation. Meanwhile, back on Main Street, life is clearly different as a result of these many services that cater to the “uncertainties of tomorrow.” Today, no one would think of not having life, home, or auto insurance. Most would agree that it is unwise to not have an IRA or a pension plan to protect against the uncertainties of retirement. Just taking the few services mentioned leads to at least five different purchased services on a monthly installment plan.
Chronic worry about the future, leading to increased commercialization and idolatry, is clearly pagan. This intensification of “worries over tomorrow” is therefore an identifier of Modern Pagan Man.
- Self-Indulgence and Debauchery
The Bible clearly refers to those people who live a life of dissipation and indulgence as being pagan in character. Paul identified the Hebrews as having acted like pagans when they had parties and revelries while Moses was up on the mountain (Exodus 32). “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry’” (1 Corinthians 10:7).
Apostle Peter takes the same view. “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).
Reveling, debauchery, bacchanalian feasts, and wild sensuality were part of the worship exercises of the pagans. (The Amplified Bible also mentions frivolousness and hilarity.) These aspects of paganism are highly promoted today. Why? It’s good for business … good for economic growth. Morality is not the relevant issue.
Revelry and frivolousness add to economic growth, whatever forms they may take. And those businesses that are on the leading edge in this regard are often the most successful. Television programs and movies that cater to this trend are an example. Many more could be listed.
It’s part of a sophisticated economic culture. Increasingly, these pagan “lifestyle” activities may now include mindless entertainment, drugs, pornography … and much, much more. The Modern Pagan Man guiltlessly consumes and indulges.
- Ultra-Competitiveness
The Bible pictures pagans as being competitive. They are seen vying for the fulfillment of their personal wants. As already reviewed, they “run after” the things that they want (Matthew 6:31).
Jesus indirectly points to another competitive behavior of the pagan: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). Apparently, He said this while in Jericho—the rebuilt city from the ruins of ancient Jericho.
In contrast, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors” (Luke 22:25). By inference, pagan society is marked by “one-upmanship”—the desire to be the “top-dog,” as society would define it—and to rule over others. Achieving these goals requires competitive behavior.
We recognize that competition is one of the most venerated principles on earth today … for better or worse. Of course, there is nothing wrong in striving for improvement if the motivations are healthy and balanced. However, the type of competitive behavior identified here is the jungle rule of “survival of the fittest.” It is a type of competition that is devoid of charity or love for others. This form of competitiveness is deeply imbedded in pagan society—our society.
Even something as simple as buying a security on a stock exchange for the sake of gain embodies the notion that one person’s success can only come at the price of another person’s misfortune. Be that as it may, that’s the accepted way of the Modern Pagan Man.
Having reviewed five of the pagan characteristics of ancient mankind, we indeed see proof of evolution. Yes, all the basic characteristics of mankind remain the same. Yet, we do see that there has evolved a modern, sophisticated pagan. Anyone who truly understands the workings of the great global commercialization that reigns today must face the true extent of the paganization of our society’s world. Brief as our description has been in this 2-part article, the world of the Modern Pagan Man sets a stark contrast to the primitive heathen of ancient times.
In our society today, are we already witnessing the endtime Modern Pagan Man that the Bible depicts? And if so, what does the future hold for the modern pagan?
The Endtime Pagan
The Bible prophecies many things that will happen to the Modern Pagan Man and his endtime world.
“[Ethnos] will rise up against [ethnos]” (Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10), the word “ethnos” here being commonly translated as “nation.” In other words, there will be much unrest, warring, and competition, as pagans will rise up against pagans. The “ethnos” will be holding Israel in bondage during the latter days and will be judged (Acts 7:7), this being the same period referred to by Jesus as the “times of the Gentiles” (the times of the “ethnos”: Luke 21:24). The pagans will set up vain systems that conspire against God. “Why do the nations (ethnos) conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1; cf. Acts 4:25).
The “ethnos” will be angry when God unleashes His wrath upon them and rewards the saints. Revelation 11:18 clearly says that it is the “ethnos” that are destroying the earth. What form of destruction might be referred to here is not clear.
It could be related to both physical and sociological destruction. Could this include such phenomena as pollution, environmental damage, and other results of overconsumption? It is the pagans that are in alignment with the endtime commercial and political regime portrayed as Babylon the Great, found in Revelation 17 and 18.
It is the “ethnos” that “drink of the wine of the wrath” of Babylon the Great’s fornication (Revelation 14:8, KJV). All pagans are deceived by the sorceries of this global regime, of which the “merchants were the great men” (Revelation 18:23).
Thoughts to Ponder
The descriptions of the “ethnos” in the last days surely already align with what we see unfolding in the world today. It is clearly a civilization that is marked by extreme consumption, endless wants, materialistic idolatry, and a fixation with wealth.
The evolution of this “pagan” is truly advanced.
How many of us might find similarities with the modern pagan way of life? It is an important and timely question.
After all, “every knee shall bow,” says the Bible (Isaiah 45:23). All the “ethnos” will sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).
***
Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. His 2002 book The Endtime Money Snare: How to live free accurately anticipated and prepared its readers for the Global Financial Crisis. A following book, Global Financial Apocalypse Prophesied: Preserving true riches in an age of deception and trouble, looks further into the prophetic future.
Do you have questions or other perspectives? You can contact Wilfred at: [email protected].
The post 5 Characteristics of the Endtime Modern Pagan, Part 2 :: By Wilfred Hahn appeared first on Rapture Ready.
Leave a Reply