"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17  

The chilling statement above indicates a financial system where a power identified as "the beast", reaches a point of such control that he has absolute sway over the financial markets of the entire world. It is certainly unsettling…unable to "buy or sell" without the mark of the beast?

Now it stands to reason that for such an economic atmosphere to exist, as presented by the prophet John in the quote above, some power (the beast) will have discovered a way to manipulate the financial systems until "it" has gained total control. As this long process of manipulation progresses the prophets do not relay to us the details, but rather the final outcome…"that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

This long process(which Bible prophecy indicates is by design) is especially seen to be coming to fruition in the United States. Amid the mortgage crisis that the U.S. is currently experiencing a news story on MSNBC.COM entitled, Little Foreclosure Relief Seen From Housing Bill   pointed out: "After a year of debate, Congress appears close to passing a bill intended to stem the rising tide of home foreclosures and stabilize the shaky housing market. But even if the bill wins final passage — far from a certainty — the most optimistic forecasts suggest it would help only about 400,000 of the estimated 3 million homeowners who will likely lose their homes in the next year. (bold emphasis mine).

This amounts to less than 1/3 of people who will benefit from this bill. One has to ask what are the benefits of passing a bill, presumably designed to help struggling Americans with foreclosures, that will leave the majority of those in the same position they were in before the bill was passed?

The article pointed out further, "The centerpiece of the proposed foreclosure relief effort is $300 billion in federal loan guarantees to help homeowners refinance into mortgages with better terms. But attorneys, housing counselors and others working with strapped homeowners say the proposal falls short because it leaves the decision to modify a loan up to the lender or loan servicing company.That means the housing bill will have “little or no impact on the number of foreclosures,” according to O. Max Gardner III, a Shelby, N.C. bankruptcy attorney who works with homeowners who are trying to modify their mortgages."

The evidence from this articles indicates that the above legislation will do almost nothing for most of those who are in danger of foreclosure. The article also points out that the government has been proding lenders to rework or modify bad loans but "progress has been slow. A survey by Moody’s Investors Service released Monday found that as of March loan servicers had modified less than 10 percent of the subprime loans with interest rate resets — up from 3.5 percent in December. Some homeowners report that their modified loan came with higher monthly payments, offering little long-term relief. The survey found that about 40 percent of the loans modified in the first half of 2007 were 90 or more days delinquent as of the end of March."

So why does it appear that no meaningful legislation is being passed to help the people of America save their homes while large banking institutions are receving "bailouts"…receviing what one could term as "welfare"?  Could it be that this is happening because "we the people",collectively, have not listened to the warnings of the prophets? Has the power identified as the "beast" in the book of Revelation taken over our institutions, our governments, our schools and colleges, and even our thought process through what is termed entertainment? 

 Interestingly enough, "Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke" the article pointed out "warned this week that the ongoing housing crisis is having a serious ripple effect. ‘The declines in home prices have contributed to the rising tide of foreclosures,” Bernanke told a congressional panel. “By adding to the stock of vacant homes for sale, these foreclosures have in turn intensified the downward pressure on home prices in some areas.”’

And that’s not all…"A weakening economy, along with rising prices for food, energy and other household expenses, has expanded the pool of homeowners at risk of default. Some who might otherwise be able to keep up with their payments are falling behind as job loss or major health expense depletes their savings or retirement funds…. While the initial rounds of mortgage defaults and foreclosures were concentrated on the lower end of the economic ladder, the problem is now hitting families with higher incomes."

A plan to destroy the American economy by the "beast"?  Jesus Himself warned that a swing of events would take place and as a result of various calamities "Men’s hearts" would be "failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…" Luke 21:26.

Finally we read…"Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." 2 Chronicles 20:20. 

The videos below  give another look at the present and coming financial situation…*Videos sometimes show "no longer unavailable" If this happens on any video just try again in a few minutes, or try back later.