End Time Money - Wilfred Hahn

Prophetic Connections to a Real Estate Bust?

WilfredJHahn@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:56:00 GMT

By now, most everyone is aware that real estate prices have been falling in many neighborhoods. It’s no surprise. Consider this: Despite the biggest real estate boom in history, the average US homeowner has less equity (value of the home less debt, as a percent) than when it started. For example, back in 2000, when all homes in the US were together worth $11.4 trillion (Federal Reserve, Flow of Funds statistic), there were only $4.8 trillion in mortgages against them. At the end of the second quarter of 2006, that mortgage debt increased to a whopping $9.3 billion. That means that home equity (as a percent of home value) declined 4% points even as housing values soared 78%. Please think about that for a moment. Were did all this supposed wealth of rising house values go? This has never happened before.

Many households decided to borrow against the rising value of their house, and spend it on something else. Home equity extraction (of all types, as calculated by Ed Yardeni) have boomed, reaching a rate of almost $1 trillion annualized during the first quarter of this year. Even as recently as the second quarter of this year, over 80% of all mortgage refinancings involved a cash out! After years of such reckless behavior, what is the result? The financial obligations to own a home and pay credit card debt for the average American household has soared to 16% of household income, the highest in history…off the charts, in other words. (Total financial obligations are now at a record 10.3% of income.) And this at a time when interest rates are generally low.

Why is this significant? There are a number of reasons. However, here is one that has not been widely considered. Many nations today with massive debt-driven real estate booms are historically Christian countries with still large evangelical populations. By this measure, one would reason that they would be least vulnerable to poor stewardship and the deceptions of wealth. Actually, it couldn’t be any more different. Now, most Christians in these countries are apparently reveling in God-blessed prosperity and are over-run with “feel-good,” “focus-on-the-self” preaching. Most of them have long forgotten what it is like to suffer for Christ. The fact that Jesus warned his followers that they would be persecuted for not being of this world, is an entirely un-Christian concept these days. (Link to these articles for a deeper examination of this phenomenon: Terrible Times: Apocalypse Now: for Believers and Last-Day Prophecy—Hot Comfort, Cold Faith.)

Given the wide-spread beliefs that the Christian life is the “good life” of material prosperity and luxury, we must fear the likely response to an housing-related economic downturn. What will happen? Most Christians will be mad at God. They will think that God did not keep their bargain of material blessing. Love will run colder amongst “Country Club Christianity” as “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” will choke them (Matthew 13:22) at the same exact time that Middle Eastern affairs are heating up. Given the times, such a development must be seen to have potential prophetic significance.

Many Christians therefore will be in no mood to focus on either eternal or prophetic matters. Therefore, it is significant to observe that the major impact of a coming real estate bust will likely occur in the countries with the largest evangelical communities. The enemies of Christ and Israel, around which all Bible prophecy circumnavigates, will come to positions of greater power.

What do you think about current real estate conditions? Just how will fellow Christians respond should conditions yet become much worse in ensuing years? Will many Christians be caught in a debt trap?

Do You Know Any "Real-life" Pagans?

WilfredJHahn@gmail.com — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:44:00 GMT

Do you ever get the sense of today’s paganism? It’s really an unfair question. Many of us are so acclimatized and acculturated to our society that our frame of reference is so skewed that we are actually blinded. Is that true for you? I’ll speak for myself — yes, this situation is certainly true for me. I fear that I am so inured to our society and its values, carpet-bombed with them incessantly every day, that my discernment may be severely handicapped. But, thankfully, there is a benchmark to which we can “acclimatize” ourselves.

According to the definitions provided in the Bible, North America is a pagan society. That statement will seem a shock to many. Isn’t American a nation founded on Christian principles, and isn’t it true that on this continent are found the highest number of professing “Christians” and believers in “a higher power”? Yes, all of that is true, presuming, of course, that we allow for the widest and most pliable definition of the word concepts of “god” and “Christian.’

No doubt, the term “Christian” is the most unpoliced and pirated brand name the world has ever known. If one puts the name Piaget, Rolex or Louis Vuitton on a knock-off consumer product, one is liable to get in trouble for counterfeiting. But it is perfectly OK to call any “ersatz” idea or religion as Christian, no matter how far removed from Christ or a Biblical worldview.

North America is a pagan nation, and many “professing” Christians are inseparable from this culture. Please see the article The Evolved Modern Pagan Man, carried in the PZ Insider Report issue of Feb. 12, 2006. It describes 5 key attributes of “pagans” that the Bible identifies. By that measure, North American culture is definitely pagan. It isn’t alone. Many countries firmly identify with these characteristics as these are woven inextricably into current society.

Here are a few anecdotes that document certain “pagan” practices that are broadly accepted these days.

Now that the housing bubble has bust, and its tougher to sell homes, there’s been a run on trinkets — specifically, small statues of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpentry. He is widely known as the saint of real estate. According to various reports, many suppliers have run out of supplies. Especially so amongst Roman Catholics, the belief is that if one buries a figurine of St. Joseph upside down in the front yard, one’s house is likely to sell quicker… and hopefully, at a more favorable price. Of course, this belief is questionable. (Actually, can we say ridiculous without offending anybody?) All the same, sales of the figurines are booming.

Today, I caught an interesting article on another pagan trend — the rising popularity of Halloween. In a recent Business Week article, The Booming Business of Halloween (Oct. 25, 2006) the National Retail Federation is quoted as estimating that this year’s Halloween spending is expected to jump 50% from the previous year, to $4.96 billion. It is not unusual to see more elaborate Halloween décor and displays in some neighborhoods than at Christmas. OK, so let’s get this straight: Housing prices are plunging, many consumer households are as stressed as perhaps never before, and what is the stress outlet? Booming spending on Halloween and finding scary solace from the nether spiritual world. Ah, but it’s just harmless fun, isn’t it?

I’d be interested to hear more anecdotes about the “pagan” perspectives and practices that are commonplace in our society … so commonplace, that we may not even notice them as they lurk beneath our awareness. Do you see any? Would you agree that our society is indeed pagan?

God Bless America: Is the US Above Disciplining?

WilfredJHahn@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:13:00 GMT

Several recent responses to this blog prompts the question in the title to this update. (Please see my remarks in the comment section in this blog. I have been more than thrilled with the responses received from Prophezine members.)

Indeed, is the USA headed for a “disciplining” or judgment? Or, does it deserve God’s favorable response to the popular invocation “God Bless America”?

No doubt, it is a heavily contested topic. Some teachers argue that the best is yet to come for the great “Christian” nation of America. On the opposite end, resorting to various prophetic approaches — from Old Testament parallels with Israel and Judah, to the fringe views of Celtic or British Israelism and USA as Babylon the Great — that a horrible destruction, if not a shattering disciplining, is barreling down toward us.

Is a disciplining coming? I certainly have an opinion on that question. However, it is an analytic view, not an emotional one … or so I like to believe. In the first instance, I draw my conclusions from Biblical principles and precedents. But also, secular analysis.

No doubt, the USA — and other Anglo-Saxon nations such as the UK and Canada — were major benevolent influences upon the world in many, many ways over the past two centuries or so. But is that all past tense?

Perhaps my perspective is subject to some cultural bias. As an individual who is very close to American culture, my views are likely not colored by excessive patriotism. I’m a Canadian. But, I like to think that my views have been primarily shaped by international perspective. While I enjoy living in Canada and traveling in the US, I am more plugged into the global scene, than with what is going on in Canada. Traveling around the globe, I have been exposed to the global perspectives of other cultures. From that vantage point, what I see happening to and in America literally makes me dumbstruck.

It just doesn’t seem plausible that a great nation such as the US could be perpetrating such unwise policies (financial, economic, social, religious … etc.) without experiencing more outrage and backlash from citizens. Even more chilling, its rising vulnerability is happening so quick! What makes it all the more unbelievable is that America has had such a strong Christina heritage to begin with. If a country such as Liberia, a chaotic country riddled with animist religions, implodes or declines we are not surprised. But America?

A few current milestones in this respect from the economic realm: Sometime, this month, China will have accumulated over $1 trillion of foreign reserves … most of it in US dollars. This is big — unprecedented in history!. Its trade surplus with the US is hurtling toward $200 billion per annum. Overall, America, supposedly the most prosperous major nation in the world, is borrowing near 80% of the world’s net savings. We’re fast heading to a $1 trillion annual deficit. But it won’t stop there if current trends continue. It’ll keep rising … maybe hitting $2 trillion well before the end of the decade.

Also, in recent months, America for the first time is recording an income deficit with the rest of the world. It is just one more sign of the rapid devolution of what is (was) a mighty America.

But don’t worry. Or, so say our fearless leaders and blind (or lying) lapdogs. The housing bust? Things are already stabilizing they now argue, not having predicted a bust in the first place. The good news? Housing is now more affordable. From my perspective, the truth is more likely that the worst is yet to come … a lot worse.

But look, the Dow Jones Stock index is rising to new highs, say the highly-paid lapdogs. All is going well. My answer? Well, that is exactly the point. Americans and others have been conditioned and duped into believing that financial indices and other false images of wealth are the sure indicator of the right and steady road … that all is well. That is the KEY deception of our time. The world of money and economic statistics are laced with lies and manipulation as never before. That can be proved (for which I do not have space here).

The bottom line? I believe that a massive disciplining is coming. Simple common sense and secular analysis alone points to this conclusion. But more importantly, we know God is not mocked. If He punished Sodom, and disciplined ancient Israel for similar sins, should any other countries or peoples be exempt from the same standard?

What do you think? Is there still time to change our ways? Or, is it much too late?

Deceptions: How to identify them?

WilfredJHahn@gmail.com — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 03:13:00 GMT

I am persuaded that the most dangerous tactic of our enemy is deception. What is so diabolically treacherous about this technique is that we will be unaware that we are indeed being deceived … at least for a time, anyway.

By definition, one can only uncover deception after it is has happened. On the other hand, if we catch someone or some entity trying to deceive us, we obviously have not been deceived. In this latter case, some how or in some way, we were alerted to this attempted deception and were able to avoid it. Why are some alerted to some types of deception, and others not? Or, why at particular times can the majority of an entire society be deceived?

It’s topic that crossed my mind particularly this week, watching global financial and economic events. To my perception, the level of deception that is being perpetrated in global financial circles and money systems is simply unprecedented. Its scale and implied collusion literally leaves me speechless … again and again. However, by collusion I don‘t necessarily mean an organized conspiracy by the Illuminati or the Bilderbergers or any such other purported group. (By the way, in the near future, I'll be posting an article on this topic called Fatal Attraction - OWO Theories.)

It certainly may appear to be a conspiracy of humans. In my view, it just happens to be the aggregated result of many individual movers and shakers in policymaking and financial realms, all independently acting in self interest and greed. Numerous prophetic statements in the Bible clearly indicate that the endtimes will see levels of deception befitting the grand finale of the end of the age. I believe we live in that time today.

I relate an experience this week that hits square into this topic. A few Christians contacted me — specifically two that I am thinking of — asking me for financial advice. More precisely, they were seeking godly advice on their affairs of stewardship. They weren’t idolatrous, seeking for gain … etc. simply wanting to be good stewards. The problem? Though they appeared to be well informed people, they were confused and didn’t know where to turn. As usual, when I hear these concerns, my heart drops to the floor. They have every reason to have such concerns because financial conditions today are probably as universally treacherous as never before. In fact, we can be sure that they are specifically designed — or better said, encouraged — by the Grand Conspirator himself, to lure mankind into a trap, a major component of which is the trap mentioned in Rev. 13:17.

At some point, the False Prophet (the second beast, Rev. 13:11) institutes the system where “buying and selling” are controlled. That is already possible today. It likely won’t happen until the second half of the Tribulation and certainly not anytime that financial markets are soaring like they are today. Revelation 14 makes that clear. The “mark” is only instituted after the big bust of Babylon the Great, the great trading colossus described in Revelation 18. (See Rev.14:9, which occurs after the destruction of Babylon the Great mentioned in verse 9)

Seeing how financial developments are manipulated around the world today, one can clearly identify the process of entrapment in this fiat and ensnaring system. In many nations today, it is already impossible to survive outside of it. Therefore, many of us are already trapped.

On that note, back to the topic of deception.

Are we being deceived already? If deception is one of the most treacherous traps we face, how do we guard ourselves? Is there a sacrifice involved? What disciplines would you suggest that we as Christians follow? If only some of us, some of the time, are alerted to certain deceptions, is there a way that the entire body can benefit from these individual discernments?

In business/money dealings, who do you trust more - Christians or non-Christians?

WilfredJHahn@gmail.com — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:57:00 GMT

Several weeks back, we were chatting with dinner guests at our home, enjoying the fellowship. The couple are active Christians, the wife running a ministry for disadvantaged women. I had asked about how the renovations were coming on their house, among other things. Not much later, I hear something like this: "I find Christians aren't any more reliable or trustworthy than business people who aren't. In fact, it's even a disadvantage if they are Christians."

That's probably not a verbatim quote, but the gist of the thought is intact. My ears perked up. Why? I am ashamed to admit that I lean to the same view. Here, I had found someone with a similar opinion. Without blowing my cover just yet, I asked why. Well, in short, she said, because Christians often times use their "goody" identity as a crutch for less-than competitive services. Hmmm, what do you think?

I'll be up front. Here's my view. Call me calloused, call me jaded, but when someone mentions to me that they are a Christian while they are trying to sell me a service or do business with me, my guard goes up ... real fast. I literally make a run for it. Why? I've have been burned so many times by so-called Christians as well as being defrauded. And, apart from that, I've often been disappointed with the quality of service or work being done by so-called brethern.

Is it just me, perhaps a false perception, or is it fact? Could it be that Christians disappoint us so much, because we expect so more of them? Or, do many Christians indeed slough off on their integrity and work ethic, thinking that brotherly Christians will allow their excuses because "we're family."

Maybe my experiences have been worse than others, in this respect. I can honestly say that some of the most despicable people I have seen on Wall Street or in business were so-called Christians. They were the types that hob-nobbed around Christian Business Men's clubs, to make contacts ... etc. They were on their best behaviour in church on Sunday. But, Monday was another story. So, maybe they weren't Christians? Of course, I'm not fit to judge.

So what's your take on Christians in business or the so-called "good housekeeping seal of approval" that the "Christian brandname" should offer when buying or selling services? Am I the only who no longer puts much value in anyone telling me that they're a Christian? Is it the sign of the times? Tell me of your experiences.