The Coming Days of Civil Unrest

[Chris]

The Coming Days of Civil Unrest

The Coming Days of Civil Unrest
By Todd Strandberg

I've often said "economic hardship is the mother's milk of prophetic progression." I coined this phrase after noticing that prophecy always unfolds faster during times of economic trouble. Since the world faces a number of financial hurdles in the coming days, I thought it would be important to reflect on the fallout that might result.

There are many reasons I believe we are headed for a financial meltdown. The most pressing factor is all the debt that nations have built up over time. Debts can be forgiven and budgets can be slashed. What can't be avoided is the growth of entitlement programs, which includes Social Security, Medicare, and government pensions. Each year, we spend nearly $866 billion on healthcare alone. This burden is growing by 9 percent per year. By 2020 it will consume nearly half the U.S. federal budget.

In the U.S., 40 million families receive food stamps. Nearly 60 percent of the population is in some way dependent on the government for all or a portion of their income.

Sometime in the next few years, we are going to reach a breaking point. Uncle Sam will become incapable of fulfilling the promises he made to millions of people. The most likely warning indicator will be soaring interest rates on bonds. Once investors realize they might lose money on bonds, we will demand higher rates. This scenario has already played out in Europe.

The government can't just say, "Sorry folks, we're out of money." Millions of people have no back-up plan. They assume that the U.S. Treasury has a magic printing press that allows it to endlessly churn out money.

The culture of government dependency is so ingrained into society, it's even being promoted on Sesame Street. The producers of the show recently introduced a "food insecure" Muppet named Lily. She worries about her family not having enough money to feed her properly and pitches obtaining free food at school:

"Sometimes we can't always afford to buy all the food that we need," Lily said. "I mean, but we've been finding lots of ways that we can get help... Yeah, for example, at school I get a free breakfast and a lunch...part of the meal plan."

Sesame Street may have noble intentions in teaching children how take advantage of food programs. Liberals fail to realize that they are actually promoting the drug of dependency. There would be an outrage if Sesame Street was teaching kids they can make all their problems go away by smoking crack. Welfare may seem to be a less powerful drug, but has probably destroyed more lives than all other drugs combined. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal and Lyndon Johnson's Great Society have enslaved whole generations of people.

We're now at the stage where the government's supply of dope is getting strained, and it's having to cut off some of its addicts. Last week, Rachelle Grimmer caused a seven-hour standoff at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services office in Laredo. The event ended with Grimmer fatally shooting herself and her two children. Grimmer was upset that her food stamps application had been rejected, so she decided to end it all.

The top U.S. military commander, Gen. Martin Dempsey, says he is concerned about "the potential for civil unrest" as Europe's financial crisis unfolds. Several EU nations have leaped ahead of the U.S. on the path toward financial meltdown. In Europe, there have been a number of large riots over austerity measures. If people are willing to riot over changes that switch their retirement from age 55 to age 60, there is no telling what they will do if their whole pension is put into question.

The world has endured many financial calamities far worse than what we see today. Judging by the reaction today, you would expect that people were eating each other during the Great Depression, but that didn't happen. The 1930s was a time of profound economic pain, but people survived because they had a moral foundation, and they knew they would starve if they didn't find some way to support themselves.

There is no doubt in my mind that any repeat of the Great Depression would force governments around the world to declare martial law. Since we face the total collapse of the fiat currency system, we could have a financial calamity that would be the worst in our nation's history.

There is one factor that would add to the misery, rivaling the predictions of the most pessimistic economists. When the Rapture takes place, at least 40 million Christians will instantly disappear. Since believers are part of the financial backbone of America, our sudden removal would have a devastating impact on the economy. Because the negative consequences of being left behind are so high, I ask everyone with any doubt to rethink where you stand with God.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

-- Todd

[froggy]

The world has endured many financial calamities far worse than what we see today. Judging by the reaction today, you would expect that people were eating each other during the Great Depression, but that didn't happen. The 1930s was a time of profound economic pain, but people survived because they had a moral foundation, and they knew they would starve if they didn't find some way to support themselves.

So true. In the past it would be a shameful disgrace to be on the dole. These days, people like myself --who refuse to depend on the gov't for support when times get tough and rather choose to depend on our Heavenly Father-- are viewed as "suckers" for not accepting the "free money".

I do not condemn those who are elderly or have legitimate disabilities and receive assistance, but those who take advantage of the system fraudulently are thieves, plain and simple. I shudder to think of their behavior when the gravy is cut off. As it is, we regularly see mobs of these entitlement animals storming through stores, grabbing whatever they wish and running off with it. Just last night we saw a 18-20 yr old walk out of Target with a hat he had stolen--tag still attached and alarms going off. We pointed him out to the clerk --who ignored us and him, as she apparently didn't want to be bothered.

Charity was much better handled by the local church-- they addressed the source of the problem and weeded out the grifters. Plus, both the giver and receiver were blessed in the process. In the gov't model : the "giver" has a gun to his head and the receiver never learns of God's gift of honest work or gratitude for His provision. I.E.-- both are cursed in the gov't transaction.

[readyforhome]

I've run into some of this myself at work, and elsewhere. I knew a guy who was on disabilty from the military and is on some pretty serious medicines. All that aside he had food stamps from the government because he lost his job as an aircraft mechanic due to his disability. Though in the mean time he makes enough money to be able to buy $7,000 worth of band equipment for his band. He was also very adamant that the tattoos and piercings he has were both things that he "needed" and later saw a post on facebook that he needed new ink (tattoo) to control the darkness inside him. I'm thinking what he really needs is prayer and the saving grace and love of our saviour. He was also very condenscending when he talked about the American dream not being about working hard and sacrificing to make your dreams come true anymore, but instead it was about doing whatever was needed to get ahead, regardless of what became of your neighbor. All this because I posted an excerpt from a doctor who was openly questioning the affordable healthcare act; aka Obamacare, and was talking about how many if not most of the patients he saw that came in who were on Medicare and usually had multiple tattoos, gold teeth, piercings, and were smokers. The Doctor was talking about the fact that there should maybe be better oversite and maybe some better standards for who did and did not receive said benefits. Guy was more angry about questioning why the patient mentioned in the article who was a tattoed and pierced smoker, and yet had no money for medicine and healthcare yet had medicare benefits than anything else.

Then there are the myriad people who come through the pharmacy where I work who are on the goverment dole. I have zero problems with the programs themelves as they do actually help people who are in need. Though that is where it ends. Most of the adults I've seen when I'm at work will not pay $10.00 for their child's cough medicine when it might not be paid for by medicaid. I do know people need help in order to make it sometimes, but we do have is a society of people where this is expected and there seems to be little or no gratitude for their bills being paid. From what I've read about most of these programs they were really and truly meant to be short term. I was also raised in an environment where being on food stampsand welfare was not something to be proud of. Things have obviously changed. My all time favorite is the woman who came through the drive through at a pharmacy where I was performinf clinicals, and she looked down her nose at me when I told her how much her prescription would be and very condescendingly told me, "That's on Medicaid." She was driving a Lexus...

I myself have had to receive help from the Chronic Disease Fund in order to help pay for the shots I need for my Multiple Sclerosis. So I do know about having need, these shots would be over $600 a month WITH the insurance I get from the company I work for. But I really wish I didn't need it, and I DO mean that. I am extremely grateful that this service is available. Its actually a program through the manufacturer of Copaxone. Though when I might start making too much money then the service would no longer be available. I have no problem with this as at that point I should be able to pay the balance out of pocket.

I looked around a little bit and these verses seemed to be able to sum everything up about work. I for one was raised to believe it was good and honorable to work and that a person should, thanks mom and dad!:) If anyone feels there is anythig to add please do.

The Bible tells us that work was God's plan from the very beginning. Genesis 2:15 (NIV) tells us that even before sin entered into the world, God put Adam and Eve in the garden to look after it. After Adam and Eve sinned and were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they were still told that they would work but it would be much harder work. Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV) gives a somewhat unattractive picture of work after God's curse on mankind because weeds were introduced into the picture. Weeds make a person's work much harder.

The Apostle Paul was a strong believer in the work ethic. In fact, Paul was a New Testament evangelist and church planter but he still maintained his secular profession as a tentmaker. In 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 (NIV), Paul explains to the church how he did not want to burden them with the extra expense of his visits so he worked. He petitioned to the church to follow his example of avoiding idleness and told the church in Thessalonica that if anyone does not work, the same should not eat.

The Bible presents the ant as a model for wisdom. A person who is hard-working is considered wise like the ant in the Bible. The passage in Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV) describes the ant and how each day it gathers what it needs for sustenance with no one to tell it what to do. The passage ends with a warning of how slothfulness leads to poverty.

The Bible describes how the slothful person will do nothing to prevent poverty. In the Book of Proverbs, the slothful person is described as one who likes sleep. In Proverbs 6:9-11 (NIV), the slothful person likes to sleep just a little longer unawares of a robber who is quietly taking away everything he has. This description is analogous to those who might sleep or do other lazy activities in the midst of their troubles. For example, a person might lose his or her job and spend the time after the job loss sleeping until noon instead of looking for work. This same person never finds a job and financial troubles accumulate.

Work with perseverance prevents much more than poverty. For instance, it prevents waste or the wasting of opportunities (this is especially important in economically hard times). In Proverbs 12:27 (NIV), we are told of the person who will not work to clean what he hunted for the day and it just goes to waste. Imagine working to achieve some goal yet not fully enjoying its fruits because you won't do the final steps. It's like going to 3 and one-half years of college and dropping out in the very last semester. Of course there are valid reasons students have to drop out of college but this is the person who never returns to finish what he or she started. All the work up to that point goes to waste

[Bobbi]

I was speaking with a woman at church about this very thing you guys are saying. She works at the welfare office and I wanted to know if she new of a mom with a little girl who would like to have a dolly and blanket that I was making. She told me she was pretty discusted with seeing these people who are capable of working standing in line waiting for their food stamps. She said that alot of the ladies had tatoos and manicured fingernails and were in good physical health from what she could see. We talked about angle tree and she told me that she went to three trees but couldn't bring herself to pick a tag because she was so tired of helping people who obviously could get a job and help themselves more.

My husband and I did give two children from the Salvation Army angle tree gifts. I do hope that these gifts are needed because they will be more appreciated by the family, but even if they are not God will decide what happens in the end.

Anyway it is very hard for us as Christians to see these people taking advantage of others, but in the end the consequences of these peoples actions will be terrible when the government cannot give anymore money away, then what will they do? Of course they will show exactly who they are and their ugly black hearts will come to the surface and then look out.

[Kenny64]

The government can't just say, "Sorry folks, we're out of money." Millions of people have no back-up plan. They assume that the U.S. Treasury has a magic printing press that allows it to endlessly churn out moneySometime in the next few years, we are going to reach a breaking point. Uncle Sam will become incapable of fulfilling the promises he made to millions of people. The most likely warning indicator will be soaring interest rates on bonds. Once investors realize they might lose money on bonds, we will demand higher rates. This scenario has already played out in Europe.

Exactly. Everyone should be aware and try to prepare for this.
Do you think OWS is a big deal? Just wait till all of the gangs over
the US converge or band together?