Twice in the New Testament (Matthew 16:1-3 and Luke 12:54-56) Jesus rebuked Pharisees and followers because, despite all their worldly wisdom, they did not know and understand the time and season in which they lived. Jesus was there in flesh before them, yet they did not see Him.

I wonder…given all our worldly wisdom today, and given that Jesus has revealed Himself so clearly in His Word…are we in line for the same rebuke? Do we know and understand the time and season in which we live?

There are signs of the times all around us. The Bible tells us what to expect in the last days, and we are seeing those things materialize right before our eyes! Rather than shoot off a list of those things (which you can find for yourself in places such as Matthew 24, Ezekiel 38-39, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Timothy 3, and many others), let’s focus on one that is front and center in today’s news.

Revelation 13 describes the rise of two beasts during the Tribulation who will utterly deceive the masses while blaspheming God. Some might say, “Oh, come on! Do you believe that Tribulation stuff? Besides, even if it is real, it is a long way off.”

Oh really…is it? (Look out for deception! That’s what the enemy is counting on.)

Verses 16-17 of Revelation 13 say this:

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.

No one may buy or sell if they are not part of an elite club! And to be part of that club, you must take the mark of the beast, which allows you to do business with the “secret currency” available only via the mark. Dollar bills and loose change will no longer be viewed as valid currency. In fact, it will be worthless! Those trying to buy and sell with that currency will find themselves starving to death. Cashless will be the only alternative.

When credit cards became the rage back in the 1970’s, the pathway to a cashless society began a significant tilt toward fruition. Today, how much cash do you carry? Likely not much, as we have all become accustomed to using credit cards, or better still, electronic transfers. We rarely touch cash anymore!

Now, the Federal Reserve (America’s currency controller) is about to embark on the next phase of cashlessness. Just this week, a partnership with global banks was announced, and word is they will launch a 12-week prototype central bank digital currency soon. After the recent fall of the crypto market, that should raise some eyebrows!

Joe Biden has already signed an executive order making way for the creation of that digital currency, and now heads of big banks (BNY Mellon, Citi, HSBC, Mastercard, PNC Bank, TD Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, to name a few) are clamoring to be part of the pilot case. Federal Reserve New York Innovation Center Director Per von Zelowitz says:

“The NYIC looks forward to collaborating with members of the banking community to advance research on asset tokenization and the future of financial market infrastructures in the U.S. as money and banking evolve.”

~Now the End Begins, accessed 11/16/2022 (Note: I do not necessarily endorse all you find on that website.)

Dear friends, when our government becomes the agent of fulfillment of Bible prophecy, perhaps we need to evaluate our government. Nonetheless, God is very clear in His Word that these things WILL happen! We can pray we are not deceived by it or caught up in it, and we can even pray for the Lord to have mercy and delay it. But in the end, God’s Word will ring eternally true and accurate. A cashless society is coming, and with it, the shadow of what is to come in the days after we (believers) are taken out of here.

Praise God for His gift of salvation and freedom. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, and because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we do not have to fear what lies ahead. In fact, we can move joyfully through life on this earth, seeking to know and understand the time and season in which we live!