It's the end of the world as we know it...

I'm not into trying to dogmatically nail down the details of how this old world ends, I think how the new one begins is more interesting. However there are definately some broad themes in the Bible for how it's all going to go down and the world as we see it today lookes very similar to that collective picture.

That collective picture involves unprecedented natural disasters, mass destruction, travel and knowledge that is increased exponintially and of course global unity, economy and governance.

Here are some indicators I've noticed in the news, feel free to disagree with your comments weather you think I'm a crazy Christian, or not crazy enough.

-In the last decade we have seen the world shrink at warp speed. Economist Friedman (The World is Flat) says something to the effect that we are in the 3d and final stage of globalization. Stage one being when interchange between nations began as the Europeans started kicking butt and taking names on a global scale. Stage two was when organizations and companies moving within the different nations started to have global reach, with largescale missionary activity in the 19th century and multinational companies. In the 3d stage we have moved to individuals, as people can connect with others accross the world at the speed of thought, online.

-In many ways we already have a global economy where anyone can play, and while there are large swaths of the world population that are still stuck in the crumbling infrastructure of yesterday, it's all undeniably moving that way at a lightening pace.

-The book, The Wealth and Poverty of the Nations, ends with a haunting paragraph that it is for the first time possible that one man or one group could actually achieve what Hittler failed at, world domination, or at the least world controll. And as the world shrinks more and more, and the clash of civilisations intensifies, it becomes logical to have a central world governing body, most likely with the main tenant being tolerance. Maybe something along the lines of the UN with some gohonas and some badass firepower?

-A poll of security experts recently put the chances of a nuclear detonation in a major city in America or Europe in the next 10 years at 29%. Ezekial paints a picture of skin being melted away where people stand.

-Isreal is a nation again after 19 centuries, when no other nation has ever re-formed after being destroyed after a few generations. This is thouroughly fortold of, including talking about how the Jews would be hated more then anyone, becoming a byword (ever heard someone insulted by being called "Jewish" for being cheap?) and being chased with the sword and famine as happened in the Holacoaust.

-Democracy, which is powered by the people is spreading globally though it looks different in different locals. (6 is the number of man 666 would could be the goverment of the people.)

-In the last couple of years people have become very familiar with the idea of global catastphe's that are to be brought on by global warming. In fact in his lecture, Al Gore talks about how if things continue at their current pace it will be like taking a walk through the book of revelation. Perhaps Al will become the savior of the world, though to think that he is the Anti-Christ you have to read the book of Rev. more AlaGoreically then some do. :)

Anyway this is all just a little food for thought.