THEME: BREAKING THE MERCHANT-KING ALLIANCE: RECLAIMING THE MARKET FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD 

In our opening article, we submitted that capitalism, which is now the reigning and ruling political and economic system in the world, started simply as a trade system in pre-industrial Europe.  It expanded later through commerce and industry, finance and banking to encroach upon the market system and turned the market into a political, economic, and social machine for the control of the lives of peoples and the prospects and destinies of nations, and the world global political economy as a whole. The G8 and G20 arrangements are creations of the capitalist-market system for the control of global political, economic, and world order. 

We stated that, essentially, capitalism is a spiritual instrument of Satan, spearheaded by the Dragon from the Sea working through a Beast which also operates on land. That the same Beast is behind the communist-socialist system.    

We will discuss this later; suffice now to state here that the Dragon is engaged in a spiritual war against the human race—the seed of the woman.  It is a war originally set in place by God the Creator as a result of the serpent-Eve encounter, that created a Satan-man ‘rebellion-disobedience’ order on earth (Genesis 3: 14-15).  It is not surprising, therefore, that the Dragon was furious at the birth of Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman with power and drive destined to defeat him and overthrow his dominion over peoples, nations, and the kingdoms of the world. (Rev. 12)  

We observed in this regard that although capitalism is essentially a trade and market institution, the Dragon was able to enter into the political arena and the governance of nations primarily through the ‘back door’ of war campaigns, for which kings and rulers needed money.  Meanwhile, merchants had already got a foothold and quite a place at that among kings and princes through deals in silver and gold, precious stones, and pearls, textiles, food items, and delicacies—which are the specialties of merchants and sailors.  (Rev. 18: 12-14, 22-24). It is trade deals that gave upsurge to territorial and later colonialist-imperialist ambitions of kings and princes of the world, who commit fornication and adultery with Satan, the Dragon, and the Beast.  

Leaders need both land, money, and power to support and bolster their ambitions, pride, and glory. In the process, capitalism has exploded in power to take center stage in global and human affairs in general. The meeting of the Bretton Woods institutions, the G-8 and even G-20 are no more but concerned with the pervading forces of capitalism.  They are engaged in the drawing up and control of the global map of political and economic powers—of Haves and Have-nots, Poor and Rich nations—the distribution and control of capital, wealth, and resources and the co-ordination of investment, resources, and wealth distribution in the world. 

It may be agreed that capitalism has grown into a fierce beast with octopus-type branches, hands, and wings which altogether not only pose challenges to the lives, well-being, welfare, and destinies of nations.  It is also causing much stir and indeed, is behind wars and rumors of wars, violence, instability, and threats to peace, stability, and life security in the global political economy and the world. Yes, Capitalism is proving difficult to tame; and now with the rise of China, India, and Brazil and others in the global economy due to the widely open capitalist door, the old order of political and economic power control systems is yielding to change. Besides, the ‘nuclear gate’ by which the old politico-economic arrangements are maintained, though military power is now being invaded by new and aspiring powers. 

All this shows that capitalism has become a force which needs fresh investigation and review to not just minimize the state of fear and instability in the global political economy, but more so take care of the spiritual under-pinning as well as the discontent and dismay, wars, suffering, and pain in the global village. 

Perhaps, what is most disconcerting now is that the confidence in the stature, power, and might of the old powers is now eroded and virtually fallen. Their citizens are no more so sure and so certain of the erstwhile stable and comfortable lives. This is raising nerves, causing the rising of racism, nationalism, political and social distress.  There is a spiritual significance to the rising tides of insecurity. 

We started to examine the way out in part 1. The first urgent and necessary action is that the nations of the world will repent and turn to trust in God, through faith in Jesus Christ and dislodge the human pride, the misguided sense of sufficiency of free autonomous man, and the dominating spirit of blasphemy against God in capitalism, and atheistic and wicked humanist pretensions of Marxism-Leninism and Communism-Socialism. 

It is true to say in this regard that Christ Jesus has fought and won the ‘Satan-Serpent versus Seed of the Woman war.’  Jesus has defeated and made an open show of His victory over the devil.  Christ Jesus, the victorious seed born of woman has not only gotten victory for and on behalf of man. He has also given man authority and power for victory in the devil-dragon-man war. By reference to the Blood of the Lamb and testimony of Christ’s victory, the saints who believe, accept, and walk in Christ’s victory can overcome and win victory over Satan and in the dragon-beast-man war (Rev. 12: 11). 

To be sure, many saints have fallen in the battles. But that’s the nature of warfare.  Nevertheless, victory is of the Lord and victory rests in the Blood, Name, and Power of Jesus Christ.  Thus, be it as it may, the Church always triumphs in the spirit and power of Christ. Amen!  For victory has already been won before the Church was commissioned. (Luke 10: 18-19; Matt. 28: 18-20). Having alluded to the battles in the dragon-beast versus man war, the Spirit of the Lord would have us return to the reality of the fact that capitalism as well as communism has a spiritual base.  This cannot be over-emphasized. 

The dragon is a satanic power dwelling primarily in the sea.  It is one of many—including the Leviathan—that can dwell both in water and land. As the Scriptures reveal, it is from the Dragon that the Beast got power to champion the capitalist activities of merchants and, subsequently, commerce, industry, banking, finance, and with that politics and governance. 

It is the same Dragon that gave spirit, power, and momentum to the communist-socialist movement that began with land ownership and agricultural revolution in the same Europe.   The Dragon spitfire against Christ and man in the communist-system is far more serious than that of the dragon fury against Christ and man in the mercantile-capitalist system.  The truth, however, is that both the merchant driven market and the state ownership driven market are master minded by the same Dragon. Capitalism by private ownership or capitalism by state-ownership are of the same spirit and origin and coercive destabilizing influence. They are both market-controlled oriented. They are both exploitative and oppressive. They are both Anti-God, Anti-Christ, and Anti-man. 

The people of God indeed, the peoples of the world must know this. That both capitalism and communism/socialism are engaged in controlling buying and selling in the world, the control of markets, nations, and peoples, and the global political economy. Thus, the first step to end the Dragon-Beast capitalist-communist war against God, Christ, and Man is to return to God the Creator in repentance, in trust, and faith in God and Christ—and life and liberty, peace, and hope for man in the worship, obedience, and honor of the Creator. 

 May Christians and worshippers of God turn to the market in trust, worship, service, obedience, honor, and knowledge of God.  Christians and all godly people should break from the Dragon-Beast market controlling system of blasphemy, the seeming dichotomy between faith and business on the market and the wicked manipulation, exploitation, and oppression in buying and selling, and world business in general. 

Trust, faith, and hope in the market has no life in it, and is no substitute to worship, love, trust, faith, and hope in the Living God.  In addition, there is no spirit and life in the market as such. There is no life in money.  Peoples and nations of the world run away from and avoid the mark of the Beast.  All who want to engage and do business in the marketplace resist the devil; he will run fast from you. 

April 17, 2012