We have been living in a very divided country and this is especially so with Donald Trump being elected president of the United States. His emphasis on America first and on America exceptionalism has deepened the divide. In Washington DC there are those who promote globalism, the idea that individual nations should fade away and a one-world government takes control. On the other hand, others are focused on American nationalism. Globalists, often led by people with political power and considerable wealth, do not like people who promote the greatness of America or any other nation. Globalists often use socialist and communist ideas as they work towards a one-world structure. In their view equality, peace and prosperity for all can be reached only if the world would rid itself of the focus on individual nations and center authority in one place.
Those “Progressives” push for a centralized world government, understanding that nationalism needs to be dealt with and diminished. So, if anyone wonders why we have people in places of authority who appear to be bent on diminishing or weakening the United States, it is because they want to lessen America’s power and position. This is necessary for a “new world order.” Their unrighteous policies and purposeful attacks on God’s standards of morality, family and life itself should be resisted. We sometimes hear that the Trump administration is simply following “common sense.” Yet, behind the “common sense” are often biblical ideas. And while we can be thankful for this, we must not forget that the Scriptures do tell us that an evil globalization is surely coming. There are actually two different forms of globalism coming according to the Bible. The first one is Satan’s one-world order, and the second one is the one-world government of King Jesus.
THE COMING GLOBALISM OF THE EVIL ONE
The first form of globalism that will come is the one created by the Devil and his minions; demons and evil people. The Scriptures set forth a number of key points about this coming control of the world by Satan and his forces.
Satan is the “god of this world” who has power over the nations of the world.
When Adam and Eve sinned back there in Eden, they lost their exalted position of king and queen of the planet. Satan then became the “god of this world.” The Apostle John declared that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19. In his temptations of the Lord Jesus, Satan offered to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world in exchange for bowing down to him (Luke 4:5-7). It should be noted that Jesus not only did not bow down, but also that He did not deny that Satan had such authority. It is, therefore, clear that the Devil is going to be the force behind the future globalism, through which he plans to be worshipped and exalted. This is a matter of major concern to the Devil. It is the direction he passionately desires the world to go. And he has many with power and money who are on board with this goal, which he will achieve.
Satan’s future globalization is centered in a man. Most people, who have some knowledge of the Bible, know about the Antichrist. Satan gives to him great power and authority which will extend to all nations (Rev. 13:7). For the first time ever, a man will actually be a dictator of the whole world. This, of course, means he will do what Jesus did not do, and that is worship Satan. And Antichrist will have another individual (named the False Prophet) who will exercise religious and economic authority (under the Antichrist) over the whole earth (Rev. 13:14). The emphasis of scripture is on the whole earth being dominated by these. It will be a one-world government controlling all aspects of human life (though not for the better).
There are stages in this Satanic globalization. While there can be interpretive differences at this point, normal, grammatical interpretation appears to lead to the following understanding. The Antichrist will become the ruler of one western nation and will be identified and established as “the Antichrist” when he signs a treaty with Israel’s leaders. As the ruler of this one nation, he will “subdue” (Dan. 7:8, 24) three western nations, probably militarily. Apparently, seven other nations simply submit to Antichrist (Rev. 17:17) so that Antichrist will rule over an eleven-nation western empire. This takes place in the first half of the seven-year period of the Tribulation. Antichrist is declared to be a “man of war” because he is very skilled at warfare (Dan. 11:41-45; Matt. 24:6; Rev. 6:4). Then, at the mid-point of the Tribulation several game-changing events take place and he is catapulted into his role as world ruler (under Satan). Revelation declares that “the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast (Antichrist)”, and “authority to act for forty-two months (second half of the Tribulation) was given to him” and he was given “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation” (13:3, 5, 7). This takes place after he is assassinated but returns to life (Rev. 13). Then in the second half of the Tribulation Satan will be the closest he ever gets to his goal of being like God and worshipped. And, though many have desired it, this will be the closest any man ever gets to be dictator of the entire world.
This move towards globalization will not go smoothly because of the inherent sinful and rebellious nature of man. The delusional socialists of our day believe in the inherent goodness of man. They think that man is good at his core, but is corrupted by society, capitalists, injustices, racism and other things. But man is not good. He is sinful and born that way. This reality will be manifested in the seemingly constant conflicts and resistance to the Antichrist (and Satan) in his rise to power (Matt. 24:7). Antichrist is constantly at war. And even as the Tribulation draws to its end, “the kings of the whole world” rally to war in the campaign of Armageddon (Rev. 14:19; 16:14). While it is true that they all unite against Christ when the “sign of the Son of Man” appears in the heavens (Matt. 24:30), it is highly unlikely that they originally came with their armed forces to do battle with the Lord Jesus (They would have had no clue that He was coming very shortly). More probable is that their sinful, rebellious nature propelled them into the “winepress of the wrath of God” to unseat the Antichrist. It appears that the future globalization of the Evil One will be an ongoing struggle and not some utopia. Universal peace, prosperity and bliss can never happen because of the evil, sinful nature of mankind. This is a point lost on today’s globalists. They have no understanding of the disaster that awaits them in the coming evil globalization.
THE COMING GLOBALISM OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
As would be expected, God’s future globalization is in stark contrast to what the counterfeiter Satan will produce. There are several basic truths about this.
God’s future globalization is centered in the God-Man, Christ Jesus. The Bible is clear that the Lord Jesus is the One who will fulfill the great covenants of the Old Testament. As the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus will rule on a refurbished earth for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1-10). People of the Book have longingly looked ahead to this time and to His coming. He is the focus of this coming age. God, on oath, has declared that this will take place (Ps. 89:3-4, 27-37). And in fact, God the Father has already established Messiah’s rule on Mt. Zion (Ps. 2:6) and has declared that the nations of the earth are the inheritance of the Son (Ps. 2:8).
There are no stages in God’s globalization. It will come suddenly, dramatically, fully, and powerfully as Jesus returns to earth in power and great glory (Rev. 19:11-21). It is at His Second Coming that He sits on His throne and rules in His kingdom (Matt. 25:31). This globalization does not come because Jesus was voted in as King by the United Nations. Mankind has no part in bringing in the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus. Daniel 7:14 adds that “to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.” Hebrews 2:5 teaches that God the Father has given ruling authority, not to angels, but to the Son who will rule over the “inhabited earth” (that is, Jesus’ rule is not in heaven but on the earth where people live). Jesus Messiah ruling over all the nations is God’s idea of globalization.
This globalization of God will be all that God intended for mankind to enjoy. The prophets are abundantly clear that righteousness is what will characterize the kingdom of Messiah (Isa. 11:4-5). The world will live according to God’s righteous standards. There will be no challenge of Christ’s righteous rule. Those born in the kingdom age will still have a sin nature and should they externally sin and rebel, they will experience immediate judgment. Psalm 2:9 states that He will “rule with a rod of iron.” The “rod of iron” is found in the book of Revelation (2:26, 27; 12:5; 19:15). There will be no outward sinning and challenging of King Jesus. There is zero tolerance for rebellion and blasphemy by criminals. (Won’t that be a refreshing change!)
Some Final Thoughts
The Bible is quite clear on the issue of globalization. Evil globalization will come first even though the election of President Trump might cause a delay in its arrival. The evil globalization will briefly flourish, and then be swept away forever by the grand and glorious globalization of the Almighty One. This is what the promised future will be.
Satan has always counterfeited God’s perfect plans and ideas. The original ideas do not come from the Evil One. Undoubtedly, the Devil’s idea of globalization is stolen from what will be true when the Lord Jesus Christ reigns over all the earth. His will be a magnificent kingdom, which will be characterized by peace, joy, and meaningful, abundant living. This is our future, thanks to the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. In the meantime, as we realize that the Evil globalization is going to come, we ought to heed the Scriptures which challenge us to use our present time to do God’s work in this world, spreading the gospel and making disciples.