Grab Your Hat!

James grabs up an armful of news articles from his desk and plops them down on the kitchen table where Phil is sipping on a soda. "It's actually nice to have some company." Phil thinks as he watches James sort through some of the latest news articles he has highlighted. Phil's attention is drawn to one in particular...Your Doorbell is Using AI to Spy on You. "Let's see" James ponders "where should we start?". Phil nodded toward the article laying closest to him and said "That one has caught my attention for sure, let's go with it." "Oh there are several that go along with this mind-set. Here's another." James says as he places it over the last article. Phil reads the headline Not On Tik Tok? They're tracking you anyway.

Phil's eyebrows raise as he scans over the two articles then he says, as he lowers his voice for no apparent reason, "I've read they're equipping our smart appliances with AI technology as well. Do you really think there's something to this?" James begins hurriedly pulling out article after article on AI and it's abilities. Some articles give beautiful accolades to the "utopia" this new technology will bring but just as many shout warnings of the problems to come - and not just years from now but even before this year ends perhaps. "I do believe the majority of what these articles say. I'm sure there are some journalists that exaggerate but, for the most part, I believe we are about to see things we never thought possible." James thoughtfully said. "And not just with AI but in our weather patterns, the Middle East and the decreasing ability to have any privacy. Digital currency, digital ID's, unmanned retail stores, social credit scores...all of these things are coming on the scene at once. It's literally Bible Prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes!" At that, Phil sat back in his chair and said "You've got to be kidding me! Do you really believe the Bible has anything to do with what's going on now, over 2000 years later?" "Oh I do!" James emphatically stated.

Phil was taken aback by how sure James was. There was no hesitation, no question and the look on his face was one of serious determination. "Since my early thirties I have believed the Bible to be true but now I am even more certain than ever before in my life!" Phil could only think of one thing to ask so he intently folded his arms, leaned over the table propping on both elbows, and said "Why? How can you be so sure?" He and James were eyeball to eyeball and neither blinked. James was serious and Phil was just curious enough to want to find out why. "Do you really want to know? Do you want to see more?" James asked. Phil's mind was saying no, this is crazy, but he heard the words coming from his mouth before he could stop them..."You'll have a hard time convincing me about all the Bible stuff but I definitely believe there's something nefarious in the making." There. It was out. The very things he had been thinking on for sometime he had finally admitted out loud - to someone other than his cat. Now, to see just how crazy this Bible stuff, and James, really is.

James began: "I was raised in a Christian home and often heard Mum and Dad discussing end time prophecy. At the time I would listen and think there was no way any of that could possibly be true. In my teens and university years I dismissed those discussions and their Christian beliefs as outdated and irrelevant; however, as I grew older I was drawn back to those beliefs and now embrace them as my own. Over the past several years my attention has been continually drawn to our current happenings and Bible Prophecy. Recently it has become absolutely uncanny just how well the everyday news lines up with those ancient prophecies." As he finished talking he pointed to the scribbling on the sides of these articles. I noticed there were many scripture references on every article he had on the table. He had obviously spent quite a lot of time on this. He once again tapped the first article where he had written

"It was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast...and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast...and it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast...it was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelation 13:11-18"

As I began reading I was just skimming over the verses but the more I read the more the hair on the back of my neck began to stand on end. My eyes returned to the beginning of James' writing and read, slowly, about the power this so-called "beast" would have. After I finished reading I looked up at James and, before I could say a word, he said "You do realize those words you're reading were written over 2000 years ago - around 90-96 AD - don't you? At no other time in history could these words possibly come true until now. This is why you will never be able to convince me the Bible laying on my desk is anything but true." I was speechless. All the logical arguments about how the Bible was irrelevant to today's world had left the room and, for the life of me, I couldn't find anything to say other than "This is more than I can wrap my mind around right now James." "Oh sure!" He said right back. "I completely understand how overwhelming it can be. Trust me...I've spent months pulling headlines and comparing them to scripture. The more I search the more reason I find to believe. I've got to head over to the church in a bit to open up before service tonight but you're more than welcome to take a couple of these articles and research them for yourself. I have a spare Bible in the bookcase beside the desk if you'd like to grab it as you leave. If you want I'll be in tomorrow after lunch to do some more research. You're more than welcome to help me out with it...Lord knows I can use some extra eyes and maybe an extra computer if you want to bring your laptop along."

Still speechless I blindly grab a couple of articles from the table. I actually have some of my own at home but I didn't want to seem too anxious to continue our discussion. As James walks me out he gingerly grabs the extra Bible and hands it to me. "It's a little different version but I think you'll find it a bit easier to understand." On the front cover are the words The Message. "Give me a text or call if you have any questions. I'll give you a ring tomorrow around one o'clock so we can research together before the kids get home." Just like that I'm out James' back door with news articles in hand and, of all things, a Bible tucked under my arm. "What on earth are you doing Phil?" I asked myself as I walked back to the house and placed those things on the kitchen table. I felt like I was entering some covert operation to gather intelligence on the life-line of the ages. Maybe I should pick up a tin-foil hat just to be on the safe side.

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