World Prophetic Fulfillments of 2024 — Part 1
Prophetic Milestones of 2024: The Bible’s Vision for the End Times – Part 1
The article explores the fulfillment of biblical prophecies in 2024, focusing on significant events that align with scripture, particularly in the context of the end times. It highlights the growing reality of technologies like surveillance systems and digital IDs, which could enable the Mark of the Beast, a key prophecy from Revelation. The article also examines political efforts toward a Middle East peace agreement, touching on Israel’s role in biblical prophecy. These developments are framed as signs of the approaching Great Tribulation, offering a biblical perspective on global events shaping the future. Part 2 will continue this exploration.
By Rick Brinegar
Only the Bible
The Bible is the only book which accurately foretells specific detailed events, sometimes thousands of years before they occur. Though many of these prophecies have already been fulfilled, many have yet to be fulfilled. We have this divine record because the Lord has spoken through His prophets; “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) He has spoken to us through His prophets to confirm the reliability of His Word for the benefit of mankind during the last days.
Instructions for the End Time
God gives warnings, revelations and instructions for the last days, because he wants all people to be saved. Also, He wants his people to learn, grow and prosper in the Way, especially during the tumultuous times ahead. Looking at the news headlines of 2024 through the lens of Bible prophecy builds faith and equips us for courageously enduring the Great Tribulation just ahead. “Now I tell you before it come,” Jesus said in John 13:19, “that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He.” Fulfilled Bible prophecy also helps us understand Jesus’ faithfulness, as evidenced in John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
Mark of the Beast 2024
The Prophecy
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16-18)
Fulfillment
The use of a “mark” to control buying and selling worldwide is now practical and achievable. Tracking and surveillance technology and political and financial regulation expanded in 2024 to the point where the literal fulfilment of the “666” prophecy is at hand.
Beastly Connectivity
Just look around and you will see electronic connectivity on every side. The plan to digitally enslave society is illustrated by the identification and surveillance technologies already permeating our daily lives. Smartphones, iPads, laptops, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers, dashcams and dozens of other personal electronic devices, link virtually everyone to multiple individuals, organizations, businesses, institutions and a myriad of other Internet of Things instruments, sensors and appliances. Such a network will easily be directed by those who run the system. The Bible foretells that in the end times just such an identification and control system will be commanded by a beastly dictator called the Antichrist.
One World, One Control System
The Antichrist will consolidate his power and control, along with a religious leader, the False Prophet, during the final days of human government on Earth. The Antichrist will enforce compliance to his dictates through a numbering and surveillance system called the Mark of the Beast. If you do not demonstrate allegiance to the Antichrist’s one-world regime you will not receive your unique identifying number which enables you to buy, sell or participate in the economy. No buying or selling means no bank account, no job, no food, clothing or shelter. Just how this Mark of the Beast system will operate has been the subject of abundant speculation.
What will the Mark Look Like?
Whether the Mark of the Beast will take the form of an iris scan, a palm print, an implanted microchip, a Quantum Dot tattoo or something entirely different, it is likely to be supported by a worldwide digital ID monitoring and tracking technology, such as a social credit system, which along with a Central Bank Digital Currency is now being tested and deployed in several countries. The Mark may be promoted as an appealing and convenient upgrade with discounts and membership benefits or other enticements. After all, the Beast’s system is enabled “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, … ” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
The Mark has a Spiritual Element
The spiritual component of the Beast’s economic system should not be neglected. To be identified as part of the last days economy, the Mark must involve adoration of the final world dictator. During the Great Tribulation, those who qualify with appropriate allegiance, ownership and sincerity will bear a universally recognizable expression of their devotion to the Antichrist. It will be both symbolic and physical. It will be the Mark of the Beast. Whatever the precise physical nature this mark may take, its purpose will remain the same in every case, to distinguish those who worship the Antichrist from those who rebel against his authority. Loyal followers will be rewarded with the ability to buy and sell.
Inescapable Cashless Society
Whether you believe in Bible prophecy or not, it will seem reasonable, simple, and efficient to receive some sort of encoded authenticating label which permits you to participate in local consumer activities or global commerce. Whether you are buying a quart of milk or engaging in international trade, the logical extension of this identification system is worldwide tracking and control. This kind of surveillance technology is already in use in businesses, schools and hospitals. Remote patient monitoring systems and biosensor, web-enabled wireless telecommunication GPS technologies are becoming increasingly more widely implemented.
Brain Implant Merges Man With Machine
At the beginning of 2024, billionaire Elon Musk announced that Neuralink, a company he founded, had achieved the first computer-brain interface implant. It seemed selfless and humanitarian that people who had lost the use of their limbs might soon be able to walk and use their hands and arms again because of the new brain implant technology. However, according to John Daniel Davidson of The Federalist, it marked the beginning of a radical, dystopian, post-human future in which humans are merged with machines. Musk reported the Neuralink patient, previously paralyzed from the neck down, was then able to control “phone or computer and through them almost any device, just by thinking.” However, Davidson warns, “Trying to merge man with machine will not solve our problems, it will cast us backward into tyranny and pagan slavery.” Davidson believes the goal of tyrannical futurists is to usher in “a transhuman future by creating human-machine hybrids that will be ‘superior’ to natural or non-enhanced humans.”[1] An autocratic technology, which is not experimental but already fully implemented, is China’s digital payment system.
Discriminatory ‘Debanking’ Challenged
In March 2024, Republican Attorneys General in 16 states across the U.S. charged trillion-dollar lender Wells Fargo with debanking some of its customers because of their political positions. The term “debanking” has come into popular usage only in the past two or three years. Debanking is when a bank closes or refuses to open an account for a customer. Sometimes a customer is ‘debanked’ because the institution believes the customer poses a financial, legal, regulatory or reputational risk. Other times, which the banks are not prone to advertise, it is because the bank disapproves of the patron’s political views. At a rally earlier this year, former President Donald Trump accused big banks of discriminating against conservatives and pledged that if elected he will “place strong protections to stop banks and regulators from trying to de-bank you from your political beliefs.”[2] Also in March 2024, other international power elites asserted their right to impose their digital transformation agenda on unsuspecting customers.
Digital ID Government-Citizens ‘Social Contract’?
The World Bank and Verizon are determined to make the worldwide adoption of digital IDs a reality. Their joint venture of “digital transformation” will leverage the internet to centralize people’s identities and financial assets. At the recent Global Digital Summit in Washington D.C., the World Bank and Verizon agreed governments must make digital IDs a component of what they called the “social contract” with citizens. It means that citizens should willingly submit to the authorities as they accept digital IDs and do this, supposedly, to their own advantage.[3] Privacy and security advocates have strongly criticized the enforcement of digital IDs and it is a major step toward the final one-world beast-controlled system.
Dramatic Digitalization of Money
“We are on the brink of a dramatic change where we are about to, and I’ll say this boldly, abandon the traditional system of money and accounting and introduce a new one,” according to Efrat Fenigson, host of the “You’re The Voice” podcast. In “On the Brink of a Dramatic Change: The Digitalization of Money” in Bitcoin Magazine, Ms. Fenigson anticipates the global growth of Central Bank Digital Currency projects means there will be an “almost perfect record of every single transaction that happens in the economy.” It also means huge dangers in terms of the balance of power between states and citizens. Ms. Fenigson discusses how all world governments are pushing an agenda of Digital IDs, CBDCs and ESGs. For this agenda to succeed, all monetary systems and supporting systems must become digital and rely on digital data.[4] Another intrusive agenda is also in the works; the propagation of facial recognition technology.
REAL ID Mandatory Enforcement May 2025
The most recent REAL ID enforcement deadline has been pushed forward again to May 7, 2025, less than a year away. By that date, if your driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant, you will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport, to board a flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The federally approved REAL ID driver’s license and identification card has a small star in the upper right corner which indicates compliance with federal regulations which establish minimum security standards. Proponents of the system claim it is not a national ID, as all it does is establish minimum uniform standards for locally issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. Critics say if it complies with national standards and potentially forms a centralized national database, then it is a national ID. The final cashless one-world system of the biblically foretold end times will depend heavily on a centralized database for tracking and economic control of the global population.[5]
CBDCs Rebranded as ‘Digital Cash’
As concerns about the financial risks and autocratic dangers of Central Bank Digital Currencies have been widely voiced in the media and congressional hearings, promoters of CBDCs have responded with a marketing push to rebrand CBDCs as “digital cash.” Somehow, “digital cash” is supposed to sound friendlier than “Central Bank Digital Currencies.” For example, the European Central Bank declares, “A digital euro would be an electronic form of cash for the digitalized world,” while Norges Bank has said a CBDC would be a “digital version of cash.” Bankers also use the phrase “just like cash.” Someone needs to explain how a centrally controlled and programmable financial instrument is “just like cash.” The issue is, unlike cash, CBDC would offer neither the privacy protections nor the finality that cash processes. Bankers agree that anonymity and complete privacy would not be an option with CBDC. Also, CBDC’s programmability could limit payments based on the criteria of the political party in power at the time.[6] As governments jeopardize our financial freedoms, many countries are seeking to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar.
Middle East Peace Agreement
The Prophecy
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)
Daniel 9:27 prophesies the Antichrist will participate in a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. This agreement will confirm Israel’s right to exist in the Holy Land, create a Palestinian state in the West Bank (Judea) and place the Temple Mount under a sharing arrangement between Muslims and Jews. Ratification of this agreement will mark the beginning of the Final Seven Years to the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus to Earth.
Fulfillment
Is Mideast Peace Possible?
Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? There have been many failed attempts to create a lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, yet one man will appear to finally succeed. The plan this man will confirm will mark the beginning of the final seven-year countdown to the return of Jesus. In the beginning, he will expand his influence through subtle diplomatic peace initiatives. The Antichrist will then exert his persuasive influence to confirm the right of the Jewish people to have a national homeland. He will pretend to be Israel’s friend. Only in the middle of the final seven-year period, when the covenant is broken, will the leadership of Israel finally recognize the true nature of the one who approved their signing of the peace agreement.
Confirmation of the Covenant
God’s covenant with Abraham is recorded in Genesis 12:1–3. The Lord bound Himself to that Abrahamic Covenant, unconditionally, in Genesis 15. The Abrahamic Covenant promised that Abraham and his descendants would possess the inheritance of their God-given homeland forever. The fulfillment of this Abrahamic Covenant will ultimately see Israel fully occupying the land promised to Abraham, in holiness and restoration. In the meantime, at the close of the age, the Antichrist will approve a seven-year interim pact with many nations, which seems to affirm Israel’s right to their inheritance of a national homeland. However, after seven years, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and the peace agreement will be revealed as a counterfeit and a “covenant with death,” (Isaiah 28:15). A series of failed conciliatory initiatives in 2024 have attested to this folly of attempting to bring peace to the Middle East through human effort alone.
Blinken Urges Arab Normalization, Palestinian State
On that same day in early January 2024, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the leadership of Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab neighbors of Israel, had an “interest” in normalizing ties but would not pursue that approach without the creation of a Palestinian state. “And I can tell you this,” Blinken said, “There’s a clear interest here in pursuing that; there’s a clear interest in the region in pursuing that. But it will require the conflict end in Gaza and it will also clearly require there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state.” The Saudi Arabian ambassador to the UK called for the creation of a Palestinian state as the one condition for normalization with Israel after the war. He also noted that before the October 7 massacre, Israel and Saudi Arabia were close to reaching an agreement.[7]
God’s Judgment on the Two-State ‘Solution’
Many world leaders agree with the Saudis that a two-state solution, where Israel and an independent Palestine would co-exist side by side, is the only possibility for bringing true peace to the Middle East. However, students of Bible prophecy understand the Two-State “solution” is very much against Scripture. The Lord made it clear in Genesis 12:7, that the land He gave to Abraham was to be kept for Abraham’s descendants. “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land … ’” Afterwards, according to Joel 3:1-3, it was prophesied the nations will put pressure on Israel to divide the Holy Land and they will be judged for it. Israel has been under increasing pressure from the global community to divide the Land into Israel and a Palestinian State and stop warring to “displace” the Palestinians.
Israel Neither ‘Permanently Occupying Gaza’ nor Displacing Palestinians
Israeli President Netanyahu addressed genocide accusations in January 2024, making it clear Israel’s war goal was neither ‘permanently occupying Gaza’ nor displacing the Palestinians. Netanyahu had responded as the International Court of Justice considered a complaint filed by South Africa, which alleged Israel was committing the war crime of genocide against the Palestinians. Netanyahu has always rejected the genocide charge as “outrageous” and has consistently maintained Israel would continue to defend itself.[8]
Jewish Settlers Allowed to Remain in Palestinian State
During ongoing Israeli Palestinian hostilities, Dan Perry and Gilead Sher revealed there was some hope for peace as the result of secret negotiations which would be presented to the White House at an undisclosed point in the future. According to a Newsweek article published in February 2024, although Saudi Arabia was not a signatory to the Abraham Accords because they wanted a Palestinian State first, there were some indications the Saudis ‘position’ had shifted. The surreptitious proposal called for Saudi Arabia and other countries which had not signed the Accords to agree to normalize relations with Israel in advance. Israel would reciprocate by agreeing to recognize the principle of a demilitarized Palestine roughly the size of Gaza combined with the West Bank. Significantly, the proposed framework will allow Jewish settlers living in Palestinian territory to remain under Palestinian sovereignty if they so choose.[9] With hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced on both sides, Gaza lying in ruins, and Israeli hostages still detained by Hamas, it was hoped such a newly formed Palestinian state would be able to develop and reform its institutions over a transitional period of up to five years.
U.S. Pushes to Resume Stalled Peace Talks
At the end of June 2024, the United States continued to push for an Israeli-Hamas peace plan involving regional intermediaries Egypt and Qatar as the conflict in Gaza intensified.[10] Meanwhile, French President Macron re-emphasized his serious concern over growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah to the north.
Trump Posts, ‘Looking Forward to Mideast Peace’
On July 23, 2024, Donald Trump shared on his Truth social media platform a letter that he received from Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas condemning the assassination attempt against the former U.S. President. Mr. Trump, then posted the letter ahead of his scheduled Friday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, writing, “Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East! DJT[11] [Donald J. Trump].”
Saudis for Peace Deal by End of 2024
In October 2024, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal urged Saudi Arabia to reach a landmark peace accord with Israel by the end of 2024. It would have been part of a regional settlement which would also include a push toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These diplomatic efforts were pursued as the war against Hamas in Gaza approached the one-year mark and came after a series of Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas and Hezbollah are both proxy forces externally supported by Iran.[12]
Trump’s Return could Bring Peace to the Middle East
A November Time magazine article outlined three areas in which Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency could usher in a new era of peace and prosperity. First, he could re-enforce oil sanctions, restricting the funding of regional terrorist groups. Enforcement of highly effective sanctions had ended during the Biden administration, leading to Iran acquiring windfall profits from near-record oil production. Second, he could put an end to Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, the most life-threatening long-term middle eastern security threat. And finally, he could leverage the already confirmed Abraham Accords to build a strong coalition of allies to counter the Axis of Evil sponsors of terrorism and foster a better life for the Palestinians.[13]
‘Deal of the Century’ Back on the Table
Brian Hook, who leads President-elect Trump’s transition team at the state department, told CNN on Nov. 7, 2024, the administration’s “Deal of the Century” peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would probably be back on the table once Trump returns to the White House in January. Trump’s comeback has been met with apprehension in Iran as it could mean the return of sanctions and deeper conflict. Donald Trump’s 2020 Peace to Prosperity plan, known as the “Deal of the Century,” was a comprehensive vision to improve the lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People. It promised a Palestinian state on the condition that there were no more terror attacks. The proposal attracted broad support from left and right-wing Israelis and from the broader Arab community. However, the plan had been criticized for requiring too few concessions from the Israelis and for imposing too harsh requirements on the Palestinians. The plan had become noteworthy for proposing a series of Palestinian enclaves surrounded by an enlarged Israel. It purposed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while normalizing Israeli relations with surrounding Arab countries. Had the Palestinians accepted the plan, it could have impeded Iran’s aggressive military actions but neither side seemed willing to make concessions. Trump may have presented a deal that seemed too pro-Israel, as it put Israel in charge of security over the entire region.
[1] Grantham-Philips, W., & Ungar, L. (2024, January 31). Elon Musk says the first human has received an implant from Neuralink, but other details are scant. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-neuralink-human-brain-implant-e92ca9621c9331487c94e9b537c2d537
[2] KIanapi, H. (2024, March 10). Wells Fargo Abruptly Terminating Customers’ Bank Accounts, Say Attorneys General in 16 States, Demanding Immediate Freeze on Lender’s Alleged Debanking Practices. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://dailyhodl.com/2024/03/10/wells-fargo-abruptly-terminating-customers-bank-accounts-say-attorneys-general-in-16-states-demanding-immediate-freeze-on-lenders-alleged-debanking-practices/amp/
[3] Rankovic, D. (2024, March 16). World Bank and Verizon Chiefs Say Digital ID Part of “Social Contract” Between Government and Citizens. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://reclaimthenet.org/world-bank-and-verizon-chiefs-say-digital-id-part-of-social-contract-between-government-and-citizens?fbclid=IwAR0GMNZ6CsmhEE47HKx2i5RK6ybrcvNYas2PDcV-zdli1XtTi58G9l9fQoM
[4] Fenigson, E. (2024, March 27). On the Brink of a Dramatic Change: The Digitalization of Money. Bitcoin Magazine. https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/on-the-brink-of-a-dramatic-change-the-digitalization-of-money
[5] TSA Department of Homeland Securty (2024, June 20). Countdown is on for Maine residents to obtain a REAL ID before May 2025. TSA.gov Department of Homeland Securty. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/06/20/countdown-maine-residents-obtain-real-id-may-2025
[6] Anthony (2024, July 24). Are CBDCs Getting a Rebrand as “Digital Cash”. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.cato.org/blog/are-cbdcs-getting-rebrand-digital-cash
[7] Martel, F. (2024, January 9). Blinken in Saudi Arabia: Mideast ‘Normalization’ with Israel Will Require a Palestinian State. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2024/01/09/blinken-saudi-arabia-mideast-normalization-israel-will-require-palestinian-state/
[8] Richard, L. (2024, January 11). Netanyahu clarifies Israel’s war goal is not ‘permanently occupying Gaza’ or to displace Palestinians. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.foxnews.com/world/netanyahu-clarifies-israels-war-goal-not-permanently-occupying-gaza-displace-palestinians
[9] Perry, D., & Sher, G. (2024, February 13). Secret Peace Talks Are Underway for Israelis and Palestinians. Here’s What’s on the Table | Opinion. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.newsweek.com/secret-peace-negotiations-are-underway-israelis-palestinians-heres-whats-table-opinion-1869466?fbclid=IwAR0XsiDUVfL4LiT-GqXXbFe8aRCOJQKlBSBWtRC2X_7bXIEEKp_rj7Y2AKE
[10] Arabasadi, A. (2024, June 30). U.S. continues push for stalled Israel-Hamas peace plan. Retrieved Nov.ember 20, 2024, from https://www.voanews.com/a/us-continues-push-for-stalled-israel-hamas-peace-plan/7678664.html
[11] Marks, J. (2024, July 24). Trump ‘looking forward’ to Mideast peace, tells Abbas: ‘Will be good’. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.jns.org/trump-looking-forward-to-achieving-middle-east-peace-tells-abbas-everything-will-be-good/
[12] Jewish News Syndicate (2024, Oct.ober 8). Arabia for peace deal with Israel by end of year. Retrieved November 20, 2024, from https://www.jns.org/us-senators-press-saudi-arabia-for-peace-deal-with-israel-by-end-of-year/
[13] Jeffrey, J., Ross, D., Boehler, A., Hakakian, R., & Tan, S. (2024, Nov.ember 24). Donald Trump’s Return Could Bring a More Peaceful Middle East. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://time.com/7174666/donald-trump-return-could-bring-a-more-peaceful-middle-east/