Last night, Zero Hedge posted the following from Brandon Smith:

The World Is Turning Ugly As 2016 Winds Down
Submitted by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.com,
I have to say that the negative reverberations in our current economic and political environment are becoming so strong that it is impossible for people to not feel at least some uneasiness in their gut. I imagine this is the same kind of sensation many felt from 1914 to 1918 during World War I and the terrible birth of communism, or perhaps in the early 1930s at the onset of the Great Depression and the rise of fascism. Some global changes are so disturbing that they send shockwaves through the collective unconscious before they ever hit the mainstream. People know that something is about to happen, even if they cannot yet clearly define it. …
The globalists are setting the stage to blame the economic collapse they created on conservative movements. Clinton’s “health issues” are being set up as the scapegoat for a Trump win, which conjures additional social unrest as many on the Left will argue (in the event of a Trump win) that Trump prevailed on a technicality. That is to say, the extreme Left will argue that Trump’s presidency is not legitimate. …
Whether in oil markets or other sectors of finance and social stability, make no mistake, catastrophe is exactly what national governments are preparing for.
This is most obvious today in the European Union. The German government in their first revision of their civil defense plan since the cold war has warned the public to prepare for an unspecified event by stockpiling at least 10 days worth of food and five days worth of water. Germany is also debating the idea of placing troops on the streets to “protect against ISIS.”
And Germany is not alone. French presidential candidate Nickolas Sarkozy has made some highly disturbing statements on security in a recent interview, outlining measures he believes will best protect the public from “militants.” From Reuters:
France needs to get tough on militants by creating special courts and detention facilities to boost security, the country’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a interview published in Sunday newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
“Every Frenchman suspected of being linked to terrorism, because he regularly consults a jihadist website, or his behavior shows signs of radicalization or because is in close contact with radicalized people, must by preventively placed in a detention center,” Sarkozy said in the interview.
Sarkozy, who announced last month his candidacy for the April 2017 presidential election, has said there is no place for “legal niceties” in the fight against terrorism.
Even in the face of Islamic extremism and terrorism, the concept of “detention facilities” where people are held without charge and without trial on the mere suspicion of being a danger to society should horrify anyone with any sense. The fact of the matter is, these violations of personal freedom and of due process are NEVER used for only one group of people. Totalitarian governments ALWAYS use one group as an excuse for the police state, then over time they expand the police state outwards to oppress everyone. …
I believe Europe is about to witness a catalyst for financial crisis, and they are using terrorism as an excuse to preposition martial law resources before this event takes place. They don’t care about stopping ISIS, but they do care about locking down and controlling an angry citizenry in the wake of an economic downturn. If a few more terrorist attacks occur in the meantime, then hey, that only helps the elites in their efforts to pacify the public for the sake of “security.”
Official preparedness warnings from Germany, for example, are of little use to the public. A supply of a mere ten days of food and five days of water is useless during any sizable crisis. But, the German government can now say that they “tried to warn people.” Sarkozy’s statements are the most blatant call for a police state I have yet seen from an establishment puppet politician, and this should worry people. The fact that he is being so open and honest about the end game indicates to me that a dangerous shift is imminent.
It would appear, according to EU government behavior, that whatever is about to happen globally is going to hit hardest in Europe first and then spread to the U.S. and the rest of the world. I recommend readers watch the EU very carefully over the next few months. If you have any financial or survival preparations you have been putting off, I suggest you take care of them before the end of this year. From what I see so far, geopolitically and economically the global situation is only going to become more unstable in the near term. 09/14/16. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-14/world-turning-ugly-2016-winds-down

Let’s consider seven items that Brandon Smith brought out.

First, yes many, especially in the USA and Europe, are realizing that things are changing and have unease. This current presidential election cycle in the USA is different from any we have ever seen. FWIW, I consider that both leading candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have totalitarian tendencies. But I should add that I do not believe that Donald Trump is a champion of the globalist agenda like Hillary Clinton is.

Second, while I do believe that globalists will use financial and other crises to push their agenda, and that they do have a political agenda (e.g. Donald Trump Accuses Federal Reserve’s Yellen of Being ‘Political’), I am not convinced that they want Hillary Clinton to lose in order to spark a massive crisis. I suspect that they really want her to win.

Third, yes, Germany has made comments about preparation for problems. Jesus spoke of a time called the ‘beginning of sorrows’ (Matthew 24:4-8) and certain physical preparations could be helpful for some then (see also Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians).

Fourth yes, Germany and France have made comments about taking steps that reduce personal liberties. The Bible tells of a time of a totalitarian regime rising up in Europe. Here are some related prophecies:

23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;
But he shall be broken without human means. (Daniel 8:23-25)
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:1-8)
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18)

A type of world government, that will come out of war, will temporarily (42 months according to Revelation 13:5) have a lot of power and influence. It will try to have various economic plans, but according to the Bible, it will not be good nor end well (Revelation 18). Some call this the “new world order.” Steps that the USA has taken are aiding this (see The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA and World War III: Steps in Progress).

Fifth, yes I do believe we should pay attention to events in Europe. As regular readers of this page are aware, I report about European events often (see for two examples this week ‘Post-Brexit summit could pave way for European army’ or is it ‘laughable’? and Juncker’s State of the EU: More unity, more military needed).

Sixth, perhaps I should add that many seem to feel that the USA itself is about to implement massive detention centers. That is a conspiracy theory that I do not hold to as it is not consistent with my current understanding of biblical prophecies or world events.

As far as conspiracies go, consider what the Bible teaches:

12 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.(Isaiah 8:12)

So we do need to be careful about believing all the conspiracy theories out there. Last year, for example, I warned that the ‘Jade Helm’ exercises were not a pretense to detain Americans (e.g. Jade Helm: What is the truth? and Jade Helm 15 ending; Was COGwriter right?).

Yet, I do believe that many European and American leaders are interested in a one-world government and would like to see it as soon as they can. Satan has a plan (see Satan’s Plan) and it involves a type of one-world government–and Satan influences people around the world (Ephesians 2:2). Various ones associated with the United Nations want such a globalist government–or at least more international control of national governments.

The idea that many who attend want some type of one-world government is not simply a ‘conspiracy theory,’ it is a reality.

Despite what may be good intentions of many, the type of international ‘one-world’ government that many want is warned against in the Bible and will be replaced by Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11-21)

Those who support the globalist Beast power in the end will not fare well. Yet, steps are getting in place for the rise of that power.

Seventh, I agree with Brandon Smith that physical preparations should be made (see Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians). Yet, spiritual preparations are more important. The Book of Revelation clearly teaches that NOT ALL CHRISTIANS WILL BE SAVED FROM THE GREAT TRIBULATION (see Revelation 12:14-17). Revelation indicates that most Christians in the end times will NOT be spiritually prepared (cf. Revelation 3; Luke 21:36). Jesus only promised to protect thePhiladelphian Christians (Revelation 3:8-13) from the Great Tribulation (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

As Brandon Smith indicated, many people do seem to see that something is going on in 2016 that makes them uneasy. And they are not sure what will happen.

While we do not yet know all the details (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12; Matthew 25:13), Jesus (e.g. Matthew 24) and the prophets (Daniel, Isaiah, etc.) and the Book of Revelation do contain certain specific details as well as an overview of what “must come to pass” (Luke 21:9).

Because we believe what the Bible teaches, we in the ContinuingChurch of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).”

The Bible teaches:

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

There is an uneasiness that many sense, but the good news is that God has a plan that will work it all out. For some details of part of that plan, check out the free online booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

http://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/the-world-is-turning-ugly-as-2016-winds-down/

News presenter: John Hickey.