New York City, NY. The CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, made a startling statement on November 3rd when he addressed the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. While discussing the digital revolution in communications, he seemed to hint at the possibility that the convergence of various forms of electronic media could be used by a malevolent world figure to create a system of dangerous repression, according to an article in Media Shift. Along with his innovation partner Jared Cohen, the “Director of Google Ideas,” Schmidt noted in the talk that there are currently 4 to 5 billion mobile phones and 1 billion smart phones in the world. This, they tell us, will literally begin to shape world events. These two media technology gurus have written that today about half of the entire world’s population alreadyuses some combination of cell phones or Internet, or both. The effect of this, they write, will be to erase national boundaries and create “mini-rebellions” that overcome the traditional authority of governments. But while they state that this may seem to be a force for creating “democracy” in the world, these two Google executives write that there is another sinister possibility: that this new media technology may be used to create “autocracy,” a gentler word for iron-fisted dictatorship. In fact, at the meeting in New York, Schmidt stated that these new media innovations in the hands of the citizens of the world could “unite” them behind a “rogue evil person.”
All of this reminds us that freedom is best secured in a careful balance of power between government and its citizens, with a truly independent media helping to inform, rather than propagandize the population. This was the vision of our Founding Fathers. They understood the doctrine of original sin, and mistrusted any institution or group of persons that possessed too much power. In our novel, Edge of Apocalypse, we give a fictional glimpse at the disastrous consequences that will occur in America, indeed to the entire world, if media technology becomes the tool of a powerful few. On the other hand, there is a legitimate role for government; after all, it was instituted by God to restrain evil and promote good. That is made clear in the book of Romans chapter 13. What is most startling of all, is the suggestion by these Google officials that global communications are now at the stage that they could be used to unite the people of the planet behind an evil world leader. Does that sound familiar? Just read the 13th chapter of Revelation verse 5, about the future rise of a powerful, but demonic global leader and how there will be “given to him a mouth [i.e. a means of communication] speaking arrogant words and blasphemies …” to the whole world. Future prophetic events are rushing our way. Are you ready for them? If you have any doubts, read for yourself the message of Jesus Christ in the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of John, verses 1-21, and then claim the promise that is available to everyone who trusts in Him.
(c) 2010 Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall
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