Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Rebuilding of Babylon

I don't like to discuss religion too much on this blog because I don't feel that it's really relevant, but the fact is many people who are invested in the dinar have done so because of their belief that what is happening today in Iraq is the fulfillment of bible prophecy regarding Babylon.  With those people I could probably talk about currency valuation, money supply, GDP, redenominations,  CBI statements .... etc. until I'm blue in the face and they would still cling to their faith based devotion to owning dinar.  So let's talk about theology.

I covered  this somewhat in a previous post called "The God Factor", but I'll go a little deeper into the topic today.  The idea that investing in the dinar is wise because of biblical references to Babylon is problematic in many ways.

First of all, the idea that Babylon will be physically restored is just one interpretation of scripture.   Bible prophecy isn't like other biblical topics.  I mean we're all pretty much agreed that stealing is a sin, right?  We can all pretty much agree that Jesus had twelve disciples.  We can all believe in the resurrection or the golden rule.  But nothing in the bible is more open to interpretation than prophecy, for one simple reason.  It hasn't happened yet.

There are many different views concerning the identity of Babylon.
Babylon 1932
We should remember that Babylon was a city.  Yes, it represented an empire just like the city of Rome represented the Roman Empire, but Babylon itself was a city just as Rome was and still is today.  Recently I had a discussion about the dinar with an eschatology (bible prophecy) teacher at a well known bible school.  I was surprised to find out that he in fact owns dinar, but not because he believes that Babylon will be rebuilt. In fact he stated emphatically that it won't happen.  He told me that according to scripture Babylon's destruction was to be final, and that destruction occurred over a century before Jesus was born.  History seems to support that view, as the ruins of Babylon are still there to this day.  Saddam Hussein started to rebuild Babylon in 1983, going so far as to inscribe his name on the bricks like King Nebuchadnezzar did.  That ended with his downfall in 2003.  When he was overthrown those buildings were ransacked and the bricks became collectors' items.  In 2009 the area was reopened as a tourist destination, but there is no ongoing project at this time to rebuild anything other than a cultural center in Babylon.     

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon

With this in mind, we need to consider other theories as to the identity of the Babylon from Revelation.  Among them ... Rome, the Catholic Church, Jerusalem, the world system, Wall Street .... etc.  Take your pick.  It's hard to say until this all plays out. 

Second, the bible warns believers against any participation in Babylon.  Why would Christians want to help fund the building of a nation, kingdom, or empire that is considered evil and opposes God's kingdom?

And finally, even if what we've been told by some about Babylon being rebuilt is true, that doesn't mean that anybody is going to profit from owning dinar.  It's quite possible that Iraq could become the wealthiest nation in the world without making anybody outside of Iraq rich.  It's possible that we'll all be dead by the time Iraq emerges as the new Babylon.  It's possible that it will happen in our lifetime but that the redenomination will leave dinar investors holding a currency that is going to be replaced with a new currency worth 1000 times as much.  We call that a lop, and nobody will get rich from a lop.  Consider the following article from June of 2011.

BAGHDAD -- A senior Iraqi Central Bank adviser says the government has adopted a two-pronged plan to restructure the national currency in order to facilitate large transactions and make government accounts more efficient, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq reports.

Mudhhir Muhammad Salih, a member of the bank's advisory panel, told RFE/RL on June 23 that in the short term, larger banknote denominations of the dinar would be issued to simplify major transactions.

He said that because so many Iraqis still dealt mainly in cash, it was cumbersome to carry bags full of money to pay for expensive items like cars. The inconvenience leads people making such purchases -- as well as many entrepreneurs -- to use dollars for those kinds of transactions instead of dinars, something the government wants to end.

He added that large denominations equivalent to around $100 would be issued to simplify major purchases, and new coins and lower denominations would be introduced for smaller transactions.

In the longer term, Saleh said a redenomination was needed wherein three zeros will be dropped so that the 25,000-dinar banknote -- currently the largest denomination -- becomes a 25-dinar note.

He said the change was inevitable, considering the economy is expecting high growth in the coming years with a planned increase in oil production to finance reconstruction projects.

In this scenario a 25K note (currently worth about $21.50 USD) would be replaced by a 25 note worth the same amount.  This is how redenominations have always worked.  Never in history has a redenomination worked like the gurus are telling us where the larger notes are removed as the money supply is reduced and the books are cooked to cover up the coming RV. 

Some of us have been trying to get the word out for some time now, and yet people keep buying dinar and keep following these gurus and pumpers, believing that God is going to use the revaluation of the dinar to rebuild Babylon and make Christians rich so that they can fund all of these wonderful ministries in these "end times".  I wonder if these people have ever even read the bible that they claim to believe?  In the book of Acts a crippled man was begging for alms.  Peter responded that he didn't have any silver or gold, and yet somehow under his leadership the first century church was able to establish the Christian faith which has endured for two millenia now.  Why do people think you have to be rich to do God's work?

I have had this post sitting in the draft section of my blog for months now, contemplating whether or not I want to send it.  I finally decided to post it after listening to people like Frank Villa and footforward babble on about Babylon and this "blessing" that is upon us. 

If you want to be wealthy, seek wisdom.  It's a very spiritual thing. The book of Proverbs is devoted to the topic.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

Riches and honour are with me: yea, durable riches and righteousness. (Proverbs 8:18)

It's hard to scam a wise person. It's hard to keep a wise person from prospering. The biblical path to wealth is hard work, delayed gratification, and developing your skill and expertise in a certain area. The lottery approach isn't in the bible, and I submit to you that believing you will become rich from an RV is a lottery mentality that's unbiblical.

There's an old story told about a man on the porch of his home during a torrential rain. The water started rising and it was obvious that his life was in danger. A boat came by and the people inside told him to get in before he drowns. The man declined claiming that God would save him. They left and the water kept rising. Another boat came by offering help but again he declined. Finally a third boat came by with the same results. The man ended up drowning and when he got to heaven he asked God why He didn't save him? God replied "What are you talking about? I sent you three boats!"  The moral of the story?  Sometimes answers to prayer arrive through very common sense solutions. 

If Iraq redenominates as they've been telling us they will nobody can claim that they weren't warned.  Banks have called this a scam.  Government institutions have called it a scam.  (Yeah, yeah I know - it's a legitimate currency.  But you can only buy stuff with it in Iraq.  And anybody who presents the statements from Iraq as supporting a 100,000% ROI is promoting a scam.)  Numerous websites have either called it a scam or at least pointed out the true risk and potential return as this blog does.  I don't know what Iraq is going to do, but I know what they're telling us and if they do what they say they will the only people who will get rich off of the dinar are the dealers, forum owners, and gurus who dangle the prospect of riches before inexperienced and gullible investors.

14 comments:

  1. Great post Sam. Personally the bible is completely made up and obviously written by man and not from god...all organized religions have become a joke. Most if not all Christians are hypocrites. The story of Jesus is not original and there are many figures who predate Jesus that have the same story such as Buddha, Krishna, Romulus, and Horus.....even the 10 commandments have been copied from Egyption book of the dead. It's all fantasy at this point. Good job Sam. Keep them coming

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  2. Something else i forgot to mention is that religion has no place in investments

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  3. That says it about as well as it can be, Sam. Concise, and to the point. As far as Babylon and the prophecies goes, research has demonstrated repeatedly that VERY few people have actually read their bibles cover to cover. They read only the passages and chapters cherry picked by teachers and clergy for very specific purposes. Were they to actually "read" their bible in its entirety, most people would have a VERY different view of religion, and begin to ask questions for which the answers would be very unappealing. Unfortunately, way too few people have taken the time or the effort to do that. Hence the easy manipulation by gurus and pumpers, as well as never-ending conflict over indefensible religious beliefs worldwide. :(

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  4. The point of my post wasn't whether or not the bible or religion have any value today. That's up to the individual and I respect all views on religion so long as they don't promote doing harm to others. What I wanted to address was the disconnect between what the bible says and what some are being led to believe along the lines of Babylon and the dinar. As I stated I don't really feel that religion is relevant here, but because it is being used to promote this investment it has become relevant so I felt compelled to address it.

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    1. I agree with this Sam. Lots of religious people become very gullible when the people they listen to throw gods name and a few passages into their investment and they see a man of faith so they must be telling the truth. Most people that are pushing religion into things they are selling are using it as a tool to get these folks to bite. It's a scam. Many people have been taken for a ride. Especially the ones that follow frank26.

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  5. Oh dear....well....I happen to be an Evangelical, a political liberal, and a successful business person who has had a great career, and who has invested my wealth with discretion. I too, reel at the sites filled with partisan ideologies...that Christ is a Republican...that Obama is the anti-Christ, and that this is somehow linked to God blessing His investors. Hog-wash.

    That would be like saying that myself, as an American living in Canada, can look at the value of the CAD, and anytime is rises above parity, that God somehow is saying He likes Canada better than the U.S.

    However....please be respectful enough to not lump every person of faith into the "idiot" category...Christians....don't go burning the Koran, and non-Christians...don't go burning the Bible. You needn't agree, and I don't go proselytizing my faith in these forums. But...my faith is precious to me...I don't think it's linked to the Dinar revaluation...and I certainly am not gullible.

    "Sam's" post simply is giving some context, but let's not use it to jump on a bandwagon of calling into question the tenants of my faith. That does nothing but divide.

    Callingfoolsout...you've made some pretty broad stroked statements in your first post that I take great exception to. Not all of us Christians were suckered into this investment, nor do we all think that the swill that the Gurus serve up to somehow link faith and the Dinar have any merit. I think that's abhorrent. But please, please, please be respectful to those of us who may be persons of faith who don't fit your demographic.

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    1. I agree D.C. on your points directed towards callingfoolsout. Didn't see any reason to argue the fact due to his point of view on the bible and the Christian faith. Would turn into another thread of "back and forth" and, I too along with politics, do not discuss it in this type of arena due to relevance.

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  6. It's a very difficult and controversial topic, to be sure. I wrote a book on the subject more than two years ago, containing overwhelming evidence supporting the position presented here by "callingfoolsout." I was ready to publish it, and then began reading thousands of the posts written on the various Dinar sites by some very fine and otherwise intelligent people who have very strong religious beliefs ingrained and reinforced from childhood. I quickly learned that if you think people are "brainwashed" and immovable regarding their opinions of the RV of the Dinar, multiply the strength of those beliefs by 10 (or more) and you still won't reach the level of the religious convictions of a very large percentage of much of the world's population. I decided to wait, hoping to find a way to present a stronger, gentler and more persuasive argument.

    While many of them are bigoted, racist, sexist and otherwise dangerous or even horribly destructive in their beliefs, a majority of the religious are well-meaning and harmless, possessing a genuine and desperate need to believe that there is more to come after life on earth, and that this belief is an essential basis of morality. This creates a "damned if you do, and damned if you don't" dilemma which to date has been impossible to overcome. It's an extremely slow process, but data shows that for the most part, society is becoming less religious over time, albeit way too slowly.

    The answer lies in EDUCATION rather than in name-calling, war and destruction in the name of indefensible iron age belief systems and mythology. Unfortunately, to be effective, this process has to be initiated by the believer, having been convinced to ask and seek answers to very basic questions which then result in a desire to research and learn what science has to offer on the subject. Many formerly devout clergymen have changed their beliefs and written excellent books on their experiences. The information is out there. People merely need to be convinced to seek it out, and most do not wish to. Personally, I'm still seeking a means to make that process easier.

    Until then, people will continue to kill, maim, destroy, and deprive others of their basic human rights in the name of 226 different religions and multiple deities. Hundreds or more have been eliminated and forgotten over a period of several thousand years, but a few still thrive, wreaking havoc as well as providing comfort.

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    1. Excellent post Legolos....education is key!!! I'm so glad schools are teaching evolution again. There's a saying....the easiest ways to become an athiest is to actually read the bible.

      Morality is doing what's right, no matter what you are told.
      Religion is doing what you're told, no matter if it's right.

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  7. I would also like to add that while I served in Iraq I witnessed first hand what religion does. In my humble opinion this world would be a better place without it. Religion divides people. It stops people from thinking for themselves and stops humans from evolving.

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  8. Hey Callingfoolsout:

    You know that desire you have in your heart that's urging you to seek knowledge, and that urging in your heart for truth?

    That's God talking to you man. He wants you to know that He loves you more than anything. He wants to know you, and have a relationship with you. He wants to bless you beyond anything you can imagine.

    I say that with all sincerity and from the bottom of my heart.

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  9. The validity and accuracy of the Bible has been questioned and contested (Moses parting the red sea, raising, Lazarus from the dead, supernatural miracles ....etc) since it was written. Of course none of these things are even remotely possible nor are they based in reality.

    A majority of the Dinar community's Christians feed on this feeling of riches beyond their dreams its like believing that a miracle will happen before their eyes like Jesus rapturing all of them and taking them to heaven. But think about it, this feeling of a quick RV is based based on greed and money and I personally believe that it's not based in reality since the "Gurus" are really their "Prophets" and we all know how much BS they spew out...... and if I recall the Bible clearly states "beware of the false prophets".

    I think that "True Christians" would be more interested in helping the people of Iraq through donations and charity than getting rich off of they're suffering.

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  10. This is why I was reluctant to post this. I didn't write this post to start a debate over the existence of God or the validity of the bible. I happen to believe in God myself and as you might have figured out I know a thing or two about the bible. I just wanted to point out the weaknesses of the argument that God is behind the RV. Could I ask you all to please respect the religious and political views of others and keep the focus on the main issues I'm addressing? People are being exploited with bad intel and analysis about the dinar. There's plenty to discuss about that without arguing over everything else. Thanks.

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  11. While religion has been the primary cause of virtually EVERY war in the history of the Middle East, it's created an even more perplexing problem in Iraq, in that 3 factions of the SAME religion are absolutely incapable of agreement on differences in indefensible religious practices. They never have, and never will be able to live in peace and harmony until religion is finally removed from the equation. Unfortunately, the Quaran is the primary source of education in most Middle Eastern countries. A majority of the population knows nothing else. Until that changes, there is little chance for peace and government stability.

    One would think that the U.S. would lead that effort to promote secular education and a knowledge of basic science, joined by other world powers. But the reality is that a majority of the people here are equally delusional and under-educated in terms of religious beliefs. Religious entities remain very powerful in this country, and therefor major change is unlikely in our lifetime. Things are changing, but VERY slowly.

    The gurus and pumpers merely take advantage of a widespread belief in prophecy and the efficacy of prayer. Despite overwhelming evidence, and an abundance of unspeakable tragedy and horror, people still desperately want to believe that a mythological entity is protecting and looking after them, watching every move they make.

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