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December 2019

What God Showed the Prophet Joel

3,000 Years Ago

 “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?  Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.  For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.  For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God”. — Ezekiel 12:21-25

 These words deal with the problem doubters of God’s prophecies.  The unbelievers, encouraged by the false prophets, were saying, “Look we’ve heard all this before.  Nothing ever happens; things are going on just the same as they always have.”  God is simply telling them, “Your wicked generation is the very one that shall indeed see every prophetic vision fulfilled, you will see every prophecy vindicated, and all the predictions against your rebellious nation that will take place just like the prophets of God said they would.”

 In all generations, there have been scoffers with the same attitude.  The apostle Peter declared that, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lust,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?  for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2nd Peter 3:3-4).

  One of the greatest prophecies beginning to be fulfilled before our very eyes was written in the Ninth century BC by the prophet Joel.  This is somewhat like the Old Testament version of the Book of Revelation.

   Joel’s vision given to him by God is found in Joel chapter two:

 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.  A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.  They shall run like the mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one i his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.  The earth shall quake before them: the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining . . [in view of this God has a special word.]  Therefore said the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?. . [after the Tribulation period comes God’s blessing] . .  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered:  for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.”

  God revealed to His prophet Joel the armies of Artificial Intelligence (AI) way before their time.

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin tells us how significant this is, as it was reported by CNN.

CNN: Who Vladimir Putin thinks

will rule the world

(CNN, September 2, 2017) On the first day of the new school year in Russia, students learned an important lesson directly from their president — who he thinks will rule the world.  Speaking to students during a national “open lesson” from the city of Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country that takes the lead in the sphere of computer-based artificial intelligence (AI) will rule. “Artificial intelligence is the future not only of Russia but of all of mankind,”  said Putin.  “There are huge opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to foresee today.”  “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world,” he said, adding that it would be better to prevent any particular “pair of hands” from achieving a monopoly in the field.  If Russia becomes the leader in the development of artificial intelligence, “we will share our technology with the rest of the world, like we are doing now with atomic and nuclear technology,” said Putin.

[http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/01/world/putin-artificial-intelligence-will-rule-world/index.html]

Is Putin Correct?

 Will Joel’s vision of robots, rule the world with Artificial Intelligence, thus bringing about end of civilization?  Is the human race designing his way to destruction and programming its way to the apocalypse?  Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once synonymous with dystopian science fiction novels and films. But now it is a growing fear in the nonfiction world.  Intellectuals and world leaders fear that technological advancement will enable the uncontrolled rise of the robot.  The tech boom of the last century, particularly in the realm of modern warfare, is cause for concern. With the technology that human beings have developed, man could wipe himself out a thousand times over.  Already, we have been witnessing a new type of military warfare as President Trump and the military generals reported that they used cyber warfare in response to Iran.

  Many prophecies speak about a world of unparalleled advancements matched by unparalleled evils. It also speaks of the enslavement of nations, nuclear war, disease and death —- all in our lifetime!  Does this sound shocking?  Yes.  True?  Absolutely. This is why God commands Joel to SOUND THE ALARM!

 Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla is well known for warning of the threat AI poses to mankind.  On September 4, Musk tweeted, “Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause WW3 [in my opinion].”  He doesn’t mince words.  Musk once compared AI development to “summoning the demon.”

 Before a gathering of United States governors in July 2019, Musk warned, “I keep sounding the alarm bell, but until people see robots going down the street killing people, they don’t know how to react, because it seems so ethereal.”  This is precisely what the prophet Joel saw.  Musk isn’t alone. Renowned professor Stephen Hawking and the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, both share similar outlooks on AI.

  Stephen Hawking said, “I believe there is no deep difference between what can be achieved by a computer.  It, therefore, follows that computers can, in theory, emulate human intelligence—and exceed it.”  But he is wrong.  There is a difference, a vast difference.

What Robots Can Never Have:

There is something lacking in AI that cannot be created by men. It is something we possess that most of the world doesn’t even understand.

  All these scientists believe the human mind is solely physical.  If that is the case, then why couldn’t a scientist create an artificial copy, an intelligence that could rival or even exceed man’s own?  But there is a more fundamental reason that these scientists will never cease a human-type intellect.

 In Job 32:8, we read, “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding”.  God continues with this astounding truth that has evaded most of humanity.  That no one ever be truly educated without the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God.

 John 32:9-12, “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.  Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.  Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.  Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words”.

 Artificial intelligence will never have this human spirit.  A robot can only calculate or do what it is reprogrammed to do.  Robots do not think and reason.  They do not have emotion or passion.  They do not have morals.  Machines do not have this power at their disposal.  As such, robots can never surpass mankind’s abilities.

 Throughout history, the unregenerate mind — energized by the prince of the power of the air — has set to devise and use means of destruction.  It has been the devils intent to destroy this earth and God’a highest creation, the human being.  The world now will have the ability to wipe ourselves from the face of the planet!

 God tells of the devils intent from the beginning in Revelation 11:18, “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear they name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth”. 

 The Devil has the Mother of All AI’s programmed for something special.  It is revealed to us in Revelation 13:14-15:

 “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth 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 a image to the beast…  And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.”

But what is Artificial Intelligence?

  Artificial intelligence is intelligence displayed by machines, in contrast with the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals.  Most of us have been contact with a form of AI and perhaps have never fully realized what it actually is.  Myself and many of my family members and friends regularly talk to Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.  We also visit with other AI inventions that are embedded in our cars, refrigerator, or throughout our home.  I have a friend in Colorado who has a home that is fully automated with every form of AI.  The AI talks back and responds directly to us about whatever it was that we wanted to know from it or to do for us Without even realizing it, many of us have daily interactions with AI.  It has become very common, and is continuing to grow more common.  Scientists and others who predict what the future holds (futurists) have even planned, for the future, to name this artificial intelligence (AI),, “Singularity.”  This refers to the time when it is no longer just the product of man, but has complete control over itself.

 In reference to the “image of the beast” in Revelation 13:15, the Greek words underlined in the verse above are poieõ eikõn thèrion, meaning that the fully deceived men of the earth of that time will be called upon by the False Prophet to construct a likeness of the Antichrist.  This means that the image of the Beast is not the same as the Beast himself (Antichrist), but is a constructed thing that has “come to life.”

   

  Added to the description of the image having “breath,” gives us the impression that it is some kind of self-operating machine, a computer-operated cybernetic robot, programmed so that it can speak and act like it’s alive and command the worship of the world.  Artificial intelligence and robotics are advancing so rapidly today, making this prophecy no longer futuristic.  Imagine how far fetched this would have sounded to the apostle John, not to even mention what the prophet Joel must have thought.

  Robots are increasingly replacing human functions by automating manual tasks.  Killer robots, digital doctors, and driverless cars are just a few examples of how far technology has gone in taking over our lives and replacing human effort.  Today, in the State of Arizona, there are driverless large semi-trucks that are being used to deliver huger payloads of goods.  Clearly friend, it is time to SOUND THE ALARM — to SOUND THE TRUMPET.  Science is racing towards giving life to an “image” in many forms already.

 Researchers at the University of Washington have developed an artificial intelligence software so powerful that it can put words in the mouth of just about anybody.

  A recent, a new religion known as “Way Of The Future”, worship a godhead based on AI!  They say that their focus is on “the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed through computer hardware and software.”  It includes funding research to help create the divine AI itself. This is actually happening.

 Entire fields of science are now racing towards achieving Singularity (The merging of man’s biological thinking and existence with technology to the point there is no distinction between human and machine), scientists are planning it for the future, here’s some recent news headlines:

• Former Google and Uber engineer is developing an AI ‘god.’
• Why humans will happily follow a ROBOT messiah: Religions based on AI will succeed because we tend to ‘worship supreme understanding’, claim experts.
• Religion That Worships Artificial Intelligence Wants Machine To Be In Charge Of The Planet.
• Inside The First Church Of Artificial Intelligence.
• The Rise of AI: Give Me That New Time Religion?

 The world’s next religion could have a ROBOT God because humans are pre-programmed to worship things more intelligent than ourselves, experts claim.

  The concept of the Internet was known in scientific circles for many years before it reached the public.  Today the Internet and all the technology surrounding it is used everyday by huge numbers of the public.  The scientists were working on cloning long before the first sheep was cloned.  The same concept holds true with Singularity, that is now taking place.  Humans are already being blended with machines, unaware of by the public.  They make AI look beneficial these days, for examples, who can question an artificial eye for the blind, or a microchip implanted into the brain to help a quadriplegic?  However, in the end, the blending of human biology with mechanical technology will very likely be used for evil.

  But our faithful Creator God has set a boundary to what the devil can do.  Our Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Those who would destroy, will be destroyed.  As this is the reason our Lord Jesus came to this earth.  It is written in 1st John 3:8, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

 Revelation 4:11, “Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.

Printed with permission of Today, The Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone No. (918) 279-1136. The name of the original article in the December 2019 issue of Today’s Front Page was “What God Showed the Prophet Joel 3,000 Years Ago” www.JohnBarela.com