Europe eliminating remaining ‘bank secrecy’ as it gets closer to Revelation 13:16-18

Luxembourg City (Sixdown)

Europe has gotten agreements to eliminate the last bastions of ‘bank secrecy’ on the continent:

After Decades of Pressure, Luxembourg Drops Bank Secrecy Rules

European Union finance ministers have reached a breakthrough agreement…

Europe’s top tax official – Algirdas Semeta – says depositors will no longer be able to hide their money from the prying eyes of governments.“The revised directive promises full and lasting tax transparency in Europe,” he said. “Bank secrecy is dead, and automatic exchange of information will be applied in its widest form.”

Luxembourg agreed to share bank information with member countries starting in 2017 — with Austria signaling similar intentions by 2018.

Analyst Jacob Kirkegaard at the Peterson Institute for International Economics calls the agreement a milestone in global efforts to stop tax evasion.

“This is a very significant development and it’s really the culmination of what at least in the EU has been a decade-long struggle by some governments – in France, Italy and Germany – to really curb this longstanding practice of anonymous, offshore, if you like, bank accounts in other EU countries,” he said.

Decades of bank secrecy helped establish Luxembourg as one of Europe’s biggest financial centers – where bank deposits are currently valued at more than 10 times the nation’s annual GDP. Switzerland – once among the world’s largest tax havens – ended bank secrecy last year, after intense legal pressure from Europe and the United States. http://www.voanews.com/content/luxembourg-drops-bank-secrecy-rules/2490460.html

The USA has been a big factor in this. And while this may or may not reduce tax crimes, it is another step in getting the Europeans the ability to fulfill the following prophecies:

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 13:16-18)

The Bible teaches that it will be a European power that is 666 and will enforce what is prophesied in Revelation 13:16-18 (watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?). This power will eliminate the USA according to the Bible (cf. Daniel 11:39). Since ‘bank secrecy’ in Europe will officially end in 2018, this takes the world a step closer to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies related to financial control and greater financial unity within Europe.

Earlier this week, I reported that Sweden is moving towards only having electronic currency (see Sweden becoming cashless? A prelude to 666?), Ecuador moving towards a digital currency (see Sweden becoming cashless? A prelude to 666?), and because of applications such as Apple Pay (see Could Apple Pay be a step towards 666?), the world is going more towards electronic forms of currency that governments can monitor and control. This, combined with the agreement to eliminate the remaining ‘bank secrecy’ nations in Europe, means that legally there will be less and less ways to evade getting buying and selling monitored, especially in Europe.

A reader sent me the following which he said was basically machine-translated:

Ripple Labs: Guttenberg is now in Cyber-Currency

The traditional payment system is “antiquated, expensive and inefficient”, says ex-Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. So he turns now to the digital financial world and starts as a consultant for Start-up Ripple Labs.

12.07.2014

San Francisco – The former Economic- and Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg joint the American Start-up Ripple Labs as consultant. He wants to help the company, which is specialized in money transfers, “to circumvent the regulatory pitfalls”, Guttenberg told the “Wirtschaftswoche” according to an earlier information on Saturday. According to the report Ripple Labs is working to make transfers as easy as sending an email…

Guttenberg said: “The traditional payment system is antiquated, expensive and inefficient.” The market for Cyber-Currency is still in its infancy “but the invention of this technology cannot be reversed”, Guttenberg said. The former politician emerges now on the company website as one of eight advisers.

The former ‘man of hope’ of the CSU was Minister of Economic Affairs and took over the defense portfolio in autumn 2009. Beginning of 2011 Guttenberg, stepped down after the University of Bayreuth had denied him the title ‘doctor’, because of plagiarism. He then moved with his family to the United States. http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-arbeitet-jetzt-fuer-start-up-ripple-labs-a-980675.html

Here is something that Ripple Labs said about him:

Ripple Labs is thrilled to announce that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is joining the advisory board. Mr. zu Guttenberg is the Chairman and a Founder of Spitzberg Partners LLC, a New York-based boutique corporate advisory and investment firm that provides strategic counsel and investment insights on European and international political, economic, diplomatic, technology, and security issues.

He served as Minister of Economics and Technology and then as Minister of Defense in the cabinet of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. As the youngest Defense Minister in German history, he led the most significant structural reform of the German armed forces since the Bundeswehr’s founding. During his time in office, Minister zu Guttenberg was Germany’s most popular politician.

Mr. zu Guttenberg was a Member of Parliament (Bundestag) during 2002-2011 and served as spokesman on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was also a Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Secretary General of Germany’s co-governing CSU party.

Herr Guttenberg is one I have in mind as a possible future King of the North or supporter of that king. Knowledge of buying and selling with technology in the 21st century would be quite helpful for the final Beast power. Back on December 13, 2011 (see Guttenberg Criticized, But…), I reported the following about Baron Guttenberg:

Notice some prophecies related to the Beast and his empire:

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 13:15-18)

The fact that the Baron is to advise about internet security and surveillance may encourage him to press to get the above implemented. The fact that he was once Economics Minister for Germany also gives him additional qualifications to possibly help fulfill Revelation 13:15-18.

His new role is consistent with that. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg keeps taking steps consistent with one who could be the final Beast. While he has not yet publicly pressed to get Revelation 13:16-18 implemented, his background and interests show he is one who will likely understand enough technology to do so.

That being said, we are seeing the trend for the governments around the world to more fully control buying and selling. Yet, the Bible also indicates in several places that all the wealth will NOT be electronic (cf. Revelation 18; Zechariah 14:14).

But it is becoming clearer and clearer that governments, like those in Europe, will clearly be able to control/monitor the bulk of buying and selling.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy [Español: México, América central, Suramérica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profecía] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.