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COGwriter

NBC reported:

June 14, 2023

Since March last year through May this year, the Federal Open Market Committee has raised interest rates 10 consecutive times. As of Tuesday, the central bank’s key federal funds rate stood at approximately 5%. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/federal-reserve-interest-rate-decision-june-2023-pause-how-much-rcna88922

Notice the following:

The Fed is Once Again Using the Wrong Tools to End Inflation

There are two primary reasons why inflation has remained so persistent despite the Fed raising rates from 0.25% to 5.25% in the span of 14 months.

1) The Fed is using the wrong tools to end inflation.
2) The Federal Government continues COVID-19 emergency levels of spending. …<

Fast forward to today, and the Fed repeating the same mistakes it made from 1972-1979. Thus far in its quest to end inflation, the Fed has raised rates from 0.25% to 5.25% in 14 months. … Meanwhile, the evidence is clear that there is still far too much liquidity/ froth in the financial system. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2023-06-12/fed-once-again-using-wrong-tools-end-inflation

Related to point 2, yes the elites in government (and not just in the USA) contributed to increased inflation by reducing production, while also increasing the printing of money during the time of the declared COVID pandemic. And, in countries like the USA, that level of government spending has remained fairly high — with the USA expected to have close to $2 trillion in increased debt each year for a time.

Last Fall, the head of the US Federal Reserve said he may help cause a recession:

Powell’s stark message: Inflation fight may cause recession

September 22, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve delivered its bluntest reckoning Wednesday of what it will take to finally tame painfully high inflation: Slower growth, higher unemployment and potentially a recession.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged what many economists have been saying for months: That the Fed’s goal of engineering a “soft landing” — in which it would manage to slow growth enough to curb inflation but not so much as to cause a recession — looks increasingly unlikely. …

“The chances of a soft landing,” Powell said, “are likely to diminish” as the Fed steadily raises borrowing costs to slow the worst streak of inflation in four decades. “No one knows whether this process will lead to a recession or, if so, how significant that recession would be.”

“We have got to get inflation behind us,” Powell said. “I wish there were a painless way to do that. There isn’t.”

Powell’s remarks followed another substantial three-quarters of a point rate hike — its third straight — by the Fed’s policymaking committee. https://apnews.com/article/inflation-jerome-powell-unemployment-government-and-politics-96092b0d276a604b3c1e83f44b8e2ec9?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_04

Chairman Powell’s claim that there is not “a painless way” to get inflation behind us is not quite the case.

As I posted last Fall:

The government of the USA and various of its states could easily change rules to allow more drilling of oil off the Gulf and California coasts, as well as in Alaska, plus open the Keystone pipeline. That would result in a massive reduction in the price of oil and fertilizers, plus would also reduce transportation costs. The governments could also provide incentives for more food production, which would lower food costs.

Yes, cutting energy costs and increasing food production would reduce inflation. Also, that would not result in net job losses, but in job gains.

Yet, instead, the Fed plan has been to increase interest rates (which have been artificially low) in an effort to slow down the economy and reduce wage demands.

Those in the Fed, the US Congress, or the Executive Branch of government do not believe that the Fed’s actions will cost them their jobs–mainly only the jobs of the non-elite will be lost.

Nationally, more could be produced. Internationally, more could be produced.

Yes, if there is more supply this would help reduce the inflation rate as well as generally improve the economies of those that produce more.

That said, the Bible points to food shortages and food price inflation:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

The prophecy of the third horseman of the Apocalypse is starting to come to pass.

If government leaders believed the Bible, they would be willing to take a lot of steps that they seemed to have overlooked.

Related to inflation, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video:

In the world, we see a lot of economic uncertainty.

There are recessions, sometimes stagflation, disasters, weather issues, wars, and even severe depressions that affect income and physical needs.

One can lose a job at almost anytime. There could also be health problems or even the death of the main income provider.

But there are things you can and should do.

Notice the following:

1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”

And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” (2 Kings 4:1-7)

Now, while the above involved a miracle, the concept of paying off debt and having savings is something God’s people should strive to do.

Notice also:

7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

Instead of being in debt, God’s people should strive to save:

But they should also be givers and rely on God’s blessings:

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, … (Malachi 3:8-11)

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever. (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

Yes, we need to also consider helping others.

And all should heed the words of Jesus:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:25-33)

4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)

Yes, we need to seek first the Kingdom of God. And the word of God says we should try not to be in debt, we should try to have savings, and we are to be givers.

All of these should be part of our preparations.

As far as other physical steps, you can see our article: Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 at 3:30 pm and is filed under Prophecy.

• Sermon: CCOG on Moses, Mark of the Beast, Food Shortages, Gold, Psalm 23, and more
• WSJ: Don’t Trust Government’s Inflation Numbers
• Gold and Grain
• Currency Printing May Make Many Poor Billionaires
• High inflation, Reasons for food price inflation, the Inflation Reduction Act, and prophecy
• German Gold Removed From London and Perhaps Will Be Removed From Elsewhere
• LCG’s Dr. Winnail: Be Prepared!
• Inflation at Highest Level in 2 1/2 Years
• US Hits Official Borrowing Limit
• US Congressional leaders agree to another $1.6 trillion in spending (debt)–‘3 Risks To The Inflation Narrative’