Occupy Movement Spreading, and Some Biblical Comments
The Occupy movement is spreading:
Occupy protests spread to US college campuses
20 November 2011
As the protests have grown to cities across the United States, they’ve also taken root at the nation’s universities, where students have staged rallies and walk-outs from classes.On Thursday, students were among the thousands who took part in protests across the country. At the University of California, Berkeley, where 40 people were arrested in a violent confrontation with police last week, officers removed 20 tents on Thursday. At Harvard University, dozens of students have set up tents in the middle of campus.
Occupy DC part of movement that spread
Washington Post – 20 November 2011
Occupy protest movement spreading
BBC News – On Thursday dozens in the Occupy Wall Street movement were arrested as they marched on the New York financial district, while in London protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral ignored eviction notices.
Occupy Las Vegas protesters hate Wall Street but love America
Las Vegas Review – Journal – 20 November 2011
… The movement nationally is decentralizing, spreading into the communities.
Occupy Edmonton to defy eviction notice
CBC.ca – 20 November 2011
Occupy Edmonton protesters say they will stay in a city park despite an eviction notice from the private company that owns the landOutcry after Calif. police pepper spray students USA TodayUCD peppered by ‘Net outrage Sacramento Bee
Defiant Occupy Oakland protesters seize ‘new home’
msnbc.com – 20 November 2011
Noah Berger / AP Occupy Oakland protesters established a new encampment
Occupy Oakland had been shut down and cleared because of violence, but has popped up again in another location. The recent pepper-spray incident at UC-Davis may end up being a trigger for violence by some associated with the Occupy movement.
Today, I found the following as the latest headline at a main Occupy website:
Occupy Oakland Calls for TOTAL WEST COAST PORT SHUTDOWN ON 12/12
Of course, shutting down just one port would hurt economic activity. Shutting down all of the west coast ports could also lead to shortages of goods. It seems that the desire of some in the Occupy movement to put on a show of strength ignores the fact that this proposed action would hurt jobs for more than the “1% the protesters tend to act like they are protesting against.
While few in the Occupy movement are advocating violence, I still believe that the USA, UK, and the other Anglo-descended lands will have civil unrest, including violent rioting in the future. The more the Occupy movement spreads, the sooner this may happen. Of course, on the other hand, as winter approaches the idea of actually living outside in a tent becomes less comfortable, so we may see some type of a shift in the movement. There may be less tents to occupy with a shift towards sit-ins, rallies, etc. And there may be a resurgence of protests in the Spring of 2012. We will see.
Thus far, it seems that the main motivations for those involved in the Occupy protests are a combination of covetousness, political objectives, boredom, economic uncertainty, confusion, and class warfare. Sadly, many of the protesters apparently believe that they are entitled to assets that other people have accumulated and/or they should not be responsible for their own debts. It is not that there are not problems with Anglo-capitalism (there are many problems), but thus far the Occupy movement does not seem to be at the forefront of offering biblically-appropriate solutions.
15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:15)
In many cases, “justice” seems to come with a price and it is often much harder for the poor to get the same type of defense in court than the wealthy (though sometimes the opposite happens, and sometimes for the wrong reason). But this does not seem to be a major concern of the Occupy movement.
People may not wish to hear this, but the Bible is clear that there will always be problems with poverty in this age. Hence, income redistribution per se would not seem to be the biblical solution. The Bible shows that despite provisions that some may consider to be regulations and/or restrictions on capitalism, there still will be poor people:
7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs…11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 15:7-8,10)
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. (1 Samuel 2:7-8)
8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always. (John 12:8)
And as far as lending, notice that the Bible shows that the poor were to be lent what they needed, not necessarily everything they might want. Lending also implies an obligation to pay back. Also notice:
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. (Psalms 37:21)
While the Bible does have provisions for debt relief (Deuteronomy 15), it does indicate that borrows should try to fulfill their obligations. Yet, many in the Occupy movement have stated that they do not want to pay back what they have borrowed. Both the borrowers and the lenders should try to resolve these situations without trying to exploit or take advantage of each other. However, this does not happen as often as it should.
The end-time sorrows and troubles in society are still in the beginning stages (Matthew 24:5-8), and will get much worse according to the Bible (Matthew 24:21-22). I believe that class warfare and other protests will help weaken the USA, Canada, and their other Anglo-nations and may also be a factor in them being vulnerable to real warfare: invasion by the final Beast power.
As Jesus said:
37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011 or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Is Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ from the ‘hour of trial”. It includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, showing that there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
LCG: Pornography, Who’s Tempting Whom? This is some information about the prevalence and dangers of pornography from the Living Church of God.
CG7 on Pornography This is an article excerpt from the Church of God, 7th Day-Denver about pornography.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the Living Church of God?
LCG: Homosexuals Gaining Ground “Same-sex marriage” is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?
Is American Football Evil? Is the most popular spectator sport in the USA something that Christians should watch? What do the Bible and early writings show?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-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 the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-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 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?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? If so, what does that really mean for the USA and its Anglo allies.
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?
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