I was taken to task by a friend, following my last blog post, for introducing the term “globalism” and this without explaining what my understanding of that word was. Usually when that happens, I rise to the challenge as I believe agreeing definitions matters, and I then “google” the term where an agreed understanding is in my view desirable or necessary  to find a suitable definition, and often this is revealed on the first hit. This time, the definition I found were unconvincing and did not match my understanding.

I see most words ending with “ism” relating to an ideology I do not support. In this case, I see globalism as that which wants to see a world dominated, no longer by nation states but by a conglomerate of states, effectively leading to one world government. There are many who justify globalism as being the way to bring people together, pool resources, tackle problems like disease and climate change, and prevent wars. Some of the critics of globalism see this as a ruse by a powerful elite, bringing together an unholy alliance of vested interests, ultimately subjugating the masses, further enriching the same elite. This is not the same as globalization, which is what we have been seeing more of in recent years, where communications and travel and inter-dependence when it comes to trade etc. and cross fertilization of ideas have become reality. The antithesis of globalism is nationalism, which puts national interests first and rejects interference by outside interests. While I am not a globalist, since I fear malevolent interests will overcome benevolent ones, I am not an out an out nationalist either. I believe in taking a pride in one’s national cultural identity and yet doing so with a generous spirit that sees loving one’s neighbor in global terms.

As a Bible student, believing there remains a good deal of unfulfilled prophecy, I naturally try to understand the rapidly unfolding events in the world in such a light. I also recognize my prejudices (for example, my default theological stable generally saw the EU as a bad thing, given the way they interpreted scripture) and also the folly of trying to align world events and personalities to what I read in the Bible. Yet I identify trends, which I find not only fascinating but also necessary as we seek to live for God in what may be regarded as “the Last Days”. In the beginning of the Bible, we see the fall of globalism when God destroyed the Tower of Babel. At the end of the Bible we see the One World Government, under the control of the AntiChrist, and, as that name suggests, it is a malevolent regime even if it is one that initially is welcomed by many of the people. Eventually the AntiChrist is defeated and the true Christ returns to Earth and he sets up a world government which is benevolent and righteous, and it will also be global insofar it will benefit people from all nations.

What we have been seeing in the past year is a reversal, which if my understanding of Bible prophecy is correct, may only be temporary, of a move toward globalism, with Brexit, the elevation of Donald Trump to the US presidency and moves happening across Europe in favour of nationalism and much further afield e.g. with elections in Brazil. Even before that Russia had begun on this anti-globalist path. Because those who likely benefit most from globalism have suffered such a setback, and they have the power to do so, they have been able to activate a resistance which has the marks of being prolonged and viscous. I hope it can be defeated as people wake up, but nothing can be taken for granted. While I have made my position quite clear over the past year, in my various blogs, it has not been my intention to give anti-globalists carte blanche to carry out their agenda either, especially when narrow national interests push out the concerns we should have those who live in poverty or under oppression. But I do need to alert people as to what is going on, and to point them to the true Christ. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”.

Update 05/01/2019: It is funny that nearly two years on the fight between globalism and nationalism has intensified since I first wrote these. Further gains in Europe and beyond to those who favour nationalism over globalism is evidence the fightback has become, but as we enter the new year there is also evidence of the fightback to the fightback, but I have no doubt which side I am on.