Is it the mark of the beast?

We often heard the term trade embargo or economic sanctions used by the government in various countries such as the USA.

According to the free dictionary.com website, a trade embargo is a government order imposing a trade barrier.

It is any regulation or policy that restricts international trade. It is similar to an economic sanction against a country which, basically obstruct other countries from trading with another country.

All countries need international trading to survive.

We must import and export goods and services to increase government revenues and provide jobs for the residents.

Trading also helps to provide food, shelter and clothing and the necessary essentials.

I am not a qualified economist to explain how these things work but you can do further research on the subject.

Why would a country impose economic sanction or trade embargo on another country?

For you to fully understand the answer to this question, you need to examine a country that a trade embargo was imposed on.

Fifty-five years ago President Dwight D Eisenhower imposed the first trade embargo on Cuba in 1960 after the Cuban revolution which got rid of the Batista capitalist regime.

The communist regime emerged under the leadership of Fidel Castro. The embargo placed a restriction on all exports of all commercial goods and services to Cuba except food and medicine.

On February 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy expanded the embargo to include all imports including food and medicine. You can check it out on the USA official website here.

The USA enforced and maintained the sanctions against Cuba as long as the Cuban government refused to establish a democratic government in the country.

The USA also encouraged their allies such as Britain and France to do the same.

A trade embargo on a country will cause devastating effects on the people.

The government is not free to import and export goods to certain countries so they will not receive enough revenue to support the core needs of the residents thus resulting in poverty.

Cuba was able to trade with the Soviet Union for a period of time until their regime crumbled in 1991.

The government of Cuba has tried to mobilize its people to be self-reliant and live within their means.

They had to learn to give up the luxury food of leeks, garlic, and apples from the bondage of capitalism to live in freedom in the wilderness of trials feasting on manna.

Does this have a familiar ring?

Yes, this was essentially what happened to the children of Israel in Exodus. They were in slavery for 400 years under the Egyptian government.

I sometimes wonder what kind of slavery it was. Was it one of economic suppression or was it a mental and physical form of slavery similar to the slavery in the West Indian history?

Careful consideration must be given to this question. Why would the Israelites yearn to return to Egypt to eat leeks and garlic?

I have never heard of slaves eating luxury food. The Israelites preferred to return to the bondage of slavery just to eat luxury food!

Think on this for a few minutes!

Let us return to Cuba. Throughout the years, Cuba has excelled in education and medicine. Read about some of their achievements here.

I have never been to Cuba, but one of my friends went several years ago (this was before the current changes that are recently taking place).

She related that she enjoyed her vacation and fell in love with the people and country. I also fell in love with the Cuba that she described to me.

She said that the people were unpretentious and friendly. The old Spanish historical buildings and architectures are unique, and the lifestyle of the people is simple.

There is a lack of violence and immoralities that generally plague large cities in the western world.

The food supply is limited with just enough for everyone but nothing in excess for over indulgence hence there is a lack of obesity, gluttonous and other diseases related to overeating.

Of course, some people hate this lifestyle and lust after the lavishness and over indulgence of the western world.

But, this free modern democratic lifestyle comes with the price of greed, crime, violence, and sexual immoralities.

Many people believe that the embargo against Cuba is not effective. It has not hastened or prevented the destruction of the communist government.

Neither has it impose democracy within the country. The political leaders at the top do not suffer the consequences of the trade embargo, only the majority of people at the bottom of the pyramid.

Read more about the effects of the USA/Cuba sanctions here.

In recent years in particularly under the Obama government, they have been working on creating a new relationship with the Cuban government and lifting the trade embargo.

Do you want to read more about effects of economic sanctions and trade embargos on various countries? Check out this web sites.

The fact of the matter is that economic sanctions and trade embargo limits the supply of food and clothing – the basic necessities of the people.

The affected countries are unable to buy or sell freely.

Wait a minute! This sounds familiar! Isn’t this what the Bible stated in Revelation 13 would happen if you do not receive the mark of the beast. Read for yourself.

He (the beast) cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or name of the beast or the number of his name (Revelation 13:16-17).

It means therefore that the beast is in the world right now because already many countries are unable to buy or sell unless they receive the mark, name or number of the beast.

Who then is this beast?

We need the knowledge of God!

Many people believe that a man is going to rule the world and impose sanctions on everyone in the world all at once.

Many Christians are mesmerized by this theory because they believe that they will be raptured out of this world before the antichrist comes.

Thus, they are in delusion in spite of the evidence under their very nose. Wake up, people!

The only time that you are going to be raptured out of this world is when you are dead!

Wake up! You are in delusion!

References: Web site: Cuba USA department of Treas Cuba embargo; Wikipedia.org, time.com/cuba embargo, effectiveness of economic sanctions in the context of globalization and transitional linkages:the case of cuba (pdf)