A Case of Global Leadership

This is how the 63rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations began this year. The Secretary General, as usual, addressed the gathering. “Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: Welcome to the opening of the general debate of the 63rd session of the General Assembly. It is customary for the Secretary-General, on this occasion, to assess the state of the world and to present our vision for the coming year. We all recognize the perils of our current passage. We face a global financial crisis. A global energy crisis. A global food crisis. Trade talks have collapsed, yet again. We have seen new outbreaks of war and violence, new rhetoric of confrontation. Climate change ever more clearly threatens our planet. We often say that global problems demand global solutions. And yet … Today, we also face a crisis of a different sort. Like these others, it knows no borders. It affects all nations. It complicates all other problems. I refer, here, to a challenge of global leadership.” As Secretary General Ban Ki-moon started off this way, I froze on my seat. I mean, I was listening to an address to the assembly of representatives from world over and such a gloomy and an almost graphic rendering of a grim global scenario was a shock to me. I mean, sitting in Gujarat, I hadn’t realized that things were this bad! I began to realize that the urgency with which the $700 billion bailout package was being pushed by the Federal Reserve Chief and the Treasury Secretary of the USA was more than just an interim measure. As events started unfolding in the following weeks, my fears were affirmed. The bailout package discussion was only the tip of the iceberg. We were all heading for serious, dire and an unprecedented global financial crisis. There is no country that has been spared. Government after government has been announcing policy measures and also billions (in some cases trillions) of dollars worth of packages from its coffers to bail out its banks and thus its economic system. The question is how long can the governments bailout? How helpful will these measures be? Ministers, officials and experts have been making statements and citing figures in an attempt to restore the confidence of the masses, but to no almost avail. The stock markets have been seeing a free fall. The panic is certainly of the levels of an impending depression like in the 30s!? If we are truly heading for a depression, the chances are that it would be worse than in the 30s because our financial systems are much deeper now than it was then because of instruments like “derivatives” (financial instruments or contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset thus allowing reduction of risk of the underlying assets from unexpected and drastic price fluctuations). As I was pondering on these issues, my friend called me up. He asked me if we could meet up for sometime, as he was really disturbed since a couple of weeks. We decided on the place and time. I was at Soul Café a bit early and so I spent some time catching up with more on the big screen of the Café and predictably, no one was listening to music or wanting to watch sports. It was CNN! “One of the most stomach-churning and fear-inducing months that stock investors have ever experienced came to a close on Friday,” said the announcer about the October of 2008. “The markets have suffered under the weight of a deteriorating housing market, an ongoing credit crisis, sluggish profits and falling commodity prices. Worst of all, economists say, is that there seems to be no end in sight.” Just right then my friend walked in. He certainly wasn’t looking alright and this is how the conversation ensued. Me: Why are you looking so downcast? Dilip: Have you not been watching the news? I am not the only one downcast. People have been killing themselves and their families. The markets are not bottoming! I am down to 20% of what I had one month back. Perhaps you won’t understand how it feels to see one’s assets being battered so badly so that he is left a pauper in matter of a few trading sessions in the stock market. Me: I am reading and have also been hearing about all this. Thankfully, I had negligible investments in market so I am not one of the badly affected. Dilip: I have not been able to sleep properly for days now. I had stocks worth over 10 lakhs a few weeks ago and now they are not even worth 2 lakhs! Imagine losing that much money in a couple of weeks. Me: But you didn’t actually lose that much cash, did you? Dilip: I didn’t lose that much cash in real terms but my portfolio is now in the red and I won’t be able to sell it for some time to come. The prediction is that it will take at least 2-3 years for the situation to recover. So, I am stranded and the problem is that I have taken some loans which can become a burden for me. Me: The US was flush with funds since a few years and then they also printed a lot of dollars, much more then ever before. There was money everywhere thus also tempting the banks to become greedier and start lending to customers who didn’t have the capacity to payback. They had so much liquidity that they could afford to take some risk provided they could charge higher rates. This is what is called the sub-prime crisis. They charged higher rates and started giving out riskier loans. Subsequently, when asset prices started falling, defaulting started. Dilip: Mine is not a sub-prime case boss. I surely can still pay back but I certainly didn’t see such a big fall coming! I am not at risk at this point. But if it continues to fall and remain low, things could be bad. That is what makes me sleepless. I mean, hearing of lay-offs, fall in profits and production cuts because of lower off-takes, is bad news for the times to come. I mean, I could lose my job and then things could spiral out of my control! Me: Well, you maybe right, but then, what is the use worrying. We cannot add a single hair to our head by worrying about what could-be. Dilip: You are perhaps right, but then it’s a pain every time I hear the news or read the newspapers. I clearly see what could be impending despite the facts that optimistic articles and view points are also coming forth. Me: Let me tell you my view. I am not so afraid of this crisis spiraling out of control so much so as to cause the fall of nations and their economies. I also feel that a bounce back of sorts will happen much sooner than all have thought. However, it certainly is tough times ahead for the entire globe at least for some time. Few weeks back I was listening to Ban Ki-moon and that is what scared me, more than this crisis per se. Dilip: What about Ban Ki-moon? Me: He cited that things were very bad not just because of a financial crisis (which was primarily, at that point, effecting only the money markets and thus also the stock markets), but also because we are having an energy crisis, a food crisis, a climatic condition crisis, and a terrorism crisis! I mean, a leader of his stature using the word ‘crisis’ so many times in the keynote address of the UN General Assembly was scary. Dilip: Did he say that? I think the newspapers missed that. But before you go ahead, let me remind you that the crisis is not just restricted to the large financial institutions and banks. Me: Yeah. I am hearing that too. I have heard about individuals who had speculated big time on the derivatives market and have lost big time because of the sudden fall in prices of crude oil! I heard that an orthopedic surgeon speculated big time in the crude futures and made losses to the tune of 250 crores and another cartel of builders lost 500 plus crores! Dilip: My loss is so small compared to that. I am sure, if crude prices had gone up, they would have ended up with profits of thousands of crores. Greed became their nemesis. But tell me, how are you sure that things won’t remain bad for very long. Me: The clue is there in Ban Ki-moon’s speech. Dilip: What? Did he suggest any measures? Me: Yeah, you can say that. He called for Global Leadership. Dilip: What’s so extra ordinary about that? This kind of talk has been the primary motto for setting up the United Nations in the first place. Me: The extra-ordinary aspect right now is that never has the world been brought on its knees at such a level so as to make global leadership look like a possibility. Till now, the world has only been talking about it. But a crisis of this nature has made emergence of a global leader a possibility, someone who can steer the world out of this crisis. Dilip: Let him. What’s the harm!? If someone smart does arise out of this mess, what’s your problem? Let him get the systems worldwide out of their mess and let him lead us even after the mess is over. Me: I have my reasons for my reservations and fears about the rise of such a world leader. Dilip: And what are they? Why? Me: The Bible has foretold about the emergence of such a leader. And has also foretold that his rise will begin with times of peace and prosperity and perhaps a solution for all kinds of crisis existent on the globe at that time, but all his solutions will only be for a season. Dilip: See man, I am not such an enthusiast of doomsday prophecies, and I don’t understand why you are too!! Me: Call it whatever buddy. My study of the immense vastness of our universe, the mind boggling intricacies and details in everything that we see around us, including this very own bodies that we have and also the unbelievable and incredible design and structure even at the electron microscopic level has convinced me about an Intelligent Designer and God who also has an incredibly awesome purpose behind it all. Also lately, the evolving social and moral fabric of our society and the rise of cults and spirituality makes me look closely at the biblical prophecies regarding the end times. Dilip: And what does the Bible say about the “end times”? Me: The Bible talks about rise in spirituality and cults and a simultaneous rise of godlessness, increase in earthquakes, floods and famines, wars and rumors of wars, talk of peace everywhere but a lack of the same, rise in persecution of Christians, rise of the erstwhile Roman Empire in a different format, increase in knowledge and travel, times of great stress as man becomes selfish and beastly and last but not the least, a move towards a one world government. Dilip: And do you think these things are happening? Me: A closer look will show that it is happening all around us. At least the incidences are becoming more frequent or the possibilities has increased manifold. Moreover, the spurt in diverse media that are bombarding information on us and battling for our attention has made it difficult for us to track the events even as they are happening around us and so most of us are only in touch with very major happenings and that too are happening so frequently that we have become desensitized and have accepted it as a way of life. Dilip: Illustrate. Me: Don’t you see a rise in New Age religions and gurus and newer philosophies and worldviews? Reports cite that the earth is seeing more earthquakes per day than ever before. Reports of floods and famines are now coming in not just from flood and famine prone areas. Civil wars in the form of terrorism, insurgency, ethnic battles and fights for territory are not part of history text books but extracts from our dailies. There is an increasing hatred and tolerance of Christians and isolated incidents of persecutions get lost in the flood of news from world over. The rise of the European Union is the rise of the erstwhile Roman Empire. Definitely Knowledge is doubling every few months and the rise of air travel has shrunk the globe enough to be called a global village. And then, the myriad news about the ghastly and horrifying crimes that man does on his fellow human beings for trivial reasons has also desensitized us further more. The call of Ban Ki-moon for a global leadership only goes on to say that the stage is getting ready for the World Leader. Dilip: And what does the Bible say about this world leader? (I took out my pocket Bible and as I browsed through portions in Daniel and Revelations, I cited the attributes of the coming world leader!) Me: He will arise from obscurity but his rise will be great. He will physically intimidate the other leaders of his times, will have stern-faced look, and will have immense political support that primarily being the reason for his rise to power. He will be successful in everything he does but he will use cunning and deceitful ways to succeed. He will not desire women (might perhaps be a homosexual), he will be proud and boastful, and will arise to such an extent that a large majority on this earth will start worshipping him and he will claim himself to be God. He will be an excellent orator, a political intrigue and a military genius. He will also somehow perform miracles and other signs and wonders and also escape a fatal injury. He will bring peace upon the earth for about 3½ years. After which his ways will become more violent. Dilip: Why 3½ years? Where will the people of the Bible be in this time? Me: According to the Bible. 7 years is the time that this world leader who is also called the Antichrist will rule the earth. He will not be followed by any other human leader but Christ himself. 3½ years of his reign will be peace and 3½ years will be times of great distress, pestilence and trouble upon the planet and the Bible refers to it as the Great Tribulation. Dilip: All this sounds like one big fiction. What about you guys? You will endure his rule? Me: Well, there are several views about where the people of the Bible will be during this 7 year period with the most prominent and widely accepted view being that before the Antichrist is revealed, they will be taken off from the earth. Dilip: Meaning? Me: It’s called the Rapture. In a moment, millions will vanish from the earth. All who believe in Christ will be taken away in the twinkling of an eye. Dilip: Vanish? Where to? Me: To meet Christ in the skies and then to come back with him after 7 years to end the rule of the Antichrist here on earth. Dilip: Incredible. And then what will you do in the skies for 7 years? Me: Well, the faithful will be rewarded. Dilip: Crazy. I mean this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard you speak. Me: I know. I know that it sounds crazy but the way the world events are turning, I am only becoming a stronger believer of the Bible. When we look at the message of the Bible in the entirety, it will be more plausible. Dilip: Oh man, I came here to talk to you and get some peace of mind. You have only made me more muddled up with such a talk. Me: Maybe, this muddling up will only help you. Open your eyes and look around man. Its easy to assume that things have been like this for ages without thinking about our origin or our fate. What at the end of the 60-70 years that we will live on this planet? And these 60-70 years too, what is the sum total of our life here. What’s the summary of it? And then I have only told you that good times are coming back perhaps sooner than the experts are thinking. Dilip: Yeah you did tell me of good times under someone called the Antichrist! Me: Well, that is his title. His name will be something else. Dilip: Whatever! Me: Your faith on the system has not done you any good, has it? And even if the system does come out with a fool-proof strategy, the way things are in our world, we are doing everything we can to make ourselves extinct. Dilip: I agree that we have been reckless but isn’t that realization a hope in itself. Man is thinking. We will improve. But I am very skeptical about your global leader story! Me: Well, let’s see where this crisis is leading to. We continued talking for some more time but now about other things. He was feeling better now. Meanwhile someone on CNN said, “Everybody out there feels it. It’s obviously a recession. The only debate at this point is how severe, how protracted.” While the world debates and ponders about its own condition, let those who have ears hear and understand and those who have eyes, see and perceive and be prepared. Maranatha.