There's something you've gotta like about Alessio Rastani!
Indeed, a market downturn can be the greatest opportunity for someone who sees the right strategy. Hedging, government securities, perhaps derivatives too - but I especially concur with Rastani's advice to strengthen one's assets. It's refreshing when someone can see both sides, instead of seeing only the other side.
Several years ago, right before the Global Financial Crisis hit, many preachers were prophesying about a ''great wealth transfer" that was allegedly about to take place from the wicked to the righteous. But today some of those same preachers are preaching doomsday. I prefer it when someone doesn't merely reflect the mood of the media, but can see the possibilities more objectively.
So, good on Rastani! Some are calling him all sorts of bad names, but others are calling him sensible. He seems to have both eyes open - seeing Europe's problems with one eye, yet seeing the possibilities with the other. See video.
I know it's pretty boring not to make sensational claims - but I personally feel it's not possible to predict exactly what is going to happen. Everyone agrees America's economy has seen some serious downturns in recent years. But that doesn't mean America's economy is the worst in the world. Far from it! I do think America and Europe could be headed for some more difficult times ahead. But even if the worst-case scenario does end-up happening, it won't necessarily mean the end of the world. It could - or it might not.
History has seen worse than this before, yet human civilization went on. This is not even a real crisis, if you know what I mean. A real crisis is when the ground cannot produce - due to fire, flood, famine, drought, earthquake, or war. The current global financial crisis is not caused by any of those things - it ism't even affecting any of those things. It's only about credit. So even if worse comes to worst, people will still be able to grow food - especially in America.
It wouldn't necessarily mean that the Antichrist must emerge in our generation. He could - or he might not (assuming the futurist eschatological-model). There was once a time when America didn't even exist - yet believe it or not, the Antichrist didn't rise in those days. Europe also has seen worse times - yet the Antichrist did not emerge in those days. Previous generations have seen currency crashes, world wars and empires unite - but it came and went in cycles while human civilization went on. Human civilization could survive a worst-case scenario in our generation too.
Even in the futurist model of eschatology itself, Antichrist cannot actually arise until the restrainer is removed - and it seems futurists can't agree on who or what the restrainer is. So since they don't seem to know for sure whether the restrainer is currently being removed, it must be even more difficult for them to conclude that the Antichrist must already be alive.
Also in the futurist model, the rise of the beast is preceded by a few years of worldwide earthquakes, wars, and cosmic upheaval affecting a full third of the world's oceans and water. The rise of the beast was not preceded by mere credit crisis.
But it's possible those passages of Scripture could have a different application. The end of the world can happen only when God wills - and I don't think He's telling us when it will be.
That's why evangelists are out there getting souls ready - because the end could come even sooner than many end-times preachers may be thinking.
"The Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not," said Jesus.
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