Preparing for the Beast: Ep 3.:The Age of Surveillance

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Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where we pray bold prayers,

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walk in bold faith, and expect a bold God to show up.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we open every episode with the same unshakable

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confidence Jabez had in 1 Chronicles 4.10.

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Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory.

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Let your hand be with me. Keep me from evil and keep me from causing pain.

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And the Bible says, God granted his request.

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So if you're here today, get ready, because we're praying big,

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believing big, and walking in everything God promised. Let's begin.

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Welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman's Podcast.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris. This is where faith meets real life,

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where we talk truth without filters and where we grow spiritually strong for

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the time that we're living in.

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We are continuing our powerful series, Preparing for the Beast,

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Spiritual Readiness in the Age of Control.

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Today's episode is titled, Episode 3, The Age of Surveillance,

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how it relates to Revelations 13 and our spiritual readiness.

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We are living in a time unlike any before it.

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Surveillance technologies are becoming more advanced, more widespread,

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and more deeply woven into everyday life.

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From government monitoring programs to corporate data tracking,

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from facial recognition to digital identification systems, we are entering what

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we call, what we can only describe as the age of surveillance.

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While many of these technologies provide convenience, safety,

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and efficiency, they also raise serious spiritual questions.

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When we open our Bibles to Revelation 13, we read about a global system that

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will one day control people's ability to buy, sell, and function in society.

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It is a system that demands compliance, allegiance, not just outwardly, but spiritually.

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Today we're going to talk about today's technology may be possibly part of the beast system.

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We're not saying that today's technology is the beast system,

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but we are recognizing that the tools and structures forming around us may be

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laying the groundwork for the kind of control scripture warns us about.

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In this episode, we are going to explore the connection between modern surveillance

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systems and the prophetic picture in Revelation 13.

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We're looking at how surveillance affects economic participation,

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how artificial intelligence shaped perception and behavior, and how these systems

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could be used to pressure conformity, and most importantly,

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how believers can remain spiritually alert,

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discerning, and faithful in the middle of it all.

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Because this is not a message about fear.

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This is a message about wisdom, readiness, and spiritual endurance.

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So take a breath, settle your heart, and let's walk through the Word of God

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together as we navigate the age of surveillance through a biblical lens.

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In today's world, we are entering an area where surveillance technologies are

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becoming more pervasive and sophisticated, from the government surveillance

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program to corporate data mining.

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It seems as though no aspect of our lives is beyond the reach of those who seek

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to control, to monitor, and to influence us.

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This is the age of surveillance and its implications are profound spiritually,

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socially, and politically.

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When we look at Revelation 13, we see a global system that exerts control over

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people's ability to function in society.

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This is a system that It demands compliance.

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From all individuals, including the ability to buy and sell,

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as we know in Revelations 13, 17.

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The surveillance system we see today could very well be precursors to the kind

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of control described in Revelations 13.

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So let's explore that intersection of surveillance technology and biblical prophecy

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and how we as believers are called to navigate this age.

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We know that we are under surveillance because we have our phones that watch us.

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We hear rumors and rumors of, you know, if you leave your camera on,

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on your computer, someone can tap into that and watch what's going on in your home.

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You know, you look on every block, there's a camera, every business, there are cameras.

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Even I have a camera for my home, right? And so there's all,

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they were under surveillance.

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We're watching, they're watching us and we are watching them.

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So let's talk about point number one, the surveillance and the mark of the beast.

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Revelation 13 speaks about the mark of the beast, a symbol of allegiance to a global system.

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The mark is placed on the right hand or forehead.

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Revelation 13, 16 tells us it required and it is required to participate in

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the economic system of the beast.

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The control of buying and selling is an essential part of the system,

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highlighting the totalitarian nature of the beast system, surveillance and economic control today.

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As we think about it, what's the best way to get control of someone is to control

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what they spend, where they go, you know, hit you where it hurts the most, right?

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So let's talk about the surveillance system.

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Economic control regarding our cashless society and our social credit system

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and our biometric identification.

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Number one, cashless society. As the world moves toward cashless systems,

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it's becoming easier for governments and corporations to track financial transactions and control.

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Who has access to goods and services?

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Cryptocurrency and digital currency are being promoted in many nations as a

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means to streamline transactions.

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Still, they are present. They present an opportunity for surveillance.

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If all money is digital, those in power can monitor and limit who has access to the economic system.

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Social credit systems. Countries like China are already experimenting with systems

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that track and evaluate an individual's

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behavior based on compliance with societal rules and regulations.

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Those who don't comply face restriction on their ability to access certain services,

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much like how the mark of the beast restricts access to buying and selling.

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Biometric identification, advanced.

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Advances in biometric technologies, such as facial recognition,

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fingerprints, and the iris scans, are becoming widespread.

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This could be used as the mark of the beast in a metaphorical sense,

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where your physical identity becomes a means of assessing society,

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whether in airports, smartphones, or credit cards.

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Your biometric data could become the key to functioning in the modern world.

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As believers, we must guard our

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hearts against being swept up by the convenience of these technologies.

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While they may promise security or ease,

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we must ask ourselves whether these systems align with God's freedom and sovereignty,

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or whether they begin to encroach upon our autonomy and reliance on God's alone.

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Wow, we have to check ourselves. The freedom we have, does it affect our freedom

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with God? It connects us more to the world.

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Revelation 13, 17 tells us.

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And it speaks to a forced allegiance to the system.

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We must be aware how these technologies may subtly pull us into false worship

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of control and security. I want to say a false sense of control and a false sense of security.

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So we have to be careful with our connection to the economic system today.

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How we feel, I'm not here to preach for or against it. just here to bring awareness

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for or against our cashless society.

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For me, I don't really carry a lot of cash. So it's slowly emerging into my

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world of a cashless society.

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You know, I just, I use cash, but I often then mostly often use my debit or credit card, right?

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And then we see here with that cryptocurrency that it seems easy,

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just push a button in a computer and you have your money instead of waiting for the check to come.

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And then our social credit system, how do they monitor, even if you have in

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your car, if you have any type of insurance and you want that discount,

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they put this thing in your car so you'll get a discount.

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If you don't use it, your insurance is almost double.

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So is that a tracking device? Is that a social credit system?

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I mean, can it be used? I mean, there's so many different things that we have,

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even a biometric identification.

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Sometimes you use your biometric identification to get into offices, to get equipment.

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You might You can use your facial scan, your thumbprint, any fingerprint, a whole palm print.

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And they have that copy of your biometric identification at your workplace.

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How do you feel about that?

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And so whether you're traveling or staying at home, you are still being tracked

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or surveilled because of what we use. We use our internet.

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We know that the computer, no matter what you do to erase it,

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that it still can hold a print to what's your favorite thing you look for.

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You notice that if there's a crime dealing with computers, they have a computer

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forensics that can actually dig into what you searched on Google three or four

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days ago, or maybe a week ago, a month ago, a year ago.

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Depends on how much you used your computer, right? And even with your credit

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cards. So just being aware that as believers, we must guard our hearts against

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being swept up by convenience of these technologies.

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While they promise security or ease, we must ask ourselves whether these systems

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align with God's freedom and sovereignty or whether they begin to encroach upon

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our autonomy and reliance on God alone.

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If we begin to count so much on the systems because of convenience, we won't pray.

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We won't ask God for help because, you know, we say he takes too long.

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How many know that he's with you right now? It don't take too long.

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It takes long for you, right?

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God can answer prayers just a wink of an eye, a blink of an eye.

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Let's go to the second part of this podcast.

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When we talk about AI and the beast system, surveillance as deception.

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In Revelation 13, 14, the false

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prophet uses deceptive signs to convince people to worship the beast.

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And my question to you is, are we looking for signs?

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Are we looking for signs? AI, artificial intelligence, and surveillance technology

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can serve as tools of this deception, influencing behavior and decision-making

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on a massive scale. Here is how.

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How does AI and surveillance influence people? Artificial intelligence-driven content.

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Like platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, utilize AI algorithm to

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deliver content to users, influencing their opinions and perceptions.

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This manipulation creates an echo chamber where people only see ideas that conform

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to their existing beliefs.

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These systems can subtly, subtly coerce individuals to adopt particular ideology

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or participate in movements align with those in power, mirroring deceptive influence of the beast.

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And, you know, people love that social media. And how influential is that when

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it comes to you following a trend?

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You know, there's a recipe on

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it. It's something about some tacos and now everybody's making the tacos.

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And I guarantee that that Chuck roast is going to go up because of that popularity,

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you know, maybe because they need us to eat more beef.

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We're not eating a lot of beef. And so people are like, whoa,

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we need to get them to eat beef.

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Same as that back in the day when we needed to drink milk. So they have the milk commercials.

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See how influential that is, how that influenced people's behavior. Let's go into.

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The next one, which is what I kind of tag way into, surveillance-driven consumerism.

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Surveillance systems collect data about individuals' preference,

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behaviors, and habits, and then push targeted advertisement for products.

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The use of artificial intelligence to predict and influence consumer's choice

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can lead to a society where individual's will is subjugated to corporate and

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governmental interests.

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The beast system, as described in Revelation 13, involves the total loss of

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personal autonomy, where every action and decision is controlled or influenced by external powers.

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Social media manipulation.

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The manipulation of people, public opinion through social media,

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often aided by artificial intelligence and data collection, creates a false reality.

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A deep fake technology and an AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated.

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People will be deceived into believing false narratives, such as the one described

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in Revelation 13 that depicts the false prophet to seek.

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So when we spend more time in the consuming of social media,

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Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and all the other social media platforms,

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we dim down our discernment where we are not able to discern. Why?

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Because we're being fed the information so it looks real.

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And so when the fake comes, you're not able to identify it or discern it because

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you spend so much time on those social media platforms and not enough time in the word.

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We know that we need to spend more time in the word. Then you won't watch.

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I turn it on. I can see, oh, that's AI. That's AI. And I'll turn it off because

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I don't want to watch the AI generate it.

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Show. I want a real show. There is another trend that's going on out there is AI gospel music.

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And even the church is being deceived. And I didn't realize that.

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I turned on the TV one day and they said that this is the most popular song

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and it's not even a real person. It's generated by AI.

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One person likes it, another person likes it, but no one does any investigation.

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And so you have to be careful.

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Believers must practice spiritual discernment and biblical wisdom as they encounter

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the influence of artificial intelligence-driven systems.

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The Bible warns of a time when deception will be widespread and false prophets will lead many astray.

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So as we navigate a world increasingly shaped by algorithm, it's essential to

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filter everything through God's truth and reject the lies and manipulations that may arise.

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Let's go to number three. surveillance and the persecution of the saints.

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Revelation 13, 7 says that the beast will appear, the beast will make war with

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the saints and overcome them. That's in the Bible.

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Why would the beast be given that much power to overcome the saints?

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I believe we shared it already regarding the social media trends.

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That people are so involved in trying to see what's new and what's coming that

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they are not taking time in the word of God. These are the saints.

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These are, he said, beasts will make war with the saints. So that means that

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there's going to be a battle, definitely a battle between the beast and you.

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And are you prepared to win this battle or will you be overcome?

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So this is so important in this series. This podcast is so different from the

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rest because I'm a teacher.

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And so I want to give you a lot of information so that you can understand that

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this can be a real thing coming soon, coming your way, coming soon like a movie,

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coming soon like a reality.

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And so I want to give you a lot of information and then we'll get back to our regular episodes.

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But sometimes I have to just take time out to explain it because we're not paying

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attention. Things are happening.

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Things are happening. I think the Lord gave me this download.

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This has been over. I think I got it probably last year, towards the end of last year.

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And so it was time to bring it out today. Right now, I think I have over 350 devotionals.

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And so, and I don't do them in order, as you can tell.

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I do them as God, as I'm led by the Holy Spirit.

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So this one is so perfect because it comes right after the No Kool-Aid,

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which wasn't a popular series, but it doesn't matter.

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I'm not doing it for popularity. I'm doing it for information so that the saints

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will not be overcome by the war that the beast is going to bring our way.

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The modern tools of surveillance may be used to monitor and persecute believers

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who refuse to conform to the beast system.

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Surveillance and religious persecution.

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Monitoring religious practices through the beast system, right?

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In some countries, governments already monitor religious practices using surveillance technologies.

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Christians in certain parts of the world are targeted and persecuted for their faith.

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And the digital system makes it easier for oppressive regimes to track and control

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the activities of believers.

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If it's happening in a place close by, don't you dare think it won't happen in your country.

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Control of religious freedoms. Why is it so important that the evil one controls

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religious freedom because he knows the power.

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He knows the real signs, the mirror, real miracles. Remember,

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he used to live in heaven.

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He saw God and Jesus interact in the Holy Spirit. He knows them personally.

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And so he knows that when you get believers to pray, that we can't squash this thing.

00:19:16.562 --> 00:19:19.562
This won't happen. This is his dream, but it's in the Bible.

00:19:19.582 --> 00:19:20.782
So we know it's going to happen.

00:19:20.942 --> 00:19:24.082
But think about believers, our power. Why?

00:19:24.382 --> 00:19:27.222
First thing they did during COVID was try to close down on the church,

00:19:27.302 --> 00:19:31.682
which they did. Put a mask on, you can't sing, can't worship. Why?

00:19:32.377 --> 00:19:38.397
Satan was a worshiper. Remember, he was in charge of the worship in the church, in the heaven.

00:19:38.557 --> 00:19:41.477
So he don't want, he know the power of that. He's seen the action.

00:19:41.697 --> 00:19:47.377
So let's continue. He's seen the power behind it. But we as believers don't know that power.

00:19:47.377 --> 00:19:51.377
So how does artificial advances, governments, organizations,

00:19:51.377 --> 00:19:56.477
may closely monitor church services, prayer meetings, Christian gatherings,

00:19:56.777 --> 00:19:59.317
viewing them as threats to the global agenda?

00:19:59.577 --> 00:20:06.037
Christians who resist the beast system may be excluded from financial systems,

00:20:06.537 --> 00:20:11.377
social services, and even basic participation in society.

00:20:12.097 --> 00:20:16.137
It's a punishment to be a Christian. We see that, right? monitoring religious

00:20:16.137 --> 00:20:20.657
practices, controlling control of religious freedom, and then here we go.

00:20:20.797 --> 00:20:24.657
We're experiencing this now, social media persecution.

00:20:25.037 --> 00:20:30.357
Christians expressing their beliefs online are increasingly being censored or

00:20:30.357 --> 00:20:32.677
silenced on social media platforms.

00:20:32.977 --> 00:20:38.357
Surveillance of online activities and the rise of canceled culture can lead

00:20:38.357 --> 00:20:43.477
to persecution or isolation from those who speak out against the prevailing

00:20:43.477 --> 00:20:46.817
ideology of the beast system.

00:20:46.977 --> 00:20:53.837
We are reminded in Revelation 13 to endure in faith, even in the face of persecution.

00:20:54.217 --> 00:20:58.377
The technologies of surveillance may one day be used to track,

00:20:58.577 --> 00:21:03.157
target, and isolate believers, but we are called to stand firm in our faith.

00:21:03.577 --> 00:21:09.197
God's presence and strength are with us, even in the most oppressive environment.

00:21:09.970 --> 00:21:14.910
And we can trust in his ultimate victory over the beast system.

00:21:15.270 --> 00:21:21.050
And since I recently read the book of Daniel, that's a prime example of how

00:21:21.050 --> 00:21:23.470
Daniel survived that system.

00:21:23.690 --> 00:21:28.990
He's just an example of how he prayed, how he fasted, how God gave him dreams,

00:21:29.250 --> 00:21:32.170
how God gave him vision, how God visited him.

00:21:32.650 --> 00:21:36.710
Angelic activity and supernatural activity was all around him.

00:21:36.930 --> 00:21:40.150
He did not have to ask for that. It was a given.

00:21:40.370 --> 00:21:46.210
It's part of our inheritance as a Christian, as believers, according to Psalms 91.

00:21:46.590 --> 00:21:52.110
He gives us angels that aren't kept about us. He has provided all that we need to be successful.

00:21:52.470 --> 00:21:58.410
Let's go to number four, the global impact of surveillance and its spiritual significance.

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The interconnectedness of the digital age means surveillance is no longer a

00:22:04.750 --> 00:22:08.030
localized issue, but a global phenomenon.

00:22:08.350 --> 00:22:10.850
Artificial intelligence, biometric

00:22:10.850 --> 00:22:16.150
data, and surveillance systems are not confined to any one religion.

00:22:16.330 --> 00:22:19.450
They are tools being used globally.

00:22:19.730 --> 00:22:21.990
Global cooperation and surveillance.

00:22:22.370 --> 00:22:28.050
Nations, corporations, and international organizations are increasingly collaborating

00:22:28.050 --> 00:22:34.230
to monitor populations and develop systems that track individual behavior,

00:22:34.230 --> 00:22:37.050
interactions and financial transactions.

00:22:37.370 --> 00:22:45.190
This global system of control is reminiscent of the beast system that will unite

00:22:45.190 --> 00:22:47.010
the world under one banner.

00:22:47.150 --> 00:22:52.650
So we see now that with internet and with artificial intelligence and with social

00:22:52.650 --> 00:22:56.590
media too, we can connect to people around the world.

00:22:56.770 --> 00:23:02.110
It is important in the beast system that there is a connection because that's

00:23:02.110 --> 00:23:03.190
not the power he's seeking.

00:23:03.330 --> 00:23:06.470
He wants to seek whom he can destroy, right?

00:23:06.750 --> 00:23:12.810
And so that means it needs to be more than one nation. And so when you're interconnected like that,

00:23:13.167 --> 00:23:18.867
He can just do one thing and it affects the whole world instead of just one part of the world.

00:23:19.527 --> 00:23:24.387
Interconnectedness and conformity with the rise of global surveillance and artificial

00:23:24.387 --> 00:23:28.627
intelligence, there is also a growing pressure for uniformity,

00:23:28.967 --> 00:23:35.287
a world where everyone thinks, acts, and behaves in a way that conforms to the global system.

00:23:35.447 --> 00:23:40.627
This evokes the mark of the beast, which forces people to choose either to submit

00:23:40.627 --> 00:23:43.327
to the system or face persecution.

00:23:43.587 --> 00:23:45.487
As the world becomes more interconnected,

00:23:45.487 --> 00:23:49.747
we must resist the pressure to conform to the world's ways.

00:23:49.947 --> 00:23:55.167
The call to holiness and faithfulness to God becomes all the more important.

00:23:55.467 --> 00:24:01.387
We must not be conformed to this world, Romans 12, 2, but instead remain transformed

00:24:01.387 --> 00:24:08.827
by the renewing of our mind. Our allegiance is to Christ, and he alone is our true authority.

00:24:09.347 --> 00:24:13.227
Navigating the age of surveillance with wisdom for tomorrow.

00:24:13.607 --> 00:24:18.087
That's the conclusion. The age of surveillance is here, and as believers,

00:24:18.367 --> 00:24:23.727
we are called to navigate this age with wisdom, discernment, and endurance.

00:24:24.127 --> 00:24:29.907
The system of control described in Revelation 13 already beginning to take shape.

00:24:29.907 --> 00:24:35.947
While technology itself is not inherently evil, we must be aware of how it is

00:24:35.947 --> 00:24:39.767
being used to manipulate, deceive, and control people.

00:24:39.947 --> 00:24:44.467
Our spiritual readiness for the future depends on our ability to discern the

00:24:44.467 --> 00:24:51.087
signs of the time, stand firm in our faith, and resist the temptation to conform to the world system.

00:24:51.407 --> 00:24:55.967
God's kingdom is not a kingdom of control and surveillance, but a kingdom of

00:24:55.967 --> 00:24:57.807
freedom and truth in Christ.

00:24:57.807 --> 00:25:02.707
So let us walk forward with confidence, knowing that the Lord is our refuge

00:25:02.707 --> 00:25:08.547
in times of trouble, and he will overcome the world.

00:25:08.727 --> 00:25:11.047
And that concludes episode three.

00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:15.279
Episode 4 title is

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:19.279
Bitcoins and the Rise of a Cashless Society

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:26.379
Biblical Perspective and Spiritual Readiness So come ready to understand this

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:32.959
popular thing called the Bitcoin and how that may be possibly part of the system

00:25:32.959 --> 00:25:37.299
of the beast Until next time, I'll see you on the next episode.

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:52.620
Family, thank you for spending this time with me today. To every woman listening

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:58.400
who has ever felt hidden, overlooked, or pushed aside, I want you to hear me clearly.

00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:01.580
God has not forgotten you, and neither have I.

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:07.040
That's why I moved everything to our new home on pod page, so you would have

00:26:07.040 --> 00:26:10.620
one place to connect with me, read the devotionals, listen to the podcast,

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.840
and reach out whenever you need to.

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:17.840
If you want to leave me a message, send an email, or simply find encouragement,

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:21.520
it's all there at DiaryOfABlackWomanLLC.com.

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:25.700
And if this podcast has blessed you and you want to support the work I'm doing,

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:29.560
you'll find a Buy Me, a Ko-fi link on the site as well.

00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:33.940
No pressure, just love and community. Before we leave, I want to speak the word

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:36.960
that I close with every time because somebody needs this reminder today.

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:39.900
It comes from Jeremiah 29, 11, 14.

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:44.680
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:48.840
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, then you will call upon

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:52.020
me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:55.860
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

00:26:56.020 --> 00:26:59.500
I will be found by you, declares the Lord.

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:04.380
Beloved, God has a plan for your life, a real one, a good one,

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:09.340
and as long as you keep seeking him, you will find him even from the hidden places.

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:12.940
I love you. I'm praying for you and I'll meet you next time.