改變的風1
有些範例可以揭示歷史軌跡的原因、我們所處的時間，以及我們將走向何處。啟示錄中有一段很棒的範例：
此後，我看見四位天使站在地的四角，執掌地上四方的風，叫風不吹在地上、海上，和樹上（啟示錄7:1）。
風在文學和聖經上經常指著改變，就像「改變的風」。我們不斷聽到一個陳述，是關於新冠病毒如何帶來改變，為我們生活方式帶出「新的基準」。這是真實的，但我們需要瞭解這帶來什麼樣的改變，以及此改變將引至的方向。
在啟示錄七章1節提到「地上四方的風」，就是塑造文明的四股力量，這是世界的力量，不是天上的，因此稱為「地上四方的風」。這些風主導著世界歷史的四個主要時期，今日它們是掌舵世界的主要勢力，分別是：軍事力量、宗教力量、政治力量，以及經濟力量。
這四股力量依次展開，控制著文明的基本結構。軍事力量是這四股力量的第一個，它是有記載歷史第一個紀元的起源─這是征服者的時代。這個時期從有記載的歷史開始，一直延續到基督時期之後不久。在此期間，軍事領袖是世界上最有權勢的人，軍事上的征服為文明帶來最大的改變。
下一個偉大文明紀元是由宗教力量支配；再一次，「地上四方的風」不是天上的風，更多指著由人、由地上所興起的宗教。這些宗教勢力包括制度化基督教、伊斯蘭教、印度教和佛教等。此宗教時期大約從第三世紀到公元1600年間，在此期間，宗教領袖是世界上最有權勢的人，軍事服在宗教勢力之下。在此期間大部分的戰爭都是宗教衝突所引起的。
下一個文明紀元的興起是當政治成為改變的最強大勢力，此時期始於公元1200年間簽署大憲章，持續到二十世紀中期。在此期間政治的改變成為文明的主要改變動力，新的政府形式經由社會動亂產生，例如法國革命、美國革命，以及俄國革命。在此期間，最有權勢的人是政治領袖，而宗教與軍事力量都服在政治勢力之下。在這時期，雖然政治勢力掌權，仍有零星的宗教戰爭，還有征服性的戰爭。但此時期的重大衝突和文明改革幾乎都出於政治衝突。
在每一個時期之間的過渡時期往往是漸進式的，有時會橫跨好幾世紀。這些時期會有重疊，當一個新時期興起，上一個勢力會持續發揮影響，但支配權會逐漸轉移到新的勢力。從十九世紀末到二十世紀中，我們開始轉換到第四個主要文明紀元─是由經濟力量支配。
俄國革命同時是一場政治與經濟革命，正如馬克斯主義同時是政治和經濟哲學。二次世界大戰同時是政治與經濟戰爭，日本攻打美國，便是因為他們認為美國的經濟禁運政策，是一種對抗他們的「戰爭行動」。這場衝突是列國為迎接即將到來的時期，而經濟將成為全世界主要的支配力量。
「冷戰」是很真實的一場戰爭，也是第一場世界經濟大戰，只有涉及很小的軍事行動。雖然政治、宗教和軍事力量仍是主要勢力，但冷戰卻不同於任何先前的衝突，因為它主要是以經濟武器來抗爭，例如銀行、貨幣、國際制裁和貿易政策。然而，事實證明，這些經濟武器所帶來的地緣政治變化，與先前其他勢力所取得的成就一樣大。
邱吉爾預先看見此文明衝突會以經濟為基礎。他也預先看見西方可能「不費一顆子彈」就能贏得戰爭，因為極權的馬克斯主義經濟毫無生產力，完全無法與西方優越的自由市場競爭。雷根總統欣然接受邱吉爾的經濟對抗策略，不費一顆子彈鐵幕便倒塌了。
克勞塞維茲（Clausewitz）是拿破崙戰爭中的一位軍官，他寫了一本名著「戰爭論」（On War），書中提到戰爭的開打是出於企圖將其政治意願強加於其他國家。當時的情況的確是如此，因為他是在政治時代中期寫這本書的。若是提早幾世紀，他可能會說戰爭是出於企圖將其宗教意願強加於其他國家。他若現在寫這本書，他會說戰爭是出於企圖將其經濟意願強加於其他國家。
「地上四方的風」的每一股風仍是改變我們世界的主要力量，但目前所支配的風是經濟勢力，今日最有權勢的領袖是經濟領袖。儘管媒體的注意力多半停留在政治領袖身上，但「君權背後的力量」是經濟力量。瞭解此對於瞭解我們所處的時候是很重要的，當我們開始瞭解這些時候，便開始看見我們已經進入另一場世界經濟大戰。
此經濟大戰很可能會帶來更具顛覆性的改變和毀滅，勝過二次大戰所造成的。基本的軍事教義是你無法打敗看不見的敵人，很少的政治領袖瞭解今日正在塑造我們世界的真實力量，所以他們很容易受其操縱和利用。
在我們認出敵人後，一定要有威脅評估，不僅是為了確定我們的敵人是誰，更要確定他們的能力和我們的防禦能力。下一個擊敗敵人的關鍵步驟是認識戰場。地理因素可能是戰鬥中的主要因素，因為地理因素可以增強或抵消你或敵人軍力和武器的效力。另外還有宗教、政治和經濟「地理」或戰場，也可以做同樣的事。
目前此世界經濟大戰的主要雙方，一方是想要世界順應他們想法的全球化主義者，兩大主要勢力分別是馬克斯主義和激進的伊斯蘭教。另一方則是由在列國中尋求自由與獨立的人所組成，因此提倡國家主義。
在此衝突的二方都尋求合一，只不過是在非常不同的本質上合一。全球主義者想要的是一致性的合一，由極權主義控制來強制執行，而那些追求自由的人想要的是多元性的合一，因為每個國家和文化都有他們的完整性，都保有其文化遺產。
當我們正處在「地上四方的風」都在吹起的時候，但經濟力量是最主導的勢力，要贏得我們時代的重大衝突，我們必須瞭解正在開打的經濟戰場。新冠疫情不僅是一種生化攻擊，更是大規模毀滅的生化和經濟武器。
我們的領導人花了近二年的時間才開始瞭解新冠病毒的來源，主要因為他們是政治人物，思維仍停留在政治時期。此說法的影響是如此嚴重，以至於幾乎沒有人願意將其視為攻擊，儘管從一開始就證明了這一點。如果我們沒有看見此敵人，面對這樣的威脅，我們將繼續軟弱下去，甚至更糟。
此攻擊來自中國，現在是全世界馬克斯主義的首都，它正在導致與馬克思主義的終極對抗。目前，中國政府是由強硬的馬克思主義者掌控，他們的終極目標是毀滅所有形式的民主政府。他們認同馬克思和所有馬克思主義者，從一開始就是眾所皆知的社會主義─社會主義無法與自由共存，它無法與自由市場競爭。中國前任溫和的領導階層只釋放了一點自由在他們的經濟上，就變得如此強大，現在已經威脅到中國共產黨的極權統治，共產黨會不顧一切地對所有它認為的威脅做出反應和猛烈攻擊。
中國用新冠病毒攻擊美國和世界，此攻擊比珍珠港和世貿大樓的攻擊更甚。我們政府有些人從一開始就知道這是一個攻擊，並做出公開陳述。其他的人，主要是那些與中國有密切經濟往來的人，駁斥了這說法，但證據太過明顯，不能掩蓋太久。這個問題遲早會讓所有人都明白，以至於需要做出回應。無論我們是否夠聰明與其搏鬥，來贏得此經濟上的衝突，我們都越來越接近與馬克思主義進行最終對抗的地步。
～摘錄美國作家─泰瑞司·麥肯南（Terence McKenna）～
問題不在於找到答案，而是面對答案。
～摘錄美國電腦科學家─吉姆.霍寧（Jim Horning）～
明智的判斷來自經驗，而經驗往往源自錯誤的判斷。
(摘自喬納Heritage Briefs 68, 2021)
The Wind of Change— Heritage Brief 68
There are paradigms that can reveal the reasons for the trajectory of history, the times that we are in, and where we are headed. There is a remarkable one in the Book of Revelation:
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth...” (Revelation 7:1).
Winds often speak of change in literature and biblical symbolism, as in “the winds of change.” One of the statements we have heard repeated regarding the coronavirus is how it has brought change and “new norms” for our lifestyle. This is true, but we need to understand what change this brought about, and what this change will lead to.
These “four winds of the earth” mentioned in Revelation 7:1 are the four great powers that shaped earth’s major civilizations. These are worldly powers, “winds of the earth,” not heaven. Each of these winds dominated one of the four major ages of world history, and now they are the major forces steering the world today. These powers are Military, Religious, Political, and Economic.
These four powers unfolded in this order to control the basic construction of civilization. Military power was the first of these four, and it was the origin of the first epoch of recorded history—the age of the conquerors. This period extended from the beginning of recorded history to a few centuries after the time of Christ. During this age Military leaders were the most powerful men in the world, and Military conquests brought about the greatest changes to civilization.
The next major epoch was dominated by Religion. Again, this is a “wind of the earth,” not of heaven, and speaks more of the religions that emerged from men—from the earth—and not from above. These would include institutional Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. This age when Religious power became the dominant force of change in civilization extended from about the 3rd century A.D. into the 1600s. During this period Religious leaders were the most powerful men in the world, and the Military became subservient to the Religious powers. Most wars during this period were Religious conflicts.
The next major epoch was the age of Politics. This period began with the signing of the Magna Carta that began to limit imperial power and continued into the 20th century. During this period Political changes became the primary change agent in the world, and new forms of government were born through great social upheavals such as the French, American, and Bolshevik revolutions. During this period the most powerful influencers were Political leaders, and both the Religious and Military powers became subservient to Political powers.
In this age when Political power was dominant there were still some Religious wars, and wars of conquest, but the great conflicts and the great changes to civilization during this time were mostly Political.
The transitions between these ages were usually gradual, sometimes spanning centuries. These ages overlapped, and when a new age emerged the previous ones continued to exert influence, but the dominance gradually shifted to the new. In the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th century we began to shift into the fourth great civilizational epoch—the age that would be dominated by Economic power.
The Bolshevik Revolution was both a Political and an Economic revolution, as Marxism is both a Political and Economic philosophy. WW II was both a Political and an Economic war. For example, Japan attacked America because they considered the U.S. economic embargo an “act of war” against them. This conflict was a great repositioning of the nations in preparation for the coming age when Economics would be the dominant force in the world.
The “Cold War” was a very real war, but it was an Economic war, and involved only very minor Military action. Though Political, Religious, and the Military forces remained influential as great powers of the earth, the Cold War was different than any previous conflict because it was primarily fought with Economic weapons such as banks, currencies, sanctions, and trade policies. Yet, the geopolitical changes brought about by these Economic weapons proved as great as any accomplished before by the other powers.
Winston Churchill had remarkably foreseen this great clash within civilization based mostly on conflicting Economics. He also foresaw that it could be won “without a shot being fired” by the West using its superior Free Market Economic policies in its confrontation with totalitarian Marxism that was so counter to productivity. President Reagan embraced Churchill’s strategy of Economic confrontation, and the Iron Curtain soon crumbled without a major Military battle.
Clausewitz, an officer in the Napoleonic wars, wrote in his classic book, On War, that wars were fought by nations seeking to impose their Political will on other nations. This was true at that time because he wrote this in the middle of the age of Politics. If he had written this a couple of centuries before, he would likely have said that war was an attempt for a nation to impose its Religious will on others. If he were writing now he would say that wars were a nation’s attempt to impose its Economic will on others.
Each of these basic “winds of the earth” are still the major earthly powers changing our world, but the dominant one now is Economic power. The most powerful leaders today are Economic leaders. Even though the attention of the media remains mostly on Political leaders, the “power behind the throne” is Economic power. Understanding this is a factor that is crucial for understanding our times. When we see this, we also begin to see that we are already well into an Economic World War.
This Economic war has the power to bring about even more radical change and destruction than World War II did. It is basic Military doctrine that you cannot defeat an enemy you do not see. Few Political leaders understand the real power that is shaping our world today, and so they are easily manipulated and used by it.
After we recognize the enemy, there must be a threat assessment to determine not just who they are, but their capabilities and our own defenses against them. The next crucial step in defeating an enemy is to know the battlefield. Geography can be a major factor in a Military battle, as it can augment or neutralize the effect of your weapons, or those of your foe. There are also Religious, Political, and Economic “geographies,” or fields of battle, that can do the same.
The two major sides in this Economic World War are the globalists who are seeking a world conformity to their ideals, the two major ones being Marxism and radical Islam, and the other side is composed of those who seek freedom and independence among nations, and therefore promote nationalism.
Both sides in this conflict are seeking unity, but unity of a very different nature. The globalists seek a unity of conformity, enforced by totalitarian control, while those seeking freedom pursue a unity of diversity, where every nation and culture has their integrity and heritage preserved.
As we are in the time when all four of the “winds of the earth” are blowing at the same time, but Economic power is the most dominant, to win the major conflicts of our time we must understand the Economic battlefield they are being fought on. The coronavirus pandemic was not just a biological attack; it was both a biological and Economic weapon of mass destruction.
It has taken our leaders nearly two years to just begin to understand the origins of the coronavirus, mostly because they are politicians still moored in the Political Age thinking. The implications of this are so grave that hardly anyone wanted to see this as an attack, though the evidence of this was quite clear from the beginning. If we do not see this enemy, and confront the threat, we will remain vulnerable to more of the same, or even worse.
This attack came from China, now the capital of world Marxism, and it is leading to an ultimate confrontation with Marxism. Presently, the Chinese government is controlled by hardline Marxists whose ultimate goal is the destruction of all forms of democratic government. They are in agreement with what Marx and what all true Marxists have known from the beginning of socialism—socialism cannot coexist with freedom and it cannot compete with the free market. The little freedom that the previous moderate leadership of China released into their economy has become so powerful that it is now threatening the totalitarian control of the Chinese Communist Party, which is desperately reacting to and lashing out against all that it perceives to be threats.
The Covid-19 attack on the U.S. and the world by China was an attack far worse than Pearl Harbor or the Twin Towers. Some in our government knew this was an attack from the beginning, and made public statements about it. Others, mostly those with strong Economic ties to China, refuted this, but the evidence is too obvious to stay buried for long. Sooner or later the issue will be so clear to all that a response will be necessary. Whether we are wise enough to fight and win this conflict Economically, or whether it degenerates into a Military conflict is yet to be determined, but we are approaching the point where an ultimate confrontation with Marxism is near.
The problem is not to find the answer; it's to face the answer. ~Terence McKenna
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. ~Jim Horning