I was just reading an article in the New York Times called "Egypt Leaders   
   Found 'Off' Switch for Internet". It concerns how the government of former   
   Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was able to cut off the country from the   
   global Internet -- and for the most part, even from Internet networks within   
   the country -- on January 28th, as major public protests erupted in Tahrir   
   Square in Cairo, and in other major cities throughout Egypt.   
      
   The realization that a government possesses the capability to do this is   
   scary. In his famous novel "1984", British author George Orwell's "Big   
   Brother" government possessed the ability to control and manipulate   
   information; they were historical revisionists; but what Hosni Mubarak's   
   government did goes way beyond that. They didn't just manipulate   
   information, rather, they just about completely cut off the flow of Internet   
   information; not in a matter of days or weeks, but in a matter of only a few   
   hours.   
      
   What makes this troubling is the fact that according to the article, there   
   are other countries -- such as China, Nepal, some North African countries,   
   and certain Middle Eastern countries -- which are believed to possess the   
   very same ability. In fact, while it is not plainly stated in the article, I   
   would think that any technologically-advanced country could acquire this   
   very same capability if it really wanted to. Perhaps such government control   
   of the Internet already exists in many more countries, but it just isn't   
   something that is talked about openly. Maybe we should start a popular   
   uprising in our own country and see what happens. That would be one sure way   
   to find out. :)   
      
   In contemplating these recent events in Egypt, one can only wonder about   
   what would potentially happen if a Global Government were to arise, headed   
   by a ruthless dictator who would demand absolute control of the world's   
   telecommunication and computer networks. Considering how interconnected we   
   all are now, for business, for news, for education, for entertainment, and   
   for everything in between, it isn't a pretty thought. If such a world   
   dictator possessed the ability to punish a defiant country by totally   
   cutting it off from the global financial and communication system, it would   
   be absolutely devastating for that country. Such a country wouldn't be able   
   to survive for very long, thanks to the current march towards complete   
   globalization.   
      
   If you don't yet get the picture, then consider a scenario like the   
   following where economic activity is totally controlled by just such a   
   dictator:   
      
   "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to   
   receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man   
   might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or   
   the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding   
   count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number   
   is Six hundred threescore and six."   
   Revelation 13:16-18, KJV   
      
   It certainly seems like God has a bird's-eye view of the situation. Maybe we   
   should pay attention.   
      
      
      
   Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23   
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