Fading Memories of Brick and Mortars in America
Signs of the times
Have you noticed, or has the convenience of modern living distracted you from the fact that many American staples are passing away aka going out of business? Many concede, “That is just the way of a capitalist society, competition will always murder hopes and dreams. In 1957, 33-year-old Jack A. Robinson founded his first Perry Drug Store in Pontiac, MI. The chain grew rapidly in Metro Detroit being the dominant retail drug store in the region. I was very familiar with the stores because they served as our local pharmacy and spot to get greeting cards. I can still hear my mom saying to us “I have to go pick up my prescription from Perry’s”. One day when I was around twelve, we went to our local Perry’s (as many people called it” and it was completely re-branded, Rite Aid. I was a kid. I didn’t understand why they needed to change their name. It seemed like the same store and everyone was used to the name. I didn’t understand capitalism and I didn’t understand how hard it can be to manage a legacy that is bigger than you. Perry’s had some challenges going into the 1980s which led to the acquisition of the company by Rite Aid in the mid-90s. Arbor Drug Store another popular Michigan pharmacy chain was also acquired and rebranded to CVS suffering the same fate. I didn’t see it then, but I see it now that the age of family-owned drug stores was fading in the 90s as bigger conglomerate chains monopolized that market. The trickery of America is that we are supposed to be anti-trust and monopoly. For most of my life, Rite Aid stores have sat on the same corners throughout Metro Detroit. My local Rite Aid store, or soon-to-be, was my favorite because my kids love walking there and getting snacks and other things for the house. The staff has been the same with slight changes for years. I noticed a few months back their store was having issues keeping things stocked. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago I learned that the Michigan and Ohio stores were being closed due to bankruptcy. One of my favorite clerks told me that Walgreens had purchased the pharmacy, but the store is closing in late September 2024. I was sad for the workers who were all going to be displaced, but I wasn’t shocked. “Another American brick and mortar BITES the dust”, I thought. In the age of BIG PHARMA, it was expected.
Visits to the store for sales are not the same these days. Rite Aid was my post-holiday go-to because all the over-priced pointless trinkets and toys my kids would enjoy for 5-10 minutes and forget about were on sale. Now everything is on sale because they are closing. We went to the store yesterday to get some cleaning supplies and my ten-year-old says “Mommy, I am sad that we won’t have our Rite Aid anymore.” I can imagine her sentiments were similar to when I first lost my Perry Drug Store or Montgomery Wards. As we walked the store, my mood was somber. The music playing as we scanned the empty or nearly empty aisles of the store sent a shock of reality through my soul, “America is dying, and her end is near.” I have seen many businesses come and go in just my time. K-Mart, Winkleman’s, Radio Shack. I am shocked to see the Ace Hardware store in town still hanging on, but I know the day might be coming. I knew it was the beginning of the end for Metro Detroit when major Fortune 500 companies began offshoring or relocating their headquarters to other states. Brick and mortars in America have slowly been phased out over the decades. I can’t blame it all on capitalism. Future generations have been in a way too convenienced.
THE END IS NEAR for this nation and I don’t say this to be fearful, more realistic of what is happening in this nation. We are in a new age where humans have to either get back to some form of family gathering and community or get used to being more isolated by technological conveniences. When Toys R Us went out of business, I was sad and mad at myself. I was part of the problem for the company as my obsession with Amazon and its convenience grew. Online shopping and ordering were bound to be the ultimate death for many brick-and-mortar stores that didn’t conform to their distribution online. Many who eventually caught up might have hurt themselves by not getting on the online distribution train early. If you need to go down memory lane, check out this list of defunct US companies.
Nothing about the US economy screams “A promising future” and it is clear that the people running the show do not care. They are consumed with how to preserve their legacy of wealth as economies everywhere are short-squeezed by perpetuated greed, nonsense, and conflict. With all the wars the US has been involved with over the decades, it’s shady that this nation is in so much debt, and supposedly war brings prosperity. Going from $3 Trillion in debt in the early 90s to $35 Trillion as of 2024 is not winning for the generation of Americans who have to labor to pay down such debt and essentially be slaves to the system and none of the politicians are drilling on these talking points, because both will add to the debt. I like to run on cautious optimism about most things, but when it comes to the US economy, It is hard. I need to see more patterns of promise which neither presidential hopeful makes me optimistic about. Both are boasting about bad long-term economic policies and selling fluff dreams to the public. I never felt so bad for people for people told what they want and even don’t want to hear.
As I see hopes and dreams fading into a dark place, I can’t help but explore the deeper meanings of things as they relate to spiritual logic but also patterns of history. For an understanding of what I mean, I encourage you all to explore a documentary by Ray Dalio “The Changing World Order” and then explore Daniel’s and John’s prophecy in the Bible. Daniel’s prophecy outlines the cycles of power from the time of the Babylonian Empire down the to Second Beast (America and Israel).
The collapse of America is not just about economic change as many see it, it is also an indicator of the Biblical timeline of mankind. We are the “Feet Mixed with Iron and Clay”. Europe is not the only nation that encompasses the “Feet of Iron and Clay” the Clay is Israel and America.
The first “Great Reset” in mankind’s history was the flood of Noah’s day also known as “Prehistoric times.” Mankind was distracted, much like today. Ray Dalio thinks there is going to be a reset and the economic systems in America will fall to make way for a new world power. He’s coming from an investor and economic point of view about Satan’s collapsing world. Although his views look bleak for the US, there is still a shadow of hope he presents in the film that is nothing more than that, A HOPE amid chaos with intention and loss of control. If you look at his argument in the film from a spiritual lens, you may see a different view of where the world is heading and perhaps you may have more hope in the divine promises outlined in the Bible instead of the empty promises of men on earth who speak with the authority of the Dragon who governs the “Second Beast”. The only power left to rise in mankind’s history and this system is the Anti-Christ. This individual will rise after the Second Beast falls and there will be no Kingdoms of the world just one order under him. For him to rise, there must be a Global war to cripple the world economies. This is what I see as inevitable as I prepare myself for a war beyond the sight of mankind. Yes, I believe in the “Great Day of Our Lord” Yahuah led by his son and the King Yahusha (Jesus). Many things will continue to get dark as Satan’s manifestation will be everywhere.
My son recently asked me to buy him some “Dragon Takis”. Takis are a corn chip much like Doritos but are curled up like little fries. They come in different southwestern flavors. I never paid attention to the name meaning of products on the shelf until recently when a friend heightened my consciousness of certain subliminal of everyday popular products. I recall a few years back one of the modern Hip Hop harlots Cardi B released a single called ‘Taki Taki’. This led me to search for the meaning of the word to figure out why a chip brand would need to symbolize the Dragon. Taki means “to tow with a line, entice, challenge, begin or continue a speech, recite, make a speech.” It may seem mundane, but Satan is on a mission to manifest. The sacrilegious and open ritual display at the 2024 Olympics is a confirmation of how Satan is inspiring mankind to manifest his spirit, normalize, and accept it. Many believe that the celebration of pride is an innocent display of being proud to live a lifestyle that God Almighty hates, and even encourage people to ally to profit from the movement. Many so-called believers with a prosperity mindset have no problem demonizing others for not doing the same. Many of these modern Nicolations have a spirit of profit over principles, which will make them leverageable to the anti-Christ to TAKI believers to submit to his false works and power as a God.
Many think the accounts in the ancient text are just stories, but so many signs in the world point to a grand climax. There are systems already in place to gatekeep success and to short-squeeze working people from achieving an illusion of a dream that has been possible for a few over the centuries and even less possible for future generations today. Eventually, populations around the world will be subjected to Marxist-type systems of control and the system will demand worship of the Beast. This worship will come in many forms, from nationalist pride, and alliance to anti-christ movements, service to the Beast (even against the will), and overt worship and praise of the individual who will assume world control in these days. Equity and inclusion are illusions as there will be none. AI systems are in place and what will become of the global monetary system is an educated guess at this point, but logical people with discernment know. The next phase is going to be a war marked by a figure that everyone in the world will come to love because he will come with the illusion of bringing PEACE AND SECURITY TO THE WORLD. There will be an illusion of “Peace in the Middle East” and economic stability. Many will forget the chaos because they will benefit from being beneficiaries of the Beast. God’s people will be persecuted at this point even more because we will refuse to normalize the behaviors and ideas that the Beast will spread throughout the world. We will not buy into the illusions of power, but this person will have technology for their manipulations among men.
In these last days, I encourage all to fully understand the Word of God and Bible prophecies. There will come a time when we will not be able to exchange ideas of the Word, and preaching about his laws and covenant will stop. Now is the time to be a disciple of the King, Yahusha (Jesus) the greatest teacher who ever lived, and help others come to an understanding about what is happening on earth. Christ came to make disciples of all kinds, to preach the Good News of God’s Kingdom, before the end befalls mankind. Elder John told us in his Revelation to “watch for the signs”. In addition to disciples, we are to serve as watchmen. Understanding how Satan’s manipulative works, even in aspects of faith will help you to be fully equipped to fulfill your ministry.
May the God of Abraham Yahuah give you strength and direction in these trying times.
Prayers up!
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