My mother tormented us as children with visions of the Antichrist, a charismatic leader who will rise out of the political chaos that’s going to engulf the world any minute now. Effective and attractive, people will flock to him as they desperately seek some sort of direction out of the mire.

But as soon as he’s established himself he’ll turn into one of the most formidable dictators of all time, forcing everyone to have the ‘mark of the beast’ on their forehead or wrist, otherwise they won’t have access to food, money, healthcare or any other essentials for life.

We argued that after Hitler and Stalin, surely the world would not allow another dictator like that. But her answer was always the same – look for the signs. When the horsemen of the Apocalypse are unleashed, those with eyes will see the unfolding situation

– the intense change in the weather. Horrendous heatwaves, ferocious floods, tremendous tornadoes. Tsunamis, earthquakes, and drought will increase dramatically resulting in disease and illnesses on a huge scale. An uncontrolled pandemic.

– which will interrupt the food chain causing shortages and famine

– and civil unrest as people struggle to survive

– while the useless politicians run around like headless chickens blaming everyone except their own incompetence.

Biblical fantasy, I hear you mutter. But as I’m sitting here watching the World News – the coronous virus running wild, the Amazon on fire, Russian forests blazing out of control, dreadful floods cascading down through India, the worst tornadoes in history tearing through the American coastline, the North Pole melting, the seas rising, the seas choking with plastic rubbish, suicide bombs at polling stations in the middle east, schoolchildren kidnapped in droves in Africa, Christians being massacred in Africa, Muslims being massacred in China, I have to stop and wonder.

Every news channel has wall to wall politicians, talking heads spouting white noise that’s full of senseless bile. Their only purpose seems to be to throw a handful of bullshit at anyone who opposes their righteous opinions and hope a huge amount of it sticks. But they have no idea of what’s happening outside their own isolated bubble, and they don’t have a clue about how to start preparing for the tidal wave of chaos that’s coming over the horizon.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.