Peter Thiel is building a panic room in his New Zealand property. He is part of a growing number of American millionaires choosing New Zealand as their “Doomsday destination.” They fear many things, from a public backlash over Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence taking away jobs and international Cyberattacks, to pandemics and political instability.
It emerged the billionaire venture capitalist and co-founder of Paypal was granted New Zealand citizenship in 2011. Thiel visited the country just three times for a grand total of 12 days before his citizenship was granted. New Zealand citizenship rules normally require an applicant to be a permanent resident for 1,350 days in the five years preceding an application.
During his few visits he met four senior members of the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister. Following public backlash, authorities who oversaw the citizenship defended their decision to give Thiel citizenship by saying he had been “a great ambassador and salesperson” for the country.
According to the New York Times, Thiel wrote in his application: “I am happy to say categorically that I have found no other country that aligns more with my view of the future than New Zealand.”
One wonders what he means by that, considering his purpose in pursing the citizenship in the first place.
He told Business Insider in 2011 he found “utopia” in New Zealand and already had two noteworthy venture investments in Xero and Pacific Fibre.
Despite saying that he had no plans to reside in New Zealand after gaining citizenship, and that he’d rather be “an enthusiastic supporter of the country,” the billionaire went on to make a number of real estate purchases.
In 2011 he bought a four-bedroom home in Queenstown for $4.8 million. And in 2015 he bought a 193-hectare block in Wanaka for $13.5 million. He did not need to follow foreign buyers rules for the sales because he was a citizen.
While the land from the second purchase still remains undeveloped, it’s Thiel’s Queenstown property that is most intriguing. After suffering a serious fire last year, causing more than $NZ500,000 in damage, Thiel used the opportunity to repurpose a walk-in closet — into a panic room.
The new design is laid out in building consents for the repairs filed with the Queenstown Lakes District Council. There have been numerous reports over the years about some of America’s wealthiest people buying property in New Zealand so they have somewhere to flee in the event of a global catastrophe.
Buying a house in New Zealand has become a sort of code for getting “apocalypse insurance,” as Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn put it. “Saying you’re ‘buying a house in New Zealand’ is kind of a wink, wink, say no more,” he said.
“Once you’ve done the Masonic handshake, they will be, like, ‘Oh, you know, I have a broker who sells old ICBM silos, and they’re nuclear-hardened, and they kind of look like they would be interesting to live in.'”
While some have previously pointed to New Zealand as Thiel’s “back up country,” he has not ever confirmed it. This latest development however sure looks like he is preparing his Doomsday bunker for Armageddon.
Peter Thiel isn’t a student of Bible prophecy, and he doesn’t realize that the doomsday predicted in the Bible is not going to be something to be escaped. Sometimes the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. Thiel is getting his country property in New Zealand all prepared for the end-times, even though he doesn’t realize, or perhaps, even believe that we are nearing the close of probation. He is just looking at it from a political and social point of view. While God’s people don’t need to go to the extremes that Thiel is going to, they should follow the counsel of the Lord to get out of the cities. New Zealand is an Island at the start of the “ring of fire” where earthquakes are very prominent. He will not be safe from the true apocalypse in New Zealand, when the Bible predicts that every Island shall disappear.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:5-7.
Comments
Jan
Wednesday March 28th, 2018 at 12:51 PMThe very rich are so used to being able to buy want they want and to do what they want without a second thought. They feel secure in their wealth. Bible students know those things that are coming upon the earth. This is the time to know God’s Word and hold on to His Promises. We are to be firmly anchored to the solid foundation He has laid under our feet. I pray and ask the Lord to hold my hand as I walk that narrow road to His Kingdom. Amen.