It looks like we are likely to have an environmental disaster on the Gulf Coast. The off-shore oil drilling platform that blew out is spilling 5,000 barrels of oil a day and it is headed toward the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Some have said that this oil spill could eclipse the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska.
I suspect the economic fallout from this disaster to far exceed the clean up costs. There are already forces driving up the price of oil due to concern about war in the Mideast. This disaster will only serve to reinforce the positions of those who don’t want us to drill for oil off our shores and say, “not in my backyard.” The net result will be that we will become even more dependant on oil from the Mideast; from Islamic nations that despise our way of life and fund terrorist groups to wage Jihad against us. So the price of oil is destined to go up stalling our economic recovery and fueling inflation; the price of oil impacts the price of everything.
There is a powerful political contingent in this country that secretly applauds the price of oil going up and even the economic crisis that will result. It is part of their agenda to bring the United States down and force us to be more subservient to the world community of nations. This is necessary to make way for the global government that mankind pins it hopes on to solve our problems. Any government that does not seek to please God will fail and the worldwide government of the Antichrist will fail spectacularly.
I can’t help but think that the reason the federal government has been slow to react to the Gulf oil spill is because president Obama is in the camp of those who want to diminish the power of the United States in order to make us more of a team player in the world. Playing this kind of politics will have consequences. The time will come when God will “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18, NKJ).
This environmental disaster foreshadows even worse pollution during the Tribulation. Revelation 8:10-11 says, “a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.. many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.” While this is probably a reference to the effects of radioactive fallout from the use of nuclear weapons, it too is pollution resulting from the sin of man.
Every day something happens to make us cry out to Jesus to deliver us from the mess ungodly men are making of His creation. Indications are that it will not be long before we see that Day.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Centralization Trend
The spirit of Antichrist is not just being seen here in the United States, it is popping up everywhere. For example, it now looks like Ukraine has effectively returned to being a satellite of Russia. President Yanukovych has taken advantage of American indifference and European Union ineptitude to undo most of the pro-Western policies of his Orange Revolution predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko.
One might miss this as being the spirit of Antichrist except for a revealing tidbit in the Times OnLine article linked above: "He declared that the famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s was not genocide perpetrated by the Soviet Union but a “shared tragedy” with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at the hands of Joseph Stalin." This kind of historical revisionism is what the Antichrist will do; "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law" (Daniel 7:25, NKJ).
Unseen pressures are causing governments to seek bailouts from higher authorities. Of course they are not seeking deliverance from the highest authority, only human agencies. It seems like the trend toward more centralized governmental authority is becoming bolder and more urgent. It has become easier to see how a major crisis could catapult the world into embracing a world-wide governmental leader. God is in the process of giving the world over to total human authority which will culminate during the Tribulation when "authority was given him [the Antichrist] over every tribe, tongue, and nation" (Revelation 13:7).
As we experience more birth pangs heralding the proximity of the Tribulation, there will be plenty of crises for governments to take advantage of in grabbing more control over the people. The goal is total control. The day will come when "no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17).
I am convinced that followers of Jesus in this Age of Grace will not have to suffer through the Tribulation. Yesterday's blog pointed out how the flood of Noah's day is connected to the pouring out of God's wrath during the Tribulation. Thus one would expect Genesis to offer insight into the timing of the Rapture since it is such a significant event. And indeed it does, Genesis 5:24 says Enoch who "walked with God" was taken directly to heaven to be with the Lord ahead of the flood. Enoch was a type of the church. As Enoch was protected from God's wrath in the Flood, those who walk with Christ will be protected from God's wrath during the Tribulation.
Considering Enoch reminds me to make sure I'm walking with the Lord all the time because we don't know when Jesus will return. I certainly don't want to miss out on His coming for us.
One might miss this as being the spirit of Antichrist except for a revealing tidbit in the Times OnLine article linked above: "He declared that the famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s was not genocide perpetrated by the Soviet Union but a “shared tragedy” with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at the hands of Joseph Stalin." This kind of historical revisionism is what the Antichrist will do; "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law" (Daniel 7:25, NKJ).
Unseen pressures are causing governments to seek bailouts from higher authorities. Of course they are not seeking deliverance from the highest authority, only human agencies. It seems like the trend toward more centralized governmental authority is becoming bolder and more urgent. It has become easier to see how a major crisis could catapult the world into embracing a world-wide governmental leader. God is in the process of giving the world over to total human authority which will culminate during the Tribulation when "authority was given him [the Antichrist] over every tribe, tongue, and nation" (Revelation 13:7).
As we experience more birth pangs heralding the proximity of the Tribulation, there will be plenty of crises for governments to take advantage of in grabbing more control over the people. The goal is total control. The day will come when "no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17).
I am convinced that followers of Jesus in this Age of Grace will not have to suffer through the Tribulation. Yesterday's blog pointed out how the flood of Noah's day is connected to the pouring out of God's wrath during the Tribulation. Thus one would expect Genesis to offer insight into the timing of the Rapture since it is such a significant event. And indeed it does, Genesis 5:24 says Enoch who "walked with God" was taken directly to heaven to be with the Lord ahead of the flood. Enoch was a type of the church. As Enoch was protected from God's wrath in the Flood, those who walk with Christ will be protected from God's wrath during the Tribulation.
Considering Enoch reminds me to make sure I'm walking with the Lord all the time because we don't know when Jesus will return. I certainly don't want to miss out on His coming for us.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Noah’s Ark Found!
The remains of Noah’s Ark have been seen by many people before but the site has now been documented sufficiently to be revealed to the worldwide community. A group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers found the remains of the ark at 13,000 feet on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. This is just as one would expect from Genesis 8:4. Carbon dating of the wooden beams proves the relics are 4,800 years old, around the same time the ark would have been built.
This may be the most significant archaeological discovery of all time. Representatives of Hong Cong based Noah's Ark Ministries said the structure contained several compartments used to house animals. The structure could not have been part of a building since no established human settlement has ever been found above 11,000 feet in the vicinity. The freezing temperatures at the altitude the ark remains were found preserved the wood for just such a time as this.
It is interesting to me that the Lord would allow evidence of Noah’s Ark to be made public now. The discovery of Noah’s Ark reinforces what the Bible says about the last time God poured out his wrath on the earth and indications are that we are close to the Tribulation when God will change the earth yet again. Of course most of the world does not believe the Genesis flood was world-wide, just as they scoff at the idea that Jesus is coming back…
“Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.” (2 Peter 3:3-6, NKJ)
The denial that Jesus is returning is coupled with the denial that God poured out His wrath on the earth by a literal world-wide flood. Besides this connection, there are a lot of similarities between the first time God poured out His wrath on the earth and the next time. Indeed, Jesus said, "as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39, NKJ).
Thank God that followers of Jesus in this Age of Grace will not have to go through the Tribulation. "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NKJ). Every day there is more evidence that we do not have long to wait before we get to experience that salvation.
This may be the most significant archaeological discovery of all time. Representatives of Hong Cong based Noah's Ark Ministries said the structure contained several compartments used to house animals. The structure could not have been part of a building since no established human settlement has ever been found above 11,000 feet in the vicinity. The freezing temperatures at the altitude the ark remains were found preserved the wood for just such a time as this.
It is interesting to me that the Lord would allow evidence of Noah’s Ark to be made public now. The discovery of Noah’s Ark reinforces what the Bible says about the last time God poured out his wrath on the earth and indications are that we are close to the Tribulation when God will change the earth yet again. Of course most of the world does not believe the Genesis flood was world-wide, just as they scoff at the idea that Jesus is coming back…
“Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.” (2 Peter 3:3-6, NKJ)
The denial that Jesus is returning is coupled with the denial that God poured out His wrath on the earth by a literal world-wide flood. Besides this connection, there are a lot of similarities between the first time God poured out His wrath on the earth and the next time. Indeed, Jesus said, "as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39, NKJ).
Thank God that followers of Jesus in this Age of Grace will not have to go through the Tribulation. "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NKJ). Every day there is more evidence that we do not have long to wait before we get to experience that salvation.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Bee Mystery
Unprecedented changes are occurring in the world that are subtle enough that they could easily be dismissed unless you are actively watching for signs of the Lord’s soon return. A good example of this is that more than one-third of the nation's commercial honey bee population has mysteriously disappeared.
This phenomenon is not limited to the United States but has been observed in other food exporting nations worldwide. It was in fact first documented in Israel which indicates to me that this development has special prophetic significance. Ohio State University's state honey bee specialist, James Tew said if bees are unable to pollinate the nation's crops, Americans could be forced to settle for a menu of wheat and corn.
God is the source of the diversity we enjoy and His reducing our food options foreshadows the coming Tribulation. The Third Horse of the Apocalypse symbolizes one of mankind’s afflictions after the Antichrist emerges. Revelation 6:5-6 says, “when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine’” (NKJ).
A denarius represents a day’s wages. The time is coming when war and plagues from God pouring out His wrath on the earth will result in so much scarcity that a typical day’s wages will be required to pay for a day’s food. Jesus said that an increase in famines would be a sign of His soon return in Luke 21:11. These famines will get so bad during the Tribulation that most of the world will be touched by them during this time.
Most people dismiss the idea that we will experience a famine here in America. But there is more than the disappearing honey bees that threaten our food supply. The coming war in the Mid-East will disrupt the oil supply which will drive up the cost of producing and distributing food. A major terrorist attack on this country or some other macro-economic event that crashes our economy would also make food scarcer. One of the effects of a nuclear attack is EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) that will fry electrical systems including the ignition systems in vehicles used to transport food.
Of course, such events are unthinkable and painful to imagine for our life time. But upon considering all the trends we are seeing today and the accelerating pace of developments; it is hard not to conclude that the Bible's dramatic culmination of history can not be far off.
The mysterious disappearance of the honey bees is just a subtle foreshadowing of what is to come. I expect we’ll see increasingly less subtle signs up until the Rapture when it will be hard for people to deny that God is trying to shake the world awake.
This phenomenon is not limited to the United States but has been observed in other food exporting nations worldwide. It was in fact first documented in Israel which indicates to me that this development has special prophetic significance. Ohio State University's state honey bee specialist, James Tew said if bees are unable to pollinate the nation's crops, Americans could be forced to settle for a menu of wheat and corn.
God is the source of the diversity we enjoy and His reducing our food options foreshadows the coming Tribulation. The Third Horse of the Apocalypse symbolizes one of mankind’s afflictions after the Antichrist emerges. Revelation 6:5-6 says, “when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine’” (NKJ).
A denarius represents a day’s wages. The time is coming when war and plagues from God pouring out His wrath on the earth will result in so much scarcity that a typical day’s wages will be required to pay for a day’s food. Jesus said that an increase in famines would be a sign of His soon return in Luke 21:11. These famines will get so bad during the Tribulation that most of the world will be touched by them during this time.
Most people dismiss the idea that we will experience a famine here in America. But there is more than the disappearing honey bees that threaten our food supply. The coming war in the Mid-East will disrupt the oil supply which will drive up the cost of producing and distributing food. A major terrorist attack on this country or some other macro-economic event that crashes our economy would also make food scarcer. One of the effects of a nuclear attack is EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) that will fry electrical systems including the ignition systems in vehicles used to transport food.
Of course, such events are unthinkable and painful to imagine for our life time. But upon considering all the trends we are seeing today and the accelerating pace of developments; it is hard not to conclude that the Bible's dramatic culmination of history can not be far off.
The mysterious disappearance of the honey bees is just a subtle foreshadowing of what is to come. I expect we’ll see increasingly less subtle signs up until the Rapture when it will be hard for people to deny that God is trying to shake the world awake.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Extraterrestrials
We should definitely take notice when a leading scientist makes a prediction that is aligned with Scripture. Mankind is being prepared for a great deception involving alien disclosure…
Stephen Hawking believes that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist but humanity should be doing all we can to avoid any contact. Hawking said, “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach.”
Despite Hawking being a materialist, his basic expectation that mankind mixing it up with extraterrestrials will not have a good outcome is consistent with the Bible. The extraterrestrials described in the Bible are angels. About a third of the angels are or will eventually be fallen angels, also known as demons (see Revelation 12:4).
Jesus told us when He returns it would be “as the days of Noah were” (Matthew 24:37, NKJ). Among the things characterizing the time preceding the worldwide flood was this: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4, NIV). The term “sons of God” is a reference to angels (see Job 1:6, 2:1). Non-corporeal beings can not have children so this must be a reference to propagating those possessed by demons.
The angels that mixed it up with mankind during this period have been incarcerated awaiting punishment… “The angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6, NKJ). Fallen angels have gotten involved in the affairs of men in the past and they will do so again…
Jesus warned that there will be great deception during the Tribulation that will precede His return (Matthew 24:24). I believe that during this time extraterrestrials will introduce themselves to mankind. Revelation 16:13-14 says, “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” I think it likely that these demons will masquerade as friendly aliens rallying earth to come together to thwart an impending alien invasion.
It is interesting that the Apostle John refers to the three demons as looking "like frogs." The most common depiction of alien faces have big eyes, smooth features, and no nose… "like frogs." Fallen angels are preparing mankind to have this expectation for when they formally introduce themselves. And indeed there will be an extraterrestrial invasion coming… “Immediately after the tribulation of those days… Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30, NKJ).
I could certainly see the scenario where the three friendly alien ambassadors deceive mankind into coming together at Armageddon where Jesus and the armies of heaven squelch mankind’s rebellion against God. What most of mankind on the earth at that time perceives to be “good” aliens will really be bad aliens and visa versa. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, NKJ).
Followers of Jesus don’t have to fear the coming alien invasion. Indeed, I’m looking forward to being in the Lord’s conquering airborne cavalry that ushers in His Millennial Kingdom (harmonizing John 14:3 with Revelation 19:7-8, 19:14). What a glorious colony the Millennial Kingdom will be!
Stephen Hawking believes that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist but humanity should be doing all we can to avoid any contact. Hawking said, “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach.”
Despite Hawking being a materialist, his basic expectation that mankind mixing it up with extraterrestrials will not have a good outcome is consistent with the Bible. The extraterrestrials described in the Bible are angels. About a third of the angels are or will eventually be fallen angels, also known as demons (see Revelation 12:4).
Jesus told us when He returns it would be “as the days of Noah were” (Matthew 24:37, NKJ). Among the things characterizing the time preceding the worldwide flood was this: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4, NIV). The term “sons of God” is a reference to angels (see Job 1:6, 2:1). Non-corporeal beings can not have children so this must be a reference to propagating those possessed by demons.
The angels that mixed it up with mankind during this period have been incarcerated awaiting punishment… “The angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6, NKJ). Fallen angels have gotten involved in the affairs of men in the past and they will do so again…
Jesus warned that there will be great deception during the Tribulation that will precede His return (Matthew 24:24). I believe that during this time extraterrestrials will introduce themselves to mankind. Revelation 16:13-14 says, “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” I think it likely that these demons will masquerade as friendly aliens rallying earth to come together to thwart an impending alien invasion.
It is interesting that the Apostle John refers to the three demons as looking "like frogs." The most common depiction of alien faces have big eyes, smooth features, and no nose… "like frogs." Fallen angels are preparing mankind to have this expectation for when they formally introduce themselves. And indeed there will be an extraterrestrial invasion coming… “Immediately after the tribulation of those days… Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30, NKJ).
I could certainly see the scenario where the three friendly alien ambassadors deceive mankind into coming together at Armageddon where Jesus and the armies of heaven squelch mankind’s rebellion against God. What most of mankind on the earth at that time perceives to be “good” aliens will really be bad aliens and visa versa. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, NKJ).
Followers of Jesus don’t have to fear the coming alien invasion. Indeed, I’m looking forward to being in the Lord’s conquering airborne cavalry that ushers in His Millennial Kingdom (harmonizing John 14:3 with Revelation 19:7-8, 19:14). What a glorious colony the Millennial Kingdom will be!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Fear of the Truth
Our government is careful not to label Islam as the root cause of the terrorism radical Islamists direct against Western Civilization. Our politically correct fear of offending Muslims is on display for all to see virtually every day. A good example of this occurred on Thursday when the U.S. Army withdrew an invitation to Franklin Graham to speak at a Pentagon prayer service next month.
Ostensibly, our government is fearful of inciting the easily offended Islamists. But I suspect that this politically correct attitude has come more out of postmodernism than anything else. After all, who are we to impose our values on others? This attitude apparently also applies to people who are working hard at doing everything they can to kill Americans.
Postmodernism is a lethal doctrine. It leads to spiritual death and it will likely also lead to the physical death of many people in this country. We should not be fighting a war if we can not identify who the enemy is. I’m sure that is the conclusion our government has come to since they are actively seeking to extract our selves from Afghanistan as well as Iraq as soon as possible.
Our lack of resolve will embolden those who seek to do us harm so it is just a matter of time before we see another major terrorist attack on our country. That is if something else does not happen to keep the Islamic terrorists busy in the Middle East. I think it likely that Israel’s need to do something about Iran’s existential threat will be the only thing that keeps Islamic terrorists distracted enough to leave us alone. It does look like throwing Israel under the bus is our government's secret strategy to keep us safe from terror attacks.
I have observed so many times before that those who try to accomplish anything apart from God will end up experiencing that which they are trying to avoid. As 1Thessalonians 5:3 says, “for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (NKJ).
In the case of postmodernists trying to appease radical Islamists, they will end up becoming subservient to those they fear offending. This is totally consistent with my conclusion from Scripture that the Antichrist will be al Mahdi, the Muslim savior. “They worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’” (Revelation 13:4).
Postmodernists fear following Christ because they do not want to be “constrained” by a narrow understanding of the truth. But Jesus admonished us to “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13).
While it is frustrating to see the path so many in this world is on, it is a blessing to know that Jesus has promised salvation for His followers.
Ostensibly, our government is fearful of inciting the easily offended Islamists. But I suspect that this politically correct attitude has come more out of postmodernism than anything else. After all, who are we to impose our values on others? This attitude apparently also applies to people who are working hard at doing everything they can to kill Americans.
Postmodernism is a lethal doctrine. It leads to spiritual death and it will likely also lead to the physical death of many people in this country. We should not be fighting a war if we can not identify who the enemy is. I’m sure that is the conclusion our government has come to since they are actively seeking to extract our selves from Afghanistan as well as Iraq as soon as possible.
Our lack of resolve will embolden those who seek to do us harm so it is just a matter of time before we see another major terrorist attack on our country. That is if something else does not happen to keep the Islamic terrorists busy in the Middle East. I think it likely that Israel’s need to do something about Iran’s existential threat will be the only thing that keeps Islamic terrorists distracted enough to leave us alone. It does look like throwing Israel under the bus is our government's secret strategy to keep us safe from terror attacks.
I have observed so many times before that those who try to accomplish anything apart from God will end up experiencing that which they are trying to avoid. As 1Thessalonians 5:3 says, “for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (NKJ).
In the case of postmodernists trying to appease radical Islamists, they will end up becoming subservient to those they fear offending. This is totally consistent with my conclusion from Scripture that the Antichrist will be al Mahdi, the Muslim savior. “They worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’” (Revelation 13:4).
Postmodernists fear following Christ because they do not want to be “constrained” by a narrow understanding of the truth. But Jesus admonished us to “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13).
While it is frustrating to see the path so many in this world is on, it is a blessing to know that Jesus has promised salvation for His followers.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Socialist Pendulum
Just when you think the pendulum is swinging back toward more conservative ideas, the European Union has declared travelling a human right, and is launching a scheme to subsidize vacations with taxpayers’ dollars for those too poor to afford their own trips. There appears to be no bounds to growth of government.
The governments in Europe have taxed their people about as far as they can go so to pay for any new entitlement scheme such as this they'll need to go further into debt. Western nations already have major debt and the sky has not fallen so what is the harm in just a little more debt? Of course this will inevitably lead to inflation which is really a form of hidden taxation.
It seems to me that there is a general sense among government authorities that the end is near so let's spend all we can while we can. This attitude is the fruit of materialism which denies the judgment of God and says, "If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" (1 Corinthians 15:32, NKJ). It is an amazing thing when even unbelievers are acting like the end is near.
Despite strong resistance, maxing out on taxes while piling on as much debt as the government can get away with is the direction we are headed in the United States. A lot of people think that the Tea Party movement and general populist outrage over the excesses of our federal government will turn things around. I hope it will but I can see a scenario where a third party is formed which divides conservatives and allows the socialists to continue their schemes to rob workers of their pay and make everyone subservient to the elites running government.
There is a limit to how far God will allow the socialists to practice their corrupted form of justice. "Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth" (James 5:4).
The unchecked rise of socialism in the world is just one more reminder of how sorely we need Jesus to return. There is no reason why that Day couldn't be today.
The governments in Europe have taxed their people about as far as they can go so to pay for any new entitlement scheme such as this they'll need to go further into debt. Western nations already have major debt and the sky has not fallen so what is the harm in just a little more debt? Of course this will inevitably lead to inflation which is really a form of hidden taxation.
It seems to me that there is a general sense among government authorities that the end is near so let's spend all we can while we can. This attitude is the fruit of materialism which denies the judgment of God and says, "If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" (1 Corinthians 15:32, NKJ). It is an amazing thing when even unbelievers are acting like the end is near.
Despite strong resistance, maxing out on taxes while piling on as much debt as the government can get away with is the direction we are headed in the United States. A lot of people think that the Tea Party movement and general populist outrage over the excesses of our federal government will turn things around. I hope it will but I can see a scenario where a third party is formed which divides conservatives and allows the socialists to continue their schemes to rob workers of their pay and make everyone subservient to the elites running government.
There is a limit to how far God will allow the socialists to practice their corrupted form of justice. "Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth" (James 5:4).
The unchecked rise of socialism in the world is just one more reminder of how sorely we need Jesus to return. There is no reason why that Day couldn't be today.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Millennial Kingdom
A science fiction buff challenged me to write a science fiction story from a Christian perspective. The thought had previously crossed my mind. I think it would be a great story to depict the adventures of people during the Millennial reign of Christ. Here are some rough notes outlining a potential story line…
The story is told from the perspective of the main character, Chet, a 20-something computer whiz-kid who works for a major electronics manufacturing company, Zion Instruments. His technical wherewithal gets noticed by senior management in the company and he is asked if he’d like to be a part of an extraordinary expedition that would require a lot of travel away from home for extended periods of time. The company executive could not tell him the nature of the expedition but it would require a rigorous training program. He would only be permitted to go on the expedition if he passed the requirements of the training program.
Chet agrees to go because he was in the mood for some adventure and was getting bored with the often routine tasks required by his job. The training program at a remote desert location was mostly a physically demanding military boot camp type of training but he was part of a special group learning how to work with new technology that was rumored to be from extraterrestrial origin.
Chet perseveres through the physical part of the training because he was enamored with learning how to use the extraordinary technology that apparently had the capability to transport physical matter and communicate across vast distances in space. Chet was not a big fan of the military style discipline which was part of the training but he did come to appreciate it due to how it facilitated getting things done efficiently. Chet excelled in the technical portion of his training and was going to graduate at the top of his class.
When his training was nearing completion, he learned he needed to be interviewed by one of the Ascended Ones who would command the expedition. The Ascended Ones ran all the levels of the planetary government and all the business. Chet had gotten to know some of them since most college professors were Ascended Ones. The thing that fascinated him the most about the Ascended Ones was that it seemed like they were usually attended by one or more of the Shining Ones who were rumored to be extraterrestrials.
The Shining Ones looked like normal people but they rarely spoke, mostly they watched and served as assistants to the Ascended Ones. The Shining Ones were powerful beings that rarely displayed their power but they glowed with an outer worldly light when they did. People who provoked shining Ones to display their power were severely punished by the government.
Chet was apprehensive about his interview with the Ascended One that would command the expedition because they expected all their associates to adopt their religion and worship the King. Chet just didn’t believe the King was as Almighty as the Ascended Ones and Elders said he was. Chet knew that the Ascended Ones had an uncanny ability to know what people were thinking so you could not fool them. That was why all the judges were Ascended Ones; justice was always swift and severe. It discouraged any kind of dissent.
In the interview Chet comes clean that he did not think the King was the Creator-God but Ascended One accepted him for the expedition anyway and told him what it was… to test a star ship with a dimensional drive. But Chet learns later that there was more to the expedition than just a test flight... their mission was to explore the universe along with track down and send to the pit any of the Fallen Ones they could find. It was rumored that the Fallen Ones had scattered throughout the galaxy when the Shining Ones came to the rescue of earth during the Great War. Of course the politically correct version give the King credit for ending the Great War.
On the expedition Chet learns that the universe is teaming with life. And during the course of it and as a result of his relationships with his crew mates and the Ascended Ones leading the expedition, he comes to accept King Jesus as the Creator God and Savior of mankind.
OK, so what is the biblical basis for this? Revelation 20:6 says, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (NKJ). When Jesus comes back to establish His Millennial Kingdom, we come back with Him in our resurrected bodies. We will mix it up with mortal people who survived the Tribulation. people born during the Millennial Kingdom will need to accept Christ the same as everyone throughout history. They will have every advantage to do so with Jesus ruling from Jerusalem, a Utopian society where the government is run by resurrected saints, and with Satan bound and other fallen angels on the run.
People who follow Jesus will have a grand adventure. "He who overcomes [the deception of this world] shall inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7, NKJV). The stars are part of all things, I'm convinced we will explore them for, "the heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1, NIV).
Will we be limited to viewing God’s glory in the heavens from earth? God’s glory will increase the more we know Him through His creation… "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7, NIV). All dispensations have foreshadowed aspects of what things will be like during the Eternal State. I believe the Millennial Kingdom will be the closest to what the Eternal State will be like since the fall of mankind.
God will enable us to explore the stars. Jesus promised, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3, NIV) . Jesus promised us that we would be able to go where ever He may be; and He can go anywhere… "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there"
(Psalm 139:7-8, NIV).
Is it only science fiction to think God will enable us to explore the stars? "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV). Sci-Fi has a propensity to come to fruition. It is the result of mankind’s God-given sense of adventure, wonder, creativity, and imagination… Is God’s imagination less than that of His image-bearers? Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (NKJV).
Granted, there are a lot of details to fill in for this story but it is interesting to speculate what things will be like during the Millennial Kingdom. Meanwhile, we have our missions during this Age of Grace... adventure awaits!
The story is told from the perspective of the main character, Chet, a 20-something computer whiz-kid who works for a major electronics manufacturing company, Zion Instruments. His technical wherewithal gets noticed by senior management in the company and he is asked if he’d like to be a part of an extraordinary expedition that would require a lot of travel away from home for extended periods of time. The company executive could not tell him the nature of the expedition but it would require a rigorous training program. He would only be permitted to go on the expedition if he passed the requirements of the training program.
Chet agrees to go because he was in the mood for some adventure and was getting bored with the often routine tasks required by his job. The training program at a remote desert location was mostly a physically demanding military boot camp type of training but he was part of a special group learning how to work with new technology that was rumored to be from extraterrestrial origin.
Chet perseveres through the physical part of the training because he was enamored with learning how to use the extraordinary technology that apparently had the capability to transport physical matter and communicate across vast distances in space. Chet was not a big fan of the military style discipline which was part of the training but he did come to appreciate it due to how it facilitated getting things done efficiently. Chet excelled in the technical portion of his training and was going to graduate at the top of his class.
When his training was nearing completion, he learned he needed to be interviewed by one of the Ascended Ones who would command the expedition. The Ascended Ones ran all the levels of the planetary government and all the business. Chet had gotten to know some of them since most college professors were Ascended Ones. The thing that fascinated him the most about the Ascended Ones was that it seemed like they were usually attended by one or more of the Shining Ones who were rumored to be extraterrestrials.
The Shining Ones looked like normal people but they rarely spoke, mostly they watched and served as assistants to the Ascended Ones. The Shining Ones were powerful beings that rarely displayed their power but they glowed with an outer worldly light when they did. People who provoked shining Ones to display their power were severely punished by the government.
Chet was apprehensive about his interview with the Ascended One that would command the expedition because they expected all their associates to adopt their religion and worship the King. Chet just didn’t believe the King was as Almighty as the Ascended Ones and Elders said he was. Chet knew that the Ascended Ones had an uncanny ability to know what people were thinking so you could not fool them. That was why all the judges were Ascended Ones; justice was always swift and severe. It discouraged any kind of dissent.
In the interview Chet comes clean that he did not think the King was the Creator-God but Ascended One accepted him for the expedition anyway and told him what it was… to test a star ship with a dimensional drive. But Chet learns later that there was more to the expedition than just a test flight... their mission was to explore the universe along with track down and send to the pit any of the Fallen Ones they could find. It was rumored that the Fallen Ones had scattered throughout the galaxy when the Shining Ones came to the rescue of earth during the Great War. Of course the politically correct version give the King credit for ending the Great War.
On the expedition Chet learns that the universe is teaming with life. And during the course of it and as a result of his relationships with his crew mates and the Ascended Ones leading the expedition, he comes to accept King Jesus as the Creator God and Savior of mankind.
OK, so what is the biblical basis for this? Revelation 20:6 says, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (NKJ). When Jesus comes back to establish His Millennial Kingdom, we come back with Him in our resurrected bodies. We will mix it up with mortal people who survived the Tribulation. people born during the Millennial Kingdom will need to accept Christ the same as everyone throughout history. They will have every advantage to do so with Jesus ruling from Jerusalem, a Utopian society where the government is run by resurrected saints, and with Satan bound and other fallen angels on the run.
People who follow Jesus will have a grand adventure. "He who overcomes [the deception of this world] shall inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7, NKJV). The stars are part of all things, I'm convinced we will explore them for, "the heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1, NIV).
Will we be limited to viewing God’s glory in the heavens from earth? God’s glory will increase the more we know Him through His creation… "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7, NIV). All dispensations have foreshadowed aspects of what things will be like during the Eternal State. I believe the Millennial Kingdom will be the closest to what the Eternal State will be like since the fall of mankind.
God will enable us to explore the stars. Jesus promised, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3, NIV) . Jesus promised us that we would be able to go where ever He may be; and He can go anywhere… "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there"
(Psalm 139:7-8, NIV).
Is it only science fiction to think God will enable us to explore the stars? "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV). Sci-Fi has a propensity to come to fruition. It is the result of mankind’s God-given sense of adventure, wonder, creativity, and imagination… Is God’s imagination less than that of His image-bearers? Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (NKJV).
Granted, there are a lot of details to fill in for this story but it is interesting to speculate what things will be like during the Millennial Kingdom. Meanwhile, we have our missions during this Age of Grace... adventure awaits!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Postmodernism
I recently had a discussion with an associate where my faith in Christ was maligned as being too constrained. The more I thought about this, the more I was struck by the bad logic of that rationale. Truth is very constrained. A common argument for not allowing yourself to be constrained by the truth is to deny that we can know the truth.
Postmodernism denies that we can know the truth which leaves people to accept for themselves as valid what ever wild thought pops into their head. Such a perspective is attractive because it enables people to be accountable only to themselves and denies an Almighty Creator who will judge us. This perspective is what gets the nations in hot water with God during the Tribulation...
I am convinced that people who doubt we can know the truth about God really don't want to know the truth about Him. They are happy going along as they are with whatever belief system they have manufactured for themselves since it just feels right. They have made God in their own image. This is plain and simple rebellion against God. And the consequences for holding to this philosophy is to get what they desire... separation from their Creator for eternity. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
God has made the truth easily accessible to anyone who really wants to know it. The Bible is the most published book in the world by a huge margin. The Bible has been translated into more languages than any book in history. There is a reason the Bible has been so successful... the Almighty Creator wants us to know him. The first thing governmental authorities who hate God do when they come to power is make the Bible illegal; yet it is amazing how the Bible has overcome all opposition to be everywhere. There is a reason for this, God is behind it.
A common way of dismissing the Bible by skeptics who don't want to let go of their personal view of God is to say that the Bible is subject to interpretation... "who can know what it really says?" This is just more postmodern philosophy that corrupts a person's ability to think clearly. God gave us His Word so that we may know Him. Thus God would have to make the Bible understandable by the common person without needing some specially anointed intermediary to tell us what God is really saying to us.
The problem is that people just don't want to believe what God has said to us in His Word. They may accept this piece or that piece but reject the truths they don't like. Such lukewarm acknowledgement of God is worse than being a blaspheming atheist... Jesus said, "because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
My own personal discovery that I can take God's Word literally was the most liberating development I have ever experienced next to being born again. The Bible is full of prophecies that have been literally fulfilled; thus we should expect the ones yet to be fulfilled to be fulfilled literally as well. This is simple logic that anyone who honestly seeks the truth must acknowledge.
God wants us to check these things out for ourselves. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).
Postmodernism denies that we can know the truth which leaves people to accept for themselves as valid what ever wild thought pops into their head. Such a perspective is attractive because it enables people to be accountable only to themselves and denies an Almighty Creator who will judge us. This perspective is what gets the nations in hot water with God during the Tribulation...
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. (Psalm 2:1-4, NKJ)
I am convinced that people who doubt we can know the truth about God really don't want to know the truth about Him. They are happy going along as they are with whatever belief system they have manufactured for themselves since it just feels right. They have made God in their own image. This is plain and simple rebellion against God. And the consequences for holding to this philosophy is to get what they desire... separation from their Creator for eternity. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
God has made the truth easily accessible to anyone who really wants to know it. The Bible is the most published book in the world by a huge margin. The Bible has been translated into more languages than any book in history. There is a reason the Bible has been so successful... the Almighty Creator wants us to know him. The first thing governmental authorities who hate God do when they come to power is make the Bible illegal; yet it is amazing how the Bible has overcome all opposition to be everywhere. There is a reason for this, God is behind it.
A common way of dismissing the Bible by skeptics who don't want to let go of their personal view of God is to say that the Bible is subject to interpretation... "who can know what it really says?" This is just more postmodern philosophy that corrupts a person's ability to think clearly. God gave us His Word so that we may know Him. Thus God would have to make the Bible understandable by the common person without needing some specially anointed intermediary to tell us what God is really saying to us.
The problem is that people just don't want to believe what God has said to us in His Word. They may accept this piece or that piece but reject the truths they don't like. Such lukewarm acknowledgement of God is worse than being a blaspheming atheist... Jesus said, "because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
My own personal discovery that I can take God's Word literally was the most liberating development I have ever experienced next to being born again. The Bible is full of prophecies that have been literally fulfilled; thus we should expect the ones yet to be fulfilled to be fulfilled literally as well. This is simple logic that anyone who honestly seeks the truth must acknowledge.
God wants us to check these things out for ourselves. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Antisemitism
Antisemitism is another trend we can expect to see in the time leading up to the return of the Lord. A friend pointed out to me that Pastor Mark Blitz in his latest newsletter believes God raised up a volcano to shut down tourism in the U.K because the British government is attacking tourism in Israel. The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) criticized Israel for including pictures of the Western Wall in a tourism advertisement, claiming that the holy site is technically not located within the country's borders.
Now I know a lot of skeptics will simply say this is a coincidence; but I don't believe there are coincidences with an Almighty God who is in control of His creation. Despite immediate repercussions for "touching the apple of God's eye" (Zechariah 2:8), antisemitism will increase as we get closer to the Lord's return because all nations will seek the demise of Israel... "it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:3, NKJ).
Israel is being backed into a corner by the world and so it is just a matter of time before they will be forced to respond decisively. It amazes me that most people don't see this trend or are just content to put their head in the sand denying what is happening so that they can go about pursuing their own personal agenda that excludes any recognition of God. Of course the Bible tells us why there is such spiritual blindness in 1 Corinthians 2:14.
I get the sense that we are on the cusp of some dramatic changes among the nations of the world. Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Look among the nations and watch-- be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you." God is allowing the evil of antisemitism to grow so that Israel will be forced to take action. The chain of events this triggers will plunge this world into the Tribulation.
I don't look forward to the Tribulation, but I do look forward to the Rapture that has to precede it. Let the grand adventure begin!
Now I know a lot of skeptics will simply say this is a coincidence; but I don't believe there are coincidences with an Almighty God who is in control of His creation. Despite immediate repercussions for "touching the apple of God's eye" (Zechariah 2:8), antisemitism will increase as we get closer to the Lord's return because all nations will seek the demise of Israel... "it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:3, NKJ).
Israel is being backed into a corner by the world and so it is just a matter of time before they will be forced to respond decisively. It amazes me that most people don't see this trend or are just content to put their head in the sand denying what is happening so that they can go about pursuing their own personal agenda that excludes any recognition of God. Of course the Bible tells us why there is such spiritual blindness in 1 Corinthians 2:14.
I get the sense that we are on the cusp of some dramatic changes among the nations of the world. Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Look among the nations and watch-- be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you." God is allowing the evil of antisemitism to grow so that Israel will be forced to take action. The chain of events this triggers will plunge this world into the Tribulation.
I don't look forward to the Tribulation, but I do look forward to the Rapture that has to precede it. Let the grand adventure begin!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Earthquakes & Volcanoes
The increase of earthquake activity is now getting hard to ignore. It hasn’t been long since I commented on the major quakes in Haiti and Chile and now we have just had another one in China. Also in the news is a major volcano eruption in Iceland that is disrupting air travel across Northern Europe.
People don’t usually think of a volcano as a type of earthquake but it is; volcanoes are caused by tectonic movements the same as earthquakes. And a shaking of the earth is always associated with volcanoes.
The message to everyone in this obvious increase in earthquake activity is that all things are not continuing as they have from the beginning (see 2 Peter 3:4). Volcanoes have the potential affect more people over a broader range than earthquakes as we are seeing in this case with the travel disruption. And ash from volcanoes has been known to significantly cool the earth by blocking the sun… God will show the global warming humanists who really controls the climate.
Volcano ash in the atmosphere also foreshadows the even greater darkness God will bring during the Tribulation. Joel 2:31 says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (NKJ).
We are blessed to live in a time when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. I can’t wait to see what God will do next.
People don’t usually think of a volcano as a type of earthquake but it is; volcanoes are caused by tectonic movements the same as earthquakes. And a shaking of the earth is always associated with volcanoes.
The message to everyone in this obvious increase in earthquake activity is that all things are not continuing as they have from the beginning (see 2 Peter 3:4). Volcanoes have the potential affect more people over a broader range than earthquakes as we are seeing in this case with the travel disruption. And ash from volcanoes has been known to significantly cool the earth by blocking the sun… God will show the global warming humanists who really controls the climate.
Volcano ash in the atmosphere also foreshadows the even greater darkness God will bring during the Tribulation. Joel 2:31 says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (NKJ).
We are blessed to live in a time when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. I can’t wait to see what God will do next.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Nuclear Risk
It never fails to amaze me how people generally end up experiencing the very thing they are trying to avoid when they leave God out of their effort. That is the thought which occurs to me when I hear about President Obama's efforts at nuclear non-proliferation.
President Obama recently watered down our policy for using nuclear weapons and signed an arms reduction treaty with Russia. These developments were followed closely by a nuclear summit of world leaders where Obama declared that, "We've made real progress in building a safer world." So why do I get the sense that the President's rhetoric is really far from the truth? It might be because so much of what this president says has been found to be deceptive. Or that history has shown appeasement to have a poor track record of success (remember Chamberlain and WW II). Or it could be because of the age we are in, "for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3, NKJ).
The Bible certainly makes it clear that nuclear weapons will be used. Zechariah 14:12 says, "this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." Now this could be supernatural but since God most often works through natural means this certainly could be a description of nuclear weapon effects.
And consider this passage which describes an aspect of God's wrath during the Tribulation: "He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place" (Revelation 6:12-14). The blast effects of nuclear weapons are like an earthquake; the sun and moon being obscured could be from dust in the atmosphere thrown up by nuclear ground bursts; ICBM warheads re-entering the earth's atmosphere at night will look like falling stars; the sky receding like a scroll could describe a mushroom cloud; and thermonuclear weapons even have the power to displace mountains and islands.
The situation today is significantly more dangerous than during the Cold War when the use of a nuclear weapon was unthinkable because it would clearly result in a massive response. We no longer have this balance of Mutually Assured Destruction. We have rogue nations like North Korea and Iran with, or about to have nukes. We have a potentially unstable government with nukes in Pakistan. The turmoil and corruption of a rapid transition to a market economy has resulted in some nukes going missing in Russia. We have the rapid growth of Islamic Jihadists who believe they have a mandate from god to kill as many infidels as they can. The world is backing Israel into a corner daring them to use their nukes preemptively against Iran. And God is removing His restraint of evil in the world.
I believe that a likely time for the Rapture would be during a nuclear exchange. Who would miss a few million Christians when the world is busy dealing with a crisis where millions more have died from war. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 says "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie" explaining away the Rapture. People will be significantly more receptive to a superficial apologetic when they have other concerns on their minds.
In these perilous times, it helps to remember the promises of God... "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
President Obama recently watered down our policy for using nuclear weapons and signed an arms reduction treaty with Russia. These developments were followed closely by a nuclear summit of world leaders where Obama declared that, "We've made real progress in building a safer world." So why do I get the sense that the President's rhetoric is really far from the truth? It might be because so much of what this president says has been found to be deceptive. Or that history has shown appeasement to have a poor track record of success (remember Chamberlain and WW II). Or it could be because of the age we are in, "for when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3, NKJ).
The Bible certainly makes it clear that nuclear weapons will be used. Zechariah 14:12 says, "this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." Now this could be supernatural but since God most often works through natural means this certainly could be a description of nuclear weapon effects.
And consider this passage which describes an aspect of God's wrath during the Tribulation: "He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place" (Revelation 6:12-14). The blast effects of nuclear weapons are like an earthquake; the sun and moon being obscured could be from dust in the atmosphere thrown up by nuclear ground bursts; ICBM warheads re-entering the earth's atmosphere at night will look like falling stars; the sky receding like a scroll could describe a mushroom cloud; and thermonuclear weapons even have the power to displace mountains and islands.
The situation today is significantly more dangerous than during the Cold War when the use of a nuclear weapon was unthinkable because it would clearly result in a massive response. We no longer have this balance of Mutually Assured Destruction. We have rogue nations like North Korea and Iran with, or about to have nukes. We have a potentially unstable government with nukes in Pakistan. The turmoil and corruption of a rapid transition to a market economy has resulted in some nukes going missing in Russia. We have the rapid growth of Islamic Jihadists who believe they have a mandate from god to kill as many infidels as they can. The world is backing Israel into a corner daring them to use their nukes preemptively against Iran. And God is removing His restraint of evil in the world.
I believe that a likely time for the Rapture would be during a nuclear exchange. Who would miss a few million Christians when the world is busy dealing with a crisis where millions more have died from war. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 says "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie" explaining away the Rapture. People will be significantly more receptive to a superficial apologetic when they have other concerns on their minds.
In these perilous times, it helps to remember the promises of God... "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hooks in the Jaws
Energy companies appear to have discovered just off the Israeli Mediterranean coast the largest natural gas resource ever found. Prophecy watchers have often said that some sort of development such as this would have to happen for the Ezekiel 38-39 war to take place. We no longer have to wonder what that the hooks in the jaws of Gog will be (Ezekiel 38:4).
Ezekiel 38:13 makes it clear that coveting material wealth is the motivation of the coalition of nations that come against Israel in the "latter days," a reference to the time preceding the return of the Messiah. Israel has been blessed with technological prowess but that is less of a temptation for an attacker because it can not be exploited like mineral resources. So this discovery in Israel changes things.
However, there is yet another problem thinking we are on the verge of Ezekiel 38 being fulfilled. Ezekiel 38:11 says that Gog will seek to attack, "a land of unwalled villages... all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (NKJ). Since symbolic language is common in prophetic literature, I once rationalized that the security barriers in Israel today are nothing to a modern mechanized force but God put this detail in the Bible for some reason. And couple that with the fact that the nations listed in Ezekiel 38 do not include Israel's immediate neighbors. You would think they would be involved given all the rhetoric regarding the plight of the Palestinians today.
There is a growing body of prophecy watchers today saying that the problems with Ezekiel 38 being on the verge of fulfillment is explained by Psalm 83. The agenda and fate of the nations immediately adjacent to Israel are addressed in Psalm 83. I plan to study this more thoroughly in the coming few weeks but it looks very much like a Psalm 83 battle will precede Ezekiel 38. This certainly is reinforced by my recent conviction that Gog is another term for the Antichrist; besides Ezekiel 38-39, the only other reference to Gog in the Bible is Revelation 20:8, clearly a world leader that is allowed to emerge to oppose Christ.
As we can see the stage being set for the world-wide government of the Antichrist during the Tribulation, we can also see the ground-work being laid for the Ezekiel 38-39 war. I believe this war must happen during the Tribulation. This is reinforced by the fact that Israel will be living in a false peace at the beginning of the Tribulation as a result of a peace treaty guaranteed by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27).
Since the Rapture of the true followers of Christ must occur prior to the Tribulation, we can see we're getting close. This massive gas discovery in Israel is just one more piece falling into place.
Ezekiel 38:13 makes it clear that coveting material wealth is the motivation of the coalition of nations that come against Israel in the "latter days," a reference to the time preceding the return of the Messiah. Israel has been blessed with technological prowess but that is less of a temptation for an attacker because it can not be exploited like mineral resources. So this discovery in Israel changes things.
However, there is yet another problem thinking we are on the verge of Ezekiel 38 being fulfilled. Ezekiel 38:11 says that Gog will seek to attack, "a land of unwalled villages... all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (NKJ). Since symbolic language is common in prophetic literature, I once rationalized that the security barriers in Israel today are nothing to a modern mechanized force but God put this detail in the Bible for some reason. And couple that with the fact that the nations listed in Ezekiel 38 do not include Israel's immediate neighbors. You would think they would be involved given all the rhetoric regarding the plight of the Palestinians today.
There is a growing body of prophecy watchers today saying that the problems with Ezekiel 38 being on the verge of fulfillment is explained by Psalm 83. The agenda and fate of the nations immediately adjacent to Israel are addressed in Psalm 83. I plan to study this more thoroughly in the coming few weeks but it looks very much like a Psalm 83 battle will precede Ezekiel 38. This certainly is reinforced by my recent conviction that Gog is another term for the Antichrist; besides Ezekiel 38-39, the only other reference to Gog in the Bible is Revelation 20:8, clearly a world leader that is allowed to emerge to oppose Christ.
As we can see the stage being set for the world-wide government of the Antichrist during the Tribulation, we can also see the ground-work being laid for the Ezekiel 38-39 war. I believe this war must happen during the Tribulation. This is reinforced by the fact that Israel will be living in a false peace at the beginning of the Tribulation as a result of a peace treaty guaranteed by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27).
Since the Rapture of the true followers of Christ must occur prior to the Tribulation, we can see we're getting close. This massive gas discovery in Israel is just one more piece falling into place.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Polish Tragedy
The fact that Poland has been one of the United States' closest friends has been a source of tension between them and Russia. So the Russians are doing their best to show that they were not complicit in the plane crash that killed Poland's president and other top government officials. All indications are that fog and the pilot not wanting to disrupt the schedule of his country's most important dignitaries were the causes of the accident.
Still, God is in control and could have prevented this accident so He must have allowed it to happen for a reason. We will probably not know the full scope of that reason while we're in our mortal bodies but it appears to me at least part of the reason is that this reinforces our suspicions we are in the season when God is increasingly removing His restraint on evil in this world. Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8 that the incidence of tragedies common to this fallen world would increase in frequency and intensity like birth pangs as His return gets closer.
The Apostle Paul reinforced this when he explained to the Thessalonians that God is keeping the government of the Antichrist from rising up through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who restrains evil... "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7, NKJ).
The tragedy of losing a country's top government officials could have happened to any country. The fact that it happened to a close ally of the United States is just more evidence that God is allowing the influence of the United States to be diminished in the world. This is necessary to have a more level playing field between the nations of the world to make way for a worldwide government to emerge.
Even though God is removing His restraint on evil in the world, it doesn't mean evil has to affect us personally. Spiritual warfare is not new to followers of Christ; Ephesians 6:10-18 explains the resources God has given us "to stand against the wiles of the devil." We are entering a time when superficial faith will not be suffice... "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Still, God is in control and could have prevented this accident so He must have allowed it to happen for a reason. We will probably not know the full scope of that reason while we're in our mortal bodies but it appears to me at least part of the reason is that this reinforces our suspicions we are in the season when God is increasingly removing His restraint on evil in this world. Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8 that the incidence of tragedies common to this fallen world would increase in frequency and intensity like birth pangs as His return gets closer.
The Apostle Paul reinforced this when he explained to the Thessalonians that God is keeping the government of the Antichrist from rising up through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who restrains evil... "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7, NKJ).
The tragedy of losing a country's top government officials could have happened to any country. The fact that it happened to a close ally of the United States is just more evidence that God is allowing the influence of the United States to be diminished in the world. This is necessary to have a more level playing field between the nations of the world to make way for a worldwide government to emerge.
Even though God is removing His restraint on evil in the world, it doesn't mean evil has to affect us personally. Spiritual warfare is not new to followers of Christ; Ephesians 6:10-18 explains the resources God has given us "to stand against the wiles of the devil." We are entering a time when superficial faith will not be suffice... "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Friday, April 9, 2010
Rumors of War
The price of oil is beginning to creep up. A barrel of oil is now $87 a barrel, its highest level since October 2008 prompting concerns that triple-digit crude was once again in the offing. The pundits are saying this is because speculators are anticipating increasing demand as the world comes out of the recession. But I suspect there is another dynamic at work: fear that the supply will be disrupted.
A war in the Mideast threatens a disruption in oil supplies which honest analysts would have to conclude is inevitable. Iran is defiant in developing nuclear weapons so that they can execute their mission from Allah to rid the world of Israel. The world community of nations are unable to impose effective sanctions on Iran. And Israel will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon while Iran's proxies in Syria and Lebanon are itching to punish Israel for an attack on Iran's nuclear capacity. It doesn't take a political science scholar to figure out what all this will lead to.
You also have to wonder if the world is really coming out of the recession. The number of US workers claiming jobless benefits for the first time recorded an unexpected rise last week. And the economic melt-down in Greece is about to come to a head. The fundamentals that plunged us into a recession are still at work... there is massive debt everywhere with no real resolve to do anything about it. Thus many financial analysts think that conditions are ripe for a second dip recession. So this means the main reason for the price of oil going up must be jitters about supply disruption.
Jesus told us that an increase incidence of "rumors of wars" is a sign of His coming soon in Matthew 24:6. The price of oil going up in anticipation of a war disrupting supply certainly qualifies as a rumor. The only consolation for me about paying more at the pump is that we are getting closer to the Day when Jesus will come for us. It behooves us to stay ready.
A war in the Mideast threatens a disruption in oil supplies which honest analysts would have to conclude is inevitable. Iran is defiant in developing nuclear weapons so that they can execute their mission from Allah to rid the world of Israel. The world community of nations are unable to impose effective sanctions on Iran. And Israel will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon while Iran's proxies in Syria and Lebanon are itching to punish Israel for an attack on Iran's nuclear capacity. It doesn't take a political science scholar to figure out what all this will lead to.
You also have to wonder if the world is really coming out of the recession. The number of US workers claiming jobless benefits for the first time recorded an unexpected rise last week. And the economic melt-down in Greece is about to come to a head. The fundamentals that plunged us into a recession are still at work... there is massive debt everywhere with no real resolve to do anything about it. Thus many financial analysts think that conditions are ripe for a second dip recession. So this means the main reason for the price of oil going up must be jitters about supply disruption.
Jesus told us that an increase incidence of "rumors of wars" is a sign of His coming soon in Matthew 24:6. The price of oil going up in anticipation of a war disrupting supply certainly qualifies as a rumor. The only consolation for me about paying more at the pump is that we are getting closer to the Day when Jesus will come for us. It behooves us to stay ready.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Inept U.N.
The United Nations does not have a very good track record of doing anything of value. Yet the world keeps trying to improve our condition by working through this community of nations. The U.N. is the world’s great hope of being able to “beat swords into plowshares” and not have to “learn war any more.” But Micah 4:3 says that it is the Messiah that makes this possible.
The struggle over how severe the sanctions imposed on Iran should be is only the latest display of U.N. fruitlessness. You have to wonder how long the governments of the world will tolerate a powerless body like the U.N. The day is coming when they will yield their sovereignty to a strong world leader who can get things done… “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:13, NKJ).
The trend toward more centralized governmental power has certainly been accelerating in this country. It wouldn’t take much to see this trend extend to the nations of the world. There will be some crisis that precipitates it. The situation between Iran and Israel is likely to be the catalyst that causes the nations to cry out for a strong leader to fix our problems. The idea that we can fix our own problems without God will lead to His wrath.
I’m looking forward to the true peace between nations that will only happen when Jesus returns to rule on the earth.
The struggle over how severe the sanctions imposed on Iran should be is only the latest display of U.N. fruitlessness. You have to wonder how long the governments of the world will tolerate a powerless body like the U.N. The day is coming when they will yield their sovereignty to a strong world leader who can get things done… “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:13, NKJ).
The trend toward more centralized governmental power has certainly been accelerating in this country. It wouldn’t take much to see this trend extend to the nations of the world. There will be some crisis that precipitates it. The situation between Iran and Israel is likely to be the catalyst that causes the nations to cry out for a strong leader to fix our problems. The idea that we can fix our own problems without God will lead to His wrath.
I’m looking forward to the true peace between nations that will only happen when Jesus returns to rule on the earth.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Perilous Times
As we get closer to the return of Christ, we can expect to see what 2 Timothy 3:1 calls perilous times. Since we don’t exactly have anarchy in the streets, perilous times seems like it could be far off but we are seeing political posturing that reduces our security.
President Barack Obama has declared that the United States has changed its doctrine on using nuclear weapons essentially saying that they will not be used against nations that do not possess them. This sounds good on the surface (a la, imagine a world without nukes); but it completely disregards the realities of human nature…
You have to ask yourself, does narrowing our nuclear weapon options make us safer or less safe? The answer to this question depends which side of the ideological divide you are on. I’m sure that secular humanists will think it is one step closer to world peace. But those of us with a biblical world view know that reducing the nuclear deterrent will only make this world more dangerous.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (NKJ). The only thing that keeps wicked hearts at bay in this world is the threat and use of force. Resolving to back off on that force allows wickedness to grow bolder. There are a number of specific results I expect will be seen from Obama’s new nuclear doctrine…
This new nuclear weapons posture seeks to appease those who would like to see the demise of the United States. History shows how well appeasing despots work; it fails every time it is tried. The timing of this in the midst of growing Islamic Jihad is pretty significant. This new policy encourages Islamic Jihadists to use chemical or biological weapons to test our resolve not to punish a nation that harbors them.
I think this new policy makes Ezekiel 38-39 more likely to happen since there is less risk that the United States would intervene on behalf of Israel. Many will ask what the danger is in the Ezekiel 38 war to the United States… I think a close reading of Ezekiel 38-39 reveals that it describes a nuclear war that escalates (see especially Ezekiel 38:22 and 39:6). The reference to “fire on the coastlands” may well include the United States. The real danger of nuclear weapons is that their use by any nation is guaranteed to escalate.
President Obama’s new policy makes the US less of a military super power and thus more likely to go along with the will of the world community of nations. I’m sure many will applaud that feature. I’ll only point out that this is designed to be coupled with our reduced economic super power status to make it easier for a world government to emerge.
President Obama thinks his new nuclear policy is a step toward peace in the world. But what it does in fact is reduce our security by encouraging those with terrorist visions. This is one more sign that God’s restraint of evil is being removed. “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
President Barack Obama has declared that the United States has changed its doctrine on using nuclear weapons essentially saying that they will not be used against nations that do not possess them. This sounds good on the surface (a la, imagine a world without nukes); but it completely disregards the realities of human nature…
You have to ask yourself, does narrowing our nuclear weapon options make us safer or less safe? The answer to this question depends which side of the ideological divide you are on. I’m sure that secular humanists will think it is one step closer to world peace. But those of us with a biblical world view know that reducing the nuclear deterrent will only make this world more dangerous.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (NKJ). The only thing that keeps wicked hearts at bay in this world is the threat and use of force. Resolving to back off on that force allows wickedness to grow bolder. There are a number of specific results I expect will be seen from Obama’s new nuclear doctrine…
This new nuclear weapons posture seeks to appease those who would like to see the demise of the United States. History shows how well appeasing despots work; it fails every time it is tried. The timing of this in the midst of growing Islamic Jihad is pretty significant. This new policy encourages Islamic Jihadists to use chemical or biological weapons to test our resolve not to punish a nation that harbors them.
I think this new policy makes Ezekiel 38-39 more likely to happen since there is less risk that the United States would intervene on behalf of Israel. Many will ask what the danger is in the Ezekiel 38 war to the United States… I think a close reading of Ezekiel 38-39 reveals that it describes a nuclear war that escalates (see especially Ezekiel 38:22 and 39:6). The reference to “fire on the coastlands” may well include the United States. The real danger of nuclear weapons is that their use by any nation is guaranteed to escalate.
President Obama’s new policy makes the US less of a military super power and thus more likely to go along with the will of the world community of nations. I’m sure many will applaud that feature. I’ll only point out that this is designed to be coupled with our reduced economic super power status to make it easier for a world government to emerge.
President Obama thinks his new nuclear policy is a step toward peace in the world. But what it does in fact is reduce our security by encouraging those with terrorist visions. This is one more sign that God’s restraint of evil is being removed. “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Israel Forever
While we have been fiddling around with domestic issues associated with the economy and health care, things have been heating up in the Mideast. Not only is there now general acknowledgement that Iran will soon be a nuclear state, Palestinians believe the peace process has reached a dead-end in the wake of Israel moving forward with building in East Jerusalem.
Jordan's King Abdullah told The Wall Street Journal that, “I think the long-term future of Israel is in jeopardy unless we solve our problems.” This could be interpreted as a threat and is somewhat of a surprise coming from a neighbor of Israel who used to be a friend. There are other indications that the relationship between Israel and Jordan has going sour.
King Abdullah must not know what God has said about the future of Israel or he wouldn’t make such ominous predictions… “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again... and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever” (Ezekiel 37:21-25, NKJV).
A lot of this prophecy has already been fulfilled. Jews have returned to the land of Israel from the nations where they have been dispersed. And they have been one nation in the land of their ancestors for 62 years this May. So since the first part of this prophecy has been fulfilled, we should expect the rest to be fulfilled as well; thus Israel is back in their own land to stay.
An increasing number of people think that peace in the Mideast can not be achieved without the demise of Israel. These people are opposing the will of God and will suffer His wrath as a result. Betting against God’s Word is illogical and its growing pervasiveness shows that God is giving more people over to a debased mind (Romans 1:28).
All people should need to be convinced that God’s Word is true is to look at Israel. It is amazing to me that so many reject this evidence for the veracity of the Bible to pursue their own path. “If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
Jordan's King Abdullah told The Wall Street Journal that, “I think the long-term future of Israel is in jeopardy unless we solve our problems.” This could be interpreted as a threat and is somewhat of a surprise coming from a neighbor of Israel who used to be a friend. There are other indications that the relationship between Israel and Jordan has going sour.
King Abdullah must not know what God has said about the future of Israel or he wouldn’t make such ominous predictions… “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again... and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever” (Ezekiel 37:21-25, NKJV).
A lot of this prophecy has already been fulfilled. Jews have returned to the land of Israel from the nations where they have been dispersed. And they have been one nation in the land of their ancestors for 62 years this May. So since the first part of this prophecy has been fulfilled, we should expect the rest to be fulfilled as well; thus Israel is back in their own land to stay.
An increasing number of people think that peace in the Mideast can not be achieved without the demise of Israel. These people are opposing the will of God and will suffer His wrath as a result. Betting against God’s Word is illogical and its growing pervasiveness shows that God is giving more people over to a debased mind (Romans 1:28).
All people should need to be convinced that God’s Word is true is to look at Israel. It is amazing to me that so many reject this evidence for the veracity of the Bible to pursue their own path. “If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
Monday, April 5, 2010
Fading Rule of Law
The Constitution of the United States represents the rule of law and not rule by the whims of rulers. As we get closer to the world being ruled by the Antichrist, we can expect to see us moving away from the rule of law and toward more rule by decree of the king.
U.S. Representative Phil Hare (D-Ill) revealed his mindset regarding the rule of law recently in a heated exchange with his constituents. While being pressed on the complications of “Obamacare” he was asked, "Where in the Constitution?" Hare’s reply was, “I don't worry about the Constitution on this to be honest.” This is amazing to hear from one of our “lawmakers.” Phil Hare must not have really meant it when he swore to uphold the Constitution.
This kind of Freudian slip that reveals a person’s true thoughts about a matter is more evidence that the spirit of Antichrist is growing stronger in our day. Indeed seeking to change from the rule of law will be one of the character traits of the Antichrist. Daniel 7:25 says, “he shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law” (NKJ). It is interesting to note that our president ran promising change. I wonder how many people would have actually voted for him if they knew what kind of change Liberal Democrats really want to make.
Jesus also told us that there would be an increasing departure from the rule of law as a sign of His soon return. Matthew 24:12 says, “because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” There are many who do things under the auspices of caring about others but their real motives are to secure power for themselves or their political party. I look forward to the day when Jesus returns to expose such schemes for all to see.
U.S. Representative Phil Hare (D-Ill) revealed his mindset regarding the rule of law recently in a heated exchange with his constituents. While being pressed on the complications of “Obamacare” he was asked, "Where in the Constitution?" Hare’s reply was, “I don't worry about the Constitution on this to be honest.” This is amazing to hear from one of our “lawmakers.” Phil Hare must not have really meant it when he swore to uphold the Constitution.
This kind of Freudian slip that reveals a person’s true thoughts about a matter is more evidence that the spirit of Antichrist is growing stronger in our day. Indeed seeking to change from the rule of law will be one of the character traits of the Antichrist. Daniel 7:25 says, “he shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law” (NKJ). It is interesting to note that our president ran promising change. I wonder how many people would have actually voted for him if they knew what kind of change Liberal Democrats really want to make.
Jesus also told us that there would be an increasing departure from the rule of law as a sign of His soon return. Matthew 24:12 says, “because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” There are many who do things under the auspices of caring about others but their real motives are to secure power for themselves or their political party. I look forward to the day when Jesus returns to expose such schemes for all to see.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Impending Mideast War
I’m guessing that when President Obama breaks himself away from his domestic agenda to deal with foreign policy that he genuinely wants to see peace in the Mideast. But it is amazing how actions by rulers with a materialistic world view end up with exactly what they are trying to avoid.
After Israel approved 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, President Obama diverted JDAM kits for turning bunker buster bombs into smart bombs from Israel to the US Air Force base on Diego Garcia. I’m sure this is intended to punish Israel for building in Jerusalem by discouraging them from attacking Iran. But all this does is signal to Israel that they are on their own regarding Iran so their first strike has to be effective. There were already questions that conventional bunker buster smart bombs would be effective, so this only makes it more likely that Israel will employ tactical nuclear weapons to take out Iran’s hardened targets.
Given the existential nature of the threat Iran’s nuclear weapons program represents for Israel, using nuclear weapons against it is justified. And the world will ostracize Israel for attacking Iran whether they use conventional weapons or nukes. This is all the more reason for making sure the first strike will not require a second.
There is speculation that the reason Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently visited President Obama was to notify him about Israel’s single-strike plan. This conjecture is reinforced by the White House stepping up efforts on getting sanctions imposed on Iran by the world community of nations in weeks rather than months. All that sanctions will do is give the nations participated in it the perception of the moral high ground; it gives them cover that they did all they could to avoid a war. Iran has sufficient support from other nations that universal sanctions will not happen and thus will not be effective. Israel knows this and will not risk waiting for the world to come around to realizing this as well.
So Israel will attack Iran in a single, multiple target strike with tactical nuclear weapons. We don’t know when but I’d expect it to happen this year, probably by summer. The world will be outraged and I expect this will likely precipitate the Ezekiel 38 nations to mass for an attack on Israel. What will the outcome be? Israel will prevail. Zechariah 12:6 says, “In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem” (NKJ).
Any time nuclear weapons are used, even for a limited tactical objective, there is high risk of escalation. And it is very likely that the Ezekiel 38-39 war which includes a nuclear exchange will be the result. Ezekiel 38:22 describes how God will devastate those who attack Israel, “I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.” I’m sure this defensive action is what will cause the world’s longest continuously inhabited city, Damascus to become “be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1). And the devastation will not be limited to the massing soldiers: “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 39:6).
This war will set the stage for the Antichrist to come on the scene to clean things up. If this scenario is plausible, the Rapture must happen in conjunction with the Ezekiel 38 war. And I think that a nuclear exchange would be a likely time for the Rapture to occur. Who will miss a few millions Christians when the world has lost millions more from a nuclear war? 2 Thessalonians 2:11 reinforces the idea that God will time the Rapture in such a way that people will not give it the significance it deserves.
Developments in the Mideast bear watching… “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28)
After Israel approved 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, President Obama diverted JDAM kits for turning bunker buster bombs into smart bombs from Israel to the US Air Force base on Diego Garcia. I’m sure this is intended to punish Israel for building in Jerusalem by discouraging them from attacking Iran. But all this does is signal to Israel that they are on their own regarding Iran so their first strike has to be effective. There were already questions that conventional bunker buster smart bombs would be effective, so this only makes it more likely that Israel will employ tactical nuclear weapons to take out Iran’s hardened targets.
Given the existential nature of the threat Iran’s nuclear weapons program represents for Israel, using nuclear weapons against it is justified. And the world will ostracize Israel for attacking Iran whether they use conventional weapons or nukes. This is all the more reason for making sure the first strike will not require a second.
There is speculation that the reason Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently visited President Obama was to notify him about Israel’s single-strike plan. This conjecture is reinforced by the White House stepping up efforts on getting sanctions imposed on Iran by the world community of nations in weeks rather than months. All that sanctions will do is give the nations participated in it the perception of the moral high ground; it gives them cover that they did all they could to avoid a war. Iran has sufficient support from other nations that universal sanctions will not happen and thus will not be effective. Israel knows this and will not risk waiting for the world to come around to realizing this as well.
So Israel will attack Iran in a single, multiple target strike with tactical nuclear weapons. We don’t know when but I’d expect it to happen this year, probably by summer. The world will be outraged and I expect this will likely precipitate the Ezekiel 38 nations to mass for an attack on Israel. What will the outcome be? Israel will prevail. Zechariah 12:6 says, “In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem” (NKJ).
Any time nuclear weapons are used, even for a limited tactical objective, there is high risk of escalation. And it is very likely that the Ezekiel 38-39 war which includes a nuclear exchange will be the result. Ezekiel 38:22 describes how God will devastate those who attack Israel, “I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.” I’m sure this defensive action is what will cause the world’s longest continuously inhabited city, Damascus to become “be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1). And the devastation will not be limited to the massing soldiers: “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 39:6).
This war will set the stage for the Antichrist to come on the scene to clean things up. If this scenario is plausible, the Rapture must happen in conjunction with the Ezekiel 38 war. And I think that a nuclear exchange would be a likely time for the Rapture to occur. Who will miss a few millions Christians when the world has lost millions more from a nuclear war? 2 Thessalonians 2:11 reinforces the idea that God will time the Rapture in such a way that people will not give it the significance it deserves.
Developments in the Mideast bear watching… “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28)
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