The Global Warming controversy is in the news a lot lately due to the world climate summit in Copenhagen and Climate Gate. It looks like the leaders of the most developed nations are of one mind that it is urgent for mankind to curb carbon dioxide emissions. The only ones opposing this are a skeptical minority who has thought through the economic ramifications of trying to control the climate.
I’ve long been struck with the religious fervor of the global warming proponents epitomized by Al Gore declaring the debate to be over and refusing to consider dissenting perspectives. Despite the growing evidence that global warming is not even occurring, government officials of the most prosperous nations act as if it is their moral duty to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Thus Satan’s control over the nations is growing every day.
The proposed solutions to global warming seek to moderate (and even reverse) the progress of the most developed nations. This is what Liberal/Leftists do; punish success while rewarding the underprivileged. Their irrational pursuit of this ideology dooms us to failure because privileges are intrinsically coupled to success and thus must be earned. Such striving for universal mediocrity is what caused Soviet communism to fail dramatically. The fact that mankind can’t learn from history is proof on its own that the time will come when God must bring it all to a conclusion. I guess the Liberal/Leftist rationale is that while communism fails on a national basis, it might just work if implemented world-wide.
Western Civilization has been greatly blessed by God as rewards for seeking to know Him better through studying His creation. Indeed, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17, NIV). Discoveries of Western scientists have been applied to improve life everywhere. It is ironic that so many are now of one mind to remove the blessings from science in the name of science. But this is what Satan and his followers do, seeking to destroy what God has built.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:5 that many would come claiming to be the savior of mankind intending to deceive us. Satan has used corrupted science get people to believe his global warming dogma. And most are oblivious to the spiritual warfare that is occurring. A major strategy of the devil is to imitate what God does… “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, NKJ). Climate Gate shows how Satan has been corrupting science to foster the fear of global warming.
It looks like most people have set aside critical thinking to just accept the corrupted science of global warming. I’m sure they believe mankind must be causing global warming because who would think science could let us down so? Despite Climate Gate, it looks like there is nothing we can do to reverse the economic damage that the global warming zealots are pursuing.
As I consider the Copenhagen global warming conference, Psalm 2 comes to mind… “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. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath…” (Psalm 2:1-5, NKJ)
God’s wrath is coming. Thank God that those who follow Jesus in this Age of Grace will not have to suffer His wrath during the Tribulation... “for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NKJ).
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Signs of the Unexpected
You know you must be on the cusp of cataclysmic changes in the world when you learn that the undefeated University Of Cincinnati will be in the Sugar Bowl. This is the first time in the 76 year history of the Sugar Bowl that UC has had this opportunity. And if it wasn't for Texas upsetting Nebraska with a last-second field goal, fourth ranked UC would have a shot at the national title.
Things certainly change. When I was at UC (albeit more that three decades ago) there was talk of ending the football program because of apathy toward a lackluster team that usually lost. These unprecedented developments bring to mind Habakkuk 1:5 which 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" (NKJ).
We do live in amazing times. Who would have expected that the United States would become so indebted and willing to yield our sovereignty to the community of nations so quickly? Who would have guessed that Islam would become such a catalyst for conflict between nations in our day? Or that the flawed science of global warming would become such a religion drawing the nations toward a global government? Of course the most amazing thing is that Israel has been re-established as a nation after the Jews have been dispersed throughout the world for almost two thousand years. And Hebrew has been revived which was long dead as a spoken language. Such developments are simply unprecedented in history.
I expect to see even more amazing things among the nations in the days to come. It is such a blessing to know how things will turn out and that God has a plan for us. Those who don't know God or His plan will be distressed by what He is doing in the world... "there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:25-26, NKJ).
Not being distressed by what is happening among the nations is one of the many benefits of being a friend of Jesus... "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15, NKJ). Since God has helped us with knowledge of things to come, this should compel us to share that knowledge so others may likewise experience these blessings.
Things certainly change. When I was at UC (albeit more that three decades ago) there was talk of ending the football program because of apathy toward a lackluster team that usually lost. These unprecedented developments bring to mind Habakkuk 1:5 which 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" (NKJ).
We do live in amazing times. Who would have expected that the United States would become so indebted and willing to yield our sovereignty to the community of nations so quickly? Who would have guessed that Islam would become such a catalyst for conflict between nations in our day? Or that the flawed science of global warming would become such a religion drawing the nations toward a global government? Of course the most amazing thing is that Israel has been re-established as a nation after the Jews have been dispersed throughout the world for almost two thousand years. And Hebrew has been revived which was long dead as a spoken language. Such developments are simply unprecedented in history.
I expect to see even more amazing things among the nations in the days to come. It is such a blessing to know how things will turn out and that God has a plan for us. Those who don't know God or His plan will be distressed by what He is doing in the world... "there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:25-26, NKJ).
Not being distressed by what is happening among the nations is one of the many benefits of being a friend of Jesus... "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15, NKJ). Since God has helped us with knowledge of things to come, this should compel us to share that knowledge so others may likewise experience these blessings.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Days Shortened
At church yesterday I had a conversation with a friend about the outlook for the economy. We both agreed that it was pretty gloomy and thanked God that we had good jobs. Our government is determined to pile on as much debt as they can to justify as many new additional taxes as they can keeping the environment for business as uncertain as they can which will stifle job growth. I am not an expert in economics but it doesn't take an expert to see that our country is on the path to financial destruction. The Bible provides ample wisdom about the perils of indebtedness.
There are signs that the American people are waking up to the damage President Obama and the Leftist Congress are doing to our economy so I am hopeful that the pendulum could soon swing back to a more conservative government. It is possible that the American voter can boot out many of the Leftists in Congress during the next election in 2010 and replace Obama in 2012. But we shouldn't think that a change of government will be the salvation of this country. God is in control and has raised up a Leftist government for us so that we may be on the path that we are on... "there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1, NKJ).
Yesterday our Pastor cited a Bible passage that reinforces how God orchestrates events so that His will be done. In 1 Kings 22:20, the Lord asked His heavenly host, "Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?" Reading on reveals that a "spirit" offered a plan to get Ahab's cadre of prophets to convince him he'd be successful if he went to battle at Ramoth Gilead. At first I thought this "spirit" might be a Holy Angel but upon reading further the text refers to him as a lying spirit. So God authorized a demon to execute a plan that served God's purposes.
This tells me that the rapid pace we are on to reduce the economic power of the United States in the world is actually ordained by God. Obama and the Leftist Congress was appointed by God for the purpose of causing our country to make way for earth dwellers to experience their concept of a global government. As I was meditating on why God would be in such a hurry for this, the passage He brought to my mind was Jesus commenting on the Tribulation, "unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:22, NKJ). Since the Bible teaches that the Tribulation is a fixed period of time, seven years, I always considered His commenting on the days being shortened as being rhetorical to emphasize how terrible the Tribulation will be. But it now occurred to me that this could also have an application to our day in the lead-up to the Tribulation.
It could be that we have reached a tipping point in the growth of the spirit of Antichrist putting us past the point of no return. Even though we are not yet in the Tribulation when the Beast of Revelation is in power, a lot of damage can be inflicted on God's people by those who share the mind of the Antichrist. As Daniel 8:25 says, "He shall destroy many in their prosperity" (NKJ). Now is not a time to be trusting in our worldly resources for deliverance. But God in His mercy is accelerating the schedule to minimize the damage to His people. While the days of the Tribulation can not be reduced, the lead-up to it can be. Indeed the Prophet Daniel said that events associated with the return of the Messiah will transpire very quickly, "the end of it shall be with a flood" (Daniel 9:26, NKJ).
It is good to remember that our Savior is in control and so that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJ). And we don't have long to wait, Jesus said in Revelation 22:20, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There are signs that the American people are waking up to the damage President Obama and the Leftist Congress are doing to our economy so I am hopeful that the pendulum could soon swing back to a more conservative government. It is possible that the American voter can boot out many of the Leftists in Congress during the next election in 2010 and replace Obama in 2012. But we shouldn't think that a change of government will be the salvation of this country. God is in control and has raised up a Leftist government for us so that we may be on the path that we are on... "there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1, NKJ).
Yesterday our Pastor cited a Bible passage that reinforces how God orchestrates events so that His will be done. In 1 Kings 22:20, the Lord asked His heavenly host, "Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?" Reading on reveals that a "spirit" offered a plan to get Ahab's cadre of prophets to convince him he'd be successful if he went to battle at Ramoth Gilead. At first I thought this "spirit" might be a Holy Angel but upon reading further the text refers to him as a lying spirit. So God authorized a demon to execute a plan that served God's purposes.
This tells me that the rapid pace we are on to reduce the economic power of the United States in the world is actually ordained by God. Obama and the Leftist Congress was appointed by God for the purpose of causing our country to make way for earth dwellers to experience their concept of a global government. As I was meditating on why God would be in such a hurry for this, the passage He brought to my mind was Jesus commenting on the Tribulation, "unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:22, NKJ). Since the Bible teaches that the Tribulation is a fixed period of time, seven years, I always considered His commenting on the days being shortened as being rhetorical to emphasize how terrible the Tribulation will be. But it now occurred to me that this could also have an application to our day in the lead-up to the Tribulation.
It could be that we have reached a tipping point in the growth of the spirit of Antichrist putting us past the point of no return. Even though we are not yet in the Tribulation when the Beast of Revelation is in power, a lot of damage can be inflicted on God's people by those who share the mind of the Antichrist. As Daniel 8:25 says, "He shall destroy many in their prosperity" (NKJ). Now is not a time to be trusting in our worldly resources for deliverance. But God in His mercy is accelerating the schedule to minimize the damage to His people. While the days of the Tribulation can not be reduced, the lead-up to it can be. Indeed the Prophet Daniel said that events associated with the return of the Messiah will transpire very quickly, "the end of it shall be with a flood" (Daniel 9:26, NKJ).
It is good to remember that our Savior is in control and so that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJ). And we don't have long to wait, Jesus said in Revelation 22:20, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Young Earth
I was struck by the inertia of the global warming dogma when I brought up ClimateGate with three coworkers over lunch yesterday. They believed that the shrinking polar ice fields is indisputable evidence of global warming. Such blindness to what is really happening is due to a materialistic world view which says, "all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:4, NKJ).
People reject the fact that the aggregate, average temperature of the planet has not been going up because this data does not fit with what should be expected with the polar ice fields shrinking. A materialistic world view thinks the polar ice has been in place for multiple millions, indeed billions of years. So it is very alarming to them when it becomes apparent that it is shrinking. But if the earth has only been here for thousands of years as the Bible says then a change in the polar ice is not surprising.
Those who don't have a biblical world view will be perplexed by unexplained phenomena in the time leading up to the return of Christ. Luke 21:25-26 says, "there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken" (NKJ).
The reason the polar ice can shrink without the aggregate, average temperature of the planet changing is due to the Second Law of Thermodynamics playing out on a world-wide scale. In this world since the fall of mankind into sin, entropy or randomness increases over time. So polarized temperatures will become less polarized or more dispersed over time. I am convinced that the polar ice fields formed suddenly at the world-wide flood during Noah's day...
The earth was originally created with an atmospheric layer of water vapor called a firmament in the Bible (Genesis 1:7). The water vapor canopy kept temperatures uniform across the planet so it did not rain. This dense water vapor layer compressed the air beneath resulting in a higher atmospheric pressure than today. It also diffused the solar radiation so that temperatures were moderate everywhere across the globe. This facilitated the growth of more plant life than we have today resulting in a higher oxygen content. Thus, the atmosphere was like a gigantic hyperbolic chamber which hospitals use to accelerate healing. This helps explain how people could live longer before Noah's Flood than they do today.
Over time, centrifugal force caused the water vapor canopy to mass over the equator so that there was a thinner vapor barrier at the poles. At the worldwide flood, most of the water in the vapor canopy precipitated down to the earth causing the vapor barrier to break up (Genesis 7:11). Since the vapor barrier was thinner at the poles, it broke up there first. The high pressure air venting through the vapor barrier at the poles caused a dramatic cooling effect, thus forming the polar ice. This is how air conditioners and refrigerators work… a rapidly expanding gas results in cooling.
After 40 days of rain, the earth was covered in water (Genesis 7:19). Eventually, the flood subsided leaving conditions on earth as we know it today (Genesis 8:14). The rapid formation of polar ice is supported by evidence such as the discovery of mammoths that were frozen so quickly that some still had food in their mouths. Also, explorers in Antarctica routinely report seeing tropical vegetation frozen in the ice crevasses. Old earth materialists can not explain these discoveries so the just ignore it or come up with weak explanations that are not logical.
There is a lot of evidence that the earth is not really as old as materialists believe. For example, satellite imagery reveals how much silt has been deposited in the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi River. We also know how much is deposited on average each year so simple math tells us how long this process has been going on… It is on the order of 5,000 years, not the multi-millions of years that materialists believe.
The conventional wisdom is that rock dating proves the earth to be multi-millions of years old but all rock dating techniques are dependant on assumptions as to how much radioactive material was originally in rocks. And no one knows what that was! Rock dating has declared lava rocks to be millions of years old in cases where their age is known to be only a 100 years old from the history of the volcano eruption that formed them.
Carbon-14 dating is limited to once-living matter so it is significantly more reliable than rock dating. No assumptions need to be made because the amount of Carbon-14 originally in the matter is known from living organisms. Fossil fuels are the oldest once-living matter on earth. Everyone I discuss this with are amazed to learn that Carbon-14 dating reveals oil and coal to be only thousands of years old, not millions of years as materialists expect.
If you think it was millions of years from the creation of the world before Jesus came then it is easy to believe that it could be millions of years until He returns. But if the earth is only thousands of years old as the Bible indicates then the return of Jesus could be any day now. As the Lord said in Genesis 6:3, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh" (NKJ).
People reject the fact that the aggregate, average temperature of the planet has not been going up because this data does not fit with what should be expected with the polar ice fields shrinking. A materialistic world view thinks the polar ice has been in place for multiple millions, indeed billions of years. So it is very alarming to them when it becomes apparent that it is shrinking. But if the earth has only been here for thousands of years as the Bible says then a change in the polar ice is not surprising.
Those who don't have a biblical world view will be perplexed by unexplained phenomena in the time leading up to the return of Christ. Luke 21:25-26 says, "there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken" (NKJ).
The reason the polar ice can shrink without the aggregate, average temperature of the planet changing is due to the Second Law of Thermodynamics playing out on a world-wide scale. In this world since the fall of mankind into sin, entropy or randomness increases over time. So polarized temperatures will become less polarized or more dispersed over time. I am convinced that the polar ice fields formed suddenly at the world-wide flood during Noah's day...
The earth was originally created with an atmospheric layer of water vapor called a firmament in the Bible (Genesis 1:7). The water vapor canopy kept temperatures uniform across the planet so it did not rain. This dense water vapor layer compressed the air beneath resulting in a higher atmospheric pressure than today. It also diffused the solar radiation so that temperatures were moderate everywhere across the globe. This facilitated the growth of more plant life than we have today resulting in a higher oxygen content. Thus, the atmosphere was like a gigantic hyperbolic chamber which hospitals use to accelerate healing. This helps explain how people could live longer before Noah's Flood than they do today.
Over time, centrifugal force caused the water vapor canopy to mass over the equator so that there was a thinner vapor barrier at the poles. At the worldwide flood, most of the water in the vapor canopy precipitated down to the earth causing the vapor barrier to break up (Genesis 7:11). Since the vapor barrier was thinner at the poles, it broke up there first. The high pressure air venting through the vapor barrier at the poles caused a dramatic cooling effect, thus forming the polar ice. This is how air conditioners and refrigerators work… a rapidly expanding gas results in cooling.
After 40 days of rain, the earth was covered in water (Genesis 7:19). Eventually, the flood subsided leaving conditions on earth as we know it today (Genesis 8:14). The rapid formation of polar ice is supported by evidence such as the discovery of mammoths that were frozen so quickly that some still had food in their mouths. Also, explorers in Antarctica routinely report seeing tropical vegetation frozen in the ice crevasses. Old earth materialists can not explain these discoveries so the just ignore it or come up with weak explanations that are not logical.
There is a lot of evidence that the earth is not really as old as materialists believe. For example, satellite imagery reveals how much silt has been deposited in the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi River. We also know how much is deposited on average each year so simple math tells us how long this process has been going on… It is on the order of 5,000 years, not the multi-millions of years that materialists believe.
The conventional wisdom is that rock dating proves the earth to be multi-millions of years old but all rock dating techniques are dependant on assumptions as to how much radioactive material was originally in rocks. And no one knows what that was! Rock dating has declared lava rocks to be millions of years old in cases where their age is known to be only a 100 years old from the history of the volcano eruption that formed them.
Carbon-14 dating is limited to once-living matter so it is significantly more reliable than rock dating. No assumptions need to be made because the amount of Carbon-14 originally in the matter is known from living organisms. Fossil fuels are the oldest once-living matter on earth. Everyone I discuss this with are amazed to learn that Carbon-14 dating reveals oil and coal to be only thousands of years old, not millions of years as materialists expect.
If you think it was millions of years from the creation of the world before Jesus came then it is easy to believe that it could be millions of years until He returns. But if the earth is only thousands of years old as the Bible indicates then the return of Jesus could be any day now. As the Lord said in Genesis 6:3, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh" (NKJ).
Thursday, December 3, 2009
ClimateGate
More is starting to come out about the conspiracy to perpetrate the hoax of global warming. For example, Google has been implicated in trying to cover up scientists challenging the global warming dogma. It is interesting to note that Al Gore serves as an advisor on Google's board. Gore has a vested personal interest in seeing cap and trade come to fruition since he is the co-founder of Generation Investment Management, which sells carbon offsets that allow rich polluters to continue with a clear conscience. It's a scheme that will make traders of this new commodity rich and Bernie Madoff look like a pickpocket.
I hope that ClimateGate will help people realize that there is such a thing as "bad science" where those involved allow their personal agendas to bias them in order to deceive others. This is important because science has become an idol for so many people in our postmodern society. Science cultists worship the process of discovery rather than the Giver of Discoveries as idolatry is worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. They look to science to be our savior rather than God. They don't realize that, "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17, NKJ). The many scientific discoveries that we have which so benefit mankind are actually gifts from God.
Most people don't even bother to ask why Western Civilization has been so blessed with beneficial scientific discoveries. It was followers of Christ who first began using the scientific method to study creation during the Renaissance period in order to learn more about the Creator. As Romans 1:20 says, "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead" (NKJ). God rewarded the effort to know Him better through studying the creation with discoveries that has made life better for people.
In this postmodern age, people have deviated from the godly motivation of science and have even used it to manipulate and control people. And God has increasingly allowed Satan to give "discoveries" to mankind foreshadowing the removal of the Restrainer of Evil (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Any discovery that causes people to turn from God is gift Satan would endorse. I think the "science" behind global warming is a gift from Satan. The very idea that mankind is such a master of our own destiny that we can avoid planetary disaster through our own efforts is the height of arrogance. It elevates mankind to the level of savior usurping God's role. This is a lie of the devil and the reason why God scattered mankind at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).
By the way, I also consider the theory that mankind evolved from apes along with the technology of abortion to both be "gifts" from Satan. With that said, I also consider these to be "disputable matters" (Romans 14:1, KJV) which a person can embrace but still be a follower of Christ. I know that to be the case because I believed that God used evolution to bring about the creation when I first became a born-again Christian. I think that Christians who hold on to the idea that God orchestrated evolution to bring about the creation limits the depth of their relationship with Him as well as their eternal reward but this belief alone will not keep them out of heaven. Having wrong views about fundamentals such as who Jesus is and why He came is what keeps people out of heaven.
Despite what we now know about ClimateGate, I predict that the global warming dogma will persist. There are just too many powerful people who have a vested interest in it. And more importantly, global warming justifies actions that dark spiritual forces are working to make happen in our world: diminishing the economic power of Western Civilization in general and the United States in particular to make way for the global government of the Antichrist.
We will know how close we are to the Rapture as we watch to see how effective the honest climate scientists are in making known the truth about global warming. The forces of evil are certainly arrayed against them. If ClimateGate gets picked up by the mainstream media and a groundswell of public outcry puts the kibosh on cap and trade then the Rapture may not be as close as it would have to be otherwise. But if Cap and Trade gets implemented, I'm convinced that will be the straw breaking the back of the U.S. economy so the global government of the Antichrist (and the Rapture which precedes it) can't be too far away.
Pray for discernment as the days get darker because, "evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13, NKJ).
I hope that ClimateGate will help people realize that there is such a thing as "bad science" where those involved allow their personal agendas to bias them in order to deceive others. This is important because science has become an idol for so many people in our postmodern society. Science cultists worship the process of discovery rather than the Giver of Discoveries as idolatry is worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. They look to science to be our savior rather than God. They don't realize that, "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17, NKJ). The many scientific discoveries that we have which so benefit mankind are actually gifts from God.
Most people don't even bother to ask why Western Civilization has been so blessed with beneficial scientific discoveries. It was followers of Christ who first began using the scientific method to study creation during the Renaissance period in order to learn more about the Creator. As Romans 1:20 says, "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead" (NKJ). God rewarded the effort to know Him better through studying the creation with discoveries that has made life better for people.
In this postmodern age, people have deviated from the godly motivation of science and have even used it to manipulate and control people. And God has increasingly allowed Satan to give "discoveries" to mankind foreshadowing the removal of the Restrainer of Evil (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Any discovery that causes people to turn from God is gift Satan would endorse. I think the "science" behind global warming is a gift from Satan. The very idea that mankind is such a master of our own destiny that we can avoid planetary disaster through our own efforts is the height of arrogance. It elevates mankind to the level of savior usurping God's role. This is a lie of the devil and the reason why God scattered mankind at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).
By the way, I also consider the theory that mankind evolved from apes along with the technology of abortion to both be "gifts" from Satan. With that said, I also consider these to be "disputable matters" (Romans 14:1, KJV) which a person can embrace but still be a follower of Christ. I know that to be the case because I believed that God used evolution to bring about the creation when I first became a born-again Christian. I think that Christians who hold on to the idea that God orchestrated evolution to bring about the creation limits the depth of their relationship with Him as well as their eternal reward but this belief alone will not keep them out of heaven. Having wrong views about fundamentals such as who Jesus is and why He came is what keeps people out of heaven.
Despite what we now know about ClimateGate, I predict that the global warming dogma will persist. There are just too many powerful people who have a vested interest in it. And more importantly, global warming justifies actions that dark spiritual forces are working to make happen in our world: diminishing the economic power of Western Civilization in general and the United States in particular to make way for the global government of the Antichrist.
We will know how close we are to the Rapture as we watch to see how effective the honest climate scientists are in making known the truth about global warming. The forces of evil are certainly arrayed against them. If ClimateGate gets picked up by the mainstream media and a groundswell of public outcry puts the kibosh on cap and trade then the Rapture may not be as close as it would have to be otherwise. But if Cap and Trade gets implemented, I'm convinced that will be the straw breaking the back of the U.S. economy so the global government of the Antichrist (and the Rapture which precedes it) can't be too far away.
Pray for discernment as the days get darker because, "evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13, NKJ).
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Afghanistan
Our President made a major speech last night on Afghanistan. I didn't see it because I've seen enough of his speeches to know that it would be long on eloquence but short on substance. I do know that he announced: (1) an additional 30,000 soldiers would be committed to the effort and (2) he'd begin pulling them out in 18 months. What a mixed message that is. By announcing the withdrawal, it makes you wonder why he is even bothering with sending in more troops.
I'm sure the President used flowery words to say how committed he was to winning in Afghanistan. But his actions speak louder than words. The fact that it took him so long to make a decision on Afghanistan shows that his commitment to the effort there was wavering. The 30,000 additional U.S. troops is only 75% of what his generals told him it would take to be successful there. And by setting a date for the withdrawal, he is making it clear that the real objective is to be out of Afghanistan, regardless the outcome.
A couple of the commentators I heard on Obama's Afghanistan speech said that by giving our timetable for withdrawing all the Taliban needs to do is to lay low for a while and they can have their country back. But I don't think that will be the result; Obama's speech signals weakness. I'm sure the Taliban see blood in the water and they will be encouraged to redouble their efforts to kill Americans in their country while they can.
Despite the increased carnage I expect we'll see there, I predict we will be pretty much done with Afghanistan by the time the campaign for the next presidential election heats up in 2012. Obama will have "punched his ticket" as a war president and also have done the responsible thing of getting us out of this entanglement.
Our president talking war but not being serious about achieving a true victory makes me think of the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Revelation 6:2 says, "I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (NKJ). Most Bible scholars equate the First Horseman with the advent of the Antichrist. Notice that the horseman has a bow but there is no mention of arrows. His weapon is incomplete; more for show than for use. Now I'm not saying that Obama is the First Horseman of the Apocalypse, but I am saying that how he is handling Afghanistan foreshadows how the Antichrist will initially conduct himself.
Liberals always make every effort to avoid war but the end result is a worse conflagration than if they went "all in" from the beginning. It is certainly noble to not want war but acting as if you are committed to avoiding war at all costs is a weakness that others will exploit in this world. History has demonstrated that over and over. Liberals act this way because they do not understand the nature of mankind... "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJ). Liberals think that people are basically good and that if you can just reason with those out to destroy you than the conflict can be resolved. While this sometimes does work on an individual person-to-person level, it is flawed thinking when when dealing with representatives of nations or groups of people. In these cases group-think trumps personal reasoning.
People of this world want peace but most do not realize that there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes. Since the way of the First Horseman of the Apocalypse seems popular in our day, we surely don't have long to wait.
I'm sure the President used flowery words to say how committed he was to winning in Afghanistan. But his actions speak louder than words. The fact that it took him so long to make a decision on Afghanistan shows that his commitment to the effort there was wavering. The 30,000 additional U.S. troops is only 75% of what his generals told him it would take to be successful there. And by setting a date for the withdrawal, he is making it clear that the real objective is to be out of Afghanistan, regardless the outcome.
A couple of the commentators I heard on Obama's Afghanistan speech said that by giving our timetable for withdrawing all the Taliban needs to do is to lay low for a while and they can have their country back. But I don't think that will be the result; Obama's speech signals weakness. I'm sure the Taliban see blood in the water and they will be encouraged to redouble their efforts to kill Americans in their country while they can.
Despite the increased carnage I expect we'll see there, I predict we will be pretty much done with Afghanistan by the time the campaign for the next presidential election heats up in 2012. Obama will have "punched his ticket" as a war president and also have done the responsible thing of getting us out of this entanglement.
Our president talking war but not being serious about achieving a true victory makes me think of the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Revelation 6:2 says, "I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (NKJ). Most Bible scholars equate the First Horseman with the advent of the Antichrist. Notice that the horseman has a bow but there is no mention of arrows. His weapon is incomplete; more for show than for use. Now I'm not saying that Obama is the First Horseman of the Apocalypse, but I am saying that how he is handling Afghanistan foreshadows how the Antichrist will initially conduct himself.
Liberals always make every effort to avoid war but the end result is a worse conflagration than if they went "all in" from the beginning. It is certainly noble to not want war but acting as if you are committed to avoiding war at all costs is a weakness that others will exploit in this world. History has demonstrated that over and over. Liberals act this way because they do not understand the nature of mankind... "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJ). Liberals think that people are basically good and that if you can just reason with those out to destroy you than the conflict can be resolved. While this sometimes does work on an individual person-to-person level, it is flawed thinking when when dealing with representatives of nations or groups of people. In these cases group-think trumps personal reasoning.
People of this world want peace but most do not realize that there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes. Since the way of the First Horseman of the Apocalypse seems popular in our day, we surely don't have long to wait.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Narrowing Windows
It is becoming more obvious that Iran is trying to provoke Israel to attack them. There is a report that they believe Russia will deliver their advanced antiaircraft missile system within a couple of months. And Iran is also claiming that they plan to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants. This must mean that Iran's rearming of Hezbollah, their proxy in Syria and Lebanon must be just about complete.
The radical Islamist leaders of Iran seek to provoke an attack by Israel to justify attacking them through Hezbollah. An Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities will give Hezbollah legitimacy to attack Israel with the missiles they have been stockpiling. The Iranian Mullahs are also hoping that such a conflict between nations will spark the emergence of the Mahdi, the leader that will unite the world under Islam.
Russia pretty much confirmed to Israel that they would move forward in supplying their S-300 antiaircraft system to Iran claiming it was for defensive use only and that Iran was less of a nuclear threat than North Korea or Pakistan. So the fact that Iran will soon have a beefed-up antiaircraft missile system gives Israel a narrowing window in which to do something about Iran's nuclear program. Any action Israel takes would have to be mostly dependant on their air force and an operational S-300 system in Iran would reduce their effectiveness.
I also found interesting a story about an 18th Century Jewish Sage predicting that the Third Temple in Jerusalem would begin to be built immediately following the third completion of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem. Given that this synagogue is scheduled to be completed on March 15, 2010, Haaretz.com surmised that construction will begin on the Third Temple on March 16, 2010. Of course such an event is politically impossible today so for that to happen, the situation in Israel would have to change dramatically.
I think that a very likely scenario is for an attack on Iran to dealing with their nuclear weapon ambitions will trigger a massive assault on Israel by Syria and Hezbollah. Now that Hezbollah has improved, longer range missiles, the impact on Israel will be deadly forcing Israel to do something drastic to stop the carnage of their people. This is where I think it is likely that Israel will use a nuclear weapon on Damascus; "Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap" (Isaiah 17:1, NKJ).
That the Mideast conflict could escalate to such an extent is intolerable to the world and the situation will be ripe for a leader to emerge that brings peace to Israel. Of course this will be a temporary peace but it enables Israel to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Could all this happen by March? Well it would be pretty amazing if it did. Indeed, it would be pretty amazing if it happened any time in 2010. But we know that these events will transpire very rapidly once they get started. As Daniel 9:26 says, "the end of it shall be with a flood" (NKJ).
And of course we know that the Rapture of the Church will occur prior to the revealing of the world ruler that enables Israel to build the Third Temple. "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. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NKJ). The Holy Spirit is restraining through the Church the lawlessness that will spawn the Antichrist. Thus the Antichrist can not come to power on the world scene until God removes the followers of Jesus.
The idea that the Rapture really could happen soon should get us to make good use of the time we have left in our mortal bodies. As Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4, NKJ).
The radical Islamist leaders of Iran seek to provoke an attack by Israel to justify attacking them through Hezbollah. An Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities will give Hezbollah legitimacy to attack Israel with the missiles they have been stockpiling. The Iranian Mullahs are also hoping that such a conflict between nations will spark the emergence of the Mahdi, the leader that will unite the world under Islam.
Russia pretty much confirmed to Israel that they would move forward in supplying their S-300 antiaircraft system to Iran claiming it was for defensive use only and that Iran was less of a nuclear threat than North Korea or Pakistan. So the fact that Iran will soon have a beefed-up antiaircraft missile system gives Israel a narrowing window in which to do something about Iran's nuclear program. Any action Israel takes would have to be mostly dependant on their air force and an operational S-300 system in Iran would reduce their effectiveness.
I also found interesting a story about an 18th Century Jewish Sage predicting that the Third Temple in Jerusalem would begin to be built immediately following the third completion of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem. Given that this synagogue is scheduled to be completed on March 15, 2010, Haaretz.com surmised that construction will begin on the Third Temple on March 16, 2010. Of course such an event is politically impossible today so for that to happen, the situation in Israel would have to change dramatically.
I think that a very likely scenario is for an attack on Iran to dealing with their nuclear weapon ambitions will trigger a massive assault on Israel by Syria and Hezbollah. Now that Hezbollah has improved, longer range missiles, the impact on Israel will be deadly forcing Israel to do something drastic to stop the carnage of their people. This is where I think it is likely that Israel will use a nuclear weapon on Damascus; "Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap" (Isaiah 17:1, NKJ).
That the Mideast conflict could escalate to such an extent is intolerable to the world and the situation will be ripe for a leader to emerge that brings peace to Israel. Of course this will be a temporary peace but it enables Israel to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Could all this happen by March? Well it would be pretty amazing if it did. Indeed, it would be pretty amazing if it happened any time in 2010. But we know that these events will transpire very rapidly once they get started. As Daniel 9:26 says, "the end of it shall be with a flood" (NKJ).
And of course we know that the Rapture of the Church will occur prior to the revealing of the world ruler that enables Israel to build the Third Temple. "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. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NKJ). The Holy Spirit is restraining through the Church the lawlessness that will spawn the Antichrist. Thus the Antichrist can not come to power on the world scene until God removes the followers of Jesus.
The idea that the Rapture really could happen soon should get us to make good use of the time we have left in our mortal bodies. As Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4, NKJ).
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