Global Warming Nonsense

This week the meteorologists forecasting an epic snowstorm for the New York City area blew it so badly that they apologized.  You'd think in this enlightened age with computer models forecasting doom decades from now if we don't cut back our carbon emissions that we could at least get a 24-hour forecast right.  

The global warming faithful are quick to say that climate is not weather as if that gives them license to ignore the limitations of computer models.  But we can't do that because global warming proponents base their entire argument of the doom to come on computer models.  As anyone who has worked with computer models know, they are only as good as the information and algorithms they are given. 

The computer models used to predict the weather are simpler than those being used to predict the climate.  Global warming proponents claim that their more complex climate models are better than those used for predicting the weather so we should trust them.  I'm sorry, this is debased logic.  If you can't get the simple right, why should we trust you with the more complex?  Indeed this problem with modeling has led to "Bonini's Paradox" which explains the challenges of simulations that fully represent complex systems.  French philosopher Paul Valéry effectively summarized this paradox in advance when he said, "Everything simple is false. Everything which is complex is unusable" (Notre destin et les lettres, 1937).

It is getting harder for global warming proponents to sustain the myth.  More scientists are coming out to proclaim that the emperor has no clothes.  MIT meteorology professor emeritus Richard Lindzen recently commented on the religious nature of global warming:

“As with any cult, once the mythology of the cult begins falling apart, instead of saying, oh, we were wrong, they get more and more fanatical. I think that’s what’s happening here. Think about it, you’ve led an unpleasant life, you haven’t led a very virtuous life, but now you’re told, you get absolution if you watch your carbon footprint. It’s salvation!”

The global warming proponents don't much like us calling them religious.  After all, they are Scientists; and Science can't be wrong!  They say those who oppose the settled Science of global warming are unscientific.  This only serves to shut down the debate; it is futile to argue with someone who is irrational.  What they don't realize is that they have made Science into an idol that will fail them sooner than they realize.

The reason governments and their paid scientific lackeys are pushing the global warming agenda so religiously is that it will be used to level the playing field between nations.  Dealing with global warming will throttle the economic power of the United States and facilitate wealth redistribution on a global scale.  Global warming is a world-wide problem that will require a global government to administer.  And that is coming sooner than most people expect.    

What the global warming faithful should fear is what the Bible says is coming.  "The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men"   (2 Peter 3:7, NIV).  The only way to escape the real global warming that is coming is to let Jesus Christ in your life before it is too late.

Coming Islamic Caliphate

The growing band of Islamic State Jihadists continue to make progress toward establishing an Islamic Caliphate.  It is beginning to look like they now intend to take control of the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.  This will be necessary if they have any hope of convincing the Islamic world that they have sufficient authority to rule over them. 

The Islamic State certainly has the momentum to be convincing even surpassing the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan in influence.  They have accomplished a lot tripling the area they control in the face of an anemic bombing campaign by the U.S. and other nations.  The Islamic State "extremists" are also very vocal about their plans to kill hundreds of millions of people in their quest to bring an Islamic Caliphate into existence.     

Meanwhile, leaders in Western nations can't even bring themselves to link terrorism with Islam.  Either they are cowering in fear of Muslims or they secretly agree with their cause.  I am inclined to believe the latter, that our liberal Western leaders sympathize with Muslims thinking it is only fair that the West yields some of its power and influence in the world to Islam.  The political left already share many ideals with Islam; both are totalitarian in wanting to control all aspects of human existence, both are anti-capitalist regarding individuals as existing only to serve the collective, and both see the U.S. freedom culture with individual liberties as an obstacle. 

The rapid rise in the power and influence of Islam is one of the key indicators of the advanced stage of history we are in as the Church Age comes to an end.  Islam is obviously a doctrine of demons growing in the spirit of Antichrist as God removes His restraint of evil with the Tribulation drawing near.  We seem to be powerless against this growing wickedness with our political correctness not even letting us name Islam as the inspiration for virtually all of the world's terrorism.  Indeed, this will be the case with the Antichrist whom no one will be able to stop; "they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?'" (Revelation 13:4).

The closer we get to the Tribulation, the closer the Church gets to the Greatest Adventure anyone could ever hope to aspire to.  We all need to live ready; "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

Will 2015 be the Year?

Jerusalem has been the longing for Diaspora Jews who traditionally reflect that they might celebrate the Passover, “next year in Jerusalem.”  Likewise with the beginning of a new year, Christians who are watching for the return of Christ long for this to be the year of our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).  It sure seems it could be with all the stage setting for the Tribulation going on.

It is only by the grace of God that the world economy has not imploded.  It wouldn’t take much to set it off.  The rapid drop in the price of oil is an indicator that the world is already in recession.  The low oil prices are also putting pressure on financial institutions to raise interest rates but this would crater the huge derivative and bond markets.  I’m no economics expert but I have observed our market swings enough to know that those economics experts in charge are more often wrong then they are right.  How else can you explain why our smart economics wizards allowed us to get in the position we’re in?  It is enough to make you become a conspiracy theorist thinking that some cabal of global government elitists are trying to crash the world economy so that they may foist changes on us that we would otherwise resist.  As the leftist change agents love to say, “you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.” 

Another thing the low oil prices are doing is causing significant pain for Russia because oil is their primary export.  Russia has been testing NATO’s resolve to keep them in check and has found that we don’t much care beyond imposing sanctions.  But lower oil prices are having a greater economic impact on Russia than the sanctions.  This may well be the hook of Ezekiel 38 that is being set to cause Russia to invade the Mid-East under the guise of helping their Arab partners with their Israeli problem.  Whoever controls the oil controls the world.

And of course we have wars and rumors of wars in the Mid-East.  The United States President appears to be hell-bent to allow Iran to get nuclear weapons threatening Congress to not impose any more sanctions on them.  We can only surmise that he must think there is some benefit to a nuclear-armed Iran like being able to use it to pressure Israel to make more concessions in the endless pursuit of peace.  Meanwhile, the Islamic State which suddenly emerged out of no where continues to win hearts, minds and real estate in Iraq and Syria with designs on Lebanon as they bring Sharia Law to the region beheading their opponents.

In Europe, growing anti-Semitism is causing more of their Jews to immigrate to Israel.  At  the same time they have opened their doors to Muslim immigrants who will not be assimilated because “iron does not mix with clay” (Daniel 2:43).  What the European nations are just now starting to realize is that with Islamic immigrants come Islamic terrorism.  Europe has traded a peace-loving creative people for Jihadists who only use their creativity to tear down Western Civilization.  As the Islamic Clay Kingdom of Daniel 2 emerges, we can expect to see more terrorism in the world this year.

I also expect something spectacular to happen in the history of the United States, and by extension, the world this year.  On September 11, 2001, Islamic Jihadists attacked the United States announcing to the world their desire to replace Western Civilization with Islam.  On September 29, 2008 the Dow dropped 777 points or 7% kicking off a world-wide recession.  Both of these events happened seven years apart within a week of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.  Was that coincidence or God trying to get our attention?  This has only resonated with the spiritually discerning who are watching for Jesus to return.  Seven years from 2008 is this year with Rosh Hashanah beginning on September 13^th. 

I’ve always thought that Rosh Hashanah would be a great time for the Rapture of the Church.  Even so, come soon Lord Jesus, this world sorely needs You.

Debased Minds

As our country gets further from God, we will suffer the consequences of being ruled over by leaders with debased minds. Romans 1:28 says, "even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (NKJ). This passage came to mind as I read about the insane rules of engagement our military has in Afghanistan. I couldn't believe that we have a catch-and-release program going on for Taliban over there. It really makes you wonder why we are there. This would be a tough time to be in the military. And it is a tough time to be a citizen in this country. Ungodly decisions are causing the United States to lose our power in the world, and with it our freedoms. Whether it is by incompetence or evil design, decisions our government has made is destroying our economy by keeping the unemployment rate up, destroying the value of our savings, and driving up inflation. The American Dream is evaporating before our eyes. God gives us the government we deserve. If our voters do not have sufficient spiritual discernment to elect the most godly leaders, we deserve the consequences of those we put into power. I wonder how people who don't know Jesus Christ as Savior can deal with all the negative trends we are seeing in this country today. I suspect they do whatever they can to put these things out of their minds. But this only exacerbates the proliferation of debased minds. So we may already be past the point of no return for turning things around in this country. I'd like to think there will be a collective awakening and certainly this is a worthy thing to pray for but it is beginning to look like the lateness of the hour will dictate the course of events. It is a blessing to know the prophetic Scriptures. I know that the eventual demise of the United States as the last superpower on earth has to happen to make way for the global government that is coming. The fact that our fall is happening so quickly shows we have to be close to the Tribulation and we know the Rapture will be even closer... Come soon Lord Jesus, this world sorely needs You.

Islamic Antichrist

I am convinced that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. I have taken at least one bet about this... payable in push-ups at the winner's discretion in the New Jerusalem. I recently came across an argument from Ray Gano that reinforces my position on a Lamb & Lion Ministry TV program; see the Part 2 video.

You can also see text for the Ray Gano argument addressing the “people of the prince to come” of Daniel 9:26 here; scroll down to the heading for Ray Gano. The key point he makes is that the Tenth Legion of Rome under Titus was made up of mercenaries from surrounding countries that historically were enemies of Israel.

The other prophecy experts on the Lamb & Lion TV show that argued against the Antichrist being a Muslim generally dismiss the idea because no Muslim will worship a person who would declare himself to be god. But since Muslims don’t really believe truth to begin with, they are susceptible to being swayed be a charismatic leader that is one of their own. Indeed, all who don’t know the truth are able to be “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). Islam is essentially a huge cult and given the right leader, they will accept what he teaches hook, line, and sinker. That is the nature of cults; look at their history.

Also the idea that Muslims will be removed from the world scene since they will lose the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 wars does not hold water in my mind either. The history of the Muslims has been one of losing wars over and over… but they don’t give up; they just reorganize and try again with new tactics at a later time. This has been the strategy of liberals who have sought to impose socialism in this country; they have never given up despite their set backs and you can see where that has gotten us today. Come to think of it, losing over and over has been Satan’s record as well. Fortunately the Lord will put an end to these cycles.

The Book of Revelation makes it clear that a strong religion is used by the Antichrist to unite the world. I just don’t see some new age paganism, apostate Christianity or the secular humanism of Europe being that strong of a galvanizing force. If they were, why hasn’t Satan used them more effectively on this side of the Tribulation? After the true Christians are removed in the Rapture, Islam will be the dominate religion on the planet by a huge margin. And we already know its capacity to enlist followers; its growth trend this side of the Tribulation foreshadows its growth during the Tribulation.

I do have to admit that Dave Regan gives an excellent argument that the Antichrist will not be a Muslim but I’m still convinced he will be. There are just too many of the puzzle pieces that fit together nicely with that perspective. Ultimately however, we will have to see. Indications are we will not have too long to wait.

Consider yourself invited to my push-up party in the New Jerusalem. Whether I have won or lost the bet, God will be glorified and it will be a great celebration.

Meanwhile in the Mideast

It seems like everyone is distracted by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster in Japan. This is an event certainly worthy of distraction; we are right to be shaken-up by it. One of the messages we should see in this disaster is that our fallen world sorely needs Jesus Christ to come back and the increasing frequency of earthquakes is a sign that we don't have long to wait.

But another news story caught my attention that should shake us up even more... Iran claims to have put a spacecraft into orbit. If this is true, it means that they can build an intercontinental ballistic missile that could certainly hit Israel and even the United States with a nuclear weapon when they get one. And we all know they are working very hard to acquire nuclear weapons. This coupled with the hate of their leaders for both Israel and the United States along with their belief that instigating world conflict is necessary for the Islamic messiah, al Mahdi, to rise to power makes this a very threatening development.

I was pretty young at the time but understand that when the Soviets put Sputnik into orbit we went into such a panic that the U.S. space program finally got off the ground in a serious way. The amazing thing is that I have not even heard this Iranian claim reported in the mainstream press. Maybe it is just too amazing to be believed. It certainly is not politically correct in this day and age to consider that there is a nation out there doing their level best to bring an end to our way of life. It looks like we need to continue to read the Isreali press to stay up on the most important developments in the world.

Iran is ancient Persia and they play a key role in events during the Tribulation when they conspire with other Islamic nations in an attack against Israel. God delivers Israel which many believe is what gets Israel to collectively turn back to the true God of the Bible, Jesus Christ; see Ezekiel 38-39 for details. We can see the stage being set for this with all the posturing going on in the Mideast.

In light of all these developments, the best thing I can recommend is to keep listening for that Trumpet. Jesus is coming back and all indications are that we don't have long to wait.

Bad Luck

Well it was inevitable. Scientists are being called on to reassure the public that the obvious increase in earthquakes is not a sign of the Apocalypse. Dr. Daniel McNamara, a research seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey said, “We’ve just had bad luck, they’ve occurred in places near to centers of population and then it becomes news.”

I’m sure that it will come as a surprise to Dr. McNamara that there is no such thing as luck, bad or otherwise. Trusting in luck is a sure sign of a materialistic worldview. Even claiming to believe in the Creator-God but having a deistic view of Him thinking He doesn’t intervene in the affairs of mankind reveals a lack of knowledge about the God of the Bible.

When the Bible uses the term Almighty, this means that God is in absolute control. Nothing happens outside His permissive will, “for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Revelation 19:6, NKJ). God is in such control that even the atoms that make up all matter are being held together by Him; “He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). God is actively sustaining His creation, “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).

God is allowing record-setting earthquakes to shake up mankind for a purpose. (Pardon the pun but I couldn’t resist especially since God Himself uses this word-picture, see Haggai 2:6-1.) Everything God does is intended to draw people to Him before time runs out. Sure there will be hardcore materialists who refuse to believe the evidence of the signs that Jesus told us to watch for. But there will be some with a mustard seed of faith who will respond to these events and turn to Jesus for salvation.

Indeed God used a shake-up in world politics to bring me to Him to make sense of what was happening. It made no sense to me that the Cold war superpower stand-off between the U.S. and Soviet Union could be resolved over night. But this made perfect sense in light of Bible prophecy to move the world closer to a one-world government (see my testimony).

The message in the increase in frequency and intensity of these devastating earthquakes is clear… get ready for Jesus is coming soon. If it were just the earthquakes, it might be easier to dismiss this sign but the developments in geopolitics are even clearer that we are getting close to the 70th week of Daniel. Just look at Israel and the nations that are most threatening to Israel. The emergence of Islam as the chief protagonist to Israel is amazing; the Tribulation stage is now effectively set.

Given the many worldwide trends indicating that the Tribulation has to be near, I can confidently predict that the “bad luck” with earthquakes will continue and even get worse. Of course the devout materialists will continue to dismiss these even more urgent signs. The time will come when it will be too late to make a decision for Christ. If you have not yet taken that step of faith, I pray that you’d give Jesus a try before it is too late…

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8).