KING OF THE WEST

THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND

             "The wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand,

 but the wise shall understand"  Daniel 12 10b

Was the credit crunch real or engineered?  Was the financial crisis deliberately engineered by the real 'Masters of the Universe'- not the bankers as it turns out - in order to bring about the desired solution?

As the Western world's banking system approaches collapse, one crucial factor in these events has gone almost entirely unnoticed; at the heart of this catastrophe lies a deliberate drastic change made last year by Western governments to banking regulations, which has led to the freezing of the money markets.

It has been this deliberate freezing of liquidity which more than anything has triggered the present crisis.  These new rules dramatically stopped the ability of banks to lend to each other, which of course is the very lifeblood of the banking system.  In other words, it looks very much like the ruling political elite of the West have deliberately coerced the bankers and the electorate into burying themselves under a mountain of bad debt, and then changed the rules at the appropriate moment to bring about the collapse of the banking system in order for politicians to take control.  I will set out briefly below some relevant information in order to pursue this logic in light of recent history and what the Word of God has to say about these uncertain times.

In 2004 the World's leading economic powers made an agreement known as Basel 2. 

The E.U. then embodied this agreement in two directives, the  2006/48 and 2006/49, known as the Capital Adequacy Directive (CAD). These directives mean that at the end of each days trading, banks must produce a statement of its assets to show whether it is solvent or not.  If not, the bank must cease trading and declare this to the regulatory authorities such as the Financial Services Authority (FSA).  These changes would not be problematic during an economic boom cycle, but if the market collapses then a bank's assets would become significantly undervalued, because CAD regulations ensure no allowance for future recovery can be taken into the equation.  In other words, these regulations would hamstring the Western banks as soon as the bubble burst.

Forcing the banks to write down their asset-value in a downturn started a "fire sale"  This is because in an economic downturn, by not allowing for a future recovery, the underlying worth of the bank's asset base would be so severely undervalued that it made it much more difficult for them to lend or borrow, thereby freezing those deals which are the banking system's lifeblood, and though technically solvent, they would have to close their doors. This is exactly what has happened!

We have all witnessed Governments on both sides of the Atlantic feverishly encouraging unprecedented levels of reckless borrowing, which was not a problem for the banks during a debt-fuelled boom and while property and share values were rising, but by the time the extent of the risk had became obvious the regulations had already been changed and the banks were left in a critical position.  City economist Professor Tim Congdon warned in January 2008 that the "scientific precision of the Basel rules" had been shown to be "hocus pocus".  Also in September 2007, the Bank of England's governor, Mervyn King, explained to the Treasury Select Committee that in former times he could have sorted the crisis out behind the scenes in a rescue operation involving other banks - as had often been done before, but Mr King said he was now hamstrung by EU legislation - 2006/48- 2006/49.

The complete nationalization of Britain's banks looks increasingly likely to become a reality in the near future...Daily Mail 25-11-08 "The outright nationalisation of Britain's banks may be necessary to deliver the lending required to end the economic slowdown, Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England has suggested"......furthermore "Downing Street has pointedly refused to rule out taking outright control". Mr King also added that "We may not have come to an end in the process of re-capitalisation."

Huge rewards for corporate failure?  As the financial fallout continues to be felt in America, Britain and Western Europe, the same banking chiefs that have taken the blame for the largest corporate failure in history are receiving huge multi-million pound pay-offs.  Are these men being paid such enormous sums of taxpayers money as a reward for their failures or to save the governments involved from embarrassing details? 

The 64 billion dollar question here is, was it a coincidence that Western governments actively encouraged, and in the USA, as set out below, even forced the banks to lend irresponsibly on the back of a unsustainable housing boom, only to change the rules at a critical point that would leave the banks unable to resist government intervention.

Even before the current financial crisis exploded, it had become increasingly obvious that the USA and the UK in particular needed to spend less and borrow less.  Governments in the USA, Britain, Spain, Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe continued to encourage excessive and unsustainable borrowing as if there were no tomorrow.  But in spite of this, the banks were coping with moderate success and managing the problems as usual, and as pointed out by the chief of the Bank of England, had the CAD regulations not been enforced then the unsustainable credit boom could have been managed over the longer term.

However, the sudden collapse of the Lehman's bank brought down the whole house of cards and became the death knell to a previously powerful banking system.

Why single out Lehmans Bank?  The Lehmans Bank represented the traditional solid image of bankers and as such they were considered too big to go under.  However, following US Government intervention on September 15th, Lehman Brothers, one of Americas oldest and most prestigious banking firms, filed for bankruptcy.  The United States treasury officials could not have been ignorant of the fact that by bankrupting Lehman's it would bring about the largest financial failure in America's history and would lead to unprecedented instability in the money markets.

The big question here is why did the US Treasury deliberately single out Lehman's Bank?  Just to make a political point by enforcing bankruptcy?  To any rational person this would appear to be utter madness, especially as they must have known that by making Lehman's insolvent it would trigger a run on every major bank in the Western world.  And it did. 

Now add to this the fact that previously the USA and the EU governments had quietly changed the banking regulations as outlined above, so that in times of market instability the 'CAD' rules meant that a bank's asset base would be so severely undervalued that it would impossible for them to lend or borrow, thereby freezing the money deals that are the very lifeblood of banking system.  So though technically solvent they had to close their doors and await for Government help. 

Simply put, I believe the USA and EU Governments have actively encouraged unsustainable, reckless levels of borrowing for more than a decade, and then reconstructed the banking regulations to include an inbuilt trap door, so at the right moment, the US Treasury pulled the Lehmans lever and the rest is history.

Many other commentators have also called this a naked power grab, but I think the USA's  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's statement during the  'bail out'  confirms the above.  "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."  In other words, game, set and match.

A global banking system for a global World Government?  If we relate these events to Bible prophecy, it speaks of a One World monetary system just before the return of Jesus.  As recent history has unfolded it is not illogical to assume that Western governments have plans for a global banking system that will soon result in a cashless society, thereby giving them complete control over everyone's financial transactions.  No more black market money or drug money or terrorist money will be the reason, oh and by the way, you will have to accept "the number" in order to buy, sell and survive.  The technology is here already!

The Sunday Telegraph 12-10-08 reads: "Financial crisis: Nationalization fears as ministers prepare to control banks: The Treasury is preparing to take controlling stakes in Britain's biggest banks and place government representatives on their boards to halt the financial crisis, it was disclosed."  The development came after the Group of Seven (G7) leading finance ministers pledged to follow Britain's lead and part-nationalise vast sections of the Western banking system in their latest effort to bring the crisis to a close.

If the financial crisis was no accident, where and how did it begin?  Throughout time bankers have always refused credit to anyone they considered unworthy, and they have never lent to anyone who they thought had no real prospect of keeping up their payments.  Common sense, unless you want to bring the banking industry to its knees.

I will quote in part below from an article written by Dennis Sewell that appeared in the Spectator political journal on the 10-10-08.  In 1993 Bill Clinton, very much a New World Order man, had plans to bring about an economic boom cycle on the back of what looked like a left wing ideological agenda.  He tricked and bullied the banks into recklessly abandoning their lending standards so that the lower classes could achieve home ownership and have increased access to credit.

The Clinton administration appointed Roberta Achtenberg, who as a civil rights lawyer campaigned to keep San Francisco's gay bathing houses open.  She also campaigned for an increase in the numbers of gay scout masters.   Ms Achtenberg became the first openly lesbian woman to receive Senate confirmation.  She took up her post in the departments of fair housing and equal opportunity at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

While Clinton was telling the banks to be more lax in their approach to lending,  Ms Achtenberg was busy setting up a network of enforcement officers across the country.  These networks each had teams of lawyers and investigators whose sole purpose was to bring lawsuits against banks. 

It has become clear now that this false boom was sold as a form of social engineering, disguised by promoting home ownership for people on low incomes, and Ms Achtenberg's enforcement team were very quick to react against any bank they suspected of unlawful discrimination against race, gender or disability.  Left wing ideology stated that racism was the key factor in keeping minorities from enjoying the same level of home ownership as white people.  However, when little or no overt or deliberate racial discrimination was discovered among the mortgage lenders, the investigators turned to trying to prove disparate treatment of minority groups, a notion similar to that of unintentional "institutional racism". 

If a bank refused loans to proportionally more black applicants than white ones, for instance, the onus would fall on it to prove it had good grounds for doing so or face settlement penalties running into millions of dollars.  A series of highly publicised cases were brought on this basis, starting in 1994.  Eventually the investigators would turn somewhat desperately to 'disparate impact', a form of discrimination so abstract and rarified as to be imperceptible to its supposed victims.  In fact by 1995 Ms Achtenberg was actually having to rein in her zealots, issuing a clarification that the use of the phrase 'master bedroom' in a property advertisement was, despite its clear patriarchal and slave-owning resonances, not actually an actionable offence under the anti-discrimination laws!

However, the Government enforcers had the desired effect.  The mortgage banks that have been responsible for about three quarters of the sub prime (in other words dodgy) loans quickly took the hint and from the mid 1990s the banks began to abandon their formerly rigorous lending criteria.  Mortgages were offered with only 3 percent deposit requirements, and eventually with no deposit requirement at all.  The mortgage banks fell over one another to provide loans to low-income households and especially to minority customers.  In the five years from 1994 to 1999, the number of African-American and Latino homeowners increased by two million. 

The other quarter of the banking sector was made up of the National Banks that were also coerced by the Government into issuing dodgy loans, but they were put under a different kind of pressure by the Clinton team.  The Clinton administration made changes to the Community Reinvestment Act, which led to a system of rating that was dependant on how much lending the banks made to low-income neighbourhoods.  Again Clinton used greed and fear to coerce these banks onto their road to disaster.  A good CRA rating was vital to a bank if it wanted to carry on with its usual business procedures, such as mergers, expansions and even the opening of a new branch.  It soon became clear that a poor rating could wreck a bank's business plans.

At the same time, the Government also pressed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the 2 giants of the second mortgage industry, to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate earners.  The Clinton administration also changed the rules to allow these two organisations to get involved in the securitisation of these dodgy loans. 

Now imagine yourself in the place of one of these low-income households who acquired a property in the late 1990s under this false premise.  The chances are that you could manage for a while, but after a few years, like most other poorer Americans, your real income wasn't going up, it was going down.  With your credit cards maxed out, you release some of the equity from your house; a couple of years later the same thing happens again, until there is no equity left.  In which case you are never out of debt, and the Government, by destroying the banking industry, now owns your home.  It is also very telling that every attempt by the Republicans to reform this regulative banking insanity has been blocked by Congressional Democrats.

Was Gordon Brown in the loop?  Did Gordon Brown change the banking regulatory rules in the UK because the previous rules didn't work?  Or have we seen him following the same American Socialist agenda, in a combined effort to take the world a step closer to a 'global socialist solution'.  Has not the very same unsustainable boom that brought the financial crisis in America also happened in the UK,  and it is noteworthy how Gordon Brown's 'new regulations' turned out to be so obviously and conveniently useless when required to stop the banks' downfall.

Government control of the banks has long been a socialist aim, and after all it was Gordon Brown who deliberately weakened the banking regulations, while at the same time encouraging banks to offer 125% mortgages, during an already overvalued housing market.  At the same time Brown must have known that by deliberately weakening the Bank of England's control over the UK's banking system, it would leave the banks unable to fix their own problems, as the Bank of England's chief Mervin King has since confirmed.

Do you follow their devious logic here?  By changing the banking regulations at the peak of the boom and then allowing the blame to fall on the corrupt and greedy capitalist bankers, thereby demonstrating that the private sector can no longer be trusted.  It follows then that only 'The State' is fit to handle the nation's finances, ensuring that a roof is kept over the people's heads and food in their bellies.

Furthermore, until recently Britain had one of the best private sector pension schemes in the world.  Did Gordon Brown deliberately destroy Britain's private sector pensions?  Just like stopping the bank's ability to loan to one another, there were always going to be obvious foreseeable consequences.  Perhaps the intention was to keep the older, wiser heads of middle England silent and dependant on the State when the truth of these deceptions become more apparent.  

"Global Government" by accident or design?  As the economic turbulence continued, the headlines in the UK on the 10th November 08 were probably more accurate than many  people realized:  "Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to call on fellow world leaders to create a "truly global society" following the current worldwide economic crisis."  Just like overcommitting the banks, Gordon Brown's deliberate policies of borrow and spend will increasingly leave Britain susceptible to international intervention that will come at a high price.  Britain's current unprecedented levels of debt will hamstring any recovery and leave this one great nation ripe for takeover.

To put it another way, the 'solution' that Gordon Brown intends to use resembles the frenzied madness of the bankers at the height of the credit crunch!  His 'plan' is to keep spending more and more of the money the nation does not have, and keep borrowing more and more, until of course the bubble bursts, turning Britain into a national version of the Lehman Brothers!  Whether intended or not,  the most likely consequence will be some form of 'inter-government - IMF- bailout'  similar to the government's takeover of banks, with the irreversible loss of sovereignty to the global project.  In other words, goodbye Britain, and just like Lehman's bank represented the established banking system, so Britain as a nation has long represented the cradle of democracy, so when Britain falls expect the rest to follow.

In case some may not quite grasp Gordon Brown's 'increasing the debt' logic I will quote James Callaghan, a previous socialist prime minister, who in the seventies also irresponsibly overspent and brought the country to its knees.  However, when the game was up he had no choice but to admit........"We used to think that you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting government spending,"  but he continued....... "I tell you in all candour that that option no longer exists, and in so far as it ever did exist, it only worked on each occasion by injecting a bigger dose of inflation into the economy, followed by a higher levels of unemployment".

In other words Gordon Brown's plans will only leave Britain in a deeper mess that will sooner or later require an international bail out similar to the IMF in seventies.  The difference this time will be the total loss of sovereignty, thereby forcing this once great nation into a larger political union without the inconvenience of democracy.  I cannot believe that Gordon Brown, the famously 'well read' and previous 'iron chancellor' is not fully aware of these facts!  This current situation might help explain another rather odd fact, that one of the first things Messrs. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown did once in office was to oversee the removal of the ultimate penalty for the act of treason.  It might be just coincidental but in the Bible  2 Tim 3 1-5 the apostle Paul refers to men in these days as being....'despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty' -  you decide!

The British Government increasingly resembles a incompetent housewife who continually gorges herself and squanders all the housekeeping money on a luxurious lifestyle and unrealistic infantile whims.  But to add insult to injury, from the outset she has had a secret plan to steal all her husbands assets.  So, while the husband is busy earning the cash, she does a deal with a lawyer in order to rob the husband of his home and belongings.  Furthermore because the husband is the only one capable of earning a living he will have to continue to pay all the expenses for his wife's unrealistic lifestyle while he lives in a bedsit and manages on what's left.

The European Union a major player in the New World Order.  For many years we have heard Heads of State on both sides of the Atlantic talking of the Global village, Global solutions and continuing references to a New World Order.  Anyone who has lived in the UK over the past few decades can testify that we have witnessed a type of 'pseudo democracy' in regard to Britain's involvement in European integration.  The 'European Project' has been built on deception from the beginning and in the absence of any democratic mandate from the peoples of Europe it has meant that crude economics have had to be used to bring about this Socialist political experiment.  When the people of Europe were finally allowed to vote on further EU integration in the form of a constitution, they spoke clearly and they flatly rejected it - true common sense democracy at work. 

But the EU rulers are committed Socialists and as such they always know best, and judged by its history, the EU's unelected politicians have always shown nothing but contempt for democracy, adding their own weight to the argument that you can have Socialism or freedom but not both.

As far as Brussels is concerned you can only vote if you vote the right way and so the constitution was re-presented without the National Anthem, which made up a full 3% of the document and therefore 97% was re-presented unchanged and has been forced on the people of Europe as 'different' document'  without the right to further voting.  What an act of staggering arrogance!

The EU's handling of public money has been so contemptuous of the ordinary people that the Government's accounts have been deemed unable to stand up to legal scrutiny for well over a decade, due to corruption.  However, due to vested interests, this shameful practice has been allowed to continue and now hardly receives any media attention;  in fact any official that has tried to bring attention to these facts have been severely dealt with.  For example in 2004 the European Court ignored 50 years of European case law on press freedom which meant it was not restrained by European Human Rights codes.  This enabled the EU state police to arrest and hold in isolation Hans Martin Tillack for being a journalist who worked for Germany's Stern magazine.  The State officials also confiscated his computer, telephone records, personal notes etc.  Mr Tillack's 'crime' was to write in some detail about the corruption that apparently the EU officials felt they were unable to defend. 

Even more chilling is the fact the European officials can now deny anyone a right to a fair trial by a jury, plus remove presumption of innocence and even try a person twice for the same 'crime' if they did not get the 'desired result' the first time.  Article 52 of the EU charter of Fundamental Rights states that  "all freedoms and rights can be restricted, including freedom of speech - and the right to life".  Ask yourself, does this bode well for peoples future freedoms in the coming New World Order?

Like Hitler's deceitful "Enabling Act" that gave him the power to control the events that led up to the Second World War, according to the Bible the results of these political acts of gross of deception to further the ambitions of a 'Godless' European state will far outweigh Hitler's efforts.

It is beyond the scope of this article to do an in-depth study on the coming New World Order, but there is plenty of information out there, especially on the web, pointing to the fact that for decades the Western Nations, in concert with the UN and the IMF etc;  have been committed to the formation of a 'Global Government.'  The EU is an obvious example of a deceptive political agenda without a mandate from the people, however very few people are aware that similar unions have been secretly acheived on the other side of the Atlantic and other continents such as Africa. 

America has quietly become part of a 34 nation trading zone similar to the EU and like the European Union, the American Union is made up of many previously independent countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. 

In March 2001 the 'Free Trade Area of the Americans' was signed in Canada, an agreement similar to the EU treaty that provides the 'American Union' with its own constitution, laws, borders, the formation of one central bank, one currency, one judicial system, one military, but no US constitution and no bill of rights. For confirmation go on the web and type in 'Free Trade Area of the Americans' also refer to senate bill 853 and H.R. 2672.

                                                                                    The next crisis - Iran?

Follow the money to identify the 'King of the West' spoken of in Daniel.  We know from Scripture that the Lord does not want us blind and ignorant to the unfolding global events that point to the return of Jesus.  So as the financial crisis unfolds it becomes possible to identify the Nations that have become involved in the biggest financial coup the world has ever seen.

I firmly believe the 'contrived' current banking crisis will identify the Western nations that will soon constitute the "Revived Roman Empire" written of in Revelation,  also described as the "King of the West" in the book of Daniel, whose leader "Will destroy the prosperity of many."

The Bible also informs us that this final Empire... "will be different from all other empires, it will crush the whole earth and trample it down." Dan 7 23.  The king of the West is one of the the four great military powers that will be on the world stage just prior to the return of Jesus.

In Scripture all directions are given based on their geographical relationship to Israel and in Daniel the four great military powers are called the King of the North, the King of the South, the King of the East and the King of the West.

Knowing the identity of the four Kings is very important because each has a part in the sequence of unfolding events that lead to the return of Jesus.  For better understanding let us look at these four Kings in the light of current world events.

The Middle East is the issue today that overshadows all others, awaiting the 'peacemaker on the white horse' who will resolve the Arab/Israeli dispute.  At the time of this writing the Iranians are installing an additional 4,000 centrifuges in the Natanz enrichment facility, adding to fears that a nuclear armed Iran will attack Israel and remove it from the face of the earth, as it has promised to do many times.

Faced with this prospect it seems increasingly likely that Israel will mount an independent military strike on the Iranian nuclear installations.  In response, the Iranians have made it known that any strike on its nuclear installations will result in World War Three.

The Arabs have been threatening the destruction of Israel now for decades, however it would appear from their previous efforts and humiliations that the God of Abraham has other plans for His Land.  In fact according to the book of Ezekiel the Arab nations and their allies won't have any say in the matter, but let's not jump ahead yet.

In light of Iran's threat, Israel can either wait for the 'nuclear holocaust' as promised, or make a limited tactical attack to destroy the nuclear facilities.  Daily Mail headline 13-11-08 reads  "Iran said it has successfully test-fired a new generation of long range surface-to-surface missiles that could easily strike Israel and some parts of Europe".

In the Bible, Russia is identified as the King of the North and has long wanted a warm water entrance into the oceans of the world, which would be achieved by invading Israel, in addition Israel has extensive mineral wealth such as two billion tons of sodium chloride.

A very possible scenerio in the not too distant future is that Israel will make a tactical strike against Iran leading to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39, and as the Russians and Arabs are pulled into judgement at the beginning of the tribulation period the world will witness in the most dramatic terms God's protection for Israel, and a demonstration of His severe mercy as He judges the 'Sheep' and 'Goat' Nations. (Matt. 25.32)

Throughout the history of Israel, God has demonstrated that He is against any nations that oppress his people and his land, e.g. the destruction of Babylon for the sacking of Jerusalem and Egypt for their persecution of the Jews.  As foretold in the word of God, Israel is once again a Nation, and with it Hebrew has been restored as the native language.  This has never happened to any Nation before but God's Word does not return void.

When the Lord spoke to Ezekiel the prophet over 2,500 years ago He looked down the corridors of time to the present day and instructed Ezekiel to prophesy against the King of the North for these days.  Ezekiel 38.3:  "And say, thus says the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog , the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal". (all Bible commentaries confirm that Gog is Russia).  In this scripture Ezekiel is prophesying against a nation that wasn't even in existence at that time, furthermore it is interesting to note that Russia has always been polytheistic i.e. worshiped many gods until it embraced and dominated atheistic communism or totalitarian socialism.

This of course is in direct conflict with God's word which leaves no room for confusion, Psalm 14.1 "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God"  Joseph Stalin once said, "We have deposed the czars of the earth and now we shall dethrone the Lord of Heaven".  Well the Lord of Heaven still reigns, but I have no confidence in Stalin's prospects of escaping judgement.

We know from Scripture that in the days leading up to the return of Jesus, Russia, the King of the North, will attack Israel with its Arab allies, the 'King of the South', most likely in response to Israel's tactical attack on Iran. 

However, in spite of their threats against Israel and the overwhelming odds in their favour it will be, as always, God's Word that will prevail to the shock and horror of the whole world as it looks on.  So let's see what the Bible says about the fate of these two great major military powers

Through the prophet Ezekiel God is saying to Russia, with its long history of anti-semitism and their anti-semitic Arab allies, that He the Lord God Himself will drag them into Israel for judgement before the eyes of the world.

Ezek 38 4 "I will turn you around, put a hook in your jaws, and lead you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords".

Ezek  38 7  Confirms that Russia is leading the attack... "be a guard for them...be though a commander unto them".  The Arab allies have been receiving military advice and Russian weaponry for many years and Ezekiel leaves no room for doubt that is Russia who leads the attack, or so they think.

Ezek 38 16-17  "I will send you to invade my land in order to show the Nations who I am, to show My Holiness by what I do through you.  You (Russians and Arabs) are the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through my servants, the prophets that in the days to come I would bring someone to attack Israel.  The Lord God has spoken."

When will this happen? According to the Bible, Israel will be invaded when they feel secure in their land, at that time according to Ezek 38 11, Russia will say "I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely".  Having lived in the North of Israel for two years, arriving just in time to experience the Second Lebanon War, peace and security is not something the people of Israel normally feel, so what in the near future could change this?  If my understanding of prophecy and these times is correct then I believe the following to be a very likely chain of events in the not too distant future.....

Israel makes a tactical strike on Iran, causing shock waves and fear throughout the world.  Out of the Western nations, a 'peacemaker' will then devise a plan for a seven year peace treaty to secure Israel's borders from Arab and Russian retaliation.  So with the Iranian nuclear threat out of the way and a treaty signed to ensure their safety, for the first time since being returned to their land, they will at last will feel secure.

According to Ezek 38 11-12 Russia says: "I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely...... to take a plunder and to take a booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations".

What is the response of the Western nations to this blatant attack?  Ezek 38 13 confirms that "Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish and all their young lions* will take a diplomatic view and say  "Have you come to take a plunder?  Have you gathered your armies to take a booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods to take a great plunder?" (*The Western powers are referred to here, with England's symbol being that of a lion, America is an offspring of England, hence the 'young lions')

In other words the Western powers do nothing even though it is obvious to the whole world what has happened.  So why will America, Israel's strongest ally, stand by and not come to Israel's defence?

The newly elected President Obama has made pulling American troops out of Iraq an election pledge, furthermore after Iraq, the American people will have no stomach for any future conflicts in the Middle East, especially against the Russian superpower and its allies.  The day after President Obama was elected, Russia's President threatened to base nuclear warheads along the Polish border if America goes ahead with a plan to create a missile shield in Eastern Europe.

At the same time Israel warned that Obama's claim that he was ready to open talks with Iran could be seen in the Middle East as a sign of weakness.  Simultaneously, Tehran announced that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had broken with a 29-year tradition and sent his congratulations to the President Obama.  This President was elected on a ticket for real change and my guess is that part of this change will mean that the USA adopts a 'hands off ' in relations to Middle East conflicts.

However, Ezekiel shows us that Israel will not need the protection of its allies but that it is the Lord God Himself who has allowed this situation to occur in order to demonstrate to an increasingly secular world His anger against the nations that have tormented his chosen people for so long.

Ezek 38 18.19   "...when Gog (Russia) comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, Then My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have spoken".

Ezek 39 11.12 confirms that it will take the nation of Israel seven months to bury all the dead in their land, "it will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog (Russia) a burial place there in Israel.......for seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land."

Also pointed out in Ezek 39 6.7, God makes it clear that He will not only destroy the invading armies on the mountains of Israel, but He will also attack their homelands.

"And 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.  So I will make my Holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let them profane My Holy name any more.  Then the Nations shall know that I am the Lord the Holy One in Israel."  (In response to President Obama's election victory Russia's President has promised to increase its nuclear threat by installing nucear warheads along the coast of Poland)

In His mercy, the destruction of Israel's enemies in the land of Israel and in their homelands will serve as a severe wake up call to the truth of God's Word to the rest of the world.  These events will dramatically test people's hearts in their response.  In other words, these calamatous events and continued shaking of the world as prophesied will cause people's hearts to receive the truth of God's word and choose Salvation offered through Jesus, or harden their hearts.  It will be a separation of the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, which is the original meaning of the word Tribulation,  the tribulae was a mechanism on which wheat was thrashed in order to cause the separation of the valuable from that which is to be burned.

The temple rebuilt on Temple Mount.  At this point the Temple Mount will no longer be fought over because Islam has now been judged and can offer no resistance to the rebuilding of Jewish Temple as prophesied, then "sacrifices & offerings" will recommence.  Dan 9 27.  However, Scripture also tells us The Man of Sin who is identified as the 'President' of the Western powers will after three and a half years break the seven year peace covenant that he set in motion as he exerts his power and demands to be worshiped himself as God in the rebuilt temple.  Dan 11v36

With the kings of the North & South so dramatically taken from the world there only remains the Kings of the West and of the East and their fates are graphically revealed in the final battle of Armageddon.

The Sons of Perdition.  The Son of Perdition means Satan's chief son or the 'Ultimate Antichrist' of which Hitler was a lesser type, and just as Hitler was surrounded by men of weak character eager to find power and position, so on the world stage today are men eager to position themselves as men of authority and power in the coming New World Order.

In fact Hitler's rise is a graphic example of deceptive Satanic forces at work.  Many people do not realise that Hitler's dream of a 'Super Arian Race' was not based on the theories of evolution and eugenics alone, but his ideas about the 'Arian master race' actually sprang from a fictional comic magazine called 'Ostara'.  The comic magazine was based on the teachings of Lanz von Liebenfels, who wrote fictional stories about the lost city of Atlantis and the Arian master race. 

Later, in 1938, fearing that a connection might be made, Hitler banned all publication of the comic magazine.  However, once the 'Arian' lie was born, when the 'messiah' Hitler came onto the scene with his promise of salvation, the German people were easily seduced by his oratory skills, Goebbles' use of the Arian propaganda, and Wagner's music, all stage managed to extol the virtues of 'National Socialism'.  A sobering example of political 'spin' resulting in over 50 million deaths. (Tony Blairs' Dodgy dossiers spring to mind).

Louis Brandeis of the Supreme Court of the United States once wrote, "The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachments by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." 

In his memoirs, ex Russian President Khrushchev wrote about the Chinese Communist leader Mao Tse-tungs' megalomania: Mao thought of himself as a man sent by God to do God's bidding'.  In the chapter about Mao's The Great Leap: he writes, "Half of China May Well Have To Die"(1958-61), and as it happens his plans caused the death of 38 million people.

The Hitlers, Stalins and Maos of this world may be the extremes, but on the world stage today we are blind if we don't again see  "encroachments by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding",  and if we ignore them and their actions we do so at our peril, because history always repeats itself.

Is Terrorism being used to exert more government control?  I believe the UK has been uniquely placed in these unfolding events because this Nation once stood for the truth of the Bible, freedom and democracy and as such has seen a continued onslaught of leftist liberal agenda planned to undermine these values.  For example the recent loss of liberty in the UK after a decade of socialism has been truly staggering, further confirmation that you can have socialism or freedom but you can't have both.  The new Labour Government has made a determined and largely successful war to silence all discussion concerning vital national matters such as mass immigration, loss of freedoms and Sovereignty, in fact those who dare to speak out against the Government have been systematically smeared as bigoted, irresponsible or partisan.  The fact still remains however that no other country in the world has had this level of immigration in a short period of time forced on them, but then mass immigration was always designed to dilute and split society.  This is in spite of the fact that in this 'cradle of democracy' the people have never been allowed to vote on any of these issues.

Furthermore, Ministers have recently announced that they plan to curb the freedom of the Press under anti terrorist legislation, and without a Free Press to shine a light on what the Government is doing it is only a matter of time before a total police state is a reality.  The socialist ideologies of New Labour have already resulted in the UK becoming the most spied upon society in the world with millions of cameras everywhere spying on people's activities.

Signs of increasing Government encroachment are becoming increasingly common, for example the headline in the Independent Newspaper on 5th Nov 08 reads: "Internet 'black boxes' will be used to collect every e-mail and web visit in the UK under the Government's plans for a giant 'Big Brother' database".  In other words from here on in, no conversations or communications will be free from government scrutiny, and New Labour ministers are also looking at the daily newspaper political blogs and voicing their 'concern'.  

At a recent Labour Party Conference the nation witnessed a scene that would not have been out of place in 1930's Germany, when Walter Wolfgang, an 80 year old Labour supporter shouted "Rubbish!" at a speaking government minister, he was immediately and brutally grabbed hold of by the 'party's men' and forcibly dragged backwards from the Conference Hall only to be arrested by the Government's 'thought' police on.... wait for it.... anti terrorism laws.

Consider how the same 'anti terrorism laws' are already being so casually used by local government enforcers as thousands of cameras are used to spy and bully people over a whole range of issues, from unpaid fines to non compliance of government regulations, for example being fined for not properly filling a waste bin.  In the recent financial crisis the British Government even used anti terrorist laws to hamstring an Icelandic bank in a commercial deal.

In spite of all the overwhelming logic of arguments against Identity Cards they will still be forced upon the British people, but even though they may be of no use in preventing Terrorism, in a Police state ID cards are useful as part of a concerted effort to maintain control and fear of the all powerful State, for example stop and search has always been intimidating but common under totalitarian regimes.

The State assumes ownership of human organs.  The Daily Mail on the 18th Nov 2008 writes: ''The government is set to force through 'presumed consent' for organ donation even after it was rejected by an independent panel of scientists''. 

These are idealistic policies by men who do not fully understand the sanctity of life, because the totally unproven lie of 'evolution' and its ungodly offspring 'eugenics' has deceived them into believing that we are just 'accidents of biology' that can therefore be engineered for the greater good.

As 'progressive governance' continues to gain pace, it is looking increasingly likely that at  some point in the future people's body parts will be assumed to belong to the State and therefore in due course considered to be only on temporary loan to you, and as such can 'in certain circumstances' revert to the property of the state when required, or on death.  Sound too dramatic? History and even current events prove otherwise!

'Compassionate euthanasia' is therefore a logical procedure in order to prevent the spread of 'costly inferior genes' and promote only healthy reproduction for the greater good.  We have already seen this mentality in totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany when state doctors decided who was healthy enough to continue to work  'for the benefit of the Reich' and who should die.  Even today in Totalitarian China body parts are routinely 'removed and reallocated' on the organ market. 

Remember how the Abortion Act was originally passed to 'protect the life of the mother', but continued exploitation by liberals has meant that to today millions upon millions of healthy babies are routinely and brutally killed as matter of  individual 'lifesyle choice'.  Just like the abortion law, the removal of organs without consent will also be just the thin end of the wedge. 

Why would our current politicians be coy about their past?  Very many of New Labour ruling politicians try to gloss over the fact that they are former members of communist organizations.  Many of the architects of the New Labour project were  sympathetic to the old Soviet system, often parroting the communists propaganda for Western disarmament.  In fact much of the Labour Party was then, and remains now, hostile to the traditions and institutions of Western democracy, and like their previous communist heroes, they mouth socialist rhetoric about serving the people yet legislate to control and subdue them. 

Once in power they become further distanced from reality and intoxicated by the disproportionate rewards of privileges and status.  For example, a lifestyle of chauffeur driven limousines, exclusive restaurants, luxury travel and hotels, holiday villas.  Bluntly put, a lifestyle that would otherwise be impossible for these people outside of the 'tax funded unreality' of Government.  Yet even though these same politicians were fortunate enough to grow up in the country that gave democracy to the world, they now see fit to legislate and deny freedoms that for centuries millions of good patriotic men and woman fought and died to preserve.

The facts confirming loss of freedom in the UK increasingly speak for themselves, but the British people are no longer even free to protest outside their own parliament building.  This is because Tony Blair didn't like the public reaction to his dodgy war dossiers that falsified details Iraq weapon capabilities so he changed the law.  In fact any march or gathering anywhere must be first approved by the 'authorities' or arrests will immediately follow.

As the New Labour Home Secretary recently said, "We may have to modify some of our freedoms" which is political speak for... bit by bit we are going to take away all the freedoms you have always taken for granted and completely control you, and by the time you wake up it will be too late."  If you drop a crab into boiling water it will try to escape, if you cook it slowly however......

When Adolf Hitler brought in the "Enabling Act" he said,  "The government will make use of these powers only insofar as they are essential for carrying out vitally necessary measures."  He also used 'national security' to subdue the press.  The rest is history.

In the UK the standards of public life have fallen so dramatically that politicians spend enormous sums of hard earned taxpayers money not for the good of the nation but to pay professional liars (spin doctors) to keep the truth of their actions and failures from the people.

When Gordon Brown wrenched the reigns from Tony Blair he promised to end the culture of political lies, but this was also just another cynical lie, because as soon as he manipulated his way into power he actually increased the amount of public money poured into this deceitful practice.  He did this in spite of having previously acknowleged that these government appointed purveyors of lies would continue to debase the nature of British democracy.

Furthermore he has since brought into his cabinet the twice disgraced arch spin doctor Peter Mandleson, the man universally referred to by the British press as the 'Prince of Darkness', and made him a Lord of the Realm as a matter of political expediency.

If the political Left in Britain has a champion it has to be Polly Toynbee of the Guardian newpaper, but even she felt compelled to write...  "Gordon Brown seems unable to stop saying things so blindingly untrue that you wonder how he gets the words out" (The Guardian 28-10-08)

It is also worth remembering that Tony Blair's reputation for dishonesty was far more extensive and it's worth noting that he took Britain to war by deliberately lying to the nation and to Parliament.  Tony Blair continually claims to be a committed Christian, while Gordon Brown extols the virtues of being a 'son of the manse' with a good moral compass.

The catalogue of lies and deception by both men are well documented and far too numerous to list here.  However, two examples of Tony Blair's deception are quite outrageous in their audacity.

(1) As previously mentioned, he deliberately procured false documents to state that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction capable of striking the West within 45 minutes. This lie alone has led to an ongoing war, the death of many tens of thousands and has given Muslims more fuel for hatred toward the West.  Furthermore, the 'Establishment's' obvious collaberation to cover up this cynical act with the 'Hutton' enquiry only adds to this nation's shame.

(2) Tony Blair's final act as the British PM was to sign the European Treaty without a mandate from the British people.  This was an act of deliberate deception and treachery that in one fell swoop committed this Nation to a secular European Union project.  The secular aspect or Godless nature of the Treaty has been made perfectly clear in the document, so how could a 'committed Christian'  happily sign away a nation's Christian heritage without the people's consent to a group of European politicans bent on forming an atheistic New World Order?

When Gordon Brown took over, one of his first acts was to ratify Tony Blair's act of treachery.  He did this knowing that the rejected constitution was re-presented as a treaty that was in fact virtually identical to the original document.  He has shown utter contempt for democracy by ratifying this treaty and has deliberately lied to and denied the British people the promised vote on further European integration.

In other words they both signed away vital parts of the Nation's sovereignty that was not theirs to give in the first place without the people's consent.  The blindingly obvious conclusion here is that these are the actions of men who lie and cheat to the public as a matter of course.

We are living in times of great shakings that are on course to increase, and therefore discernment and wisdom will be vital if we are to make sense of coming global events.

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that Satan is the father of lies and deception and as Jesus pointed out: "No one can serve two masters".  It therefore becomes clear from God's word that many of today's political leaders, by their continued deliberate actions of lies and deception, reveal themselves not to be sons of the living God but sons of perdition destined for eternal separation from God in hell.  The vital question here is how many people will remain blinded and follow them.

Is there a Brotherhood of New World Order men?  Remember Louis Brandeis' quote:  'The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachments by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding'.  This quote will be relevent on various levels because as with any organization there usually exists a hierarchial structure where certain individuals higher up the ladder are in the 'managerial loop' so to speak while others at a lower ranks remain the foot soldiers.  National Governments and Banking are good examples of these types of organizations.

There are many books and articles on the web concerning the connections between the Illuminati and other secret societies whose aim is total control of society under the guise of  'Global Governance',  but for the sake of brevity let us just look briefly at the practice of Freemasonry, a world wide organization that has the potential to exert influence every level of society, from International Governments, banking, commerce and even religion.  However, let me make this perfectly clear at the outset, I firmly believe that the vast majority of Freemasons are men of integrity and well meaning.

My father-in-law was an active Freemason for many years and he is one of the finest men I have ever known, however he always remained a foot soldier and as such was unaware of the existence of other secret levels of Masonry that are far more sinister and which  deserve far more investigation than will be afforded below. 

I will begin by quoting Manly P. Hall, one of Freemasonry's leading philosophers who said in his Lectures on Ancient Philosophy, p. 433....." Freemasonry is a fraternity within a fraternity -- an outer organization concealing an inner brotherhood of the elect ... it is necessary to establish the existence of these two separate and yet interdependent orders, the one visible and the other invisible.  The visible society is a splendid camaraderie of 'free and accepted' men enjoined to devote themselves to ethical, educational, fraternal, patriotic, and humanitarian concerns.  The invisible society is a secret and a most August fraternity whose members are dedicated to the service of a mysterious 'arcannum arcandrum'  which translated means 'a secret, a mystery'."

Albert Pike another famous and very influential mason in his writings on 'Morals and Dogma', (p104-5, 3rd Degree)  also had some very interesting things to say about the inner levels of this brotherhood: "Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism, and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be mislead; to conceal the Truth, which it calls light, and draw them away from it." 

Manly Hall again confirms the Satanic roots in his writings in  'The Lost Keys To Freemasonry'.......... "When a Mason learns the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his Craft.  The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply energy." 

"For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the [master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere." Ephesians 6 12 amp

It does not take a genius to see that at its core where Freemasonry is at its most influential on the world stage, it considers itself to be a 'religion' in the order of the Satanic Mysteries, the equally Satanic Hermetic Philosophy, and Alchemy!  The inner organization who  according to many researchers make up only five per cent of the world wide organization know the spiritual Truth of Freemasonry, and embraces it with heart, soul, and mind.  In other words the men 'in the loop' so to speak, are fully aware of the use of satanic practices in order to achieve their goal of a one world government where the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has been deliberatlely rejected while at the same time satan the god of this earth is revered and worshiped.

The symbols on the US dollar bill also reveal how the 'elite' of the US government has been involved, how else can one explain the occult, satanic 'all seeing eye' or the pheonix rising, confirming the rebirth of Nimrod's rebellion against God in Babylon.  This theme is also repeated in the EU, or why else would the design of the EU parliament building be based on Brueghel's famous painting of the Tower of Babel.  The EU even published a poster that states, 'Europe: many tongues one voice', strongly suggesting that the 'elite' of the EU politicians are attempting to reverse the 'Babel effect' of the Bible in direct affront to the God of Genesis.  Appearing on the same poster the twelve EU stars are inverted, revealing the occult goat symbol of Baphomet or Mendes.  This certainly indicates that at some level officials are aware of the satanic power behind 'the EU project'.

There are many other convincing facts that confirm that we are being prepared to soon receive the first of the four horsemen.  The false "Messiah" on the white horse who will have all the answers but in reality will lead the world to almost total destruction, as Jesus confirmed in Matthew 24 22:  "And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened."  Fortunately we also know from scripture that the coming Global Government will not have it all its own way, for the one thing that the governing 'elite' have not considered in their equations is that the Word of God will expose them in spite of much opposition.

                                                              The Israel sign - confirming these are the last days

The scattering of Israel is Biblical and is written in Lev 23 - Deut 28 29 30. The Bible also foretold the return of the Jews to their land and the Bible predicts over and over again that the Jewish people must be back in their land for the events of the end times to unfold.  After almost 2000 years, in May 1948 Israel was again restored as a nation Jer 30 1-3 Ezek 34 11-24 - Zech 10 6-10

Scriptures also point to the fact that restoration of Israel was meant by God to be a 'red alert' to believers. e.g. Isaiah 11 12. 'The Lord will raise a signal flag to show the nations that he is gathering together again the scattered people of Israel and Judah and bringing them back from the four corners of the earth'.   

Jesus also prophesied that Israel would be restored as a nation and that it would be a sign to that generation of His second coming...Matt 24 3+30-32 NLT

This Generation.  '...Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives.  His disciples came to him privately and asked "When will all this take place?  And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world.... " Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.  Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place'. (NLT)

The fig tree is a well-known symbol of Israel (Jer 24 + 32 others) and Jesus was apparently giving a clear sign to a particular generation.  I do not believe the Lord would want us to be confused.  The most well known reference to the span of a generation is found in a prayer of Moses Psalm 90 10: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years"  So, from 1948 + 70 = 2018 or ten extra years for strength up to 2028.

                                                                        Other signs confirming the end of the age

We know that God has made it clear through His word that He does not want His people ignorant concerning the unfolding of current events and listed below are some further prophesies concerning these days that bear witness to the fact that we are fast approaching the end of this age.

Travel and Knowledge to dramatically increase.  In the book of Daniel 12 4 there is a remarkable passage that previous generations could not have identified with: "But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Then many shall run to and fro and search anxiously through the Book (the Bible) for knowledge of God's purposes as revealed by His prophets, at a time when knowledge shall become great and increased."

From the beginning of history to less than 100 years ago the horse was the common means of travel, and people very seldom moved more than a few miles from their birthplace.  Furthermore, knowledge had to be gained slowly and painstakingly, but in the last few decades there has been an explosion in knowledge and has now progressed to such a rate that our level of knowledge is, according to some studies, doubling every 5 years.  We are acquiring as much new information every 2 years as we acquired in the whole of human history up to the beginning of the 20th Century.  Up until a few generations ago a person who travelled much was considered something of a celebrity and worthy of respect, but now with air, ship, road and rail travel common to everyone, people are indeed travelling to and fro in a way never before witnessed., in fact it is a way of life for a lot of people these days.

The breakdown of family life and sexual immorality.  The Gospel of Luke confirms that Jesus looked ahead to these days and saw that in today's society morals would be similar to those at the time of Lot.  Luke 17 28.29.  In the book of Genesis chapter 19 it describes Lot living in the City of Sodom which was full of sexual immorality and in particular aggressive homosexuality that was forcing itself on the rest of society. (ring any bells?)

Until recent years it has always been taken for granted that God's plan for sexual fulfillment was meant to be in the confines of a secure marriage that would result in children being wanted and cared for.   Today we are seeing the fruits of open rebellion to the Word of God, where there is no right or wrong in society.  This situation has been not only been allowed but actively encouraged by governments that for decades have preferred to dish out contraception and abortion on demand even to minors.

There is an old expression "evil thrives when good men do nothing"  and very few of Britain's politicians have had the courage to speak up for marriage, in fact the politicians have actively legislated and taxed against it, and by their actions they have penalized marriage, rewarded adultery, actively encouraged lone parenthood and systematically rewarded homosexual relationships to the point of legalizing same sex marriage with all the tax breaks and incentives.

This left wing liberal agenda has resulted in a burgeoning underclass where drug abuse, crime and systematic dishonesty a way of life, neglect is routine, and the concept of love, responsibility and discipline are completely alien to these victims of this failed social experiment.  According to recent a survey in the USA, children are fifty times more likely to be abused by boyfriends or stepfathers than biological parents or married spouses, confirming fears that under-age sex with 'step-relatives' or 'partners' is now relatively commonplace.

Scripture tells us that "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge"  Proverbs 1 7.   Yet it is self evident from Britain's politicians that they have no fear of God and consequently absolutely no wisdom.  In fact if these 'progressive politicians' had any wisdom they would already know that God will hold them accountable for their part in every one of these ruined lives.

Increasing violence in society.  When describing these days Jesus also referred to the days of Noah in Luke 17 26.27  "As it was in the days of Noah so it will be in the days of the son of man".  According to the bible the spirit of this age will be defined as one of rejection of God's laws.

Jesus said of these days that society would be like it was at the time of Noah "when the earth was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence" Genesis 6.11 and "every intent of thought of the heart was only evil continually".

Just look at the type of visual images and profanity that every hour of every day are being sown into our society.  In fact how much 'entertainment' would be left if all the violence, sex and foul language were removed!  There is increasing evidence that throughout society pornography is now becoming accepted as the norm for many people and as a consequence loving sex is being replaced with acts of sexual violation.  Given the fact that the Bible refers to rebellion from Gods laws as 'witchcraft' it becomes more easy to understand why a large proportion of the males in society are now 'hooked' on pornography or unable to break free from its spell if you like.

Also violence is increasing in every area of society from family life to gang warfare where killing for drug profits just goes with the territory.  Rape and murder are now so commonplace that most are not even considered newsworthy.  People's minds are also becoming hardened and we read in Rev 9 20  that  "They did not repent of the work of their hands", again as previously stated, the Word of God shows us that "rebellion from Gods laws is as witchcraft" and as such these men and increasingly women too are becoming 'spellbound' by the culture of crime, sex and violence.

Concerning these days, in a letter to Timothy the Apostle Paul wrote  "For we know that in the last days perilous times will come, for people will be lovers of self and utterly self-centred, lovers of money, with a continuous desire for wealth, proud, arrogant and contemptuous boasters.  They will be abusive, blasphemous and scoffers, ungrateful, unholy and profane, disobedient to parents.  They will be without natural affection, callous, loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce haters of good, treacherous, rash, inflated with self conceit, lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements". 2 Tim 3 1-5

Environmental damage and natural disasters.  The Bible also makes it clear in Luke 21 11 25.26  that just before the return of  Jesus there will be an increase in extreme weather conditions such as "the sea and the waves roaring" just as we have been witnessing in recent years as Tsunami's, floods, hurricanes, tornados and droughts have caused massive damage.  Furthermore statistics reveal a 400% rise in such disasters since the 1980's.  Furthermore in this passage from Luke, Jesus also spoke of famines and pestilence which are also set to increase to alarming proportions.  I firmly believe that the consequences of  GM crops have not yet been fully revealed,  however the fact that bees are now diminishing at an alarming rate should send us a signal.

In Isaiah 24 there is a reference to the consequences of pollution and interfering with the laws of nature: "The land and the earth also are defiled by their inhabitants, because they have transgressed Gods laws (GM crops).....therefore a curse devours the land and the earth, and they who dwell in it suffer the punishment of their guilt.

The dangers of Replacement Theology.  Satan's plan has always been to keep the church blind and powerless, and in the fourth century the early church became 'paganised' as a matter of political expediency by the Emperor Constantine.

Christianity had shaken Rome to its foundations, therefore Christianity had to become part of the political system, (as will soon happen again) so the Catholic 'Babylonian friendly' church became the established religion, and along with replacement theology and other false teachings, has kept the vast majority of believers blind and ineffective in understanding scripture for these vital times.  After all, if the church spiritualises Israel then how can they accurately interperate prophecy for these days, when people need Biblical understanding to avoid continued deception.  The time has come for the sleeping giant that is the established church to wake up because if it continues to follow the liberal route then it will fall into the trap of the Laodicean church, which in his commentaries,  Ironside interprets the meaning of Laodicea as "the people's rights".   It does seem to reflect  todays culture and if the church continues to consider 'people's rights' to practice homosexuality, ordain same sex marriages and remains silent concerning abortion then I will let the words of Jesus speak to them.

"To the church in Laodicea, I know the record of your works and what you are doing.  You are neither cold nor hot, would that you were cold or hot, so because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth" Rev 3 15.16

The Accuracy of Bible  Prophecy.  Over one fourth of the Bible is prophetic and given to us for our instruction, in fact didn't Jesus say to the people of His day that they could read the signs of the weather but not the signs of his coming as foretold in Scripture.  The prophet Daniel had even foretold the exact day of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem as the Messiah centuries earlier.  In Dan 9:25 he foretold that from the day a decree was issued by king Artexerxes (Nehemiah 2:1) on March 5, 444BC, that exactly 173,880 days later the Messiah would arrive in Jerusalem before being killed.  Jesus arrived on a donkey, (also as prophesied) exactly the day the prophet Daniel had foretold. (see appendix)

The city of Tyre's utter destruction was prophesied in Jer 27 2-7; 47.4  & Ezek 26 3-21, 28 6-10 naming not less that 25 separate details, each of which in the following centuries were literally fulfilled.

Mathematicians have estimated according to the law of compound probabilities that if a prophecy concerning a person, place or event has twenty five details beyond the possibility of human collusion, calculation, coincidence and comprehension, then there is only one chance in more than thirty three and one half million of it being accidental.

Tyre's history at the hands of  Nebuchadnezzar and then more than two centuries later at the hands of Alexander the great, and centuries after that at the hands of the Crusaders, was the striking fulfillment of each detail of the prophet's forecasts.  No other city in world history could have fulfilled them.  The authenticity and credibility of God's word leaves no chance for sane denial.

Any study of prophecy would demonstrate how definite and specific Bible prophesies are, e.g. in Jer 46 what was said of Babylon, for instance, would not have been applicable to Egypt or Mammon or Sidon and history proves their fulfillment.  If there was no other evidence that there is a God and that the Bible is inspired by Him.  The fulfillment of prophecy in history should be sufficient proof for any person capable of thinking it through. God was precise then, and he is equally accurate today!           

Prophecy also demonstrates that God is in control of all unfolding events. Matthew 28:18 confirms that the Lord Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth, illustrating the fact that no demon or principality can thwart the unfolding purposes of God.

Furthermore prophecy demonstrates that God is good and he wants us to know his-story and gives us hope and a warning as he instructs us to 'come out of' the Babylonian system and establish proper priorities in order to lead lives fitting for the Kingdom of Heaven.

2 Peter 1 19: "For we also have the sure word of prophecy, and you would do well to pay attention to it as to a lamp that shines in a dark place."

There are many more scriptures that prophesy the return of Jesus than prophesied his birth and ministry, below I will reproduce a page from Hal Lyndsey's book which demonstrates the accuracy of prophecy.

"Daniel's vision, in particular that part dealing with the first 69 weeks, intrigued Sir Robert Anderson, a retired Scotland Yard inspector of the late 19th century.  Daniel 9v25 predicts:  "Know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks..."

In other words, using the issuance of the only decree that authorised the rebuilding of both the city of Jerusalem and the temple as a starting point (given by Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia), 483 years later should bring us to the time of Jesus.

Sir Robert calculated these seven weeks, plus 62 weeks or 483 years (69 x7 = 483). Virtually every fair authority to examine them since has confirmed his calculations.  Others, like Hoehner's chronological aspects of the life of Christ, have carried Anderson's calculations even further.  Most agree that the only decree that fits the prophecy was the decree issued by king Artaxerxes to Nehemiah.  The Bible records the date as the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artexerxes Nehemiah 2:1 or, the 20th year of his reign on the first day of the month of Nisan.  The Greenwich observatory confirmed the date as March 5, 444BC. 

Anderson's calculations were among the first to recognise the Hebrew lunar calendar; it has a 360-day year, 12 months of 30 days each.  Anderson used a simple conversion process.  The length of a year varied by calendar, but a day was still a day.  By dividing 483 years by 360 days we find the 69 weeks equal exactly 173,880 days.  From 444 BC to AD33 is 477 years (according to our calendar), but AD1 and 1BC were the same year, so the actual length of time was 476 years.  Multiplying 476 years by 365.24219879 (allowing for leap years) comes to 173,855 days, 6 hours 52 minutes, 44 seconds - or, to round it off - 173,855 days.  But 69½weeks- 483 years - is 173,880 days.  This figure is 25 days short.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on March 30, AD33.  The starting point -Artaxerxes Longimanus decree - was issued on March 5.  Add the missing 25 days and we come up with 173,880 days.  So the prophecy predicted the event to the exact day!  This destroys the basis for the sceptic's argument, unless the forger was also divinely inspired.  The point becomes moot. God was precise then, and he is equally accurate today!

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