It almost seems that the events of the world are happening at warp-speed. Almost daily there are the reminders of the ever-increasing darkness that seeks to envelop this world. Yet there are those moments when the light of truth shines through as well. We are in the midst of a cultural and spiritual war for the souls of those who inhabit planet earth. The Bible reminds us often that this cultural-spiritual war will only reach a conclusion when King Jesus comes to claim His rightful throne there in Jerusalem. Until that day Jesus said we would hear of wars and rumors of war; lawlessness would increase; and even the hearts of men would grow faint.
Last Thursday I watched Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address the United Nations General Assembly. If you did not have an opportunity of seeing this speech, I highly encourage you to watch it on you-tube. The Prime Minister spoke powerfully against the recently UN approved P5+1 treaty with Iran on nuclear weapons. The high-point of the speech came after the Prime Minister criticized the Iranian nuclear deal as providing Tehran with some international acceptance and a clear path toward developing a nuclear weapon. The Prime Minister said, "As a leader of a country defending itself every day against Iran's growing aggression, I wish I could take comfort in the claim that this deal blocks Iran's path to nuclear weapons, but I can't, because it doesn't. Here's the catch. Under this deal, if Iran doesn't change it's behavior, if Iran becomes more dangerous in the years to come, the most important constraints will still be automatically lifted by year 10 and again by year 15." He then cited the recent statement of the Iranian religious leader, made just days after the Iranian deal was signed in Switzerland, that the Iranians would destroy Israel within 25 years. Netanyahu, referring to that threat said, "...and the response from this body, the response from nearly every one of the governments represented here has been absolutely nothing - utter silence, deafening silence." Then the Prime Minister stood with a silent gaze over the Assembly for nearly a minute. His eyes just moved from one end of the Assembly to the other almost as to reinforce the concept of how disturbing their silence had been. He then declared that the days of Israel's silence were over and that they would defend themselves. Of the speeches I watched during the course of the opening of the General Assembly, the Prime Minister's was most powerful.
Yet, even as the Prime Minister was speaking before the General Assembly, outside, in the arena displaying the flags of the member-states of the United Nations, a new flag was hoisted for the very first time - the Palestinian flag. This flag-raising came in the aftermath of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's statement that the Palestinians will not longer abide by the Oslo Accords. On that Wednesday, September 30, the Palestinian leader had said, "All security agreements with Israel are now annulled." And it has been interesting to see the increase in violence in Israel, particularly around Jerusalem, since Abbas uttered those words. The hopes for a peaceful agreement seem to be fading quickly away. The Bible seems to affirm that there is only one who will resolve this seemingly unresolvable conflict and he will do so through intrigue and threats. His name is - the Antichrist. You can read about him in Daniel 9. So it seems that we are one-step closer to the end-times.
I shared with you in last week's blog about the presence of Russian and Iranian military forces in Syria. Under the pretense of fighting against ISIS, Russian warplanes have attacked those forces that have been opposing the Assad regime. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped into the leadership vacuum created when our President vacated his "red line" approach in Syria's civil war. Could this be the beginning of Ezekiel's War? I can't speak with total confidence, but it sure seems to be the precursor to that event.
I want to refer you to an article that I found alarming, yet very prophetic in its implications. It was written by Leo Hohmann and posted at www.wnd.com/2015/09/obama-puts-u-s-on-fast-track-to-world-government. The article begins with this statement: "The United Nations 2030 Agenda endorsed by President Obama, Pope Francis and the U.N. General Assembly brings the world one giant step closer to true global governance. The U.N. document approved Sunday (September 27) in New York, 'Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,' includes in its preamble the call for a 'new universal agenda' for all of humanity." This document has as its focus the elimination of world-wide poverty, combating climate change, the elimination of gender inequality, and resolution of the immigrant and refugee crises. Paul McGuire, a Fox News and History Channel contributor, after reading the document said, "The only thing they are lacking right now is a sufficient crisis big enough to win enthusiastic public support in America and other nations in the world for full-on global governance. But, remember, the elite who are behind this are experts at manufactured crisis and their motto is 'ordo ab chao,' which means 'order out of chaos.' The new global order will be birthed by either a global financial crisis, the prospect of World War III involving Islam, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Iran, Syria and Israel and a manufactured climate-change crisis." Is this a preparation for the coming of the Antichrist? Sure seems that the stage is being prepared for the acclaimed world leader. He is in the wings awaiting his coronation. Friends, this is a frightening article, but a must-read if we are to fully understand the workings of the leaders of the world at this moment.
Finally, I want to just speak for a few moments into the tragic shooting in Roseburg, Oregon this past week at Umpqua Community College. We have learned that the shooter had instructed those in that classroom to lie on the floor. Then he instructed them to stand and he asked if they were a Christian. If they said "yes," then they were shot in the head; if they said, "no," then they were shot in the legs. The targets for the shooter's rage were Christians - not atheists, not Hindus, not Muslims, not humanists. Yet the mainstream media organizations and our governmental officials, including our President, failed to focus upon that one fact. Christians were martyred for their faith, not in Egypt or in Syria or in Iraq, but here in the United States. This is a sobering thought. Christians in America have been assaulted emotionally and spiritually in recent years with the advancement of the same-sex marriage philosophy. Christians have been assaulted economically as many have lost their places of business or careers because of their stand for what they believe to be biblical truth. And now we see Christians losing their lives because of their faith in Christ. I asked myself this question: If I had been one of those lying on that classroom floor, what would have been my response to the shooter's question? What would have been your response? As I have shared with my congregation on several occasions, the time to think about how to answer that question is not when the occasion arises; the time to resolve what your response will be is now! Sadly I believe what occurred in Roseburg, Oregon, will be repeated again and again. Are you ready? Am I ready?
Praise God we can place our faith and trust and even our very lives in Him. Yes, it is time to stand up and be counted. It is time to be a Daniel in our world. Read again his story in Daniel 1-6. Let his resolve become yours and mine. Let his boldness to stand for truth in the presence of error be yours and mine. Let his willingness to die for truth become your willingness and mine.
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