HEUTIGE FÄLLE UND IHRE BEDEUTUNG VON DER BIBEL

DEZEMBER 2007 BIS FEBRUAR 2008 AUSGABE Nr. 466

Heutige Fälle - Wort-Format

FRIEDENSbemühungen DENNOCH WIEDER

Der israelische Premierminister und der Fatah palästinensische Führer Abbas haben versucht, eine Grundlage für einen zwei Zustand Israel/palästinensische Lösung auszuarbeiten für Mittlere Ostenfrieden. Es scheint, ein privater Antrag unter selbst zu sein unter anderem die Abteilung von Jerusalem mit einbeziehend, damit beide Zustände Hälfte von Jerusalem als ihre Kapitalien haben können. Es hat keine Wahrscheinlichkeit von durch die israelische Regierung für einen Anfang genehmigt werden. Es ist keine überraschung, daß der nicht annehmbare Status von einem geteilten Jerusalem jede mögliche Vereinbarung ruiniert. „Es geschieht an diesem Tag, daß ich Jerusalem einen sehr schweren Stein für alle Völker bilde; alle, die es weg heben würden, sind sicher eingeschnittene Stücke, zwar alle Nationen der Masse werden erfaßt gegen es“ Zechariah 12:3.

Zechariah 14:2 - 3 notiert eine Prophezeiung, die, im Kontext der letzten Tage, Hälfte Stadt von Jerusalem in Gefangenschaft einsteigen würde, einen Umstand, der 1948 auftrat. „Hälfte der Stadt steigt in Gefangenschaft ein. Aber der Rest der Leute wird nicht von der Stadt abgeschnitten. Dann geht der Lord weiter und kämpft gegen jene Nationen“. Das ganzes Jerusalem wurde nach Israel 1967 wieder hergestellt. Es gibt keine Prophezeiung, daß solche Abteilung von Jerusalem wieder auftritt.

Diese Lösung mit zwei Zuständen wird durch die USA, die UNO, das EU und das Rußland gedrückt, um Fatah Palästinenser über Hamas, die heftigen, kriegerischen, engagierten Feinde von Israel zu bevorzugen. Die Wahl der Bevorzugung von Fatah über Hamas ist dem Lassen der Katze in die Huhnfeder anstelle vom Fuchs entsprechend. Two years ago Israel was fighting Fatah in Gaza and they haven’t changed their long term objective of “driving Israel into the sea” – the elimination of Israel is still on their website. Arafat is dead but the Muslim rejection of Israel remains. Of course Abbas is keen to get a Palestinian state – he would be one up on Hamas and, more importantly, have enormous international support to build up his credibility and strength so that he can stealthily side track Israel and, eventually, overcome Israel.

All the international community is interested in is a two state, quick fix solution with no regard for long term dangers to Israel. It is short term expediency, knowing full well that Arabs say whatever they know you want to hear, irrespective of the truth.

The November conference that is to approve this two state idea seems unlikely to take place. Most intended participants have conflicting conditions. Most want predominance over others. There is reluctance to compromise on anything. It has happened many times. Ezekiel 13 noted a time when “they have seduced my people saying, ‘Peace’, when there is no peace” v.10 and criticises those “who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace” v.16. How many times in the past twenty years? They are at it again. Unfortunately the Muslim leaders have an ancient, perpetual hatred of Israel [Ezekiel 35:5] that won’t go away till Obadiah’s Edom/Palestinian prophecy is fulfilled, “None of them remaining.”

Prophetic Signs in World Trade and Finance

A major confrontation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom reign in our future will be centred around world trade and finance. Revelation chapters 17 and 18 are the great trading chapters of the Bible. The future setting is in Europe [indicated by the 7 head, 10 horned beast] that will dominate world trade. An unprecedented twenty three items of world trade are listed in Rev.18:12-13 that will constitute the core of enormous European economic strength and pride. Recent developments point to progress of these prophetic signs.

The coming dominance of European economic power, as strongly indicated by Bible prophecy, has already signalled its potential. Its progress is slow, but steady. The membership of what is now the European Union has grown from 6 countries in 1957 to 27 today. Their integration, not only in economics, but in the political constitutional area, is becoming significant.

The other side of the story is the movements in the trading giants of today. The current economic power of the USA is declining. The sub-prime mortgage collapse, centred in USA, is a key factor in undermining confidence in American economic strength. This has resulted in the loss of value in the US dollar. Highly significantly, the major currency that has most improved is the European Euro. This adds confidence in Bible prophecy. For the first time in about 50 years the Canadian dollar is worth more than the $US, underlining the US slowdown.

In recent years further concerns about the USA economy have been twofold. The US accumulated deficit has grown to worrying proportions. Added to this is the cost of the Iraq war that is at unsustainable levels. The USA cannot afford to be dissipating its wealth at the current rate. All these indications seem to be saying that the USA, as the world’s leading economy, is slipping with Europe as the beneficiary, as would be expected from the interpretation of Bible signs.

Another feature to consider is the information in Isaiah 63. Observers see the returned Jesus Christ advancing from Palestinian territory with Israel in dire need of help. “I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold” v.5. USA now provides $3 billion of aid to Israel as well as war material when urgently needed. But when Jesus returns there is no one to help – USA is not there any more. Why not? Perhaps she could not afford to help any more. Perhaps oil politics has forced her out.

Where does that leave other great trading nations such as China and India? Bible prophecy and Biblical events have been concentrated in two areas of the world – the Middle East and Europe. Other great world powers have had, and still have, influences but in secondary roles. The barbarian and Asian hordes had temporary effects on the Middle East and Europe. It is very likely that China and India will influence world events for a time but the decisive roles will still occur, in the future as disclosed in Bible prophecy, in the Middle East and Europe. The Revelation dragon and beast of the future is not China and Asia. They never move out of the main arena.

Bible indications are that world economics and power politics will greatly change. What we observe today is that this great change is under way. Both those in decline and those in ascendency are starting to show their destinies.

The European Road Ahead

The fourth metal, iron, in Daniel’s metal man of chapter 2 reminds us that the Roman character of the iron persists all through the centuries to the toes beyond our time. That vision informs that clay is mixed with the iron to make it brittle, a foreshadowing of the French Revolution and Napoleon, a decimation of the power of the church to torture, to kill and to conduct the inquision. The dragon and three beasts of Revelation chapter13 instruct us that the character of that Roman influence would change, from empire to Holy Roman Empire to a more civilised church. We are told, “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” In the middle centuries of the Holy Roman Empire phase, only those who adhered to the dominant church could get a licence to trade.

In Revelation chapter 18, set in a future time, it seems that a similar situation develops. When this European trading cartel is demolished [by ten kings who burn her with fire], “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore.” Again, Europe will dominate the trade of the world. No lasting domination by USA, China, India or any other but Europe.

It seems that the returned Jesus Christ, ruling from Jerusalem, demands that this European organization submits to his kingdom requirements. The Europeans will be living “luxuriously” [v.19] and, having been “deceived” [v.23] into believing that the real Jesus is antichrist, go forth to fight him. Revelation chapter 17 describes their defeat and their revenge in fire on the religious influence that misled them. That misleading religious teaching about one antichrist in the future is building up today in a host of churches [many antichrists have been in the world since the 1st. century, 1 John chs, 2 and 4].

This is a long introduction to today’s preliminary signs. In a huge change in the character of the papacy, pope Benedict 16th. has adopted a tougher line on many issues. In a 2007 July 7 report, “some senior Catholics have accused him of ‘encouraging those who want to turn the clock back’ ”, an ominous message accompanied by a number of examples. In a further report on July 12 “the Rev. David Phillips, General Secretary of the Church Society went further, saying, ‘It does clarify the way in which the Vatican has torn apart Christianity in its lust for power…in their view that, to be a true church, one has to accept the ludicrous idea that the pope is in some way the successor of the apostle Peter…these claims cannot be justified, biblically or historically’ ”.

After decades of pope John Paul 23rd. popularising the Catholic church in 82 countries, the Vatican pressure is now on. The road ahead, explained above, via The Revelation prophecies, is becoming clearer.

Muslims in a Global Confrontation

There is no doubt that the vast majority of Muslim people are folk who want to live in peace and harmony, raise their children in safety and want for them a secure future. Their cultural problem is that their world is governed by a radical minority that employs fundamentalist clerics able to impose rampant, religious based, persuasive propaganda to force unwelcome attitudes and compulsory rules, on unwilling adherents.

This enables extremists to speak for all. Osama bin Laden has written: “We request of Allah…that the [Islamic] nation should regain its honor and prestige, should raise again the unique flag of Allah on all stolen Islamic land, from Palestine to Andalus [Spain}.” The Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs recently commented, “Israel, therefore, is a small link in the greater confrontation between radical Islam and the West. Accepting the Arabs' terms for a Middle East settlement, or even going so far as "liberating" Palestine from Israeli rule, will not be the last stop in the radical Islamic journey being led by the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda, which share the vision of spreading Islam all over the world”. What will happen?

Oil supply already is having a major effect on international diplomacy with supplying countries tolerated. The accumulation by oil countries of enormous amounts of money finding profitable investments is another. But the focus of physical action against nations is on Israel and she will be a sticking point. Israel’s danger will escalate but she will survive. God has guaranteed that. ‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘nor be dismayed, O Israel. For behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you. Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you” [Jeremiah 30:10-11].

Israel will be a roadblock that the Arabs will not be able to get past. That confrontation will culminate in the Gogian invasion, with Muslim nations, that collapses on Israel’s northern mountains after, it seems, Jesus returns. No peace and safety till the Palestinians are dispatched. With or without nuclear arms, Iran [Persia in Ezekiel 38] does not move until the same ill-fated invasion along with others listed.

In the meantime the Arab oil nations will not want to disrupt their newly found wealthy lifestyle and will use the poor old Palestinians as their remote fighting force. As is the case on many other occasions, the Arab rhetoric is threatening but meaningful action is not very effective. G.S.B. 12-2007