Sound The Midnight Cry

“Connecting The Dots”

Most of us can remember as kids receiving a piece of paper with dots that had numbers next to them. We were told to connect them in the order of the numbers. The purpose was to reveal something that couldn’t be seen without the lines connecting each dot. It is a simple child’s activity that reveals the “mystery” item.

In looking back at the events of the past few months politically in our nation, a pattern has emerged that I believe much has to do with decisions made concerning Israel. There are more than I can list here but consider the following summary of events.

President George W. Bush's political problems began when he agreed to become involved with the Israel-Palestinian peace process President Bush was coming off a very successful November 2002 election.

• His political party had control of both the House and the Senate
• The majority of the American public supported him
• The war in Iraq began on March 20, 2003, and President Bush declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 2003.
• On April 30, 2003, the Quartet Road Map was delivered to the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the Israelis were told how they were to divide their land.

Our President gave his word that Israel and Arab nations would come to “live side-by-side in peace and security.” Instead he saw the situation in Iraq deteriorate. Thousands have died, billions of dollars spent and no workable solution in site. And if we connect the dots instead of “world peace and security” we see the staging for Armageddon. Why is this?

Man’s wisdom says that if world leaders can work out the Israeli-Palestinian problem, things will improve in the Middle East — but nothing could be further from the truth. They fail to recognize that Iran, Syria, Al Qaeda and the terror groups of the Middle East are not after world peace but rather the elimination of Israel and world domination. But more importantly, they fail to recognize that the land called Israel was not given by man but by God. By dividing and demanding that Israel give the land away to her enemies, we end up opposing God…not a very good position to be in.

So pray for our President. He needs God’s wisdom to know how to proceed in the days ahead. And pray for the peace of Jerusalem [Psalm 122:6]! Above all, remember that all of this points to the soon return of Jesus Christ to planet earth! Are you ready?

“Economic Warfare?”

Earlier this year [March 5th] I wrote, “While politicians and military generals are talking the possibilities of a nuclear confrontation with Iran, others are warning of an attack in another area of vulnerability: the U.S. dollar. The Islamic enemy knows that the U.S. can be destroyed by attacking its economy.” So it was no surprise when an article appeared this week titled: “Iran Declaring Economic Warfare.”

Iran's Minister of Economy and Finance Davood Danesh Jaafari openly announced a governmental decision to move away from the dollar in the country's foreign-exchange transactions. He stated that this was “a defensive move aimed at blocking Washington's ability to monitor and interfere with Iran's conduct of international business.”

This move will appear as nothing less than a declaration of war by the United States. One Washington insider was quoted, “With our continuing budget and trade deficits, the Bush administration has to react strongly to any suggestion that world international markets might move away from dollar transactions or dollar holdings of foreign exchange currency…with Iran on the verge of announcing the capacity to produce highly enriched and possibly weapons-grade uranium, we are increasingly vulnerable to Iran spearheading an anti-American attack on the dollar."

Add to this the announcement a couple weeks ago that China is now holding $1 trillion in their foreign exchange currency. The recent decision that China intends to diversify their holdings more into Euros threatens the ability of the U.S. Treasury to float our budget deficits by selling U.S. government debt into the foreign exchange currency holdings market. China also recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal guaranteed to make Iran one of the major suppliers of oil and natural gas to China for decades to come.

I want to make note of two things: First, the Holy Spirit has been speaking to the Church that He is in the process of beginning a shaking of everything that can be shaken and America is not exempt. Second, the alignment with China and Iran is simply laying the groundwork for the future invasion mentioned in Revelation 16:12.

Some might ask, “Pastor, aren’t you a little fearful with all that’s happening?” My answer is simply, “No, because God is in control.” Jesus told us that these things must come to pass before His return to planet earth. That simply means His return is closer than yesterday. It’s time to get ready…Jesus is coming soon!

“Young shoppers want to pay with chip in skin”

This was a headline last month in a European news article. The report said, “Some customers are willing to have microchip implants as a means of paying in stores.” Tomorrow’s Shopping World also reports that “teenagers are more open to the idea of having a high-tech shopping experience.” A survey shows that around 8 per cent of 13 to 19-year-olds were open to the idea of microchip implants while 16 per cent wanted trolleys to be fitted with SatNav systems. This compared to just 5 per cent and 12 per cent respectively for adults asked the same questions. Some 7 per cent of people in both age groups were willing to use biometric iris or retina recognition payment systems.

This report hints that even though a “cashless society” is not expected to become viable for another decade, people are warming up to the idea quicker than before. That fact is brought out in that only 39 per cent of teenage respondents and 30 per cent of adults said they would still be using cash in 10 year’s time.

As people get used to using one method of “cashless” purchases, they become more open to newer and quicker methods. This in turn is all a part of the “last days” economic arm of the anti-christ.

As astonishing as it may be, millions of people around the world, including the United States, have no understanding of bible prophecy. As such, they are not aware of the current role technology is having in setting the stage for the coming of the anti-christ.

This should not surprise us as much of the world is “unchurched” [even in the U.S.]. Add to this many pastors/churches don’t even teach bible prophecy. They are dialed into a “needs oriented” gospel and want to make people “feel good.” Each week congregations are being told how to get rich or gain self-assurance. God’s Word is watered down to the point that if they ever hear it undiluted, they are offended.

I can tell you that there is nothing that “feels” better than to know the future as God’s Word has declared it. Add in the knowledge that passionate followers of Jesus Christ are “safe and secure from all alarm.” It’s time to tell others…Jesus is coming soon!

“Today You Vote!”

There is a story about a Senator who dies and finds himself standing before the Pearly Gates. St Peter gives him a choice between heaven and hell. The Senator looks around at Heaven, which looks kind of bland; angels sitting on clouds playing harps, etc. Then he looks around in Hell, where he finds gambling, parties, country clubs with everybody having a great time.

Returning to the Pearly Gates, he tells St. Peter that he chooses Hell. “So be it,” says St. Peter and the Senator is whisked back to Hell. Only this time, it is the REAL Hell, with demons, fire and brimstone and eternal agony. The Senator looks up Satan and says, “What gives? I was here yesterday and it was an eternal party.”

The Devil smiles and says to the Senator, “Yesterday, we were just campaigning. Today you voted.”

The Apostle Paul told us that “in the last days, perilous times shall come.” He describes the social conditions of that time characterized by the fact that “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, lacking sexual control, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

It is unfortunately an accurate description of American politics on both sides of the aisle. All one has to do is read the daily headlines and see that sin has no party affiliation. Though one side may lean further in that direction than the other, it doesn’t excuse the other side for flirting in those areas.

The truth is that members of both major parties campaign on these issues. They promote truce-breaking, ‘alternative’ families, opposing public expressions of Christianity, liberal social ‘reforms’, abortion on demand, legalized euthanasia, self-love. Some members will claim for themselves the high moral ground by pointing out that they are not “as bad” as their opponent, even going so far as to co-opt Jesus into their campaign strategy.

So what does any of this have to do with Bible prophecy? Bible prophecy looks at the “last days” from both earthly and heavenly perspectives. The coming government of the anti-christ rests on three ‘pillars’ – his eventual control of the political, economic and religious aspects of human society. These ‘signs of the times’ are given us so we could know when the end ‘is near, even at the doors’ according to the God’s Word.

If I understand Paul’s warning, those days have come. We would fair well to remember that each day “we vote” with our actions. Vote well!