Sound The Midnight Cry

“Did You See That?”

Everyone at one time or another has either said or had someone say to us, “Did you see that?” Most of the time it refers to an incident that happens so quickly that it’s over before we can alert someone to what we have just witnessed.

I write this article and post the news events of the day relating to bible prophecy because many people are interested but they “don’t see” because they are not quite sure what they should be looking for as it relates to the subject.

So as I sat down this week to consider some of the events, I realized how easy it would be to become overwhelmed by the events. When you consider that Israel’s political landscape has swung back to the right; Iran has started testing its new nuclear facility and both those items are on a collision course.Then add into the mix the uproar over the U.S. spending of trillions of dollars and the taxpayer now underwriting Citibank and more on the horizon. Or consider the new ID driver’s license being pushed with radio tracking information about you or the new U.S. administration reversing policy to try and force medical personnel to perform abortions even if it’s against their conscience. And to top it all off, a Kuwaiti professor broadcast in a video speech this week telling how anyone with enough courage could easily smuggle 4 pounds of anthrax across the Mexican border and “release this confetti near the White House” killing 330,000 people within 60 minutes and cause “dancing in the streets for Islamic followers”. [view under “prophecy updates”] And these items only scratch the surface of all that has transpired this past week.

You might be thinking, “Bob, all you did is get me angry or depressed.” Well, if that’s all you see then you would probably be correct. However, there was a small reminder this past week that all these things and more are not without notice.

European astronomers have taken a stunning photo of a cosmic “eye” staring down from space. The bright blue pupil and the white of the eye are fringed by flesh-colored eyelids. This eye is so big that light traveling at 186,000 miles per second takes 2 ½ years to cross from one side to the other. The photo is so detailed that a close-up reveals distant galaxies within the central eyeball. The object has been nicknamed “the Eye of God”. (click photo to enlarge)

Acts 2:25 says, “I see that the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” This creation in the cosmos is a simple reminder that all things are under the watchful eye of God. Nothing catches Him off-guard; He is never surprised and He keeps good records.

So the next time the events of the world get you down, remember that there is One you can always call on. He knows your needs and He can calm your fears. He will give you a new life…a fresh start. And from that point on, you are under His watchful and caring eye…that’s Jesus!

"Do You See What I See?"

Stop anyone on the street or in the office and ask them, “What do you see right now?” and they will probably look at you and ask, “What do you mean?” It’s really a simple question but almost everyone will think that there is a hidden agenda behind it or a secret camera somewhere filming their response.

So let me ask you—“What do you see—right now, right where you are?”

There’s no trick involved but the responses from people will all be different because “sight is perception” this according to Jonathan Horton, MD, PhD, a former history-major-turned-scientist who now heads UCSF’s Laboratory for Visual Neuroscience. “It’s a process where information is extracted, transformed and distilled.”

Interestingly, most of us never think about the process of “seeing”. It is the manner in which someone observes something and using previous knowledge or understanding applies certain facts or beliefs (whether true or not) and applies it to what they are observing. That’s why someone can view an event and see one thing and another person witnessing the same event, sees something totally contrary.

We are witnessing events around the world today that only a few months ago people would have scoffed at anyone that would have suggested could happen.

• Global governments are positioning themselves to nationalize banks.
  
• Policies have been enacted in the U.S. to setup “internment camps” and mobilize the military in a “national emergency.”
  
• States are facing bankruptcies
• Major corporations are folding and disappearing from the landscape
  
• The word “depression” is now being bantered about the news every night
  
• Meanwhile, gold and silver are being bought as fear spreads it grip across the world.
  
• And the U.N. has now admitted that Iran has enough processed uranium for a nuclear bomb. 

Inevitably, someone will tell me, “You’re being too pessimistic. You’re just trying to scare people. I thought people of faith were positive about life!”

To those people I would reply, “I am positive and optimistic about life—one that is founded firmly in Jesus Christ. Why? Because he promises to be there to comfort, heal and provide in every circumstance. Anything else is pure folly.”

If anything is true when it comes to “seeing”, a Christian should see through the lens of God’s Word the Bible. It reveals things that cannot be seen with the natural eye.

Jesus once looked at Jerusalem with tears in his eyes and said, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Luke 19:42)

The people of today are no different from those that lived in his day—so focused on the immediate that they cannot see the real solution to their needs and problems.

So the next time you read or hear of major changes in governments, policies, procedures that just a few years ago no one would have even mentioned, consider what Jesus said: “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Can you see it?

What Goes Up, Must Come Down!

This phrase keeps coming to mind as I watch intently on the things happening in our world. It’s like watching someone blowing up a balloon until it reaches a point that it pops.

The literal meaning of the phrase, “What goes up must come down” is about gravity: throw most objects in the air, and they will fall to the ground. However, over time it has been applied to virtually everything else. The common consensus is that no trend continues forever. In time, the mighty will fall and the proud will be humbled. Over the past six months, it has more applied to the financial crisis around the world than anything else (do a search online and count the 10’s of thousands of articles).

I was listening the other day to part of the hearings in Washington, D.C. on the “stimulus bill” (it more resembles pork trough that is going to stink for a long time). Anyway, following the hearings that day, I heard a Wall Street trader try to explain in simple terms the magnitude of what Congress was trying to do and the negative impact it would bring.

First, here’s what we do know: From the inception of the Federal Reserve in 1914, the balance sheet was less than 1 trillion dollars as of September 2008. It has now almost tripled and the Congress is getting ready to add on another trillion to the already 10+ trillion dollars of debt (not counting the money robbed from Social Security Trust Funds that still have to be repaid).

Now, the problem is that to most people, we cannot grasp the enormity of a “trillion” dollars. The market trader explained it like this: If you begin on the day that Christ was born (interesting beginning) and began to spend $1 million dollars a day, every day until now, you would not have spent one trillion dollars!

  This chart (click to enlarge) shows the skyrocketing money supply (which is only paper and a promise) of the Federal Reserve Bank (not a government agency as most believe). The other chart, puts in a more visual format for us what's happening (notice the end of each graph) we see in a few short months that it literally shoots straight up).  

Now add to this our nation’s debt that is accumulating at an enormous rate. Top that with the notion that our nation's leaders believe that going in debt to pay off debt is the way to go and you have a perfect example of a "house of cards."

Now someone is probably thinking, “If you were trying to make me feel better, you failed.” Well, there are always two sides to the coin.

As one looks at the events happening in the world, we choose what lens to look through: our own understanding or through God’s Word—the Bible. These events are all pointing to a coming event that will dwarf anything that has happened in the history of the human race—the physical return of Jesus Christ to earth.

Unknowingly, the market trader began with the birth of Christ when speaking of spending a trillion dollars. The graphs of our national debt and spending are now pointing literally to the sky. Could they be pointing to a cataclysmic event around the corner?

When Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection, the angels told the people watching, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Like the old saying goes, “What goes up, must come down!”

Now that’s a “coming down” that I’m looking forward to seeing! How about you?

“What’s The Big Deal?”

The question refers to the notion that something is not important or impressive. It lends itself to the expression “so what?”

If you do a search online, you will find topics like, “Pornography: What’s the Big Deal?” or “What’s the Big Deal About Social Search?” or “What’s the Big Deal About Global Warming?” In each of these articles, the concept is expressed that it is important or that it is not important—depending on the values of the author.

This week it was revealed that the frontrunner in the upcoming Israeli elections, Benjamin Netanyahu, secretly warned Hamas that if its rocket campaign continues once he's in power, he will not hesitate to eliminate the terror group's leadership in both the Gaza Strip and Syria.

Israelis go to the polls this week to elect a new government. The polls say Benjamin Netanyahu is the likely next PM based on the strength of his campaign promise NOT to divide Jerusalem.

In recent a press conference he laid out his own Jerusalem policy in no uncertain terms. After he climbed the Tower of David, built 2,000 years ago to protect the walls of ancient Jerusalem, and then headed to the Mount of Olives, Netanyahu stated, "Jerusalem has been the pulsating heart of the Jewish people…Now there are those who come and say, let's divide this heart." This was in reference to the desire of the Islamists that want part [some want all] of the city as their own and the “land for peace” plan being pushed by the U.S. and the other members of the “four horsemen”.

Now you may be thinking, “So what?” to which I would remind you of the prophecy of Jesus in Luke 21:24: ". . . and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Again you may be thinking, “So what?” to which I would suggest that we consider the following.

To date, no country including the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The issue of ownership of Jerusalem is a major issue in the Netanyahu’s Likud Party political campaign of 2009. For now, Jerusalem remains under Gentile control, but that could change very soon.

Jesus closed out his teaching with these words, “Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”

So the next time you hear someone say “What’s the big deal?” remember this truth—Jesus is coming back soon and that is a big deal!

“Did I Miss Anything?”

The one question probably asked by students that skip a class than anyone else—“Did I miss anything?” –to which the usual answer is “nothing”.

Of course, if someone asked me, I would probably answer, “Everything! The teacher gave an exam worth 40 per cent of the grade for this term.” Or how about “When you are not present how could something significant occur?” My personal favorite mentioned in a poem by Tom Wayman…“Everything. A few minutes after we began last time a shaft of light descended and an angel or other heavenly being appeared and revealed to us what each woman or man must do to attain divine wisdom in this life and the hereafter. This is the last time the class will meet before we disperse to bring this good news to all people on earth”.

I mentioned to a friend something that I read this week and they remarked, “I’ve been so busy, I haven’t even noticed what’s happening in the world. What did I miss?”

Well, global political leaders and business people gathered for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland are calling to utilize the current global economic crisis as a panic in which governments worldwide can move to nationalize banks. The forum's founder, Klaus Schwab, told CNN the current global economic slowdown is a "transformational crisis" that should be utilized to shape a "new world." We have “to establish signposts that the world after the crisis will be different. We have to create a new world” to serve society. This came after Nouriel Roubini, New York University professor at the Stern School of Business, proclaimed the global banking system is "effectively insolvent."

An anti-Israel Palestinian activist once commended by President Obama has predicted the end of Israel, which, he boasted, is "within reach, in our lifetimes." In a recent article he gloated, "Now, the other pillar of Israeli power – Western support and complicity – is starting to crack. We must do all we can to push it over."

Russia has extended its reach to Cuba once again signing economic, trade and humanitarian needs. It has also announced aggressive plans for its claims to the mineral riches of the Arctic.

In an 83-to-53 vote, the U.N. General Assembly urged nations to provide "adequate protections" in their laws or constitutions against "acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general." Interestingly, only Islam and Muslims are specifically named in this resolution sponsored by Uganda — on behalf of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference. Those voting in favor say they do not want to limit free speech but do intend to stop disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad. Violators as applied in Muslim countries are subject to the death penalty.

Meanwhile, a little-discussed provision in President Obama's economic stimulus plan would demand that every American submit to a government program for electronic medical records without a choice to opt out.

Finally, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (and possibly the next PM) of Israel told the World Economic Forum on Thursday that the global financial meltdown was reversible but the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran was not.

Well, there are a dozen more noteworthy items but I’m running out of space. So in summary, Jesus said, “…when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”

Now that’s something I’m not going to miss!