Sound The Midnight Cry

“We Just Don’t Get It!”

This past week, snuggled in the mountains of Switzerland, a meeting took place to which most Americans are oblivious. The U.N. World Conference Against Racism known as Durban II, kicked off with a bang as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a racist tirade against Israel.

As soon as he began his insulting diatribe against Jews, some 40 countries got up and walked out on him. But that didn’t seem to matter to him as I believe that and more was his purposeful intent. And that’s why the civilized world just doesn’t “get it.”

When Ahmadinejad stood before the VIP’s of the world, his goal was well defined to those that understand and relate to his viewpoint. To the rest of the world, he’s a nut that should just be dismissed as such.

However, in a recent interview to Germany’s Der Spiegel, he revealed his belief that the majority of Germans hate Israel as much as he does. He believes that behind closed doors most would like to see Israel eliminated. He also believes the same sentiment exists across Europe. With the rise if anti-Semitism and the spread of Islam that is spreading across Europe, Ahmadinejad has taken a page from Hitler’s play book “Mein Kampf.”

Historians speculate that the main reason the world sat back and did nothing during the years when Hitler rose to power was simple disbelief. They believed his threats to be political posturing; seeds of ideology that would never be accepted by “civilized” people.

The question is often asked, why didn't the Jews of Eastern Europe do more to escape the Holocaust? There were no doubt lots of good reasons, but the most powerful was once again—disbelief. Historical documents show that Hitler fully disclosed his intent, yet most outside of Germany gave him little chance for carrying out these “silly notions.” In other words, they just didn’t get it!

Two generations have passed and now another has come on the world scene spouting the same ideals. Leaders of the free world dismiss the threats of Ahmadinejad as the ramblings of a paranoid leader that can’t possibly threaten the framework of the superpowers of the world. They fail to understand that his weapons are on two fronts.

One front is Iran’s rapid move in developing nuclear weapons. The superpowers dismiss it saying that he can’t threaten them [though Israel sees it differently] – but that is not the real issue. Ahmadinejad wants nuclear weapons for something much bigger than the ability to destroy Israel—his life mission is to initiate end-times conflict between Dar al Islam [the Zone of Islam] and Dar al Haran [the Zone of War], and hasten the return of the Islamic messiah [more on that next week].

The second front of his attack is the rhetoric that continues to stir up hatred against Jews across the globe. History has shown that words are usually more powerful than any man-made weapon. Words are the reason someone will strap themselves with a bomb and walk into a café and destroy the lives of innocent people.

“Seventy-three years after the Berlin Olympiad, yesterday the world saw the return of Adolf Hitler”, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said Tuesday after Ahmadinejad's speech. “This time he is bearded and he talks Persian. But the words are the same words, the goals the same goals and the resolve to use effective means to achieve them is the same threatening resolve.”

It is clear that Israel understands it—I just wonder if the rest of the world “will get it”!

“When Right Side Up Seems Upside Down”

That’s the way I felt this week after reading a document on “Right Wing Extremism” released by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency warns that “an extended economic downturn with real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability to obtain credit could foster an environment for extremists.” It also states “anti-government conspiracy theories and 'end times' prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.”

So there it is: anyone that would suggest that the economy could collapse, teaches end-time prophecy and stores food is a right-wing extremist.

I read a poem by Tina Field Howe called “Upside Down, Rightside Up.” The refrain says, “When the whole world seems upside down, You gotta keep yourself rightside up. Wake up…wake up…wake up…” Good advice to those trying to keep things straight in their minds.

Interestingly, I found a website dedicated to a whole series of maps that are “upside down”. The photo shown is kind of prophetic (oops, don’t use that word) of the times we are living in. “When the whole world seems upside down, You gotta keep yourself rightside up. Wake up…wake up…wake up…”

Now I’m not a person that believes the government sits up all night conspiring against its citizens. I’ve learned that people left to their own wisdom will always take a path that leads to trouble.

I’ve said for years that the day may come when our religious freedoms disappear in the U.S. and we are beginning to see it happen at an accelerated pace. This should not surprise anyone as we know that the closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ, lawlessness will abound. Men left to their own pursuits always leave a trail of ruin. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:22

So while the world seems to get crazier with each passing day, it’s good to know that there is one thing that is sure—God’s Word. The prophecies are true whether the U.S. government believes them or not. No conspiracies—just truth!

So with a little amendment to the poem, I will say, “When the whole world seems upside down, You gotta keep yourself rightside up. Look up…look up…look up…Jesus is coming soon!”

“Big Dogs On The Porch”

There’s a saying that goes, “If you can’t run with the big dogs, then stay on the porch.” That’s what came to mind this week as I read of reports coming from Washington DC.

Jews prepared this week to celebrate their forefathers’ exodus from Egypt; a country that had once been a friend and ally but later became a taskmaster. Meanwhile, reports emanated from Washington warning of an effort to force Israel into submission with the desires of a modern superpower the Jewish state has long regarded as its friend and ally.

US officials say President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are determined to fight any effort by the new Israeli government to back away from the demands of surrendering the historic heartland of the Jewish people for the creation of an Arab state.

U.S. Special envoy Senator George Mitchell is heading for Jerusalem next week to prepare the way that will “advance the goal of the two state solution.”

He is to be followed by Obama, the man accorded messianic status by hundreds of millions of people around the world, and who Tuesday spelled out his intentions in this matter: “Let me be clear,” he told the Turkish parliament, “the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.”

This comes on the heels of Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman statement that Israel was not bound by the two-state solution. “More concessions to Palestinians would only lead to further war,” he said. “Sixteen years of surrendering land for peace have failed.” He went on to say, “We intend to work with determination on the diplomatic plane and formulate a detailed and up-to-date assessment…the world should not stand over us with a stopwatch in hand. We will formulate the policy compatible with our world view and as the voters wanted in the elections” he emphasized.

The member states of the E.U. let it be known that they are standing strong with the U.S. on this matter as it threatened actions against Israel if they fail to tow the line. It seems the big dogs of the New World Order are focusing in on driving the Jews from their homeland once again.

This week’s Passover is a reminder of when God set out to deliver His people from the dictatorial hand of a superpower nation. He did it with signs and wonders that would later cause nations to tremble when they heard Israel was coming there way. He did it to gain the attention of Pharaoh – who protested, “I do not know the LORD” (Exodus 5:2); the Nation of Israel – who did not yet know Him by His name (Exodus 3:13-14); and the idol-worshipping nations of the world.

God declared His purpose: “…I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)

The U.S. would do well to remember this stated purpose Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you…”

In as much as God has declared, “I am the Lord, I change not” it is likely to note that what He has done before, He will do again. And that’s one dogfight to be avoided!

"Prophetic Picture?"

Unless you have been living under a rock this past week, the media world was buzzing about the upcoming G20 meeting. Though much of the focus has been on the financial course of action that would come from the world leaders, there has been another story running parallel to it—President Obama's first meeting as a world leader.

We all saw the story a few weeks ago how he dissed U.K. Gordon Brown on his visit to the U.S. First, he canceled a meeting with him because it was snowing. Then to add insult to injury, he gave him a DVD collection of 25 U.S. movies—DVD’s that won’t play on British players. This after Brown gave Obama an ornate penholder made from the timber of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet. The Gannet was the sister ship of the HMS Resolute, whose wood was used to make the president's desk in the White House, given by Queen Victoria as a gift.

So with much fanfare, eyes were riveted on what the Obama’s would give the Queen Elizabeth on their visit to Buckingham Palace this week. When an iPod loaded with video footage and photographs of her 2007 United States visit to Richmond, Jamestown and Williamsburg in Virginia was presented, the press quickly took note that the queen already had a 6GB silver Mini version she is said to have bought in 2005 at the suggestion of Prince Andrew.

Then there was much ado about the fact that Mrs. Obama broke with protocol and hugged the queen! Though this may seem insignificant, the media in Britain was rocked by it. They take this so seriously, apparently, that when Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating dared touch the queen back in 1992, he was besieged with criticism, later earning the nickname “Lizard of Oz.” They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this photo quickly made its way around the internet.

If photos can talk, then another one of President Obama is shouting from the prophetic rooftops. This week, he greeted the king of Saudi Arabia with a full bow from the waist yesterday, a move one commentator described as a violation of protocol and not worthy of the office he holds.

The situation developed as leaders of the world attending the G20 summit in London assembled for a photograph to mark the event. After the king extended his hand, Obama bends from the waist until his head is nearly at the monarch's waist. The action appeared especially awkward since among the dozens of world leaders and their spouses, handshakes abounded, but there appeared to be no other bowing in the room. Awkward as the online Travel Etiquette website for Saudi Arabia said handshakes are common greetings between members of the same sex.

So while the world of protocol debated the proper conduct of heads of state, I saw the picture in a different way—one that could have future meaning; a U.S. President bowing before a Middle Eastern prince. Could this be a snapshot into the future from Revelation that speaks of the Antichrist that will come and require worship because of his power over the financial system of the world? (Revelation 13)

The words to the song that says, “People get ready, Jesus is coming, soon we’ll be going home” rang out in my heart as I saw this photo.  Now that’s a picture that I can’t wait to see! [I've linked a video of that song below - enjoy!]