I want to begin by saying that I do not relish having to write what I am about to write – but feel that we need to be warned and aware of what is possibly lurking around the corner for our nation.  Please read all of this post – because there is a message of hope and encouragement at the end of it. 

In my mind’s eye I am watching a horrific scene – one that terrifies me the more I watch it.  The scene is of a small child who is dancing along with mincing steps along an unguarded precipice that if stepped over will mean certain death for the child.  The child, for his part, is totally unaware of what is going on around him.  He is completely ignorant of what just a few steps can bring about for him and for his safety.  But he is oblivious to any warning because he has chosen to turn a deaf ear to anything that is unpleasant to hear.  Therefore he continues to dance, not grasping the seriousness of his situation – or the growing danger of stepping off the precipice the next time he draws near to it in his dance of joyous ignorance and bliss.

This is a picture of the United States in March of 2012.  We are that child who is dancing on the precipice of disaster – and yet for the most part are ignorant and oblivious of how much danger we are in at the moment.  Let me address this in a number of ways.

Scenario #1 – Israel, Iran, and Nuclear Hide and Go Seek.

For quite a while our leaders (at least in the White House) have pretty much ignored this growing threat.  Iran IS moving toward a weaponized nuclear program – and it is clear from their own press statements that they intend to use these warheads on Israel soon after getting them.

We’ve danced around actually dealing with this situation to the point where Israel is going to have to act.  I fully expect that some kind of response from Israel will happen before the coming election in November.  When that happens – another blind dance of our leaders will be exposed.  We currently have enough natural resources (and yes, I am referring to evil fossil fuels) to become energy independent.  If we were to act NOW – we could stave off much of what is coming our way – but our leaders continue to stick their heads in the ground.  The fact is that WHEN Israel has to defend themselves, the strait of Hormuz will be closed – war will ensue on oil tankers in the Middle Eastern waterways – and gas and oil exportation will be slowed to a bare minimum.  When this happens – we will wish we could have 4-5 dollar gas prices again.  Instead we will have probably 9-12 dollar gas prices for at least several months.  This will send our economy into an immediate tail-spin of “great depression era” statistical proportions.  We will watch inflation hit our economy to the tune of 15-20 percent almost overnight.  Unfortunately, we may even have situations like the Weimar Republic  had in pre-WWII Germany – where you had to pay for a cup of coffee before they made it – because the price would go up by the time they brought it to you later. 

Unfortunately, I also see riots coming if this happens – as gas lines will return to our society.  There will also be an explosion of gas thefts and robbery at stations nationwide.  We may see gas stations become something akin to Fort Knox with the security that will be required to keep them – and their customers safe.

Scenario #2 – Terrorist Attack and Subsequent Cancelation of the November Elections

I can imagine at this point that many of you think I should be put away – or at least relegated to the trash heap of conspiracy theory mongers.  This particular scenario would involve an attack that is “allowed” by some in our government – whose authority and power is threatened by upcoming elections.  I write this with more than a little fear and trembling – because saying such things can get me in a tremendous amount of trouble.  Yet this is what I see in my heart – and tremble over when I know that history will not be made – but repeated if this happens.

Such an attack – especially if it comes in the Fall of this year (2012) will be used to cancel our elections for the near future.  We will be told that we need to establish order before an election can proceed.  If you are thinking an attack of 9/11 proportions – think again.  The Islamic radicals who are planning such things always seek something MORE spectacular than their last attack.  This one will come close to shutting the nation down because of its intensity – and possible multiple locations. 

You might want to be ready for such a thing especially if the election looks like it is radically turning toward those who respect and honor our constitution.  If our current president is looking like he is going to lose power – I fear that this may even be more likely.  Remember that the Reichstag fire  was used as a ploy to shut down government opposition in Hitler’s day – and was quite effective as an impetus for the current government of that day to strike its enemies as they scapegoated them as responsible for the fire in the first place.

As we see the political discourse turning more vitriolic, we need to see that lines are being drawn – enemies are being named – and hatred is being fueled at multiple levels.  What is truly frightening is how the News Networks are becoming more and more clear of who and what they want out of the upcoming elections.  It is also somewhat disconcerting that conservatives and conservative news organizations are also being targeted for destruction – now by attacking their advertisers – and possibly in the future by attacking their very locations with violence and protest. 

If this happens, the possibility of fair and free elections will be out the window.  By the time order and the opportunity of a free election come around again – much of the opposition will have been removed from the equation.  Our elections will pretty much look like those of any other puppet government in the world.

Scenario #3 – Riots Based on Race, Religion,  and Socio-Economic Lines

This scenario has its genesis in the current political climate in our country.  There are things being said and being reported (or said by commentators) that are pouring gas on the fire of already strained relationships between various polarized groups in America.  The rich are being pitted against the poor.  People of Color and different Nationality are being pitted against each other.  Certain religious views are being openly denigrated and lied about on network news shows – as well as in print.  There are very specific lines that are being drawn on the basis of race, religion, sexual preference, socio-economic views and politics.  These things are being exacerbated more and more by the rhetoric being used  in the lead-up to this election. 

As this reaches a fever pitch – we may watch as election day turns into a day of rioting and rage at polling places.  In the previous election – people were openly intimidated in Philadelphia by those who did not want them to vote against their chosen candidate.  This time – with a greater possibility of their person being defeated – we are going to watch these intimidation tactics turn violent. 

Occupy Wall Street and the shenanigans of some of our Unions have already broken new ground in the erection of political, religious, and socio-economic walls that are seriously dividing us in this nation.  We are dancing around the precipice of serious rioting in the streets – and even more serious violence against those who dare vote against our current administration.  This will not be pretty – but it will be violent – and will be used to intimidate people into compliance with politically correct views of our day.

When this happens – I also fear a backlash from those who are more conservative – if out of nothing more than years of pent-up frustration.  The danger is that such reactions to existing violence will most likely be used to “outlaw” certain views as well as certain groups.  The South and the mid-states of our union will be particularly hit by such reactionary anger to the prevailing tyranny.  This will ultimately be to harden the lines that have tried to be drawn for many years.  Again – races, religions, and classes will be turned upon each other – as they are painted as more extreme and reactionary to others.  I fear that literally thousands will die in these clashes.

OK, Let’s Breathe – and Listen for a Moment for Some Hope

Yes . . . I know . . . either I am crazy – too reactionary – or just plain scary in what I’ve just written.  But I want you to know that there is hope.  What I have written, by the way, is really not too terribly different than what Old Testament prophets wrote to Israel and Judah.  Please understand, though, that I do not for one minute claim to be a prophet in any way shape or form.  If you must know – I write these things for a couple of reasons.  First, because I am a historian.  What we are seeing is nothing terribly new – it is simply a repeat of Biblical history – and the history of the past hundred or more years.  Second, I am a Bible nerd.  What we are seeing is not the fault of Democrats or Republicans - of Obama-care or Liberal politics.  What we are experiencing is not the fault of atheists or pornographers or abortionists.  Dear precious saints - these are symptoms only - they are judgments released upon us for what has happened in the church - long before the world manifested these things.  What we are seeing is the inevitable consequences of a nation that once served God – turning from Him to serve other gods.  When this happens – God removes His hand of blessing and begins to oppose that nation – in hope that the nation (or the church within such a nation) will repent and return to Him. Third, I am a pastor – who loves my congregation, my city, and my nation – and wants to see it return to God in nation-shaking revival – so – that these things DON’T happen in our future.  I know that God is angry with our nation for how we have turned away from Him – from His Word – from His gospel – and from His warnings.  I also know that our God is also MERCIFUL – and if we repent, return, pray, humble ourselves, and cry out for Him to restore our land – He has been faithful to do this – not just in Biblical times – but in something called the first and second great awakening – and the prayer revival of the mid 1850’s! 

Is there hope for us?  YES!  Please read such things I have written prior to this point as a warning from a loving – yet holy God who desires for us to repent of our pride, our immoralities, and our sinful rebellion against His Word – and return to a life of fearing and honoring and obeying Him. 

What can we do therefore to avert such things as these?  Well, first off – I cannot guarantee that these things can be averted completely.  You must remember that we’ve murdered over 40 million innocent babies through abortion.  You must remember that we’ve chosen sexual immorality first with the sexual revolution against God in the 60’s with rampant heterosexual immorality – and then in the 80’s to the present with homosexual immorality as well as a host of other perversions that involve pornography, child sexual abuse, and every kind of perversion imaginable as we’ve thrown God’s Word to the side – not only in the world – but far too often even in the church.

Our hope is in falling to our knees – in repentance and restoration to God – and then in heart-felt intercession for God to move first in revival in the church – and then second, in spiritual awakening of the lost to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation from their sin and the wrath of God that rightfully falls upon unrepentant sinners in the day of judgment.   My concern, if there is a primary one, is that too few see the desperation of our days – and are unwilling to give themselves to extra-ordinary prayer.  This is NOT the time for a few words of perfunctory prayer – it is the time for us to don the proverbial sack-cloth and ashes – and cry out to God with weeping between the porch and the altar of God!    If we will not turn to Him this way – I see little or no hope for our situation.  I will vote in primaries and even in the general election if allowed – but these are not the answer for our current situation.  Even if conservatives win in a landslide – that will NOT be the remedy.  We MUST return to God, crying out for mercy – confessing our sins and the sins of our fathers – calling for God to rescue us – and committing to live afresh under His sovereign Lordship.  That is the ONLY ANSWER for where we are and what is coming.  May He have mercy upon us – may He sovereignly pour out His Spirit upon us – and may we be granted the most wonderful gift called “broken-hearted repentance” as we call upon the ONLY ONE  WHO CAN DELIVER US IN THIS HOUR – OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Government – Our New God and Savior ( A Commentary on the Controversy Between the Government and the Catholic Church over Contraceptives and Abortifacient Drugs)


Recently a huge controversy erupted over a decision by the Obama Administration to command religious organizations like the Catholic church and their sister organizations to provide birth control and some abortifacients  in all their insurance coverage.   Such a decree from on high is completely against the long-held religious doctrine of the Catholic church.  Also it flies in the face of many evangelical churches whose established teaching sees abortifacient drugs as abortion.  This would be little more than a government imposed type of “Abortion on Command.” 

There are two reasons why the recent Obama administration decree to the religious community is so odious.  The first reason is the way that it egregiously disregards the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  The actions of the government trample upon the “free exercise” of religious principle in this case.  What the Obama administration has done is use Obama-care and the unconstitutional powers is gives them to tell the church where it will and will not stand on issues of conscience.  This is just a foretaste of what is coming from the behemoth 2700 page Obama-care bill.  Truly we are slowly learning what Nancy Pelosi meant when she told us we would have to pass the bill in order to find out what is in it.  Now we are learning to our growing horror that it contains multiple violations of the very principles contained in our founding document.  Who would have thought that the very right of freedom of religion would be crushed by a health care bill.  The fact we are slowly beginning to see is that this bill gives government the power to tell the religious community what they will believe and what they will practice.  Thus the new religion of the United States, socialism, will be forced on all of us by the out of control Obama administration.

The second objection is how this decree has unconstitutionally made the government the “lord” of commerce by being able to tell insurance companies that they MUST offer contraception and other birth control and abortifacients to women free of charge.  This action breaches the public trust by allowing unelected officials in the Health and Human Services agency to tell companies to give away services with no recourse for their expenses in doing so.  What else will our government tell us to give away at full charge to us – but no charge to the recipients?  This is nothing more than a “Robin-hood” form of the government taking from one and choosing who it will give it to in the end.  Again the political, and now apparently religious, views of Socialism are being made the official doctrine and law of our country.  This won’t last because any economy based on Socialism will, as Margaret Thatcher so wisely said, eventually run out of other people’s money. 

This was trumpeted as a compromise, but the truth is that it is an end run around their former decision.  Someone will have to pay for these things.  The illusion of free contraceptives and abortifacients will be countered by the higher premiums that these organizations will pay for their policies.  There is no such thing as a free lunch.  Someone will have to pay.  Oh, by the way, that someone is those of us in the church community, who find forced compliance on these matters truly disgusting.

There is no room to compromise on this, especially when the compromise offered is an insult to any thinking person’s intelligence.  I fully support those in the Catholic community, as well as anyone in the religious community, when they call for a full repeal of these degrees of our new “King George” that go against everything our forefathers fought and died for when they broke away from England.  At risk is far more than just an open political battle with our current administration.  Honestly, at risk is the freedom to hold ANY view that goes against our current administration’s enforced public conscience.  How long do you think it will be before other matters of conscience come under fire?  Slowly we are being introduced to the new doctrinal views of our government.  These views do not allow for religious conscientious objectors – only for those who bow at the altar of government as our new god and savior.

God speaks of the blessing of those who live godly lives.  In a contrast He also speaks of the lawless - and never does so in any kind of glowing terms.  Therefore we should realize that there is a blessing to a land that abides by its laws - and a potential disaster looming for those who ignore the rule of law.  What we are facing  more and more is a president who refuses and even flaunts the fact that he is not going to abide by the law of the land.  In the last 3 years President Obama has trampled the Constitution again and again.  He has a blatant disregard for our founding document - acting as if he is a law unto himself.  This does not bode well for our nation - and if he is not confronted soon - for our future freedom.

Whether we are referencing the federal government forcing people to buy health insurance or the most recent appointment of government officials without the consent of the Senate, this president thinks he can do whatever he wants.  So far, because we have a Congress without the backbone to oppose him and bring him to court for his offences - he can.  Our recourse in these matters is to call the president's bluff and force a Constitutional crisis.  That crisis would involve the courts determining if the president has acted outside the laws of our land.  What is sad is that even the most casual perusal of the Constitution should lead to the conclusion that our president is out of control.  But no one has the guts to call his bluff.  They probably fear being called a partisan or even worse a racist - as that is often the way that this administration deals those who oppose it.  But I care little what race a man is or what party he is from - either we have a governing document by which we determine law, or our president can make up whatever laws he chooses.  

Consider that our president began his term in office by appointing a host of so-called czars that were never received the advice and consent of Congress.  Consider that they still rule on matters without any congressional oversight.  Consider that recently the Congress itself violated the Constitution by making it legal for American citizens to be arrested and held without charges indefinitely.  Consider that our government can now use the Armed Forces against its own people.  Consider that there is an FCC law working its way through the system that will allow an unelected official to remove any website from the internet he or she wants.  The attacks against our free speech are staggering - and too often the one recourse we have, the Supreme Court, will either not hear the cases brought up or will completely ignore our Constitution in its rulings.  We are sliding down a slippery slope at a speed that very soon will not be able to be stopped.

You might ask why this matters to someone who is writing a "prophecy/news update."  It is because I believe we are watching Scripture fulfilled with this situation.  My concern is both patriotic as well as spiritual.  As a patriot I find it glaringly arrogant that the Constitution, our governing document is being treated like little more than toilet paper by a man who put his hand on a Bible and swore to uphold and defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.  If he fulfilled this oath, he would need to resign the presidency immediately - because he, more than any other elected official is denigrating it horrifically each day he continues this unconstitutional path upon which he is currently governing.  I use the word "governing" lightly - because he acts more and more like a dictator than a president every day.  

My concern spiritually has been that God is using this president as a form of discipline and judgement upon our nation.  Jesus said that if the salt has lost its savor - it is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.  The church has departed from God in the United States.  For decades we have been watching the spiritual fervor and evangelistic zeal of God's people and God's shepherds subside.  We have watched as the moral underpinnings of the church have come loose.  We are now a nation that has the unfortunate responsibility of over 40,000,000 deaths by abortion upon us.  The blood of these children, as well as the 4000 plus additional ones put to death each and every day cries out for God's judgment.  We seem to no longer address the issue of heterosexual immorality and drunkenness that run rampant in our land.  Our college campuses turn into drunken orgies on the weekends - and many are so addicted to alcohol that by the time they finish college they are drinking almost every day to cope.  Homosexuality is arguably no longer considered a vice, but is trumpeted as a viable, acceptable alternative lifestyle.  All this continues to grow in our land - while the lethargy of the churches is palpable.  What do we expect God to do in a situation like ours?  Do we expect Him to bless America?  President Barak Obama is an instrument in the hand of God to judge our land - and he is doing his job by ignoring our Constitution and doing whatever he wants.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ . . . I do not write these words out of anger and recrimination against our president, but I write them as a warning to us all.  I could as easily bring charges against 8 years of the presidency of George W. Bush - because he did little or nothing to stand against the tsunami of immorality that has crashed against our shores with ever-increasing ferocity.  We've listened to the lie that this is about the economy - but the truth is that unless we repent and return to the Lord - our economy is the least of our problems.  

Let me finish by answering my own question, "Dude, where's my Constitution?"  Our governing document has gone the way of God's Law in our land.  We have decided that we cannot tolerate the 10 commandments any longer in America.  Long before that decision was codified, our nation was trampling on it by their moral decay.  Yet we would be amiss if we did not lay a certain amount of responsibility at the foot of the church in America.  We've lost our moral fortitude.  We've lost our boldness to speak.  We've tolerated prophetic charlatans in our pulpits who preach, "Peace, Peace!" when there is no peace.  One of our most prolific preachers refuses to speak of sin - and focuses mostly on how we can be rich and healthy and have our best life now.  In a word - we've lost our savor.  We are not salty with the gospel or the truth - and now we are being systematically being thrown out and trampled under the foot of a growing dictatorship.  That is how it has always happened historically - and that is how it is happening today.  Oh, that we would awake out of our slumber and realize that November 3, 2012 is not the day of our potential deliverance.  It will matter little who is elected in November if we do not do much before then to repent, fall to our knees, and cry for God's mercy on our MORAL FAILURE.  The trampling of the Law of God is always followed by the historic trampling of the rule of law in a nation.  That, dear saints, is usually followed by the systematic destruction of the visibility of the true church . . . and then . . . the complete discarding of any governing document and the rise of a dictator who rules by his own tyranny.

[AFTERTHOUGHT . . . May God restore us and make His face to shine upon us!  May God grant us broken repentance and return to Him and to the joy of seeking His face and walking in His ways!  May our greatest concern in the days ahead be His glory rather than our comfort within a decaying political system.  May we act with the same kind of passion in our prayers for revival in the church that we do with the positioning of ourselves to attain political victory this coming Fall.]  

There is a test that is happening today that should deeply concern every single citizen of the United States.  The concern should not be because of the stated purpose of the test.  The concern should be the power grab that it represents – and worse – the power that now is in the hands of an unelected official who serves at the behest of the president of the United States. 

The first amendment to the United States Constitution states that there is the freedom of speech and of the press.  That is a right that should not be infringed upon by our government.  But a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on November 9th at 1:00 CST will give federal authorities a power that has never existed before in our country.  On this day there will be the first ever test of the EAS on a national level.  For three minutes this test will allow the Director of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority) to effectively shut down all television, radio, cable television, satellite radio and television and wireline video broadcasters.  Why is this viewed as such a serious thing?  This is being done to make sure that in an emergency one message can be sent to people about what the emergency is.  Why all the fuss?

What this means is that the authority to seize control of all television and civilian communication has been taken by the executive branch of the United States government and handed to a government agency.  The problem is that for the first time in history – the government can absolutely control information and speech in our country.  They can do so with a simple flip of a switch.  Today the switch will only be activated for a 3 minute test.  But that power should never be put into the hands of any one branch of government – without serious precautions and limits to their ability to use it.  There should be very serious laws governing the use of this – and even more serious penalties should it ever be misused for ANY purpose outside of a BRIEF alert of the populace. 

What many are concerned about here is the ability of a partisan entity (of any party or group in existence now or in the future) to suddenly CONTROL the flow of information to the American people.  If anyone decided to misuse this power they could have ABSOLUTE CONTROL over all the information the people of the United States received – with no way to rebut false information.  The power it gives the presidency was NEVER meant to be wielded except in the most extreme of circumstances.  Our founders would be terrified to know that a political entity of any kind, party, or distinction could do this.  They would know that such power is what ultimately destroys a nation – not helps it.

Just yesterday we looked at Iran and their most recent terrorist plot.  We wondered out loud, “What was Iran thinking,” and looked at some of the ramifications of their actions – even looking into the longer term future at what could happen as a result.  Today, we are going to look at this again, yet from the angle of Iran’s worldview.  This is important for us to do because unless we grasp the worldview that Iran is working from, we will tend to misjudge not just their previous actions – but we will also be caught off guard again and again as to their future ones.  Unfortunately for us in the United States the current leadership, as well as the vast majority of thinkers from both sides of the aisle in Washington, are unwilling to wake up to just what this worldview is.  Their unwillingness to do this has led, and will continue to lead us in directions that will leave us totally unprepared for what is coming in the days and months ahead.

What was Iran thinking when they attempted to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States?  To those in Iran’s leadership, they were following a logical course of action spurred on by their worldview.  Some might want to restate this as their “religious” worldview but this does not recognize that they do not dichotomize their lives into the religious and the secular like we do in the West.  Their worldview is Muslim from every possible vantage point.  What is driving them is the logical conclusions of Islam and the teachings of the Koran as interpreted by their religious leaders.  This is what drives them religiously, politically, legally, and socially.  This is exactly what led them to every action they’ve taken from their political repression of opposition movements to their pursuit of nuclear weapons to their incendiary statements about wiping Israel off the map. 

Iran’s spiritual leadership as well as their current political leadership believe in the classic version of Islamic eschatology (end-times doctrine).  That doctrine centers around two basic things.  The first is the return of the 12th Imam who is called the “Mahdi.”  He is an apocalyptic figure who, according to their teachings, will come up out of a well in Iran – and will lead the Islamic world to reinstate the Caliphate.  The Caliphate is the term used for a one-world government/religious system based on Islam and worldwide Shar’ia law.  The Mahdi will be the supreme leader of this movement – Islam will be its religious basis – and Koranic Shar’ia law will be its political vehicle for ruling the world.  Our governmental leaders desperately need to grasp this worldview and how it motivates the actions and attitudes of the current Iranian leadership. 

The Mahdi will come in the midst of worldwide chaos and disruption.  Some might state that this is not a whole lot different than the view of the Bible.  The Bible does state that in the last days there will be wars and rumors of wars.  The major difference in worldview between these two though is that for the Biblical Christian – we are merely watching these things happen.  For the “Twelfth-er” Muslim, they sek to do all they can to encourage these disruptions and problems.  They want war, political problems, and worldwide chaos.  This is what will help bring the Mahdi back – it will aid in his return to set up the worldwide Islamic Caliphate.

Here is where we come to what the Iranians were thinking when they did what they did recently.  They were thinking that by causing disruption and even war – they will bring back the Mahdi.  This is why we need to wake up and realize what we are facing.  Too often our press and our political leaders tell us that Islam is a peaceful religion – that we can peacefully coexist with them in love and harmony.  But the fact is, that at least with Iran’s brand of Islam (and I would argue all sects eventually), they do not want peaceful coexistence and harmony.  They want Islamic domination and worldwide Shar’ia law.  They want the world to be ruled by the Mahdi – and for all nations to be under the Islamic Caliphate. 

What we are doing now in seeking a diplomatic solution is futile.  It is a repeat of the negotiations that England and France sought to have with Hitler.  There is no negotiating with those who seek worldwide domination and rule.  Chamberlain would have been better off to have met with Hitler’s Germany and let them know that if they continued to aggressively seek European domination – they would face stiff opposition and eventually war.  Hitler did not listen to appeasement.  He saw it as weakness – and sought to exploit it to his advantage.  The Iranians see our penchant for “sanctions” and our constant appeal to the U.N. for their wonderful intervention (please read this as sarcasm – actually more like rampant sarcasm) as weakness.  They exploit our useless efforts to rein them in – and see it as a gift of more time to plant additional operatives whose goal is the destruction of the “great Satan.”  One would think that the reality of that name alone would wake us up.  But our response is to retract in Freudian political horror – and blame ourselves for their actions, attitudes, and worldview.

What should we do?  How should we act in this situation?  Politically, we need to elect those to office who are not beholden to the view that Islam is a peaceful, cooperative worldview with our own.  Some would blame president Obama for the current state of affairs, but to do so would be to ignore at least 6 years of appeasement under the Bush administration.  We have a “State Department” problem.  Those who are responsible for our foreign policy think that we can win over the Islamic world by gradually abandoning our evil western ways – oh, and also by also gradually abandoning our support for our faithful ally Israel.  They are fools for thinking this.  This is not a PR problem – it is a worldview problem.  Therefore, IF we are to reverse the trends that currently make us weak and vulnerable to future attacks, we are going to have to accurately define and deal with Islamic designs for the world.  That will involve a much more aggressive stance toward Iran – and any other Islamic state that threatens our nation – and our way of life.  This is the political solution to our problem.  Now, having stated this, I have the unpleasant task of informing you that most likely this will not happen until the next couple of attacks have taken place.  The other unfortunate truth is that most likely the next major attack will make the Twin Towers attack look like child’s play.  In light of this I remind myself that the kingdom of God is not of this world.  Therefore as a patriot, I hate this development – but as a Christian, I realize that my faith is not based on what governmental system rules the country in which I live. 

There is a far greater responsibility that I have in light of all these things.  That responsibility is as a Christian.  My responsibility is to live for the glory of God by continuing to do the will of God.  That means that regardless of the threat to my country, I am to love my enemies and pray for them.  I am not to fear or hate Muslims, but love them and seek for every opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.  Therefore as the world continues to move toward the confrontation of the Islamic worldview and the view of the Western world – I am to preach Jesus no matter what the cost.  In the end, my concern is not ultimately what the Iranians are thinking as they act politically.  My concern is to affect their thinking and worldview by preaching that there is salvation in no other name except Jesus Christ.  My ultimate task does not change with the winds of political fortune.  The authority from which my task has been commanded will never be overthrown by the schemes and political actions of mankind.  God was seated upon His throne before mankind ever existed – and He will continue to be seated on his throne long after the last political schemes of mankind have ended.  Remember this and know that whatever Iran was thinking, it will not ultimately affect God’s will and purpose from being accomplished.  All things will be summed up in Jesus Christ.  Every knee WILL bow and every tongue WILL confess that JESUS IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER!  May these two facts give you hope and confidence to live for Jesus in the midst of our chaotic world. 

What is the world is going on with Iran?  Over the past week we've learned that the Iranian KUDS forces (which is the equivalent of our special forces) were involved in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States.  Allegedly, the plot involved working with Mexican drug cartels in an effort to hire professional assassins to carry out the plot.  As more and more details of this plot become known, it is clear that the Iranian government was involved in this effort. 

This is a radical move on the part of the Iranian government - even a game-changing event.  It has led to several things that are happening presently in our own government reaction to this attempt on the Saudi Arabian Ambassador.  The first is that the Obama administration is seeking what they call, "crippling" sanctions against the Iranian government.  The problem with this action is that it will require countries like China and Russia to comply as well.  Since we do not do any business with Iran, our ability to directly affect their economy is fairly limited.  The second action, which is not receiving hardly any attention involves Israel and the sale of 55 advanced bunker-busting bombs to their military.  This was something that was allowed by the Obama Administration.  To give a little insight on this action, the Bush Administration was asked to do the same thing - and did not do it.  It was viewed as too controversial a decision, and one that would come back to haunt them if Israel used these weapons to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

What does all this mean for our world.  It actually means a great deal.  One of the things Israel absolutely had to have to deal with Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was bunker-busting bombs.  Now that they have them - an attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure is far more possible.  This would cause a huge disruption of the delivery of oil throughout the world.  Those who understand the ramifications of this say it might cause the cost of oil to surge to 6-8 dollars a gallon - or more.  This would send an already fragile world economy over the edge into full scale collapse.  Such a collapse would put our world into financial chaos.  It would be a perfect scenario for a world leader to rise to help solve such an issue - not to mention to lead the world toward a one-world currency or system that would be easily be transformed to a cashless economy.

There is also the problem of military reprisals for Israel taking out Iran's nuclear weapons program.  If such an attack were to take place, there is a good possibility that the world would be set on fire.  Russia, Syria, and Turkey all have mutual defense pacts with Iran.  If Israel were to attack Iran - what would these countries do?  It could easily cause the region to erupt with protests - and eventually a military action against Israel from nations throughout the region.  That would fit the view of the Gog-Magog conflict of Ezekiel 37-38 being an event which happens before the rapture of the church and the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period of the book of Revelation. 

The situation with Iran is fluid at the moment.  Much of what I've written today has yet to happen.  We do not know what sanctions will be put on Iran.  We do not know how effective they will be.  We do not know how Iran is going to react to such things.  We do not know how the rest of the Middle East will react to Iran's actions.  But the one thing we do know is that Israel now has the ability to penetrate the bunkers which hide much of Iran's nuclear facilities.  The question will be what Israel will do with them?  The other thing we also know is that these events have done nothing to lessen the political pressures that are rising in the Middle East.  We will need to stay tuned to learn what will happen.  But in the mean time we also need to stay on our knees and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because these events have made that peace that much more difficult.