It has been a while since we've looked at what is going on in Egypt. The revolution which was called, the Arab Spring, came and went and we've pretty much moved on in our news cycles. While we've been focused on other things the Muslim Brotherhood has been dominating the elections there - and it about to win the presidency. This will mean a radical muslim state will arise in Egypt - and with it very real problems in relations with Israel. Our current administratioin has welcomed the involvement of the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that it is a moderate political movement among the muslim population. Recent statements at their political rallys leading up to the presidential election suggest otherwise, though.
There is a run-off for the presidential position that will be held on June 16 and 17 between the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Mursi and Egypt’s former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq. Shafiq is a former Air Force general who was the last prime minister before the revolution that overthrew the Mubarak regime in Egypt. What is shocking is the rhetoric that is being used by a prominent Eyptian Muslim cleric at presidential campaign rallys. The following statements were aired by an Egyptian TV channel. The Muslim cleric, Safwat Hagazy said this on Tuesday of last week, “Our capital shall not be Cairo, Mecca or Medina. It shall be Jerusalem with God’s will. Our chants shall be: ‘millions of martyrs will march towards Jerusalem.” After the video was posted on YouTube it immediately went viral in the country with almost 62,000 views by Thursday of that week. Hegazy went on to say, “The United States of the Arabs will be restored on the hands of that man [Mursi] and his supporters. The capital of the [Muslim] Caliphate will be Jerusalem with God’s will,” as the crowds cheered, waving the Egyptian flags along with the flags of the Islamist Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip. “Tomorrow Mursi will liberate Gaza,” the crowds chanted. “Yes, we will either pray in Jerusalem or we will be martyred there,” Hegazy said. Some, who would say that this does not mean that Mursi supports such statements should know that Mursi attended this event along with the Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Badei and members of the Brotherhoods political freedom wing called the Freedom and Justice Party (FPJ). What this does for a biblical end-times scenario is huge. For decades Egypt has been at peace with Israel and has helped to promote a more peaceful Middle East. If Mursi is elected on June 16-17, this peaceful ally will no longer exist. Instead there will be to the direct south of Israel a staunch radical Islamic regime who's stated political promise in an election is to conquer Jerusalem as capital of their desired Islamic Caliphate. The Caliphate is seen as a worldwide Islamic rule over all mankind. To state in an open and televised political speech that your group will send millions of martyrs into Israel for the purpose of capturing Jerusalem is an ominous warning to us. Peace is not coming to the Middle East with the supposed Arab Spring. Our president, who has been no friend of Israel during his first term, has kept his head in the sand on this matter. He has encouraged this change in Egypt - even stating that the Muslim Brotherhood is a peaceful, moderate political movement that will bring stability and peace to the region. If this speech is any proof of what is to come, we should not hold our breath waiting for peace in the Middle East between Israel and her Arab neighbors. But then again that idea is ridiculous to those of us who actually read our Bibles and have the Scriptures taught to us, instead of listening to the rantings of an apostate pastor who screams that God should damn America. Get ready saints . . . it is going to be a wild summer - and 2013 portends to be a year like no other in regards to what may happen in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
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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. (This article is taken from this year's Prophecy Update 2011 Message) For the past couple of decades we have watched as administration after administration has tried to negotiate a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This process has been agonizing to watch because no matter what is done – peace has not been the result. But let’s take a little closer look at what this may be building toward in the future. No matter who is at the table – the Palestinian contingent seems to never feel like enough is being offered to make a lasting peace. Of course that may be because their charter has within it the call to destroy the state of Israel. Kinda hard to make peace when your founding document militates against it. The major thing Israel desires if they allow statehood for their avowed neighboring enemy is that it is a secure peace. What they mean by that is that if a Palestinian state is formed – it needs to be a state that rejects terrorism and that guarantees the safety of their neighbors, the Jews, across their border. This too may be difficult to discuss and agree to seeing that missiles, both military and human (suicide bombers) seem to keep coming over the border to the detriment (read destruction and death) of their Israeli neighbors. It is almost as if this call for peace and statehood – is really not the end game for the Palestinian Authority. Maybe that is where we should start in all this? The Palestinian Authority may not be winning their statehood outright at the negotiating table, but they are winning it in the court of public opinion. The worldwide press, with only a very few exceptions, has signed on with the Palestinian Authority. Their story is gaining ground daily in the world court of opinion. This is not due to any “right-ness” of their cause – but more due to the one-sided presentation of this conflict – and the terms that are being used to describe it. Terms like “occupation” and “oppression” do not help the cause of Israel even as missiles are lobbed daily onto their sovereign soil. The death of one Palestinian protester is trumpeted, while the deaths of dozens of Israel’s citizens in a bus or restaurant bombing are shrugged off – or worse justified by Israel’s detractors. The end game here may be coming this spring – as the Palestinian Authority has hinted openly at the probability of declaring themselves a state unilaterally. They will do this without any kind of agreement from Israel. With other states saying that they will support such a move and recognize this Palestinian state, this idea is gaining traction by the day. States such as Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Columbia, China, and North Korea have said that they will recognize this state if this happens. The EU is discussing responding favorably as well. And although the Congress has voted unanimously to advise our president NOT to do this – there is talk at the White House of recognizing this state as well. What we have here is frustrating to those of us who love Israel – and who believe that their security will be threatened by such a move. If this does happen the state that will be declared will not have boundaries that are agreed to by Israel. The Palestinian state will most likely claim the West bank (can you say Judah) as their territory, and East Jerusalem as their capitol city (can you say “there is a war coming soon”). These are things Israel most likely will vehemently reject. So what is happening here? I believe that we are continuing to move to the point where all nations (the United States unfortunately among them) will reject Israel. If a unilateral Palestinian state is declared – it will have widespread world support. If a war ensues where Israel is forced to protect itself from a state that claims territory from it that they have not agreed to giving that state, the world will turn against Israel for it. That war will be a slaughter for the Palestinians – unless they unite with other terrorist factions like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran (possibly Syria too – who would like to reclaim the Golan Heights in all this mess) come to their aid. Whatever happens – you can bet that it will help to solidify worldwide condemnation on Israel before it is over. So, we are looking at a situation where the prophetic stage will further be set for all nations to be turning on Israel. The sad biblical fact is though, that such a situation WILL turn out badly for the nations that touch Israel. God has promised to protect Israel, not because they are godly, but simply because they are His chosen people. This will not end well for those nations – but then again – when has that ever stopped them before? Sitting here in my office a couple of days after the most recent election, please forgive me if I do not share the same sense of uphoria about our current situation. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad that conservatives have been elected to Washington - and that the voice of our nation has resounded in the halls of power. But if I could, I'd like to comment on a few things that were not on the ballot on November 2nd.
#1 - Jesus is Lord . . . Please do not mistake the vote Tuesday as a vote for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a statement that we've once again embraced the faith of our fathers. I fear that much of the vote was due to the economic distress people are experiencing or due to the out of control spending that is happening in Washington for the past 50 years. There are some who are concerned about constitutional liberties being infringed as well. But . . . even though these are good things in the temporal world of today, the truth is that for the most part the gospel of Jesus Christ is rejected in our nation currently. I'm not saying this to rain upon anyone's parade. I am saying it because we need to keep the main thing the main thing. We've been called to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of our nation. The first century church did not see its role being to bring political freedom to the Roman empire. The took their marching orders from Matthew 28:18-19. They knew they were to make disciples of all the nations, identifying them with Jesus through baptism and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded them. My concern today is that too many Christians will see our struggle as a political one - and not enough of them will realize that whether we have an abundance of freedom or none at all - our duty will not change. We are to share Jesus Christ with the lost - and work with those who come to repentance so that they become disciples who live out that same duty as well. 2. Godliness . . . In some ways this might have been a part of decision making among the electorate. There were some candidates who ran on a strong pro-life, pro-marriage stance. They opposed abortion and were not for legalizing homosexual marriage. I am grateful for those who are going to Washington to defend life and biblical marriage. But, I am under no delusion that godliness received a resounding "yes" vote in this or any of our recent election cycles. We've allowed ourselves to be gradually moved from biblical ground on moral issues. At present we are trying to stop homosexual marriage from being declared legal. The problem though is not gay marriage - but a moral decay that has been going on since the late 1950's. Homosexuality is a "death-throes" issue. Biblically, we should be grieving over heterosexual immmorality. Sexuality is clearly defined in the Bible as relations between one woman and one man - for life. That almost isn't an issue any longer - not just in the world, but even in the church. We are steadily being incrementally moved away from biblically based morality. If the result of this election is that we set the moral bar afresh at gay marriage - deciding to make that our stand - we've lost far worse than we can ever win. Our stand has to be on biblical morality - whether that is popular or not. We cannot allow the world of politics to frame that debate. 3. The Kingdom of God . . . Jesus made it very clear that His kingdom is not of this world. Although I strongly believe that I should speak out in the political context on moral issues and the wisdom of what we are doing financially as a nation, my hope is not in these things. When the mid-term elections came about the way they did, I was glad. But in no way do I think that my future rests on the policies that are going to be set in Washington. They will do what they do - which too often involves compromises with which I'm very uncomfortable - but my direction comes from another kingdom. That kingdom is not of this world. History will continue to move toward the return of Christ. The world will continue to grow more and more ungodly in the run up to the coming of the antichrist. Israel will be more and more isolated - with even the United States turning against her in the end. The church is to stand in the midst of all this and faithfully proclaim that there is a kingdom to come - the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The decisions of that kingdom will stand forever - and are not, nor have they ever been subject to the political activities of men and women here on earth. That kingdom was not put into power in this last election - it has always been in power - and will always be in power. May God give us wisdom and grace to know these things - and to base our choices and lifestyles upon them. May we see and realize that this was truth before these elections - and will be truth long after all earthly elections cease. Am I glad at the results of the mid-term elections in 2010? Yes, for the most part I am - but regardless of whether I won or lost in my votes - this election mattered very little in my choices previous to it - or subsequently after it. Those choices were set in motion a long time ago when God graciously drew me to Himself and granted me repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. From that moment forward, I've been saved - and from that point a path has been laid out for me - to walk with and glorify Jesus Christ regardless of what administration or regime is in power. |
What is the Prophecy/News Update?At Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro, we believe that history is moving toward fulfilling God's plans and purposes. In an effort to help us be prepared for His appearing - and also to chronicle news items you just won't see in the national media - this page is devoted to sharing those items and their possible significance to Thank you for visiting our website! Everything on this site is offered for free. If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here. The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend.
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