RED SKY AT MORNING – PART I

“He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.’” (Matthew 16:2-3)

It was just a couple of years ago that Pastor Dr David Jeremiah released a book he called ‘The Coming Financial Armageddon’.  One of the themes of the book was that current conditions in American and international finance made a near term collapse almost certain.  His teaching is no less valid today than it was when he was rehearsing the conditions of 2008 and 2009.  What we are facing today – in the eyes of many astute observers; especially those with stellar track records predicting this stuff – is a major reordering of the global economic landscape.  The longer we ignore this fact – the harder the recovery will be.  With our massive debt and propensity to continue to overspend we make this future an almost mathematical certainty.  This will be accompanied of course with earthshaking implications….in the political and financial realms ….but also spilling over into other areas.  The enormity of the looming crisis has the potential of moving the Globe into a New Political Order.  And that has major prophetic implications attached.  See ya at the end.

1930’s STYLE

Here’s what George Soros told the folks at Newsweek.  “I am not here to cheer you up. The situation is about as serious and difficult as I’ve experienced in my career, We are facing an extremely difficult time, comparable in many ways to the 1930s, the Great Depression. We are facing now a general retrenchment in the developed world, which threatens to put us in a decade of more stagnation, or worse. The best-case scenario is a deflationary environment. The worst-case scenario is a collapse of the financial system.”[i]  He’s not alone in this way of thinking.  Take for instance the comments made by Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund.  She harkened back to the same dark era in her remarks.  Lagarde told a Berlin audience that the world was coming up against “a 1930s moment, in which inaction, insularity and rigid ideology combine to cause a collapse in global demand….It is not about saving any one country or region. It is about saving the world from a downward economic spiral.”[ii]  Here’s how the Sydney Morning Herald characterized what appears to these folks to be heading down the road.  “The world will face a '1930s moment' of the kind that brought on the Great Depression unless money can quickly be found to support nations such as Italy and Spain, the International Monetary Fund says.”[iii]

Now it must be admitted, that even as I write this, some good economic news is being spouted.  Stocks are up today – it’s January 26, 2012 – and some are seeing modest growth in the near future.  But it is essentially a short term illusion.  I stand with the writers of the Economic Collapse Blog who said, “Those that believe that the United States can somehow escape the coming financial storm don't really know what they are talking about.  In fact, there was very troubling news for the U.S. dollar just the other day. It was announced that India will start paying for its oil from Iran in a currency other than U.S. dollars.”  That is not a new trend.  It has been in the works since at least 2009.  Other big players have been meeting to set plans in place to replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.  Russia, China, some Arab states, even France and India can be counted in this lot.[iv]  The move by India – possibly followed closely by China – to move away from the use of the American dollar in the oil trade – could serve as a benchmark – a breaking of the dam, if you will.  It is a serious move that presages a potential changing of the order. 

That is just what our friends at LEAP 20/20 see for 2012.  They believe that the year will be characterized by weakening of the economic power of both the US and the UK that will result in the end of their privileged position in the global economy.  The crisis will hit both Wall Street and The City of London, (The UK’s Wall Street eqivalent).  “The last ‘untouchables’ will experience it: the United States, the United Kingdom” and the almighty dollar.  LEAP concludes that the unfolding crisis “will enable the beginning of the rebuilding a new international system, reflecting the expectations and power struggles of the XXIst century and no longer those of the middle of the XXth century. Therein, 2012 will well be the year of the great swing between yesterday’s and tomorrow’s world.”  The crisis is being driven by what the European think tank calls “the American sovereign debt bomb”.  They point to the fact that beginning in the last half of 2011 – central banks around the globe were liquidating their holdings of US T-Bills.  The fire sale is on!  To LEAP, this will bring on the consolidation of power in Europe.  And they make a bold prediction for just how and when the outward outlines of the New Order will begin to emerge.  “With a Euroland stabilized and equipped with a solid governance, the end of 2012 will thus present itself as the first opportunity of founding the bases of a world whose roots won’t bury themselves in the Second World War aftermath any more. Ironically, it’s probably the Moscow G20 summit in 2013, the first to be held outside the Western camp, which will crystallize the promises of the second half of 2012.”[v]

Going Cashless

Then, as a sure sign that the world is moving toward this New Order – as laid out in the Book of Revelation, it so happens – come a couple of stories out of Europe; under the radar, if you will.  The first discloses the fact that the EU is preparing to institute foreign exchange controls and even plans to expropriate wealth in certain circumstances.  Scary!  Then there’s this: The European Commission has issued EU-Money Directive (2009/110/EC) - which represents a direct move toward "the abolition of cash". It is already having an affect.  Since December of 2011, Italy does not allow cash transactions over 1,000 euros and Belgium is capping sales off at 5,000 euros.  That and other EU directives are step by step forcing citizens to conduct business via smart cards and mobile phones.  Germany wants to substantially phased out of cash as of August 2012. [vi] [vii]

The Prophetic Take

But is this really where we’re headed?  It’s hard to know the time table for certain – but we can confidently assume that America will not be the world’s dominant power during the Last Days of this Age.  For one thing, the US is not definitively found in Scriptures relating to the End Times.  Next, we know that the Antichrist will rule the whole world during this time period.  But before I go too far down this road on my own, let me lean on the work of the eminent prophecy scholar Perry Stone for some timely analysis.  Going back to 2007-8, Perry was telling people that America was entering a time of profound changes.  It would reach it’s peak as an empire and begin to decline.  He was telling audiences that there would be a power shift from West to East as America began its decline.  Much of Perry’s work centers around finding the parallels between current events in the United States and current history, - with those found in Scripture and ancient history.  He has written extensively on the spiritual patterns between America and Israel.  He demonstrated the political similarities with this country and Rome.  (Before it was overrun, Rome for instance began taxing the rich to pay for everything.  But I digress.)  More recently however he’s been looking at the parallels with the Scripture and Egypt.  America borrows much from the symbolism of Egypt.  There’s the pyramid on the dollar bill.  And of course the obelisk that serves as the Washington monument is an ancient Egyptian religious symbol.  These are just signs, but he states the principle thus: “As it was, it will be”.  Recall that Israel lived in Egypt for 400 years.  As those days were coming to an end, God’s people experienced slavery, and economic hardship.  Because of the parallel between Israel and the US, he called for the end of American empire in 2007.  That was the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the first American colony at Jamestown. 

Now what followed in Egypt was a time of “selective judgment”.  Pharaoh’s people were punished, - while God’s people were spared.  We need only look at the ten plagues to find that was true.  And when the Egyptians were being judged, - God’s people, - the Israelites, - were brought out.  That is what Perry Stone sees for America and the Church now.  The land will be judged, - but God’s true Church will be spared, - and protected.  Recall the Scripture quoted above, Psalm 91:1.  “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” 

Then he goes on to answer the question: Why is this transformation of America prophetically necessary?  In other words: Why must the US fall from its position of lone superpower.  Here’s is what he came up with.

1. It is impossible to fulfill the Mark of the Beast prophecy without the collapse of the American dollar.  To get to the point where the whole world will buy or sell with a mark on forehead or hand (Revelation 14:9), the dollar must collapse, we must go through a cashless society, (it’s already there in parts of Europe), must probably work our way through regional currencies and finally to an international currency that can be stored or tracked by an implanted microchip.  That’s why America has to fall.
2. Nations must move from “single empires to coalitions of nations”.  “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” (Revelation 17:12)  That will be the order of the End of the Age.  Other examples include the Kings of the East of Revelation 16, the Magog Alliance, and the Revived Roman Empire of Daniel. 
3. The prophecies are clear.  Even America will abandon Israel in the last days.  Certainly in the Gog / Magog invasion described in Ezekiel 38, Israel will stand alone against a coalition of nations that will include Persia (Iran) and Turkey and / or Russia.
4. America must be judged.  It is the demand of God’s Holy Word.  Beginning at Jamestown we were founded as a covenant nation.  At the inauguration of George Washington we were dedicated to the Lord.  Now with our sin we are, - as a nation, - renouncing God, - wallowing in sin, - and breaking that sacred covenant.  Without repentance, this nation will surely face judgment.  Here are the words of Leviticus 26:15-19 “And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror… and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.  And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you…And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.  And I will break the pride of your power” [viii] [ix]

What we are living through now is the Grand Transformation; - of America, - of the West, - and of the World.  This is the time of preparation for the rise of the Antichrist.  The world is being readied to accept its own.  To God’s people, - to the overcomer that believes in His name, there is the promise that we will have nothing to fear.  Here is the promise of Revelation 3:10.  “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”  But for those that reject Him, there is coming a time when the Antichrist will reign.  “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”  John 5:43

UPDATE: IRAN

With each passing week the prospect of a shooting war involving Iran grows more likely.  It’s not just the question of whether the Israelis or Americans will feel compelled to take out the Iranian nuclear sites before it’s too late.  There’s also the matter of oil – and related to that – the matter of the Dollar. 

As to the first part, a story in the New York Times tells us that an Israeli strike is becoming more likely.  Israel’s brain trust, which includes Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu as well as Defense Chief Ehud Barak, is becoming increasingly convinced that such a strike is becoming both necessary – and that it would be effective in significantly setting back the Iranian nuclear program. [x]  In addition, another article in the Times documents the growing sense that Tehran may be bluffing to a significant degree when it threatens retaliation for such an attack.  The Israelis are coming to believe that Iran’s would not be nearly as deadly or effective as heretofore assumed.  A major war would not directly emanate from an Israeli attack. [xi]

Then there’s the bit about the oil and the Dollar.  And that’s where it gets really interesting.  As the folks at BATR pointed out: “Moammar Gadhafi is dead. He dared to propose and started creating an alternative currency to the world reserve US Dollar.”  And that’s what’s happening now with Iran.  As covered here last week, Iran and India have scrapped dollars when it comes to trading for oil.  And that is an affront to the international banking cartel that effectively exercises trans-national control of global commerce.  China is likely to follow India’s lead and make an end run around the new sanctions being employed against Iranian oil.  Japan too, is looking for a way out.  As the Dollar monopoly on trading oil decays and folds the central bankers will pull out all the stops to delay or avert that end – at least until they can position themselves not to be hurt by such a development. [xii]

All of this is leading to some very significant political and military maneuverings.  Here is some of what we’re seeing.  Expert observers of the scene in the Middle East are not anticipating a hot war to intentionally break out with Iran in the very near term.  [Perhaps later in the year – but not quite yet.]  Instead, DEBKA and officials in Dubai both believe that Iran will respond to the ratcheting up of economic pressure with a calibrated military response.  Tehran is expected – not to shut down the Strait of Hormuz – but to reduce the available shipping lanes – limiting the essential flow of oil that can pass through.  Here’s DEBKA: “This will progressively cut down the amount of oil reaching the markets.  Tehran will not go all the way and shut the channel down completely for fear of provoking a military showdown with the United States. But each time Washington manages to stop Iran supplying a given country, the IRGC will shut down another section of the strait....These operations will push up the price of oil and so drum home to oil-dependent Asian and European governments the high cost to them of the alternate opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz.” [xiii]

If that scenario develops things could get ugly quickly.  And the US is preparing for the likelihood.  The Pentagon was to de-commission a helicopter carrier – the USS Ponce – after its recent service in Libya.  Now that idea has been scrapped and the Ponce will serve as a floating base for US commando teams with deployment to the Persian Gulf likely as early as May.  Part of that process was the refitting of the ship.  As DEBKAfile reported: “To save time, the US military published one no-bid contract for the engineering work, waiving normal procurement rules on the grounds that any delay presented a ‘national security risk.’  The contract carries pointers to the timeline expected in Washington for a military confrontation to erupt between the United States and Iran, as well as the form it may take, say DEBKAfile's military sources.  The target date for deploying the commando platform in the Persian Gulf in four or five months indicates Washington is preparing for military clashes to blow up with Iran in the late spring or early summer.”  The commando forces, including Navy SEALS, will be there to deal with Iran’s formidable fleet of small, fast vessels including kamikaze frogmen – whose mission is to employ stealth tactics to strike at oil tankers and US Navy ships – including aircraft carriers. [xiv]   And then there’s this.  Reports have surfaced that the US is quietly adding 50,000 military personnel to 2 Island bases located in the Persian Gulf – specifically the islands of Socotra and Masirah.  Current estimates are that Washington will have 100,000 troops available for action against Iran by early March. [xv]

YADAS

THE ‘WISDOM’ OF JUDGES – It is hard to judge just what is the most egregiously offensive part of this story.  But here it is.  A judge in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts recently ordered that a 32 year old pregnant woman have an abortion.  But it goes farther.  As Lifesite News reported, the woman “who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder, was being treated in a Massachusetts hospital. When she became pregnant, doctors were purportedly concerned that her medications could harm the unborn child. So they recommended an abortion.”  Justice Christina Harms further ordered that her parents cooperate in enforcing the abortion order even to the point of being “coaxed, bribed, or even enticed … by ruse.”  After all, Harms reasoned, “if Moe were competent, she ‘would not choose to be delusional,’ and therefore would opt for an abortion in order to benefit from medication that otherwise could not be administered due to its effect on the fetus.”  She also directed that the woman be sterilized without her permission.  Thankfully, sanity prevailed.  A Massachusetts appellate court reversed the ruling and scolded the judge. [xvi]

THE ‘NOT SO’ IMMUTABLE WORD – Three Christian organizations including the very reputable Wycliffe Bible Translators have produced a new translation for Arab consumption.  There’s one rather large problem however.  They’ve removed the terms “Father”, “Son” and “Son of God” from the version – because such terms are offensive to Muslims. [xvii]   The fact of the matter is that an understanding of those concepts is ESSENTIAL for the proper understanding of just who God is – and therefore salvation.  I think failing to offer an opportunity to accept God’s offer and miss the fires of Hell – is a whole lot less loving – AND offensive – to Muslims, and Hindus, and…well…everybody else.