Prediction? .... PAIN !

There is a great scene from the movie Rocky III that comes to mind just now. Rocky’s mega-muscled and mo-hawked opponent for the big fight, a character named “Clubber” played by the then unknown actor, “Mr. T,” was asked by a reporter, “What’s your prediction for tonight’s fight?” Clubber gives a scowl and snarls, “Prediction? Pain!” Last week I promised my predictions for 2010. I am, however, somewhat conflicted about that since I know that on the one hand, I want to give you my honest view, but on the other, the Bible tells us not to worry but instead to pray and focus on those things which are good, right, true, pure, lovely, excellent and praise-worthy. How can I do both things at once? Thankfully, Jesus gave me a pattern to follow. He told his followers the hard truths. Pulling no punches, He told them about drastic and painful things to come: his own crucifixion, earthquakes, famines, wars, and persecution. He also gave his disciples hope and specific directions on how to find and grasp that hope! So here goes…

In my humble, and very human, opinion, here are some things that I think may happen in 2010:
*Early in 2010, the Iranian nuclear missile crisis will really become a crisis! Look for Israel to act and the world to react strongly against Israel in return.
*The U.S. economy will continue to decline and there will be great internal division. Higher unemployment, higher taxes, higher anxiety.
*Saudi Arabia, Russia, the E.U. and a Middle Eastern consortium will call for the U.S. dollar to be replaced as the world’s “reserve currency.” This will cause a sharp drop in the value of the dollar and further damage the already weak U.S. economy.
*Saudi Arabia will be drawn into conflict with other Muslim nations. Look for tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran to increase significantly. Saudi Arabia may, in fact, be the woman of Rev. 17 who rides on the beast, (the religion of Islam). The beast eventually destroys her. (Rev.17:16)
*Turkey will continue to rise in prominence and be looked to as the only nation who can bring peace and stability in the Middle East and the Muslim world. Look for a charismatic leader here.
*Terrorism and violence will increase: more shoe-bombers and underwear-bombers and you-name-it-bombers. There will be repeats of the Ft. Hood Massacre in diverse locations perpetrated mainly by Islamic Jihadists, but also random violence from others also under Satan’s control.
*Each night the news will feature the following names: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and a host of others, Islamic nations all.
*You will hear the word “global” a LOT.
*Eastern peoples will turn to Islam. Western peoples will turn to alcohol, drugs, pornography and sex; they will turn away from God and His Word and they will turn against Christians and the name of Jesus. The media will continually ridicule Christ and His followers.
*America will continue to drift into Socialism. Personal freedom and responsibility will be diminished, while the “collective good” as determined by Washington will be exalted.
*Abortion and homosexuality will increase and find increased acceptance and “legal” protections. The traditional family will become an oddity.

Had enough yet? My prognostications for 2010 sound a lot like Clubber’s prediction: PAIN! But out of this pain, the true church will become purified, stronger and more passionate about Christ. Many will repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. We will learn to trust God above all things - that our only hope is Christ! Jesus said it this way: “I have told you these things so that you would not go astray” and “In me you may have peace” and that “your joy might be full!” So let’s “Fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do good. “Prepare for action! Be self-controlled. Set your hope fully on the grace that will be given to us when Jesus is revealed!” (1Peter 1:13)

Abiding in the Fields

Note to readers: in my next article appearing the first week of January, I will make my predictions for 2010, but for now enjoy a brief re-telling of an event that happened 2010 years ago, an event that changed everything for everyone! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Abiding in the Fields

It was cold that night and unusually bright. Grandpa and I lay on the ground near the gate looking intently into the night sky at a star that neither he nor I had ever noticed before. Strange! Grandpa had gazed at the stars for many years, first as a boy himself, then with my dad and now with me, but always taking care of the sheep. Could it be that a brand new star had appeared - a star that even Grandpa had never seen? The sheep seemed restless, stirring around. The mamma ewes sniffed their babies and nuzzled them close. Then suddenly a bright light shone all around us. I was frozen scared. I jumped to my feet clutching my staff. Then I saw it… I mean… him.

He was clothed in a brightly shining robe. It was, well, it was… an angel, and he said “Do not be afraid.” I heard the Rabbi tell a story once of an angel that appeared to Gideon, and every spring Daddy reads us the story of the Passover Angel, but I never thought I would ever see one. And not just one! There were thousands of them that appeared singing praises to God. They said a baby had been born and that “Peace” was on the earth. Grandpa says “peace” will come from this child because the Angel told him the child was “a Savior” and that he was “Christ the Lord.” Many a night Grandpa had told me that the Christ, the Messiah, would come and rescue us, a Deliverer greater than Moses would appear. And now He has been born! So we are going into Bethlehem as fast as we can to find this child.

My heart is beating so loud I think it’s going to come out of my chest! After seeing the angels and hearing their voices, it’s hard to imagine something more exciting than that! But, I know that the world is going to be different because of this child. Somehow I know that my life is never going to be the same, that meeting the Savior will be the biggest, most important moment of my life. And not just for me. The most important thing anybody will ever do is meet the Messiah. I sure hope people figure that out.

The Spirit of Anti-Christ

I want to share with you today about two important events. One happened last week but many people are blinded to its significance and the lessons it teaches. The other has not yet happened but news reports indicate it may be right on the horizon and this second event could be very, very significant indeed. The first event was the terrible terrorist attack at Ft. Hood. I do not hesitate to call it a “terrorist attack” because, without a doubt, that is what it was! President Obama and most of the news media have gone to great lengths not to “jump to any conclusions” and have treated this attack as though it were an isolated event not connected to anything other than the gunman himself. Painting this attack as the deranged acts of a mad-man, they wring their hands and scratch their heads seemingly mystified as to any possible motive! But this is no mystery. This terrorist’s motives were exactly the same as those who attacked us on 9-11. They, like he, were dutifully carrying out the clear teachings of their religion. The attacker is responsible for his crimes, but there are two other conspirators in this tragedy, the first is Islam itself and the second is the societal cancer known as “political correctness.” Our unwillingness to speak the truth about Islam nor heed the clear warning signs of jihadist tendencies effectively aided and abetted the enemy in this massacre. Until we see this conflict for what it is we will continue to be vulnerable to these shocking attacks and sorely handicapped in defending ourselves.

These murders flowed from the one whom Jesus called “a murderer from the beginning” - they flowed from the spirit of Anti-Christ. Those who believe the lie that all religions are basically the same; that Islam, Judaism and Christianity all worship the same God, have fallen prey to his delusion. The Apostle John identifies the spirit of Anti-Christ in his first epistle: “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come….Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also…Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work…No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God…This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother…Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him…Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1John 2:18-4:3) Carved in the stone which rings the inside of the Dome of the Al Aqsa Mosque are these words written in Arabic: “Far be it from God to ever have a son!” By the Biblical definition, the teachings and practices of Islam are the spirit of Anti-Christ.

The second major event is unfolding even as I write. The Palestinian Authority has leaked word that it intends to petition the United Nations to unilaterally create a new nation of “Palestine” within the borders of Israel. Given the makeup of the UN, this measure would find wide-spread, almost unanimous support. This action would be akin to the UN establishing a new nation of “Dearborn-istan” within the state of Michigan because the majority of citizens there are Muslims and have expressed a desire to replace the rule of U.S. law with Sharia law. I would hope we would not allow the UN to violate our sovereignty like that, and I suspect neither will Israel! Yet many, even some in our own government will hail this action as a “step on the path to peace.” If it comes to pass it will be a step, but not towards peace. It will be, in fact, the fulfillment of Joel 3:1-2: “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.” It will not bring peace, but war and judgment.

The Missiles of October

Those of you who read “The View” know that for several years know I have been beating the drum of “watch Iran.” The fast approaching Iranian nuclear missile crisis has far reaching impacts and major implications as it relates to the fulfillment of end-times prophecies. I am convinced that the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acts and will continue to act out of his deeply held Islamic religious beliefs that the Mahdi, a mystic and messianic figure known as “the 12th Imam” or the “hidden Imam” awaited by millions of Muslim faithful, is standing in the wings waiting to appear- a man who I believe is the Biblical Anti-Christ, and more ominously, that Ahmadinejad himself has been chosen to hasten his appearance by attacking Israel and the U.S. Yesterday, Sept. 27th, Iran successfully test-fired a Shahib 3 long-range missile capable of traveling over 1200 miles and hitting targets in Israel or Europe, including US military bases within that radius. Former President Bush was trying to combat this very threat by placing a missile defense shield in eastern Europe, a program that was scrapped last week by President Obama. Also this week, the U.S. and several key Allies at the G-20 summit revealed a secret uranium enrichment facility now operating in Iran, prompting military analysts to declare that there can be no doubt that Iran is fast approaching a time when it will be capable of creating a nuclear bomb, if it does not already have one! The Shahib 3 missile makes its delivery a very real threat and one which must be taken seriously, especially in light of Ahmadinejad’s comments at the UN last week. I believe Ahmadinejad fully intends to launch a missile strike against Israel as soon as the weapon becomes operational. Israel may act first to neutralize the Iranian threat, with or without American help. Any of these scenarios would create global panic and further havoc in the financial and oil markets and touch off a new full-fledged Middle East war with the survival of Israel at stake. These speculations of mine are not just wild imaginations, they are based on the words of Ahmadinejad himself. For several years he has plainly told the world what he intends to do. This year his U.N. remarks were couched in more subtle language, but to those who ”have an ear” the meaning was very clear. I invite you to read the full text of Ahmadinejad’s U.N. speech here: http://www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=2204 .
The speech is nothing short of a rambling theological justification for the elimination of Israel. He opens with a lot of religious talk about Allah and the purpose of man. I was struck by the number of times he references "obedience to Allah." His justification of what he is doing, and what he will do, will be out of his "obedience to Allah" and (in his twisted mind) "for the good of all"...by creating the environment which he believes will bring forth the Mahdi by attacking Israel and the west. Of course, the Iranian President closes the speech with a call and a prayer for the appearance of the Mahdi. He has closed or opened all four of his annual UN speeches since 2005 with a prayer for the appearance of the Mahdi. Near the end of his remarks he includes an “evangelistic” invitation to the world to embrace Islam. This, Of course sounds friendly enough, even noble - but what most do not realize is that the Koran commands that before an attack, the infidels must be “invited to Islam,” then if they refuse, they are to be destroyed without mercy. His anti-American, anti-Semitic and apocalyptic world view is clearly evident to those who have their eyes open. He has told us plainly what he intends and even the “why” behind it.
I close with 2Peter 3:3-17: “3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Two September Mornings Eight Years Apart

On a bright Tues. morning, eight years ago this month, an event happened that changed the world forever. Nineteen Islamic jihadists used box-cutters to commandeer four jetliners then used those planes as guided missiles to destroy iconic buildings, killing nearly 3,000 Americans in the process. No one in this country should ever forget that day; what we saw, how we felt, or the lessons we should have learned. I know I won’t and I have vowed to keep those lessons in front of my readers every year during this month. We all saw the same things. We all heard the same news. Yet many who experienced that day came away from it with different impressions and different lessons than I. Some blame the United Sates for arrogance and perceived imperialism that they think created conditions abroad that drove these men to such actions. Others blame then President George Bush, believing incredibly that attack was orchestrated by our own government to give a pretext for the Iraq war. Some blame it on extremist fanatics who were following some twisted cultish version of an otherwise peaceful religion. What were the reasons behind this attack? Political correctness often keeps our leaders from seeing or saying the truth. But unless we acknowledge the real reasons behind this attack we will suffer another. Former President Bill Clinton said that when he heard of the planes hitting the twin towers he immediately thought one thing: Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden had tried once before to take down the towers. In 1993 a truck bomb placed in the basement parking lot exploded causing damage but failing to destroy the towers. The enigmatic Al Qaeda leader had vowed to strike again, and this time he had succeeded. But why? Why did he do it?

Bin Laden himself explained it in a “fatwa” that he issued years before the attack. In the “fatwa” or Islamic religious decree, Bin Laden details his reason: simple obedience to the Koran. The actions taken by the 9-11 highjackers were not the result of some crazed, twisted, extreme, cultish interpretation of the sayings, teachings and examples of Muhammad. On the contrary they were the well thought-out reasoned responses of well-educated obedient Islamic followers who actually took the Koran at face value and practiced what it preaches. Many say that Islam has been highjacked; that it is a religion of peace and that true followers of Islam are not violent. Those who say such things are either being deliberately misleading or they obviously have neither read the Koran nor studied the life of Muhammad. Perhaps they are just scared.

Two mornings from now, on Sept. 25th, there will be a gathering in Washington, DC. For the first time in history, the “Jummah,” the Muslim call to prayer, will be blared over loud speakers on our National Mall and echo from the dome of the American Capitol. The event is being called, “Islam on Capitol Hill 2009 – A Day of Islamic Unity.” I urge you to visit their web-site and see what they are planning: http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/. The planners are hyping an expected attendance of 50,000 Muslims. Some might say, “So what! Isn’t that their right? The Christian Promise Keepers marched on the mall as did Louis Farrakhan’s followers in the so-called million-man march. Now these Muslims are just expressing their freedom of religion too. Isn’t that what makes America great?” Maybe so, but something bothers me about this event.
I am certainly not against any one in America expressing the precious freedom of religion guaranteed to us all in the first amendment of our Constitution. The chilling part of this “prayer” event is summarized in the words at the bottom of their web-page advertisement: “Our time has come!” Should “their time” ever come in America, (i.e. Islamic rule and Sharia law, which is the stated goal of Islam) it would mean the end of America, the loss of religious freedom and all other freedoms for everyone who falls under Islamic rule. This is what those who will attend on Friday will be praying for and seeking to establish. For their freedom to pray, and mine, I thank the One true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who gave it to us and all those who have vigilantly defended it. I am neither frightened nor offended by an expression of Islamic freedom…but by the doctrine that lies behind it, revealed in the desire and demonstrated capacity to deny that same freedom to others - the doctrine that gave rise to 9-11.

“Our Father’s God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedoms holy light. Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King!”