The Middle East has often been a hot bed of intricate political chaos but Bashar al-Assad and his regime continue to clearly divide the world into two camps. The support for Bashar al-Assad is quite unprecedented. The great nuclear super powers of Russia and China out rightly support him. They have continued to veto taking military action against him at the UN. In the last few days Putin has used the G20 to publicly strengthen his stance against President Barack Obama’s intention to deploy a military strike against the Syrian government. Obama and several other world leaders have accused Assad of using chemical weapons against his own people.
Interestingly, Israel has kept silent in the midst of all this debate but some of those supporting Assad have spoken about attacking Israel if Syria is attacked. Furthermore, the divide between the world’s superpowers regarding Syria, as well as the existing tensions in the Middle East, will likely escalate the entire situation to where the world has never been before. However, many questions have yet to be answered.
For us, God does not declare in His Word the dates of when prophecy will be fulfilled, but we do know bible prophecy is Middle-East and Israel centric. Before the final 7 years occur the world stage will need to have been prepared. This stage is now being set before our eyes. As God’s children we are instructed to watch and be aware regarding what’s happening around us. So let’s watch!!
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Below is a link, from Al Jazeera. This is an interactive map illustrating the political and military positions for and against military intervention in Syria. Click on the picture to open up the interactive map in another page…
For a longtime now many in the Western world have believed that they are the masters of their own destiny. Even Gordon Brown, the ex-prime minister to the UK, once declared that the boom and bust years were over – just how wrong he was and maybe he should have heeded to the prophetic Word before declaring such a thing.
Today many of our leaders from both political and economic quarters are scratching their heads, trying to drive and steer the global economy out of the unprecedented turmoil that lies ahead. Many times have they tried but failed miserably with such huge injections of capital into the banks, as well as quantative easing. But why, you may ask, are these things failing so spectacularly, when the most powerful leaders are spending eye watering amounts of money but with non-effect? This brings us to the main question – is mankind really the master of its own destiny?
Since the fall of man, mankind has continued to believe The Lie which is that man is god. The idea that man is god and that he and he alone sits soley at the driving seat of his destiny, has grown and matured as time has gone on. Man arrogantly believes that he is god and worships himself as god and this has permeated itself into all levels of life including science, music, fashion, politics and indeed economics. God, on the other-hand, has other ideas. God tells us many times in His Word that it is He who raises up and tears down nations and empires according to His purposes for the time. Mankind is and always will be subject to our Father’s will and sovereignty.
Knowing this and envisaging how this world will be just before the return of Christ, one could speculate that the present economic situation in the Western world is just a symptom of our Father building up and tearing down nations to prepare the way for the Anti-Christ.
At this moment in time there is a great power shift occuring. The United States, Great Britain and Europe have all been weakened economically and subsequently their power and influence over the rest of the world weakened too. America is literally bankrupt with a debt of 13.6 trillion dollars and Europe is in economic chaos with the UK following close behind it all. Many chief economists believe that the only way out of a recession is growth in GDP but this is stagnant for many countries and even shrinking in some. If the Eurozone does collapse next year then almost certainly it will set off a chain-reaction which will devastate the Western world. The West’s influence will then be in such a weakened state that nations such as Russia, Iran and Syria will have a free reign on both a political and military front. The strongholds of power that once stood to protect Israel will be devalued whilst the majority of the Middle East nations will be ready to march on Israel and tread them underfoot.
Even now, China and Russia recently snubbed a UN resolution against Syria in the face of the US and UK. The Word tells us that it is Syria where the man of perdition, the Anti-Christ, will come from. The Eurozone has recently asked China for a 200 trillion Euro bale-out but China refused. So who really has the power? The answer to that is maybe that the West is fast becoming the superpower of yesterday.
After the beginning of sorrows, the first of the judgements start to role out. Some of these occur in the first half of the final seven year period before the mid-point when the Anti-Christ is revealed. The world at this time will be a much darker and desperate place than ever before. With not only being riddled with war and economic devastation but also suffering the effects of what the first judgements bring, the world will be crying out for a saviour. With the itching ears 2 Tim 4:3 says they will have, mankind will be duped into believing The Lie on a much more grander and larger scale. God will tear down and raise up nations to bring the Anti-Christ and his false prophet to the world scene. It is they who bring life unto The Lie. The people of this world will be faced with the stark choice of either believing The Lie or coming to Christ. Unfortunately for many, mankind will continue to believe that they are the masters of their own destiny. They will continue to believe The Lie and will even fight to the death waging war against the Lion of Judah – our Lord Jesus Christ – when he returns.
But to my brothers and sisters in Christ, with all these things we are not to worry for our God is still and always will be sitting on his throne!
I have been meaning to write about this subject for a long time now. One of the many characteristics that the Anti-Christ will demontrate will be his ability to succeed in business. He will be highly successful in the business world and be seen as an economic genius.
On the news today, like many times before, the world markets have taken a dramatic fall. Economic woes exist in every corner of the world. America is heavily in debt to the tune of 13.6 trillion dollars and the Eurozone is in state of suspended economic growth and on the verge of collapse. Even Germany, which is seen as the powerhouse of the Eurozone, has recently experienced a GDP growth of just 0.2%. Such a dire situation has lead to some chief economists stating that there is little hope of a recovery. Bemused, I also read the other day that Apple the company has more money in the bank than the whole of the American economy! America is not the nation of strength is used to be. We are told in the Word, that our Father builds and tears down nations and empires according to His purposes for the time.
Whether or not we recover out of this woeful economic time remains to be seen but there is one thing we can be sure about. One of the many ways that the Anti-Christ emerges onto the world scene is through his reputation as an economic genius. He will be seen by many to have the answers to all the problems of the world’s economic woes. He will emerge at a time when the world will be experiencing great economic instability. Many countries and their inhabitants will put their trust in this man. Are we now at the beginning of this time?
The Word tells us that one day Israel will be trodden under foot by Islamic nations but many of these nations today have many factions and schisms. For example, we have seen in Iraq how Shiites and Sunnis have conflicted with each other even to the point of bloodshed and how the relationship between Hamas and Fatah has presented a weak and divided Palestinian front, in the face of Israel and to the rest of the world.
To understand the Middle East situation today as just Islam versus Israel would be an over simplified view. We must see it as this but also with many other minor conflicts between various groups and even nations. Democracy may indeed be the key to unifying a common purposes in the Islamic Middle East to bring about a unified crusade against Israel in the years to come.
Presently, the support for Islamic nations to become democracies from the West is further supporting the underlying polarisation of Israel on the world stage. The wave of sweeping political reform may indeed be a pre-requiste for Ezekiel 38 with Russia in alliance with these nations fulfilling the prophecy of Gog and Magog. These things must come to pass but one truth will always remain which is that our God in His sovereignty will always be on His throne and will conclude all things according to His will.
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The Syrian leader has become a de facto U.S. ally. How’d he do it?
(30/08/2014)
A year ago, Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, was reeling from an entrenched insurgency and facing the prospect of war against the United States and its allies. After Syrian government forces used chemical weapons to kill more than 1,000 civilians in August 2013, Barack Obama threatened air strikes against Damascus—before a last-minute deal to destroy Syria’s chemical stockpiles averted a conflict.Click HERE to read the full article.
Report: Saudi Arabia to Obtain Pakistani Nukes as Last Resort
Evidence the Gulf state has a ‘Plan B’ in the event of Iranian nuclear proliferation, which could mark the start of a nuclear arms race.
(07/11/2013)
An agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could see the Gulf state deploy ready-made nuclear warheads in the event that Iran crosses the nuclear threshold.That’s according to a report by BBC Newsnight, which cites “multiple sources” suggesting “generous” Saudi aid for Pakistan’s nuclear own program was given as part of an understanding by the two countries that, if and when Saudi Arabia required use of nuclear warheads, the Pakistanis would provide it to them.Click HERE to read the full article.
US Air Force will also target Syria’s air force, ballistic missiles and sections of its air defences
(07/9/2013)
The reports coming out of Washington in the last 24 hours indicate that US President Barack Obama has resolved not just to degrade Syria’s chemical capabilities but also to take down Bashar Assad’s air force, destroy his air bases and knock out his ground-to-ground ballistic missiles, using giant B-52 bombers and B-2 stealth bombers. Some of the bombers will fly in directly from the US; others from the Al Udeid base in Qatar. F-22 Raptor fighter-bombers are also scheduled to take part in the US air offensive. Obama decided to expand the scope of the US operation for Assad’s use of chemical warfare against civilians on Aug. 21, when his experts advised him that these additional blows would dramatically diminish the Syrianj ruler’s military edge over rebel forces without toppling him. These air raids could moreover be conducted from afar without American aircraft coming within range of Syrian air defense batteries.Click HERE to read the full article.
Syrian officials say Obama showed “hesitation” and is looking for a way to “get down from the tree he climbed.”
(01/9/2013)
Syrian officials and official mouthpieces are gloating over what they say is a retreat by US President Barack Obama from his threats of military action against Syria. “Obama announced yesterday, directly or through implication, the beginning of the historic American retreat,” Syria’s official al-Thawra newspaper said in a front-page editorial..Click HERE to read the full article.
Syria: If U A top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel. S Attacks Us, We’ll Attack Israel
A top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel.
(27/8/2013)
As talk and rumors of an impending Western attack against Syria mount, a top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel.Speaking to an Arabic-language radio station operated by the United States, Syria’s Deputy Information Minister Halaf Al-Maftah said that Israel would face not only Syria in the event that the US, Britain and France attempted to unseat Bashar al-Assad. A coalition consisting of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria would respond to any attack against Assad with a response against Israel. In addition, terrorist groups in Syria and Lebanon would attack Israel with full force.
Click HERE to read the full article.
At least 30 people have been killed in fighting between supporters and opponents of ousted president Morsi.
(06/7/2013)
Clashes between supporters and opponents of the ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have continued through the night, resulting in at least 30 deaths in Cairo and various other parts of the country.Violence erupted as thousands of pro-Morsi supporters took to the streets on Friday to protest against the ouster of the country’s first democratically elected president in a military coup.The death of three Morsi supporters – reportedly killed by gunfire as they tried to march towards the military barracks where Morsi is believed to be held – triggered the ongoing mayhem.Morsi supporters blamed the military for the incident, a claim rejected by the army.Tens of thousands of people marched across the country in what Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement called a “Friday of Rage” to demonstrate against the military coup.Rival groups also clashed in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square. The overnight fighting……..
Click HERE to read the full article.
Senior Muslim Brotherhood officials are placed under house arrest. The military is securing strategic facilities, Egyptian sources say.
(03/7/2013)
Egyptian sources report that senior officials in the Muslim Brotherhood have been placed under house arrest and the military is securing strategic facilities across the country.The Islamist group that backed President Mohamed Morsi in last year’s successful bid to win the nation’s first democratic election is also now being scrutinized for corruption in the ranks.The group’s funding structure and records are being probed, according to a report posted Wednesday by the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper.The report also claimed the Egyptian Army has begun to hermetically seal strategic installations across the country in accordance with a military “road map” plan……
Click HERE to read the full article.
Russia tells Sky News it will not agree any G8 statement which demands a transitional government to replace Syria’s Assad regime.
(19/6/2013)
A joint statement on the conflict in Syria is set to be agreed by leaders at the G8 summit – but will not call for the removal of Bashar al Assad’s regime.Russian President Vladimir Putin has become increasingly isolated over his continued support of Syria’s leader, with the other seven members of the G8 keen to push through a communique on the issue by the end of the two-day summit.While it is understood a compromise is likely to be reached, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sky News his country would not sign up to any statement that demanded Mr Assad relinquish power.”We do think that it’s completely the decision of the Syrian parties themselves to decide on both the composition of the transitional body with full authority and also on the future of any person including President Assad,” he said.Officials from one western nation told AFP news agency that the statement was likely to focus on less contentious issues such as the need to push for a peace conference in Geneva and on humanitarian aid.
Click HERE to read the full article.
U.S. to keep Assad in the picture to avoid threat of all-out Mideast war
Due to the lack of U.S. policy on Syria, encouraging a negotiated solution between Assad and the rebels now appears to be the West’s least dangerous course of action.
Report: Russia to Sell Syria Advanced Missiles, Keep Assad Going
Israel has warned the United States that Russia plans to sell advanced weapons to Syria, a report in the Wall Street Journal said Click HERE to read the article. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Iran Ready to ‘Train’ Syria Army, Says Commander
Iran is ready to help “train” the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, said commander of Islamic republic’s army ground forces.
