All the eyes of the world at this moment are centred on Syria. At the moment of writing the outcome of the American reaction to the use of chemical weapons is still being contemplated. It may be the Russian suggestion that all chemical weapons should be under UN control may be accepted and a major conflict averted. There is no doubt that the “Arab Spring” does not seem to have yielded the freedom to the populations of Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya the people had hoped for. In Syria it’s a bit different as it seems the rebel population contains many militant Moslem elements and the more secular rulers, the Assad regime, are the baddies and persecute the population. When you have two forces, both bad, opposing one another, it offers the world rulers who try and mediate a difficult dilemma.
There is no doubt the Arab peoples are far from united, and one wonders how the Biblical prophecy will work out. It is apparent that some sort peace does return to the Middle East, for when as prophesied, Magog [Russia] and its allies attack Israel there has been a short time of peace for Israel. [Ezek 38:10-12]. However we are told in Zechariah chapter 14 that in the final conflict the opposing armies will fight each other [Zech 14:13]. As we are seeing not all Moslems and not all Arabs are united and in fact are in some cases quite hostile to each other, the final outcome will inevitably be one against another.
A so called revival in the economy has encouraged the governments of America and Europe. However what we are not told is the appalling state of most nations’ international economies. The government of the U.S.A. is busy printing money to help improve their countries coffers which will eventually not only lower the dollar but worsen their balance of payments. While in Europe the only economy in some sort of order is Germany’s. Nearly everyone in turn is indebted to China. Some of the poorer economies are suffering greatly with Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal the worse off. Although Greece is showing an improvement in internal accounts deficits, they still have a US$8.2 billion import-export gap balance of payments to sort out, plus an enormous IMF loan, as do most of the nations of the world except China and Germany. Spain and Italy have about US$15billion deficit each and the USA has US$47 Trillion. You cannot go on owing money to everyone and not eventually suffer the consequences. Europe, although putting on a brave face on it, is desperately waiting for someone or something to come along and solve their problems. As the Bible indicates the world is both morally and financially bankrupt when the Antichrist is revealed. The world is not far from that state at the moment, whatever the politicians may tell you.
There is an old proverb which says; “If you find yourself in a hole and it is too deep to get out of, don’t go on digging”. It appears that most governments in the world have not heard of that proverb, because they are printing money which lowers their currency value and export prices which in turn inflates their economies which enables them to be re-elected, but then to import they have to borrow on world markets, which takes them further and deeper into debt, pulling them further into economic disaster. Refer; Greece, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Ireland etc.
In Kenya the latest attack by terrorists on a shopping mall, creating carnage and death to many people is another indication of the Moslem militant’s battle for Africa. Whether it is in Somalia, Nigeria and now Kenya, The Moslem forces are seeking to wear down the Christian populations to live in terror of their lives. Christians in Pakistan have also had their share of persecution with the attack and bombing of innocent church goers in Peshawar. It was reported that after Christians and other faiths, had lived in harmony there since the church was built in 1885, this terrible act in bombing of home going worshippers by members of the local Taliban group, the TTP, evoked a response from Bishop of Peshawar; “It is not safe for Christians in this country. Everyone is ignoring the grave danger to Christians in Muslim-majority countries” Indeed I wonder how long it will be before the western countries find they are also in the firing line. [Matt 24:10-11].
Do not despair: The God who controls all of Heaven and earth said; “The nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing” (Isaiah 40:15, 17). God is still keeping count of the hairs on our heads. He is still counting the sparrows that fall, still hearing petitions before they are asked, and still answering before being called. He is still giving abundantly more than we can ask or think. So why let the facts on the ground throw us? He has everything under control.
God sits in the Heavens and laughs at foolish, evil mankind (Psalm 2:4). On Judgment Day, those who conspire to do evil and to touch His anointed will face a terrible fate. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 KJV).
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Witness Movement International in the South Pacific.