Down this part of the world we are all starting back to work, school and so on after our summer holidays, and looking forward to what will be forthcoming in 2014. Looking ahead at the coming year one wonders what might indeed be in store.
Syria: The Possibility of an attack on Syria and particularly Damascus intensified in the last few months of 2013. Which ever side wins the civil war in Syria, will inevitably attack Israel. Israel has its weapons aimed in Syria’s direction and any such possibility will trigger their use to annihilate Damascus, the main seat of the government of Syria, the Head Quarters of Hezbollah and several other rebel groups. The prophecy of the complete destruction of this city has never been completely fulfilled [Isaiah 17:1].
Israel: Israel believes that the Geneva deal made with Iran in November 2013 centred on Iran’s further development of nuclear energy and weapons is useless and will be violated by Iran at the earliest possibility. Israel also believes that if something is not done soon, Iran will have the bomb. Former US Defence Secretary and former CIA Director Leon Panetta is reported to have said: “There is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June. She will be the goat of the world although she will do the world a tremendous favour. Iran can produce a bomb in 36 days.” According to Muslim tradition, the Twelfth Imam, the expected Muslim Messiah can return at any time, it will be to a world of turmoil and violence. Many in the USA administration are seeking to turn away from supporting Israel as they have done in the past. In 2001 David Horowitz‘s front page asked an unthinkable question: “What if Islamists took control of the White House?” In 2001 no one could imagine such an event, now with the extent in the spread of Islam in the USA, the possibility is there.
Corruption in High Places: In Matthew 24:12 the Lord said that in the last days there would be a rise in lawlessness and corruption in high places. We have seen it within New Zealand, a sorry parade of immoral behaviour amongst politicians in some areas of government and shudder what might come next in this traditionally honest and fair nation. If it’s happening here, it most certainly is happening at a far higher level in the major powers of the world. The rioting and rebellion of the people in a number of nations against their governments is evidence of corruption and lust for power.
Africa: Further murderous confrontations by opposing Moslem and Christian sides in several African countries is slowly taking the place of tribal political warfare of past years. In the Sudan, Nigeria, and Central African Republic. Pierre LeBlanc and Lee Jay Walker writing in the “Modern Tokyo Times” point out that in the Central African Republic alone, over 450,000 people have fled their homes after the Muslim dominated Seleka took power and began persecuting Christians irrespective of their alleged government of national unity during the transitional period. Not surprisingly Christians are trying to protect themselves and it shows that Muslim forces within the Seleka government are out of control. In Nigeria the Islamist Terrorist Group is preceding with a programme of religious cleansing, Boko Haren allied to the Taliban is murdering men women and children in the process. In many other parts there is continued persecution and violence against Christians. Algeria, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, the list is endless. This is without including something like a further 11 or 12 or more, countries around the world, where Christians are persecuted and violated. [Matt 24:9].
Storms: We were promised that signs from nature would manifest themselves in the last days. There have been; earthquakes, flooding, and violent storms all over the world this past year and we can expect even greater storms in 2014. The Southern Asian region has experienced typhoons for most years, but Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines late in 2013 has caused more devastation than ever before and the region will take years for it to recover. Japan is faced with real problems with its recent Tsunami which destroyed a large area of the countries north, and with the damaged nuclear power station continuously leaking radioactive cooling water into the ocean. As the world moves towards its final days we can expect more of these disasters. We are told the world will ware out like a garment [Heb 1:11]. One of the signs of the end that Jesus gave in Luke reads: “perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, with hearts fainting for fear [Luke 21:25-27].
Political: With the USA budget still to be rationalised by February 7th and although there seems to be a slow recovery on the way, the world financial system is still in chaos and totally dysfunctional. The world governments do not know that a man waiting in the wings known as the Antichrist will talk well and appear to do well but set the world on its final deadly course.
How great to know our Lord has the whole world in His hands and before all this happens he will take us home to be with Himself. Even so come Lord Jesus. [Rev 22:20 KJV].
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Witness Movement International in the South Pacific.
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