Beast Power

Dear Brethren,

How long will the United States of America continue to be the most powerful nation on earth?  Will the balance of power soon shift to Northern Europe - to what the Bible calls the Beast power?  World class forces - looming just below the surface - could effect just such a monumental overturn of the balance of power.

Too little, too late?  The United States announced on December 4th, plans to greatly intensify its promotion of democracy throughout the Muslim world - a plan initiated by the late President Richard Nixon in his 1992 book, Seize The Moment.  A great opportunity was missed to befriend the Arab world.  The United States erred over the past ten years by not favoring the more moderate Muslim countries with incentives such as, favored trade status.

Richard Hass, a senior State Department official, said "we missed an opportunity to help these countries become more stable, more prosperous, more peaceful and more adaptable to the stresses of a globalizing world."  Only a few world leaders realize that the Islamic world is a sleeping giant whose agenda extends beyond Palestine to eventually dominate the whole world.

Muslims began celebrating Islam's biggest festival of Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, as the holy month of Ramadan came to a close.  As tension over terrorism builds in the West, concerns in the East are also being intensified.  Muslims fiercely oppose any U.S. war on Iraq, which Islamic leaders fear could stoke a widespread and violent backlash.  "Islam is under siege since September 11, they make us a punching bag," Dzulkifli Ahmad, a member of the conservative Parti Islam se-Malaysia's central committee, told Reuters in Kuala Lumpur.

Brethren, as we pray, "Thy Kingdom come," looking for Jesus Christ to establish His Father's perfect way on this earth - many powerful men of the world are hoping and praying, "Let the oil continue to flow from the Middle East countries."   The late Milwaukee-born, Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir once quipped, "Moses led the Jews for forty years of wandering through the Middle East, and stopped at the only place with no oil!"  Religion and Royalty will soon lose their prominence and influence in the Western hi-tech world - but not oil.

Once the Beast power is in place controlling the world's most powerful army, The King of the North will depose Europe's royalty and religious leaders.  He will need only the oil to gain control the world's economy.

"But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things." (Daniel 11:38)

Are we awake to how rapidly world events are unfolding?  Biblical prophecy has been  given to us to spark our awareness to the reality of the fulfillment of God's plan.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

One area to watch is the Middle East - which is driving the prophesied alignments of end-time nations.  Are we on our knees praying for God's people, and praying Thy kingdom come?  We know that end-time events revolve around Jerusalem and the holy land.  The war with Iraq (which may break out in force by February) could change the delicate fabric of mid-east relationships - and the direction the oil flows. 

Prophecy tells of two mighty end-time forces that compete for world dominance - the King of the North, and the King of the South.  Two key leaders in the Arab world, Osama bin Laden with his Al Qaeda network, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq, are capturing the headlines.  Will one of them become the King of the South?  Perhaps another charismatic Islamic strongman will soon emerge as the spokesman for the entire Muslim world?  Duality of Scripture tells us that the identity of the King of the South will become obvious shortly before the Tribulation.

According to intelligence emerging from inside Iraq, Saddam Hussein has hidden nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction to elude detection by the UN inspectors.  Without proof that the weapons exist, President George Bush will have world opinion turn sharply against him if he engages in a war against Iraq.

Al-Qaeda's first suspected attack against an Israeli target was interpreted by many to be a bid to depict its leader, Osama bin Laden, as the chief representative of the Arab cause.  This title is apparently also coveted by Saddam Hussein, who is still openly snubbing his nose at the Western world -- and President George Bush in particular.

The Church of God knows the plan of God.  For two thousand years God's people have been subjected to many tests of faithfulness.   "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed." (Daniel 11:35)

While the bride of Christ was being prepared through many centuries for the marriage of the Lamb - a great sleeping Islamic nation was growing ever larger for a major end-time conflagration.  Moslems are propagating their faith in the Western world, but Jewish and Christian activities are not allowed in strict Moslem countries.  Push is about to come to shove.  The attacks against Israeli citizens in Kenya are not just isolated incidents in a third world country.  Al Qaeda was behind the attacks.  The driving force behind such senseless destructive activities is the fundamental tenet of the Moslem faith i.e., "Islam divides the world into two parts: One part that is presently under Islamic rule; Secondly, the part which must come under the rule of Islam in the future.

Before these attacks, Israel was not fully involved in the war against terrorism.  But by targeting Israeli citizens, al Qaeda has included Israel into President Bush's declared war on terrorism.  Will Israel choose to escalate its involvement in the war on terrorism?  And if so, how will the Arab world respond?

Which events will finally escalate into WWIII?  The countries of Northern Europe will not sit idly by and lose their sources of oil.  The European Union fully intends to be a world-player, not to be left out of the mix.  As king of the north, Europe will take action to insure its survival - and dominance.

"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over."  (Daniel 11:40)

The world is becoming more and more unstable.  Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are powerful radical Moslem leaders who have emerged with the goal of uniting the Moslem world. The emerging King of the South, whoever he turns out to be, will inspire Moslems to believe that it is their destiny to control not only their own territory and peoples, but also to destroy the Western world and its materialistic values. Bin Laden and Hussein have proven themselves to be remarkably successful in obtaining sympathy and support from among their own people.  Islamic unity will soon gel into a single mighty power.  Gradually, after centuries of in-fighting, the Moslem world is beginning to speak with one voice, and the message it is sending has serious repercussions to world peace.

Brethren, let's keep our eyes on these developments.  Let these prophesied events inspire us to prepare spiritually for the times ahead when the whole world will plunge head-long toward destruction.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:36)

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