Feb 4
Signs Of Peace Are Also A Sign
I would guess 90 percent of Christians that are active prophecy watchers would view warfare in the Middle East as being several times more significant than a peace treaty. Most end time news reporting tends to share an eagerness any sign of hostility. Because Israel is the prophetic keystone, it frequently has the misfortune of being the center of war speculation.
Whenever there is unrest in Israel, people of prophecy become fixated on the possibility of a wider war. Whenever there is talk of peace, their attention drifts away.
I have found from my study of the Bible and Middle East history that peace and war will most likely work hand-in-hand to bring about the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. Wars alone doesn't bring us any closer to the end times. There have been numerous wars that have had no direct impact on prophecy.
I've previously mentioned the possibly of a Gog (Russian) invasion of Israel. In Ezk 38:11 it talks of Israel living safely just ahead of the Gog attack.
"And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (Ezek 38:11).
You'd have a difficult time convincing a Jewish person residing in Israel today that he's currently living in safety. After the Oslo peace accord was sign in 1993, it briefly was possible for most Israelis to proclaim they were living in safety.
Currently, the situation in Israel does not look promising. The relationship between the Palestinian Authority and Israel is at an all-time low. Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the point clear when he openly said this past week that he wishes he killed Yassaer Arafat in the early 80's went he had the chance.
The beleaguered peace process is not dead yet. Both the US and increasingly the European Union have been quietly working to tackle this colossal problem. I find the EU's involvement to be particularly interesting. Someday the leader of this federation of nations will beguile Israel and others with his platform of peace.
The book of Daniel warns us that the Antichrist will use peace as a weapon for eventual destruction. The fact that the tribulation starts with the signing of a peace treaty make very important for us to be watchful of ever potential peace agreement.
"And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many:" (Dan 8:25)
The Commonality of ImmoralityOne of the most under reported trends in the western world is our society's continual slide into immorality. I've done searches in several libraries on the subject of immorality, and I could easily find loads of books on the problems that result from the advancement of sin, but not once was I able to locate a really good book that detailed the "trend" towards deeper depravity.
One of the greatest factors in the spread of immorality would have to be the growing commonality of immorality. There once was a time when it was nearly impossible for a man who had been caught in adultery to be elected to a high office. If you was today say that man is unfit to be elected because of his unfaithfulness, people would think you was some kind of religious nut.
I'm constantly seeing example after example of how sin is being excepted as a common occurrence. Here are three items that caught my attention:
I read one news report where a guy was arrested for having sex with a goat in plain view of over 100 passengers on a train. A reporter interviewed the man in court about his love for animals. This is what goat boy had to say for himself, "Yes, I got a lot of ribbing from my friends about that."
The use of marijuana is being openly defended in various news magazines. There are a number of arguments are frequently used to promote the legalization of pot smoking - it's a drug we can grow domestically, we can tax it, and it's a victimless crime. The biggest argument being presented is just, "Oh come on, everyone is doing it."
I was talking with some of my co-workers recently, and one of them made a joking reference to a supplement product called Longitude. At the time I had no idea what he was referring to. A few days later I came across a cable TV add for the product. Longitude makes the bizarre claim of being able to extend the size of any male's manhood. I couldn't believe the brazen tone of the commercial. If NBC is able to sell liquor, I guess it's only fitting for cable channels to be offering pills that will make a guy's willy longer.
The only way to know how bad things have gotten is to reflect on how these three immoral issues would be handled in previous years. In the past someone caught raping a goat would show up in court with a blanket over their head, pro-dope articles would only found in magazines that specialized in drug paraphernalia, and the only available ad space for products like Longitude would be in porn magazines.
End of the Road? Not ReallySorry folks, The show's over. According to a growing number of scientists, we've reached the end of human evolution.
For those who dream of a better life, the boys of science have bad news: this is the best it is going to get. Our species has reached its biological pinnacle and is no longer capable of changing.
That is the view of a group of biologists who believe a Western lifestyle now protects humanity from the forces that used to shape Homo sapiens.
'If you want to know what Utopia is like, just look around - this is it,' said Professor Steve Jones, of University College London, who is to present his argument at a Royal Society Edinburgh debate, 'Is Evolution Over?'. 'Things have simply stopped getting better, or worse, for our species.' This view is controversial, however. Other scientists argue that mankind is still being influenced by the evolutionary forces that created the myriad species which have inhabited Earth over the past three billion years.
Some scientists believe humans are becoming less brainy and more neurotic; others see signs of growing intelligence and decreasing robustness, while some, like Jones, see evidence of us having reached a standstill. All base their arguments on the same tenets of natural selection.
'Until recently, there were massive differences between individuals' lifespans and fecundity,' said Jones. 'In London, the death rate outstripped the birth rate for most of the city's history. If you look at graveyards from ancient to Victorian times, you can see that a half of all children died before adolescence, probably because they lacked genetic protection against disease. Now, children's chances of reaching the age of 25 have reached 98 per cent. Nothing is changing. We have reached stagnation.'
Peter Ward, of the University of Washington in Seattle. In his book, Future Evolution, recently published in the US by Henry Holt, Ward also argues that modern Western life protects people from the effects of evolution. 'I don't think we are going to see any changes - apart from ones we deliberately introduce ourselves, when we start to bio-engineer people, by introducing genes into their bodies, so they live longer or are stronger and healthier.'
'If you had looked at Stone Age people in Europe a mere 50,000 years ago, you would assume the trend was for people to get bigger and stronger all the time,' said Prof Chris Stringer, of the Natural History Museum, London. 'Then, quite abruptly, these people were replaced by light, tall, highly intelligent people who arrived from Africa and took over the world. You simply cannot predict evolutionary events like this. Who knows where we are headed?'
I strongly disagree that humans are failing to evolve. Mankind as a whole will miss the boat, but many of us are about to take a giant leap forward as we progress beyond the physical realm. If you're rapture ready, you should be proud of yourself, because you're helping the species advance to a new higher level.
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor 15:54).
Jan 28
Tulsa Prophecy Conference
Every April the ministry "Thy Kingdom Come" hosts a prophecy conference in Tulsa, OK. I've been to numerous prophetic meetings, and I have found the one cohosted by Dr. Charles Pack and Phil Goodman to be simply the best one for sound doctrine and a fellowship friendly environment.
My main motivation for attending conferences is to interact with fellow Christians that share a like-minded expectancy about our Lord Jesus' soon return. Last year there was about 40 Rapture Readians that attended the conference, and we had a wonderful time.
Like I did last year, I'll be taking plenty of pictures, however this time around, I'll be using my new 35mm camera. During the 2001 conference, I had a digital camera in hand, and it was frankly a piece of junk. Out of the 120 photos taken at the meeting, only about 30 were worth posting. Luckily, Becky and a couple other people had there camera to back me up.
The conference will be at the Tulsa Sheraton Hotel. You can sleep, eat, and attend the meeting without having to leave the building. The rates are also cheaper in Tulsa. In most tourist trap states, for a basic room, you're looking at least $100 or more per night. In Tulsa the going rate is around $60-70 per night.
I'm one of those people that never closely looks at the bill whenever I pay for something, but I do remember the rooms at the Sheraton were $75 per night. If that price is too ritzy for some of you folks, there is the La Quinta Inn across the street that charged $60 per night.
The Sheraton has a free shuttle service going to and from the Tulsa Airport. It also has two restaurants, but if you're not into hotel food, there are a number of dining facilities on the other side of the road. You have the choice of McDonald's, Arby's, Rex Chicken, and a delicatessen type of restaurant which name escapes me.
The gathering is scheduled to run from April 3rd to the 5th. If you're interested in attending the Tulsa conference, contact the Thy Kingdom come folks at:
Call them at: 1-888-835-6978
Write them at: Thy Kingdom Come, Inc., 7301 E. 14th St., Tulsa, OK 74112
Email them at: tkc@prophecywatch.com
The Harlot Church of Revelation 17Last Thursday over 200 of the worlds religious leaders met in Rome at the invitation of the Pope. Nearly every religion in the world was represented at this gathering.
Along with various Christian denominations you had joined with them representatives of 11 other religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Jianism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and followers of Tenrikyo and African tribal religions.
The purpose of the meeting was for all of the worlds religious leaders to pray to their own gods for world peace. The unrest in Israel was one of the main focuses of the meeting.
This is a very significant sign of the last days according to Bible Prophecy. In the last days there will arise a global false religious system that will create hardship for true believers.
What is happening in Rome is an early indication of the fulfillment of Revelation 17:1-5: "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Although there is no plan to immediately create a global religious system, the ease at which the pope is able to gather together representatives of the earth's major faiths makes it quite clear that one could be assembled in a very short order.
The Rise of GogThe Bible predicts in Ezekiel 38 and 39 a madman called Gog will be the end time leader of Russia. Scripture would seem to indicate that Russia will soon slide back into autocratic rule.
When Vladimir Putin came to power, I got this eerie feeling about him. I'm not the only one to make this observation. Liberal news anchor woman for ABC News Barbara Walter said when she interviewed Mr. Putin, she felt there was something strangely mesmerizing about the man. That really says something when a godless member of the press says you give her an supernatural vibe.
If you're going to have a dictatorship, you need state control of the media, and oddly enough, this is the current trend in Russia. I should say it's now the concluded trend in Russia.
The Russian government has abruptly pulled the plug on TV6, the country's only nationwide television station that was outside the Kremlin's control. Last year, state-dominated gas monopoly Gazprom took over the country's biggest independent television broadcaster NTV.
The Kremlin is now working on silencing foreign media outlets. It has formally warned the U.S.-funded Radio Liberty that officials may take away its license if they see more negative coverage of the war in Chechnya.
The most sinister development concerning Putin would have to be the emergence of an new organization, backed by the Kremlin, is urging the Russian people to reject pro-Western views and go back to the "glory" of Soviet Russia.
The 50,000-strong group which calls itself "Walking Together" has strict rules and indoctrination methods. The group is vehemently pro-Putin and its first public action was a huge rally in November 2000 to celebrate his presidency.
Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Putin's face, thousands gathered near the Kremlin and spoke of their love for the president. Mr. Putin later received the organizers of the rally in the Kremlin.
Russian liberals fear that the group is the embodiment of persistent attempts by senior Kremlin officials to set up a new Soviet-style cult of personality around the president: nationalism thinly veiled as patriotism is a hallmark of Walking Together.
There is a very interesting contrast between the Gog leader and the Antichrist. The Bible says the Antichrist will not actually become the head of the revived Roman Empire until the Mid-point of the tribulation. There some indication that Gog could arise 3 1/2 years before the tribulation.
In Ezek 39:9-10 it says the Israelis will burn the weapons of the destroyed Gog army for 7 years. We also learn from Jesus' commentary in Matthew 24 that Roughly 3 1/2 years into the tribulation all of Israel will be force to flee into the wilderness. Because Israel would be unable to continue the practice of burning the weapons of war during the second half of the tribulation, it seems that the Gog invasion would need to occur 3 1 /2 years before the start of the tribulation.
Of course, the ever imminent pre-trib rapture has to take place before any tribulation related event can begin. So folks, the coming of the Lord Jesus for his Bride could be much sooner than we think.
Jan 21
The "Super Council"
Late Sunday night news out of Britain nearly knocked me out of my chair. The UK is preparing to put forward a proposal to create a "Super Council" body that would be similar to the United Nations Security Council. The plan would go into action when the union expands from 15 to 25 members.
The purpose for the Council would be to recognize the predominance of larger nations like Germany, France and Great Britain. It is a rather obvious fact that not all European members should have equal say in a centralized European government.
You have large countries like Germany with a 2 trillion dollar economy, and you have some rather small countries like Luxembourg with a 10 billion dollar economy. Little Bonsia-Herzegovina is eager to join the club, and it only has a GNP of 2 billion dollars. With such huge size differences between member nations there will have to be some sort of compromise on political representation.
There is also the problem of having too many chiefs and not enough Indians. UK officials claim that decision-making of the government heads of the European Council is already close to unworkable, and could be totally paralyzed when nearly a dozen new nations from southern and eastern Europe join in 2004.
The magic number every student of Bible Prophecy is looking for is 10. The books of Daniel and Revelation says 10 kings will arise in the general area of the old Roman Empire and give their power to the Antichrist. The fact that the EU already has 15 members and it is planning to add more would require a "Super Council" to fulfill the prophecy of the 10 leaders empowering the Antichrist.
"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings" (Dan 7:24).
"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast" (Rev 17:12-13).
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled" (Rev 17:17).
Starting this March the EU is going to begin ironing out how they'll eventually govern as a single unit. Both the Bible and pure logic would indicate they will move in the direction of a "Super Council." I firmly believe if this proposal moves forward with no complications, the timing of the rapture would be profoundly influenced by this development.
Arafat The Willing Martyr
The strife between Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon has been progressively escalating from the very day these two men became political rivals. A few months ago Arafat was saying Israel is out to assassinate him. He is now at the point of saying he's ready to die as a martyr for the Palestinian cause.
Encircled by Israeli tanks barring his movements, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Monday, ''I swear to God, I will see (the Palestinian state), whether as a martyr or alive. Please God, give me the honor of becoming a martyr in the fight for Jerusalem,'' Arafat told a group of visiting Palestinians at his government compound in Ramallah, just north of Jerusalem.
Senior Isreali government officials have shrugged off any response to Arafat's statements. They maintain that they're actions are in response to Palestinian attacks. The Israeli Army has been preventing Arafat from leaving Ramallah since early December, demanding he arrest militants behind the October assassination of an Israeli Cabinet member.
"We are used to Arafat's statements, he makes declarations all the time, but so far they are meaningless," an official said. "Israel will take action wherever necessary to render the terrorist infrastructure ineffective in all areas the Palestinian Authority fails to combat terror and arrest those responsible," officials noted.
Over the years I've been repeatedly angered by Israel always trying to accommodate Mr. Arafat. However, in this case I would have no lasting grief if Israel was to take measures to arrange for Chairman Arafat's latest wish to come true.
Is AIDS A Curse From God?
For over 20 years now science has battled the HIV virus, spending 100s of billions of dollars on research. There has numerous times when men thought they were on the verge of defeating the AIDS virus, but like a wily fox, it always strangely managed to avoid all attempts at capture.
Because HIV is not a thinking being, you have to wonder how a bundle of chemicals is able to overcome everything immunologists throw at it. At best the only thing gained has been more time for those folks infected with the disease.
In the mid 90s, someone that was HIV positive could control the virus by regularly taking a single drug. Because the virus continues to mutate, that same person today would need to take a fist full of pills to main the same level of health.
The virus has amazing ability to counter all attacks. This past week Harvard AIDS researchers working with monkeys say the virus overcame an experimental vaccine by changing a single gene, killing one of their animals.
I know science doesn't see in terms of the supernatural, but it does seem inescapable to me that AIDS is an unrelenting scourge, and there doesn't appear to be anything man can do about eradicating it through normal medical means.
Maybe it's time we started looking at it as being a judgment from the All Mighty. It is common knowledge that 95 percent of the time the virus is spread through some type of immoral act. Men simply refuse to hear any talk about sin being the primary root of this plague.
Jan 14
Thanks for all the Email
It's been a long time since I've addressed everyone that has recently emailed me. Because there are thousands of you folks out there in cyberland and only one of me on this end, I'm not able to respond to every message I find in my inbox.
I can proudly say that all email that's submitted to Rapture Ready gets read by yours truly. I check my email several times a day, and the average inflow has been around 1,000 messages a month. I seriously doubt you would have any luck catching the eye of the more well-known people of Bible prophecy.
I get all types of messages. My favorite emails are from individuals that hate the rapture doctrine and promise to be a witness against me on judgment day. The most annoying emails are ones that ask me if I have any information on my site that supports this pre-trib rapture teaching.
I don't ever foresee the day will come that I'll get so much mail I won't be able to read it all. I firmly believe if people are willing to take the time to write, I should be there to read what they have to say. I also think the messages I post in the "Interesting Email I've Received" page should reflect the actual type of mail I receive - both positive and negative.
The Kings Of The EastChina is expected to have as many as 100 long-range nuclear missiles aimed at the United States by 2015, many of them on hard-to-find mobile launchers, says a report released by the CIA.
An even number of 100 missiles may not seem like much compared to the thousands of missiles the United States has in stock. However, if you consider each missile could potentially carry multiple warheads and there are only 300 main urban centers in North America, these missiles could easily devastate the U.S. mainland.
The report says that China is convinced it needs a larger, mobile force to maintain its nuclear deterrent against the United States. Of course, you can never tell when Uncle Sam is going to launch an unprovoked nuclear attack against your country.
Currently, China has about 20 silos with just 4 nuclear ICBMs that are capable of reaching the United States. Another dozen nuclear missiles can reach targets in Russia and Asia. It also has a few medium-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and probably only one submarine from which to launch them.
The Chinese military is developing three new missile systems, two truck-launched missiles and a new submarine-launched missile, all of which could be fielded by 2010, the report says.
China is expanding its short-range ballistic missile force, and will probably have several hundred by 2005, the report says. It also has a very active cruise missile program.
China's buddy nation North Korea continues to develop the Taepo Dong-2, a two-stage missile that would be capable of reaching parts of the western United States. North Korea also probably has one or two nuclear weapons that could be mounted on those missiles, the report says.
There are two passages in the Bible that indicates China will play a key role in some of the darker portions of the tribulation. In Revelation 9 we read about an army of 200 million soldiers. The only nation on earth that can field army of that size is China. Revelation 14 gives the location by describing the invading army as the Kings of the East.
Revelation also tells us a third a mankind will die after four demonic angels are loosed to guide the activities of this massive Asian army. The fact that China is rapidly building up its nuclear capability would seem to indicate the sleeping giant is getting ready to assume its end time role.
"Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand (200 million): and I heard the number of them" (Rev 9:14-16).
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev 16: 12-14).
I'm Not That Kind Of GirlTeen singer Christina Aguilera may know what a girl wants, but she also knows what she doesn't want: her image being used to promote pornographic websites.
The midriff-baring singing sensation is warning porn sites that she'll sue them if they continue to use her likeness in compromising positions. A notice on the official Christina Aguilera Web site says the singer's lawyers have contacted Web site hosts that show video and pictures they claim are Christina.
The pornographers are advertising video clips of "a woman with blonde hair shown only from the back--the person in the video is not Christina," the lawyers said.
"We regret that there are individuals who engage in such fraud with no regard for the injury to Christina's feelings or reputation," the statement continues. Because porn is one of the few profitable Web ventures, smut sites are in fierce competition to differentiate themselves from their rivals. Some try to make their mark by claiming to post images of celebrities.
In recent years, several movie and singing stars have sued or threatened to sue people who've used their names to promote or direct people to porn sites, including Pamela Anderson, Madonna, Cindy Margolis, and Britney Spears.
I find it very hypocritical how entertainers will do their very best to market themselves in the most sexually provocative manner possible, and then they'll turn around and be repulsed by someone using their likeness to promote "common pornography." I have to wonder if money is their only beef.
Pamela Anderson holds the record for a celebrity appearing in adult magazines. She's been in Playboy at least 5 times, and she strangely has had two sexually obscene home videos find their way into the public domain. If you've seen her work in Baywatch and VIP, you'd known it's a joke to try to call her an actress.
After visiting one of Christina Aguilera's fan sites and seeing images of her dancing around half naked on tour, I would have to say, "Don't worry honey, you're already in the porn business."
Jan 7Left Behind Letters Round Two
This past week I was updating the Testimony page, and I noticed it now has close to 100 testimonies. Christine has done an excellent job of gathering together a wide range of Testimonies.
When I put together the Left Behind Letters two years ago, I figured 30 letters would be enough. The LBL page now looks a little short compare to its companion page.
I foresee both pages as being very helpful to those folks that find themselves missing the rapture. The LBL page is addressed to the overall situation that everyone still here after the rapture will be facing. The Testimony page helps people deal with individual sin and adversity issues, and these folks will need plenty of help. If someone is in the clutches of a major sin, they'll need to overcome two obstacles. Those people will first have to resolve their current problem, and then they'll need to prepare themselves for the coming days of the tribulation.
I've decided to at least double the size of the Left Behind Letters. The tribulation will be 7 years long, so folks will have plenty of time to read each letter. I don't mean to be crass, but I'm certain that people will be very eager for any information that can explain to them what has taken place.
If you haven't contributed to the Left Behind letter page, here is your golden opportunity.
I think it is very important for us to be mindful of the fact God will someday ask us what have we done with our life on earth. You might be someone that can say, "Todd, I was a missionary to Zambia for 20 years, so I don't need to worry about eternal rewards." On the other hand, if the only accomplishment you can think of in the area of advancing the Kingdom of God is that you once brought a pot of chili to a church fellowship dinner, you might want to think about expanding your heavenly resume.
It would not take long to sit down and write a heart to heart letter to what will likely be 1000s of people. When it comes to writing, I am no Edgar Allen Poe. The only writing gift I have is perseverance. If I have to work on an article for three days or three weeks to finish it, I'll keep pressing ahead until the project is finished.
Each month over 120,000 people visit the Rapture Ready site. You would think several hundred people would jump at the opportunity to participate in a project that could potentially reach millions of people. When it comes the advancement of the gospel, in the end it can be said, so much is done by so few.
You can look at the letters that are already posted to get a general idea of how your message should be written. The main theme of your writing should be to offer words of encouragement.
When I was asking for submissions on the first batch, a few letters had to be rejected because they got too much into speculating on what might happen during the tribulation. There was some other letters that were simply too short, but most letters were exactly what I was looking for.
If you need a few weeks to write your letter, I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. When you do finish your letter, you can email it to: Todd@RaptureReady.com
Jack Van Impe: The Distant Date SetterI've received a lot of mail concerning Jack Van Impe's latest round of rapture forecasting. Of course, Jack never sets dates for the rapture. He prefers to suggest, hint, refer to, imply, propose, and allude to a given date.
I know Jack will strongly say he's not a date setter, but when you produce material that winks at a certain date, it doesn't matter if you occasionally say, "I'm not trying to set a date here."
I've monitored the workings of dear old Jack for many years now, and when it comes to the rapture, he has a well-established strategy. Van Impe would point to a given time frame that would be a year or two away and as calendar moved forward, he'd gradually move on to some other date.
Lately, there has been a surprising change in the type of dates Jack is "suggesting." Last year his new date was 2011 which was ten years down the road. Jack is now claiming 2018 is the magic year. He said at a recent church service that he now believes the rapture will not occur until Jerusalem has been under Jewish control for a generation (51 years), which would make the rapture transpiring around the year 2018.
I find it very odd that Van Impe would be citing dates that are so far into the future. Normally, you would expect a man that benefits financially from getting people to focus on short term dates would continue with this same mode of operation. I'm sure he sold truck loads of his video "2001: COUNTDOWN TO ETERNITY." A video entitled "2018: EVENTUAL COUNTDOWN TO ETERNITY " would probably be a slow seller.
I've been very troubled over Jack's continuous endorsement of the Pope. I'm now worried that he's working to cause Christians to be slothful in their readiness for Jesus' return. If we still have 16 years before the rapture transpires, there's no need to rush in getting your friends and family saved.
It would be highly commendable of Jack if he was strictly using the Bible as his guide for pointing to 2018. However, the fact that he constantly jumps from one date to another would seem to indicate he hasn't yet quite figured out where he stands. I realized from day one, it is not possible for us to know the timing of the rapture, and I have not wavered from that view.
It is very possible God, Himself, is the one behind Jack Van Impe strange shift in date setting. Jack is a great speaker and has a gifted mind, but his personal doctrine is about as malleable as a stick of butter on a hot summer day. Because Van Impe is one of the leading voices of prophecy, the Lord could be using him to catch people off guard.
It's wrong for Jack to be setting any date, and it's equally wrong for people to be relying on them for guidance. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so we need to be rapture ready today.
The Sodomy NetworkMTV and Showtime are in "serious discussions" about launching a gay channel, according to several sources familiar with the project.
The would-be developers are part of the Viacom media empire that includes CBS, UPN, Nickelodeon and VH1. However, they're not the only big-time players considering a gay network. According to industry sources, there have been such discussions at HBO, USA Networks, as well as at Rainbow Media, the programming arm of Cablevision, which runs Bravo and AMC. But the proposed MTV/Showtime venture appears to be closer to reality, although both parties declined comment.
"It's being given real consideration," says a Viacom insider, who indicates such a network could launch within the next year. [As early as March, Showtime may begin a trial run with a four-hour gay programming block on its companion service Showtime Too.] Little wonder such a network may launch soon. An already successful Canadian model exists: PrideVision, which launched last year.
"Look at the success Showtime has with programming like Queer as Folk," the insider says. "And MTV has a long history of being out in front on gay issues and marketing to that community."
Both networks have been pioneers in bringing gay storylines to television, long before Will & Grace became prime-time players. Real World, MTV's long-running hit reality series has included gay participants since it began in 1992, as have the game-show Singled Out and the late-night teen soap Undressed.
Showtime got into the game even earlier. In 1984, the premium cable network launched Brothers, the first gay-themed TV series. It also has offered Tales of the City, a recurring miniseries based on the Armistead Maupin novels about gay and straight life in San Francisco. Queer as Folk, the drama based on a hit British series, recently began its second season. The show credited with boosting Showtime's audience.
According to the marketing publication Brandweek, research suggests that six percent of the adult population, roughly 15 million people, identifies itself as gay or lesbian, with combined annual spending in the $250-$350 billion range. Major advertisers including Miller Brewing and General Motors, have increasingly targeted gay and lesbian consumers, with select commercials and print ads.
"Whoever does this could win big," says Randy Barbato, co-president of World of Wonder, an independent production company that created The RuPaul Show for VH1. MTV and Showtime are undecided if the proposed gay network will be advertiser supported like MTV or a commercial-free pay service like Showtime. Some industry observers believe the latter might minimize resistance from anti-gay groups against cable systems that would carry the network as part of a basic cable package. "You wouldn't have the content issues that you're inevitably faced with if you go the ad-supported route," Wolzien says.
Dec 31It Was A Very Good Year For Prophecy
Another year has come and gone, and what a year 2001 turned out to be. I would rank this year as the most prophetically active year since Jesus walked the earth. If we were to just look at end time prophecy, 2001 has no equal.
The secular press has proclaimed the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 as the year's top news story, however, I would not rank Sept 11 as being an incident of lasting prophetic importance. The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were shocking occurrences, but they don't have any direct connection to a passage in the Bible.
The terrorist attacks did trigger several other factors that do fit into prophecy. The Bible predicts the tribulation will be a time of global alliances and authoritative rule.
Because of Sept 11, we've had to surrender more of our personal freedoms, nations have become more integrated in their effort to fight terrorism, surveillance technology has been given a huge boost, and who would of thought the trend towards ecumenism would have benefited from an attack carried out by Islamic extremists.
The top Bible prophecy news event of 2001 would have to be the introduction of the Euro. Starting January 1, a dozen European nations will trash their national currencies, and replace them with the Euro.
The Bible proclaimed clearly that someday the Roman Empire would return as a global power. The rebuilding process started in the 1940s with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands forming a loose economic club. Over the years it's been a bumpy ride, but the reunification of Rome continued at a fairly steady pace.
Now that we've past the point where Europe has a common currency there is no possibility of turning back. There is already discussion about having a United States of Europe and a President of that new entity.
Israel remained very active in 2001. The violence was a hold over from previous years, but I would observe that the continuation of the unrest just adds to the hostilities. The fighting is so ingrained, I can see how it would personally benefit the Antichrist's image by him accomplishing the impossible task of bringing peace to that region.
The nuclear arms race continued to escalate. It's very ironic how nations that still have the donkey cart as one of a main means of transportation would also be on the verge of producing nuclear weapons. The most alarming development of this past year has to be the growing desire to use nuclear weapons against a given enemy.
In spring I remember reading reports about Arab radical groups calling on Pakistan, the only nuclear Arab nation, to use it atomic weapons against Israel. After the attack on the world Trade Center, we learned that Osama Bin Laden had tried several times to purchase nuclear weapons from Russia. Iranian leaders have also talked about launching a surprise attack against Israel. The year concludes with Pakistan and India locked in a nuclear stand off, and with one side boasting, it could win a nuclear war.
Morality continued its nose dive. I've been so busy with more pressing matters, I've lost track of how much ground we've lost the past 12 months. The thing that stand out the most to me is how vulgarity has invaded music, videos, and TV. I was looking through a paper one day, and I saw a flyer for the hottest selling CDs. About half of them had warning labels that indicate obscene language.
I've been rather amazed at how calmly Christians are reacting to events they should know are the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Over familiarity is a very dangerous thing when trying to remain watchful for Christ's return.
"Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:33-37).
The World's Wacky WeatherCountries around the world are having to cope with a growing frequency of climatic catastrophes. A big freeze has chilled Europe, Brazil is recovering from torrential rains, bushfires blaze in an Australian heatwave and Saudi Arabia prays for rain to slake an ongoing drought.
In Europe, the chill has claimed hundreds of lives. A winter cold snap in Poland has claimed 178 lives since October, according to local police. Authorities in Bulgaria declared a state of emergency in the northeast of the country after the worst snowfalls in 30 years.
In Russia, no stranger to bitter cold, Moscow authorities said three people had died in sub-zero temperatures, bringing to 250 the number to perish in the city's icy chill this winter.
In the southern hemisphere, Australia swelters in a heatwave, with temperatures set to soar over the 104 degree mark. The roasting temperatures are making it harder for the authorities to bring a number of raging bushfires under control.
In Brazil, massive mudslides triggered by torrential rain in Rio de Janeiro state engulfed homes, claiming at least 50 lives and leaving nearly 2,000 people homeless. Over 30 people were still missing, rescue authorities said. The area around the former imperial capital of Petropolis, about 50 miles from Rio de Janeiro, was worst hit in the landslides after torrential rains struck for 16 hours earlier in the week.
In Saudi Arabia, thousands of people filled the country's Mosques to pray for rain, as the imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque blamed the drought on sin and corruption. Saudis have twice already offered up rain prayers this year, but with little apparent success. Most northern and central regions have remained dry and southwest areas of the kingdom have had only little rain.
A month ago Buffalo, New York had its first ever snowless November. By some strange twist of fate, the following month of December turns out to be the city's snowiest month ever, as Buffalo becomes buried in a record seven feet of snow.
Buffalo has seen a striking trend towards periods of heavy snowfall. Here's a list of the top 10 snowfalls in inches during a 24-hour period in Buffalo since 1890:
1. 37.9, Dec. 9, 1995
2. 29.8, Dec. 27, 2001
3. 25.3, Jan. 10, 1982
4. 25.2, Dec. 24, 2001
5. 24.9, Nov. 20, 2000
6. 24.3, Dec. 15, 1945
7. 20.1, Nov. 30, 1979
8. 19.9, Nov. 28, 1955
9. 19.4, Feb. 27, 1984
10. 19.0, Nov. 30, 1976
The spate of extreme weather across the globe comes as many scientists warn that populations will have to get used to increasing incidences of drought, searing heat, icy cold, and flooding, which they blame on the "greenhouse-effect."
The implied term "global warming" is sort of an over simplification of what will actually happen with the climate. The increase in global temperatures can actually make some regions colder. The earth's weather is a finely tuned piece of machinery. The smallest change in one area can result in a sweeping alteration in some other weather component.
The burning of fossil fuel is obviously the cause of the greenhouse-effect. It is interesting how it fits so well into the end times scenario. One has to wonder if God perfectly timed the climatic changes to match his plan for judgment. I think the answer is self-apparent.
An Update on Dr. Richard EbyBack in the early 80s I came across a book by Richard Eby entitled "Didn't You Read My Book." In 1972, Eby says he fell off a balcony in Chicago and hit his head causing a near-death experience. His journey into the after-life included an extensive conversation with Jesus.
In his book, Eby states that the Lord Jesus promised him he would not die before the rapture takes place. By making that statement he provides us with two possibilities. If Eby continues to live, we have a potential indication of the nearness of the rapture by his advanced age. If Eby should pass on, his whole story of the after-life would be put into great doubt.
When I first read his book, Dr. Eby was around 70-years-old. Throughout the 80s and 90s I occasional heard reports that he was still kicking. This past week a reader sent me an email that indicated the doctor was still with us as of about two months ago. Here's a portion of the letter:
Decades ago Dr. Richard Eby had a clinical death experience when the Lord took him to heaven and showed him marvelous things beyond description. Then the Lord sent Eby back and told him to preach the gospel, and that he would not die before the rapture.At that time, Eby was relatively a young man. He is now about age 90, and in rapidly failing health. Because of his experience, many have been watching his health as a signpost for the rapture. It is now revealed that this is what the Lord intended.
I am acquainted with two people who know Dr. Eby personally and see him often. It has been reported to me several times that Eby cannot have much longer to live. His heart stopped beating 2-3 times this past July. He is in a wheelchair and cannot care for himself. Lately, he has lost mental functioning and has not even recognized his wife.
Yesterday Rev. Ron Patterson left a message on my answering service at home and I was able to speak to him last night. Ron has been a close friend of Dr. Eby for many years. In fact, Eby flies Ron from Kentucky to California once a month to preach at his church.
Ron reports that he was at Dr. Eby's church this past Saturday and Eby was rolled in, in a wheel chair. He seemed greatly improved mentally, but physically just as bad. Ron reports that it was a greatly anointed service, one of the greatest he has ever seen. After the service, Dr. Eby grabbed Ron by the arm and said he had something important he had to tell him.
With great emotion, Dr. Eby shared that the Lord had visited him again that week, on about Tuesday or Wednesday, as Ron remembers. That would have made it October 30 or 31. Eby said, "I want to tell you because I know you will believe me." Eby said that he revealed several things to him:
1. The Lord affirmed what he previously told Eby, that he will not die before the rapture.
2. The Lord said he had not healed him because people all over the world know about his testimony and are watching, and the Lord wanted Eby's condition to clearly reveal to the world how close the rapture is.
3. The Lord told him, "It is too late now for your message. Your testimony is losing its effect. Your battle is all but over. I am ready to come."
4. The Lord ominously told him that things are closing so rapidly that the only message now to the people of the world is "repent or perish."
In the message Eby went on to speculate about something major happening about 20 November. To my knowledge nothing unusual transpired on that date.
I've grown to be very skeptical of people that claim to have visions and supernatural experiences. Time and time again they've proven themselves to be in error when one of their predictions fails to come to pass.
I truly wish Dr. Eby is correct in his claim that Jesus has promised he would live to see the rapture. His poor state of health would obviously imply the rapture is very near.
Dec 24The Mark Of The Beast
Soon after posting last week's update my email inbox became flooded with a number of news articles that heralded the newly announced chip implant produced by our friends at Applied Digital Solutions, Inc.
ADS has begun marketing its implantable VeriChip in South America and Europe, initially as a means to convey information about medical devices to doctors who need a quick way to find out how and where patients with pacemakers, artificial joints and other surgically implanted devices have been treated.
When activated by a radio scanner, the chip would emit a radio signal of its own from under the skin that would transmit stored data to a nearby Internet-equipped computer or via the telephone, the company said.
The chip itself can be implanted in a doctor's office with a local anesthesia and the site of the injection could be closed without stitches, it said. But the company already has its sights on more ambitious applications for the chips, which are currently capable of carrying the equivalent of about 6 lines of text. Future versions could emit a tracking beacon or serve as a form of personal identification, an executive said.
We clearly have the technology required to implement the Mark of the Beast financial system described in Revelation. The only thing lacking is the political will to make it a requirement for everyone to receive this type of implant.
In the aftermath of Sept 11, opposition to a national ID card has been rapidly melting away. In one recent poll, almost 3 of 4 people said they support a national ID card. About 70 percent of those folks polled by the Pew Research Center said they favor a system that would require people to show a card to authorities who request it.
A recent meeting at the UN discussed the idea of having all citizens of earth issued ID cards and registered in a common data base. This was the first time I recall hearing a major international organization openly discussing such an idea.
India and Pakistan in Nuclear Face OffIn the aftermath of a suicide raid on India's parliament build, there has been a number of steps taken that has moved both India and Pakistan closer to the brink of war.
India has said the Dec 13 operation was planned by Pakistan's intelligence agency and carried out by five Pakistanis. Indian officials point to evidence that two Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatist groups -- the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed -- were involved in the suicide raid on parliament that killed 14 people including five gunmen.
I've often wondered what would happen if two nuclear armed nations went to war with each other. As more countries join the nuclear club, the possibility of a nuclear confrontation will only grow.
During the Cold War, we had the USSR and the US locked in a face off. There were a few times when both the Soviet and the American military forces came close to a nuclear conflict, but a healthily respect for each side's capabilities maintained the peace.
I find the India and Pakistan situation far more dangerous than the Cold War era. These two nation seem to be operating under the assumption that the other side would never be foolish enough to launch a nuclear strike. This mindset allow them to fight a limited war in 1999 over the Kashmir region.
This past week they both have done a lot of saber rattling, redeploying their troops closer to their common border. There has been some small arms exchange between the two opposing sides. All it would take at this point is one small error to trigger a chain of unforeseen events.
It is doubtful India or Pakistan will suddenly decide to get the drop on its neighbor by launching a first strike. Any mistake will likely be caused by one of them erroneously believing the other side is attacking them. In 1980s a 46-cent computer chip caused the NORAD headquarters to mistakenly believe that they were under attack by Soviet missiles. Some 100 U.S. B-52s were readied for take-off before the mistake was discovered.
Merry Christmas And Have A Happy HookerEvery now and then I find a news story that acts to perfectly highlight the ongoing moral slide we are seeing on a global scale. This week I ran across a story from Australia the describe how businesses were rewarding their workers with free trips to brothels:
Sex romps are being given out as Christmas bonuses by some of Australia's biggest retailers. Sales staff are increasingly being offered sex parties at brothels instead of cash.
One brothel madam told BBC News Online she was struggling to keep up with demand from corporate customers. "December is our busiest month," said Mary-Anne Kenworth, who runs a business in Perth, Western Australia.
"We increase our turnover by at least 25% during the festive season." She said it was no different to buying someone a box of chocolates. The practice of providing sex for salesmen has caused some dismay among family groups and politicians.
"It's an extremely popular way of paying bonuses," he said. "Even politicians have been known to take friends to a brothel." There are 900 legal brothels in Australia. Industry watchers estimate there are 12 million visits per year - or two for every Aussie male.
"Welcome to the 21st century," said Mr Swab. "Commercial sex is a reality. "It's no different from buying a car or a meal." On the side It is lucrative too. Brothels, which are legal in most Australian states and territories, generate more than $500 million every year.
A company sending four clients to a brothel would expect to pay around $987 for a spa, massage, sex and a complimentary drink or, according to Robbie Swan, "a nice cup of coffee."
Offering the services of call girls or strippers are clearly not the sort of behavior most companies will openly admit to. One salesman, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told the BBC these sleazy incentives were made available to staff and customers "on a regular basis, especially at Christmas."
Brothel madam Mary-Anne Kenworth said it was just a way for businesses to remember the people who have made them money. "It is a time to reward people either with a card or one of our girls," she said.
Ray Regan, the President of the National Tax and Accountants' Association, said providing staff with something more than a card at Christmas could be very cost effective.
"Most employers who provide free visits to brothels will be surprised to learn that they will be entitled to a tax deduction for these gifts," he said. "We expect that family and church groups will be outraged that firms who provide these incentives will be given various tax benefits."
Dec 17The Thief Is Getting Ready
Last week I journeyed to Dallas, Texas to attend this year's Pre-Trib Study Group. I met up with several of the regulars that attend the conference each year. Because the PTSG draws the older scholarly types, I normally don't meet too many internet folks at this meeting. I did manage to run into Mailman Dan from the RR board, and John Richards from the website Millennium Weekend.
I just added a new Photorama link that has four pages of pictures I took at the gathering. I've about given up on my digital camera. I've found disposable cameras to be 10 times better at taking pictures in low light. Here is a direct link: The Pre-Trib Study Group.
Every time I go to the conference I'll poll the other members on a given topic. Last year I was asking people what their plans were for an internet outreach - not much was the common reply. This time around I was focused on the general popularity of prophecy.
I don't recall encountering one person that didn't believe prophetic awareness was in decline. It's hard to believe the same year you have the most deadly terrorist attack in history, open threats of nuclear and biological warfare, Israel in a state of armed conflict, and the Roman Empire rapidly reforming itself that you would have the same level of prophetic interest you had during much quieter years.
After Sept 11th, there was a big surge in the number of people attending church services and buying prophecy material, however, as quickly as the interest arose, it dissipated.
I think Arno Froese of Midnight Call Ministries summed up the current situation the best when he told me the following bit of information. He said, "In 1974 when we advertised our Midnight Call magazine in one major publication, we would get 100s of responses. My son and I would spend hours processing the incoming mail. Today if I run the same ad in that same publication, I'm lucky to get two responses."
I think what is changed in these 27 years is that we are now so constantly exposed to prophecy related events, over familiarity has caused us to view them as being everyday occurrences. I'm always amazed at my own personal muted reaction to things I know directly relates to the end times. I firmly believe this lack of awareness fits perfectly in with Bible passages that indicate the rapture will be a surprise event.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Mat 24:42-44)
United State Of Europe On The Fast Track
Prophetic movement often takes place in giants steps. This weekend I found this to be very much the case concerning the drive to reunify the Roman Empire. In the space of a single day the European Union has implemented sweeping changes that would have previously taken years.
On Saturday the euro became a reality for the citizens of the EU. Ireland, the Netherlands, and France became the first nations to make currency starter kits available to the public. The new currency will be available in the other nine euro countries in the next few days as well. Citizens of the euro zone officially cannot spend euros until January the 1st.
On that same fateful day European Union leaders agreed to launch a constitutional convention on the bloc's future and appointed veteran former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing to head the unprecedented body.
The leaders adopted a declaration on the Future of Europe which points the way ahead for the cumbersome 15-nation bloc as it prepares to admit around a dozen new members, mostly from central and eastern Europe, in the next few years.
To prevent the EU from becoming unwieldy when it nearly doubles its membership beginning in 2004, the leaders set guidelines for a convention that will gather next year to reform the union's administrative rules and define it - either as a tight-knit organization with strong central power or a limited, looser grouping.
The most amazing outcome of the meeting had to have been the proposal to set a clear course for a directly-elected president. This will obviously be a significant step towards a European superstate.
I have to wonder when they talk about electing a President if that isn't where the Antichrist comes in. I keep looking for the number ten. In Revelation 17 it talks about a group of "ten kings" that will rule at the same time the Antichrist comes to power.
If the EU soon grows to 28 nations, you create a problem where you have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Having 10 central leaders would be good way resolve the problem of surplus leadership. Something tells me the Church will not be around long enough to see those 10 kings.
"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." (Rev 17:12-13)
Hey, Let's Nuke IsraelAli Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran's most influential ruling clerics, called on the Muslim states to use nuclear weapons against Israel.
Rafsanjani, speaking at the weekly Muslim prayers in Tehran, said that because Israel does not have enough soldiers to defend itself, Western powers had "provided her with unconventional arms of mass destruction, chemical and nuclear."
"The use of an atomic bomb against Israel would totally destroy Israel, while (the same) against the Islamic world would only cause damage. Such a scenario is not inconceivable," he said.
Rafsanjani, who heads Iran's powerful Expediency Council, said that "if the Islamic world armed itself with the same arms, then that equilibrium would be broken".
He was speaking at Tehran University, where tens of thousands of demonstrators converged in a march of solidarity with the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. President Mohammed Khatami, as well as a number of cabinet ministers, MPs and other leading figures, participated in the march.
The Bible clearly indicates Israel's Arab neighbors will someday attack Israel. I've often wondered why they would do this while fully knowing the Jewish state has around 200 nuclear warheads to counter any Arab attack. I now see it is possible for Israel's enemies to think they can use their own nuclear weapons to completely wipeout Israel.
I'm sure the Israeli leadership fully realizes it would only take a few atomic bombs to neutralize Israel's military. Of course, this creates a dangerous scenario where the first side to push the button is the one that wins any potential nuclear conflict.
Dec 10
Heat Wave
This past month we have had several indications that the earth is continuing to experience a warming trend. It was very warm east of the Mississippi. Temperatures over the last month have often been 25 degrees above normal.
This past Wednesday we had a December heat wave, with the National Weather Service reporting 30 cities from Wisconsin to Maine setting record highs. On that morning of Wednesday the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul hit a remarkable record of 59 degrees at 7 a.m., and the temperature kept rising, pushing the record high into the 60s. For its part Buffalo, New York had its first ever snowless November.
In some places, the warmth has tricked plants into blooming, and they probably won't open their flowers in the spring because their buds are breaking the normal dormancy pattern.
If the earth's climate is warming, the greenhouse effect is the most likely cause. We are dumping billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and scientists are finding greater indications that the warming result of CO2 will have more pronounce impact than what they first thought.
It's nice to have temperatures in the 50s, 60s and 70s for regions that normally should have December temps in the 20s 30s and 40s. I'm sure the golfers don't mind the spring like weather. The trouble comes when summer returns and we experience temperatures that go beyond the comfort range.
The two greatest dangers of a warming of the planet are drought and coastal flooding brought on by the melting of the polar ice caps. We now know the changes may not transpire over a slow period of decades. New data from the past few years seems to indicate weather related changes can occur abruptly.
Since the 1980s, we've been watching huge chunks of the Antarctic ice field breakaway from the main ice sheet that covers the South Pole. For all a long time researchers believed the melting of the ice fields would be a process that would continue at a stead. Many of them now believe the removal of the supporting sea ice could trigger a sudden massive collapse of the continental ice.
Weather in the US is also subject to seeing rapid short term change. There are many factors that guide the direction of the jet stream - the engine that drives our weather. A Small change in one area could tip the balance, causing a permanent modification to the whole climate.
I find it very interesting how global warming has so far fits into the end times. Right now the world unity movement is using the problem as one of their strongest selling points. If we start seeing more pronounced changes of the negative kind, we will likely hear more cries for world unity.
Anti-Semitism Alive And Well On Arab TV
The prototype of modern anti-Semitism, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, is alive and well in the Arab media. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports that several Arab television stations, including those in Egypt, are broadcasting a special series on the "evidence" of a Jewish conspiracy to rule the world.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion fraud originated in Russia 90 years ago, and the tract has been repeatedly been proven to be a falsehood. A Russian court in 1993 ruled it to be an "ANTI-SEMITIC FORGERY."
While "Protocols" is still widely sold in the Arab world, this is the first television series on the subject purporting to show how the Jews and Israel act today to enact the strategy described in the work. The 30-part series, entitled "Horseman Without a Horse," is a huge undertaking starring over 400 Arab actors, including prominent ones, from Egypt, Syria and France. MEMRI reports that the series was produced by Arab Radio and Television, which broadcasts to the Middle East, North America, Latin America, Australia and Africa.
An Egyptian weekly, Ruz al-Yusuf, lauded the series for "courageously tackling the 24 Protocols of the Elders of Zion, revealing them and clarifying that they are the central line that still, to this very day, dominates Israel's policy, political aspirations, and racism..."
The book contains 24 aspects of an alleged Jewish plot to take over the world, and the TV series states that "19 of the 24 protocols [have already] been put into practice" - and then proceeds to give examples. For instance, the presidency of Bill Clinton is alleged to be the application of a Jewish plot to "choose someone corrupt [for the presidency of the superpower] and when he resists us - we will expose him." Other alleged Jewish "protocols" such as 'Feed a dog, [but] not a Muslim or a Christian' and 'Kill a Muslim or a Christian and take his house as your house and his lands as your lands' are also highlighted.
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