Latest Bible Prophecy Commentary
Third US aircraft carrier joins growing armada off Iranian coast; Eurozone could pull down rest of the world including the US
We are now, I fear, in the early stages of a third depression. It will probably look more like the Long Depression than the much more severe Great Depression. But the cost — to the world economy and, above all, to the millions of lives blighted by the absence of jobs — will nonetheless be immense (New York Times).
I do not believe the Bible supports a depression, at least, not now. The Bible clearly defines a time of global hyperinflation, but that won't take effect until after the third seal judgment (during the tribulation period) is broken as described in Revelation 6:5-6. Jesus described the lifestyle of those who would go through the great tribulation period, that they would be living normal lifestyles up until the judgment of God came upon them. It would come suddenly, without warning, and continue up until the appearing of the Lord at the end of the tribulation period.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape (I Thessalonians 5:2-3).
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:37-39).
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (Luke 17:28-30).
These three passages paint a picture of peace and normal living up until the sudden destruction that will come upon the earth as described in Revelation, starting with chapter six. Even though the rapture will have taken place sometime earlier, the world seems to have recovered from this historic event soon after the tribulation period begins. But that shouldn't be a surprise. When the tribulation period does begin, it will start with the rise of the Antichrist. One of the attributes that the Antichrist will possess will be his ability to succeed at commerce and bring prosperity to the world:
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 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: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand (Daniel 8:24-25).
So where is this recent European financial crisis heading? And will it take the US and the rest of the world down with it?
If you have been keeping up with developments coming out of the G8 and G20 summits, you know that US President Barack Obama has made it clear that the United States does not have to be the lead nation that takes the world out of this financial crisis. In fact, he said the US didn't even have to play a leadership role, essentially surrendering it to whatever nation would eventually come forward.
It is my opinion that President Obama is doing his best to relinquish the US of its title as the world political, financial, and military superpower. If this is the case, the world looks to be ripe for a new superpower leader to step forward. Right now, all eyes are on the European Union to see how they intend on bringing the Eurozone out of a possible collapse. If that were to happen, the US and the rest of the world would likely be sucked back into another recession, and possibly, a depression. However, if I am reading the above scriptures correctly, it sounds like the world will be living a normal and financially sound lifestyle up until sudden destruction strikes sometime around the middle of the tribulation period. It's very possible that the rise of the Antichrist may play a major role in turning the Eurozone around, therefore, bringing the world out of a double-dip recession.
In other news:
Amitai Etzioni, professor of International Relations at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., believes the only option available to contain Iran's atomic ambitions is a series of assaults on its non-nuclear facilities. He maintains that President Obama's attempts at dialogue have failed, and drastic steps must be taken to prevent the U.S. losing its Middle East dominance to Tehran.
What’s happening in the Middle East is that the countries are assuming that the U.S. is going to fold and retreat. It’s obviously going to get out of Iraq. The Pakistanis are very suspicious of the US commitments. Syria is moving toward Iran, Turkey is moving toward Iran. So the underlying text in the Middle East is that the next superpower in the Middle East is Iran. So even if you for a moment put aside the nuclear issue – to keep the U.S. credibility to protects its resources and oil, the issue will not be settled in Afghanistan and Iraq, it will finally come down to the confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. So maybe the U.S. should get out of Afghanistan, because it’s not the real war anymore. But if the U.S. is going to let Iran to become a nuclear power – all the other countries, including the Sunni ones, will run to it. The U.S. will have to confront Iran or give up the Middle East”(Haaretz.com).
Mr. Etzioni might get his wish. According to sources, a third US aircraft carrier with 4,000 military personnel and accompanying amphibious assault ships have joined a growing armada just off the Iranian coast (Debkafile).
Although it would be a wise decision, I don't see Israel or the US staging an attack against Iran's nuclear facilities. They are definitely at a pivotal crossroad, but in the end, I don't believe President Obama will give the order.
Certainly, these are all possibilities, but the real scenario won't completely unfold until after the rapture of the church takes place.
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, your time is running
out!
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
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