October 21, 2005

President Bush: Palestinians Must Have Gaza To West Bank Direct Link
US president Bush placed the onus for progress towards peace squarely on Israel at the joint news conference he held with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas after their White House talks Thursday, Oct. 20

World Is Safer Place Despite People's Fears...
Widespread fears about a world in a perpetual state of war are unfounded, a study says today. It emphasises that the number of conflicts between nations, civil wars, battle deaths, coups and genocides has been falling steeply for more than a decade.

Rumsfeld Concerned About Chinese Nuclear Missile Buildup
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ended his 48-hour visit to China...

Strong Earthquake Shakes Turkey- Fox
The quake was centered in Seferihisar, Turkey, the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory (search) said, but was felt in Istanbul and the Greek islands of Chios and Mytilini near the Turkish coast. Seferihisar is 190 miles south of Istanbul.

Three quakes of similar magnitudes shook Izmir earlier this week.

IDF May Build Palestinian-Only Roads
Senior officers in the Central Command were working on a plan to permanently separate Israeli and Palestinian traffic on main roads across Judea and Samaria, security sources said Wednesday.

Comments
President Bush has made it clear that both Israel and Palestine need to do more to make peace possible after their latest White House talks.  "The US president urged Israel to refrain from changes in Jerusalem and the West Bank including the defense barrier that might prejudice final status negotiations. He said the Palestinians must have a direct Gaza-West Bank link as well as free movement across the West Bank." http://www.debka.com  When asked if he felt a Palestinian state were possible before he left office he stated he believed it would be difficult but more likely after he leaves. 

According to a study, widespread fear over the “world in a perpetual state of war” is not true.  Of course we know that the Bible is clear that in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars, but that would not be a sign of the end (Matthew 24:6).  It has however served as a catalyst (along with the natural disasters) to bring people to the Lord.  Many are concerned about the future of this world like no other time in recent memory.  Is it just a time of trouble that will pass?  I wouldn't count it!  In the end the expert will be wrong.

There's one thing many have overlooked regarding the mood of the time before the end...it will be like any other time.  Yes, this time period will be perilous and the church will be much like the world...seeking pleasure more than God (II Timothy 3:1-7), but there will be a sense of normality.  Matthew 24:37-39 says, "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."

So whether you believe the Day of the Lord starts at the beginning or midway through the tribulation period the Bible is clear that most will be leading a normal carefree lifestyle of partying and pleasure up until the end.  I say this because many today are worried that we are headed for both natural and economic disaster before the tribulation period begins.  Personally, I don't see a major economic downturn coming.  It is possible that things could get worse in the short run, but when the antichrist comes on the scene he will bring about a worldwide economic revival.  Then sudden destruction will come.

What We Should Expect In Bible Prophecy From This Day Forward

You can expect earthquakes and natural disasters to continue to increase with varying death tolls. 

The E.U. has all but fallen off the prophetic map since the collapse of their constitution efforts but they will rise again in due time.  I still believe the E.U. will be the kingdom of the antichrist and he will surface soon.  When I say soon it could be years down the road, but that doesn't mean the rapture couldn't happen today.  

Look for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to seesaw back and forth.  They have some very big problems to overcome before peace can come.  One, Palestinian terrorists will have to be reigned in.  Two, Israel will have to give up all West Bank settlements and eventually East Jerusalem.  And three, a Palestinian state will have to be established with Israel sandwiched in the middle.  Of course, the Jerusalem temple will have to be rebuilt at some point in the future.

At the time, this situation looks very difficult, but satan is the god of this world and he will solve the Middle East crisis with relative ease in God’s timing.  You can bet when it’s time it will happen quickly!

Are you ready to meet the Lord?  If not your time is running out!

Pastor Malone