Signs of the Times: EU vs USA

This week there was some incredible news which left many doubters and the unaware with their collective jaws on the floor.  It was the reported news that Growth across EU creeps up to 0.8 per cent.  

The strong eurozone performance was powered by Germany which saw growth of 1.5 per cent in the quarter, well above market forecasts.

The EU27 grew by 2.5 per cent. On the annual figures, Estonia came out on top, with growth of 8 per cent. Lithuania achieved growth of 6.8 per cent and Finland 5.2 per cent. The Greek economy contracted 4.8 per cent and the Portuguese economy 0.7 per cent over the year. 

The only country where GDP fell back in the first quarter was Portugal, which suffered negative growth of 0.7 per cent....Greece managed growth of 0.8 per cent.

NOW it is being suggested that Germany is on the brink of 'golden decade' as country's exports surge to record high.

Germany – the world’s second largest exporter behind China – also imported a record €79.4 billion (£70 billion) of goods from overseas as the economy powered ahead.

The Berlin government expects economic growth of 2.6 per cent this year after a stunning 3.6 per cent expansion in 2010.

Overall, Europe to get out of crisis stronger then when it entered into it.

Contrast this with what is going on in the US at the moment:

In the home market (the largest investment for the average citizen)

• National Home Prices Double Dip
• U.S. ‘Underwater’ Homeowners Increase to 28 Percent
• Housing crash is getting worse

As the strength of the dollar goes down, it is inevitable that the cost of living will go up.  We will no longer be able to enjoy the lifestyle we once did.

• Dollar tumbles to 3-yr low
• Rival Currencies Take Aim at Dollar's Dominance
• Wholesale prices rise due to costlier gas and food

Are we now starting to see the vestiges of what is going to happen.  This IS NOT a surprise, nor should it be...yet it is for too many.

To avoid being blindsided and to find out what we can do about it, read:

The Fall and Rise of Britain and AmericaEurope in Prophecy - The Unfolding of End-Time Events

To Lie or Not to Lie

In an article about an Associated Press-Ipsos poll, just over half of those who took the survey said lying was never justified, YET in the same exact poll nearly two-thirds said it was OK to lie in particular situations.  One “noted ethicist” even proclaimed that he was a proponent of lying and we have a moral obligation to lie.

The most dumbfounding aspect of this was that most would say that lying was necessary at the most ludicrous of times:  when asked about their age; whether they were very sick; how someone looked in a dress; etc.

Hopefully we can see how ridiculous this is, and these things would not be an issue for us.  But, what about the tougher predicaments? What if we were faced with something of a more dire nature?  Is it OK for us to lie to save someone’s life or in order to spare our own?

This is where some are more likely to go off the rail.  The short answer is no.  We do not have the prerogative to decide when we can lie.  The Bible does not say that it is OK to lie if a situation warrants it in our mind.  To believe that the Great God did not conceive of the dilemmas that we would face when He asked us not to lie is to discount God and to lack faith in Him.

It is a necessity to worship God in truth (John 4:24), and if we lie, it should go without saying that this is not of the truth (1 John 2:21). If we consider ourselves to be followers of what God instructs us in His Word, the Bible, we cannot lie to anyone, at any time, about anything (Colossians 3:9).

If we are of God, then we will keep His Word, the Truth.  If we believe that we have to lie, then we follow the originator of lying, the devil (John 8:44, 47). If we love and believe God and His Word, then we can rest assured that all will work out for good (Romans 8:28).

Signs of the Times: Earthquakes

The reason so many have focussed on tremors as a sign from God and of the end-times comes from Christ's words as recorded in Matthew and Luke:

Matthew 24:3, 7  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" ...there will be...earthquakes in various places. 

Luke 21:11  And there will be great earthquakes in various places....

There is no doubt that times are progressing towards the end, but are we getting to the point of the VERY end?

In looking at the data from the USGS site on Magnitude 8 and Greater Earthquakes Since 1900 it was very apparent when I first tried to plot the seisms on a graph spanning 100 years.  But when I graphed the moving average time between the last 10 quakes, here is what became apparent:

It would seem that the years represented here (1902-2011) would be the most accurate we have access to.  In it we see that the average time between events came down to about 300 days twice in the last century (1923 and 1946). But recently the mean has blown through the 300 day "line of resistance" to bottom out at a 189 day average between major earthquakes before rebounding just a bit.  Will it continue it's downward slope or rebound as it had done in the past -- time will tell.

To me, and for what it's worth, the frequency of earthquakes is going up considerably!  Is this it - the end?  No one can say for sure if we are in the very end, but we definitely need to continue to watch and pray (Luke 21:36) and discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3).

How Did We React?

The big news of the past week has been the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.  Many different stories of what exactly happened have surfaced.

Now, I am not here to debate whether he is dead or not; or how he may or may not have died; nor even the ramifications of his death which may be considerable.  Rather, I want to address the reactions of many of those in the US and around the world to his demise.

I was struck, and even a little taken back by the unadulterated joy and happiness of many that bin Laden was murdered.  Of course I understand the evil that the organization he formed, al-Qaeda, wrought on the world, not only with 9/11 but many other heinous terrorist acts that have caused untold suffering and anguish.

For those affected by Osama bin Laden here is the hard thing God asks of us in Proverbs 24:17-18, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him...."

Vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19) in His time, in His way and for His purpose.  It is not up to us to take matters into our own hands, but rather we are to work and pray that we live according to His Will.

What God wants and accordingly what we should also want is for "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).  God would rather that everyone would repent and turn away from their evil ways and turn towards Him.  Is this what we want for EVERYONE as well?

Signs of the Times: The coming beast power sets up shop in the home of the false prophet!

Germany sets up in Rome | The Economist: 

"But last week the EU quietly decided to set up a military headquarters in Rome to run a possible humanitarian mission (even though NATO has also done contingency planning for such an eventuality). For now, say senior European officials, this is just a precautionary step, to be ready to act quickly should it be needed."

Even though the EU Council adopted this for seemingly altruistic reasons, it is interesting to note that the coming beast power (German led core nations of the EU), set up in Rome, the seat of the False Prophet.  From scripture we know that the False Prophet will influence (ride) the Beast power (Revelation 17:3-4).  It will not be long before see the prophesied collusion of these two entities.

BOOKLETS:  

• The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation
• The Book of Zechariah -- Prophecies for Today!
• Europe In Prophecy: The Unfolding of End-Time Events

Osama bin Laden Dead - Now What?

After unimaginable time, money and resources spent, the number one most wanted man in America and perhaps the world has been killed.  Have we chopped off the head of the snake...or the hydra?

It would be naive to think that bin Laden will not be immediately replaced by one or more other equally mad men - that is if he was more than an impotent al-Qaeda head any way.  That being said, this organization does not need more of an excuse to attack than they already have.

It is interesting to note that no sooner than this had been done than the words REVENGE, RETALIATION, and  REPRISAL were being bandied about.  Of course, this why we got in this "war on terror" in the first place.  In SPIEGEL ONLINE they state, 

"But according to the old American understanding of guilt and punishment, justice has been done: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."  But has it and is this the best way?

Some of the first things that we have heard is that by Capturing bin Laden 'would unleash hell': 

"The mastermind of the 9/11 attacks warned that al-Qaeda has hidden a nuclear bomb in Europe which will unleash a 'nuclear hellstorm' if Osama bin Laden is captured, leaked files revealed.

The terror group also planned to make a 9/11 style attack on London's Heathrow airport by crashing a hijacked airliner into one of the terminals, the files showed.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told Guantanamo Bay interrogators the terror group would detonate the nuclear device if the al-Qaeda chief was captured or killed, according to the classified files released by the WikiLeaks website."

This is not a special case it is currently happening in the ill advised incursions in Libya:

Backlash at killing of Gaddafi's son: "As mobs launched revenge attacks on international targets in the capital, the UN airlifted its international staff out of the Libyan capital and the British and Italian missions were left in flames. Britain expelled Libya's ambassador in London in response to the burning of its embassy, which was closed in February. UN officials confirmed that its Tripoli office was also ransacked and Italy said a number of other foreign missions had been attacked."

Where does it end?  After an eye for an eye, is it an eye for an eye for an eye?  Perhaps this has been going on so long that it would explain why so many are blind to the truth.


The Old Testament injunction of an eye for an eye has been misunderstood for too long even though this should have been cleared up by Christ in Matthew 5:38-39:

"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

Revenge, recompense and repayment is for God to dole out in accordance with His plan and as He sees fit!

Romans 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

Many believe this is naive, but that is why man is man and God is God.

Q&A:  An Eye for an Eye