Catastrophic conditions presage the end of an age

Scriptural prophecies of a time of unparalleled severity have gone unfulfilled for around 2,000 and more years. Deeply troubling world events now require us to face them squarely.

• "Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it, and it is the time of Jacob's [Israel's] trouble..." (Jeremiah 30:7, emphasis added throughout; compare Ezekiel 5, especially verse 9).

• "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time..." (Daniel 12:1).

• "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be... " (Matthew 24:21; see also Mark 13:19).

While we're not there yet, current events should remind us this time is coming. The news of just this past year reflected frightening trends. These disturbing developments should cause us the soberest contemplation. Events like the radical reshaping of Europe, German domination of the European Union (EU), the clash between Western and Islamic civilizations, Islamic hatred of Israel, the Iranian nuclear threat, the rapid rise of China and the continuing decline of American influence demand the deepest introspection.

Above all, we desperately need to keep our heads out of the sand, for we live in a unique time of signs that herald the end of the age (see Matthew 16:2-3; Luke 12:54-56; 21:11, 25). Truly, Christians are duty bound to watch world events in the light of Bible prophecy (see Luke 21:24-36; Mark 13:32-37).

Where are the events of 2012 leading the world? Will the year ahead simply bring a further intensifying of political forces already well in motion?

Cooking Instructions for Answered Prayer

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up” (Galatians 6:9)

If praying was like a baking a loaf of bread, what is the cook time? 10 minutes? 30? The answer: Until it’s done. One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up:

“There was a judge in a certain city,” He said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” (Luke 18:1-5)

God is a good Father, not an unjust judge. How much more will He grant your request! But He really likes persistence. Here is an acronym to remember, PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens. My mom (we call her the “persistent widow”) is proof. She started praying for the failed marriage of my best friend’s parents 20 years ago. Year after year, she just kept praying—telling the wife, “God can repair your marriage.” We thought she was crazy. But 20 years later, Eric and Lisa remarried, with their 4 kids crying tears of joy at the wedding. They both told my mom, “Thank you so much for never giving up praying.”

What amazing story is on the other end of your persistent prayer? Who knows what God will do if you continue to ask! As with baking bread, you’ve got to keep the heat steady until the loaf is done. The “heat” of your prayer is your faith: you keep the oven warm by steadfastly believing God for an answer. The Bible says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). Earnest means “intense, strong, and heartfelt.” That is what God wants from you.

I want to encourage you: Keep your prayer in the oven, a little bit longer. Jesus is telling you today to: “Always pray and never give up.” God sees your desires and hears your prayers—keep praying!

The downside of the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring brought the prospects for democratic development, but also the very real risks of Islamic ascension, political and economic chaos, humanitarian disaster and the persecution of Christians.

The performance of the Islamist party Ennahda in the October 23 Tunisian elections, in which it won 41.5 percent of the seats, raised eyebrows in the West.

Nearly a month and a half later a special report from Cairo to USA Today carried the headline "Muslim Brotherhood Wins in Egyptian Elections" (Dec. 6, 2011). The article drophead stated: "Parties' ambitions to spread Islamic law concern some." In the elections, "the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party topped winners with 37% of the nearly 10 million valid ballots cast for party lists in the first of three electoral rounds for the Egyptian parliament."

For the state of Israel looking around at neighboring enemies, Egypt had been a bright spot. No more. It's hard to imagine anything but a future cooling in Israeli-Egyptian relations. The Syrian-based Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which rules Gaza, is returning to its Brotherhood roots ("Hamas Joins Global Muslim Brotherhood," Ynet News, Dec. 10, 2011). Several reports show that it's even been contemplating moving its headquarters from Syria to Egypt.

Even if the Islamists do not completely dominate the emerging governments in the region, one thing is sure: The Arab world is undergoing seismic and irreversible change. As more and more dictatorial leaders fall (is Syria's Assad next?) and the masses rise up, so do the chances for internal and external conflicts. The deep-seated hostility toward Israel is growing in openness and intensity, making the prospects for peace in the Middle East very dim.

This Element Will Make or Break your Prayers

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1)

Have you ever tried to make bread without yeast? It will not rise. That’s how prayer is without faith. The Bible says, “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). When you come to God, if you do not sincerely believe that God wants to help you, your prayer is going to fall flat, just like bread without yeast.

Take a look at just how powerful Jesus said faith is. “A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of His robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched Me, for I felt healing power go out from Me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched Him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Did you hear what Jesus said? He said her faith made her well. Imagine you had a house filled with beautiful belongings. All those things are yours, but you can only get in with a key. God has amazing things in store for you, and your faith is the key to access them. Jesus said, “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

So how do you get faith? Jesus’ followers asked the same thing. “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’ The Lord answered, ‘If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!’” (Luke 17:5,6). Imagine how small a mustard seed is. I think Jesus is trying to tell you: Even if you just have a little, use the faith you’ve got, and it can do great things. Your faith is like a muscle: the more you use it, the bigger it grows. You just have to start somewhere.

The growing preeminence of Germany

As just noted, many see the latest developments in the European Union as pushing Germany to greater dominance over the other member states.

"'For the first time in the history of the EU, the Germans are now in charge. But they are also more isolated than before [with other nations resentful of German austerity demands],' said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform thinktank. 'The British are certainly more marginal than before. Their influence has never been lower in my lifetime'" (Ian Traynor, "As the Dust Settles, a Cold New Europe With Germany in Charge Will Emerge," Dec. 13, 2011).

Of course, the leaders of the EU are more typically deemed to be Germany and France, with Britain often seen as obstructionist.

For several decades following World War II, Germany appeared content to let France largely assume the reins of leadership, particularly with regard to European Union affairs. But in recent years their partnership has been more equal, and the pendulum now even swings toward the Fatherland.

Philip Stevens, a leading columnist for the Financial Times, wrote: "Germany will have to learn leadership, and France followship...The rules of the European game changed forever with the reunification of Germany. It has taken the euro crisis to spell out the brutal implications" ("Now the Franco-German Question," Dec. 9, 2011).

As was stated in The New York Times, "'The Germans had a strategic insight or advantage to let the crisis get to the threshold within the European Union necessary for France to be willing to hand over the kind of sovereignty the country has always resisted,' said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. 'You could say that the crisis has either been the wake-up call or the tool that Germany has used to beat them into submission'" (Nicholas Kulish, "Euro Crisis Pits Germany and U.S. in Tactical Fight," Dec. 11, 2011).

It could even be said that Germany decided to, in the words of other political leaders, not let a serious crisis go to waste: "'This is the breakthrough to the stability union,' German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. 'We are using the crisis as an opportunity for a renewal'" ("Europe Forges Fiscal Union, Sees Way Out of Crisis," Associated Press, Dec. 9).

Just where are all these confusing events in Europe really headed? Biblical prophecy shows that leaders of 10 nations (or groups of nations) will give power to a ruthless but charismatic dictatorial leader—the Bible referring to him and the empire he rules over as "the beast" ( Revelation 17:12-13). His authority and influence will be global ( Revelation 13:7).

The Right Ingredients for Answered Prayer

“Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine" (Luke 22:42)

God’s Recipe for Answered Prayer God really, really wants to answer your prayers. That’s why the Bible contains a recipe for effective prayer. Imagine baking bread. The result rides on the right balance of water to flour. That’s how it is with prayer. Your desire is the water, and God’s will is the flour. The proper combination creates the perfect recipe for answered prayer.

First Add Water What do you want in life? Helping people, creating art, building a family? God has put inside of you unique desires that will build His kingdom and bring you fulfillment. He wants you to get in touch with them so He can lead you in your purpose. How do you get in touch with your desires? Ask God to show you what He made you for. The Bible promises, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Next Add Flour The second ingredient is God’s will for your life. Here’s an equation to help you figure out what that is: God’s Word=God’s Will. God wrote the Bible so you could know about His plans and desires. The more you read, the more you will know God’s will. You can wake up each morning and learn a little bit more about His will for you that day by reading the Bible. It’s exciting and it will give you peace!

Now Mix Have you ever had mushy bread? Too much water, not enough flour. That’s what happens when you come to God with only your own concerns in mind, and never His. If you’re ever in doubt, add more flour. That’s what Jesus did when He was facing crucifixion. His desire, naturally, was to not be crucified, but He added more flour: “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine" (Luke 22:42).

Let’s Get Cooking God wants to give you a great-tasting loaf of bread. So this week, let’s practice mixing His ingredients: your desires plus His will. But keep in mind: what you want right now may not be quite as good as what God has in store for you. For example, I used to want to be a hairdresser, but then I realized that God had an even better plan. He says to you today, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Ask Him this week to show you your true desires and His will for you. Then start to pray…

The rise of the Chinese dragon

China is pursuing an enormous military buildup on both land and sea.

"There has been much discussion and speculation in recent commentary over China's rapid maritime rise and strategy for dominating large swaths of the Pacific...China's naval buildup will soon give Beijing the means to use military force to back up its expansive territorial claims to essentially the entire Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea" (Robert O'Brien, "Ensuring China's Peaceful Rise," The Diplomat, Nov. 18, 2011).

A Financial Times piece titled "A Show of Force" was summarized in the table of contents in these words: "Beijing's assertive policing of its sphere of influence is fuelling fears of a growing hold over foreign policy of a hawkish and increasingly well-equipped army" (Sept. 29, 2011). A few months earlier, another Financial Times piece addressed increasing military and infrastructural cooperation between China and Pakistan. As the drophead stated, "Concerns are growing about the extent of Beijing's influence on Islamabad" ("China and Pakistan: An Alliance Is Built," June 30, 2011). This development comes at a time when America's influence on Pakistan is sharply declining.

How will these events play out in the end time? The "beast" power and ruler (mentioned earlier in this feature), supported by 10 European nations or groups of nations, is also referred to in Scripture as the "king of the North" (Daniel 11:40). After vanquishing the "king of the South," "news from the east and the north" troubles the king of the North.

Revelation 9:13-16 depicts an eastern army of 200 million people that unleashes great devastation on mankind. Later we read of "the kings [leaders] from the east" crossing the Euphrates River en route to Armageddon (the area of Megiddo) in the land of Israel (Revelation 16:12, 16). The greater part of this massive army may come from the Far East, most likely from China, India and other Asian nations.

These end-time prophecies are all part of the climactic events leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Syria's Assad Threatens to Rain Missiles on Tel Aviv

Bashar al-Assad tightens his grip on his power, threatening attacks on Israel if outside intervention is taken to stop him.

With the death of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, things have gotten terribly uncomfortable for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—and his worry has led to serious threats.

Gaddafi was the latest Middle East dictator to fall in the wave of the Arab Spring. Fighting against his own people helped to bring NATO forces in to support the revolutionaries. Assad, who has violently clamped down on his own nation, fears similar intervention in Syria.

In early October, the Syrian leader threatened to set fire to the Middle East by striking Israel, stating in a meeting with the foreign minister of Turkey, a NATO member, “If a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will need no more than six hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv” (quoted in “Report: Assad Threatens to Attack Tel Aviv in Case of NATO Strike,” Ynet News, Oct. 4, 2011).

He further “stressed that Damascus will also call on Hezbollah in Lebanon to launch a fierce rocket and missile attack on Israel, one that Israeli intelligence could never imagine. ‘All these events will happen in three hours, but in the second three hours, Iran will attack US warships in the Persian Gulf as American and European interests will be targeted simultaneously,’ Assad reportedly said” (ibid.).

According to the intelligence and security news service DEBKA file: “Israel reacted with a warning of its own: If a single Syrian missile explodes in Tel Aviv, Damascus will be first to pay the price, and if the missile offensive persists, one Syrian town after another will be destroyed. The Israeli message to Assad cited the warnings Defense Minister Ehud Barak and other government members addressed in the past year to Hizballah, that if Tel Aviv comes under attack from its missiles, not only Beirut but all of Lebanon would go up in flames. Assad was given to understand that Syria would go the same way as Lebanon if it engaged in missile belligerence against Israel” (“Turkish Military Exercise on Syrian Border. Assad Threatens Tel Aviv if Attacked,” Oct. 4, 2011).

Some see the building tensions as leading up to the fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah 17:1

: “Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1

). The fulfillment of this prophecy is clearly yet future, as Damascus, while it has been overthrown in the past, has never ceased from being a city. (In fact, it’s reputedly the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.)

But the timing and cause of this destruction are not clear. While it could conceivably result from an Israeli retaliatory strike, there are reasons from other prophecies to place the destruction of Damascus in the same context as the judgment on others of Israel’s neighbors during the period of the Day of the Lord, just prior to Christ’s return.

In any case, a massive attack on Tel Aviv would certainly set the Middle East on fire—a fire that could well devastate Damascus and the rest of Syria.

The Perfect Recipe for Answered Prayer

“Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).

What if God really answered your prayers? Close your eyes right now and imagine what that would look like. Many of us don’t pray because we don’t know how or we don’t think God will answer. But not only does God want to answer your prayers, He has given you tips on how to get answers to your prayers. Think of it like your favorite recipe: 2 parts sugar, 1 part flour, etc. The great news is that you have all the ingredients for answered prayer in your heart. Jesus repeatedly taught that what God cares about is the genuineness of your heart, not religious rituals or words. Listen to this story He told to prove it:

Two Very Different Men: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This month, let’s practice cooking with God’s recipe for answered prayer. Just like the tax collector, God isn’t waiting for you to be perfect to answer your prayers; He just wants you to be humble and honest. This is His promise to us: “Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). George from Facebook said, “I battled for several years to stop taking alcohol to no avail, but at the end of this year, I prayed and fasted and the urge for addiction has vanished.” God wants to answer your requests, just like He did for George!

Year of the Lord's Favor

“He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come” (Isaiah 61:2)

Are you broken-hearted, held captive, or depressed? Then this word from God is for you:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory (Isaiah 61:1-3)

2012 can be a year of hope, not of failing. 2011 might have dealt you some blows—it did for the whole world—but God is the God of rebuilding. What is it in your life that needs rebuilding? Maybe it’s a past wound you can’t get over; a relationship that left you on the floor; or a worrisome situation so scary that it keeps you up at night. For me it has been feeling not good enough and worrying about my future. These things are like jailers that keep us captive, locked up from experiencing the vibrant life God has for us.

Imagine Jesus as the hero with the key to let you out of your jail. He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Many of the things you have gone through have been a purposeful attempt to steal from you—rob you of joy, confidence, and love—but Jesus came to restore it all back to you. Where love was stolen from you, He wants to give it back; where depression has held you down, He wants to help you up; and where addictions have kept you in shame, He wants to free you.

You just have to reach up and ask. God said, “If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me” (Jeremiah 29:13). That’s a promise. He doesn’t hide Himself from anyone, and He’s sending this message to you today to give you a glimpse of a better life. So please begin this New Year with hope from God. He has come to set you free.

Let’s take a moment and ask God that:

• 2012 will truly be the Year of the Lord’s Favor
• He would help us look to Him for the great things He has for us
• Global Media Outreach would help bring freedom to the captive this year

Begin the Year of the Lord’s Favor with the rest of the GodLife Community on Facebook We will send you inspiring promises from God, encouragement from other believers, and amazing stories of how God can work in people’s lives. Join by clicking “Like”!