THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY

Any person should be proud to be an American. Certainly there is no spot on earth where freedom is so fully enjoyed as in our own United States. Have you ever wondered why this is true? There is a reason for the rise of democracy in this hemisphere. It is not just a happenstance that America is the freedom capital of the world. Actually, the beast power of Revelation 13 had a lot to do with the rise of America.

You may be asking, “How could the papal power be responsible for the United States of America?” It was because of the persecutions of the beast power in Europe that the United States came into existence. The Pilgrim Fathers, to escape the religious persecutions of the papacy, fled to the New World of America where they could follow their conscience in worship.

Let’s get the picture now from the pages of prophecy in God’s Word. The first ten verses of Revelation 13 describe the papacy in its rise to power. We have already studied this prophecy in detail. Verse 10 closes with the description of the Pope’s capture in 1798: “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Then immediately John saw a second beast in vision that he describes in the next verse. “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” Revelation 13:11. Let us be very careful in identifying this second beast. There are several points that will reveal the identity of this power.

First of all, it is seen “coming up” as the first beast received his deadly wound. Since the first beast (papacy) received its wound in 1798 when General Berthier took the Pope captive, we should look for the second beast to be coming up at that time. This means that around 1798 this power would be rising in the world. Secondly, this second beast would come up “out of the earth.” This is in contrast to the first that rose out of the water. We found in Revelation 17:15 that water symbolizes peoples and nations. The second beast, coming out of the earth, would depict a nation rising in some area of the world where there were no previous civilizations and multitudes. The absence of water denotes a dearth of people.

Thirdly, this nation had two horns like a lamb, and they had no crowns on them, as did the first beast. It came up peacefully, like a lamb, and the absence of crowns reveals that there were no kings at the head. It was not a monarchy, or dictatorship. Everything about this beast indicates a peaceful democracy.

Second Beast Identified

We are now ready to identify this second beast. There can be no doubt as to its identity. There is only one nation in history that meets the description. The United States of America was the only nation “coming up” to power in 1798, as the first beast received its deadly wound. The Constitution had been voted in 1787, and the Bill of Rights adopted in 1791. Also, it was in 1798 that America was first recognized by a world power. Historians record that there was something wonderful and providential about the rise of this country.

In exact fulfillment of the prophecy this nation arose in the New World, where no former civilizations had existed. It came up peacefully, democratically, and established itself upon the two great principles of Protestantism and republicanism. Church and state were to be kept separate. Our forefathers had seen enough of the evils of a church/state government.

Let us read a statement by John Wesley, a marvelous student of the Bible, and the architect of the Methodist Church. Writing in 1754 in his New Testament with Explanatory Notes after applying the first beast of Revelation 13 to the papacy, he said, “Another … beast … But he is not yet come, though he can not be far off; for he is to appear at the end of the forty-two months of the first beast.” Page 427. Please note that Wesley was looking for a nation to be rising within a very short time that would meet the description of the prophecy. Only the United States could have fulfilled his expectation.

It would be good if we could stop right here in our study, but we would not be true to the Scripture if we did not read the rest of the prophecy. Verses 11 and 12 continue: “He had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” In other words, the time would come when the United States would change its peaceful, democratic tone. Under some influence, it would begin to compel worship, “saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:14-17.

A nation speaks through its laws. It may seem incredible to us as we read these things today that the United States would ever be persuaded to enact religious laws, and try to force people to worship a certain way, but prophecy has never failed. She will make an image to the papacy, or develop a system that resembles that power. Church and state will be united enough to enforce religious laws and will thus closely resemble the papal system.

According to the prophecy, America will finally enforce the mark of the beast. What does this mean? What is the mark? Based on God’s Word we have shown it to be the counterfeit Sabbath set up by the beast power. The keeping of Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath is claimed as a mark of allegiance to the Catholic Church by her own priests and leaders. Will the United States, then, seek to enforce the keeping of Sunday? That is exactly what is predicted, and it is also exactly what is shaping up right now in American politics.

No matter how much we might prefer to believe otherwise, our own beloved country will begin to use its influence to compel the keeping of Sunday. Already the groundwork has been laid. Right now, most of the states have such Sunday laws on the books. In some places these religious laws have created economic hardships on Sabbathkeepers. A few large cities have been urged to boycott those who refuse to keep Sunday. The prophecy in Revelation 13:17 indicates that economic sanctions will be applied, “and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.”

National Sunday Law Near

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Sunday laws are not unconstitutional or discriminatory. This opens the way for all the present confused, contradictory local state laws to be replaced by a national law that will standardize the enforcement of Sunday all over America. With the incredible strides being taken toward federal control of individual freedoms, this step to regulate the day of worship will not seem so drastic when it actually does take place.

Mark this well: These developments are already on the horizon. Those who refuse to accept the false day of worship will face fines, boycott, prison and finally, the threat of death. When the Sabbath question is thus made a national issue, people will be forced to accept one side or the other. Every single person will have to make a decision. The mark of the beast will then be placed upon all who choose to disobey the commandment of God to keep the Sabbath day holy. By accepting the mark of allegiance to the papacy (Sunday), they reject the mark that God claims as His sign of authority—the seventh-day Sabbath.

Decision

One might well raise the question, “What does all this have to do with me?” That is an important question, and the answer is even more important. Your eternal salvation hinges upon your decision now. You cannot shrug off the implications of this revelation concerning obedience to the Sabbath commandment. There is no question of convenience or inconvenience. We are dealing with the Ten-Commandment law that was written by God Himself. To break one of those commandments is to commit sin, and no willful sinner will be saved. The keeping of the seventh day Sabbath has been made the test of loyalty and love to God. “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

Rapidly, the world is confederating under the two banners. Time is running out. The great controversy is entering its final stages. While ecumenism draws one block of denominations into a liberal camp, based largely upon disobedience to the Sabbath of God’s holy law, another group is distinguished as those who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. As the test becomes more severe, every individual must choose to obey God or man, to follow the commandments of God or tradition, to keep the true Sabbath or the counterfeit, to receive the seal of God, or the mark of the beast. Now is the time to settle the issue. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.

The Rise of the Asian Dragon

How do China's amazing transformation and increasing global power fit into prophesied end-time events?

During his recent trip to Asia, American President Barack Obama declared, "The fortunes of America and the Asia Pacific have become more closely linked than ever before." He "singled out China as a primary engine for sustaining the world's economic recovery" and welcomed "Beijing's greater role on the world stage" ("In Japan, Obama Stresses Asia's Role in U.S. Economy," Washington Post, Nov. 14, 2009).

China's greater global influence has led many analysts to predict that China will rival the United States as a global superpower by 2020. China's amazing transformation to greater economic, political and military influence over the past three decades is astounding and may have far-reaching effects on how events leading to Christ's return play out.

Transitioning to global power?

The Asian dragon is a symbol of power and strength often used in the West as a national emblem of China. I visited this fascinating country in 1984 as anchor for an ABC affiliate television documentary, A Glimpse of China Today. China was just beginning to emerge economically and politically from its long isolation. At that time, six years had passed since the introduction of market reforms by the Chinese Communist Party. American President Ronald Reagan visited China earlier the same year, being the third consecutive president to do so.

In interviews with street merchants, many of them peasants, it was clear that a new wave of economic reform was taking hold, allowing some entrepreneurs to carve out a new way of life. A small middle class was beginning to emerge as China's access to the outside world began to transform the 5,000-year-old civilization.

The question remained, Could China rise to become a major power? Throughout much of its history China's enormous population, land mass and political influence made it the center of gravity in world affairs unequaled by any other nation in the region.

China's dominance ended after two millennia as a result of the dynasties' gradual weakening, lack of technological innovation and defeat in the Anglo-Chinese (or Opium) Wars of the 19th century. "In fact, China was the largest economy for much of recorded history...In 1820 it still accounted for 30% of world GDP [Gross Domestic Product]" ("A Survey of the World Economy—the Real Great Leap Forward," The Economist, Oct. 2, 2004, p. 5).

The long march from Marxism

Chairman Mao Tse-tung led the Communists to power in 1949 and brought the country into isolationism. After his death in 1976, China chose new leadership with a new formula for strengthening the country for the modern world. Veteran politician Deng Xiaoping became chairman in 1981 and implemented changes that decoupled the economy from politics, allowing a command economy controlled by the government to transform into a market-based economy where free enterprise could take root.

Upon Den Xiaopeng's death in 1997, The Washington Post commented, "Deng had guided the country out of the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, flung open China's doors to the outside world and loosened the grip of central economic planning while insisting that the Communist Party's monopoly on power go unchallenged" ("China's Deng Xiaoping Is Dead at 92," Feb. 20, 1997).

Technological advances and manufacturing skills quickly developed. Politically, however, China remained under the tight control of the Communist Party, as the crushing of the 1989 Tiananmen Square student uprising demonstrated.

In 1995 I hosted a delegation of Chinese officials, including several political leaders from the manufacturing area just outside Shanghai. They toured American manufacturing facilities looking for new ideas and technologies. Over the next decade and a half, hundreds of similar groups traveled the world and used many other means to advance the manufacturing and technological capabilities of the Chinese industrial complex.

In 1996 China launched three nuclear-capable M-9 missiles toward Taiwan, increasing tensions with Taiwan's American ally and reinforcing China's growing military power and nuclear weapons capability. In 2007 China again showed its growing sophistication by launching an antisatellite missile, destroying a satellite in space. They have also launched two- and three-man crews into orbit.

In 1997, after 156 years of British rule, Hong Kong was handed over to Beijing's Communist leaders. They began the tricky task of managing one of the world's most sophisticated modern economies and 6 million people who were immersed in capitalism.

Today, China's growing urbanization, gargantuan global manufacturing operation, technological advancement and major military spending and output position it for growing global influence.
Growing economic influence

"China's population of 1.3 billion makes it the most populous nation on earth with a fifth of the world's people. It is estimated that by 2025, China will have the world's largest middle class" (Foreign Policy, March/April 2008).

China's high growth rate, low labor costs and a huge emerging market have attracted the world's highest levels of direct foreign investment.

"Over the past 20 years, China has made an unprecedented leap from being the world's tenth-biggest economy to becoming number two. Its GDP has increased by an average of almost 10% a year for the past 30 years" (Pam Woodall, The World in 2010, 2009). In 2010 "its exports will reach 10% of world trade" (ibid.). It has $1.5 trillion in reserves, is the largest holder of U.S. government debt and is America's second-largest trading partner.

China's economy will likely grow by 8.3 percent in 2009 and 10.9 percent in 2010, while the world economy will grow by just 3.3 percent in 2010. China's economy could overtake the United States in less than 20 years ("Crisis Speeds BRIC Rise to Power," Reuters, June 2009).

Military power

China has the world's second largest navy and the largest standing armed forces with over 2.25 million troops. They have integrated former Soviet weapons technology with advanced Western manufacturing.

China recently became the world's second biggest military spender behind the United States. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, "China is continuing to acquire both domestic and foreign arms as it seeks to equip its armed forces for conditions of modern 'informationalized' warfare" (Nov. 7, 2009). China employs sophisticated precision weapons, high-tech information and communications technology. While global arms spending rose 4 percent in 2008, China's grew by 10 percent to an estimated $84.9 billion.

The Center for Security Studies (CSS) reported, "According to official sources, defense spending has increased by an inflation-adjusted 300 percent over the past decade" ("The Rise of China: Regional and Global Power Shifts," CSS Analyses in Security Policy, February 2007).

Christopher Foss, editor of Jane's Armour and Artillery, was recently quoted in London's Telegraph: "China is a highly manoeuverable force able to operate anywhere as good if not better than Western armies" ("China Aims for Military Might," Sept. 28. 2009). By 2015 China will likely possess six Jin-class submarines with the capacity "of firing the JL2 ballistic nuclear missile that could threaten both the western and eastern American seaboards" (ibid., emphasis added). The Economist reports that China "has a few dozen land-based nuclear missiles capable of hitting some or all parts of America" ("Overkill," Oct. 22, 2009).

International influence

China's need for fuel and other natural resources has increased its interest in creating international relationships. It is the world's second largest consumer of oil (following America), with proven oil reserves of about half that of the United States ("BP Statistical Review of World Energy," June 2009).

China began importing oil in 1993 and "by 2025, imports will account for 75 percent of China's oil consumption" (China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, October 2007). "In 15 years, China is expected to surpass the US as the world's largest spender on oil and natural gas" ("ExxonMobil to Boost Mainland Sales," China Daily, Nov. 12, 2009).

The largest source of China's oil is the Middle East, providing about half of its needs (U.S. Government Energy Information Administration, July 2009). This growing dependency has led to investing in energy in several countries in the region including Sudan, Iran and Syria. It is a favored trading partner and established the China-Arab Cooperation Forum to build closer relationships. It negotiates with the Gulf Cooperation Council members. Its recent energy deal with Tehran for $100 billion was harshly criticized by the United States (CSS Analyses in Security Policy).

What happens in China today is critical to the future of our world. China's amazing economic, political and military transformation over the past three decades is astounding and will likely have far-reaching effects on the end-time events leading to Christ's return.

End-time events

The Bible reveals that at the time of the end, during the Great Tribulation, the world will be dominated by a commercial, political and military union of 10 kings that combine power with the "beast" for a short period of time (Revelation 17:12-14).

The prophet Daniel refers to this power as the king of the North (Daniel 11:40). He will sweep down with major military force, occupying Jerusalem and much of the Middle East in response to aggressive actions by the king of the South (verses 40-43). "But news from the east and the north [of Jerusalem] shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many" (verse 44, emphasis added throughout).

Revelation 9:13-19 reveals that a massive 200-million-man army will arise from the region east of the Euphrates River. They are prepared for battle and ride on what the author John describes as horses with heads like lions that spew out fire, smoke and brimstone. "By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed" (verse 18).

This appears to be John's best effort to describe the modern warfare he was seeing in vision. The description given and the massive numbers of deaths may indicate the use of modern weapons of mass destruction (verse 19).

At the time John wrote, the eastern border of the Roman Empire was the Euphrates River, which begins in Turkey and bisects Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The countries involved with the kings of the North and South are located west of this river. From where does this massive army of the East arise?

Currently China is the major power east of Jerusalem. It has the capacity to form the nucleus of a massive army, has the fastest growing economy, spends a large percentage of its annual GDP on the military and possesses nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. In addition, it is creating close ties with other Asian nations as well as many in the Middle East.

It is also possible that a multinational Islamic force from countries along or to the north and east of the Euphrates will join forces. This could include nations like Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. India has the world's second-largest Muslim population, even though most of its citizens are Hindus.

A regional threat could provoke some or all of these nations to come together to fight a common foe. The aggressive military actions of the king of the North could rally them to form a massive counterforce. Even a threat to the Persian Gulf oil supply, upon which many Asian nations rely, could provoke a military response.

These events are followed by a continued buildup of the eastern powers as we see in Revelation 16:12: "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared." Notice more than one king is involved.

This may be a second phase of the overall operation begun earlier at the blowing of the sixth of the "seven trumpets" (Revelation 8:6; 9:13-21). The trumpets are followed by the "seven last plagues" or "seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God" (15:1, 7), the sixth of which includes the drying up the Euphrates (16:12). Each of these bowls of wrath appear to fall quickly one after another as the Great Tribulation comes to a close and armies of the kings of the "whole world" gather at Armageddon (verses 14-16) before they battle the returning Jesus Christ at Jerusalem 55 miles south (19:17-21; Joel 3:9-14).

Restoration: Springtime in Israel

A friend of mine is planning a trip to Israel next spring. I told him it would be a good idea to take out trip insurance. The Middle East is always a volatile place, and you never know when a skirmish could erupt into a war—canceling all tourist travel. What I am reading of late shows trip insurance might be wise.

Iran is getting closer to having a viable nuclear weapon capable of reaching Israel and Western nations. Negotiations to curb Iran's project are proving fruitless. Iran is steadily advancing to the day it will become a nuclear power. This day is coming, probably sooner rather than later.

The nation of Israel knows that when this day arrives, their existence is in grave danger. Iran has threatened to wipe the Jewish state from the face of the earth, and Israel believes Iran means what it says.

The question is, Will Israel take preemptive military action to destroy Iran's nuclear production capacity? The Israeli air force took such action once before when it attacked an Iraqi facility suspected of building a nuclear bomb. The Israelis have shown the will before. Whether they have the sustained ability is another issue.

There is one power that does have the ability to wipe out the Iranian facilities. It is the United States of America. A few days of shock-and-awe bombing like that unleashed on Iraq in 2003 could do the job. Does America have the will to attack Iran? Many suspect it doesn't.

So, if diplomatic talk fails, and it appears it will, then Israel could feel it has no choice but to launch an attack to preserve its existence. The results would be catastrophic. Iran would launch terrorist attacks on Western targets and possibly hinder the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf. The impact on the world economy, still struggling to come out of recession, would be significant.

All this could occur next spring, which is why I told my friend it would be a good idea to take out trip insurance in case his long-awaited journey is called off. It would be nice if we could take out insurance policies to guard against every risk and contingency in our dangerous and complicated world. But we can't. All the reports indicate a dangerous road imminently ahead for the Middle East.

Is there another type of "insurance" we can procure for the dangerous times that lie ahead? Yes, there is, but it is not underwritten by any mortal agency. Jesus Christ indicated that the only available refuge would be provided by understanding what is coming and making sure our lives are aligned with God's way of life.

Luke 19 records Jesus' words as He approached the city of Jerusalem. "Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation'" (verses 41-44).

We can know the things that make for our "peace" in this, our "time of visitation." They are revealed through the teachings of Christ. God can be as near as your next prayer. It is the best form of "insurance" we can take out during our journey in this life.

"Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall"

This historic demand, delivered by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987, came to symbolize the Eastern European revolt against Communist slavery in 1989. Nearly 2 1/2 years after the president's epochal visit, the Berlin Wall collapsed on Nov. 9, 1989. What are the prophetic implications indicated in God's Word?

June 12, 1987, turned out to be a warm spring afternoon in the then divided city of Berlin. The ugly Berlin Wall stood in the background as the articulate speaker delivered his stark public message to the Soviet leader. Armed East German border guards watched from military installations embedded in the wall itself. Crowds on the Eastern side, hoping to hear the president's speech by loudspeaker, were cruelly forced to back away from the Berlin Wall.

In the first part of his speech, Ronald Reagan reviewed previous visits by American presidents, particularly the memorable words of John F. Kennedy, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner), uttered only a few months before his tragic assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. President Kennedy meant that "as a free man," he stood together with West Berliners in their struggle to secure their freedom against Communist aggression. During that speech he predicted that the Berlin Wall would come down.

Some 25 years later, President Reagan delivered his stark demand to the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, "Tear down this wall." The detailed history behind these fateful four words is well worth recounting.

Doing battle over four words

The West German government invited President Reagan to come to Berlin to help celebrate the historic city's 750th anniversary. White House speechwriter Peter Robinson was asked to write a speech for the president about foreign policy. His final draft, including the phrase "tear down this wall," was reviewed by the National Security Council and the State Department. Both of these government bodies strongly disapproved of the four-word phrase.

Evaluations like "needlessly provocative" quickly emerged. One diplomat suggested an alternative phrase: "One day this ugly wall will disappear." Speechwriter Robinson reacted privately with, "One day, perhaps pigs will fly."

This momentous speech, defining President Reagan's general approach to foreign affairs, survived seven different drafts. In fact, the heated battle over these four words continued all the way to Berlin. Kenneth Duberstein, the president's deputy chief of staff, accompanied him in the limousine on the way to the Berlin Wall. During this journey, Ronald Reagan finally said: "So, Ken, I am the president." "Yes, sir," came the reply. "Well, Ken," chuckled Mr. Reagan, "Let's just leave that line in."

The president told an assistant, also on the scene, "The boys at State [the Department] are going to kill me [figuratively], but it's the right thing to do."

Witnesses to history

Several authors and journalists who were witnesses to the historic fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 have recounted their own personal experiences in books, magazine articles and newspaper stories. I was dispatched to the scene by my bureau chief in England, accompanied by my daughter Stephanie acting as translator.

Twenty years later veteran writer Gerhard Marx persuaded me to accompany him to Berlin to cover the anniversary celebrations together. He spent his early youth in Germany during World War II, later immigrating to the United States and becoming an American citizen.

My colleague chose a hotel only a short walk from Checkpoint Charlie, the name given by the Western Allies to the most well-known Berlin crossing point between West and East during the Cold War. The site has become a tourist attraction, complete with a museum.

The Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961 to prevent East German citizens and some from other Warsaw Pact states from escaping to the West. The gates had already reopened slightly when Hungary opened its own border to fleeing Germans beginning in August 1989.

However, perhaps the defining movement that finally culminated in the wall's collapse in November began in the East German city of Leipzig, southwest of Berlin, with weekly prayer meetings in the Nikolai Church—followed by a peaceful march. In mid-October some 70,000 people in Leipzig marched peaceably through the city, unsure of whether the government would suppress these demonstrations. This public demonstration for individual freedoms helped precipitate the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

A celebration of freedom

Some 30 heads of state (mainly from Europe) met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Bellevue Palace on Nov. 9 for a celebration of freedom and then joined the public celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate.

American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also attended. (My colleague and I joined the exuberant crowds making their way to the Brandenburg Gate, where some 1,000 colorful domino stones were lined up to replicate the falling Berlin Wall two decades ago. Earlier young children were assigned to paint these stones in a variety of patterns and symbols.) This convergence of leaders was more European in nature than strictly German.

Somewhat in contrast, next year's 20-year festivities on Oct. 3, 2010, will concentrate on the reunification of West and East into one German state. Although this revolution for liberty really began earlier in the Polish shipyards under the leadership of Lech Walesea of Solidarnosc (Solidarity), the collapse of the Berlin Wall has captured the public imagination, becoming the more lasting symbol of freedom.

The Velvet Revolution, the deliverance of Czechoslovakia (since divided into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic), came later in that November of 1989, clearly an autumn of epochal change in Eastern Europe.

World interest will once again refocus on Germany with the coming reunification anniversary celebrations in October of 2010. Although it is wise to periodically remind ourselves of any major, significant event that has resulted in much improved liberty—and a better economic and political life for many millions—human unity itself does not always result in genuine freedom, lasting prosperity and happiness. History shows that unbridled, lawless "freedom" eventually brings tears and monumental suffering.

Always remember that God is the unseen witness to human events. Even if He decides not to directly intervene before or during any specific occurrence, the Bible shows that His will is the ultimate deciding factor in the outcome of these major geopolitical events. This is one of the most important themes of the book of Daniel.

I didn't hear anyone giving God any credit during these celebrations, though undoubtedly He was accorded thanksgiving in some German churches. Still, it seems few really considered His role in these momentous events. At the very least, He allowed the Berlin Wall to fall. We should never think that He lacks the power to intervene in human affairs.

The Tower of Babel

This ancient tower depicted in the book of Genesis remains an important reminder. The Genesis account simply describes what humanity was up to some 4,000 years ago after rejecting God's guidance. "Come,...let us make a name for ourselves [a dubious motive], lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:4). God's previous instructions to Noah and the human family had been to populate the whole earth—not remain in one location (Genesis 9:1).

But humankind has generally chosen to rebel against the Creator's wishes beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Although the Almighty seems to generally refrain from intervening in human affairs, on this particular occasion He clearly did. He decided to nip this rebellion in the bud by taking an extreme measure—suddenly introducing many languages into the human configuration—thereby ensuring that humanity would carry out His will and scatter over the whole globe (Genesis 11:5-8).

God sees our future well in advance, and He knew that human ingenuity would move matters along faster than He wanted. "This is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose [imagine, King James Version] to do will be withheld from them" (verse 6, emphasis added throughout). Having made men and women in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), our Creator has always understood the enormous ability and capacity of our human potential—both for good and for bad. Our first parents chose to imbibe of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The sovereignty of God

We hear a lot today about the sovereignty of various states. For instance, some farsighted political leaders in Britain fear any further loss of the nation's sovereignty to the European Union. But it is our Creator whom we should really fear. He remains in ultimate control of the destiny of nations and individuals (see Deuteronomy 32:7-8; Acts 17:26).

Presidents of major countries sometimes use forceful words with remarkable effect—simple words like "tear down this wall." God can also speak to humanity in forceful words about events that He has the divine power to bring to pass. Those words have been preserved in the Bible, sometimes in the first person.

The Hebrew prophet Isaiah quotes God Himself as saying: "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please... What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do" (Isaiah 46:9-11, New International Version).

A future European Union of 10 nations

We rightly applaud the freedoms now experienced by the peoples of former East Germany, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics and other former Warsaw Pact nations in the East. Communist enslavement only brought poverty, atheism and a crushing of the human spirit.

But we should carefully look into God's prophetic Word, which tells us where Europe is ultimately headed. He has forecast a future union of 10 kings (or political entities) that will devastate the world and persecute Christians severely.

You can tell others about Jesus

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

You can tell others about Jesus!

When Jesus Christ came to this earth, He was crucified and died and then rose again. He then ascended into heaven. Before He left this earth, He told His followers, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Think of this. God did not entrust to angels the privilege of telling everyone about Jesus — He gave the job to us! So the early followers of Jesus began to tell others the good news that Jesus Christ had died for their sins...and today, over 2 billion people around the world would say that they are Christians.

But what about your friends, your family, and people you know who have not accepted Jesus Christ? Maybe God can use you to tell them about Jesus. Our goal at Global Media Outreach is to give everyone on earth many chances to receive Christ. Who can you tell about Jesus today?

It can be scary to tell others about Christ. Maybe you live in a country where it is illegal to tell others about Jesus, so you should be careful and ask God for His wisdom as to what to do. For others of us, it is not illegal, but we can still be afraid of rejection. Whatever the case, let us pray and ask God how we can see the whole world touched with the message of His love.

So, this week, let us pray that

• God will help each of us tell someone about Jesus Christ
• God will help us at Global Media Outreach tell everyone in the world about Jesus
• God will protect our staff and volunteers and fill us with His love and peace
  

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God answers the believing prayers of those who have accepted Christ.

May God bless you,

The Price Of Discipleship

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Mark 8:34

To be a disciple of Jesus requires you to make a threefold decision. First of all, you need to deny yourself. This means to humble yourself and forsake all personal, selfish ambitions. This doesn’t mean you need to take a vow of poverty or celibacy. But it does mean that you must be willing to put God’s will above your own.

In desiring to do His Father’s purpose, Jesus emptied Himself of His glory and splendor, humbling Himself fully in obedience to God. Self denial is often a major obstacle to the talented, educated and wealthy. By their own abilities and connections, they can seemingly accomplish so much in life. Can you trust God enough to surrender all your talents and heart’s desires completely to Him in exchange for His plan and purpose for your life? Can you give Jesus all of you in exchange for all of Him?

Secondly, to be a disciple, you must be willing to take up your cross. The cross speaks of the place of sacrifice. The first time the word “love” is mentioned in the Bible, we see Abraham willingly placing his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice (Gen. 22). Love always requires sacrifice.

God loves you so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for your sins. Do you love Him enough to do the same? To willingly sacrifice your time, talents, money and life for His cause?

Thirdly, to be a disciple of Jesus requires you to follow Him unreservedly. In the endtimes, God is looking for those “who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4). Many people would happily follow the Good Shepherd to “lie down in green pastures, beside the still waters.” But few are willing to follow Him “through the valley of the shadow of death”

(Ps. 23:1-4). Following Jesus requires determination, discipline, dedication and devotion. With just 11 disciples, Christ changed the whole world. He wants to do the same with you today. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Him. Be a true disciple of Jesus.

Pat Robertson on Haiti: A Bible Fact Check

God has a plan to bring order and peace to this world. And all those who have died—in tragedies or not—will live again and experience God's ways in action. You'll find this plan in the pages of your Bible.

TV evangelist Pat Robertson is turning heads with comments he made about the devastating earthquake which ended the lives of tens of thousands of Haitians. He blames the tragedy on an alleged 200-year-old deal with the devil, saying, "…they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.' True story. And so the Devil said, 'Okay, it's a deal.'"

Let's take a look at another quote, this one from the Bible. An early first-century Roman governor of Palestine, Pontius Pilate, had brutally slaughtered some Galileans as they performed ritual animal sacrifices, mixing their blood with their animals'. Snippets of news spread to those near Jesus Christ, who were likely speculating about the cause of the tragedy. "Those sinners. Those Godless Galileans. They deserved what they got."

Christ's reply was cutting. "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:2-3, NIV).

Christ's response was not, "Well, they had it coming," but instead, "What makes you think they deserved it more than you?" Christ forced the news bearers to take a look at themselves. He continued—referring to another current event, asking, "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:4-5, NIV).

Those who lost their lives in this Haitian earthquake, or the Asian tsunami, or the World Trade Center attack or the European Holocaust or any other tragedy did not deserve death more than we do.

We have all sinned, and unless we repent, we too will perish.

Here's the good news. God has a plan to bring order and peace to this world. And all those who have died—in tragedies or not—will live again and experience God's ways in action. You'll find this plan in the pages of your Bible. It begins with repentance.

It begins...with you.