In the News….

First, our prayers continue to be with the people of California who are at this moment struggling with different fierce fires.  Witnesses speak of apocalyptic scenes with over 10,000 structures destroyed, among them churches and synagogues. Some 150,000 people have been displaced. Two days ago, ABC News reported that 8 million people are at risk because of these fires.

The question they are asking is how such a fire could spread so quickly and destroy such a big area, given today’s technology? Whatever the cause, these types of natural disasters make us realize that we live in a fragile world and things can change in no time.  Most of the victims interviewed were surprised by the rapidity with which their lives were affected. This is when we turn to God whose glory and dominion is an everlasting dominion, whose kingdom is one which will not be destroyed (Dan.7:14). May those now suffering there, and in many other places in the world, find the Lord and eternal life through His Son, Yeshua Jesus.

Just one more piece of information concerning this fire. The Times of Israel reports that far left anti-Israel groups like Code Pink have condemned and blamed Israel for the Los Angeles wildfire crisis. They say that so much of the money needed for the US itself is spent on, “burning people alive in Gaza”. It is not surprising that antisemitic groups like Code Pink irrationally accuse Israel of all kinds of things, but when Jewish groups like the Jewish Voice for Peace are also accusing and blaming Israel for such things, it shows us that we have reached a dangerous level of antisemitism. Why would Jews accuse Jews? We don’t know but it must be because they are scared. Antisemitism is itself irrational, with deep connections to spiritual evil, and so its power seems to invoke illogical and confusing responses. But these Jews who are turning against Israel are disoriented because they have no foundation on which to base their identity or future as a people. The only sure footing is the Scriptures as it will give everyone, Jew and Gentile, an understanding of what is happening around us and in the meanwhile offer us great assurance and comfort.

On the political scene, things are also happening which are as surprising to us as the speed with which these California fires have been spreading. We have all heard and were surely surprised by last week’s comments of future US President Donald Trump. He made a public offer to Canada to become the 51st U.S. state. That triggered much laughter and scorn in the Canadian news. He also offered to buy Greenland and take over the Panama Canal. He also said that he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. What’s more, for Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump even suggested that he could use military force to acquire them.

Those shocking comments brought Panama and many European countries to react. Member countries of NATO, like France said that Europe will not allow other nations to attack its sovereign borders. There is then dissension within the NATO countries.

While these remarks have taken the world by surprise and caused many to either laugh or scowl,  all this may very well prove that Trump is very keen and vigilant, embracing the courage to act ahead of time. He sees an existential threat to his country and to the western world. This is a danger that the prophets of the Bible and even Jesus in His prophecies of the end times, predicted with some very powerful words. This is something that very few have heeded so far.

Didn’t Jesus say that there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. If we are heading toward this time, how come very few see the danger coming and don’t act on it? Trump seems to be among the only ones who are sensing this rising threat so he reacts accordingly. What reasoning is behind Trump’s statements? He explained it.

He said, “It is critical for Canada and Greenland’s national and economic security to come and join the U.S. He spoke of the increasing presence of Russian and Chinese military forces in the Arctic Circle where we find vast natural resources. These include large reserves of oil and natural gas, mineral deposits and abundant fisheries which can provide great economic opportunities for countries. These other nations are there with their increasing military bases.

Now, if Russia or China decide to take over these areas, both Greenland and Canada will stand no chance to resist their invasion. As for Europe and NATO, without the help of the US, they would also have no means to withstand such attacks in protecting their sovereign borders. As for the Panama Canal, which was originally built by the U.S. for the U.S. Army, the Panamanian government now apparently charges huge amounts of money for U.S. ships to cross. Trump recalls that today China has major investments in the Panama Canal region, having been the first Latin American country to join the People’s Republic of China’s program for Roads and Belts. There is a lot of foreign investment in the Panama region which of course adds to potential political hostility there. And all these things fall into place when we compare them to Bible prophecies, both on the political and natural disasters platform. So far, we see these powers spoken of by Daniel and John in Revelation slowly coming closer to a confrontation.

The prophecy about conquering territory during times of peace is characteristic of the evil one’s intent. We read in Revelation 6, that the 7-year tribulation period will start when the Antichrist will begin peacefully expanding his territory: that is among the first things he will do…we read in vs.2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. He has a bow with no arrow, but he goes on conquering territories. This is a sign of the end.

Click here for the Video: Trump & Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal