Update 42

This Sabbath, Norbert Link will conclude his three-part series on Prophecy. This new and final sermon will deal with the future of the United States, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth nations.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.
 

Today’s newspapers, magazines, television, movies–ALL MEDIA–continue to herald the debauchery and madness that has set in as a kind of world disease.

However, the precious few people who both know the true way to live and still hold to those practices that please God must remain alert to the forewarning we all have been given about these last days. As we each “plug in” for the latest world events, let’s also be constantly reminded of the kind of society in which we now live.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 reads, “But KNOW THIS, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times (times of stress) will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving (irreconcilable), slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY!”

These words from almost two thousand years ago accurately describe this age and this generation. Christians have long understood that these very troublesome times will come to an end when Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of unending peace and happiness–the Kingdom of God! Then, and ONLY THEN, will these prophesied headlines for today give way to the promised GOOD NEWS of God’s majestic Kingdom.

Let us all continue to watch as we are admonished (Luke 21:36). And let us also do so with great confidence and eagerness, because we know with complete certainty that both we and this world really do have a future and a hope!

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

This week has seen an unusual outbreak of terrorist attacks around the world. Are we beginning to witness the results of Satan’s great wrath unfolding on this earth, as predicted in Revelation 12:13?

Middle East
On Tuesday, May 7, a suicide bomber killed 16 people, including himself, in a pool hall near Tel Aviv.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell acknowledged that the latest bombing… would again “put at risk” the possibility of peace progress in the Middle East. The Los Angeles Times reported on May 9, 2002, “President Bush pressured Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday to moderate his response… and praised Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s condemnation of terrorism as ‘incredibly positive.'”

Arafat had said on Palestinian television, in Arabic, “I gave my orders and directions to all Palestinian security forces to confront and prevent all terror attacks against Israeli civilians from any Palestinian side or parties and at the same time to confront any aggression or attack on Palestinian civilians, whether by Israeli soldiers or settlers, which we all condemn.” Arafat also said that his police were too weak to carry out his orders in the wake of Israeli’s large-scale military operation aimed at crushing Palestinian militias in the West Bank.

The German magazine, “Der Stern,” ran this editorial by Editor-in-Chief, Thomas Osterkom: “Israel makes it difficult even for his friends to show understanding and solidarity. The U.N. had agreed unanimously to investigate the possible massacre in Jenin. But Sharon refused to let the Commission visit the camp. Likewise, the country does not care about Resolution 242 of the U.N. in 1967, which asked Israel to withdraw from all occupied territories… Any consequences? None. What right do the United States have, then, to attack the Iraq — allegedly, because Saddam Hussein does not allow the U.N. weapon inspectors to travel into the country? In spite of the obvious violations of Israel, it is difficult to evaluate who is right or wrong in this present conflict.”

Europe
On Monday, May 6, right-winged political candidate Pim Fortuyn was murdered in the Netherlands.

Der Spiegel reported on May 7 that Europe is in shock. Fortuyn’s party, known for its anti-foreigners position, was expected of receiving 20 percent of the upcoming Parliamentary elections on May 15. Fortuyn was killed with five bullets, following a radio interview. This is the first assassination of a politician in the Netherlands since the country’s recent history. A white citizen of Netherlands was arrested as the possible killer.

Pakistan
The Los Angeles Times reported on May 9 that a suicide car bombing in Pakistan killed 11 French workers and two citizens of Pakistan. President Pervez Musharraf said that this was an act of international terrorism. The government blamed either members of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist organization or agents from India for the attack.

Russia
As the German newspaper, “Die Welt,” reported on May 9, 2002, 32 people were killed and 150 injured by a bomb in the city of Kaspijsk, Dagestan, South Russia. The attack occurred at the beginning of a parade, celebrating the 57th year of Russian victory over Nazi Germany. President Putin stated that the deed was a terror attack by a “dross,” for whom nothing is holy. “We have the right,” he continued, “to deal with them the same as with the Nazis.”