Page 9 - Good News June 2015 paper

eventy years ago World War 2014, Russia wrested control of Let us read and ponder Matthew So when you see the appalling
Two was entering its last Crimea from Ukraine and 24:7-15; 21-22; 30-31: sacrilege [the abomination that
Sstages. Nazi Germany absorbed it into the Russian “For nation will rise against astonishes and makes desolate],
would be defeated within days, Federation. Overlapping the nation, and kingdom against spoken of by the prophet Daniel,
followed by Japan a few months Crimean takeover, pro-Russian kingdom, and there will be standing in the Holy Place - let the
later. That war ended with the factions carved out significant famines and earthquakes in place reader take notice and ponder and
United States and Russia domi- portions of eastern and southern after place; consider and heed [this] - [Dan.
nating the world stage. They Ukraine in what has been 9:27; 11:31; 12:11].
would jockey for position and described as a “stealth invasion” All this is but the beginning [the
domination over the next few to reclaim Ukraine as part of the early pains] of the birth pangs [of For then there will be great
decades. former Soviet Union. Now the the intolerable anguish]. tribulation (affliction, distress,
Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and oppression) such as has not
In 1991 the Soviet Union col- and Lithuania are very nervous Then they will hand you over to been from the beginning of the
lapsed under its own weight, about a similar fate overtaking suffer affliction and tribulation world until now - no, and never
leaving the United States as the them. and put you to death, and you will will be [again]. [Dan. 12:1; Joel
world's only superpower. For a be hated by all nations for My 2:2.]
time it appeared that the world In the Middle East, the so-called Name's sake.
would see a new era of global “Arab Spring” was hailed as a And if those days had not been
peace and cooperation. But it was pro-freedom movement - but And then many will be offended shortened, no human being
not to be. turned out to be anything but. and repelled and will begin to would endure and survive, but for
Today, much of the Middle East is distrust and desert [Him Whom the sake of the elect (God's
The horrifying suicide airliner aflame in a way not seen in they ought to trust and obey] and chosen ones) those days will be
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, brought centuries. will stumble and fall away and shortened.
the shocking reality that jihad had betray one another and pursue
awakened from its long slumber The Islamic State (IS) erases one another with hatred. Then the sign of the Son of Man
and was on the march again, national borders in its push to will appear in the sky, and then all
resuming its mortal battle with the expand its caliphate. Entire And many false prophets will rise the tribes of the earth will mourn
West. America responded with nations such as Iraq, Syria and up and deceive and lead many and beat their breasts and lament
invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq Lebanon no longer exist as we've into error and the love of the great in anguish, and they will see the
only to learn, like the British and known them. In Yemen - a body of people will grow cold Son of Man coming on the clouds
Russians earlier, why Afghani- chokepoint for control of much of because of the multiplied lawless- of heaven with power and great
stan had rightly come to be known the world's oil supply - the Sunni ness and iniquity, but he who glory [in brilliancy and splen-
as “the graveyard of empires.” and Shiite branches of Islam are endures to the end will be saved. dour; Dan. 7:13; Rev. 1:7].
engaged in a full shooting war.
Bruised by two long wars, Across North Africa, nations And this good news of the And He will send out His angels
America began to retreat. The descend into chaos and blood- kingdom (the Gospel) will be with a loud trumpet call, and they
world's policeman, worn and shed. preached throughout the whole will gather His elect (His chosen
exhausted, hung up its badge and world as a testimony to all the ones) from the four winds, [even]
guns and chose to “lead from Jesus Christ foretold that “nation nations, and then will come the from one end of the universe to
behind” - an euphemism for will rise against nation, and end. the other [Isa. 27:13; Zech. 9:14] .
relinquishing its world leadership kingdom against kingdom”
role and turning inward. Not (Matthew 24:7) as part of initial
surprisingly, others rushed into troubles that would grow in
the vacuum. Now we see chaos frequency and intensity until
almost everywhere we look. culminating in an unprecedented 'n Belangrike Griekse magistraat, Archaïs, het eendag 'n feesmaal vir sy
period that would lead to human vriende voorgesit. Terwyl hulle besig was om vrolik fees te vier, kom 'n man
China, recognizing American extinction apart from the direct na hom toe met 'n pakkie in sy hand. Binne-in die pakkie was daar 'n brief
weakness, is aggressively up- intervention of God sending His wat vermeld het dat daar 'n komplot teen Archaïs se lewe gesmee is en ook
wie die persoon is wat hom wou doodmaak. Die boodskapper wat die
grading its military capabilities Son to establish a worldwide
and throwing its weight around, Kingdom and enforce peace pakkie gebring het, sê toe vir die magistraat: “My heer, die vriend wat
hierdie pakkie stuur, laat weet dat u dit dadelik moet oopmaak. Dit bevat
pressing territorial claims at the (verses 21-22).
uiters dringende nuus.”
expense of weaker neighbours Maar Archaïs lag net en antwoord: “Alle dringende sake kan tot môre wag,”
such as the Philippines, Taiwan, The terrible state of the world is en hy sit die pakkie net daar neer. Dieselfde nag is Archaïs vermoor en die
Vietnam, South Korea and Japan. why you need to join us in volgende dag was hy 'n verminkte lyk!
Russia is likewise updating its continually praying to God, “Let As daar iets is wat ons moet doen, moet ons dit dadelik doen. Wie weet of
military forces, including testing Your Kingdom come!” ons môre, oormôre, of oor 'n uur nog sal lewe? Die gevaarlikste van alles is
new nuclear missile systems. om uit te stel om JESUS as VERLOSSER aan te neem! Die Skrif verklaar:
[Scott Ashley, Managing Editor of “Kyk, NOU is dit die tyd van welbehae, kyk NOU is dit die dag van verlos-
sing” (2 Kor. 6:2). - Oorgeneem
Just over a year ago, in March The Good News, May - June 2015].