Chapter 8 So! What’s Happening?

How Does it Affect Us?

Now that we have some historical basis for understanding the Middle East problems, let’s see what is happening and how it affects us today and may affect us in the future.

As of March 2012, there were between 1.2 and 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. That’s about 23% [1/4] of the world’s population. The World Factbook listed 61 countries with a significant Muslim population. That is 61 countries with a Muslim population sufficient to significantly influence the culture, laws and politics of the nation. Numerous other countries also have rapidly growing Muslim populations.

Muslim schools are called madrassas. In Bangladesh, alone, there were more than 15,000 madrassas in 2006, according to Wikipedia. Since most madrassas worldwide are financially supported by funds from Saudi Arabia, most are preaching and teaching Wahabbist (extremist/violent) Muslim ideology that presents Osama bin Laden as a martyr and supports radical terrorism through Hezbollah and Hamas.

According to one source more than 900 of these are kindergarten madrassas. That is, the students are around kindergarten age. Wikipedia states that India has more than 30,000 madrassas.

From: Frontline:

Interview with Vali Nasr

Vali Nasr is an associate professor of political science at the University of San Diego, specializing in the politics of Islamic extremism in South Asia.

Interviewer:

You were at a conference on counterterrorism sponsored by the State Department with people from the U.S. government. What did you feel you needed to say about Saudi Arabia, and why?

Nasr:

The discussion was about the Taliban and the network of Taliban-like groups that span across Pakistan and Kashmir and India. Among the academics and government people who were there, there were a lot of questions as to who inspires them, where does the funding come from and how can these networks be supported on the ground?

Interviewer:

What do you say?

Nasr:

All of these groups are rooted in a network of seminaries, or as the term is called in the local vernacular, "madrassa." My argument was that the main source of funding for these groups is Saudi Arabia. In fact, this whole phenomenon that we are confronting, which Al Qaeda is a part of, is very closely associated with Saudi Arabia's financial and religious projects for the Muslim world as a whole. ...

He then went on to say that; “Saudi Arabia has been the single biggest source of funding for fanatical interpretations of Islam,”

The End-time

Scripture has much to say about the end-time as do many students of prophecy. There have been a multitude of sermons, books, articles, TV specials and even movies presenting a myriad of scenarios for the end-time events. There has been a great deal written, preached, and discussed, even documentaries and movies made, about; the end-time, doomsday, and Armageddon. For centuries people have tried to understand the prophecies of; Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Amos, Malachi, and others.

Did you read the Left Behind series? I did and it was interesting. We must remember, however, it is fiction – not fact. The fact is no one knows exactly how or when those events will occur. Remember; the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes of Jesus day knew the scriptures, probably better than we do - yet- they totally missed the Messiah they had waited centuries to welcome, even while he lived and worked among them.

What we do know for certain is that these events will occur. We also know because Jesus told us, that although we cannot predict from prophecy exactly when these events will occur, we will be able to tell when the time is very near, if we have the wisdom to follow the signs.

What are the signs?

Some have looked at Matthew 24:28-34 for the answer because there Jesus spoke about the end-time and His return. But are these signs for us now? I think not – not yet! I say this because these are clearly the signs given for the benefit of those going through the time of tribulation to help them realize that Jesus return is imminent.

Let’s look at Mark chapter 13. Here, in this passage, Jesus gives us an overview of two periods of time. Some try to lump it all together, but I believe that is a mistake. Let’s examine this passage closely.

Mark 13:5-37 NIV:

First Jesus warned: 5. "Watch out that no one deceives you.

Then He said:

6. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many.
7.When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,

Next Jesus tells us: do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

8. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.

Most of us are very aware of the two recent wars in Iraq, and our ongoing involvement in Afghanistan. The news recently has been awash with the civil unrest in the Middle East. Syria has been in the news constantly during the past few weeks.

8/12/2012:

Russian built planes dropped Russian built bombs on Syrian citizens to put down rebels seeking a less corrupt democratic government.

8/12/2012:

Al Qaeda, Muslim Brotherhood, and other radical Islamists aliens have entered Syria seeking to infiltrate Syrian Freedom Fighters who say they want a secular democracy that will provide religious freedom.

Currently supporting the existing Syrian government in its fight against the Freedom Fighters are: Russia, China and Iran. Currently supporting the Freedom Fighters are: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. The U.S. is providing “secret” assistance to the Freedom Fighters through the CIA.

But war and terrorism are not our only problems:

8/12/2012:

U.S. cities are filing bankruptcy: Scranton, PA; Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes, CA.; Detroit, MI.; Boise, Idaho; Central Falls, R.I.; Camden, N.J. and at least ½ dozen others have filed.

Jesus then says: These are the beginning of birth pains. These things are just the start.

Look at a few recent events that I made note of during a period of approximately one month from September 11, 2012 through October 9, 2012.:

9/11/2012:

U.S. Embassies in Libya and Egypt and the Consulate in Libya were attacked. Our Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and others were murdered.

9 11/2012:

Mr. Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, requested a meeting with President Obama but was denied prompting Netanyahu to say that U.S. Israeli relations had reached a “new low”. Mr. Netanyahu, concerned over Iran’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons, had asked President Obama to establish a “red line” for Iran, which if crossed, would initiate military action. President Obama refused.

9/12/2012:

Mr. Netanyahu, in a televised press conference, stated: “The world tells Israel, ‘Wait. There is still time.’ Wait for what? Wait until when? Those in the international community, who refuse to put a red line before Iran don’t have the moral right to place a red light before Israel!”

Then, Sept. 13, 2012:

Danny Danon, Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Parliament, appeared on Fox News. During the interview, he was asked if Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks mean that Israel is preparing for a preemptive strike on Iran. He said, among other things:

“—President Obama decided not to decide. In Iran, what is happening? In Libya? We cannot allow them to become nuclear!”

The remarks of Mr. Netanyahu and Danny Danon, taken in light of recent events make it very clear what they are thinking. They do not want nuclear neighbors. Israel does not have a history of bluffing. They act quickly and decisively. They attacked Iraq’s nuclear facilities June 7, 1981 and if we, or the U.N., do nothing about Iran – they will do it again! The only real question, I think, is how Iran will react – and - whether other nations will get involved. Consider what is going on all around us today:

9/19/2012:

Rioting broke out in 21 countries as militant Islamists chanting anti-American slogans, carrying anti-American signs, burned and trampled American flags. They attacked American and French embassies in several countries and killed our Ambassador and several others in Syria.

9/19/2012:

Beijing China: The U.S. Ambassador’s car was attacked by rioting students.

9/19/2012:

Beijing Evening News (a state run media) proclaimed that China should use nuclear weapons against Japan. Meanwhile, China was sending 12 ships to the Senkaku Islands and threatening to send one thousand fishing vessels there to strengthen its hold on the disputed territory. China has whipped up so much anger among its citizens about the issue it will be hard for the leaders to consider backing down.

9/21/2012:

Militant deadly protests broke out again in Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Nigeria, Iran, Sri Lanka, India, and even Denmark.

9/23/2012:

A Rhode Island court declared a school “Father Daughter Dance” to be “illegal” and “discriminatory”.

Nigeria –A car bomb at a Catholic church killed a mother and child and injured dozens.

Egypt – Mohammad Morsi, the new Muslim Brotherhood backed president, says he believes Egypt and the U.S. can be friends.

Pakistan’s Railway Minister invited Taliban and Al Qaeda to kill the filmmaker behind the production of the film “Innocence of Muslims”.

Robert Gibbs, Obama campaigns senior advisor admitted that Afghan security troops had attacked U.S. troops, who were in Afghanistan to train them, on fifty-one separate occasions.

Iran – Senior Commander, General Amir al-Hajizadeh, of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, says that if war breaks out with Israel, Iran will target U.S. bases and installations.

Egypt’s president, Mohammad Morsi and the president of Pakistan have called for an international law limiting free speech.

And at home a survey reported:

49% of U.S. households receive government benefits – up from 30% in 1980’s.

46% of U.S. adults pay no federal income tax – up from 27% in 1992.

32 million people were on Food Stamps in 2008 and now, just four years later, the number is 47 million – an increase of 48%.

9/25/2012:

ACLU asked a Federal Judge in Michigan to prohibit a check off box on ballots that would indicate whether voters are U.S. citizens. The ACLU is concerned that non-citizens trying to vote will either be intimidated by the box and not vote or perjure themselves by voting.

A mother, in Texas, was arrested and taken to jail for allowing her sons, 7 years and 9 years old, to play outside on motorized scooters in a cul-de-sac. The charge was child neglect. She was observing them at the time.

A woman’s defense attorney is suing her apartment complex because the apartment windows were not strong enough to prevent her pushing her husband through the window to his death. She is charged with murder.

9/26/2012:

Thirty-five hundred American’s were infected with West Nile Virus in the past year – 400 new cases in the last week.

The median household income of Americans went down another 1.1% making the total loss of income 8.2% during the 3 ½ years of the Obama administration.

A Rally turned violent in Greece when a general strike was staged to protest the country’s economic problems. Seventy thousand took to the streets.

10/1/2012:

Bangladesh – At least 10 Buddhist Temples and dozens of homes were torched as thousands of Muslims took to the streets in protest, claiming that a Buddhist youth posted photos of a burned Koran on Facebook.

Pakistan – Thousands were made homeless due to heavy flooding.

10/2/2012:

We learned that Muslim Army Psychiatrist, Nidal Hassan, who was responsible for the Fort Hood massacre, was still receiving his full Army paycheck. He killed 13 fellow soldiers and wounded 34.

The French Embassy was attacked in Tehran by dozens of Iranians.

Pennsylvania – Judge Robert Simpson ruled that in national elections polling places can ask voters for photo I.D’s – but voters do not have to show one.

10/4/2012:

At least 35 cases of meningitis were reported across half a dozen states after a steroid medication was injected into thousands of people with back pain.

10/5/2012:

Syria - Turkish troops fired on Syria for the second straight day after another mortar round was fired into a Turkish border town from Syria. The Turkish Prime Minister has warned Syria not to “test their patience” and indicated that they are on the brink of war. Turkey is a member of NATO and if war ensues the other NATO nation including the U.S. would be obliged by treaty to join in their fight.

Fourteen new spinal meningitis cases raised the number from 35 to 49 in one day raising fears that this disease which has a 28 day incubation period could produce many more cases.

10/8/2012:

Jose Antonio Vargas – an admitted “Illegal Alien” from the Philippines was arrested by Minnesota State Police for driving while wearing head phones. This is a misdemeanor. They then found he was using a fraudulent driver’s license - a felony. They ultimately had to release him because I.C.E. (Immigration Criminal Investigation) would not take custody of Vargas. When Fox News contacted ICE they received a written response that stated that they, “Immigration” are engaged in “smart, effective immigration enforcement “ and went on to say that their methods selectively target those who present a threat to public safety. Apparently an alien entering the U.S. illegally and committing a felony using a fraudulent I.D. is not a threat to public safety in their view.

10/9/2012:

N. Korea sent the U.S. a warning that we are now within the range of their missiles. N. Korean President, Pyongyang, angry over the U.S. agreement to place missiles in S. Korea, called it, “another conspiracy of the master and the stooge” viewing it as a plot to invade N. Korea.

Air China announced threats against two of its flights shortly before they were scheduled to take off. This after one of its flights was forced to make and emergency landing due to a threat the day before.

A boat load of pro-Palestinians left Naples on Sunday 10/7/2012 headed for Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade which was instituted in 2007 after Hamas seized control of Gaza. The defensive blockade prevents Hamas from shipping weapons into Gaza.

Following six straight days of artillery exchanges along the Turkey/Syria border, NATO announced that it is ready to defend alliance member Turkey.

The Center for Disease Control says as many as 13,000 may have received steroid shots linked to the recent outbreak of meningitis. They have verified that 105 people have now been infected in nine states.

The Government Accountability Institute has announced the “Obama for America” web site may be taking illegal foreign donations for Obama’s campaign. In 2008 the Washington Post ran an article outlining a number of problems with the way the Obama campaign received donations. His web-site did not have the basic on-line security barriers for processing credit card transactions that would identify contributors. This was acknowledged by his aids. This deficiency might allow foreign and other illegal contributions to slip through the cracks.

This year they corrected this problem for those who purchase t-shirts, and other items from the web-site, by requiring a security code. However, they still do not require it for those who contribute money to his campaign fund. This means illegal contributions in the $millions could be slipping through from unidentifiable overseas sources.

Israel is a key factor in the drama of end-time events. Much of the turmoil during that period will be the result of their neighbors attempts to drive them from their land. Consider what occurred in Israel during the first seven months of 2012:

2012 Attacks on Israel

January – 9 rockets and 7 mortar shells were fired at Israeli targets.

February – 36 rockets and 1 mortar shell rained down of Israel.

March – 173 rockets and 19 mortar shell were fired into Israel.

April – 10 rockets were launched at Israel.

May – 1 Quassam rocket was fired into the Ashkelon Negev Regional Council, in the Negev, Israel.

June – 2 rockets were launched into Israel.

July – 19 rockets and 9 mortars were fired into Israel.

____________________________________________

Seven month totals:

Rocket attacks = 250

Mortar shells = 45

Total attacks = 298

This doesn’t count the suicide bombs, sniper attacks, failed attempts, etc.

These things, and others like; crime, war, famine, etc., are the signal that it is the beginning - not the main event. All of this still doesn’t tell us a specific time frame but we’re told in Romans 8:22-23;

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. NKJV.

We see here that Paul uses the same language that Jesus used, “birth pangs”, to describe the events leading up to and signaling the approach of the end time.

Then continuing in Mark 13, Jesus gives another warning:

9. "You must be on your guard.
You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues.
On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

Some scoff at these verses. After all they have never been placed in these circumstances. But they do not live under Communism or in a Muslim country.

This passage in Mark 13 is very similar to Matthew 24. In fact, the first 9 verses are virtually identical. Then we come to another time indicator. At verse 10 Matthew says, At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. Notice, however, Jesus words in Mark:

10. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

So, Matthew, writing to the Jews speaks here of people turning from faith to hatred and betrayal during this future period. Mark, writing to Gentiles, tells us that the end will not come before the gospel is preached to all nations.

And continuing:

11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12. "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death
13. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Mark makes it clear that the world’s moral condition is making life very difficult. Both Mark and Matthew tell us that things will get continually worse, though at times they may seem like they are getting better. Environmental problems, moral decay, political and social conflicts, famine, disease, deception and distrust will be commonplace.

Now we come to what I believe is the dividing point. The following verse indicates a change in time and a change in the course of events. A very dramatic event will mark a sudden entry into a time worse than any in history. A time literally beyond our ability to imagine!

14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong — let the reader understand — then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

This is a reference, made by both Matthew and Mark, to a historic event of monumental importance to Jews, when Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the holy temple in Jerusalem by setting up an idol in the Holy of Holies and sacrificing a pig on the altar of God. Matthew 24 makes the same reference in virtually the same wording. Jesus seems to be indicating, here, that this event will, in essence, be repeated in the end-time by the antichrist. Luke 21 also mentions this period and many of its trials but doesn’t mention the desecration of the temple.

Continuing in Mark 13:

15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.
17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
18 Pray that this will not take place in winter,
19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now — and never to be equaled again.
20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them

Things will be so violent and so deadly that the Lord will make this period very short because mankind now has the capacity to annihilate all life on earth. Given enough time we probably would do so! God, in his wrath, certainly could but His will is redemption – not destruction!

21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect — if that were possible.

We can’t be certain if these events, described in Mark and in Matthew are supernatural events or deceptive tricks. Satan is the great deceiver, but the Lord could permit him to exercise some of his power at this time. Real or not, many will be convinced to follow the deceiver.

23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 "But in those days, following that distress, "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
26 "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

It could be debated as to whether the distress of the Jews in 70AD was unequalled but Mark 13:20, above, tells us, in Jesus own words, that if the Lord failed to cut those days short no one would survive. This could not reasonably be referring to the Roman invasion in 70AD. They did not have the ability to destroy all life in those days.

Here, Jesus again gives us a clue.

28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near

Watch Israel!

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