Over the next few weeks, we will be re-publishing a series from the original Prophecy Today magazine, looking at the Old Testament prophets and the relevance of their message today.

Prophecy Then and Now

Before we seek to learn from the examples of the prophets, it must be understood that there are significant differences between the prophetic ministry in the Old Testament and the prophetic ministry today.

For one thing, the biblical prophets (speaking and writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit) were used by God to create part of the canon of Scripture. Today the canon is complete. Modern prophetic speech and writing should be assessed by it and subject to its authority – it should not add to it.

Secondly, the Old Testament prophets were often lone voices, whereas today prophecy has been shared out among believers as a whole-Body ministry. Whilst individuals are still called and gifted prophetically, they now function within the Body of Messiah and are accountable to it. 'Lone voice' prophets are raised up only when the leadership structures within the Body have gone so badly astray that true accountability is no longer possible.

With this context established, we turn first to the ministry and message of Amos, who in the eighth century BC was the earliest of the writing prophets in the Bible.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?

John Fieldsend looks at the Prophet Amos.

Owing to the way in which our Bibles are laid out we could easily miss the impact that Amos must have had on his listeners and readers, because he was almost certainly the first of a new line of prophets who were now to confront Israel and Judah with their sins for several centuries to come.

Not only did he represent the appearance of a new type of ministry, but he arrived out of the blue, uninvited, unauthorised and without any credentials - in his own words, "neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees" (Amos 7:14).

A Southerner from the tribe of Judah, Amos crossed the border into Israel to preach a dynamic, immediately challenging and socially and politically uncompromising message. But it was more than a just a challenge to social and moral corruption and the need for reformation. The prophet was captivated by his vision of the holiness of God - a holiness which demanded judgment upon all the nations of the world - but particularly one that would befall the people whom God had called into a special covenant relationship with him. Because his message was immediately relevant it remains permanently so, for men's hearts have not changed, and similar situations recur in different guises in every generation.

A New Style of Ministry

We cannot be sure of the exact date when Amos began his ministry but most biblical scholars think that Amos preceded Hosea by about 15 years and Isaiah by about 20 years. It could be that there was a period of overlap between these three men's ministries (for Hosea and Isaiah there clearly was an overlap).

As we begin to look at Amos, we need to understand that God was here bringing a new style of ministry into the life of Israel and Judah. It is not that prophets were unknown before; from Samuel onwards the prophetic ministry was part of Israel's heritage. But from the time of Amos we have prophets who not only spoke to particular situations, but who also wrote prophetically to the wider social order in which they lived.

From Amos onwards, we see prophets emerging who not only spoke into specific situations, but also wrote prophetically about the wider social order.

Implicit in Israel's mono-theism was the belief that God was Lord of all the nations of the world, but Amos brought out the fuller implications of that truth. His opening words were thundering denunciations of the injustice and conduct of the nations surrounding Israel. Through these he must have received the applause of those in Israel who heard him preach: one nation after another was denounced in God's name for the cruelty of their campaigns of military expansion under which Israel, as well as other nations, had suffered so much.

Now, however, Israel was experiencing something of a political and economic revival. Its people felt that the Lord was once again smiling upon them, and they were savouring the promise of divine retribution on their enemies.

But even as they applauded these sentiments, Amos thrust home not only the logic of God's total sovereignty and unquestionable justice, but also the full implications of what it meant for Israel to be the covenant people of the living God, "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins" (Amos 3:2).

Not only did these threats strike at the root of what they understood as being the 'chosen' people; they hit especially hard because they were spoken at a time when - as we have just seen - Israel's political and economic fortunes were on the up and up. In one sentence Amos demolished two of the people's false foundations: a wrong understanding of what it meant to be 'chosen', and the view that prosperity was in itself a sign of God's favour.

Amos demolished the people's false assumptions about what it meant to be God's 'chosen' nation.

Amos did not, of course, deny the fact of God's covenant and of Israel's unique relationship with the Lord. Rather, he highlighted its significance, "Do two walk together unless they have agreed?...Does a lion roar...when he has no prey?...Does a bird fall into a trap where no snare has been set?" (Amos 3:3-5).

With a series of rhetorical questions Amos presses home his authority, "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared - who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken - who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:7-8).

Learning to Sift 'Prophecy'

There is so much that is socially, morally and politically relevant to the situation in which we ourselves live. It stares us in the face if we read the book of Amos with honest and open hearts. But it is the element of prophecy that I want to concentrate on, because there are so many voices that would speak to us in the Lord's name, and so much that is offered to us as being his word. How can we test such voices? By what principles can we sift that which is pressed upon us? How do we discern the wheat from the chaff?

Factual Fulfilment is Not Enough

The test of a prophet (according to Deuteronomy 18:22) is whether the things he/she prophesies actually come to pass. That test surely demands that prophecies are of a clear and distinct nature.

The test of a prophet is whether the things he or she prophesies actually come to pass.

Important though this is, however, it is not enough for 'prophecies' (and, in a similar vein, 'words of knowledge') to be factual in content. They can be factual and still not of the Lord. An obvious example is the girl possessed of a demonic spirit in Acts 16:16-18. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 gives us other vital principles regarding the testing of prophecy:

• Is it scriptural?
• Is it honouring to God?
• Does it draw the recipients of the prophecy nearer to God, or does it lead them away from him into error?
• Is the person giving the prophecy seeking God's honour or promoting his or her own status?

The same principles apply to other spiritual gifts, for example Acts 8:18-19; 19:13-16.

Spiritual Power is Dynamite

It is an awesome thought that in this matter of prophecy, indeed in the whole area of life in the Spirit, we are handling dynamite (literally, 'dunamis'). It would be convenient if, when its power was abused, God saw to it that the fuse somehow did not ignite.

However, that would be too artificial, and would negate our real humanity. Yet this has all too frequently been the teaching of the church, and in so doing it has trivialised the reality and objectivity of the life of God's Spirit in his church.

When the gifts of God are deliberately prostituted or just carelessly trivialised, they are not merely nullified - that would be too easy and convenient. They become the vehicle of God's judgment and - more distressingly - can become the vehicle of Satan's deception. It is therefore incumbent upon the Church, and especially its leadership, to discern where this is happening and to exercise its discipline with love, and yet with firmness. That is why, especially in the area of spiritual gifts, we need structures in which there is real accountability.

Spiritual power is dynamite - when the gifts of God are deliberately prostituted they become vehicles of his judgment.

We are not to create witch-hunts or seek to create the 'perfect church', but where we see people in positions of leadership and influence abusing spiritual power, we must not remain silent.

Speaking the Truth in Love

The parable of the wheat and tares recounted in Matthew 13:24-30 is sometimes wrongly put forward as an excuse to eschew this difficult task. The true interpretation of this parable is given an eschatological context by Jesus himself in verses 36-43. The teaching does not absolve the church from the responsibility of discerning the origin and nature of its spiritual life, nor its leadership from taking appropriate action.

Where error is seen to persist outside the area of our own leadership responsibility, and where such error is causing havoc among God's people, we cannot simply ignore it by remaining silent.

The pronouncement of God's judgment by Amos was specific, although having worldwide relevance. As a citizen of the Southern Kingdom he did not hesitate to speak against the specific sin of its Northern neighbour (Amos 7:10-17). Apparent interference in the life of a community other than our own is, of course, a serious matter, but we have to speak the truth to one another in love.

When error persists and causes havoc among God's people, we cannot simply ignore it by remaining silent.

Christians are all members of One Body, and we are responsible for one another and to one another, even across the divisions in the Church. We need one another. We need to encourage one another. We need to give and receive from one another all the riches of God's bounty. But, where necessary, we need to speak words of warning and godly discipline, even where we may be accused of it being 'none of our business'. That was part of the prophetic ministry of Amos that is still relevant for us today.

Originally published in Prophecy Today, Vol 11 No 4, July/Aug 1995.

For other articles in this series, click here.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'The Day is Yours' by Ian Stackhouse (2008, Paternoster)

Rooted in the monastic liturgy of the hours, this book aims to help Christians find a "slow spirituality in a fast-moving world", as the subtitle indicates. The central thrust is that living each day as it comes, with contentedness and gratitude, is vital in our modern society if we are to avoid succumbing to the distractedness and pressures of a 24/7 world.

Stackhouse skilfully demonstrates that 'one day at a time' spirituality is not sophisticated but it is important. It provides a tool for survival which delivers us from the anxieties of a future that may never exist and places us firmly into the particular reality that is definitely in front of us.

He explains the distinction between chronos (clock time and schedules) and kairos (God's moments, the rhythm he has placed into the time we experience). The art of living is not to be hurried by the former, but to enter and enjoy the latter.

Important Resting Points

There is a good discussion on the Sabbath rest, the need for a punctuation point somewhere in the otherwise relentless sequence of days in the week. Embracing a different kind of day from the others is a celebration of freedom over necessity, a recognition that we don't have to keep going in exactly the same way day by day. To embrace the Sabbath is to "enter a different construct of time" (p34) which can dominate other days.

Stackhouse skilfully demonstrates that 'one day at a time' spirituality is not sophisticated, but it is important.

Part Two (the central three chapters of nine) is devoted to the monastic 'Liturgy of the Hours'. The author realises that it is not realistic in modern life to embrace all the monastic hours and offices, but he does insist that some of them can, and should, still be appropriated nowadays. He focuses on three of them: morning, noon and evening. His exploration of 'evening' is particularly instructive, asserting that ending the day well is as important as starting it well, and offering (perhaps uniquely) a theology of sleep.

Each Day is Given

For all of us, time is a mysterious entity. We talk about making time, losing time and managing time, all from our own perspective (which may not be the best). We may never fully understand what time is, but we still have to recognise it, respect it and live within it.

Here we have an honest appraisal of the problems that living within time throws up, together with good advice on countering these problems, though the author always accepts that there will be difficulties putting his advice into practice. However, it is not difficult to agree with his overall proposition that each day is not a "vacuous hole waiting to be filled" (p81) but is given to us already shaped according to God's purposes, full of rhythm and moods waiting for us to step into and live through.

Here is an honest appraisal of the problems that living within time throws up, together with good advice on countering them.

The book is very well written in an easy style, with good endnotes and a comprehensive index. The author has thought through all the issues he brings before us, and brings us wisdom and insight from his own years in ministry. Ultimately, though, it is God who must write this on our hearts and make it effective in our lives.

Ian Stackhouse is the Pastoral Leader of the Millmead Centre, home of Guildford Baptist Church. The Day is Yours (158 pages) is available on Amazon.

As BLM protests take place across the UK today, Linda Louis-vanReed offers an analysis of the growing movement from an American perspective.

According to its website, the 'Black Lives Matter' movement was originally formed in response to the incident involving young Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on 9 August 2014, the aftermath of which catalysed a new conversation between the African-American community and law enforcement across our nation.

We in the US began hearing the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement being compared with the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Young people began to respond to what they considered the need for a new Civil Rights dialogue in this era.

However, BLM has a scattered leadership and is loosely organised. Because each 'chapter' is led by whoever would step forward, regardless of his/her personal background or ideology, the protests have often morphed into a platform for organisations like the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam and the Communist Party. The majority of protesters have been paid, and many have been from out-of-state.

As the organisation, now almost 18 months old, has gained traction, it has become known widely that many of these protesters have been being paid through organisations owned by business magnate and political activist George Soros, who has funded political revolutions in Egypt, Serbia and Georgia, and was instrumental in getting Mr Obama into the White House.

BLM has a scattered leadership and is loosely organised, with local chapters easily becoming a platform for militant organisations.

Do Black Lives Really Matter to 'Black Lives Matter'?

The BLM movement could be an incredible, positive force for change throughout the African-American community, which has suffered the legacy of its enslaved forefathers in this nation for at least three generations.

If, in addition to relations with law enforcement, it was simultaneously addressing the issues of 'black-on-black' crime in urban areas, education and job preparation, health and health resources, substance abuse, family wholeness and programmes to bring hope and help to mothers and grandmothers who are raising young children alone, BLM would, indeed, be following in the footsteps of Martin Luther King and his mission of peace, prosperity and unity.

However, it has been my experience (and that of those clergy, city officials and police around me) that BLM is not interested in hearing the whole truth as it pertains to the circumstances of the unrest.

It does not matter that Michael Brown, Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile each had his own criminal record and each was being stopped by the police with reason of suspicion. It does not matter that black-on-black crime is the number one issue within the African-American community. It does not matter that more African-American babies are aborted every year than any other ethnic group in America. It does not matter that, far from being 'excluded', the African-American community (13% of our population) is gaining wealth and education faster than any other group.¹

What appears to matter to BLM in the United States is represented by what it has become: an outlet for rage, hate and anti-white racism to such an extent as to possibly exacerbate a full-scale race war in the United States.

The BLM movement could be an incredible, positive force for change, but instead it has become an outlet for rage, hate and anti-white racism.

The Fallout

In the 1960s, Martin Luther King was adamant about finding peaceful, unifying solutions to the then-palpable issue of race in America. His solutions were contingent upon prayer, obeying the law, relating to the facts concerning situations as they occurred, and moving forward so that one day, there would be no 'color line'. I have a very dear friend who was there, in Louisville - one of two white men in attendance that day - who can attest to the spirit of love and co-operation that was present when Dr King took the platform.

The American Civil Rights Movement, under leaders like King and icons like Rosa Parks, was used by God to change the hearts and minds of men for generations. Great strides have been made toward eradicating white racism toward blacks. Opportunities on every level have opened toward the African-American community, which were not even being considered in 1950.

Although things are far from perfect for any of us, regardless of colour, it has been my experience that out of the hundreds of white persons I have met over the course of my lifetime, I can name only about seven who are actually racist toward blacks. As for me, the majority of my friends, colleagues and associates are African-American – by God's design, as all things should be.

However, since the advent of BLM the attitude in my 71% African-American community is changing. In the past months I have found myself subject to many more anti-white remarks and even physical threats. People who used to smile and speak now look at me with suspicion. I have had African-Americans literally pull their children away from me and scold them for 'talking to that white woman'.

Since the advent of BLM the attitude in my 71% African-American community is changing; recently I have found myself subject to many more anti-white remarks and even physical threats.

One of my closest friends, a young African-American woman, has a beautiful 11-year old daughter who attends a Christian school. She doesn't understand why, all of a sudden, the colour of someone's skin matters. She thinks it is 'stupid'. This young girl embodies the fulfilment of Dr King's dream. But now, in these last days, when morality is being legislated, God is considered a myth, and conformity to the principles and values of humanism, globalism and pluralism are being demanded of young and old alike, I fear for the tender heart of my young friend.

Prayer for August and Beyond

A few days ago I attended a meeting among the clergy of the Ferguson community concerning the upcoming plans for the commemoration of the death of Michael Brown. We have it on strong authority that BLM will be active in the first week of August, and perhaps beyond.

The call is to prayer. We will prayer-walk streets and businesses. We will pray at home, over the phone and collectively. We will stand among the activists, praying with them as they express their anger and desire for change. We will stand in the precinct with the police, praying for them as they exercise their sworn duties. We will be there, dispensing water, umbrellas, food and shelter if necessary, and the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the love that Christ displayed to us.

Behind the mask of every activist, behind every uniform of every policeman, behind every label, there is a person who God created, whom he loves. It is our job, our mandate from Christ, to be responsive to that person.

Until all of us, black, white, yellow and brown, embrace who we are as children of the living God and embrace God's definitions of 'love', 'justice', 'unity', 'freedom' and 'peace', human beings will continue to war against, manipulate, and destroy one another.

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power...never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim 3:2-7, NASV - paraphrased)

Behind the mask of every activist, behind every uniform of every policeman, there is a person who God created, whom he loves.

Time of Decision

Now, as in no other time in the lives of each and every one of us, both in America and the United Kingdom, we face a time of decision. Will we continue to look at the histories of our individual cultures, and the sometimes terrible ways in which those cultures came into conflict with one another, and choose to find a use for that hatred, to allow it to continue, or will we look into the face of Jesus and hear him calling us to reason together?

We who are believers in Jesus Christ have heard his message, which declares that no man will triumph over the Kingdom of God.

On this day, we in the US and the UK must ask God that his will be accomplished. We must lay down our own wills and opinions to champion his cause. Only then will we feel free to love our neighbour. Only then will we gain the understanding we need to stand in the gap in this hour, in our respective nations. Only then can both of our nations hope to remain free.

References

1 Tisdale, S. Blacks in the U.S. Gaining Wealth and Education Faster Than Other Groups. Black Enterprise Magazine, 18 February 2016.

Linda Louis-vanReed reports.

As most of you in the UK may by now be aware, the 'Day of Rage' supposedly planned by the group Anonymous in conjunction with Black Lives Matter did not materialise.

During the week beginning 11 July, 37 cities across the United States were put on alert in response to rumours that protests were to occur on Friday 15 July. Although 'Black Lives Matter' events can be peaceful, it has not been uncommon for people to attempt to use them as opportunities to create an atmosphere of physical violence and chaos.

As we remember all too well from the early days of Ferguson, these attempts often succeed, with disastrous results.

Peace Reigned

By the morning of Saturday 16 July, however, news reports all across the country confirmed that there had been little to no notable activity.

In Washington DC, a few protesters turned up outside the White House, peacefully holding signs, enjoying the lovely weather. In New York City, close to 30 LGBT activists rallied outside The Stonewall Inn (the first national monument dedicated to LGBT rights), then marched to the LGBT community centre on 13th Street.

In Dallas, where just days before five policemen had been killed in a sniper attack, no activity took place. In New Orleans, rumours that protests were to take place at famed Lafayette Square caused businesses to shut down early. Officers were instructed to respond only if there was trouble. But the evening came and went peacefully.

In St Louis police monitored specific high-traffic areas for activity, but only a scant few protesters showed up outside St Louis City Hall. In Ferguson, peace and quiet reigned.

The only activists who claimed to respond directly to the call for a 'Day of Rage' gathered in Oakland, California. As a group of 10 activists swelled to between 100 and 150, they impeded traffic at several downtown intersections. Attempts to obstruct on- and off-ramps along Interstate 880 were thwarted by the California Highway Patrol. No citations were given out during the protests.

In San Francisco a group of protesters gathered near the Mission Police Station, several of whom assaulted a news crew. Three people were arrested on suspicion of battery and resisting arrest. Garbage was thrown into the street and lit on fire, but police quickly extinguished the flames.

The News No-one Reported

The one story that the US press did not hear was that of the thousands of committed, involved Christians who, every day leading up to protest day, petitioned our Father that hearts and minds might be changed, that these plans might be confounded and come to nothing, that his hand would be on our nation and its people.

God heard us, friends, and God heard all of you in the UK who were also moved to respond in prayer for the United States. The eventual peace was, in no small part, a Divine response to our collective intercession. Thank you.

With new terror attacks happening almost daily across Europe, Western leaders still refuse to face the truth about Islam.

The sickening murder of a defenceless elderly priest in Rouen marks a new low point in Islam's relationships with the West. But none of the Western leaders are willing to face up to the reality of what is happening in Europe.

Even the Pope says that this attack is nothing to do with religion!¹ That is the standard politically correct statement that is made every time there is an atrocity carried out by Muslims in the name of their god.

Ever since the end of the Second World War the policy in the West has been to seek appeasement with the oil-rich Arab nations of the Middle East. The Islamic Revolution in 1979 that installed Ayatollah Khomeini as supreme ruler of Iran was a great shock to the West as Iran had been its main supporter under the rule of the de-posed Shar.

From that time Western leaders turned their attention to promoting the Saudis as the leading friend of the West and there has been a continuous effort in the Western media to paint Saudi Arabia in a favourable light despite numerous reports of brutality, persecution of minorities and strict enforcement of the ban on women driving cars or leaving home without a male escort.

Covering Up the Facts

Even the most atrocious acts of terrorism, such as the destruction of the twin towers in New York in 2001 and the bombing of the London Underground 2005, were deliberately downplayed in terms of their links to Islam. They were portrayed as the acts of 'extremists' who were not representative of mainstream Muslims and every effort was made by the media to stress that Islam is a religion of peace. This is still the politically correct policy.

The most atrocious acts of terrorism in recent years have been deliberately downplayed in terms of their links to Islam.

According to Brietbart,² last week the BBC appeared to go to extraordinary lengths to attempt to cover up the Muslim identity of the Munich killer. At 3pm on Saturday 23 July BBC reported the killer as Ali Sonboly, but within one hour this was changed to David Sonboly. In the 6pm news he was again referred to as David Sonboly although in the same bulletin the BBC's correspondent in Germany referred to him as David Ali Sonboly. Did the BBC make a high level decision to hide the reference to 'Ali', although it admitted that the teenager had dual German/Iranian citizenship?

Religion of Peace?Pope Francis, who has denied the religious nature of recent terrorist attacks.

The 'religion of peace' facade has been wearing somewhat thin in face of the recent wave of terrorist activities in Europe, but the latest pronouncement by the Pope shows that Western leaders are still not prepared to discuss the religious beliefs of those who commit atrocities. Whilst attack after attack is being carried out with cries of 'Allahu Akbar' ('god is great'), nobody is willing to ask questions about this god, whose greatness apparently demands or justifies the murder of innocent people.

What Westerners do not realise is that Islam not only condones violence but actually commands it against 'infidels', especially Jews and Christians. The Qur'an says

Let not the unbelievers think that they will ever get away. They have not the power so to do. Muster against them all the men and weaponry at your command, so that you may strike terror into the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them who are unknown to you but known to Allah. All that you give in the cause of Allah shall be repaid to you. (8:59)

According to thereligionofpeace.com there are 109 verses in the Qur'an that call upon Muslims to wage war against unbelievers. They say "some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding." They also say that "there are very few verses of tolerance and peace to balance out the many that call for non-believers to be fought and subdued until they either accept humiliation, convert to Islam or are killed."

Western leaders are still not prepared to discuss the religious beliefs and agendas of those who commit the atrocities.

The Islamic Agenda

In order to understand what is going on today you have to examine the history of Islam and the life of its founder, Muhammad. Islam's supreme purpose is world domination. The propagation of Islam by force has been its policy right from the beginning.

Muhammad personally led many expeditions and wars plundering communities and slaughtering defenceless civilians. He personally set the example of violent conquest and forcible conversion that has been followed down the centuries.

Muhammad's dying wish in 632 AD was to clear the whole of Arabia of Christians and Jews – a policy of aggression that was immediately carried out by Abu Bakr, Muhammad's father-in-law, who became the first caliph of the Islamic state. Abu Bakr died in 634 and was succeeded by Caliph Omar, who was murdered in 644 and succeeded by Caliph Othman, who was murdered in 656 and succeeded by Caliph Ali, who was assassinated in 661.

All of these early caliphs led battles with the objective of expanding the Islamic state and forcing people to submit to Islam (the word Islam in Arabic means 'submission'), a policy which continued for centuries. Notable dates (some approximate) in the early years of Islam include:

• AD 647 conquest of the island of Cyprus
• AD 659 conquest of Egypt
• AD 700 military campaigns in North Africa
• AD 711 invasion of Gibraltar and conquest of Spain
• AD 716 invasion of Constantinople
• AD 732 Battle of Tours in France
• AD 777 Battle of Saragossa in Spain.

It does seem extraordinary that Western leaders can be so extraordinarily blind to the intentions of Islam. Our European forefathers who succeeded in stopping the advance of the Ottoman army at Vienna in 1683 were certainly under no such illusions. Could it be that this blindness is in fact a deliberate attempt by the secular humanist spirit driving modern Europe to look favourably upon Islam because of its hostility to the centuries of Judeo-Christian heritage that is so blatantly scorned by the European Union?

Is our blindness to the intentions of Islam connected to the secular humanist spirit at work across Europe?

If this indeed is the motive, the secular humanists are virtually committing social suicide because if Islam does become a majority movement in Europe, they will be the first to suffer along with LGBT communities. It is, of course, quite possible that Muslims will become the majority in Europe, given their extraordinary high birth rate and the number of young Muslims of childbearing age who have entered Europe as refugees or migrants.

Maybe Christians should accept responsibility for the confused spiritual state of Europe today. Clearly we have not been faithful to the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. Neither have we clearly demonstrated the love of God in our lives and in our teaching. If we had done, there could be no confusion between the God of the Bible and the Allah of the Qur'an. The greatest need today is to teach the truth of the Gospel. This is the only way to save Europe from catastrophe.

What is Ahead?

What does the future hold? A personal friend of mine whose ministry I value is Bill Wagner, who has lived and worked in Muslim countries for many years. Just before the invasion of Iraq he wrote perceptively:

Islam will continue to grow and will become more brutal in its attempts to conquer the world. There will be a rise of terrorism in all parts of the non-Muslim world since they have discovered how effective this can be. The nations of the world will be subject to suicide bombings. A number of wars such as those against Iraq and Afghanistan will take place but will be ineffective since Islam has learned to fight not from a position of military strength but from the shadowy back alleys of urban societies. Christians especially will be marked for death and persecution, although Islam will never completely take over the world.³

Many Christians believe that we have entered the days which Jesus foresaw when he warned his disciples about being deceived. He said, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matt 24:7-12).

It certainly looks as though a time of persecution lies ahead for Christians, but it is during times of persecution in the past that the Church has always grown. Maybe it is God's intention to allow the Church to go through a period of purging in the run-up to the second coming of our Lord.

References

1 E.g. Daley, K. Pope Says Terrorism Is 'Not A Religious War'. The Daily Caller, 28 July 2016.

2 Kassam, R. BBC 'Fixes' Munich Killer Article Following Breitbart Expose Of Muslim Name Cover Up. Breitbart, 23 July 2016.

3 Wagner, W, 2004. How Islam Plans to Change the World. Kregel Publications, Michigan, p216.

Clifford Denton begins a new teaching series on this controversial topic.

Much is said of the end times, and rightly so. Whether in veiled terms or in clear statements, the theme runs right through the Bible. We must study what the Bible says about the coming days as we seek to obey Jesus' command to watch and pray.

But the other side of this coin is that we must carefully and continually test our understanding. Often pre-emptive judgments about how to interpret some passages lead people to suggest watertight formulae for every step through the last years of Earth's history. The conflicting perspectives, timelines and interpretations have made the topic of the end times very divisive, segmenting Christians according to their views on pre-, post- and mid- tribulation rapture, the place of Israel, and questions about the millennial rule of Jesus. All this when events are rapidly proceeding in the world around us!

Whether in veiled terms or in clear statements, the theme of the 'end times' runs right through the Bible.

Careful Focus Needed

This division often means that the subject is relegated to the background. Instead, emphasis is put on other fundamentals of the faith which unite us all, including the task of evangelism we all must accomplish together.

Yet, as the days move forward and evident signs of the end increase, it is surely time to find a way to walk in unity into that future, not compromising but watching and praying together. Peter's question, asked so long ago, is still relevant today: "Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...?" (2 Pet 3:12)

In this new series, we will seek to contribute to the task of establishing a careful focus on this subject. We invite our readers to take this journey with us and join in the discussion, praying afresh for the Lord's own guidance in this important matter.

Before we begin, it is important to establish our prime focus.

The Return of Messiah

With the biblical prophets to study, including the Book of Revelation, we can soon be immersed in discussions about the various signs of the times, their ordering and how they will impact our lives on Earth and beyond. But this is not the central issue.

When Jesus' disciples talked with him on the Mount of Olives prior to completion of his earthly ministry, they asked this question: "What will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matt 24:3).

The conflicting perspectives, timelines and interpretations have made the topic of the end times very divisive – but no less important to study.

These were the men who had been with the Lord for the years of his earthly ministry and had grown to love him and rely on him. They realised that he was about to leave them and they did not want him to go. We all have this sort of experience when a loved one departs from this world, a bereavement, a deeply emotional time of personal loss, a desire to continue to be with the one we love.

Or we have the experience of a friend going somewhere else in this world, perhaps a family member leaving home or a friend moving away. We desire them to come back to us and renew those activities we love to do together. We hope for special times of coming together in the future, to share holidays or family times together around the meal table.

This helps us to understand what was in the heart of Jesus' disciples when they were soon to be left alone. They did not ask for a theology of the end times - but how they might be helped to prepare for the return of their Lord and Saviour – and personal friend.

This should be our priority too, as we study the end times. There will be enormous disruption both in this world and in the universe as a whole, but the focus is on the wonderful expectation of the Lord's return. The enormity of the signs that will precede the Lord's coming is the way God has chosen to emphasise the event of all events.

Jesus' disciples did not ask for a theology of the end times – their heart was to prepare for the return of their Lord, Saviour and Friend.

Getting Our Priorities in Order

Over the series we will be considering some of those signs and expectations – but before we begin, let us pause and ensure we have this priority in view. It is the same priority that lies at the heart of sharing the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper together – to remember his death until he comes (1 Cor 11:26). Nothing could be more central - and keeping our priorities centred on this will naturally keep us in focus on all other things.

The Lord's return is likened to the coming of a bridegroom. For those of us who are included in this wedding party we have the most wonderful fulfilment of our lives in view. For those who are asleep and not waiting with anticipation, instead of joy there is warning (Matt 25:1-13).

Let us pray about this as we go on to study those Scriptures that talk of his coming. Let us ensure our priorities are in order. Do you sense a prayer welling up?

...Come Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)

Next time: How to approach Scripture relating to the end times.

For other articles in this series, click here.

Paul Luckraft interviews Piers Crow, Bible teacher and director of The David House, a charity and para-church ministry with a vision to share God's heart for the Jewish people.

When I met Piers over a late breakfast one sunny morning, I soon realised I was in for a fascinating time. The more he shared the clearer it became that this ministry has an important role to play in what God is doing, not just in this country but elsewhere around the world, especially in Ukraine. Moreover, his own background and the way he was led into this work offers encouragement and stimulation for those seeking to serve God in similar ways.

Prior Preparation

Piers had the benefit of a Christian family and upbringing, but rebelled in his teenage years and dropped out of school. However, at the age of 19 he was saved and his journey with God began. After beginning A-levels again, Piers chose to study Christianity, Judaism and Islam and went from there to study Theology at Cardiff University. He describes this experience as intellectually stimulating but spiritually dry. However, one major plus point from his time there was meeting a Swedish girl who would quickly become his wife.

However, God had a plan for all that study and a 'chance meeting' on a shuttle bus going to the airport in Sweden led to a conversation about biblical prophecy. Chatting with his fellow passenger during this brief journey, Piers was challenged by the fact that the Bible has so much to say about Israel and the Jewish people - something that he had not come across before, either in his university degree or at his church. This made a lasting impression and was a turning point in his life leading to more and more study of the Jewish roots of his faith. But what should he do about this new revelation?

The David House charity has two main aims – to reach local Jews and to teach Jewish roots to the wider Church.

Piers Arthur-Crow, director of The David House.Piers decided that the next step was to enrol for a year at a Bible school in Sweden known for its heart for Israel. This was a much more inspiring experience which ignited his faith and helped him grow towards what God had planned for his life. Yet, where was all this leading? Piers was not at all clear about what to do next but he was determined not to lose sight of the Lord and the life of prayer and study he had encountered whilst away.

He took up a part-time job as a postman so he could continue to study Hebrew and the word whilst praying into God's plan for him. Then, in 2007, out of the blue, The David House came into his life.

Encountering The David House

The David House was not a new venture at this time. It had been started in the late 1960s by Ken Price and since 1966 it had been the UK distributor of the Vineyard magazine, a world-wide publication which aims to stimulate readers to faith in God and his Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua). This magazine is still going strong and is available today.

In 1972 The David House became a charity with two main aims: to reach local Jews ('local' meant in the Cardiff area) and to teach Jewish roots to the wider Church. Ken never went out of his way to seek funding, standing on the word God had given him from Isaiah 49:23, "for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me". He simply prayed and the finances came in, even when the charity grew to such an extent that it was necessary to purchase a building in Cardiff out of which to operate the ministry. God clearly had his hand on this work.

Looking back, Piers finds it astounding that this ministry building was on the same street where his father had had his family business and where Piers had lived as a student in Cardiff. He had passed The David House building many times, never knowing what a key part it would play in his life and calling!

Piers first joined The David House as a trustee, but God had destined a greater role for him there. He later left the Board in order to become an employee of the charity, with the specific remit of running The David House in the UK. Piers very much wanted to continue in the way that Ken had operated and with the same degree of faith. He regards himself as having inherited the mantle from its founder.

The ministry stresses to Gentile believers the need for a firm understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebraic nature of God's word.

Mission: The One New Man

What does The David House do today? Its aims have not changed over the years. A primary goal remains to reach the Jewish people and share God's love and purpose for them. But alongside this is the equally essential task of teaching the Church about God's heart for the Jews and of the nourishing root they provide to the Gentile branches of the Olive Tree. It is a key part of the ministry to constantly stress to Gentile believers that without a firm understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebraic nature of God's word, it is impossible to fully discern God's plans and purposes for the world, both today and in the future.

In recent years the Lord has impressed upon those involved in The David House the global work he is doing in this day to bring together Jew and Gentile as 'one new man' in Christ, as laid out by Paul in Ephesians 2:11-22. This work was won at the cross (Eph 2:16) but for so long the Body of Jesus has not realised the fullness that Jesus has purposed in bringing Jew and Gentile together in himself.

The stirring of the Gentile Church to realise its Jewish roots goes hand in hand with the steady and significant growth of the Messianic movement in the last few decades. Piers is reminded of Romans 11:12, "Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" Rather than a passing phase, it is part of the promise of the return of the Jewish people to their Messiah as the Gentile Church becomes ready to provide a greater witness and welcome than it ever has before.

This might seem a daunting task, especially as similar initiatives elsewhere have not always proved successful. But it has become increasingly clear that the One New Man movement is not just the work of a few enthusiasts trying to spread their ideas. Rather, this is both spontaneous and Spirit-led, the mark of God himself upon his Church, clearly indicating the direction in which it should, and eventually will, go.

The Lord is currently doing a global work in this day to bring together Jew and Gentile as 'one new man' in Christ.

Fruitful Conferences

It was perhaps most astonishing to hear that Ukraine is at the forefront of this. God is clearly moving most significantly in that country and The David House has recently started running conferences there, beginning in the spring of 2015 and continuing at six-monthly intervals, with its fourth conference being held in Kiev this coming September.

Hundreds of leaders are attending with an approximately 50-50 split between Jews and Gentiles. Believing rabbis meet with Christian pastors to consider topics such as the identity of Israel, the nature of the Church, the Hebraic context of the Bible, the curse of anti-Semitism and God's will to establish the One New Man. Overall the growth of one new man through these conferences has the dual success of defeating Replacement Theology within the Church and providing a strong Messianic witness to the Jewish people.

The David House also runs conferences in the UK, both on the south coast and in south Wales, and puts on events to celebrate the main feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles to bless and edify believers.

Overall, talking to Piers gave the impression that this is just the beginning and that the One New Man movement is really gaining momentum. The outcome of efforts so solidly biblical and providential is more certain and the fruit more lasting. This is definitely the case in those areas where The David House is involved.

To find out more about The David House or for regular mailings please contact Piers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or PO Box 5395, Hove, BN52 9YD.

This Week's Scriptures: Numbers 25:10-29:40; 1 Kings 18:46-19:21; Romans 11:2-32

There is evidence all around us that there is a Creator. As the psalmist said, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps 19:1). Proof that he is also a personal God is found in the witness of his people – centrally Israel, and thereafter those added to them through faith in Jesus the Messiah.

It is said that in an audience of Marquess D'Aregens with Frederick the Great in 1779, the following interchange took place:

Frederick: "Can you give me one single irrefutable proof of God?"

D'Argens: "Yes, your Majesty, the Jews."

How clearly D'Argens would have understood the importance of our study this week, when Phinehas preserved the identity of Israel from being assimilated among the nations.

Battle for Identity

Our study gives us an insight into the spiritual battle that has sought to discredit the character of God – a battle that goes on today. If Israel's enemies could cause her identity to be lost by assimilation into the world, then her witness to the God of the Bible would be lost.

The incident that led to Phinehas' violence against the Israelite and the Midianite woman shows how important it is to God to preserve his people from spiritual idolatry through intermarriage. In human eyes the violent act might be judged harshly, but in God's eyes it brought blessing to Phinehas and his descendants.

By reading this story we also have some understanding of the reason for the innumerable battles that have raged in this world to eradicate Jewish identity.

The account of Phinehas was a 'one-off' so we must be careful not to turn it into a theology to justify violence. Nevertheless, it gives us an insight into the spiritual battle that impacts on our physical world with the intent of destroying the Jews, especially by seduction into worship of false gods. Intermarriage is still a way this might happen and the principle applies as much to Christians as to Jews, leading to the exhortation of Paul to the Corinthians, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14).

A Visible Witness

For the sake of his own Name, whatever it takes, God will ensure that he retains a remnant of the Children of Israel as his visible witness. This is a central reason for Israel's return to their Land in our day and a reason for Israel being never far from the front pages of our newspapers.

Added to this are the multitude of Christians all around the world. The privilege of being called by God bears responsibility. Christians share this responsibility with Jews for their lives to be visible witnesses of our personal, loving and trustworthy God.

God knew the heart of Phinehas. He was not a cold-blooded murderer, but was consumed with a holy zeal to protect his people for the purposes of the God of Israel – purposes that continue to this day. Just think what would have happened had there not been such a man.

Author : Clifford Denton

This Week's Scriptures: Numbers 22:2-25:9; Micah 5:6–6:8; Romans 11:25-32.

This week our Torah reading takes us to a situation in Israel's history which is frequently repeated in different forms in the nations today, and is also a challenge to us as individuals. It records the reaction of Balak, king of Moab, to the presence of the Israelites on his borders. He knew of their victories over Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan, who had resisted their passage.

So in fear, he thought himself wise to call Balaam, a gentile false prophet and soothsayer, who lived in Aram, by the River Euphrates, to come to Moab (>350 miles) and curse^2,3 Israel, thereby hoping that the power of divination would enable him to defeat them in battle. Balak knew that Balaam had the power to curse using occult incantations (Num 22:6-7).

Balaam Sees with His Eyes, But Lacks Spiritual Vision

Balaam called on his gods (using seven different names) and received God's clear instruction: "Do not go to Balak. You must not put a curse³ on those people [Israel] because they are blessed" (Num 22:12). However, God also knew the evil intention of his heart (greedy, haughty, proud, hating Israel, and seeking riches and honour for himself) and had other plans, to give Balaam the spiritual vision he lacked and to turn his intention to curse Israel into both a blessing for His covenant people, and a wonderful prophetic word of the coming King, referring to the promised Messiah who would come to His people.

Balaam's proclamation, "How good are your tents, O Jacob, and your homes, O Israel" (Num 24:5) is recited to this day when Jewish people enter the synagogue for Shabbat services.

God's anger was aroused because of Balaam's heart motives to curse Israel, and on his journey to Balak, the Angel of the Lord (malach Adonai, a term often referring to the Lord Jesus as the messenger of God) stood in the narrow roadway three times with a drawn sword, to oppose him. But it was Balaam's donkey who saw Him and she turned aside, then pressed herself against the wall, and finally lay down under Balaam.

When Balaam beat her repeatedly, God opened the donkey's mouth and she spoke to him: "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" (Num 22:28).

Then God opened Balaam's eyes to see the Angel of the Lord and told him that He had opposed him because his way was reckless (Hebrew yarat = contrary, perverse) before Him. Balaam was brought to acknowledge his sin (Num 22:4), and offered to turn back. But God again had other plans. Greed and hatred of Israel had blinded Balaam's vision, yet God permitted him to go to Balak - but only to speak what he was given to say.

Those with true prophetic vision today speak with fear and trembling only and exactly what God gives them to say.

God Gives Foolish and Evil Balaam Spiritual Sight to Bless His Covenant People

Thus God opened Balaam's spiritual eyes to see Israel in a completely new light. Balaam's response was a miracle: (a) he fell flat on his face before the God of Israel; (b) he saw Israel's true condition in the sight of God; and (c) he was given four wonderful prophetic oracles to confound Balak:

1. He saw God's view of Israel: a people who live apart and are not reckoned among the nations; "How can I curse or denounce² those whom God has not cursed or denounced²?" (Num 23:8). Natural sight shows a nation like any other, to be destroyed when it suits, but with spiritual sight, Balaam 'sees' that they are separate, blessed, kept for a special purpose, and distinguished from all other people by God's Presence (Ex 33:16).
2. He saw God's sovereignty in Israel: He is their King, and fulfils His promises. Natural sight shows a very large rabble, but with spiritual sight, the Lord their God is with them, and no occult powers that Balaam can use will affect them, or change God's blessing (Num 23:21-23).
3. He saw God's grace upon Israel: Israel has beauty, order and fruitfulness, like a garden. Natural sight shows a wilderness, but with spiritual sight, they are recipients of God's blessing and protection (Num 24:5-7). In addition, Balaam proclaims that those who bless Israel will themselves be blessed, and those who curse1 them will themselves be cursed3 (Num 24:9) - a confirmation of Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses^{1 you I will curse3}." Many Western nations today have turned from God and using only natural sight have cursed^1,2 Israel and come under God's curse³.
4. He saw Israel's coming King and His Kingdom (the one whose eyes now see clearly): Israel's King will be their Messiah, the star that will come out of Jacob (He will be Jewish), and the sceptre that will rise out of Israel (Jacob transformed by God to complete God's plan and purpose).

Balaam came to curse Israel but was unable to, because God had blessed them. God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1 Cor 1:27) and He can speak to us, and our nations, through foolish Balaam. The natural man without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14). This same truth is effective today. Those who are foolish and curse¹ Israel (even just make light of them, consider them trifling, just a problem, yet of no importance, or who hold them in contempt or despise them), will receive the full bitter execrating curse3 of God. God is not a man that He should lie. He speaks and He fulfils His word (Num 23:19). Beware, O Man, if you would even lightly curse¹ Israel.

Our Response: A Right Heart Attitude and Spiritual Sight

Would we be true prophets, and hear God's voice, or soothsayers and fortune-tellers to know the future? Will we, like the leaders in many nations today, curse His people and suffer the wrath of the God of Israel? Many of our young people have been raised on pagan myths of Middle Earth or Harry Potter, and been enticed into occult practices 'because it's fun'. As Balaam found, this is dangerous country and he died when Israel fought against Midian, on account of enticing Israel into occult practices (Num 31:8).

Our natural vision needs to be transformed so we can see with spiritual sight. God has shown us what is good, and how to live as He requires: "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8); to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways, to love Him and serve Him with all our heart and with all our soul, and to observe His commands (Deut 10:12-13), and this includes blessing Israel.

Be encouraged in this, for God will save His people Israel, because He keeps his covenant promise, and His plan is to show mercy on all mankind (Jew and Gentile) on account of their disobedience. Let us, as God amazingly did through Balaam, bless Israel His people and not curse them. When their King, Yeshua (Jesus), returns, He will bring salvation to all Israel (Rom 11:25-32). Hallelu-Yah!

Note

There are three main Hebrew words for curse, with increasing severity:

1 qaleil, to make light of, consider of no importance, to hold in contempt, to despise.

2 qavah, to malign, demean, belittle, denounce, despise.

3 aror, to bring a bitter, execrating curse.

This Week's Scriptures: Numbers 22:2-25:9; Micah 5:6–6:8; Romans 11:25-32.

Author: Greg Stevenson

Cracks in the EU, revolution in Turkey and racial tension in the USA - Clifford Hill looks at what the word of God says about these times.

It is often said among clergy that the most popular song requested for funeral services is Frank Sinatra's 'I did it my way'. The song describes various incidents in life and boasts "I faced it all and I stood tall: and I did it my way".

I think I would be really scared to go to my grave boasting that throughout my life I have done everything my way, but clearly this song strikes a chord with very many people as it epitomises the spirit of the age.

Maybe this is why so many people voted for Brexit – not because they were expressing a desire to be free from secular humanist rules and regulations from Brussels, but because they saw this as a chance to register a protest against all those in authority. It is the desire to be free – to do what we want, to be in charge of our own lives – that's what most people want, not just in Britain, but all over the world. It's very much in evidence in Europe.

Leaving the EU

Britain's decision to leave the European Union has inspired populist movements throughout the Continent. Political parties in no fewer than 18 Eurozone nations are demanding a referendum to decide whether they also can leave the European Union. Austria's highest court has ruled that the recent presidential election must be re-run due to voting irregularities. The Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer only lost by a handful of votes and is very likely to win the re-run. He has declared that one of the first things he will do is to hold an 'in/out' referendum on the EU. There are similar demands from populist parties in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, and even in Germany.

There is a rising tide of nationalism in Europe

Of course, European leaders are watching these developments with alarm knowing that their Empire building plans for a 'super-state' are being challenged by a rising tide of nationalism in most of the member countries. In Britain political leaders are trying hard to hold things together against a tide of dissent. Conservative Party leaders are closing ranks despite the disappointment of losing the referendum, while the Labour Party is tearing itself apart on a wave of rank and file rebellion against the intellectual idealists who have run the Party for decades.

Trump and ClintonMary Altaffer & Chuck Benton/AP/Press Association Images

But it's not just Europe that is going through a period of increasing instability. The same spirit of rebellion against authority propelled Donald Trump to the top to the disgust and horror of traditional Republicans. But his opponent, Hillary Clinton, is also seen as part of the hated establishment who have run America for many years - so the outcome of the forthcoming Presidential election is by no means certain.

America is teetering on the brink of what the New York Post described as "Civil War", with racial tensions between African-Americans and the white population the highest they have been for 50 years – since the days of the protest movement led by Dr Martin Luther King.

Trump's speech appealed to the angry and the frustrated.

Trump's speech accepting the Presidential nomination was deliberately targeted to appeal to the angry and the frustrated. This indicates that a highly dangerous and toxic campaign lies ahead at a time when community relationships in the USA are at an all-time low due to the number of gun crime incidents – not just the shooting of young black men by the police but multiple murders of innocent people by gunmen using sophisticated weapons that are freely available in the USA. The need for a statesman of exceptional ability to lead the nation has never been greater in America. Yet most unbiased observers can only view the future with anxiety or even alarm for the future of the world in a highly unstable period of history.

Spirit of Rebellion

It was the spirit of rebellion that triggered the Arab Spring and still drives the Civil War in Syria and the tribal war in Iraq. The same spirit of rebellion can be seen in many other parts of the world, the latest being Turkey with its failed coup that is being used by President Erdogan to subdue all resistance to his becoming a national dictator. 50,000 people are said to have been arrested – not merely members of the military who staged the coup – but judges and teachers and journalists and civil servants – anyone suspected of being a hindrance to the absolute power of the President.

By declaring a state of emergency Erdogan already has the power to rule by decree without being subject to Parliament. So democracy, which he claimed to be defending, by calling the people out onto the streets, is now virtually dead in Turkey. The implications of this are unknown for the European Union who have been relying upon Turkey to stem the tidal wave of migration from the Middle East.

So where does God come into all this?

The Word of God

So where does God come into all this? Does the Bible give us any understanding of what is happening today and how we should be praying? Psalm 2 comes directly to the point. It says that the spirit of rebellion among the nations is not just against earthly rulers, it is against God – because he is perceived as the ultimate authority. "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains', they say, and throw off their fetters...."

In the New Testament, Paul's letter to Timothy describes what we're seeing in many parts of the world today. He says "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents.... brutal... Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power... In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim 3:1-5, 3:12-13). Jesus strongly warned about deception, "Watch out that no one deceives you" (Matt 24:4).

Anarchists' Activity

That warning is particularly significant this week because there is a lot of activity among New Agers and occultists as well as anarchists who want to show their defiance of convention. There is the big 'Tomorrowland' heavy-metal festival at Boon in Belgium, a meeting of Satanists in California and the Gay Pride March through the streets of Jerusalem this weekend.

Of course we should not be fearful of these things! We know there are plenty of people who love to dabble in the occult simply to demonstrate their rejection of faith in God, which was no doubt the motive behind the Satanists' ritual at the opening of the Gotthard Tunnel between Switzerland and Italy last month.¹

As Christians we have to be realists and recognise what is happening in the world around us but remember that "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). And the solemn promise of God is "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isa 41:10).

References

1 Hill, C. D-Day for Europe. Prophecy Today, 10 June 2016.