The purposeful dismantling of America

The purposeful dismantling of America

In the past few weeks, even months, several well respected radio talk show hosts have been saying that the president of the United States is doing all he can to destroy America--on purpose. With varying degrees of passion, they have been shouting out to anyone who will listen that the president is a Marxist and he is purposely dismantling every aspect of American society in order to force its citizens to become dependent on the government, which, in turn, will remake the government into a socialist entity. Some have even suggested that the opening of the door to all things Muslim plays into the Marxist plan because Islam is a strong armed socialist system.

The evidence is clear before the American people if the scales would fall off their eyes. Just yesterday, the president made history by being the first president to hold a town hall meeting on twitter. His charismatic and casual nature was a winner on camera, but there is just one hitch. He misrepresented the truth, especially on the issue of jobs and the economy. Here is what he said about White House salaries: " By the way, people who work in the White House, they've had their pay frozen since I came in, our high-wage folks. So they haven't had a raise in two and a half years, and that's appropriate, because a lot of ordinary folks out there haven't, either. In fact, they've seen their pay cut in some cases."

In truth, Gawker.com reports "Of the 270 White House staffers who have been there for more than a year, 146-or 54%-received raises. The average salary increase was 8%." In addition, the average White House salary of $81,765 was 65% above the median household income. On jobs the president said, "And over the last 15 months, we've actually seen two million jobs created in the private sector." His own handpicked Council of Economic Advisors reports that those 2.4 million jobs added or saved because of the stimulus program cost taxpayers $278,000 per job. The report indicates that in the past six months the economy has added or saved more jobs on its own than with the stimulus.

Moreover, unemployment has risen from 7.3 percent when the "stimulus" was under debate to 9.1 percent. Since the president took office debt has soared from just under $10 trillion to nearly $14.5 trillion. From the use of American resources to overthrow governments in favor of Islam to the dismantling of the American free market system, one can only conclude that this president is deliberately remaking America. Neither Congress nor the Judiciary seem interested in opposing it. It is the citizenry who must stand otherwise American freedom will be a footnote in history. Proverbs 29:2 is wisdom: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn."

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day! 

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

The Parallel politics of presidents and terrorists

The parallel politics of presidents and terrorists

The US president is in full campaign swing--everything is political these days. Well almost everything. Its a political decision to announce bringing home the troops in Afghanistan against his general's wise council. I, for one, want our troops home. If we are not going to fight terrorism, but rather assist in building a nation for terrorist groups to rule, our troops should be home. But this is where things are not so "election" oriented, or are actually a different type of politics. White House policies in the Middle East are undoubtedly pro-Islamic in the guise of pro-democracy, and there are parallel tracks of politics being played--the American people, our troops, and Israel are caught in the president's political snare.

On the home front, there is a campaign promise to be fulfilled--that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will be brought home. This promise has nothing to do with victory or national security. It has everything to do with gaining votes. Its been ten long years of war. 'Seems as though with America's superior firepower, those places could have been subdued and terrorists rooted out in short order, but then the whole unconstitutional aspect of nation building crept in. The guise, however, is extended into the dark shadows of Islamic deceit where this White House is promoting democracy through its partner the Muslim Brotherhood--documented to be behind terrorist groups such as Hamas, al Qaeda and the Taliban.

There is a 2006 film called "The Brotherhood" where producer PBS states: "Award winning Newsweek journalists Mark Hosenball and Michael Isikoff investigate a movement that preaches peaceful co-existence but also supports suicide bombings in Israel and offers inspiration for many violent jihadi groups." The Muslim Brotherhood was also part of the Holyland Foundation trial where prosecutors submitted a Brotherhood plan to takeover the United States through a "Civilization Jihad." These investigations and court transcripts point to the Brotherhood as a deceitful organization that puts on a non-violent, moderate front, while supporting worldwide jihad to establish an Islamic Caliphate under Sharia Law.

At a June 20 reelection fundraiser with Democratic Friends of Israel, the president said of the US-Israel relationship: "There are going to be moments over the course of the next six months or the next 12 months or the next 24 months in which there may be tactical disagreements in terms of how we approach these difficult problems." The tactical disagreements are actually related to the White House strategy of working with the Muslim Brotherhood to overthrow Middle Eastern rulers and creating states even more hostile to Israel and the United States. This does not bode well for America. The Lord said to Abram of Israel in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee." Promoting Islam is not a blessing.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day! 

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

What's it going to take?

What's it going to take?

The Congress and the White House are locking horns over the audacity of the president reporting to Congress that the United States is not involved in hostilities in Libya. Even deeper is seemingly overwhelming evidence that the White House is funding Libyan rebels with ties to al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist sponsoring group wishing to overthrow the United States with "Civilization Jihad," is now a foreign policy partner. Peeling back the layers of deception on this political onion reveals an undeniable trend that this White House is supporting the advancement of radical Islam through its Middle East "reform" policy, which is a threat to national security--a genuine Constitutional crisis.

Last week, my son Christian had dinner with House Speaker John Boehner. It's part of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University where my son participates as an Ashbrook Scholar. Christian was all fired up that Congressman Boehner was going to take on the president with respect to the illegal and unethical war in Libya. But Christian has also lamented that so very few of his generation even know that we are in a war in Libya. He says that so many of his contemporaries are more concerned about partying, playing video games, and hanging out, that they could care less about the direction their country is taking. He believes it poses an extraordinary challenge for future leaders.

Another leadership vacuum...On one end of the spectrum, the church is busy laying hands on people and prophesying about how many great things they are going to be doing, jobs they are going to have, wealth they are going to accumulate and on and on. On the other end of the spectrum, the church is busy sitting in its pews on Sundays, listening to another boring sermon, looking at their watches and eager to get it over with. In between are the workers busy doing a lot and getting nothing done. There is a small, and I believe it to be very small, remnant that is concerned about the very salvation of their neighbors and the soul of their nation. They are trying really hard to do what is right in the eyes of God.

I remember the Vietnam War era where the communists organized gullible young people into massive protest forces against war. Are communists the only ones that organize war protests? Can it be that good people, with solid morals, who know right from wrong, and strive to do the right thing, just do not want to put their foot down and draw a line in the sand? Is it going to take our sons or grandsons being killed in the vain support of a disguised Islamic Caliphate before we act? You see, this is not just about America, its about the advance of a principality of darkness manifest in the physical. Romans 13:12 says, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light."

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day! 

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

Islam And The End Times

This Week’s Feature Article by Jack Kelley

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Rev. 13:8)
There’s a lot of interest these days in the role of Islam in the End Times. And from what I’m reading, a lot of misunderstanding, too. Recent surveys are shedding some light on the subject.


It’s clear that followers of Islam are increasing in number faster than any other religious group in the world. Their current growth rate is said to be four times faster than that of Christians.  According to a recent survey by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, those who practice Islam now make up nearly one-fourth of the world’s population at 1.57 billion members, second only to Christianity.  This is revolutionary in nature and even though it’s happening right before our eyes, most Western Christians haven’t even noticed.  And not only are Moslems the fastest growing religious group in the world, they also hold that distinction in the United States, Canada and Europe, with Europe perhaps being the model of where Canada and then the US are headed.

Comparing the current birth rates of native Europeans with Europe’s Moslem immigrant population leads us to one very clear and surprising conclusion: the Europe we have known is very quickly changing into what some already refer to as Eurabia, and will soon find itself under the power and control of Islam. Today there are more Moslems in Germany than there are in Lebanon. France’s Moslem population, while fewer in number than Germany’s, represents a greater percentage of French citizenry, and given the current rate at which church buildings are being converted there will soon be more mosques in England than functioning churches.

Following the rapture of the Church, Islam will be the most populous religious system on Earth by a wide margin. Whether you believe that Islam is a religion of peace or not, it’s pretty obvious that they’re not going to just go away after the rapture and abandon their long held dream of becoming the world’s dominant religion just at the point of realizing it.

What About Ezekiel 38?

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Islam will no longer be a viable religious force after the Battle of Ezekiel 38 either. According to The Pew Forum report, the countries who will unite against Israel and be defeated there are a small percentage of the total Islamic population. For example, the four largest Islamic countries by population aren’t even involved. In fact, two thirds of all the world’s Moslems live in 10 countries and of those only Turkey (5) and Iran (6) are named by Ezekiel. Rough estimates indicate that as little as 15% of the Islamic world will be represented by the forces aligned against Israel, and remember it’s only their soldiers who die in battle, not their total populations. And given their dismal past performance in battles against Israel, it’s unlikely that the followers of Islam will desert their religion because of one more defeat at the hands of the Jews.

And then there’s the fact that the end times leaders called the King of the North and the King of the South will both came from places that are decidedly Moslem today.  Just because they emerged from the Greek Empire doesn’t make them Western European. The first King of the North built his capital city, Seleucia, on the Tigris river in modern Iraq and the first King of the South lived in Egypt. Daniel 11:40 tells us the end times personifications of these two kings will still be contending for world dominance just prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

Compare that to what will likely happen to the 2.2 billion strong “Christian” world in the Rapture and it’s not hard to see that Islam will be the strongest religious force on Earth as Daniel’s 70th Week begins. (After all, none of them will be raptured.)  Islam would be the obvious choice for a man who wants to use a religious system to gain control of the world.

And remember, the anti-Christ won’t be confirming a covenant with Israel for the purpose of helping them. He’ll be doing it to help himself. By means of peace he’ll deceive many, Daniel warned (Daniel 8:25). And with the exception of the fleeing Jewish remnant, the world will be deceived, saying “Peace and safety” just as sudden destruction comes upon them (1 Thes. 5:9). But God will not be deceived. He’s already on the record, calling it a covenant with death (Isaiah 28:15).  Doesn’t this covenant serve God’s purpose, you ask? Well of course everything that happens serves God’s purpose, but that doesn’t mean everything that happens is good for man. The Jews will think they’re getting a guarantee of peace but God will use the covenant to usher in Daniel’s 70th Week, a time when He’ll completely destroy the nations and purify His covenant people. It’ll be anything but peaceful.

Over 5 years ago I first reported on the similarities between Islamic prophecies of al Mahdi and Christian prophecies of the anti-Christ. I noted how both are said to come on the scene during a time of great turmoil on Earth, both come claiming a desire to restore peace, both have a seven year reign, both head a one world religion and one world government, both claim supernatural origins, and in both cases their reign is prophesied to end in a battle between good and evil that brings Earth’s final judgment. It almost sounds as if they’re the same person.

Back then almost all students of prophecy were still convinced that the anti-Christ had to be of Western European origin, aligned somehow with the Roman Catholic Church. But since then I’ve become aware of more and more people who are taking a second look at this traditional view, and are considering the possibility of a world leader coming from the Eastern leg of the Roman Empire, from which Islam sprang.

Another Lesson From Daniel

Our first glimpse of Gentile Dominion, the period of Gentile rule over the Earth, came in the form of a large poly-metallic statue from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:31-45)   When Daniel had his vision of Gentile Dominion (Daniel 7), it was represented by four great beasts. The first was a lion, symbolizing Babylon. The second was a bear, the Medo-Persians, and the third was a leopard, Greece. Then in Daniel 7:7 he said, “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.” This is a reference to Rome. In animal imagery, the horn stands for authority, and when used symbolically the number 10 denotes the completion of divine order. Comparing this with Daniel 2:44 we can see that  this 4th beast would have complete authority over Earth and would never totally relinquish it until the Lord comes to take it by force.

The anti-Christ will make his first Biblical appearance in Rev. 6:2, disguised as the man on the white horse. According to Daniel 8:25 he’ll seem to be a great peacemaker, but his intent will be to conquer the world. His true identity won’t be revealed until Revelation 13:1-2 where it becomes clear that he’s been empowered by Satan. Verses 1- 2 describe him thus. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Compare Rev. 13:1-2 to Daniel 7:7 and you’ll see that while the 10 horns show that he’ll have all the authority of the fourth gentile kingdom, his identifying characteristics will be more like the first three of Daniel’s beasts. Babylon, Persia, and Greece were all oriented toward the East. Only Rome had a western orientation (which made it different from the other three, as Daniel noted) Could this mean that the anti-Christ will also look first to the East (Isalm) to consolidate his power?

Time will tell. In his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel told us how the end times version of the 4th kingdom would be characterized by inner conflict. He said that where it had once been as two strong legs of iron (the Eastern and Western divisions of the Roman Empire) rebuilding it at the end it would be like trying to mix iron and clay. (Daniel 2:40-43) He could have been describing some of the social unrest we’ve witnessed in several European countries since their native populations have not always responded well to Moslem immigration.

My purpose in writing this is not in any way to confirm or endorse the views of some self-proclaimed experts on Islam  who’ve burst on the scene recently with all sorts of new interpretations of Christian prophecy. It’s to remind us all to keep our eyes open. Things are happening fast and will continue to challenge our traditional perspective. Daniel was told that as the End of the Age approaches knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4). That means we’ll be given a clearer understanding of how events will unfold than those who came before us. This will happen through careful observation, actually seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and comparing them to Scripture. But God knows the end from the beginning, so none of this is new to Him. Where we see change, He just sees a closer alignment of Earthly events with Heavenly truth. It’s time to keep an open Bible handy as we watch the headlines because we now have another reason to search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah. 05-21-11

The Kings Of The North And The South

Commentary by Jack Kelley

“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. (Daniel 11:36)
“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.” (Daniel 11:40)


Three separate kings are in view in Daniel 11:36 & 40 and their identities must be discovered to fully understand what will happen in the days leading up to the end. They are the King who exalts himself,  King of the North, and the King of the South.   All of Daniel 11:4-35 has been taken up with a discussion of various generations of the King of the North and the King of the South.  The King who exalts himself is neither, and yet subdues them both.  Let’s see if we can identify these three kings.

First, the King who exalts himself. The angel told Daniel this king would exalt and magnify himself above every god.  In 2 Thes. 2:4 Paul said the anti-Christ will exalt himself over everything that is called god or is worshiped.  The angel also told Daniel he would say unheard of things against the God of gods.  In Rev. 13:6 John said the anti- Christ will blaspheme God and slander His name.  So it’s clear that the king who exalts himself is the anti-Christ.

Now for the other two. The vision of Daniel 11 was given in 536BC and begins with an angel telling Daniel what would happen to the Persian Kingdom then in power.  The angel told Daniel that after 3 more Persian Kings, a fourth one would arise, an especially rich and powerful king. This Persian King, who we know as Xerxes I, took as his queen the Jewish woman Hadassah, called Esther in the Persian language (Esther 2:16-17). He put together a mighty army and mounted an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Greece in 480BC.  About 150 years later the tables would be turned and a King from Greece would conquer the Persian Empire. This prophecy was fulfilled by Alexander the Great.

Then the angel said that Alexander’s Kingdom would be divided into four pieces according to the four winds of heaven, not going to his offspring. (After Alexander’s death his four generals divided up the Kingdom among them.) The next 30 verses are devoted to the families of two of the four, Seleucus, known in Daniel 11 as the first King of the North and Ptolemy, the first King of the South. 135 historically confirmed prophecies are contained in the first 35 verses of Daniel 11, most having to do with the descendants of these two men. The other two generals, Cassander and Lysimachus are not mentioned here, but in fact they both eventually lost their portions to Seleucus.

So the first kings of the North and the South were Seleucus and Ptolemy. For territory Seleucus eventually got control of what we now know as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Turkey. Reigning for a time from Babylon in modern Iraq, he built a new capital city 20 miles to the south east on the Tigris river and named it Seleucia. Ptolemy took Libya, Egypt, the Sudan, Israel and Jordan, and chose Alexandria in Egypt as his capital.

The descendants of these two kings fought each other for control of the known world for the next several hundred years. Then Daniel 11:33-35 brings us to the Macabean revolt when the last important King of the North, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was defeated.

History To Prophecy

Although it was all in the future when the angel revealed the first 35 verses to Daniel, it’s all history where we’re concerned. But beginning in Daniel 11:36 we fast forward to the time of the end when modern versions of these two kings will go after the anti-Christ. What would make them do that?
Evidence continues to indicate that the dominating End times religion will be Islam. The goal of Islam is to bring about a single Islamic World Empire, or Caliphate, and there’s fierce competition among leaders in the Middle East to see who can make this happen.

I believe the current unrest in the Islamic Middle East will soon result in the re-emergence of these two ancient powers in a final contest for leadership of the Islamic world.  Turkey and Iran are both part of the territory once identified with the King of the North, and are obvious contenders for that title. They will both be involved in the battle of Ezekiel 38, but since Daniel 11 follows Ezekiel 38 in time, this tells us their defeat on the mountains of Israel won’t put them out of contention.

Ezekiel’s phrase “ send down fire” (Ezekiel 39:6), which many believe to be a reference to nuclear warfare, is directed at Magog (Russia), the distant coastlines (somewhere beyond the Mediterranean) and the battlefield in Israel. No mention is made of any such destruction in Persia (Iran) or Turkey (Togarmah). Whatever forces they have in Israel will be decimated, but Iran and Turkey will both survive to fight another day.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia will not participate in Ezekiel 38 but will likely join forces to form the new King of the South. Within the last few weeks, the Saudis have rebelled against US policy and embarked upon an independent course of action, promising to defend the Gulf States against Iranian meddling themselves. This was due partly as an expression of anger over the way the US helped oust Egypt’s Pres. Mubarak, a close friend of the Saudi King, and partly over their frustration with America’s lack of action against Iran.  Saudi Arabia does not want Iran to emerge as the leader of the Islamic Middle East and is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen, even if it comes to war.  So far they’ve backed up their promises by moving troops and weaponry into Bahrain, posing a direct threat to Iran.

Things are currently so fluid in the Middle East it’s hard to know what’s going to happen next. For example, some western intelligence sources are saying it’s already too late to save the Assad regime in Syria, and that Hezbollah has begun moving its long-range missiles and other weaponry out of Syria into Lebanon for protective purposes.  Also, it has been reported that Egypt will open its borders with Gaza to permit more freedom of movement for Hamas.  The unity agreement Palestinian Pres. Abbas has just signed with Hamas in Egypt will provide another clue, since the Palestinian government is secular while Hamas is decidedly religious. It will be interesting to see who winds up with the real power.   If secular governments continue to be pushed aside in favor of Islamic leadership, it could mean the Kings of the North and the South are returning.

Then What Happens?

When the anti-Christ first comes on the scene in the aftermath of the Battle of Ezekiel 38-39, he’ll look to the world like a great peacemaker. He’ll deceive people by distributing gifts of power and influence and will even confirm a treaty allowing Israel to build the third Temple and reinstate their worship of God there.  As he gains public support he’ll start attacking countries who don’t fall into line. He’ll make his close followers into rulers, giving them conquered lands as a reward for their faithfulness (Daniel 11:39).

At the time when he moves to consolidate his grasp on the Earth by going to Jerusalem, the King of the North and the King of the South will both try to stop him (Daniel 11:40).  But he’ll bring them into submission and, after invading many other countries, he’ll arrive in Jerusalem and set up his headquarters there, where he’ll walk into the New Temple and claim to be God.

Daniel 12:1, Matt. 24:15 and 2 Thes. 2:4 confirm that this will all happen right at the threshold of the Great Tribulation. And as Daniel said, the anti-Christ will be successful until the time of wrath is completed because this is the way God has determined it will happen (Daniel 11:36).  No one will be able to stand against him (Rev. 13:4).

But when his time has come to an end, he’ll be defeated. Where the Kings of the North and South will have failed, the King of Kings will be successful and at the end there will be no one to help him (Daniel 11:45).
If this view is correct and the current unrest in the Islamic Middle East is leading to the re-appearance of the ancient Kings of the North and South, then the appearance of the anti-Christ cannot be far behind. And that’s another reason for us to believe that the days of the Church on Earth are truly numbered. You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah. 05-07-11