"2013 Predictions"

Predicting the future is both tricky and dumb, and yet, people go on doing it. Why? Because people love it. They eat it up. They're even willing to pay for it. And so, of course, people continue to make predictions. Too bad no one seems to notice (or remember) how few of them come to pass. Google '2013 predictions' and we predict you'll get a ridiculous mix of astrology, I Ching, Nostradamus, and a wide variety of psychic prognosticators. Oh, and just enough Bible prophecy to discredit it along with all the others. That's right. Mix it all together--and wah-lah--the Mayans, the Hopis, and the Bible are all equal.

Wait a minute. The purpose of this blog is to examine biblical prophecy and to raise a word of caution regarding non-biblical attempts to predict the future. We are continually shocked to discover how many people believe there is no significant difference!

Because we are living in the most incredible times the world has ever known, it is becoming clear even to the dimmest among us that something unusual is happening. Everything from political crises to international conflicts bombard us daily. Every new turn of events reminds us that the 'tipping point' could be just around the corner. And it could be. But one of the dangers of such expectations is the wild speculations that are sure to follow.

Instead of wildly speculating, why not use the signs of the times as a motivation to seriously study what the Bible has to say about our future?

As prophecy teacher Dr. Ed Hindson put it: "Along the highway, signs are used to identify locations, provide information, and give warnings. The same is true of prophetic signs. They stand out on the biblical horizon to get our attention. They give a glimpse of things to come--but only a glimpse. Signs are not intended to give all the details of future events, yet they do play a prominent role in biblical prophecy."

Much is being said about 2013. Will we go over the fiscal cliff? Eliminate the debt ceiling? Go to war with Syria? Iran? Your guess is as good as ours.

Speculating about the future beyond what the Bible actually predicts is a dangerous game we don't want to play. Just ask the Mayans.

A wise man once said: "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." -- Thomas Russell

"You have more than enough advisers, astrologers and stargazers. Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are as useless as dried grass burning in a fire. They cannot even save themselves" Isaiah 47: 13,14.

News:

• Reuters: Lawmakers rush to break deadlock over the so-called fiscal cliff days before a year-end deadline.
• Fox News Channel: Worst drought in decades threatens Mississippi River commercial traffic
• Jerusalem Post: Revered Palestinian, Marwan Barghouti, calls for a new revolt against Israel. "Launch of a large-scale resistance serves the cause of our people," he said.
• Reuters: Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi has signed Islamic constitution into law. Opposition groups condemn the new law as too Islamic and undemocratic.

"12/21/2012: End of the World or Mayan Myth?"

When tomorrow (December 21) has come and gone, we'll all know the Mayan end-of-the-world myth was just that--a myth. In fact, anyone or anything that claims to know the future is equally bogus. That includes:

• psychics
• astrology
• tarot cards
• fortune-tellers or mediums
• clairvoyants
• Nostradamus, Sylvia Browne, John Edwards, Edgar Caycee, and anyone else you can think of.

There is only one source of truth--the Word of God. Challenge any of today's so-called psychics to see who would be willing to stake their lives on their predictions and we bet there would be no takers. Yet that was the standard for Biblical prophets--one false claim and they were stoned to death (Deut. 13:1-11).

The reason God filled the Scriptures with provable, fulfilled predictions was to lend this library of books (the Bible) credibility. The concept of a book directly inspired by God had to be backed up with evidence--otherwise who'd believe it?

The Scriptures have been scrutinized by scholars, ripped to shreds by skeptics, and studied by scientists for 2000 years. No one can dismiss it. Archaeological research offers proof that the Bible can be trusted in geographical and historical matters. Manuscript evidence exceeds those of any other ancient document and the Dead Sea scrolls prove that modern Bibles are identical to ancient copies. With this in mind, it is vital to understand how central this book is to our quality of life both here on earth and in the world to come.

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ prove beyond any doubt that He is who He claimed to be: the only begotten Son of God. If this is true, then everything else the Bible says is also true. This should give us unimaginable hope!

This Christmas season has been a particularly tragic one. Sin is rampant everywhere and the love of many is growing cold (Matt. 24:12). But if the prophecies are true, and we know they are--there is great joy ahead.

"Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace" (Luke 1:78,79). That prophecy was given at Christ's First Coming and will continue to be fulfilled until His Kingdom comes.

Homework: Recognize the treasure we have in God's Word to us. Understand that it is a living, supernatural two-edged sword. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In other words, Jesus is the Word made flesh. The Bible is God in print. It has the answers to all of the big questions. Why do so many neglect it? It's a two-edged sword, a reflection of where we stand before God. For some, a terrifying prospect. But the answer isn't to run from Him--we need to run to Him. Jesus is our only hope. Without Jesus, the Word, we perish.  That is what Christ-mas is all about: the Word becoming flesh to dwell among men so that we might trust in Him and be saved.

"Jesus said, 'I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God...For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust Him. But those who do not trust Him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God...they loved the darkness more than the light, for their deeds were evil.'"

A wise man once said: "Life on this planet is not some aimless meandering through time without purpose or direction. Our lives are journeys with a destination and that destination is eternal in nature. Everyone--whether they believe it or not--will spend eternity somewhere." --Bill Crowder of RBC Ministries

News:

• FNC: Montana parents claim Christmas carols are a "form of bullying".
• CNN: Twenty-five U.S. school districts cancel school on Friday, December 21 citing student fear of Mayan Doomsday Prophecy.
• Drudge Report: Fearful 'end of world' callers flood NASA.

"Has the World Gone Crazy?"

Remember that old song by The Who--"meet the new boss, same as the old boss"? Well, unfortunately for Israel the New Boss is the Old Boss--Barack Obama. And you'll never guess what he's up to now...

He's sending Egypt 20 F-16 warplanes! That's right, Egypt. 

• The country that voted into power a Muslim Brotherhood regime on an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel platform.
• The country who's new president, Mohammed Morsi, gave himself near-dictatorial powers (although, he has since been forced to walk that back).
• The country that's been rioting in the street in angry clashes between pro-democratic and Morsi-led pro-Islamist groups.

The jets were ordered 2 years ago by now-deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a reliable ally of both Israel and the United States. But earlier this year a new Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, was swept into power. Egypt has now become a radicalized, unstable, and very questionable (ally?) government in the grip of upheaval. And yet, despite the instability and calls to suspend arms sales to Cairo, the United States is going ahead with delivery of the F-16s. Why now? Why not wait to see what kind of government will take shape? Or...

Is the delivery date of January 22 more than just an amazing coincidence? It is the exact same day that Israelis will vote for the next Knesset. And how 'bout that announcement date. Another coincidence? 

The announcement for the jets came on December 11, as Cairo and other Egyptian towns were set for massive rival demonstrations: Those for and against President Morsi's referendum on a pro-Islamist constitution that would grant Islamic Sharia law a more prominent place in Egypt. Obama's actions appear to throw support behind this plan and away from the pro-democracy opposition.

As outrageous as it seems, we must ask:

• Is Obama using those warplanes to signal his support for the region's Muslim Brotherhood?
• Is Obama, by sending the jets on January 22, trying to undermine Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in the eyes of the Israeli voter?

Frankly, we can think of no plausible explanation to supply arms to Egypt at this time given these facts:

• The Morsi-led Muslim Brotherhood government has not proven to be a partner for democracy.
• Given the recent attempted power grab, Morsi has shown himself to be capable of violence against his own people. Have we learned nothing from Syria?
• Should relations between Egypt and Israel deteriorate, the U.S. will be in the untenable position of having supplied massive amounts of military hardware to both sides.
• Egypt already has 200 F-16 warplanes.
• And finally, why should the American taxpayer, in light of our fiscal woes, continue to be a major arms supplier to yet another unstable Muslim regime?

Is it just us--or were the Kinks right--"it's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world except for..." oh, never mind.

A wise man once said: "The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are."-C.S.Lewis

"A man of understanding will attain wise counsel" (Proverbs 1:5).

News:

• CNBC: Federal Reserve announces QE4 to start at $45 billion per month of Treasury Bond purchasing.
• Fox News Channel: EPA threatens Virginia homeowners with eviction, citing "rain as a pollutant". Homes would be raised and grass planted; Virginia Attorney General sues EPA over proposal.
• Reuters: NATO chief believes Syrian regime on verge of collapse.
• CNN: North Korea successfully launches long range missile capable of reaching U.S. West Coast; possible nuclear implications.
• CNBC: Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) warns of "total economic collapse" due to runaway spending. 

"Is the U.N. Planning to Hijack the Internet?"

Rumors are flying as bureaucrats from around the globe hunker down for two weeks in Dubai to discuss...the Internet?

Yep. The World Wide Web.

It seems the fact that nobody is running it (at least no government) makes certain countries a little nervous. China, Russia, Iran and a slew of other nations believe somebody ought to be in charge. How 'bout the United Nations? Sounds fair, doesn't it? That way everyone gets a piece of the action.

Although many of the U.N.'s 193-member states oppose the uncontrolled nature of the Net, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll try to change anything, does it? Just because its interconnected networks ignore national boundaries and makes it hard for governments to censor, probably doesn't matter, right?

And taxes? Who would want to tax the Internet? And, c'mon--you really think the idea to apply the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) long distance telephone rules to the Internet will fly?

Google isn't waiting to find out. They've launched a petition drive asking supporters to sign this statement: "A free and open world depends on a free and open Internet. Governments alone working behind closed doors should not direct its future. The billions of people around the globe who use the Internet should have a voice."

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) have no desire for the U.N. to take control, either. Both led a successful effort to pass a resolution against Internet regulation. Even Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform fame is jumping on the bandwagon. He's warning anyone willing to listen: " China, Russia, and Brazil will stop at nothing in their efforts to clamp down on the Internet."

Could he be right? These nations have lobbied hard for more than a year trying to get the United Nations in on the act. Kinda makes you think...

But again, no need to fret--the U.S. State Department is on top of this thing. Their number one delegate to the Dubai Internet Conference, Terry Kramer, has made a pledge: "The U.S. won't let the ITU expand its authority to the Internet." Well, that sounded reassuring...until he added, "(But) we don't want to come across like we're preaching to others."

Huh?

He'd better start preaching. He'd better start preaching his head off. Because as L. Gordon Crovity of the Wall Street Journal put it, "The top job for the U.S. delegation at the ITU Conference is to preach the virtues  of the open Internet as forcefully as possible. Billions of online users are counting on America to make sure that their Internet is never handed over to authoritarian governments or the U.N."

You said it, brother!

But really--why should we worry? Just because they're taking TWO WEEKS to talk behind CLOSED DOORS, probably doesn't mean they're planning to change anything, right?

A wise man once said: "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."
--Abraham Lincoln

"...Stop doubting and believe."  (John 20:27)

News

• CNBC: Citigroup slashes 11,000 jobs
• Fox News Channel: White House issues new warning to Syria after reports sarin gas shells are ready to be launched on Syrian rebels.
• USA Watchdog: Aircraft carrier, USS Eisenhower, arrives off Syrian coast, bringing U.S. presence to 10,000 fighting men, 70 fighter-bombers, and at least 17 warships in an attempt to discourage Syria from using WMDs.
• Fox News Channel: Verizon has filed a patent application for a system to enable them to monitor TV viewers response to commercials by filming them through their DVRs.