It's About the Oil--Stupid!

What do Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Algeria, Jordan, Iran, Syria and Egypt have in common? They are all in the Mediterranean and they are all in turmoil, with a capital 'T'. What else is in the Mediterranean? You guessed it: Oil.

As part of a co-ordinated campaign of Western sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to halt their uranium-enrichment program, the European Union decided to impose an oil embargo against Iran. In other words, as of July 1st Iran would no longer have Europe as a customer. Not to be outsmarted, Iran responded by warning European buyers that it might strike first by immediately cutting them off. Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and The Netherlands got the warning; France and the U.K. got the ax.

The price of a barrel of oil hit $108 this week. That brings the price up 94% in 4 years and yet OPEC is thinking about a cut in production because of "a poor economic outlook". Seems like a cut in production will ensure a poor economic outlook--but what do we know?

So what does all the turmoil in the Mediterranean mean to the rest of us? In a best case scenario it means higher prices at the pump ($5.09/gallon in parts of L.A. County as of today, $6.00 in parts of Florida according to CNN) and if it stops there, it will be hard enough. But in all likelihood, it won't stop there. Things could escalate very quickly considering:

• The Russian/Iranian strategic alliance has grown tighter, something that even 10 years ago seemed impossible. Moscow has warned Israel, in no uncertain terms, it will back Iran should Israel attempt a strike at Iran's nuclear sites.
• Both Russia and China oppose any U.S. intervention in either Iran or Syria.
• Russia is backing the Syrian government and providing weapons
• U.S. is considering doing the same for the Syrian rebels
• Iran and Syria have become BFFs in their hatred of Zion
• International revolutions, elections, and deaths are changing the world's political landscape in a dramatically unfavorable way for Israel.
• The European debt-bomb has yet to be defused (and come to think of it, neither has America's)

All of these issues coalesce into a whole mess of trouble that is certain to hurt people, especially those living in the epicenter. Innocent Muslims and Jews will lose their lives because of ancient hatreds and squabbles over land.

The West, on the other hand, is in danger of losing its way of life. Because, let's face it gang, for us it's all about the oil. Oil plays a critical role in the world and whoever controls the Mediterranean, controls the oil, and everybody knows Oil = Power.

Lastly, we want to urge you to be open-minded enough to check out what God's Word has to say about end-time events. Be like the Bereans: "they received the Word with all readiness of mind, then they searched the Scriptures to see if these things be so" (Acts 17:11). We invite you to challenge this statement by Chuck Missler: "I believe we are being plunged into that period of time about which the Bible has more to say than any other..." He's talking about the time leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. Is it merely coincidence world events are lining up exactly as you'd expect them to if the prophecies are true? Remember God didn't fill the Bible with predictions simply to satisfy our curiosity, He uses them to authenticate His Word. If the prophecies are true, (and 80% of them have already been fulfilled!), we can know Jesus' words in John 3:16 are true: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The consequences of those words will affect us for all eternity. Don't we owe it to ourselves "to see if these things be so(?)"

News:

• Europe seals new Greek bailout, but doubts remain
• Reuters: Coalition of nations to call for Syria ceasefire, aid access
• 2 American journalists killed in Syria, government refuses to turn over bodies
• Afghan President demands NATO put Koran-burners on trial. 2 U.S. soldiers killed in protests
• Israel Today Magazine: IDF gearing up to invade Gaza