4 - America's Decline

Although any conclusion about the role of America in the end times is necessarily tentative, the scriptural evidence is sufficient to conclude that America in that day will not be a superpower and apparently will not figure largely in either the political, economic, or religious leadership of the world.

Yet in view of the imminent return of the Lord, Christians in the United States – and around the world – should remember that the cause of evangelism is urgent. If prophecy has any one message for this generation, it’s that time and opportunity are short. Impending world conditions soon may close the door for further witness in many areas. What is true of America is true for the evangelical church throughout the world. The prophetic timetable serves to emphasize the importance of the present task of spreading the gospel, beginning at Jerusalem and to the uttermost part of the world.

Oil futures shot above $140 Thursday, June 26 after OPEC’s president said crude prices could rise well above $150 a barrel this year and Libya said it may cut oil production.

Chakib Khelil, president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said he believes oil prices could rise to between $150 and $170 a barrel this summer.

Khelil joined a long list of forecasters making frightening price predictions. Each new forecast — like Goldman Sachs’ recent prediction that prices could rise as high as $200 — causes a jump in prices as speculators drive up the price of oil futures.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Economist magazine recently released a global index that assesses the peacefulness of 121 countries. As you can probably guess, the United States finished way down the list—in 96th place. But here’s the shocker. The U.S. finished in a virtual dead heat with Iran … yes, that’s correct—Iran. The U.S. is 96th and Iran is 97th in "peacefulness."

Read the rest of this entry »

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a May 24 speech, warned Israel and the West that "the Zionist regime will face other nations’s anger if repeats its past mistakes such as Lebanon’s invasion." He went on to say, "Thanks God Almighty, the world nations and Palestinian people have become aware," adding, "Any repetition of the mistakes will make regional nations angry and result in elimination of the Zionist entity."

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (www.irna.com/en), President Ahmadinejad, speaking on Sunday evening, June 3, noted that the late Ayatollah Khomeini revived self-belief in Iranian culture, economy and politics. "The world should know that the Iranian nation is following the path of the late Imam Khomeini to the end," he added. "The time is ripe for destruction of the bullying powers," he said, "they are doomed to nothing but humiliation and misery."

In his crosshairs are Israel and the United States.

The front page headline in the New York Times Sunday, May 27 is "Chaos is Seen in Iraq Exit, But Experts Split on Degree . . . ."

This is a painful time for the American military in Iraq. This month more than 100 American servicemen have already been killed. But all experts agree that a rapid withdrawl of U.S. troops from Iraq will unleash a bloody round of escalating civil conflict–a violent chain reaction that would destroy the Iraqi government.

With the grim prospect of a wave of suicide bomb attacks by Al Queda, Shiite militias launching Read the rest of this entry »