The Final Countdown

It is time once again to play, Does this mixture of headlines make any sense? As you read the following news items, remember that the embracing of sin (Jeremiah 50:14) coupled with the systematic removal of God (Jeremiah 50:29) will lead to catastrophic judgment upon the Western world (Jeremiah 50:28), including the United States (read Isaiah 18, Jeremiah 50-51, & Revelation 18 for an in-depth picture).

Group one–pro sin:

• Obama plans to fund D.C. abortions
• (UK) Parents will have “no say” over sex education in schools
• Surgeon General nominee wants to train new doctors on abortions
• Obama wants to rescind regulations enforcing “conscience-clause laws”
• National Health Service tells pupils they have a “right to good sex”
• Schoolchildren given sex lessons on what is available at local brothel
• ObamaCare to provide taxpayer funded abortion on demand
• Police officers who practice witchcraft get Pagan Police Association, own holidays
• 25% of abortions are done by pill (abortions increase because of ease)
• Abortion funds, marijuana in house health bill
• ‘Sex play’ for teens promoted in cartoon
• Gov’t drive fails to cut teen pregnancies
• Obama science czar called for forced abortions
• Obama science czar says, “years after birth, (a fetus) will ultimately develop into a human being”
• Gov’t insurance would allow coverage for abortion
• Stimulus Bill funds go to art houses showing “pervert” revues, pornography
• Same-sex couples granted legal status in Wisconsin
• US House funds needle exchange programs

Group two–anti-God:

• IRS tells pro-lifers to give up 1st Amendment
• Jail removes Bible verses from letters to inmate
• Catholic nurse ‘forced’ to help in late-term abortion
• City rejects ‘In God We Trust’ logo
• Sotomayor supported censoring Biblical verse
• National Institutes of Health head opposed as “nutty” after Christian conversion
• Church faces fine after town bans Sunday afternoon services
• Christian doctor axed for failing to back gay adoption
• Program to curb AIDS questioned after Bible verses used to promote abstinence
• Gov’t funded art exhibit encourages people to deface the Bible
• Prayers at Chesapeake council meetings stir debate
• Public library bans Sunday School posters because they promote religion
• UN shuts out Christian NGO after China objects
• Hall-of-Fame coach canned after student accepts Christ
• American arrested for talking about Jesus in Norway

Group three–just to think about:

• Fetuses found to have memories
• Parents cradle “dead” baby, who comes back to life
• Baby born at 23 weeks survives
• Grieving father finds ‘dead’ baby alive in coffin

A quick look at some news from the realm of state-sponsored and promoted “alternative lifestyles” in the United States and UK:

• In the UK, taxpayers are paying for government employees to participate in a homosexual parade. The goal is to increase attendance to lend more credibility to the homosexual movement in Britain.
• The number of government-funded sex change operations in the UK has tripled after the government health body declared the procedure to be a “right” belonging to all persons.
• New York Governor David Paterson said he will “make sure” the State Senate votes on same-sex marriage before the summer recess.
• Also in New York, a “Folsom Street Festival” is ongoing, complete with public sex acts and sodomy from both heterosexuals and homosexuals. These sex-fests are common place in San Francisco, where lewd promotional posters are displayed in areas frequented by children.
• Back in the UK, a government official has apologized on behalf of the government and his party for legislation that banned the promotion of homosexuality in school. That is right, the law did not ban the teaching of homosexuality, which the UK starts pushing on kids at the tender age of 5. This law simply put an end to encouraging homosexuality, and the government felt the need to apologize for it.
• US Attorney General Eric Holder said that proposed “hate crimes” legislation would give special protections to homosexuals who were attacked by religious people, but would not protect Christians who were attacked by homosexuals.

This last story provides a good jumping off point to see how Christianity is being treated by these same governments. In addition to the aforementioned snub in the so-called “hate crimes” laws, these stories also come from the UK and USA:

• Doctors in the UK face disciplinary sanctions for praying with patients, even when done at the patients request.
• The US Navy has ordered a support group for moms of sailors to drop “Christian” from its official title.
• The government run BBC is under fire for supporting and promoting Islam while attacking Christianity.
• A Judge has barred Christians from passing out tracts on public land in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with over 30,000 Muslim residents.
• The New York City Council has passed a resolution calling for Muslim holidays to be observed by government schools. This would include days off from school and teaching on what the holidays represent to the Muslim community. Of course, it is “illegal” to teach what Christian holidays mean.
• In California, administrators from government run schools have banned pro-life T-shirts that depict growing fetuses in the womb. The same pictures on the shirt appear in the textbooks, just not linked to life.
• For the first time in 40 years, the Air Force has denied a flyover request by the God and Country Family Festival, held in Nampa, Idaho. It is now deemed “too religious.”

The government promotion of sin (Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:24) and removal of Christianity (Jeremiah 50:11, 24, 29-32) are the two reasons given by Scripture for the coming catastrophic judgment against the West (Jeremiah 50:13, 26, 32; 51:8, 9, 29, 43; Revelation 18:8-10, 15-19).

I do not talk about this topic too much because most of the “real” persecution of believers does not begin until after the start of the Tribulation, when saints will be beheaded for converting to Christianity (Revelation 20:4). And while we have it easy in the United States, facing only the occasional discrimination, Christians in other parts of the world face death on a daily basis for their faith. Just so we don’t lose sight of what is starting to take place, here is a sampling of headlines from the past week. All except for the first one comes from the United States:

• Christian man raped, murdered for refusing to convert to Islam
• Bucknell University requires permit to hand out Bibles
• Student barred from using Christian song in talent show
• Teacher fired for keeping Bible on desk
• PBS to begin phasing out religious programming
• Lawyer warns: Christians targeted in new Hate Crimes bill
• Company sued for “abusive, harassing” letters WWJD

There will come a time when all the Christians and Jews from around the world will face death at the hands of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:21; Matthew 24:9; Revelation 13:7, 20:4; Mark 13:9, plus many others).  Stunningly, many will die after being reported to the authorities by their own spouses, parents, children, and siblings (Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16). That notion becomes very believable when one reads the headlines and realizes that the natural love among families is eroding away. In the past few days we have seen a slew of horrific stories to this affect, such as the mother who broadcast the sexual assault of her 5-year old daughter live on the Internet, and the mom who set her daughter on fire in a voodoo ritual.

Specifically to the United States, America will continue to remove God from society (Isaiah 18:2, 7; Jeremiah 50:11, 24, 29, 31, 32). As with every nation that follows a like path, this will cause God to reign holy judgment upon the land (Jeremiah 50:14, 28, 29; 51:24).

US President Barack Obama has extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. Opposite-sex partners of federal employees, without the benefit of marriage, will not see these new benefits.  The President also appointed gay rights activist Kevin Jennings, who wants to mandate pro-gay clubs in school, to the position of “Safe Schools Czar.”

The government sanctioning of the gay lifestyle, along with the systematic removal of Christianity (Jeremiah 50:11, 24, 29-32), is one of the reasons God sends His judgment upon nations. This will include the United States during the Tribulation, and might be described in Scripture (Jeremiah 50-51).

A sampling of news items written in the last week from America’s mother, who is “ashamed and confused” (Jeremiah 50:12).

• Boys as young as 12 are being issued ‘Condom Cards’ that entitle them to free condoms, no question asked. No wonder teen pregnancy and abortion rates are off the charts in Britain.
• The number of young people (aged 13-24) seeking drug and alcohol treatment in the UK has risen by 12% in the last year, with a 44% increase since 2006.
• On the playground, Ring Around the Rosy and Row Your Boat have been replaced by songs about sex. The new racy lyrics are being imported from movies and songs that are marketed to young people.
• A new study indicates that 7% of women under the age of 25 are users of cocaine. This is being blamed on increased alcohol use and the “social acceptance” of chronic drug abusers such as Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse.
• Speaking of alcohol, 49% of Brits say they are drinking more alcohol during the day, mostly due to fears over the economy.