Newsletter 140 3rd Quarter 2021
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
While most of the world is caught up in the Covid-19 plandemic, and many Christians warn of the dangerous restructuring of society by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Great Reset, it is right to look around to see if there are other matters which should be causing us concern.
In praying about what to write I have been led to another potential area of prophetic fulfilment. This is the looming possibility of the war described in Revelation chapter 9. The following article is written from a human perspective. Behind the scenes, unseen by us, demonic powers are at work stirring men up for war (Revelation 9: 15). It is demonic angels who will cause this fearful destruction to come about. Despite this we praise the Lord for He reigns.
In this edition
Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War
Anti-Semitism
Woke in the office
Our sure and steadfast hope
Intercession
Islam and the Antichrist
Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War
In the autumn of 2003 I wrote for Trumpet Sounds the first article in a series explaining my belief that Islam was poised to fulfil much of end time prophecy. That was eighteen years ago. The world looks quite different now especially while we are caught up in the Globalist/Covid-19 bid to restructure society.
Back in 2003 I predicted that the 10 nations which would bring the Western world crashing down would be Islamic. Today it looks as if China will continue to rise in influence becoming the global superpower in the not too distant future. With the improving relations with Israel the Islamic nations, with the exception of Iran, look as if they have been tamed.
If Islam is to occupy the predominant place in the fulfilment of prophecy there needs to be a radical and sudden change in the direction of travel being taken by global politics. I am grateful to a brother for sending me an article which may well answer how this change will come about.
The Thucydides Trap
The article, draws from Graham Allison’s fact based novel; ‘Destined for War’. In the book Allison describes what he calls the ‘Thucydides Trap’. It is the idea that a declining dominant power seeing the rise of a competing power makes war between the two inevitable.
Thucydides was a 5th century BC Greek historian and politician who wrote an account of the Peloponnesian War 431 – 404 BC. In the Peloponnesian war Sparta was the established power which had dominated Greece for the previous century. Athens was the upstart which in a few decades had emerged as a financially rich maritime merchant power. It was also leading the Greek world as a centre for philosophy, literature, art and architecture. Sparta’s fear of losing power and influence coupled with Athens rising ambition drew the two into conflict. A massive war ensued which lasted nearly three decades.
Thucydides analysed the tensions leading to this war which devastated Greece. With its rising wealth and power Athens grew in confidence. It also became determined to right past wrongs which had been committed against it. Sparta interpreted Athens’ behaviour as a threat to the system that Sparta had created, destabilising the current order. Both cities developed alliances in order to strengthen their advantage over their rival.
The war began with a small local conflict between Kerkyra (Corfu) and Corinth. Sparta went to the help of its vassal state Corinth. Athens went to the aid of Kerkyra. Thucydides found that while neither Sparta nor Athens wanted a war their allies and vassal states convinced them that war was inevitable. Believing that war could not be avoided each side sought to gain an early decisive advantage. A war which would draw in the whole of Greece was underway.
Case Studies
Graham Allison is the former Director of the Harvard Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs. The Belfer.org website gives 16 case studies, from the last 500 years, in which a rising power has threatened to displace a major ruling power. Twelve of these sixteen rivalries ended in war.
A notable example of this is the Thucydidean rivalries between Germany and Britain and Germany and Russia which in 1914 turned a conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia into a continental disaster. At the funeral of Edward VII in 1910 President Theodore Roosevelt asked Kaiser Wilhelm II if Germany was intent on continuing the development of its navy. Wilhelm replied that Germany would not give up its fleet but having grown up in England and considering himself part English, war with England was unthinkable.
Under Kaiser Wilhelm, Germany began to industrialise rapidly. The new wealth was used to expand both its army and navy. Britain as the dominant power was worried by this expansion and increased the resources put into its own militarisation. There was an arms race to establish which was the greater power. Both nations fell into the Thucydidean trap of thinking that war was impossible and therefor failed to safeguard against it.
Destined for War
For the last seventy years the United States has been the dominant power in the Pacific region. The security of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines is reliant on that dominance.
China sees the presence of Americans in the region as limiting the growth of their power and influence. The nation has deep seated grievances due to suffering in the past from foreign intervention. China is determined to regain its predominant position in the world. Trumpet Sounds 139 commented on China’s aggressively expansionist policies towards neighbouring nations.
No one is looking for a war. In fact most would consider a war between the US and China as unimaginable. Even Xi Jinping, as leader of China, has spoken of the danger of falling into the Thucydides Trap. But if China continues its current quest for global domination at some point someone will have to say NO. Allison’s book ‘Destined for War’ warns of the danger of an incident arising which tempts the US to conduct a strategic counter offensive.
Don’t stand in our way
China has just marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. In his speech celebrating the anniversary Xi Jinping spoke threateningly “We will never allow anyone to bully, oppress or subjugate China”……”Anyone who dares try to do that will have their heads bashed bloody against the Great Wall of Steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people.” He went on to forcefully speak about reunification with Taiwan.
The Biden administration has angered the Chinese government by supporting the right of the Taiwanese people to determine their own future. If Taiwan formally declares its independence, China will invade.
Nuclear War?
Satellite image analysis has shown China to be increasing the number of its missile silos. At least 119 sites spread over 700 square miles of desert in Gansu Province have been identified. Sites have also been identified in other parts of China. The Washington Post reported on the 30th June, “We believe China is expanding its nuclear forces, in part, to maintain a deterrent that can survive a U.S. first strike in sufficient numbers to defeat U.S. missile defenses.” It also reported that at a Congressional hearing, Admiral Charles Richard said that China was engaged in a ‘breath taking expansion’ of its arsenal of Intercontinental ballistic missiles and mobile missile launchers. The Chinese navy now has a growing fleet of nuclear weapons capable submarines.
Taiwan
What will the United Sates do if China invades Taiwan or if China continues to encroach on Philippine territorial waters and continues to interfere with navigation in the South China Sea? Will any of these prove to be the Thucydidean trap? There are also tensions between China and other neighbouring states. China continues to occupy territory claimed by India and has recently deployed 50,000 troops at the border.
The coming War
It may seem unthinkable that a war is going to arise between the US and China, but Revelation 9 appears to prophesy an immense war prior to the revealing of the man of sin, the beast of Revelation. Many have wondered whether the symbolic imagery foresees a nuclear war. It will bring devastation to this world on a scale never before experienced. According to the prophesy a third of mankind will be killed by the fire, smoke and brimstone. A war between the United States and China will destroy both of them and probably many other nations.
The thought of a nuclear war is so horrifying that none of us want to contemplate it. The natural reaction is to put such thoughts out of our mind. If it is what the Bible foresees it will change everything. China and the US will be ruined as will most of the rest of the Western world. The globalist plans will be in tatters. There will be a power vacuum into which, I believe, the Islamic world will step.
According to Revelation, God’s purpose by allowing this is to give every opportunity for repentance (Revelation 9: 20 – 21).
The Lawless one
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the workings of Satan with all power, signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9.
When the man of sin is revealed it will be with all the deceiving power that Satan can muster. He will fulfil the expectations of Islam regarding their Mahdi. All the major world religions are looking for a saviour, Zoroastrianism expects the Saoshyant, Buddhism the Maitreya, Hinduism the Kalki, Taoism expects Li Hong etc. Satan has pre-programmed them to accept his man. The Pope will persuade Catholics that the true Jesus has returned. The Jews longing for peace will accept the one who “comes in his own name” John 5: 43. So desperate will be the condition of the world that very few will see through, or even want to see through, the man who comes promising peace.
Biological Warfare
The draft of this article was circulated to some brothers. One commented by paraphrasing what I wrote as follows: “The thought of a genocidal biological war is so horrifying that none of us want to contemplate it. The natural reaction is to put such thoughts out of our mind”. Questioning the origins of the current corona virus has highlighted the ‘gain of function’ research being carried out on viruses. ‘Gain of function’ being a euphemism for making the virus more deadly. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is a centre for this research. ‘Gain of function’ research opens the way for a genocidal biological war in the future.
In reply to a biological war I explained: “I have interpreted this as a nuclear war due to a third of mankind being killed by the fire, smoke and brimstone. That reads more like a conventional/nuclear war than a biological attack.
The first woe is more of a candidate for biological warfare. It is a demonically inspired and spread a plague which torments people for five months. That could be the symptoms last in the individual five months or the plague as a whole spreads rapidly and lasts five months. The vivid description of the locusts emphasises the power of their attack and its character. It will not be a lethal disease but the suffering will be sufficient to make people wish they were dead. Maybe this is what is coming next having been cooked up in a laboratory somewhere.
Those who have the seal of God on their foreheads are protected from this plague (Revelation 9: 4). This implies that it is fear which causes men to seek death. The people whose minds are set on trusting in Jesus are protected from fear, for by studying prophecy they know that He has everything in hand.
Xi Jinping mobilises for war
The day after I circulated the above, an article by Gordon Chang arrived in my inbox. [see this link: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17547/china-mobilizing-war]. In the article Chang writes: “Lately, Xi’s references in public pronouncements have become unmistakable, and his subordinates have been clear that Xi believes that everyone outside China owes him obedience.”
“Xi, while spouting tianxia-like language and bellicose words, has been getting the Chinese people ready for war. ….. Moreover, he is making preparations to use his shiny new military. Amendments to China’s National Defense Law, effective the first of this year, transfer powers from civilian to military officials”.
[Note: tianxia, or “all under Heaven.” For two millennia, Chinese emperors believed they both had the Mandate of Heaven to rule tianxia (all under Heaven) and the obligation to do so].
Anti-Semitism
In May, Israel was forced to respond to numerous rocket attacks from Gaza. Since that time there has been a fourfold rise in anti-Semitic incidents reported in the UK. Perhaps the most odious incident was the convoy of cars which travelled from Bradford via Sheffield and Leicester to North London, a distance of 200 miles. The cars were decorated by Palestinian flags. While touring Jewish areas anti-Semitic abuse was shouted from the cars. On the same day pro-Palestinian protests took place across Britain. There have also been attacks on individual Jews.
Some have used anti-Semitism for their own ends. George Galloway when campaigning in the Batley and Spen by-election used the ‘Free Palestine’ message to stir up and so gain the Muslim vote.
Anti-Semitism takes many forms. Some are overt as was the Bradford convoy or George Galloway’s campaigning. Other are more hidden but just as real.
Methodists
In June 2021 the Methodist Conference approved the ‘Cry for Hope’ document prepared by Kairos Palestinian in 2020. The conference minute reads; “The Conference commends for careful and prayerful study by the Methodist people the document “Cry for Hope”… and welcomes the opportunity to learn from sisters and brothers across the region and across faiths.”
[Cry for hope can be read on the following website: https://www.cryforhope.org/]
To summarise, the document calls on churches to engage in the following actions:
Initiate processes: calls for urgent action regarding the denial of Palestinian rights and misuse of the Bible.
Engage in Study: calls on people to change their theology regarding Israel and the Palestinians.
Affirm the Palestinians right to resist: refers to the occupation, dispossession and abrogation of their fundamental rights. It refers to the BDS movement as a framework for non-violent ending of occupation and oppression.
Demand: governments to take action to stop Israeli violations of human rights and international law.
Support Initiatives: between Israeli’s and Palestinians and interfaith partnerships that combat apartheid and occupation.
Come and see: the suffering of the Palestinians. Stand in solidarity with those who challenge the occupation and who work for a just peace.
Why label the adoption of ‘Cry for Hope’ as anti-Semitic?
‘Cry for Hope’ displays a serious lack of understanding of history, theology, the current realities in the land and recognition of motivation. Those who closely follow events in the Holy Land know that the prime abusers of Palestinian rights are the leaders of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. This was illustrated early in July with the death of Nizar Banat. Banat was a campaigner against the widespread corruption in the Palestinian Authority [PA]. Within three hours of his being taken into police custody he was dead. The penalties for criticism of either the PA or Hamas are severe.
Regarding the misuse of the Bible, it is those who side with the Islamic agenda whose theology needs correction. God loves both Jew and Arab but the land was promised to Israel. Jesus is coming back to reign over Israel from Jerusalem. The fig tree, which represents the nation of Israel, is putting forth its leaves telling us that the time is near.
Many in the West fall for the Palestinian lie that ‘Israel stole our land’. It does not take much research to establish that Israel did not steal any Palestinian land. At the start of the British mandate less than 10% of the land was owned and farmed by Arabs. Another 10% was owned by absentee landlords who willingly sold land to the Jews. Over 70% of the land was controlled by the State and the rest by the Waqf, the religious authority. It is the state land which was made available for Jewish settlement. Under the British mandate any Arabs who had been forced off their land were offered compensation. The Mandate authority was surprised that very few claims were made. ‘Israel stole our land’ is a lie used to bolster a false Palestinian right to resist.
The church should be demanding government action over the considerably more serious abuse of the Palestinian population by their own leaders. The abuse includes siphoning off international aid into the pockets of men like President Mahmoud Abbas. We should be insistent that these funds are properly accounted for.
We all welcome peace between Arab and Jew. Messianic fellowships work towards that end. True peace and reconciliation only comes with Jesus Christ. Why doesn’t the Methodist Church recognise that we are called to preach the gospel, not to engage in futile politics? There will not be peace while Christians side with the corrupt Arab leadership and the militants who want to destroy the Jewish state.
The Methodist Conference also resolved to review its investment policy in relation to Israel and Palestine. It called on the British Government to end support for military contracts while Israel remains in violation of international law. In response we need to ask what law is Israel violating?
The Chief Rabbi tweeted his disapproval of the development writing: “That the Methodist Church are prepared to endorse ‘Cry for Hope’, a document that wilfully distorts the meaning of Zionism and seeks to legitimise the insidious BDS movement, is deeply misguided and deplorable.”
A body such as the Methodist church should ensure that it is better informed before making commendations to its members.
BBC
The current bout of anti-Semitism was stirred by false reporting in the media. The worst culprit, due to the esteem many hold for it, was the BBC. As with previous conflicts between Israel and Hamas the BBC reverses the aggressor and victim roles. Israel comes across as the aggressor due to the use of high tech military equipment and Hamas as the victim due to disproportionate number of casualties on the Gaza side.
Israel, as usual, was accused of a disproportionate response. What would a proportionate response look like in the minds of Israel’s critics? If for every Hamas rocket, Israel indiscriminately fire a rocket back would that be proportionate? Such action would result in far more civilian deaths but presumably the critics would be happy as it was proportionate. To even things up Israel would of course have to abandon the Iron Dome and allow far more Jewish casualties. Israel targets its response to minimise civilian casualties while Hamas uses civilians to shield its fighters. There is no moral equivalence. .
In reporting the conflict Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, gave several actions by Israel as the cause. One cause was ‘land confiscation’. Several Arab families were being ejected from property in Sheikh Jarrah. Bowen by using the words ‘land confiscation’ made it appear that this was a vindictive and unjustified action by Israel. No background was given. In fact these properties had been in Jewish ownership since the 1860’s. There has been an ongoing court case for several years due to the tenants’ refusal to pay rent.
Another cause was the entry of Israeli troops into the Al Aqsa mosque. Did Bowen acknowledge that the mosque was being used as a store for stones and other weapons to attack Jews? There are photos of these stockpiles within the mosque. When reporting from what he referred to as ‘occupied Gaza’, Bowen blamed the damage and loss of life on Israel. Once again Bowen portrays the aggressor as the victim. But then, no journalist can report from Gaza without agreeing to present the Hamas version of events.
Biased reporting stirs up anti-Semitism. Most believe that what they are seeing and hearing on the TV is the truth.
Sadly anti-Semitism will increase during the coming years. The hostility of the world will wear Israel down until a time comes when the Jews will accept the one who comes in his own name. “the words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” Psalm 55: 21.
Woke in the office
A friend shared some notes with regard to how the ‘woke’ culture was being advanced in the firm he works for. Below are some extracts from his notes:
“This large international company runs various “diversity” courses for employees. The workforce is highly diverse in terms of ethnic background, gender and age. The Human Resources Department [HR] training is always regarded as the highest priority by managers, overriding any other business or work pressures on members of staff. Some of this training is excellent. Despite its size, the company does have a remarkable “family” feel to it, in which team work and mutual respect for colleagues is the norm. The organisation feels less hierarchical and management more open and honest than in other places I have worked.
The progressive agenda
“The company is always at the forefront of jumping on every “progressive” bandwagon, from women’s equality (specifically targeting 50% female employment and 50% female total salary, regardless of whether some women might prefer to take time off work to raise children), LGBTQ+++ / Pride / Transgender, and more recently BAME issues. Most regular, scheduled communication (e.g. apart from announcements such as return to work from Covid) – departmental and company meetings, newsletters, company magazine, updates on the company mobile app – have a large percentage of content devoted to one or more of the above. Employees are encouraged to take part in Pride marches.
These messages are reinforced by being visibly presented in all public spaces – corridors, rest and eating areas. For example, disabled toilet converted to disabled / “gender neutral” toilet, Muslim prayer room with side room including ritual washing facilities (misleadingly presented as communal multi-faith area), wall plaque celebrating Alan Turing, LGBT and Pride literature regularly on display.
Monitoring behaviour
More recently, there have been overt statements regarding monitoring of words and behaviour backed up by a session on “micro-aggressions”, encouraging staff to challenge these individually or collectively or report them to HR.
There has been an official statement in a company meeting that all management promotions are dependent on people observably demonstrating commitment to the company’s diversity goals. Also an email stating that every regular meeting between an employee and their manager (weekly sessions, skills development programmes, annual appraisals) must include a diversity element.
There has been an overt ramping up of “cultural Marxist” messages, though various discussion groups, company meetings, emails including links to YouTube clips which employees are recommended to view. The clips covered topics such as Critical race theory, intersectionality and “equity”.
Staff are under pressure to enforce progressive policies such as hiring more women. White employees are to seek out BAME [Black and Minority Ethnic] people and listen to their stories of being discriminated against by white people. Active steps are to be taken to develop the careers of women and BAME employees.
More than words
This goes beyond pressure to conform to group think – actions are required! The company’s “positive discrimination” sends a strong message that non “victim” groups are less valued, and is therefore both divisive and potentially a source of resentment.
All of the above, the messages have an anti-Christian bias, either towards the Marxist or Islamic agenda.
This is a large international company, yet it insists on applying its own diversity criteria to its decisions on which private companies to use in its supply chain. We are seeing “woke” enforced through commercial bullying in the private sector.
Intercession
Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) said, “Politics is the art of the possible …A statesman… must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events; then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.” If we substitute a few key words, we get a great definition of intercession: Intercession is the art of the possible. An intercessor waits until he hears the steps of God sounding through events and then leaps up and grasps the hem of His garment – and is then led in those prayers that are in line with God’s will (Amos 3:7).
Quoted from the ‘Watchmen from Jerusalem’ newsletter.
Islam and the Antichrist
As part of the series of articles on how Islam was destined to fulfil much end time prophecy, in 2005 I reproduced the following part of an article from the October edition of the magazine Israel Today:
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“Spurred by the bitter conflict with Israel, Islamic teachings on the apocalypse are exerting increasing influence on the political thought of Moslems, particularly among Palestinian and Hamas terrorists. That is why it’s important to know what they are being taught.”
“All Moslems are obliged to take part in the last battle, the “holy war” (jihad), so that they can defeat the Jews. Although Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran, according to the hadith legends, regarded as almost equal to the Koran, the last jihad will take place in Jerusalem. At the end of the battle the Kaaba stone will be magically transferred from Mecca to Jerusalem.”
“Then Jesus, who is called Issa in the Koran, will appear with a spear in his hand and defeat the al-Dajjal in Damascus. Jesus (Issa) will then kill all the “pigs” (an Islamic reference to the Jews), execute Christians and destroy all crosses, and declare Islam the only true religion. Finally, he will convert all non-Moslems to Islam. Allah will destroy those who resist. After these events, Jesus (Issa) will die and be buried next to Mohammed.”
“These Koranic teachings and hadith legends, which more and more Moslems are coming to believe in, explain why Jerusalem is indispensable for them, and why they are even prepared to die for it as suicide bombers. It is a pity that so many Christians don’t take this threat seriously because ultimately the holy war is directed not only against the Jews and Jerusalem but against all non-Moslems.”
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Al-Dajjal
To Islam, the antichrist, whom they call the Dajjal, is both a man and a system and is identified with the West. Islam believes that when their christ comes he will slay the antichrist. This explains the riddle of why, when Jesus Christ returns in glory, the kingdoms of this world will gather to fight against Him. They have already been programmed to believe that the real Jesus is al-Dajjal, who is defeated by their Issa, who to us is the antichrist.
It is also interesting to note that in Islam, Jerusalem is under Jewish control when these events take place. As in Christian eschatology the final events of this age are focused on that city.
Our sure and steadfast hope
With the prospect of a future war, present apostasy in the church and the pressure to conform to the woke culture of our time, this has not been an encouraging edition of Trumpet Sounds. Therefore before ending we turn back to God’s word and remind ourselves of the Rock on which our faith is based. .
“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”. Hebrews 6: 17 – 20
Immutable means unchangeable. God’s counsel stands firm. The events of this world do not take Him by surprise. He knew the end from the beginning. We may well be shaken by coming events. But He is our absolutely dependable Rock. When God confirms something that is His guarantee.
All who trust in Jesus become heirs of promise. The promise is that one day we will follow Jesus through the veil into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of the Father. Therefore we have this sure and steadfast hope underwritten by His unchangeable counsel and guarantee.
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Jesus said that there will be wars and rumours of wars …famines, plagues, pestilence and earthquakes. A time will come when many will fall away from the truth. In all this His promise remains; ”I am with you always even to the end of the age” Matthew 28: 20.