Signs of the Times

by Gary Kah

On Monday, June 16th, same-sex marriage became legal in California. San Francisco’s mayor went so far as marrying his city’s first couple. During the next few days, hundreds of homosexual weddings took place across the state with a number of these couples traveling from other states to “tie the knot.” Within a week of the first gay wedding, more than 600 wildfires – spawned by lightning strikes – unexpectedly broke out around the state. Eventually, the number of fires climbed to 1,500.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who voiced his support for same-sex marriage only a month earlier, stood mystified and at a loss for words during a press conference as fires burned out of control. Never in history had so many fires erupted so quickly from “natural” causes. Hmmm, could God be telling the governor something?

Sixty-one percent of California’s citizens had voted to ban homosexual marriage a few years earlier; however, in May of this year the state’s highest court ruled to overturn the ban, forcing the state to legally recognize same-sex unions. Governor Schwarzenegger openly and unabashedly backed the court’s decision.

Is God getting America’s attention?

Fortunately in November of this year the people of California will have another opportunity to vote in favor of an initiative which, if passed, would override the court’s recent decision – once again banning this immoral union. The problem is, according to the latest polls, 51 percent of Californians now favor homosexual marriage. It appears the state has become significantly more liberal in recent years. Unless conservative Christians turn out in record numbers to vote on this issue, same-sex unions will be here to stay. The Obama factor may give the edge to pro-homosexual voters this fall.

Unlike Massachusetts – the only other state permitting homosexual marriage – California’s court ruling allows out of state residents to get married in California. If California’s new law is allowed to stand, it will set off a wave of legal challenges by homosexuals nationwide who are getting married in California, seeking to overturn their home states’ laws in an attempt to force legal recognition there as well.

Disasters Nationwide

Natural disasters are occurring elsewhere in the US. So far this year we have seen historic flooding along with a record number of tornados in the mid-section of the country, while the southwest and southeast are being parched by drought. About the only natural events that haven’t happened yet are a major hurricane and a cataclysmic earthquake/eruption.

Americans, by and large, are refusing to consider the possibility that God is “turning up the heat” to get our attention. Instead we have fallen for a powerful delusion that tells us our natural disasters are all the result of global warming (in spite of the fact that the spring of ’08 was the coldest in over a hundred years in parts of the US). Satan is using this deception to get us to deny God’s power and surrender our freedoms to earthly powers such as the UN, who are loyal to the cause of global government and are moving us deeper and deeper into bondage.

From an economic standpoint, this year’s disasters will have a staggering impact. Thus far, over 2 million acres of corn and soybean crops have been destroyed by floods. In Iowa alone, the nation’s leading corn and soybean producer, an estimated 20 percent of crops have been wiped out. The high level of crop failures will push food prices higher in coming months, as corn and soy are used in a myriad of food substances. Food prices have already been skyrocketing due to the increased demand for corn which is being used to make ethanol. Not surprisingly, the economy has become the number one issue in this year’s presidential race.

The US Election

Rising food prices, coupled with soaring energy costs and the weakening dollar, could soon bring America to its knees. So far, all that the candidates have had to offer are short-term band-aid cures. In addition, neither John McCain nor Barack Obama, it appears, would seriously oppose the US merger with Canada and Mexico into the North American Union. Some form of N. American regional government is therefore imminent – along with a regional economy and currency.

Meanwhile, a significant number of conservative “talking heads” – such as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Laura Ingraham – are lobbying McCain to take Mitt Romney as his running mate. Romney, they argue, would bring much needed private-sector business experience and economic understanding to the Republican ticket. However, Romney makes more than a few Christians nervous.

According to a newly released book My Kingdom Come, written by ex-Mormon Ed Decker, the Mormon hierarchy has big plans for Mitt Romney. Ed writes:

The very ethos of the Mormon faith is built around the anticipated return of Jesus to Independence, Missouri, for his thousand-year millennial reign. It is here that he will assign godhood to the worthy. However, it cannot take place until the U.S. Constitution falters and is saved by the LDS church. The nation will become a Mormon theocracy. Mitt Romney has raised Mormon speculation that this may be the time and that he may be the one to lead the way as both U.S. President and LDS high priest.1

Decker documents his assertions in chapter 12 of his book. He reveals that the LDS Church believes the US Constitution is a divine document2 that has set the stage for a Mormon one-world ruler. He warns, “[The] theocracy would come into existence when the U.S. Constitution would hang by a thread and the Mormon elders would be there to save it and the country, thereby ushering in The Kingdom of God, the prophesied Mormon theocracy.”3

He continues, “Mitt Romney’s LDS understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its divine role in the end times is not that of the average American.”4 Decker further warns that some of the LDS temple oaths – including the “execution of the penalty” for disobedience at the time Mitt Romney took out his “temple Endowments” – are taken “directly from the rituals of Blue Lodge Masonry, the source of much of the LDS Temple rituals. It is no wonder, since the first five presidents and prophets of the LDS church were Masons.”5

Decker concludes:

These high-level Temple Mormons clearly know that this Mormon “Kingdom of God” is, in reality, a Mormon one-world government, a theocracy, soon coming to America, that will be run by the strong arm of the Mormon Brethren, headed up by the only true prophet of God on earth. It is clear that they did swear such an oath.6

(To obtain the book My Kingdom Come by Ed Decker, click http://www.garykah.com/christvsother.html.)

Regardless of whether any of these Mormon plans ever materialize, it is disturbing that John McCain – who is in his mid-70s and only a heartbeat away from eternity – is seriously considering Romney as his running mate. If chosen, Romney could very easily become president during the next four years. Most of the remaining candidates on McCain’s short list for vice-president are closet globalists and share his sometimes moderate to liberal social views. James Dobson of Focus on the Family along with other conservative ministry leaders have already indicated they will not support McCain because of his left-leaning positions on stem-cell research, immigration, global warming and his past sponsorship of campaign-finance reform.7

As for Barack Obama, his voting record is the most liberal in the US Senate; and he is proving to be a typical politician who caters to special interests – not to mention his close ties to racists, outspoken Muslim leaders, anti-American terrorists and convicted criminals. A number of distraught but politically savvy Christians who I have spoken with recently expressed their belief that “the American people may soon be getting the leadership they deserve.” This is the attitude of many Christians who are at wits end over the sad state of our union.

Unfortunately, it appears that no matter who gets elected, the one-world agenda will move forward during the next administration. This time, America truly has its back against the wall!

Mideast Turmoil

While the race for president heats up, our current president is on a quest to leave his mark on the Middle East where things are becoming more volatile by the moment. Just yesterday (July 9) Iran test fired 9 missiles, including the Shahab-3 which has a range of 1,200 miles8 and can easily strike any part of Israel. On July 8th, political journalist Joel Rosenberg warned:

Top Israeli intelligence officials…increasingly believe that time is running out. They believe that Iran could have nuclear weapons within a year and one former Mossad chief is urging his country’s leadership to launch a massive series of air strikes against Iranian nuclear and other military facilities before it is too late. Israel’s Air Force just conducted a test run of such a bombing mission.

John Bolton, the former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., says he believes Israel may strike Iran sometime in late fall or early winter, after the U.S. elections in November but before the inauguration of the next American President on January 20. A senior Pentagon official told the Washington Post several days ago he is worried about the same scenario – a November surprise…9 [Under the right political circumstances, an Israeli strike could occur even sooner.]

Rosenberg goes on to offer his own personal scenario:

…the repercussions of such a war with Iran would be global in nature. Israel would face tens of thousands of incoming missiles not just from Iran but likely from Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza and possibly the West Bank. Some of these missiles could have chemical and/or biological warheads, even if the nuclear warheads in Iran are not yet ready. Ballistic missiles would also be likely fired from Iran at the oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, at oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and the Straight of Hormuz, and at U.S. bases and forces in Iraq. Tens of thousands of suicide bomber cells could be activated in the region – especially in Iraq and Israel – and perhaps even in Western Europe and the U.S. and Canada. Iranian efforts to topple Jordan’s King Abdullah II and/or Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in favor of radical Islamic regimes friendly to Tehran could also be set in motion. Oil prices could shoot from $140 a barrel to $300 a barrel or more. U.S. gas prices could spike to $7 - $10 or more, with horrific domestic and global economic repercussions.10

Last month in Rome, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed that the United States and Israel would soon be “annihilated.”11 He seems bent on taking the world to the brink of, and possibly into, World War III. His rhetoric and actions, which are uniting Muslim extremists, are giving international leaders the excuse they need to embrace some form of global government in the name of securing peace. The only question is, will Iran’s mere threats be enough to force the issue, or will a world war actually be needed to set the stage?

However events unfold, many of the world’s top leaders are poised for the next step. This became clear when 4,000 dignitaries from 30 countries gathered in Israel, May 13 –15, at the invitation of Israel’s globalist president, Shimon Peres. The alleged purpose was to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday; but the underlying reason for the conference was to strategize for rapid, more efficient globalization.

Tony Blair, the West’s Mideast envoy and one of the key participants, observed, “Globalization is breaking down barriers…A global community is becoming a reality.”12 Among those VIPs who joined Blair and Peres at the summit were Henry Kissinger, Mikhail Gorbachev and George W. Bush, to name a few. One of the topics discussed: “whether to replace such organizations as the G8 and the United Nations with another globally-minded institution.”13 Gorbachev said that leaders should find new ways of governing the world: “We must unite our efforts and if we are able to do that globally…the issues and challenges will be met more successfully.”14 I am not aware of any participants who opposed, or even questioned, the call for world government!

Bush Diplomacy

While in Israel, President Bush also met with Arab leaders at a special summit to promote his Road Map for Peace. This plan, if it remains in tact, will force Israel to give up a large portion of Judea and Samaria, while dividing Jerusalem. The goal of the Bush Administration is to have the plan finalized by November 12th of this year.15 At this point, both Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert are “on board.” It appears that Israeli citizens are being betrayed by their top two leaders who are prepared to surrender their country to international interests in exchange for a promise of peace.

A few weeks after Bush’s trip to Israel he traveled to Rome for what would be his third meeting with Pope Benedict. On Friday, June 13th, Benedict and Bush held 30 minutes of private talks inside a medieval watchtower on the Vatican grounds. A statement released a few hours after the meeting summarized their conversation. Catholic News Service shared,

the pope and Bush discussed international concerns such as U.S. relations with the Middle East and Europe, as well as efforts being made for peace in the Holy Land…

…they also spoke about “globalization, the food crisis, international trade and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals…”16

US Ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon said, “There is no doubt that these two men have formed a deep personal friendship.”17 According to CNS, Glendon noted that Bush regards the pope as the greatest spiritual leader in the world…18 Shortly after their intimate meeting, “Several Italian newspapers cited Vatican sources suggesting that Mr. Bush may be prepared to convert…He has repeatedly made clear his admiration for Benedict and has even claimed to have read some of the pope’s theological books.”19

The Italian newspaper Il Foglio, considered an authoritative source, commented on this revelation. “Noting that Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after leaving office as Britain’s prime minister last year, the paper…stated that ‘if anything happens, it will happen after he finishes his period as president, not before. It is similar to Blair’s case but with different circumstances.’”20 (Jeb Bush, the President’s brother, has already converted to Catholicism.)

After his visit with the pope in Rome, President Bush went on to meet with his close friend Tony Blair to further discuss developments surrounding their Mideast talks.21 They appear in every way to be on the same page, not only on the Middle East but also on matters of religion. Just two weeks earlier, on May 30th, Blair launched a new organization dedicated to interfaith understanding. “The Tony Blair Faith Foundation will fight extremism…and educate people worldwide about religions other than their own.”22

According to Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press:

A Blair representative said the group has received donations and pledges in the tens of millions of dollars from individuals, charitable groups, companies and governments…The group’s advisory council includes evangelical megapastor Rick Warren…; Ismail Khudr Al-Shatti, an advisor to the prime minister of Kuwait; and world Baptist and Jewish leaders…Yale University is a partner in the project. The former prime minister plans to teach at the school next year, leading a seminar on faith and globalization.”23

Zoll continues:

In a brief interview, Blair said he defined extremists as “people who want to exclude the other if someone is of a different faith.” Blair told the crowd that although Islamic extremism draws the most attention, “there are elements of extremism in every major faith.”

“It is important where people of good faith combat such extremism, that they are supported,” said Blair, who is an envoy for the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers – the U.S., European Union, Russia and United Nations.

Among the foundation’s many initiatives are promoting research on religion and globalization; developing interactive media and publications on religion geared for young people, businesses and political groups; and, working with the U.N….24

Bear in mind that Tony Blair has become the Bush Administration’s chief liaison with Vatican and Mideast leaders on matters of religion and peace. In fact, it was President Bush who personally asked Blair to be the Mideast envoy to negotiate his Road Map for Peace. Therefore, Blair’s words and actions speak volumes as to where George W. stands on these same issues.

Virtually all of our most powerful leaders, including Tony Blair and George Bush, appear to be falling for the lie that a one-world economic, political and spiritual system will somehow solve our most pressing problems and bring peace. Through their naivety, Satan is tightening his grip on the institutions of this world – including the compromised elements of the church.

Putting Things in Perspective

If a person were to wake up today from a 30-year sleep and read our news headlines, they would quickly conclude that the world is in a serious mess – and they would be right. Immorality, spiritual deception and political/economic globalism have taken hold of a once predominantly Christian nation and of the world as a whole. It has happened so subtly that few of us have realized the lateness of the hour. We have ignored the Bible’s warnings concerning the endtimes and, as a result, have underestimated Satan’s craftiness and ability to deceive.

Israel and America seem to have become Satan’s favorite targets. He understands that if he can seduce and bring down these two nations, his endeavor to rule the world – however brief it may be – will become reality. The more unrighteousness that abounds in our nations and in the world, the more God lifts His hand of protection, permitting things to happen more quickly.

Where are all the disturbing events of our day leading us? Ultimately, we know from Scripture (Matt. 24, II Thess. 2, Rev. 19-22, etc.) that Jesus Christ will return in power and majesty to defeat the forces of Satan and establish His reign. What an incredible day that will be! However, I’m afraid that between now and then things are going to “get ugly.”

I believe, based on Scripture and current world trends, that persecution against the followers of Jesus will soon increase. This persecution will not be God’s doing; it will be part of Satan’s attempt to snuff out God’s truth. Persecution of the church is nothing new. It has occurred in waves ever since the earliest days of the Gospel. Be reminded that eleven of Jesus’ twelve disciples were put to death because of their faithfulness to Him and His truth. This was not the result of God’s judgment; it was the result of Satan’s persecution."

God’s judgment against the disobedient, unrepentant, and rejecters of His grace will some day come, and even now appears to be at the door, as we witness the birth pains described by Jesus (Matt. 24:4-8). This judgment of God will be poured out on those who have rejected His truth to follow the seductive lies and false claims of the Antichrist (see Rev. 6-22). It will not be directed at God’s saints.

It is important to understand that God’s judgment against the followers of Satan can occur at the same time as Satan’s persecution of God’s saints. As believers in Jesus Christ we must always be prepared to suffer for His sake. This is the sobering reality of our lives on this earth. But Jesus encourages us to remain strong because we know that an eternity with Him will be worth any temporary hardship and tribulation we may encounter in this world. In Matthew 24:13 Jesus proclaims that “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Therefore, our sacred duty and calling in these last days as we recognize the signs of the times is to stand firm on behalf of the Lord. In I Corinthians 15:58, Paul urges, “…stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Again in I Corinthians 16:13, Paul emphatically states, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

It is better to stand alone in the truth and remain obedient to the Lord than to fall with the majority for the lies of Satan and be subject to everlasting punishment. The prophet Daniel and the three Hebrews stood firm and would not compromise before the king of Babylon. They risked their very lives for the Lord, not knowing if they would be spared. Putting everything on the line in courageous obedience, they believed that no matter what happened their eternity would be secure in Him. They had an enduring trust in the power, goodness, and faithfulness of God; and so must we!

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
— James 1:12

Endnotes:
1 Ed Decker, My Kingdom Come (Xulon Press, 2007), p. 309.
2 Decker, p. 310.
3 Decker, pp. 311-312.
4 Decker, p. 314.
5 Decker, pp. 316-317.
6 Decker, p 317.
7 Phil Brennan, “McCain Rebuffs Dobson: Will Evangelicals Bolt,” Newsmax.com, (Web page http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/mccain_dobson_evangelical/2008/05/18/97063.html?s=al&promo_code=6293-1), [Accessed May 19, 2008].
8 Glenn Kessler, Washington Post Staff Writer, “Iran Launches Nine Test Missiles, Says More Are Ready,” Washingtonpost.com, (Web page http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902395_2.html?sid=ST2008071000010&pos=), [Accessed July 10, 2008].
9 Joel C. Rosenberg, “War in November? A military showdown with Iran may be fast approaching,” Flash Traffic: Washington Update, (http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/), Washington, D.C., July 8, 2008.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Nicole Jansezian, Israel Today, “60 Years Young, Israel Leads Globalization Gathering, (Politics, June 2008) p.5.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
15 Mike Evans, Letter in the Jerusalem Prayer Team Action Alert, “Should President Bush organize a summit to divide Jerusalem? (Web site http://jerusalemprayerteam.org/), April 28, 2008.
16 Carol Glatz, “Bush, Pope meet in Vatican garden for private talks, informal stroll,” Catholic News Service, (Web page http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803154.htm), June 13, 2008.
17 Ibid.
18 Ibid.
19 Malcolm Moore, “George W. Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism,” Telegraph.co.uk, (Web page http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2122733/George-W-Bush-meets-Pope-amid-claims-he-might-convert-to-Catholicims.html), Rome, June 13, 2008.
20 Jim Meyers, “Bush Becoming Catholic?” Newsmax.com, (Web page http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/bush_catholic/2008/06/16/104851.html?s=al&promo_code=6460-1), June 16, 2008.
21 CNN Headline News, June 16, 2008.
22 Rachel Zott, Associated Press Religion Writer, “Rick Warren joins movement to end religious conflict,” OneNewsNow.com, (Web page http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=127642), June 1, 2008, [Article is no longer accessible online.].
23 Ibid.
24 Ibid.