What is crucifixion?

The gospel writers gave limited details about it mainly because they themselves witnessed the ordeal (except for Luke and Mark), but we in the 21st century have never seen a crucifixion take place. So what is it? Crucifixion is the most cruel, humiliating and painful means of public execution ever devised. So much so, that a new word was invented to describe it, excruciating, and this same word interestingly enough was derived from the word crucifixion. The word excruciating literally means “from the cross” and conveys pain that is agonizing, sharp, unbearable and severe.

The earliest form of crucifixion was practiced around the 9th century BC, where a wooden stake ran through a person’s mid-section and the poor soul is left there to linger and die slowly over a course of many days from impalement. In the 6th century, Darius 1, the Mede crucified 3000 Babylonians. Over 2 centuries later Alexander the Great in 332 BC changed the method from impalement to crucifixion that resembled more what the Romans did afterwards.

But it was Romans who perfected this practice as the most painful execution reserved for the most despised people: slaves, the poor and Roman citizens charged with high treason. Roman soldiers often competed with each other in making this ordeal longer and more painful. It was a prolonged and agonizing death of asphyxiation.

The Painful Ordeal

Those who would be crucified were forced to carry a heavy cross bar (about 100 pounds) that would be attached to the vertical post. People hung on the cross from anywhere between several hours to 9 days. They would pass in and out of consciousness; their lungs struggle to breath while labouring under the weight of their body. In order to end the torment, those being crucified would slump over to empty their lungs of air and quicken their death. Some suggests that seats were placed under the buttocks, preventing the crucified to slump and therefore extending the painful ordeal. It was never done in privacy, but in public view. Those crucified would often be at eye level so that a passerby can look at them face to face, curse them and spit on them. They weren’t even given a decent burial. Their bodies were at the mercy of vultures and ravens unless family members came for the bodies.

See how crucifixion was regarded by the culture of the time:

• 1st century Jewish Historian, Flavius Josephus, called crucifixion, “the most wretched of deaths”.

• Roman philosopher, Cicero asked his fellow Roman citizens never even to utter the word, “crucifixion” in the hearing of decent people.

• As far as Jews were concerned, according to Deut 21:22-23, anyone who was hung from a tree was cursed by God.

Jesus went through all of this on top of the traumatic abuse his body withstood from the scourging. By this point, despite being young and in good health, Jesus, was physically a wreck. Being forced to carry a cross bar of 100+ pounds, His body succumbed to the stress of sleepless nights, miles of walking, and would writhe in agony from the scourging by brutal soldiers. When He fell to the ground, you can imagine the cross bar crushing His chest (which some medical practitioners say is the equivalent of having your chest rammed up against the steering wheel in a high impact car accident), and perhaps driving the crown of thorns further into His scalp.

Upon arriving at the place of the crucifixion, they pulled out his beard (Isa. 50:6) and spat on Him, an ultimate act of disrespect in ancient cultures. They drove in 7 inch nails into the most sensitive nerve points on the human body, his hands (more accurately His wrists) and feet. Jesus’ body likely twitched involuntarily in sheer agony. Isaiah, a Jewish prophet who lived 700 years before Jesus was born, wrote about Him as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53:3-6.

3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
the sins of us all.

Why such a heinous way to die?

Because the offence that was committed by humanity against God was that heinous. Verse 6 captured it nicely. This grave offence is humanity’s utter rejection of God’s love, His law and His ways. From the time our 1st parents, Adam & Eve committed that rebillious act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden, humankind has made it clear that he preferred to walk his own path than the one God created for him. It was, and has been since, our way of saying to God, “No thank you! But my way is better!” This offence came like a slap in the face to God. The gravity of this offence did not even lay in the act itself. The very thing that made this sin severe was that it was committed against the holy God Himself. By sinning against God they belittled Him; reducing the omnipotent Creator to their level while at the same time assuming His place as lords of their lives. They exchanged truth for a lie, fulfillment for emptiness…. life for death. As a result, sin came into the world. But sin has its consequences.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Sin is that terrible…..it is that offensive…..it is that ugly…..it is that deadly.

The excruciating ordeal that Jesus went through for you and me speaks volumes about the magnitude of His love for us. He carried our weaknesses, moral failures and the sins of all of humanity past, present and future so we can be empowered by His strength, clothed with His right-ness, rescued by His grace….get the drift? It’s about what He already did for us (not what we can do) to make salvation available to all who believe.

The sinful offence was intensely personal to God. So God chose to resolve this personal problem in a personal way. The Son of God never sent Michael, Gabriel or any of the other angelic chief princes, or a seraph or a cherub to undertake this work. He came Himself. I find it intriguing that God timed His arrival in human history so perfectly. Aside from coming at a time when it was more conducive for the gospel to spread through neighbouring countries and the rest of the known world (thanks to the road system the Romans built), He came when the public form of human execution reached its most ghastly, appalling, gruesome peak which unwittingly unveiled the sheer blackness of the human heart. Crucifixion has no equal in the way victims were tortured, humiliated and are forced to die a slow, agonizing death. But this is the death our Lord chose to die, and He did it for all of us….for you and me. It’s no wonder that the cross became the symbol of Christ’s love. Early Christians made the sign of the cross over themselves to remind them of the brutal way Christ died. They took an image that once was a picture of disdain, terror and death, and transformed it into a symbol of salvation, hope and life. This is what the cross signifies. Therefore, let us not reduce it from what it was meant to be.

Maranatha friends,

If you were to go to Jerusalem today and visit the Temple Mount you would notice that there is in fact no Temple, what you would find however are two Muslim shrines, The Dome of the Rock and the ornate Al Aqsa Mosque. To the Jews the Temple Mount is considered to be the most sacred place for the Jewish people to worship and because of this fact it is the most contentious 35 acres on the planet earth.

From several verses in Daniel we learn, that in time yet future, there will be rebuilt Temple standing on the Temple Mount. The anti-Christ having entered into a 7 year treaty with the Jews, perhaps a re-instatement of the now dormant Oslo Accords, will break the treaty at the mid-point and stand in the ‘Temple’ and claim himself to be God, this is the ‘abomination that makes desolate’ that Jesus spoke of in the Olivet discourse.

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Matt. 24:15-21

The ‘holy place’ in context of these verses is the Temple standing in its original mount, where once again the Jews will return to Temple sacrifice. The bible teaches that there will be two future temples that are yet to stand on the Temple Mount.  The first of these future temples is the Tribulation Temple that is to be built and stand during the seven-year period known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble; the second is the Millennium Temple. This Millennium Temple will exist on the earth during the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ.

I will focus this Watchman Letter on the Tribulation Temple as it is the next one to exist on the Temple Mount and as we are getting closer to the 7 years of Jacob’s Trouble we need to know where we are in the development of this essential end time sign.

The Last Temple to stand on the Mount

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matt. 24:1-2

The last Temple to stand on the Temple Mount was in 70AD, as Jesus prophesied this Temple was destroyed by Rome and they took it apart stone by stone.  Rome under Titus destroyed the Temple, as the Temple walls were covered in pure gold the Roman soldiers removed each stone and burned off the gold.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand…and they will fall by the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” Luke 21:20-24.

We are currently living in ‘the time of the Gentiles’, from 70AD till today we are in the partial fulfillment of what Jesus prophesied in His Olivet Discourse.  Israel was dispersed into all nations, only returning to their land in 1948, no Jews in Jerusalem no fulfillment of Jesus teaching. The complete fulfillment of Jesus prophecy will happen in the events leading up to His return.  In this regard there will be a literal Temple built on the Temple Mount, this temple will ultimately fall into the control of the anti-Christ.

The conditions necessary to have the Temple rebuilt do not currently exist; Muslims currently administer control of worship on the Temple Mount.   In centuries past, the Sanhedrin, a group of trained Rabbis were responsible for administrating laws in the Temple and Levitical Priests for the worship and care of the Temple building. This Sanhedrin was disbanded in 358AD by the Roman Empire and has not operated since then; several attempts have been made to reconvene the Sanhedrin in past centuries with no success.

Where we are today

In October 2004 the Sanhedrin was reformed representing 70 Rabbis from across the Orthodox communities in a ceremony in Tiberius. The place of the Sanhedrin reformation is significant as the city of Tiberius on the shore of the Galilee is where the original Sanhedrin was dissolved, remember if Israel has not been reborn, there is no need for the Sanhedrin to reform, if no Sanhedrin is reformed then no proper Temple worship will exist. It is not coincidence that the Sanhedrin has been reformed in the recent few years.

“Then HaShem said to Moses, ‘Assemble for Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the people’s elders and officers, and you shall take them to the Tent of Meeting, and they shall stand there with You. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will increase the spirit that is upon you and bestow it upon them. Then they will bear the burden of the people with you so that you need not bear it alone.’” Numbers 11:16-17

There are several groups such as the ‘Temple Mount Faithful’ that have been working towards a rebuilt Temple. http://www.templemountfaithful.org/ These groups have prepared the priestly garments, the fixtures of the Temple and are practicing the ancient ceremonies in preparation for the Temple restoration.

Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute, www.templeinstitute.org/ another group working for the restoration of the Temple, on a public tour to the United States last year revealed detailed plans for the Chamber of the Hewn Stone: the seat of the Great Sanhedrin which is a central component of the Temple. With this, intricate plans of the entire Temple complex were introduced; created by top Israeli architectural firms.

What Future the Temple may look like

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. Rev. 11:1-2

The book of the Revelation gives us a clue to the physical dimensions and location of the Tribulation Temple. At a future time the Temple will exist on the Temple Mount, yet not completely in it’s original dimensions, as the Gentiles (non-Jews) will have control of the Gentile court. This verse has intrigued me for several years, what would that look like, how could that even be possible?

Will it be possible that in the aftermath of a Isaiah 17:1 and Psalm 83 War (Watchman Letter October 2011 – Syria and Damascus) that we will see the right conditions exist for the Temple to be rebuilt less the court of the Gentiles?Concept of The Temple built next to the Al Aqsa Mosque

Why should I care?

So Chris…why should I care that the Rabbi guys are getting ready to resume Temple worship? Why should I care that they have created all of the vestments and items necessary for authentic Temple worship? Why should I care if some of the top architectural firms in Israel have already created complete plans for a Temple building? Why should I care that the greater belief in the Israeli population is that they need to have a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem?

We should care because every prophetic event casts a shadow before it happens, every event that the Word of God predicts will happen does not just simply show up, it always has a foreshadowing before it happens.

If the current tensions in the Middle East cause a war to break out, should an agreement be struck in the aftermath of that war to divide control of the Temple Mount between Jews and Muslims in an effort to strike a peace agreement, perhaps then we will witness a new Temple constructed on the very site that it once stood.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

Maranatha friends,

One of the major themes of the Latter Days is the rise of Islam as a
major world power and one of the end time hopes, for Muslims, will be the
coming of the 12^th Imam. Since 9/11 I have taken the time to study the Qur’an, Sunna and Hadith writings of Islam, I am by no means an expert in these, but I do want to share a little on the subject to better help you
understand the significance of Islam and how it will affect our lives in the
future.

It is worth remembering that for the great majority of Muslims, as with most ‘world religions’, they are born into their belief system and to choose anything else would mean being ostracized from their family, their community at best and in some of the Muslim world it could be a sentence to death.

Islam has 2 main divisions, of the world’s total population of 1.6 billion Muslims, Shia Muslims represent 10-20% and Sunni Muslims represent 80-90%. Islam is based on ‘the five pillars of faith’.

1. Profession of the creed ” there is no god except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
2. 5 Daily Islamic prayers – before dawn, just after the sun hits its zenith, in the afternoon, at sunset and in the evening
3. You must fast during the month of Ramadan
4. Alms-giving – the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth
5. A Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime

Shia Islam

Shia Islam is generally considered the more militant side of the Islamic religion and 85% of Shai Muslims are “Twelvers”. In the Twelver’s eschatology (study of last things) they believe that at a time in the near future the 12^th and final Imam of Islam will come back to save the world. When this 12^th Imam arrives on the world scene, a prophet called Isa al-Maseeh (the Muslim Jesus) will join with him. Together they will dominate the world and convert it’s inhabitants to Islam and establish Sharia law and peace throughout the entire planet. This is the hope of Islam.

12^th Imam who is the Al-Mahdi

In Islamic eschatology, the most anticipated sign for Muslims is the arrival of the final Imam who is al-Mahdi ‘the guided one’. The appearance of the Mahdi is to Islam what return of the Messiah is to the Jews or the return of Jesus Christ is to Christians. The Mahdi will come to rule the world.

“He will appear on the appointed day, and then he will fight against the forces of evil, lead a world revolution, and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousness, and virtue…ultimately the righteous will take the world administration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all religions.”
Quote from The Awaited Saviour by Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatullah Murtada Mutahhari

The Mahdi will come to lead the world to Islam, according to Islamic tradition the Mahdi will do this through war and he will conquer many. In fact the verses of ‘the Book’ (bible), although considered to be a corrupted text by Muslims, is quoted in Islam.

Rev. 6:1-2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Islam teaches that the Mahdi is described in ‘the book’ (bible) and that even though ‘the book’ is corrupted it does describe the Mahdi as a great conqueror.

Muslim Jesus

Joining the Mahdi in the end time domination of the world, Islam teaches about a second end time leader called Isa al-Maseeh, the Muslim Jesus. Perhaps you have heard the argument put forth by some, those who take an ecumenical approach to religion, that Muslims believe in Jesus therefore we have a great amount in common. In the recent years of the decline of the church, many preachers have begun to teach Chrislam with the byline that ‘we all believe in God and we all believe in Jesus’; therefore we can mix the two faiths and live in Utopian peace. This shows a great lack of understanding what Islam actually teaches, but falls more in line with idolatry, heresy and apostasy.

In Islam when the 12^th Imam rises, the Muslim Jesus comes down from heaven, (as he is currently at the side of Allah), to serve the Mahdi (12^th Imam) and convert all the earth to Islam. Islamic eschatology teaches that Jesus comes back as a radical Muslim. Islam teaches that the Muslim Jesus will arrive just outside Damascus, show his subservience to the Mahdi, make a pilgrimage to Mecca and then become the primary enforcer for Sharia law, which is to be established globally.

In his enforcement of Sharia law, the Islamic tradition teaches that the Muslim Jesus will break all crosses, kill all swine, abolish the jizyah tax* and kill the Muslim version of the antichrist** (Ad-Dajjal) and his followers.

(*Jizyah tax basically works like protection money, a non-Muslim pays the tax so they can live and work in a Muslim country, when the tax is abolished you must accept Islam or die)
(**Ad-Dajjal the Muslim version of the anti-Christ would be the biblical Jesus Christ, this speaks of the Mahdi gathering the armies of the world to fight against Jesus Christ)

Filtering Islamic Eschatology through scripture

For those of you who have spent time in the word of God you may be making comparisons between what biblical eschatology teaches and what you have just read. I have done the same, as I am intrigued that a world religion, created several hundred years after the birth of the Christ, has so many parodies to the Word of God. This so called 12 Imam, the al-Mahdi, bares a striking resemblance to what followers of Christ would call the anti-Christ.

He is a Messianic figure
He will not practice the religion of his fathers (worship of the God of Heaven by Abraham, Isaac & Jacob)
He will be an unparalleled spiritual, political and military world leader
He will emerge in a period of great turmoil and suffering on the earth
He will establish justice and righteousness on a global level
He will lead a global revolution and establish a new world order
He will militarily crush any opposition
He will invade many countries
He will make a seven-year treaty with a Jew of Levi tic heritage
He will conquer Israel (for Islam) and battle against the Jews
He will establish a new headquarters in Jerusalem
He will cause the entire world to worship one religion (Islam/Chrislam or whatever he calls it)
He will cause all his true followers to be marked on the forehead, to separate them from the infidels
He will appear on a white horse (perhaps only symbolic)
He will discover, previously unknown biblical manuscripts and use them to convert many to Islam
He will rediscover the Ark of the Covenant from the Sea of Galilee and bring it to Jerusalem
He will have power over wind, rain and crops (by the power of Allah)
He will posses and distribute enormous amounts of wealth
He will be loved universally

In brief these are some of the points that show a commonality with the Muslim Mahdi and what the bible teaches about the anti-Christ. This is not an exhaustive list as there is much in the Qur’an, Sunna and Hadith writings that draw more in-depth parallels between these two anticipated end time figures. When a man ‘more stout’ than his fellows enters the world stage many of the 1.6 billion Muslims will seek to hear what he says and most of Islam will follow him. The Muslim Jesus will support this man, who again has an uncanny resemblance to the false prophet spoken of in Rev. 13, a global representative of false Christianity that appears as a lamb but speaks like the dragon.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matt 24v24

The Iran Connection

The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has in several speeches that he has delivered to the United Nations, prayed during the sessions for the return of the al-Mahdi. You see Mr. Ahmadinejad is a ‘Twelver’, he is passionate about the return of the Mahdi, he believes that the reason that he is on the planet at this time in history is to hasten the return of the Mahdi. President Ahmadinejad has stated publically that by causing a major war of nations that the Mahdi will come. President Ahmadinejad believes that if he can obliterate Israel from the planet and then destroy the West he will accomplish his goal of plunging the world into a major war.

Iran continues to be in the news these days as tensions increase with most of the Western world over Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The highest levels of government in Iran are ‘Twelvers’, President Ahmadinejad along with the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini pray daily for the war that will hasten the return of the 12^th Imam. A Middle East war may well start over oil distribution, to this end the closing the Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s constant threat to the West’s oil supply.

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Daniel 11:40

In previous letters I have explained that the ‘king of the south’ is radical Islam, I have come to understand this thru many Old Testament scriptures. Currently the king of the south is lead by Iran, the world’s largest exporter of terrorism and Iran is ‘pushing’ hard. Notice the word “push” in Daniel 11:40. In Hebrew, it means to push at, or to wage war. Think about Iran’s push for nuclear weapons, its push to close down Hormuz, its push of terrorism against the West around the world. The primary goal of Iranian foreign policy is to “push” and provoke, to aggravate and infuriate.

This is perhaps the one relevant point that the US and most of the West have not really understood, the one major point that Israel understands extremely well, if Iran gets a nuclear bomb it will use it. Iran will use it to incite a war that will fulfill its hope for the right conditions to exist for the 12^th Imam the al-Mahdi to come onto the world scene.

Prayer and Fasting

We live in a crucial time in history, where much of what the bible warns for nations that have turned their back on Him, is hanging in the balance. The fate of nations is preordained as they move farther and farther away from God, but it is not ordained for individuals genuinely seeking relationship with God. This is not the time for fear mongering, complaining or ignorance, it is the time for clarity, prayer and fasting as the prophet Joel taught in 2:12-14,

“ Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—?

We need to repent of our trespasses the things that we covet over God, build our prayer muscle, practice prayer and fasting as our weapon for change, for believers these are the weapons that we have at our disposal as scripture tells us, prayer and fasting.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Seek His reward, pray without ceasing, pray specifically, fast a meal once week, perhaps fast a day once a week or once a month and petition the Lord for righteous answers. These are the most powerful tools that He gives us for protection, blessing and forward momentum in 2012.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
- Isaiah 43:18-19

These words were written by Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet who lived in the 8th century B.C. He lived in a time when his country, Israel, was in a state of moral and spiritual decline. As a prophet he was God’s mouthpiece to the people of his country, warning them about the consequences of their spiritual rebellion towards the One who created them, rescued them from centuries of slavery, gave them an identity and a beautiful land they can call home. Isaiah sadly knew that they will continue to ignore his words of warning which would lead to the invasion of the powerful Babylonians who would then take them away as captives into Babylon (present day Iraq). When this did occur, the Jews were living in misery as exiles in a foreign country surrounded by a foreign culture. They mourned the loss of their nation’s golden years and wondered if they will never again see the home of their ancestry, or worse yet, if God Himself has abandoned them. But God wanted His people to know that He has not forgotten them nor is He finished with them. He was telling them to no longer dwell on the golden years of the past; that their best days are not behind them, but ahead.

Note the 3 things God told the exiled Jews which can also be applicable to us today:

i) Forget about what’s happened.
Not referring to the positive moments from the past, especially the times when God intervened in amazing ways. Such reminders could help them get through the rough time of living as captives to another nation. But they needed to forget their rebellious actions that have led them to be in that place of misery. They realized they screwed up, but they needed to move on.

What can we take from this?
Forget about the pitfalls of 2011. This can drag you down and cause you wallow in self-pity.
Don’t carry these over with you into 2012.
It’s a new year, a new season, a new adventure.
Sure you have made mistakes or missed out on key opportunities in 2011, but don’t beat yourself over the head for it. Rather than seeing them as utter failures, view them as learning opportunities.
Be thankful for these life lessons in 2011 and start off the new year with a clean slate.

ii) Stop going over old history.
Though it was good to be reminded about how God intervened in seemingly impossible situations years ago, they needed to quit living in the past. If they kept looking backwards, they will not see where God is leading them and will miss out on the extraordinary blessings He has for them in the new leg of their journey.

What can we take from this?
It’s very easy to get caught up in the glory days of yesteryear. Yes, by all means celebrate the highpoints of 2011, but don’t stay there. That year is now behind us and we eagerly anticipate what God has in store for us in 2012.

iii) Pay attention to what God is doing today.
The Jews were encouraged to pay attention to what God was up to even while in exile. God never took a sabbatical, He was still very much active and didn’t want them to miss out on what He was doing around them, hence His admonishment to “Be alert, be present.” They were also encouraged to be open to the new way He will show His grace and power. God was telling the Jews in Babylon that He will do something entirely new, completely different and even more compelling in their lives than even the stories they heard from their parents. He did not want His people to put Him in a box, assuming that He could only operate the same way He did in the past.

What can we take from this?
Stay current. Pay careful attention to what is happening in the news, both locally and globally. Keep your ear to the streets. Find out what the latest buzz is or the most popular social issue people in your neighbourhood are talking about or blogging about online. This can be insightful in helping you to understand where your friends are at spiritually. Certain questions about life, death or our purpose here on earth that you may get from your friends could be an indication of what God is already doing in their hearts. The Lord can help you to use this as a vantage point to work in the gospel in a sensitive yet thought-provoking way. Be also wary of any pre-conceived notions you have in your mind about the way God works. He’s not interested in doing the same thing twice. Don’t expect him to move the same way in 2012 as He did in 2011. This will require for you to be heavily dependent on the leading of His Spirit.

Final Thought
2012 will not be just another year. In this year there will be new friends to make, new challenges to face, new achievements to be made, new mistakes to learn from, new life lessons to embrace and new opportunities for God to show His heart, unveil greater depths of His truth and for you to witness firsthand something brand new He’s doing this year. All the best for 2012!

Maranatha friends,

Sometimes, when I have a conversation with someone about the state of the world or events that are happening I get a response of ‘it just coincidence’. So I thought I would share some of the coincidences that I see this year and shed a little light on other coincidences that we can expect in the future. This is my effort at summarizing the 2011-year and although there is a little tongue and cheek in the writing the subjects are of the great importance.

Iran and Russia

Ezekiel prophesied 2,600 years ago, that in the Latter Days, Iran (Persia) will be joined with Russia and they would fight against Israel. In history past Russia and Persia were more likely to be enemies than cohorts and historically have not had any common military action, other than those in which they were killing each other. Coincidentally in 1991, Russia and Iran embarked on a plan named ‘the Grand Design’ but observers nicknamed it “the Treaty from Hell”.  The deal was simple, Iran and the Ayatollahs would not interfere with or try to radicalize the 5 southern former soviet states, that are predominately Muslim and in return Russia would help Iran in developing nuclear power plants suitable for conversion to warheads. More importantly Russia would fight along side Iran in any act of Western aggression against the Iranians.

Iran is a staunch supporter of the Al-Assad government in Syria and Iran has warned the West to stay out of Syria or face reprisal.    Some of you may be paying attention to what is going on in Syria and the killing of innocent people by the government, which now exceeds 5,000. What has not been getting much coverage however is the military buildup around Syria by Russia and the US.   The US has deployed the USS George W. Bush aircraft carrier to the waters off Syria along with the US 6^th Fleet.   In response, Russia has dispatched its only aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov to Syrian waters along with several attack frigates harbored in the port of Tartus in Syria.  The 24 hour news machine has made much of US troops leaving Iraq by December 31^st, but some of the troops are not going too far, in fact the US war machine is building in Jordan, 10 kms from the Syrian border.

Egypt, Libya & Ethiopia

The prophet Isaiah, prophesying of the last days spoke directly into some of what we are witnessing in the world today. Isaiah 19:4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. The fierce king that is mentioned is the radical Islamic camp that is primarily lead by Ayatollahs and the President of Iran.  We learn from the prophet Daniel that Libya and Ethiopia will be joined to Egypt and the fierce Southern King. I mentioned in my February and March WM letters that Islamic militant group Muslim Brotherhood would pay a strong role in the new governments of these countries.  Well… coincidentally the Muslim Brotherhood won the first round of elections in Egypt and are expected to have a majority government by the time the entire election process is complete.  In other North African nations like Tunisia, where the “Arab Spring” began, their recent vote elected into power the organization Ennahda (meaning Awakening) a group inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood. Morocco elected the Islamist Justice and Development Party, which represent the Muslim Brotherhood in Morocco. Libya has moved to Sharia law and the transitional government is forming an Islamic State.

At a future date we will witness Ethiopia and most probably Eritrea, Djibouti also, accept the same fate as the other North African nations I have mentioned, they will become Islamic states fulfilling Isaiah’s and Daniel’s prophecies, perhaps late 2012 I will be writing about that coincidence.

Weather

Jesus spoke of major disturbances in nature, that the weather would be out of its natural order, signs and wonders in the heavens and earthquakes in many places.   Coincidentally… natural disasters in 2011 have been the costliest on record according to several reassurance companies that track such things.  The first six months of this year saw $265 billion in economic losses, well above the previous record of $220 billion (adjusted for inflation) set for all of 2005 (the year Hurricane Katrina struck).

2011 is “one for the record books,” Bob Hartwig, head of the Insurance Information Institute, told reporters being briefed on the study. “We are rewriting the financial and economic history of disasters on a global scale.” For the United States, 98 events (storms, flooding, fires and earthquakes) left $27 billion in economic losses, more than double the 10-year average of $11.8 billion according to Munich Re. The total number of events is trending up as well: The first half of 2011 has already produced more events than most entire years before 2006, the company found. The vast majority of U.S. damage, $23.5 billion, was from twisters and other severe storms. Twisters have also claimed nearly 600 lives this year. 2011 will go down as “the year of the tornado,” predicted Carl Hedde, a risk analyst at Munich Re. Munich Re wasn’t shy about drawing a connection between climate change and what it sees as longer windows for extreme weather.

The total 2011 Global disaster costs equaled a record of more than US$365 billion.

Europe and the Holy Roman Empire

The book of Daniel and the Revelation describe the final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire, it is to be partially weak and partially strong.  In this final resurrection the government will be influenced by a world religion that has seen this same empire through 6 previous resurrections.  Well, as coincidence would have it, some of the new leaders in Europe have a common Jesuit root.

• Mario Draghi, newly appointed President of the European Central Bank, studied at Jesuits at Istituto Massimo in Rome, a private Catholic school.
• Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council was educated at the Jesuit Sint-Jan Berchmans College in central Brussels, then studied philosophy and economics at the Catholic University of Leuven. He has spoken to the Bilderbergers of his vision of European governance.
• Mario Monti, newly elected President of Italy, graduated from the Jesuit school of Leo XIII, the upper middle class school in Milan. He is the European chair for the Tri-lateral Commission and a Bilderberger.
• Maraiano Rajoy, newly elected President of Spain, educated in a Jesuit school and trained as a lawyer.
• Lucas Papademos, new prime minister of Greece, is a Knight of Malta, a Jesuit based organization overseen by Rome, and he is Bilderberger and a member of the Trilateral Commission.

What they all share is the global economic vision of Rome encapsulated in Pope Benedict’s 2009 encyclical, “Caritas in Veritate.”  This document calls on the need for the actions of all economic actors to be informed by ethics as well as the profit motive. Other areas discussed include hunger, the environment, migration, sexual tourism, bioethics, cultural relativism, social solidarity, energy and population issues.  Of greatest interest to me is Pope Benedict’s call for an establishment of an “effective global authority to manage the global economy”.

The men mentioned above, these Jesuit trained technocrats, are going to have great influence over how the EU changes in 2012, perhaps we will see the 10 strong nations or regions rise to the forefront; regardless much will change in the global financial system.

The Last Pope?

As some of you know I was originally born in Northern Ireland and the history of the area tells of a Catholic Bishop, Saint Malachy Archbishop of Armagh, who had a prophesy or prediction about the entire line of popes from his time in about 1139 AD right up to the last pope that would reign in the final generation.

I have had reservation about sharing this none biblical prophecy as I prefer not to add to what may be a year filled with many false predictions, but as it comes from my birth home and with the declining health of the current 85 year old pope, I thought I would share it and you can decide in its validity.

Although some of the descriptions are a bit obscure it is amazing to consider that Saint Malachy wrote these words almost 900 hundred years ago.  I have listed the last 6 descriptions of popes to reign the rest are available online.

Pastor and Mariner – JOHN XXIII. 1958-1963. John was a pastor to the world, much beloved, and the Patriarch of Venice. The connection to “mariner” is thus remarkable.

Flower of Flowers – PAUL VI. 1963-1978. Paul’s coat-of-arms depicts three fleurs-de-lis, corresponding to Malachy’s prophecy. His coat of arms included three fleurs-de-lis (iris blossoms).

Of the Half Moon. JOHN PAUL I. 1978-1978. John Paul I was elected Pope on August 26, 1978, when there was a half moon. He reigned 33 days, that is, about one month, when he died, although many think he was murdered. He was the 109th Pope – is “De Medietate Lunae” (Of the Half Moon). The corresponding pope was John Paul I (1978-78), who was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani (white light). He became pope on August 26, 1978, when the moon appeared exactly half full. It was in its waning phase. He died the following month, soon after an eclipse of the moon.

The Labor of the Son. JOHN PAUL II. 1978-2005. Pope John Paul II was the most traveled Pope in history. He circled the globe numerous times, preaching to huge audiences everywhere he went. He survived an assassination attempt. He has written a book which has enjoyed a large circulation. Like the sun which never ceases to labor and provides light daily, this Pope has been incessant. He was born on May 18, 1920. On that date in the morning there was a near total eclipse of the sun over Europe. Prophecy – The 110th Pope is “De Labore Solis” (Of the Solar Eclipse, or, From the Toil of the Sun). Like the sun he came out of the East (Poland).

The Glory of the Olive. BENEDICT XVI 2005-present. The Order of St. Benedict has said this 267^th Pope will come from their order. It is interesting that Jesus gave his apocalyptic prophecy about the end of time from the Mount of Olives. This Pope will reign during the beginning of the tribulation Jesus spoke of. The 111th prophesy is “Gloria Olivae” (The Glory of the Olive). The Order of Saint Benedict has claimed that this pope will come from their ranks. Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil.

PETER THE ROMAN  Still to come. This final Pope will acquire the seat of Pontific Maximus, and be in power at the time of the tribulation. The 112th prophesy states: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Petrus Romanus, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”

2012

The world will watch, with a building anticipation, to this time next year when the “final” winter solstice comes.  It may well be that the event is of no greater significance than the Y2K phenomenon, but I would expect that events around the globe may well heighten the experience.

Jesus told us in Matthew “for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. And later in verse 25 “See, I have warned you about this ahead of time”.

It is a loving thing to warn people, it is done with the hope that they will be conducting their lives in a way that will be pleasing to Jesus upon His return.   Jesus offers a way out of what is just ahead in our world. Be ready, the hour is late.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

Maranatha friends,

In the book of The Revelation we are warned of an end-time Beast that rises up to take control of the entire earth, if only for a short time. Will you recognize this Beast? Will you take his mark? Do you already wear the mark of his system? Much has been said about the Beast and the infamous number 666, but how much do you really understand about this coming One World Government and the man who will lead it and deceive the entire world?

The Mark of the Beast

Rev. 13:8 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.

God’s number of completeness is seven, throughout God’s word we see examples of this; seven spirits, seven angels, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, seven churches, seven thunders and seven golden candlesticks. God created all things in six days and on the seventh day rested.  The system of God revolves around this complete number of seven.  Six days does a man work but on the seventh he rests and contemplates God’s and His ways.

Six is the incomplete number of Man. Man is created in the image of God but falls short of His completeness. In scripture we see several examples, Man was created on the sixth day of the creation story, a man of great stature Goliath was six cubits tall, he welded a spear with tip of six shekels in weight, wore six pieces of armor.  Nebuchadnezzar, King during Daniel’s day, built a statue sixty cubits tall, six cubits wide and had six instruments summons the people to worship it.

The Mark that is so often talked about is in effect man’s system, incomplete and separate from God.  In our world to day it is our government, our laws, our religion emulating God’s original intent but always coming up short and headed far in the other direction from God’s plan.

This system is, and those whom live in it are, by their actions and desires in opposition to God and as this separation comes to a final conclusion, we will continue to see the commercial way of life, commercial way of thinking and the giving of a spiritual dimension to the indulgence of self on the increase.

2 Tim.3: 1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, loves of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.

This is Babylon; this is the Mark of the Beast, this is the nature of the system we must not be any part of. This description of the Babylonian system, the system of Man, just before the return of Jesus Christ which will invoke the acceptance of the physical ‘Mark’ that comes during the soon coming Tribulation.

Let’s Identify the Beast

The following is my understanding of scripture based on my study of the text, some will disagree with me, but my hope is that you read with an open mind. The Beast that is described in this last day’s prophecy, as with all prophetic declarations is explained in God’s word. This end-time Beast with seven heads and ten horns will only be recognized by those whose names are written in the Book of Life, those called by Christ, that have answered that call by accepting the free offer of God’s grace and asking Jesus into their heart, life, mind and future.  Scripture tells us that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will wonder or be astonished when they see the Beast. Therefore those whose names that are written in the Book of Life will not be surprised or wonder at the Beast of end days.

I have added in brackets some simple explanations to help understand this next section of The Revelation.

Rev. 17:3-18 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman (Church of Rome) sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads (kingdoms) and ten horns (end time leaders).

And the woman (Church of Rome) was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman (Church of Rome) drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (disbelief that a church had such power).

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman (Church of Rome), and of the beast (anti-Christ’s governmental system) that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads (kingdoms) and ten horns (end time leaders).

The beast (anti-Christ’s governmental system) that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (Hades), and go into perdition (eternal damnation): and they that dwell on the earth (unsaved) shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life (unsaved) from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast (anti-Christ’s governmental system) that was (the Roman system), and is not, and yet is (in the image of the Roman system).

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains (kingdoms), on which the woman sitteth (church of Rome leads these seven heads). And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is (recognition by God’s people of the sixth head), and the other is not yet come; and when he (anti-Christ, King of the North) cometh, he must continue a short space.

And the beast (Roman Government) that was, and is not, even he is the eighth (body of the Roman system), and is of the seven (Heads of the Roman system, in the Image of the Beast), and goeth into perdition (eternal damnation).

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour (short time) with the beast (final European based superpower). These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast (anti-Christ).

These shall make war with the Lamb (Jesus), and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore (Church of Rome) sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

And the ten horns (end time leaders) which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore (hate the power of this end-time church), and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

For God hath put in their (earth dwellers, pagans) hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom (final European Superpower) unto the beast (anti-Christ), until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman (Church of Rome) which thou sawest is that great city (Rome), which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The 7^th Head of the Beast

The entire world was witness to Hitler’s rampage on the scene of modern history. Many, considered him as ‘The anti-Christ’, both within Christendom and also by the general masses that were witness to his carnage.  Of the Beast, the Hitler-Mussolini Axis did represent the 6^th Head, the last one ruled by a man. The 7^th and final Head however will be a supernatural rule, as Satan himself, will infill the leader of this last revival.

With this letter have included a chart to show how the prophecies of Daniel in chapters 2, 7 & 8 relate to Revelation 13 & 17 and their fulfillment in world history (see attached).  In Daniel 12 we learn that Daniel was given the instruction to seal these things up till the time of end.

Dan.12: 8-10 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

As we move towards the return of Christ, insight to the closeness of His return will become more prevalent within the true believers heart. In many of the verses of Daniel and The Revelation we are told that those who have wisdom, God inspired wisdom, will understand what His word says.

So let’s recap a little, we are looking for an empire that was in power during John’s day when he scribed The Revelation (A.D. 90 approx.).  This empire is ridden by a church forming a church-state union and goes through 7 revivals; these revivals are in the image of the original system of Rome. The church that rides this government system will be involved in the 7 revivals; will have a global influence over many kings and rulers, will have killed true Christians in large number, sexual immorality will be in it, will be dressed in purple and scarlet and have great wealth. This church-state government will rise up in the end day for one last time. What will be the catalyst for this revival to rise?

The current Euro zone financial crisis does not have any easy fix; in fact it may not have any fix.  A major component of the problem is that there are too many sovereign nations that have to agree to any decisions made. The scope of the problem far exceeds the knowledge and skill set of the current national leaders. As a result they have adopted a practice of delaying and waiting, hoping for a change in the status quo.

The mechanism for a single decision maker is currently being created in the many meetings that Germany, France, the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and the World Bank are having, on what seems like on an almost weekly basis. I have mentioned in previous Watchman Letters that we are going to see a greater consolidation of finance into smaller and smaller circles of power.  When the next major financial crisis comes along, people will cry out for leadership and a solution to protect their wealth. The EU may choose to have a 2 tier Euro, the 10 rich nations and then the rest on a weaker currency or on an even greater scale develop economic zones globally. The EU along with the United Nations and several of the world’s financial élites have been working towards this eventuality since the 1950’s and since then have agreed on a future division of 10 economic zones effectively dividing up the world.       http://ec.europa.eu/world/where/index_en.htm

The one to come

We are witnessing the grand failure of the current global financial system which is birthing a new way to do business, this will also bring to the forefront the resurrected Holy Roman Empire and drive it to it’s prophesied Babylonish economic, military and spiritual heights (Revelation 13, 17, 18).  When this new system is presented to the world it will be practical, necessary and the only truly viable option for all who consider it. It will not be dark, sinister, evil or satanic in appearance but rather just a new, safer and efficient way to do world finance and banking.

On Monday October 24^th, 2011 The Vatican released a paper in response to the Euro Zone crisis focused “Towards reforming the international financial and monetary systems in the context of a global public authority”.  The Vatican Calls for ‘Central World Bank’ to be set up with the Vatican providing what has always been missing in the past, a overseer to bring a culture of ethical decision-making, this avoiding an atmosphere of greed that has been prevalent in the past. http://www.cnbc.com/id/45013499

Enter the Dragon – November 1^st, 2011 Mr. Mario Draghi took over as head of the European Central Bank making him a very powerful decision-maker in regards to the future of Europe and perhaps the entire global financial system. Draghi is Jesuit-educated and dedicated Roman Catholic with connections that run deep within the global banking and finance community and has historic Vatican Bank and European Central Bank connections.

Let’s pull over for a moment

I have several Catholic friends who are reading this right now and I know them as caring passionate people who are genuinely seeking a relationship with God. Others of my Catholic friends are simply under the dominion of the Holy Roman Catholic system and have adopted their family tradition but really do not have much to do with the church, rather if you ask them what they believe they say “I’m Catholic” and that’s about as far as their faith goes.

In today’s context it is hard to imagine the Roman Catholic Church as an organization responsible for the deaths of the saints, but a little study of history shows that through the Inquisition that is exactly what did happen. The Roman Catholic Church is by no means alone in the killing of genuine believers in the name of God. The Protestant Crusades have their share of blood and Islam both historical and present day also have the blood of millions in the name of ‘God’. In the context of the verses in the Revelation however we are talking about the Church of Rome.

When Jesus returns to this earth He is not coming back for a denomination, He is returning for His bride, those who have answered His call and through grace have accepted Jesus into their heart.  So be assured I am not making an effort to tear down a particular denominational faith.  I know that there are wonderful spirit-filled parish priests who shepherd believers that have reconciled themselves to God through Jesus and are in right relationship with Him.  If someone says “I am a Baptist, or I am a Pentecostal or any other denominational title it will mean nothing when Jesus comes back.  I can sit in a church every Sunday and play my part, but it will no more make me a Christian than if I sit in garage every Sunday with the hope of becoming a car.

After Jesus takes His true church from this earth what will be left are those who had no real faith and they will gladly become part of this ecumenical monolith of an end-time church-state union. Acceptance of all paths to God will be its mantra.

Foundation being laid

In Daniel we learn that that the final world leader will come by flatteries, he will come with a message of peace.  This end-time leader will bring peace to the financial system and do what has never been accomplished by any other modern day world-leader, bring peace to the Middle East perhaps in the wake of the Psalm 83 war. (previous Watchman letter)

The foundation is being laid by which the Beast can rise to power, the players are all moving into place, the conditions are ripe to actuate a plan that has been in waiting for many years.  I trust that this letter is a word of wisdom to your heart, that you are counted amongst those who recognize what the world is moving towards and see the signs of the Beast rising.

This is an ominous thought to think that the anti-Christ’s unveiling is very near but it will ultimately herald the greatest event in the history of the world, the return of Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom Rule on the earth. Amen

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

The Mystery Babylon

Based on a summary of works by Alexander Hislop, Dr. H.A. Ironside and Dr. D. Jeremiah

One of the great mysteries of Babylon is that it has travelled through the religious system of man to this present day.

In Genesis 10 we learn that the false religious system was born on plain of Shinar in ancient Babylon; King Nimrod in defiance to God built his tower into the heavens to acclaim equality with God and to promote the study of astrology and sorcery.

Nimrod’s wife Sermiramis was considered as the first High Priestess of idolatry, Sermiramis gave King Nimrod a son by the name of Tammuz, which true legend maintained was miraculously conceived by a sunbeam.

Sermiramis has many names; in Assyria and Nineveh she was called Astarte and her son was called Baal, in Egypt she was called Isis and her son was called Horace, in Greece she was called Aphrodite and her son was called Aries, the Latin’s and the Romans called her Venus and her son was called Cupid.

Sermiramis offered her son Tammuz as the ‘promised deliverer of the earth’ but when he was a young adult he was attacked and killed by a wild boar.  After 40 days of his mother’s weeping he was raised from the dead.  This is where the cultic practice of worshiping the mother and child began to be spread throughout the world. The custom of public worship had been defined and the mother identified as “queen of heaven”. The mother was worshipped by the offering of a little wafer to her as the The Queen of Heaven.

The prophet Jeremiah was witness to this pagan practice as the false Babylonian religion had crept into the worship of the people of Israel.   They were already worshiping the queen of heaven.

Jer. 44:15-19 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

Ezekiel also references this false Babylonian religion that had grown up in his day.

Ezek. 8:13-14   He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

What Ezekiel saw in the temple were the women of Israel observing the 40 days of Lent for the slaying of the pagan Tammuz. The 40 days of Lent memorialize the 40 days of Sermiramis weeping over the death of her son Tammuz. At the end of the 40 days celebration with the feast of Ishtar, which culminated, with the exchanging of Ishtar egg, symbolizing his new life.  Our modern day Easter eggs actually come from the pagan practice of giving Ishtar eggs. The act of crossing ones self in the form of a ‘t’ was a remembrance of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, “promised deliverer of the earth”.

The mother son cult finally ended in Rome where the Emperor was elected Pontifex Maximus – The Greatest High Priest replacing the High Priestess, he became the High Priest over all of this idolatress system and when the Roman Emperor was gone, the Bishop of Rome assumed all of his titles and responsibilities; today he is known as the Pope.

Dr. H.A. Ironside wrote:

The very fact that he bears that title, is a declaration that he is not a successor to Simon Peter but rather he is the successor to the High Priest of the heathen mysteries that began way back there in Babel. When Constantine came to the throne and the first pope assumed the title of Pontific Maximus, all those heathen associations and ceremonies that had their beginnings with Nimrod-the worship of the Queen of the Heaven, the eating of the wafer, the doctrine of purgatory, the wearing of vestments, the observance of a thousand and one lesser mysteries-all these were brought into the church, and for a thousand years they prevailed all over Europe. Thus the Roman Catholic Church with all of its God dishonoring doctrines and practices came into existence.

The Roman Catholic Church is nothing more nor less than the amalgamation of the Christian Church and the Roman Empire it took place when Constantine supposedly came to faith, he preformed mass baptisms of all of the Roman army and caused that Christianity become the state religion unfortunately for Christians all of the pagan Babylonian customs that had become a part of the Roman practice were merged right in with the Christian faith.

Well meaning Catholics do not know where much of what is practiced in their church came from, but a study of history brings to light the true roots of what is practiced in the name of God within the Roman Catholic Church today. The mystery of Babylon is that it has travelled through the religious system of man to this present day.

Structure of the Roman Catholic Church

in the Image of the Roman Government

Pope – Pontific Maximus 1^st Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ
|
Cardinals & Bishops
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Roman Courier
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Papal Diplomatic Core
(Nuncios, Inter-nuncio, Apostolic Delegates)
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Ordinary Government & Extraordinary Government
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Clergy, Friars, Sisters and Nuns
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Laity

Babylon the Great
The Historic Reigns of the Gentile Kingdoms

Maranatha friends,

I have been intently watching the events unfolding in Syria over the past several weeks, the civil unrest, the Syrian Arab Army killing it’s citizens by the 1,000s in the streets and the defiant proclamation by Iran that the ‘West’ must stay out of Syria or there will be a reprisal, to date the West have done just that; stayed out. I believe that Syria may one day soon define the Middle East and in particular instigate the conflict that will engulf the entire area around Israel.

In September 2007 Israeli jets flew into Syrian airspace and bombed what was believed to be a nuclear bomb manufacturing facility on the banks of the Euphrates River, about ninety miles north of the Iraq border. Syria promptly covered the entire site as quickly as possible with concrete and tonnes of earth adding confirmation to the ‘question’ of just what was in the bombed site.  Syria then refused the International Atomic Energy Agency admittance to the site for over a year while they continued to clean up the area.

In the almost 4 years since the Israeli airstrike, not much has been said about it in the news and very little attention has been paid to Syria’s nuclear ambitions.   The world should have been paying attention; earlier this year the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) announced that Syria’s nuclear program was far more advanced than previously thought.  It is believed that Syria has 4 other nuclear containment facilities currently in use.  In their report, the ISIS stated, that Syria has or is currently developing nuclear warheads for use against Israel.

Why does Syria need so many storage areas? Perhaps some of you will remember in the weeks leading up to the US invasion of Iraq that satellite imagery reported convoys of trucks travelling to Syria from Iraq in great number.  At that time, I with many others speculated that Saddam Hussein was off loading his Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) to his neighbour and friend Bashar al-Assad the president of Syria.  This would explain why there were no WMDs to be found when the massive United States of America’s war machine arrived in Iraq.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, has a unique military distinction; in the early 2000’s Iran along with several Arab countries and militant groups chose Damascus as their centralized military command bunker for any future offensive or counteroffensive wars with Israel.  Beneath the city of Damascus is a military control center capable of co-coordinating a multipronged attack from Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon north east of Israel, the Syrian Arab Army from the north of Israel, PLO and Islamic militant Fatah in the east, Islamic militant Gaza based group Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in the south.

Syria in Prophecy

Why is Syria important to watch?  Your bible tells of a future catastrophe that will befall Damascus in the latter days, this event directly leading up to the return of Christ. This prophecy of Isaiah speaks of the total annihilation of Damascus in a sudden destructive event. A bold prophesy indeed when you realize that Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world perhaps the oldest and has never been destroyed.

Isaiah 17:1 “A prophecy against Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins”.

And later in verse 14 “In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! 
This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us”.

If Israel were to be the one, responsible for the destruction of Damascus, Israel would have to have great justification, in verse 4 “In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away”. This will happen at a time when Israel will have little or no favour within the greater global community.  Today it is not hard to see that Israel could hardly be more despised, or unwanted than they are.  We only have to read the voting record of the United Nations to understand what the current level of hatred of Israel is, throughout our world.

Most military experts believe that Israel currently has approximately 200 nuclear weapons any one of which is capable of fulfilling Isaiah 17:1 in about 60 seconds. I believe that Isaiah 17 is directly connected to the war of Psalm 83; in this war a group of nations conspire because of their hatred of God and their desire to take Israel’s land and wipe out the nation of Israel.  These Muslim nations have a terrific hatred for the God of the bible and any who worship Him.  In Islam there is a popular saying “first Saturday, then Sunday”, this is a reference to getting rid of all the Sabbath worshippers of God and then the Sunday worshippers of God.

Psalm 83:2-4 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

Those that conspire against God

Psalm 83:5-8 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against Thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.  This particular alignment of Arab nations has never attacked Israel in either ancient or modern history. Let us look at these countries or people groups today:

The tabernacles of Edom: the ancient Kingdom called Edom was located south of Israel by the Red Sea in the western part of Jordan.  Edom is another name for Esau one of the progenitors of all Arab people; many bible scholars teach that the bloodlines of Esau have now settled in the modern country of Turkey.

Ishmaelites are generally the Arab people; descendants of Ishmael, those located in Moab; the Moabites and Ammonite Moab area constitute what we consider the Egyptian Sinai and this area border’s southern Israel.

Hagarenes are descendent through Hagar (Mother of Ishmael) they are currently located in Saudi Arabia. In the case of the Hagarenes they may represent only certain tribes currently living in modern day Saudi Arabia, presumably those located in the northern region.

Gebal is the ancient name for the modern district of Jbeil, Lebanon.  Lebanon has fostered several radical Islamic groups the strongest being Hezbollah. U.S. intelligence reports say that Hezbollah cells operate in Europe, Africa, South America, Mexico and North America.  It is believed that Hezbollah has several thousand rockets of chemical capability directed towards Israel.

Ammon: the area of the Ammonites was west of the Jordan river from the sea of Galilee in the south of modern day Syria to the Dead Sea region of modern day Jordan. Amman is the current capital city of the country of Jordan it is central and East of Israel.  As it is with other Arab countries the ruling class of Jordan are not Arabs, in the case of Jordan the ruling class are Hajamites, however the country is 80 % Arab by population.

Amalek or the Amalekites originated in Arabia Petraea in modern day Syria and North Jordan but as a nomadic tribe their later history has them located in the Gaza area of the Egyptian Sinai.

Philistines are located in the Gaza strip. Today Gaza is controlled by the militant Islamic terrorist group called Hamas, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets into Israel for years but now due to Egypt changing leadership Hamas is beginning to receive higher quality missiles with longer range, these are supplied by Iran.

Tyre is a major shipping port city located in Lebanon

Children of Lot, scripture refers to both the Ammonites and Moabites as the “children of Lot” these kingdoms were located in current day Jordan and in the case of the Ammonites up into southern Syria.

Assur was part of the Assyrian empire in the 8^th century, located in modern Iraq, but history does suggest that the Assyrians did move into the European region. Speaking of the Indo-Germanic tribes that were invading Europe while he was alive, the historian Jerome, who was born in a.d. 340, wrote, “For ‘Assur (the Assyrian) also is joined with them’” Jerome was quoting from Psalm 83:8. Jerome wrote of this Assyrian migration, as he was witness to it. This is in good keeping with many end time prophecies that name the anti-Christ as the Assyrian (King of the North). Isa.11: 4,30:25. Nahum, Habakkuk and Paul’s reference in 2 Thess. 2:8

Assur is of great interest to me as they provide help (holpen) to the children of Lot.  What the nature of this help is we are not sure; does not appear to be military rather support of diplomacy or strategy, either way the scripture is not clear only to say that the Assyrian helps Jordan, perhaps the EU or Germany are involved in this war behind the scenes?

The lines of our modern map are not as they were in Old Testament days, but you can get the idea that this particular Psalm is talking about Israel’s direct neighbours, the Muslim nations that are in closest proximity to Israel.

Where are we today?

Edom (Turkey) Once a strong ally to Israel, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended its military ties with Israel on September 2nd, 2011 this as a result of Israel’s refusal to apologize for deaths from an illegal Turkish flotilla bringing supplies to Gaza. Still insisting that the blockade is illegal, Erdoğan (Turkey’s Prime Minister) then announced Turkey would send three frigates to the Mediterranean to escort any aid ships to Gaza in future, suggesting further provocations.  This move is a dangerous escalation of tensions between the two nations.

Ishmaelites, Philistines (Egyptian Sinai) – As political parties run for the Presidency of Egypt the forerunners, the Muslim Brotherhood, are calling for abolishment of the current peace treaty with Israel.  Since President Mubarak’s removal in March the free flow of upgraded weapons have begun to reach Hamas in Gaza.  The Israeli embassy to Egypt was recently attacked by thousands of Egyptian protesters, over a thousand people were injured in the attack and only after an appeal to President Obama by Israeli Prime Minister did the Egyptian military step in and allow for safe passage of Israeli diplomats from the country.

Hagarenes (Saudi Arabia) – Once friendly with US and the West the Saudi King has changed in his policy, as a reaction to the West not supporting Mubarak in Egypt and Kaddafi in Libya, he has begun new relations with Iran and is moving away from the West. Like all Arab countries they would support Israel being obliterated.

Amalek, Ammon (Syria) – Syria has had many battles and wars with Israel since Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948. Currently Israel and Syria are still at a state of war and tensions are at an all-time high, particularly over the contested area of the Golan Heights, this is a strategic plateau and mountainous region shared by Syria and Israel.

Gebal & Tyre (Lebanon) – Hezbollah – In March 1984, under pressure from Syria, the Lebanese government formally canceled its peace agreement with Israel. In June 1985, Israel withdrew from Lebanon, except for forces stationed in the security zone in southern Lebanon, established as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel. The security zone is a strip of land three to five miles wide along the length of the Lebanese-Israeli border. Over the years, the zone has shielded Israeli civilian settlements in northern Israel from cross-border attacks. Many terrorists on their way to northern Israel have been caught and stopped in the security zone. In the years since 1985, a great number of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the security zone, by terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. (Party of God). Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Ayatollah Khomeini inspired Hezbollah to be formed.

Children of Lot, Ammon (Jordan) – As part of a rising tide of anti-Israel protests moving through the Middle East, Jordanian activists called for a “million-man march” against the Israeli Embassy. The protesters, led by Islamists, leftists and labor unions, have a list of demands that include the Israeli Embassy’s closure, removal of the Israeli ambassador from Jordan and, most significantly, the cancellation of Jordan’s 1994 peace treaty with Israel.

What is on our horizon?

Looking at today’s geopolitical landscape, it’s not difficult to envision the scenario outlined in Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83. Embolden by the support being received in the UN, fuelled by the massive and sweeping change as a result of the Arab Spring, the Arab Muslim world is at a new level of momentum that has not been seen before in the Middle East. Syria has been adamant in its demand that Israel surrender the Golan Heights, threatening war if Israel fails to comply. Meanwhile, the summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah has apparently convinced leaders in Damascus that Syria can be victorious in a conflict with Israel by simply overwhelming the tiny nation with rocket attacks. From a greater perspective, it has convinced the entire Islamic world that Israel isn’t the militarily invincible nation they once thought.

Syria’s rocket technology is far more advanced than previously thought, and Syria is known to possess chemical weapons, containing the highly lethal VX and Sarin gases.  Currently Syria is embroiled in sweeping civil unrest and an escalating border dispute with Turkey.  Turkey is amassing military brigades, performing mock drills on the common border between the two countries.  Syria has said if Turkey escalates these military operations and crosses into Syria that Syria will bomb Tel Aviv.  That’s right…if the Islamic nation of Turkey attacks the Islamic nation of Syria, Syria will bomb the Jewish nation of Israel?

If Syria were to make this terrible error in judgment, and chooses to attack Israel, the Israeli response will be swift and devastating. Israel is armed with nuclear weapons, and if its survival is put in question, it will not hesitate to use them.

As a result of this attack however, Israel would be heavily damaged, particularly in the north; a wounded Israel would be an irresistible target for her enemies. The surrounding Muslim nations would see an opportunity to destroy her.

We need to be busy and pray

Israel is in the greatest danger it has ever been in its 63-year old modern history and unless the Lord supernaturally intervenes to prevent this coming war, it is only a matter of time before the Middle East erupts.  The wars fought against Israel by the Muslim world in 1947, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, and 2006 were a result of the Muslim aggressor nation’s belief that they could defeat Israel. Once again conditions are at a point where these nations believe that they can prevail against Israel. This time around however; the war will be the most dangerous the Middle East has ever seen and will most likely involve the use of nuclear weapons.

The Arab world can fail in their attempts to destroy Israel, re-arm and retry; Israel can only fail once!

This war, when it happens, is a direct indicator of how close the return of the Lord is, the conditions today are ripe for the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83, it will ultimately lead into the Tribulation. As we watch this war develop we need to tell our family and friends of the Gospel of Christ. The hour is late and the return of Christ is near.

As you consider what you have read, earnestly give account to where you have chosen to spend your eternity.  My hope is that each of you have a genuine relationship with your soon coming King and that you are busy about His work, the work of building His Kingdom. If anyone reading this is unsure of your place in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ I ask that you contact me with your questions, for those of you who profess a relationship with the Lord I challenge you to one more time share with your family, share with a friend, share with a neighbour the life you have in Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

Maranatha friends,

Somali families have left enmasse to find their way into Dagahaley refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. The Associated Press, who described the conditions that drove these families to flee across the border, interviewed the father of one of the families. They were farmers, living off their crops and the milk of their animals. After a few seasons passed with little rain, the family moved into a small town.

On his first attempt to flee Somalia, militants, with links to the terrorist group al-Qaida, caught him and threw him in jail for two days, where he was beaten and mocked. The man described his jailers’ reasoning: “Kenya is a Christian country and if you go there, [they consider you] a Christian.”

Upon his release, he and his family fled. “We faced hunger, thirst, danger and exhaustion. It took us 17 days to arrive here (at Dagahaley refugee camp). One night a lion almost ate me before I scared it away with my flashlight.”

Wild beasts do not always come in animal form. The man continued, “The worst experience we faced was when gunmen ambushed. The gang robbed us of the little food we had with us and raped our women in front of us as if they wanted us to witness their horrors…that ordeal was the worst I have ever faced in my life. I thought of looking for ways to get a gun to take revenge.”

As a result of “hunger, exhaustion and disease” his 7-year-old son passed away three days after their arrival.

The Dagahaley refuge camp offers little, but returning to Somalia offers certain death. Somalia’s military conflict has led to famine, inevitable starvation, disease and death. This is an all too familiar cycle that exists throughout the African Continent.

World’s Worst Humanitarian Disaster

Somalia is in the throes of its worst drought in 60 years, which has claimed thousands of lives in the last three months, including more than 29,000 children under age 5. The United Nations referred to it as the “worst humanitarian disaster in the world.”

“Some 3.7 million people, nearly half the Somali population, are now directly at risk of famine and tens of thousands have already perished,” a UN release stated.

“In the first half of 2011 alone, more than 83,000 Somalis fled into Kenya and over 54,000 into Ethiopia,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees organization stated on its website. “In July, daily arrivals in each country ranged from 1,300 to 1,700. An additional 2,600 Somalis had crossed the north-western border into Djibouti by mid-2011.”

Dadaab is home to the largest refugee complex in the world. It was originally built to house 90,000 refugees, but it now holds almost half a million! Conditions there are unsanitary, with overcrowded tent villages becoming breeding grounds for cholera and malaria.

“A measles outbreak was reported in Hagadera camp…” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement. “Earlier, a cholera outbreak had been reported.”

“We don’t see the end of it,” Tarik Jasarevic, a World Health Organization spokesman said about the refugees’ situation in The New York Times. “As long as we have people on the move, in crowded places and using contaminated water, we will see a rise in cases [of cholera]. All the causes are still there.”

Unsafe Territory

It is very difficult to deliver aid to Somalia as an Islamist militant group controls the area.

Professor Ken Menkhaus explains why aid delivery has been suspended in recent years for three main reasons: Insecurity—In 2008 a third of all casualties worldwide occurred in Somalia, so aid groups started pulling out because they couldn’t justify the risk. Second, the U.S. government’s suspension of aid due to counterterrorism grounds; allowing aid to reach Shabaab [the Islamist terrorist group that controls the area] was a violation of the Patriot Act. Third was Shabaab’s ban on most international agencies from working in the areas it controlled, accusing them of being spies and of trying to put Somali farmers out of business…As long as Shabaab continues blocking food aid, aid groups are limited in what they can do.

The Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit warned: “Despite increased attention in recent weeks, current humanitarian response remains inadequate, due in part to ongoing access restrictions and difficulties in scaling-up emergency assistance programs, as well as funding gaps. As a result, famine is expected to spread across all regions of the south in the coming four to six weeks and is likely to persist until at least December 2011.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of people continue to die daily.

Other countries are living a similar fate

Democratic Republic of Congo: The country is still trying to recover from many years of conflict, which claimed the lives of over five million people. Apart from those who fell to the bullets of war, some succumbed to disease and malnutrition.

Sudan: Since 2003, the nation has been in conflict due to accusations of neglect and discrimination leveled by black African tribesmen against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government in Khartoum.

The UN reported that large zones are “cut off because of continued fighting between Government forces, allied militiamen and rebels based in the area…as many as 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced.”

Zimbabwe: The country faced a bloody seven-year civil war in the 1970s. Following the war, it has repeatedly faced food shortages and disease, including a cholera outbreak that claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people. With more than 60,000 currently affected, the World Health Organization (WHO) describes the situation as their “worst case scenario” (BBC).

Ivory Coast: Violence after the November 2010 elections nearly led to outright civil war with approximately 200,000 people displaced. A recent WHO assessment showed that “52% (55 out of 106) of the health centers and five of the eight hospitals were no longer functioning due to lack of staff…Half the district pharmacies have been looted, ambulances have disappeared and disease surveillance has been interrupted.”

According to the report, malaria, acute respiratory ailments, and cholera are among the main health concerns.

The Horseman’s ride

In Matthew 24, Jesus foretold of these times we are now witnessing. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places”. He spoke of these times in future tense; He also spoke of these things gaining in frequency like birth pains with greater intensity and duration.

In the book of the Revelation this same cycle is explained as the four horseman riding over the entire earth: “…behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (6:2). The white horse symbolizes manmade religion deceiving much of the world.

“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword” (6:4). The red horse symbolizes global warring and civil unrest.

“And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice…say, a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine” (6:5-6). The black horse symbolizes scarcity of food and the gap between rich and poor.

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (6:7-8).  The pale horse symbolizes a world where the conditions become so dyer that 25% of humanity is wiped out.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia is a foreshadowing of how terrible the conditions on earth will become at the end of this age. We as the human race have attempted to solve the problems of competing religions, military conflict, famine and disease, without success. We use war as a tool to achieve peace, yet not surprisingly the world continues to become more and more un-peaceful.

As the Horseman’s ride intensifies, war spreads, as food prices, transportation cost increase and the gap between rich and poor widens, we must take comfort that the ride of the four horsemen signals that true world peace is near, meaning not just in Africa; but the entire world will finally experience peace, prosperity and the kinship that has been sought for centuries.

Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore, be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”  When Jesus returns He is coming to receive His own unto Himself, He is coming to establish world peace under His rule.  He is coming to teach, heal and establish His kingdom on this earth and put down all of His enemies, those who have rejected His call to come to Him.

I pray that each one reading this letter will be amongst those who listen to His call, part of His kingdom, patiently awaiting His return.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

Maranatha friends,

I watch and I read a lot of news, a lot. I watch with the intent of understanding how events directly relate to prophecy.  While mainstream media might be talking about the issue of raising the US debt limit and the downgrading of the US credit rating to AA+ from AAA+, the financial story of greater interest to me in the news is the European sovereign debt crisis.

“Greece sneezes and Portugal catches a cold. Portugal coughs and Spain falls ill. Spain runs a fever and Italy comes down with the flu. They call it financial contagion…the corrupting, fast-spreading influence of debt on the world economy.” –Dr. David Jeremiah

Greece has been in the news for the past year, the protests, the bailouts, the austerity measures and still Greece is moving towards complete insolvency.  The next step for Greece may be for the European Central Bank (ECB) to allow them to default on their debt repayment.  Right behind Greece we have Portugal and Ireland, both have had their bailouts, both have begun the process of austerity measures, but unfortunately their future does not seem bright either.

Enter Italy, until a few weeks ago EU officials had hoped that the sovereign debt crisis would remain confined to Greece, Portugal and Ireland. Unfortunately it hasn’t, Italy is now in the crosshairs as the next EU economy to go into debt crisis.  Italy’s total outstanding debt is €1.6 trillion (Canada’s is $1.4 trillion) in debt comparison to Greece €345 billion, Portugal €150 billion, Ireland €150 billion, Italy is larger than the other three combined, too large to bail out.

“We’ve painted ourselves into a corner,” one EU official, who didn’t want to be identified, told Reuters. “At this point, either someone—Germany, the ECB [European Central Bank]—has to fundamentally shift position, or everything blows up.”

Citigroup’s chief economist, Willem Buiter, agrees. “Nothing stands in the way of multiple sovereign defaults except the ECB,” he warned. With Italy and Spain, “contagion has spread from the periphery to the soft core. That is a game-changer. It is existential for euro-land and, indeed, for the EU.”

Now to the point, how does this relate to prophecy, how does this relate to you?

In response to this European debt crisis the call has gone up for stronger leadership, decisive leadership, someone who will lead.

European Central Bank executive Lorenzo Bini Smaghi is one such advocate “The crisis has shown that the euro is an incomplete construct and needs to be completed,” he stated last week. “Member states could transfer to a supra-national agency the right to issue their debt.” He is essentially calling for a United States of Europe: the rebirth of the Holy Roman Empire.

Previous Watchman Letters have recounted that the bible describes the final superpower of this earth as a continuation of the Roman Empire.  Are we now witnessing the events that will directly fulfill Revelation 17:12? “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast”.  The Middle East uprising, the US debt and the many other over reported news stories today pale in comparison to what is currently happening in Europe.

Many of the talking heads around the world believe that either the Euro-zone will break up in failure after building for 50+ years or transform into a new fiscally fit super-state under a strong leader. Our bible recognizes this strong leader as the anti-Christ, a great speaker, more eloquent than the rest, one who can solve all the financial woes of the western world economy.  This man will come on the scene by flatteries (Dan.11: 21) not by vote and he will organize 10 regions, ruled by his appointed leaders, these leaders will give him full authority politically, financially and militarily.

To some of you this may seem far-fetched, you might believe that we are in just another financial cycle that will correct itself and then we will go back to life as usual. God’s word tells us that the final empire of this age would be partial weak and partially strong retaining some of the elements of the past Roman Empire – ten toes of iron; but mixed with miry clay. Take the time, to watch the EU change and make decisions that forge them in to this new economic 10-region super-state.

From WEU website “as of July 1^st, 2011 Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom (here­inafter called “the Ten Member States”) perform the residual administrative tasks of the WEU”. www.weu.int .  In essence The ‘10’ are the true power in the EU, these countries are the only permanent, full voting members of the EU along with 6 associate members, 5 observer members and 7 associate partner countries. The ‘10’ have now formed a new governing council and have quietly dissolved the old WEU, this new council will continue to operate as the military and foreign policy arm of the wider European Union.

We are in an unprecedented time in the history of the world, wars and rioting across the globe, drought, famine, the rise of Islam, the persecution of the saints and the falling away of the church. The financial state of the global economy is on path to become a centralized financial entity in response to the current fragile state it finds itself in.

The prophet Daniel explains this final kingdom in his interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar dream, “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.  Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.  And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:40-44

This is the scripture of great hope for those of us who are witness to this final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. It will be a time the world has not seen before nor will it ever see again, but in the end the great promise of Jesus return to this earth, to set His Kingdom up, the Kingdom that will never end.  Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com

Maranatha friends,

Jesus taught in the times just before his return, that the world would be like it was in the times of Noah.  I know that means that Noah was real, that animals went into a boat and the boat that Noah built for 100 years or more actually existed. The people of Noah’s day took great joy in making fun of him; they made fun of Noah right up until the rain fell.  In Noah’s day rain was scarce, perhaps never seen before.

Jesus taught in Matt. 24:37-38: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,” (Gen.6-7).

The earth, completely flooded, is something that only exists today as a teaching within the Christian family, as this belief disproves evolution. I am of the mindset that I will believe what God says in his word and let science and technologies catch up.

In Noah’s day things were prosperous, people are buying, selling, marrying, planting, and harvesting.  In fact, it wasn’t until just before the turn of the 20^th century that men built a ‘boat’ larger than the dimensions that Noah built.   In Noah’s day things were advanced, people were educated, they wanted for nothing.  I have read estimates from anthropologist that suggest that the earth’s population could have been 1 billion people or more before the flood.

In Noah’s day the many that perished were not due to Noah not sharing with them that the flood was coming, he did that for 100 years or more, rather they chose not to listen, they would not recognize Noah as a righteous man, they believed that all things would go on forever just as it always had done.

In Noah’s day there was a strong warning, but no response. No one listened.

Today much of the people within the church have become very complacent about the second coming of Jesus. The warning is there, it is being proclaimed. Jesus is coming back…but when you ask the question of when, indifference comes to the surface. They say “I ‘believe’ he is coming back soon, but not before I get all the things I have planned done.  I have a lot to do, kids to raise, money to make and vacations to plan, Blah, Blah, Blah.”

Scripture says at the end of the age they will be marrying and given in marriage. Today we see people being married and divorced multiple times. The divorce rate in the “church” is the same as the secular world. We see marriage being perverse, same sex, multiple partners, swingers, open marriages and worse. The institution has been corrupted to the point that the giving and taking in marriage means little.

Mal. 2:16 “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” This has attributed to our societies breakdown, no commitment, no love…rather violence.

Gen. 6:11-12 “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” Our world today is threatened by terrorism, in our cities we have hate crimes, drive by shootings, mothers killing their own infant children, children killing parents, inhuman behavior is becoming the norm, there are no restraints. Why? Because everything is relative, we do not judge each other, there is no law, no real accountability, and we have lawlessness. The more tolerance today the less moral we have become. There is a direct relationship between the two, be politically correct, have no standards and anything can become acceptable behaviour.

The book of judges reads just as our society is today, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” People go to suicide because they have no hope. Euthanasia is becoming an accepted alternative. Light is called darkness and darkness is light. In Jeremiah 22:17 “Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.” The medical community, the law of our land, can claim their share in the innocent blood of 50 million babies that have been aborted worldwide each year. That is 137,000 lives ended each and every day…the silent genocide.

In the era of Ward and June Cleaver when asked what the major problems in school were, teachers identified talking out of turn; chewing gum; making noise; running in halls; cutting in line; dress code infractions; and littering. When school teachers were asked the same question in 1990, it was a completely different assessment they identified drug abuse; alcohol abuse; suicide; rape; pregnancy; robbery; and assault.” In the last several years we can also add terroristic threatening, mass murder as we witnessed in Columbine, Colorado and École Polytechnique Massacre in Montreal.

Luke 17:28 He writes that it in “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; v.29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and what were the days of Lot like that needed this kind of judgment?

Gen. 13:13 “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.” In the days of Lot the people gave themselves over to blatant sexual sin. They were perverse and adulterers and engaged in anything their wicked heart desired. Lawlessness abounded, everyone did whatever they felt like from their own evil heart. It became a normal thing in their cities to live in this manner.

The storm clouds are gathering; the days of Noah are at hand.  Man’s hearts are filled with violence separate from a new birth in Jesus.  The gospel of Jesus is our modern day ark of safety.  Only in Him can we experience the removal of God’s judgment in our lives.

Job 27:8-9 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

It is our time to pray.

Psalm 147:11 “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

Pray for God to be real in your life, pray for forgiveness of your sins, and pray for Him to keep you in His hand for the time that is to come. His mercy is our great hope.

Blessings,

Chris Boreland
Question or comments to borelands@hotmail.com