Jan 17, 2005
Europe Takes Another Step Forward
The European Parliament has taken yet another step towards greater economic and political integration. The EU assembly voted to approve the European Union's first-ever constitution. Each member nation still needs to ratify the measure.
The vote took place in Strasbourg, France, and 500 of the 732-member Parliament voted for the constitution. If the 25 member nations fail to get unanimous approval by 2007, the wording of document calls for it to be ratified by a simple majority.
Because of the need to silence the cries of EU skeptics, the Parliament urges government leaders to ensure "all possible efforts be deployed to inform European citizens clearly and objectively about the content of the constitution."
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, is one of the treaty's biggest cheerleaders. He pleaded for all EU member states to ratify the treaty by telling them,"This is an important moment in the history of the Parliament, and it is an important moment in Europe's ratification of Europe's constitution." Juncker did admit there is tough opposition, saying, "The ratification will not be easy everywhere."
Two nations, Lithuania and Hungary, have already approved the EU constitution. Spain will vote on the treaty within the next few weeks.
There are two ways for EU members to approve the constitution: through parliamentary votes or referendum. The more difficult of the two is the referendum option. Parliamentary votes are easier to manage because passage can be arranged by political horse trading. Referendums rely solely on convincing the public to support a measure.
At least nine countries are planning on having a referendum, including Britain, where euro-skeptic opinion runs the strongest. British voters have already caused problems for the EU by defeating a measure that called for the nation to abandon the pound for the euro currency.
The vote by the European Parliament is really isn't big news, at least not in the eyes of the world media. Last October, the EU constitution had its share of pomp and gadgetry when it was ceremonially signed in Rome by the heads of each nation. Of course, that event was a mere formality; the real work had taken place during a two-year drafting process. Because it would be unthinkable for the EU Parliament to vote down something that would give it power, passage of the treaty was in little doubt.
I feel I need to highlight the European Parliament vote so we don't lose sight of the importance of staying alert to events taking place in Europe. The Bible predicts the Roman Empire will be revived in the last days and the Antichrist will rise to power from this political organization.
As we approach the point at which the Beast is ready to make his appearance, events in the EU zone will become
more important to prophecy. The fact that the integration process has gone through a multitude of stages should not distract us from realizing the magnitude of the final steps.
Apathy and prophecy are two factors constantly in conflict with each other. Prophecy warns us of what is about to take place. Apathy erodes the importance of prophecy by making us complacent about the significance of precursor events.
The reality check I rely upon to maintain my focus is the knowledge that Bible prophecy ultimately spells doom for this world. The step the European Parliament has taken is important because the actions of this body will likely trigger other events that will move us all the more closer to the final hour.
-- Todd
Time for Hosannas?
A few days after the disaster, a reporter stood on one or the other of the coastal beaches devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami. I listened to her report, Scripture reeling through my brain while she spoke.
She said that it was the most powerful earthquake recorded since the 1964 quake centered around Anchorage, Alaska. She mentioned several other odd things happening with the earth’s ecology as of late, both weather related, and things involving geophysical upheavals. She said, then, that the tsunami had the international community “perplexed” as to what to do first in beginning the rescue and recovery, as well as the clean-up of the carnage that surrounded her while she reported.
The young woman then told of one man who escaped the tidal wave’s crushing blow, but who, upon seeing that first gigantic wave roaring toward him, collapsed and died. She said medical authorities thought the man experienced heart failure, apparently brought on by fright.
The prophecy rolled through my thoughts –the words of Jesus to His disciples while they sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple on Mount Moriah: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Lk. 21: 25-26).
The reporter had just given a concise encapsulation of Christ’s words in a current events news item!
She had said that all of nature seemed to be doing odd things ("signs in the sun, moon, and stars") –sunspots, for example, often affecting things on earth, like weather patterns, for instance. She reported the tremendous earthquake and tidal wave emanating from the Indian Ocean ("the seas and the waves roaring"). She told of the international community in confusion, trying to get a grip on the scope of the catastrophe, and what to do about it ("nations in distress, with perplexity"). And, she told of a man who apparently had been frightened to the extent that he had a heart attack when he saw the massive wall of water coming toward him ("men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things they see coming upon earth").
The thoughts of that report continue to move within my mind while I consider prophecy yet future. The thoughts begin with things Jesus said well before He gave the Olivet Discourse, all of those tremendous signs of His coming again and of the end of the age.
They are thoughts I’ve cogitated upon many times while considering the almost constant stream of reports about unusual, even strange, occurrences in the heavens and the earth.
“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Lk. 19: 37-40).
The people were shouting “Hosanna!” in recognition of Jesus as their king. The pious religious leaders were trying to stop the acclamation because they weren’t ready to have anyone or anything take away the peoples’ focus on them as the religious hierarchy of the Jews.
Jesus told them plainly that if the people didn’t give Him glory and honor at that moment, the very creation would erupt in acknowledgment of His deity!
We will leave aside for now that in a day or two, most of these same people who cried “Hosanna!”, once they saw that Jesus had been treated like a common criminal, would turn against Him--would even call for His crucifixion. Rather, we want to see exactly how powerful was the Truth that Jesus proclaimed: “…I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus told those who would shut the people up while He rode toward Jerusalem –and told us down through the centuries-- that at the time of the Lord God’s prophetic fulfillment, His very creation will acknowledge His truth and give Him praise, even if most of His creation called man will rebelliously refuse to do so. I’m convinced that at that moment, if the people had not cried “Hosanna!” there would have been Tribulation-era strength cataclysms erupt –immediately, as Jesus put it!
The pressing question to consider is this: Is it time for this generation to shout, “Hosanna!”?
By simply perusing some of the headline articles posted on the raptureready.com "Rapture Ready News" section, the thought crosses the mind that perhaps it is past time.
Can quakes cause a chain reaction?
Three Killed, 21 Missing in California Mudslide
Storms Kill at Least 16 in Europe
Explosive Fireball Said To Shake Earth
Meteor Roars Over Area With Light and Noise
Get Ready for the Largest Demolition Derby on the Planet
Iapetus Moon Bulges at the Sides
Spacecraft Counts Down to Blast-Off and a Close Encounter With a Comet
Earth Still Ringing Like a Bell After Asia Quake
String of Storms Gives Parts of Sierra Most Snowfall in Nearly 90 Years
These headlines are posted for just the past few days. The string of such headlines is gleaned weekly from the world’s news sources. Many additional, even more troubling, headlines could be added to the list of things occurring with increasing frequency and intensity.
Indeed, the very stones seem to be shouting “Hosanna!” to the soon returning King of kings and Lord of lords!
Certainly, the majority of rebellious mankind is not doing so. This struck me while I was listening to comments by Bill O’Reilly interviewing Dr. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (co-authors of “the “Left Behind” series of novels) Wednesday evening, January 12, 2005, on the Fox News program, “The O'Reilly Factor”.
O’Reilly, who seems to want to be known as one who champions the ordinary people of America and the world, confronted LaHaye and Jenkins in his usual bombastic way. He used himself and his religious beliefs as a foil to parry with and thrust at the authors.
“Doc, there’s a lot of grisly stuff in these books. Do you believe in a vengeful God? Do you believe there’s someone up there with a [indecipherable] and, He’s going –okay—O’Reilly…whoa…man…he’s in trouble… Do you believe that there’s a vengeful God?”
After Dr. LaHaye answered very scripturally that God isn’t vengeful, but merciful –that He is showing sinful man that judgment is coming because of sin and rebellion, and that God wants man to repent so that the person has the wonderful future promised in prophecy, O’Reilly interrupted.
“Well, many people just don’t believe that there’s going to be a judgment, and there’s going to be people in Hell and in Heaven. They just don’t."
Dr. LaHaye went on to say that there’s no way to get out of Hell once death occurs for the lost sinner. This truth is the opposite of the doctrine of purgatory falsely taught by the Roman Catholic Church–of which O’Reilly is a member.
O’Reilly responded: “We don’t really know that. It’s just your belief system. You believe that, and Catholics believe otherwise."
Jenkins, in answer to an O’Reilly question, said, “The fact is that we believe judgment is going to come someday, and we want people to be ready.”
The interviewer then interrupted, saying in an amused tone, “And, the bad people are really going to suffer. They are really gonna get it!”
Jenkins said, then: “It’s not the bad people that are going to get it, it’s the people that don’t believe…We are all bad people [fallen because of sin]."
O’Reilly implied that he didn’t think it right that good people would be sent to Hell, then said: “We have in Catholicism a loophole. You know, that’s why I like my religion. Because it’s an interesting religion. We have something called ‘baptism by desire.’And, that means that you can be baptized by living a good life, even if you’re not a believer, because Catholics believe faith is a gift…Dr. LaHaye, you don’t believe in ‘baptism by desire.’ You either have to do it your way, or the highway ain’t goin’ to Heaven.”
Tim answered: “Well, it isn’t my way. It’s the biblical way. You can’t earn salvation…”
The program host went on to question: “It doesn’t make sense. If you’re a merciful God, you’re not going to chuck some good person into Hell because he doesn’t hear the Word…”
O’Reilly used the same worn questions all unbelievers get to. The aborigines, or other people in the darkest regions of the world who don’t have a chance to hear...what about them? That is the question those who willfully act ignorant of God’s truth usually get around to posing. They, in fact, thereby demonstrate that they know the truth of the Gospel message–intellectually, at least. Their very question proves it. They acknowledge that the Gospel message is from God, but imply its premise is unfair because not all people can hear it. Their methodology in posing such questions show clearly that they refuse to shout “Hosanna!” to Jesus Christ.
Dr. LaHaye answered –correctly, I think—that God will not consider any person who hasn’t heard the Gospel message and had opportunity to understand to the point of acceptance or rejection to be guilty under God’s law or to go into eternal punishment.
Tim answered: “Well, Bill, may I suggest that the Bible says that those that live without the la…the Law of the Bible…will be judged without the Law. But those that have the Law…have the Bible, as we do…there’s no excuse for our turning our backs on God, because we have the Bible.”
It is time for we who name the name of Jesus Christ to shout, "Hosanna!" Also, it is our duty to keep putting forward the message to those like Mr. O’Reilly that Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the way to salvation. Also, we must keep shouting at every opportunity that Jesus is coming again!
***Next week I hope to report on my interview with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). It was an interesting two and a half hours.***
--Terry
