Saturday, June 19, 2010

"International Order"

The headline says it all:


"Obama call for 'international order' Raises Questions About U.S. Sovereignty"


President Obama is facing criticism for his declaration over the weekend that he would seek a new "international order," with some questioning how much U.S. sovereignty the administration is willing to cede in exchange for more global cooperation.

Obama did not say Saturday which specific global institutions he wants to build. Obama has made enhanced international cooperation a priority dating back to the campaign and so far has carried out that goal by seeking global agreements for nuclear weapons reduction, an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced support from the United Nations in dealing with rogue regimes.

"America has not succeeded by stepping outside the currents of cooperation; we have succeeded by steering those currents in the direction of liberty and justice -- so nations thrive by meeting their responsibilities, and face consequences when they don't," he told the graduating class at the military academy.


"Our adversaries would like to see America sap its strength by overextending our power," Obama said. "So we have to shape an international order that can meet the challenges of our generation."

Carafano said the superpower remark was no "Freudian slip" and that the West Point speech amounted to more than just rhetoric -- he said the administration has already started undermining U.S. sovereignty with its arms reduction treaty with Russia.



As usual, Mike Mickey on Rapture Alert has put things in appropriate perspective. This one is worth posting in its entirety:





Obama and the New International Order Revisited

by Michael G. Mickey
(6-18-10)

In bible prophecy we are told that a global government, a new world order, is going to arise in the prophetic future that will see one man, the prophesied Antichrist to come, hold power "over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations"(Revelation 13:7). Are we on our way to that becoming a reality? I believe so beyond any doubt.

On May 25, 2010 I wrote a commentary (with video footage attached) describing how President Obama, speaking before a recent graduating class at West Point, said, "We have to shape an international order that can meet the challenges of our generation." In that same commentary I highlighted the fact that Vice President Joe Biden, speaking before the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, said the following recently: "As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, D.C. as the 'capital of the free world', but it seems to me that in this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title."

If there is presently any conglomerate of power formed in our world today that could serve as the foundation for the future global government of Antichrist, it is today's European Union. With its 27 member nations and common currency, there is little room for doubt that this is the revived Roman empire foretold by the prophet Daniel on the rise, the Beast government foreseen by the Apostle John in Revelation 13.

Against the backdrop of the recent developments spoken of above, a commentary I read yesterday, written by former EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, only strengthens my suspicion that we are well on our way to global government becoming a reality. Entitled "Obama's national strategy embraces the international", the title practically says it all, but there are a few key points I'd like to discuss from within the document.

Surrendering our national sovereignty

Consider the following written by Dr. Solana:

"In the face of the major challenges of our times, Mr Obama has taken a stand with a comprehensive doctrine that goes beyond the dominant, unilateral paradigm and includes a defence of international law. This is noteworthy, given that none of the great treaties to create an international criminal court and a permanent war-crimes tribunal was signed by the US during George W Bush's presidency."

The bottom line? The USA, under the leadership of President Obama, is much more conformist in its willingness to give the international community power over U.S. citizens, perhaps opening the door for the International Criminal Court to try Americans for crimes as it deems necessary. Self-explanatory in my opinion, this serves no one's best interests other than those of global government proponents.

Reinforcing international institutions

Solana writes the following of interest on this topic:

"Mr Obama maintains the idea of service to a historical mission for the US: guaranteeing global security. But, unlike his White House predecessors, Mr Obama's National Security Strategy recognises the value of partnerships; attaches greater importance to the civilian dimension as opposed to the military; and stresses the value of dialogue and the need to reinforce international institutions."

Have "international institutions" like the United Nations, for example, consistently served the best interests of the United States or even humanity thus far? One need look no further than the recent Gaza flotilla incident to answer that question. In spite of video being readily available for anyone and everyone to see documenting Israeli commandos being beaten with metal rods by a lynch mob aboard the ship Mavi Marmara and being thrown from upper decks of the vessel to lower ones, the UN continues to act as though Israel is to blame for the loss of life there. This is the sort of injustice that President Obama's administration hopes to reinforce? Apparently so, at least from Solana's perspective.

Transitioning to global governance

Of interest on this topic, Solana writes the following as a conclusion to his commentary:

"We are in a transition period: international interconnection is increasing, as the global economic crisis has shown, but the management tools and mechanisms to guarantee governments' smooth operation are still not being shared. Mr Obama's new strategy shows a political willingness to back an international order able to tackle these challenges."

Some have argued that the recent global economic crisis, which was headline news in the United States a short time ago and is now a major concern in the European Union, is signaling that those who believe the European Union to be the revived Roman empire of bible prophecy in the making are wrong. While it is conceivable that is true in light of Daniel's prophecy of ten kings holding power in the final kingdom from within which the Antichrist will arise and uproot three kings en route to establishing his global kingdom (Daniel 7), orchestrated crisis has reportedly been a mechanism global power brokers have been planning to use to reach their end goal of a global government for a long time.

Whether orchestrated or not, one need look no further than what Solana wrote above to see that the recent global economic crisis hasn't slowed our movement toward global governance but forwarded it, opening the door for what Solana refers to as "management tools and mechanisms" designed to control the global economy to be strengthened (KEYWORD: strengthened). It is going to take an international order to tackle that challenge as well as others - and Javier Solana, someone most everyone believes to be an influential voice in getting that order established, believes President Obama is a willing partner in bringing it to pass. Furthermore, Solana believes we are transitioning toward same right now! Based on recent developments, I see no reason to suspect he is anything other than correct.

Keep looking up!


--------------------

As prophecy scholars have seen written in the scriptures - America takes a back-seat during the Tribulation. There is simply no mention or reference to the United States anywhere in the vivid descriptions seen in Revelation 6-18 (a detailed view of the Tribulation), nor anywhere else in the biblical prophecies about "end times"... We see references to the "Kings of the East", the revived Roman Empire/"10 Kings", the "Kings of the North", the "Gog-MaGog" alliance etc., but no reference to the U.S.

Because of this, there have always been several assumptions regarding the U.S.

1. It could become part of the "10 Kings", particularly under the assumption that the "10 Kings" ends up being 10 regions of the world. Perhaps the U.S. would become part of a North American Union (one of the 10 Kings?), or the U.S. simply gets folded into a growing EU prior to the development of the 10 Kings phase. (see European Union Map of 10 World Regions HERE)

2. The U.S. becomes severely and disproportionately weakened as a result of the Rapture of the Church.

3. The U.S. remains as it is today, but simply doesn't receive any mention in the detailed visions of the Tribulation.

It is anyone's guess as to why the U.S. isn't referenced. Under #1 above, it is very interesting that the EU's main website has proactively divided the world into 10 regions. Is that a coincidence?

It could be that the U.S., particularly following the Rapture of the Church, simply decides to take a "back-seat" and enter into a period of isolation - not entering into international affiars. That also seems quite possible.

However, the fact remains that the Rapture of the Church - a pre-Tribulation event, will change the world dramatically and instantly. Who knows where that will lead?

Ultimately, it may not matter a whole lot - to the Church anyway - we have our own fate to consider. And it is much better than anything happening on the earth.

Maranatha!

5 comments:

Glenn said...

Personally I think looking toward western Europe for the empire of the beast is not correct. I think one should look toward the mid-east, specifically Turkey (which of course was at one time part of the Roman empire), Iran and Syria, among other Muslim nations. Remember, at the end, after God takes out His Church, God's focus will be on Israel and Jerusalem.

I believe that the kingdom of the beast will be an Islamic kingdom.

If one studies Islamic end times prophecy, one will be amazed at the similarities between what the Muslims are looking for in their Mahdi and what the Word of God says concerning the beast. An excellent work on the subject is The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson.

How many believers know that Muslims expect Jesus to return to earth --as a committed Muslim, of course-- when the Mahdi is revealed? This "Jesus" will be able to do miracles, etc., but this counterfeit Jesus will pledge allegiance to the Mahdi and to Allah! What an effective false prophet that guy would be, huh? Imagine ignorant people, of Christian heritage but no real Bible knowledge (not the real deal, of course, who I believe will be gone already in the Rapture), who see a guy claiming to be Jesus, doing miracles and saying "I just came back from heaven, Allah is the true god, worship him and his Mahdi-- oh, and take his mark or emblem, or you will be killed."

It sounds like a "great deception" to me. Satan has read Revelation, he knows what is coming. It makes sense to deceive his 1.5 billion or so (at current estimates and growing 4 times faster than Christianity) earthly minions (who are of course ignorant that they are minions of Satan) into believing that the evil that is coming is good and to be expected. What massive religious and political group with expansionist intentions and a warmonger mindset will be left after the Rapture? "Who is like the beast, and who can make war with him?" Make war? Oh, and said group just happens to HATE and want to kill all Jews--not to mention us Christians.

Mohammed ordered and Islamic scholars teach beheading as the method of execution for "infidels." Did you know that Islamic scholars teach that when their Mahdi comes, there will be only two choices: submit to Islam, or be executed? No more paying the dhimmi tax. Or that the Muslims teach that their Mahdi will make a seven year peace treaty with Israel? There are many more very impressive similarities that Bible students would recognize very quickly.

This little post is just an encouragement for believers to think outside the box a bit. Politically correct? No way. I personally think Europe is falling apart economically and socially, at the same time its leadership rejects all things Christian and acts more like "dhimmis" all the time as Muslims immigrate and reproduce at a rapid rate. Note that idiot Prince Charles recently said Islam is the answer to the environment? Come on! The Europeans will roll over for Islam in a heartbeat. Especially considering the believers--and the Restrainer--will be taken out of the way.

One more thing, who could have imagined America standing back and leaving Israel to her Muslim enemies, before Obama came out of nowhere to be put in the White House? Imagine if our Lord came back for us and Obama was still in charge. Would he use the remaining military to support Israel, or her enemies (or neither)? Zechariah indicates "all nations" will come against Israel.

Scott said...

GLENN

I am open to those ideas - particularly the whole idea of the Mahdi = AC...But I don't think that necessitates that the AC comes from a a traditionally Islamic state, as long as he was proven Islamic. I believe the scriptures are clear that the AC will come from the old Roman Empire - but thats still consistent with the idea of the Madhi=AC.

Also of note - don't let the EU's apparent crumbling fool you....Don't forget Daniel 2 informed us that this would be a weak union and it would NOT remain united. It will morph into the 10 Kings stage and we may be witnessing that evolution now.

Lots of questions remain.

Also it is important to recall that the Isaiah 17 scenario, and the subsequent Gog-MaGog invasion, and its outcome will severely cripple the surrounding Islamic powers. After Gog-MaGog, I don't think the surrounding Islamic threat is nearly what it is today.

Still -- having said that - I have to admit the idea of the AC being seen as the Mahdi is intriguing and I wouldn't rule it out.

Perhaps all of the above is possible.

Fortunately, most of this will be going on while I'm in New Jerusalem. :)

Glenn said...

Very good points, all. I'll note that the Roman empire encompassed Turkey and the middle east, of course, and recall that Constantinople (the eastern part of the Roman empire) outlasted Rome (the western part of the Roman empire) for about 1,000 years. It was the Islamist Turks that finally took down the Roman empire in 1439 or so AD. Muslims don't mix well with "infidels" as we know (they often use deception to appear to fit in until they are in control, as their prophet instructed), and perhaps they are the clay mixed with iron I think you are referring to in Daniel.

I think it's a western mentality that assumes the west has to be the focus of the beast's kingdom and rule. We all have it, including me. But the Bible seems to always have an Isreal/Jerusalem focus geographically, and I think after the Rapture a lot of the west is going to be an afterthought. Going to Rev. 17, we know who the 1st through 5th kingdoms were (Egypt Assyria Babylon Persia and Greece), and I would say the 6th ruler / kingdom was Rome, the 7th the Ottoman/Turks, and the 8th (which came out of the 7th and is going to his destruction) will be the kingdom of the beast. All of 1-6 ruled over Israel's land and Jerusalem at one point. So did the Ottoman Islamists, which I say is #7. This of course does not limit it the beast's origin to Turkey proper, but I'd argue it's somewhere Islamic 'over there.' Also there are indications the beast will be an "Assyrian" as referred to a few places in Scripture. Of course, that could just be Syrian descent. Some have said the false prophet will be Jewish but I don't know if Scripture says that. It does fit with the Muslim version of end time events, of course.

You make a good point on Gog-Magog, though there are a number of Islamic nations (including some of the richest, e.g. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq) that don't seem to be included in that particular fight. Isaiah makes clear that Damascus will soon be history, and that should deal with much or all of Syria as a threat, but not all the middle east. I don't think Israel's--rather, God's--stomping of Persia (whom the Arabs hate and fear anyway) and Turkey (Saudi for example does not want to live under a Turkish caliphate) and the other Magog combatants will make the remaining Muslims and Arab nations love Israel; they will still hate her and want her gone, especially after their other regional enemies have been eliminated. They will still be very rich, and will still fund the expansion of Islam. Again my base assumption in all this is that Islam is Satanic, Islam will be here and very powerful after the Rapture and further anything that hates Israel is Satanic. (That includes replacement theology, by the way.)

By the way, to throw another curve, I don't think it's required or even likely that currently constituted Russia will be involved in Gog/Magog. Though some of the Islamic former Soviet "republics" might be. But I don't have time to make that argument, my wife is scolding me.

By pooling relevant news and information, you (Scott, the blogger) are doing a great service helping us believers to watch, as our Lord commanded. I appreciate it very much and make these Islam / beast suggestions so that we might consider that the beginning of the Tribulation may be even closer than we think.

Scott said...

I agree with a lot, but I believe you are making one mistake with the 7th head. Thats the revived Roman Empire, and the beast (8th) comes from that.

The reason, to me, is simple.

This has to line up with Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.

Daniel 2 clearly stated that there can ONLY be 4 such empires, starting with Babylon.

By the view that the 7th head represents Ottoman/Turks, that becomes inconsistent with Daniel 2 and thats a big obstacle for that POV, in my opinion. Thats a problem that I have always had with that view.

If the 7th represents the revived Roman Empire, then you have complete consistency with Daniel 2 and Daniel 9, which describes the AC as coming from Revived Rome.

As far as "Russia" vs the southern/Muslim block being the land of MaGog - there are some good points to be made - one of which is that these regions hate the Nation of Israel. But its hard to imagine a leader of Gog's magnitude coming from one of those regions - plus, those regions don't have the epic military force that is seen in Ezekiel 38-39.

But having said all of that - one thing I have learned over the years, is that God has a way of bringing things to prophetic conclusion in ways that I never imagined. So I remain open to additional possibilities. God may surprise ALL of us with the process of these last days.

And as mentioned before, I have ALWAYS been very intrigued with the aspect of the "Mahdi" being the AC...it seems very interesting - and the FP being a false Chrst (look at Rev. 13, how the FP is said to lhave "two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon"...That shows that he could be a false Christ and the AC could declare that we've been "wrong" all along about Christ as the messiah. Thats very much in keeping with Islamic prophecy.

So I can see those points and they are interesting.

But I am firm on the 7th head = the 4th empire of Daniel 2.

Also - as mentioned - I'm not all THAT interested, because I don't think I'll be here at that time.

Many thanks for the very interesting comments.

God Bless
Scott

Expected Imminently said...

Historically the Roman Empire was never defeated. Certainly the city of Rome fell, but the ‘Roman Empire’ continues to this day under the Popes. The hierarchy fled to build the ‘Holy Roman Empire’ in Austria, Hungary, Germany, France -- I’m afraid my memory fails in the details but Joel Richardson’s view of history is incompatible with the facts.

It is false to claim the eastern leg as more valid than the western leg – literally they were joined at the hip as one Empire as were the ‘Medes and Persians’ as were the four generals of the Greek Empire. As WILL be the ten nations/toes of the coming anti-christ final Empire.

Of course there are similarities in the Koran regarding the Mhadi/anti-christ. Have you ever read the Koran? It is a muddled mish-mash of Judaism, Christianity and Paganism; the Biblical accounts were gleaned from the camel train merchants that crossed the area and were interwoven into the tales of Mohammed. There is NOTHING reliable worth noting for the CHRISTIAN from the Koran. Absolutely zilch! :)

Praise the Lord!

Sue