In the news:

Global agriculture supply keeps worsening

The global agriculture supply situation has worsened and a failure to boost food production fast enough to meet demand may lead to shortages, said investor Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings.

“We’ve got to do something or we’re going to have no food at any price at times in the next few years,” Rogers said in a Bloomberg Television interview with Rishaad Salamat today in Singapore.

Inventories are declining as demand continues to outstrip production that’s forecast to rise to a fifth consecutive year of record.“Production just hasn’t been able to respond to new demand,” Michael Creed, an agribusiness economist at National Australia Bank Ltd., said in a phone interview from Melbourne today. Demand continues to outstrip global harvests because of rising ethanol production in the U.S. and China’s surging demand for meat, Creed said

Britian and the U.S. top league table of countries that would be worst affected by an asteroid strike

If you live in Britain, the U.S. or China, start preparing now.

Scientists have drawn up a league table of the countries which will be worst affected in the event of an asteroid strike.

They have identified for the first time those which will suffer catastrophic loss of life or be so crippled it will be almost impossible for them to recover.

'The threat of Earth being hit by an asteroid is increasingly being accepted as the single greatest natural disaster hazard faced by humanity,’ said Nick Bailey, of the University of Southampton, who developed the NEOimpactor software.

Riots herald a 'dark day' in Greek history

As tens of thousands gathered to protest outside the vast white edifice that is Greece's parliament, the 300 lawmakers within seemed to pay no heed to the clamour beyond its walls and voted to pass a deeply unpopular austerity bill.

But coming after a year of deep cuts that have seen public sector salaries and pensions slashed and unemployment rise to above 16 percent there is little faith, at least among the population as a whole, that the measures will work.

Violence rocks Athens

Violence continue in the streets of the Greek capital Athens late on Wednesday as riot police clashed with opponents to spending cuts passed by parliament earlier in the day.

On Thursday, MPs vote on an implementation plan. Both must be passed before the next 12-billion-euro tranche of the bailout loan is released.

As deputies prepare for another tense day in parliament, the fury of ordinary Greeks continues to be heard but unheeded.

The Greek Tragedy Could Engulf Many More European States

Greece and Europe are still in crisis as the European countries scramble for a solution.

...the leaders of the EU cannot possibly save Greece and the other five nations in serious financial trouble and save the euro and the European Union simultaneously.

It is simply impossible if for no other reason, which is the cost, which is $4 to $6 trillion. Eventually all six will have to be cut loose reducing the euro zone from 17 to 11 members, all of which will have to face eventually more trouble among the remaining weak members.

"11 members" huh? That is very close to "10 members", thus worth watching closely.

Thus, it is only a matter of time before the euro is history. At least for now there will not be a euro as the basis for a one-world currency and the EU as the cornerstone for world government.

That is very true. We have to "progress" into the 10 Kings phase first.

The problem is not only Greece, but also Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Belgium. They are all in financial situations similar to Greece. Once Greece goes they will all follow. They will leave the euro and leave behind a long string of insolvent banks and countries, which will negatively effect England, the US and the world. Greece and the others probably will take down the world’s financial system.

Spain will probably be the next failure, a country on the edge of revolution.

Then will come Italy and Belgium.

The world public is discovering how the criminal banking system works and how it is impossible to deal with them.

This is the IMF formula used since 1948 to control and loot countries that stay perpetually in debt.

Austerity Riots - A Glimpse of America's Future?

Are the austerity protests and riots happening in Greece right now a glimpse of America's future?

The truth is that both nations are absolutely drowning in debt. It is just that the "day of reckoning" has already arrived for Greece but it has not arrived for the United States yet.

As budget cuts on the federal, state and local levels in the United States start to really become painful, will we eventually see the same kind of austerity riots in this country that we are currently seeing in Greece?

Below, we see the bottom-line:

The Greek government is swamped under an unpayable debt load and without international assistance the Greek government will default.

But all of that "international assistance" comes with strings. The EU and the IMF are insisting on the implementation of very strict austerity measures, and the Greek people are not thrilled about this.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is telling the Greek people that it is their patriotic duty to accept these austerity measures, but most of the Greek population is not buying it.

The truth is that these international "bailouts" are just more new loans. What the EU and the IMF are proposing is that Greece should go into even more debt and hand over even more sovereignty.

But Greece will not be able to pay back these new loans either. In fact, these new loans will just enslave them to debt even further. Sadly, Greece appears destined to default sooner or later regardless.

So what about the U.S.?

Sadly, many believe that we could see these kinds of economic riots inside the United States eventually.

Over the past several decades, the federal government, state governments and local governments have been on the greatest debt binge of all time.


For example, this year the federal government will take in about 2.2 trillion dollars.

It will spend about 3.7 or 3.8 trillion dollars.

But the U.S. government simply cannot continue down the road that it is on. Since Barack Obama was elected, the U.S. national debt has increased by almost 4 trillion dollars. Our debt is increasing exponentially. Something has to be done.

The truth is that the world is becoming a very unstable place and the next major crisis could erupt at any moment.

The global financial system is so vulnerable right now that it would not take much to set off the next big global recession.

The unprecedented economic prosperity that we have enjoyed for decades is coming to an end.

The world is changing.

The United States is changing.

I hope that you are getting prepared for what is ahead.

Iran 'carrying out secret nuclear missile tests'

The claim comes as the Iranian regime mounts a visible show of its military technology with 10 days of missile tests. One tested this week was capable of reaching Israel or the Gulf states.

Mr Hague told the Commons that Iran "has been carrying out covert ballistic missile tests and rocket launches, including testing missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload".

Britain believes that since last October, Iranian forces have carried out three secret tests of missiles that could be used to carry nuclear material.

Conspiracy of silence over four Iranian nuclear-capable missile tests

Our Iranian and intelligence sources offer details on the British Foreign Secretary William Hague's allegation Wednesday, June 29, that Iran has carried out secret tests of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in breach of UN resolution 1929:

Three of those tests, four in all, were carried out between October 2010 and February 2011and the fourth on Tuesday, June 28, in the course of the Prophet Mohammed war games currently in progress.

Iran is clearly continuing to upgrade and improve the accuracy of the missiles in its armory that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

Riyadh will build nuclear weapons if Iran gets them

A senior Saudi Arabian diplomat and member of the ruling royal family has raised the spectre of nuclear conflict in the Middle East if Iran comes close to developing a nuclear weapon.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief and ambassador to Washington, warned senior Nato military officials that the existence of such a device "would compel Saudi Arabia … to pursue policies which could lead to untold and possibly dramatic consequences".

Is The Mainstream Media Covering Up The Truth At Los Alamos, Ft. Calhoun And Fukushima?

The EU Maintains Control: Greece Parliament Passes Austerity Measures

There are a number of articles confirming that fact (below) - but first, I want to read Jane B's commentary on this event:

Greek Parliament Passes Austerity Measures

The banks and the euro have escaped immediate economic disaster after the Greek parliament today voted by a narrow margin in favour of privatisations and austerity measures mandated by the EU, IMF and ECB. However, a fresh clash with the Greek parliament and people is preprogrammed when the Troika undertake their next review of Greece’s finances in September.

George Papandreou’s socialist government pushed through a €28bn package of drastic tax increases and budget cuts by 155 votes to 138 while protestors outside the parliament faced tear gas and even plastic bullets from riot police. Unions also staged a 48 hour strike.

The passage of this legislation will clear the way for the next interest payment on the country’s astronomical national debt to be made to American, French and German banks in July.

Now she turns to the implications of this most recent vote:

The cost of the Greek bankster bailout is set to rise to 1,450 euros for each household in Europe, according to a report by Open Europe.

The Greek socialist government pushed through the austerity package demanded by the EU and IMF by fanning fears of bankruptcy after failing to take steps to prepare for an orderly insolvency of the country and in spite of the fact that the example of Argentina showed that a default, even a disorderly default, can return a country to rapid growth.

The IMF, EU and ECB are due to undertake their next review of Greece’s progress in implementing the austerity measures in September.

Welcome to the new rulers of Greece: The IMF, the EU and the ECB. We will see more and more of this - as countries continue to lose their sovereignty. Don't misunderstand - Greece and the socialized policies over decades led to this, as their unsustainable economic structure has forced these measures - in one way, they aren't exactly innocent victims in this scenario. But the problem is - their national sovereignty is now essentially gone. George Soros' vision is completed - at least for one country - but there are more coming.

The EU, IMF and ECB financial empire has taken off its mask and made an unprecedented grab for the assets and taxes of the people of Greece and in this lie the seeds of its own defeat.

The Bilderberg elite have launched their Troika to assault Greece like swarming ants and the result is that they have nearly been defeated already in the Greek parliament and at a fairly early stage in theircampaign of financial warfare against Europe. Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Germany are all still in earlier stages of the eurozone debt slavery entrapment than Greece.

There will be no more swift victory for the elite, just a prolonged campaign finishing in the demise of the euro given the degree of awareness already existing among people across Europe of how the banks are looting tax payers with the help of complicit governments and much of the mainstream media.

But in the modern day era of the internet and rapidly spreading news, the people are aware of these facts and uprisings are taking place (see news stories below).

As the social and economic meltdown that is resulting from transferring so much money to banks becomes apparent, resistance to the bankster bailouts is set to grow across the eurozone.

Also see:

Riots herald a 'dark day' in Greek history as MPs vote through austerity cuts

Hooded youths, their faces hidden behind gas masks ripped what projectiles they could find from the streets to hurl at police chanting "cops, pigs, murderers!"

Police retaliated with baton charges accompanied by sporadic rounds of teargas and stun grenades releasing terrifying loud bangs - and the crowds fled, regrouping within minutes in other parts of the square.

Such scenes were repeated over and over throughout Wednesday during a second day of protests against a deeply unpopular austerity package.

The protests demonstrate a growing social unrest across all levels of society bubbling into unprecedented public anger at the politicians held responsible for bringing a nation to its knees.

A recent poll showed 80 per cent of the nation was against the latest austerity measures believing it will cripple Greece for the sake of saving financial institutions.

Greece austerity vote: Q & A

So the euro is not saved yet?

No. There is a growing clamour from economists, politicians and others that the only realistic option for Greece is a negotiated default from its debts in order to let austerity and economic restructuring work. Currently the Greek government is battling protesters and a growing opposition to austerity, especially tax rises, just to service its debts, which are mainly held by European banks.

The continued instability threatens to pull Ireland and Portugal, already under EU-IMF bailout "programmes" into the crisis, a development that could start a run on Spanish, Belgian and French bonds. No one really believes that the euro, a single currency that binds productive Germany to debt laden Greece, can carry on with "business as usual".


Phew, so it's all ok then, crisis averted?

Only for now. Over the next two weeks the EU must come up with a second Greek bailout which could be as high as £107billion on top of the £98billion in rescue loans agreed for Greece in May 2010. Unless it does then the IMF will not give the green light to another bailout instalment, the sixth, in September and the crisis will flare up all over again.

So will the Greek bailout Mark II finally sort things out?

It's very tricky. New loans are deeply unpopular in creditor countries, like Germany and the savage austerity demanded of the Greeks is fuelling growing social conflict.

So this will be difficult to sustain politically.

By piling more loans on an economically weak and chaotic Greece, the debt burden might become all too much leading to a greater default risk with even more exposure for the French, German and European banks that hold the Greek government bonds.

Chaos reigns on streets of Athens

Greece - honest taxpayers bear the brunt?

Increasing revenue from taxes is the crux of the austerity plan put forward by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. The revised plan contains measures aimed at clawing back 14.9 billion euros in taxes over four years – that is 649 million euros more than the initial version, unveiled in mid-June.

There will be a new solidarity tax. Those earning more than 12,000 euros a year will be obliged to hand over one to five percent to the Greek Treasury. This should generate an extra 1.38 billion over the four year term. VAT in cafés and restaurants will leap from 13 to 23 percent.

And on the streets, there is anger. It is estimated these latest measures will cut average earnings by a further three to four percent.

As police crush protests, EU narrowly wins Greek wote

In a joint statement, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Council President Herman van Rompuy saluted the result: "This was a vote of national responsibility."

The pair looked forward to a similar result on Thursday when the parliament votes on a second bill outlining how the measures will be implemented.

"Tomorrow, the eyes of Europe will again be turned towards Athens as parliamentarians are called upon to approve the implementing measures for the programme," they said in a prepared statement. "A second positive vote would pave the way for the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance."

For now the EU maintains control. For now, the EU avoids another crisis. For now, the Eurozone stays intact.

But the situation is tenuous at best and this marks the beginning of a long struggle to maintain the Euro and the viability of the EU. In the process, the sovereignty of Greece has been handed over to the EU and the IMF, and this may represent a pattern for the future as more countries are destined for this path.

It almost appears to be part of a bigger plan. We shall see.

Headlines Today

The vote in Greece is just a few hours away, and at that time, we should have a reasonable feel for which direction the EU is headed: towards more centralized power and loss of individual country sovereignty or a potential break-up. It should be interesting. Meanwhile, we see these stories (you'll probably see the results before I do, so please post views in the comments section):

Violence flares before key Greek austerity vote

Greek police firing tear gas fought running battles with stone-throwing protesters outside parliament on Wednesday as signs grew the government would succeed in pushing through an austerity plan demanded by creditors.

Tens of thousands of protesters, many of them waving Greek flags and beating drums, packed Syntagma Square outside parliament as a 48-hour general strike that began on Tuesday brought central Athens to a standstill.

Demonstrations turned violent for a second day when a surge in the crowd overturned metal barriers, forcing back a line of riot police, who responded with flash bombs and tear gas.

Greece braces for riots as critical vote looms

Greek riot police fired round after round of tear gas to keep small crowds of protesters away from Parliament Wednesday, as lawmakers prepared for a vote on budget cuts that could be critical to the future of Europe's currency, the euro.

How a Greek default would ripple around the world

As the Greek debt crisis goes from bad to worse, worried bankers and policy makers have started throwing the L-word around at every opportunity. Their dire warning: Greece could become another “Lehman moment,” spreading financial destruction across the globe.

“If it is Greece alone, that’s already big. But if other countries are drawn in through contagion, it could be bigger than Lehman,” Deutsche Bank chief executive officer Josef Ackermann said this week.

The Europeans, the International Monetary Fund and other governments and central banks will do all they can to prevent the Greek illness from wreaking widespread havoc, because the potential fallout – another global financial crisis, the unravelling of the economic recovery and the failure of the euro zone itself – is too awful to contemplate. And because they all remember Lehman.

Debt-ridden Ireland and Portugal have already been blown off course by the Greek gale. Frozen out of the capital markets by sky-high premiums demanded by investors for the rising risk of owning their bonds, they had to seek bailouts of their own. And Spain, Italy and Belgium have all come under pressure from bond market predators, despite European efforts to fence off the Bailout Three.

The euro zone reminds risk expert Satyajit Das of a party of mountaineers roped together. As the weaker ones lose their grip, the survival of the stronger climbers is increasingly endangered. The result could be the departure from the euro of the least-competitive members and a breakup or shrinkage of the one-currency-fits-all model. A mortally damaged Europe would put a severe crimp in global prospects for economic growth and could very well trigger another slump while the U.S. economy remains weak.

In the rest of the world:

French Banks Scramble to Prevent Another Global Collapse

The plan is a stark illustration of how dire the situation has become.

It's well understood that the European Union could be debilitated by a Greek default, but the United States has just as much at stake.

"The largely untold 'rest of the story' is this: If the European banking sector implodes, the U.S. financial system could take an unqualified beating," said Money Morning Contributing Editor Shah Gilan

Britian told to find extra 1.6bn a year to fund EU

Despite national austerity measures, including a savage EU-IMF programme of cuts in Greece, The Daily Telegraph understands that a draft EU “multiannual financial framework” will increase spending by 12.5 per cent.
The rise, at over five times the EU rate of inflation, will take Britain's annual contribution to £13billion a year.

In the Middle East, it looks like Israel is taking the Syrian threat seriously:

'Warning to Assad': Attack us, we'll hit you personally

Israel sent a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad in recent days, warning him that if he started a war with the Jewish state in order to divert attention from domestic problems, Israel will target him personally, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the personal warning was sent through Turkey following intelligence reports of unusual Syrian troop movements, including the moving of long-range ballistic missiles that could be used to target Israel.

The report added that the IDF has increased its preparedness on the northern border out of fear that Hezbollah may attempt to stage another kidnapping of soldiers or civilians along the Lebanese border.

Israel Warns Assad He Is on Death List if He Attacks

A Kuwaiti newspaper reports that Israel has warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that if he will be targeted if he tries to start a war with Israel to take the glare off his brutal suppression of the uprising in his country.

"It's almost a cliché - this is what he [Assad] always does. He's under pressure at home, so he deflects attention," said Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and quoted by the British business news site IBTimes.

He said that Assad tried the same tactic in the Second Lebanon War in 2006 “by rallying the people around resistance to Israel, and this time it's with the Palestinian cause. This is not going to work."

IDF delivers Goods to Gaza but Flotilla Leader Claims 'Blockade'

The IDF oversees the shipment of 6,000 tons of food, fuel, merchandise and building material to Gaza every day but flotilla leaders allege a “blockade” exists. The requests never exceed the transit vehicles' capacity.

The IDF noted that aid from European convoys to Gaza has continuously been transferred overland in an orderly way without the violence that characterized last year’s IHH-backed flotilla.

Unlike the flotillas, which clearly have nothing to do with humanitarian needs:

The 2010 Gaza flotilla’s five other ships arrived with only 20 truckloads worth of goods, including expired medication. Before the ships left ports for Gaza, a flotilla organizer said the real aim was to Isolate Israel in the international community.

Los Alamos fire inches closer to nuclear waste

A wildfire burning near the desert birthplace of the atomic bomb advanced on the Los Alamos laboratory and thousands of outdoor drums of plutonium-contaminated waste Tuesday as authorities stepped up efforts to protect the site and monitor the air for radiation.

"We are throwing absolutely everything at this that we got," Democratic Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico said in Los Alamos.

The fire has forced the evacuation of the entire city of Los Alamos, population 11,000, cast giant plumes of smoke over the region and raised fears among nuclear watchdogs that it will reach as many as 30,000 55-gallon drums of plutonium-contaminated waste.

"The concern is that these drums will get so hot that they'll burst. That would put this toxic material into the plume. It's a concern for everybody," said Joni Arends, executive director of the Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, an anti-nuclear group.

Wildfire Pushes Toward Nuclear Lab

South China Sea Disputes Could Lead to War

Risks are growing that incidents at sea involving China could lead to war in Asia, potentially drawing in the United States and other powers, an Australian think tank warned on Tuesday.

The Lowy Institute said in a report that the Chinese military's risk-taking behaviour in the South and East China Seas, along with the country's resource needs and greater assertiveness, had raised the chances of an armed conflict.

"The sea lanes of Indo-Pacific Asia are becoming more crowded, contested and vulnerable to armed strife. Naval and air forces are being strengthened amid shifting balances of economic strategic weight," report authors Rory Medcalf and Raoul Heinrichs wrote.

"China's frictions with the United States, Japan and India are likely to persist and intensify. As the number and tempo of incidents increases, so does the likelihood that an episode will escalate to armed confrontation, diplomatic crisis or possibly even conflict," they said.

African Horn in 'worst drought' in 60 years

A UN spokeswoman said on Tuesday that some areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda are seeing "one of the driest years since 1950/51," due to two consecutive years of low rainfall.

More than 10 million people are now affected in drought-stricken areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda and the situation is deteriorating, it said.

The Truth of the Birth Certificate

And This

Brief Updates from the EU

Most of the stories are from Greece as the Wednesday vote approaches:

Greece faces general strike, more cuts planned

Workers across Greece walked off the job Tuesday at the start of a 48-hour general strike as lawmakers debate a new round of austerity reforms, which must be passed if the country is to get crucial bailout funds.

More than 5,000 police were to guard Athens' city center, as thousands of protesters hold a rally outside Parliament, chanting anti-austerity slogans. Another demonstration is scheduled to start later in the morning.

Unions are angry at a new euro28 billion ($40 billion) austerity program that would slap taxes on minimum wage earners and other struggling Greeks. The planned measures come on top of other spending cuts and tax hikes, which have contributed to the rise in the unemployment rate to over 16 percent.

Cops Fire Tear Gas At Greece Austerity Rally

Police in Athens have fired tear gas after clashing with protesters throwing sticks and bottles as a two-day strike against austerity measures got under way.

The skirmish comes as MPs are asked to help pass tough proposals demanded by the EU and the International Monetry Fund (IMF) in order to receive another bailout.

The Greek parliament needs to agree to 28 billion euros (£25bn) of spending cuts and economic reforms by the end of this month.

Only then will European finance ministers give the country 12 billion euros (£10.7bn) - the fifth and final installment of the original 110 billion euro (£98bn) bailout agreed in May last year.

Furthermore, unions say the measures merely slap taxes on minimum wage earners.

Meanwhile, governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King has said concerns over Greece defaulting are sufficient enough to have prompted the consideration of contingency plans for the UK banking sector.

'Massive participation': General strike hits Greece as austerity vote looms

Deep in deficit and unable to borrow on financial markets, Greece depends on international support to keep going. A default would spread contagion around the 17-nation single currency area and cause a deep shock to the global economy.

The package and an additional implementation law must be passed in parliamentary votes Wednesday and Thursday so the European Union and the International Monetary Fund release the next installment of Greece's euro110 billion ($156 billion) bailout loan.

Without the next euro12 billion installment, Greece faces the prospect next month of becoming the first eurozone country to default on its debts — a potentially disastrous event that could drag down European banks and affect other financially troubled European countries.

Theodoros Pangalos, the outspoken deputy prime minister, criticized financial experts who have suggested Greece might be forced to abandon the euro and return to its old currency, the drachma.

"A return to the drachma would mean that the next day banks would be surrounded by people trying to get their money out. The army would have to use tanks to protect (the banks) because there wouldn't be enough police to do it," Pangalos said in a weekend interview with the Spanish daily El Mundo.
"There would be riots everywhere, shops would have empty shelves and people would be jumping out of windows ... It would also be disastrous for the entire economy of Europe."

We'll be watching Wednesday very closely as this is when the vote takes place. The status of the EU may be hanging in the balance, so this is a very important day prophetically. As seen below, the status of Greece could have an enormous impact on the EU and how their future shapes up.

Greece, The Euro And Why It Matters

The situation in Greece is quickly coming to a head, and one may wonder why this is so important and why so much of the international news is focused on this situation. Additionally, it seems clear that there are potentially big implications to these developments prophetically.

First - we have to remember that Daniel 2, Daniel 7 and Revelation 17 tells us that the EU will somehow morph into the last stage, the "10 Kings" stage. Despite a lot of speculation, no one really knows exactly what these 10 kings will consist of. There are some who believe it will be the ten most powerful nations who emerge from a condensed EU (some believe it will be the WEU), there are some who believe it will end up being ten regions of the world, with each region having a "king" presiding over that region, and on and on the speculation goes.

And lets not forget that it is the 10 Kings who give rise to the antichrist and once formed, will become the basis of the Tribulation world-government.

What has this to do with Greece?

That takes us to this update and summary of the current situation in Greece:

Greek Parliament May Reject EU/IMF Austerity Measures In Historic Vote On Wednesday: Future Of Euro Hangs By A Thread

First, the key points as provided in this article:

*Greek Prime Minister’s majority cut to one ahead of crucial IMF and EU austerity vote in parliament on Wednesday

*Rejection of austerity package will lead to a default by Greece and eurozone exit

*Greece is set to spend 131 billion euros on interest payments to banks between 2009 and 2014 according to IMF

*Germany’s Die Welt says Germans would rise up in rebellion if they had to accept equivalent austerity measures

*Protests and strikes intensify in Athens ahead of historical vote on Wednesday that could spell the end of the euro currency

Four Greek lawmakers from the ruling PASOK party have indicated they will vote against the new EU and IMF austerity package in parliament on Wednesday. If the Greek parliament votes against the legislation, it would pave the way for Greece to default on its debt to foreign banks and exit the eurozone in an historic victory for democracy.

Prime Minister George Papandreou’s socialist PASOK party has a slim majority of only 155 deputies in the 300-member parliament. The defections of any more lawmakers may mean the government not be able to pass the new austerity measures and an implementation law on Wednesday and Thursday, which the EU, IMF and ECB are insisting on to enable the next interest payments to be made to banks on time.

The main opposition leader, Antonis Samaras, has said the austerity measures are a “medicine that is worse than the sickness they are meant to cure” and that he will not vote for them.

In other words, if Greece is to remain in the EU, then they will have to make these draconian payments which would include the following:

Greece is set to pay a staggering €131bn in refinancing and interest payments to American, German and French banks between 2009 and 2014 , the IMF has estimated.

The draconian package of latest tax hikes and budget cuts include measures forcing people earning as little as 8000 euros a year to pay 10% in taxes to help the government meet the multi-billion euro interest payments to banks while universities close due to funding cuts.

Even the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said over the weekend that the measures were “hard and unfair.”

The austerity measures would drain the economy of the last of its liquidity and bust those businesses that are still solvent.

So what can Greece do?

Greek lawmakers began debating the new austerity plans today.

If Greece does not pass the package, it will not receive a 12 billion euro installment of loans from its international bailout plan to make payments to banks in the USA, Germany and France forcing it into a disorderly default.

The threat of a disorderly default and financial disaster is being used by banks and eurozone officials to pressure the Greeks to accept the transfer of wealth to the banks and acceopt the loss of their souvereignty.

A disorderly default would, however, outside the eurozone.

So by exiting the Euro and possibly the EU, Greece could return to a national currency and face short-term hardships but could, theoretically "pave the way for a rapid recovery of Greece’s economy".

It presents an interesting dilemma.

It could also pave the way for other countries who are in similar situations (Spain, Portugal, etc.) - to take a similar road and therefore spell the collapse of the EU.

Can this happen? Prophetically?

Of course. We know that the EU will necessarily have to undergo big changes in order to morph into the 10 Kings stage. The last stage which will be in existence for a brief period - basically the Tribulation period and perhaps a brief period before the beginning of the Tribulation (it is unclear when, exactly, the 10 Kings will be formed relative to the beginning of the Tribulation).

We also know that big changes result from big crises. And that is certainly what we are seeing now in the Eurozone (those countries with the EURO as their currency) and the greater EU.

There appear to be several potential scenarios in play at the moment:

1. The EU becomes more tenuous, resulting from the instability in Greece and undergoes a contraction (10 countries?). This idea has been discussed before, by some of the more powerful EU countries, during times of frustration.

2. Greece goes along with the EU plan, and as a result, loses all of their sovereignty - further consolidating the power of a powerful central EU, in which case, further growth may be the only way to survive - by adding more countries and continuing expansion plans. In this scenario, one could envision a 10 world region growth using the basic EU template for a world governance. George Soros seems to favor this plan.

3. The EU could sustain itself but because of the economic problems of so many countries within the EU, a powerful block of 10 countries could arise and take the reigns of the EU, with less viable countries (economically) having to assume a lesser role - and of course this being the genesis of the 10 Kings.

There are probably other scenarios in play.

The bottom line is this:

The EU is on the verge of big changes - by necessity - whether coming in the form of a more powerful, "centralized" state, gaining more and more control of national sovereignty, or whether coming is a form of some kind of collapse.

Either way, we appear to be just on the brink of seeing big changes in he EU - the kind of changes that could precipitate the rise of the 10 Kings stage.

This will be extremely interesting to watch, as the EU experiences these changes.

We may be seeing the gradual evolution into the 10 Kings stage - and if so, then we really are getting ever so close to the beginning of the Tribulation and the subsequent rise of the antichrist.

And this is exciting for one reason and one reason only. We know with great certainty that the Church will be gathered up prior to the beginning of the Tribulation - so if the Tribulation is approaching that rapidly - so is the gathering up of the Church as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

We were told to watch for the signs of His return, and the signs are all around us and in great abundance. There is no denying this fact. Jesus said that we should be looking up for His return during this season - not worried about the events on earth. The apostle Paul said that we should be giving each other hope and encouragement during these times.

We should follow that biblical advice - to look up for His coming and into the heavenly place that has been prepared for us - and not focused and worried about the affairs of this world. Our "hope and encouragement" doesn't come from this world, it comes from what awaits us.

Tensions Increasing in the Middle East

There are several articles out this afternoon which reveal increasing tensions in the Middle East:

IDF fears flotilla activists plan to use chemical weapons

IDF sources said Monday night that new intelligence information obtained in recent days shows that participants of the flotilla planning to break Israel’s sea blockade over the Gaza Strip later this week plan to kill IDF soldiers who board their ships.

According to the information obtained by the IDF, some of the participants have prepared sacks with sulfur, which they plan to pour on the soldiers as they board the vessels.

“This is a chemical weapon, and if poured on a soldier it can paralyze him,” an IDF source told The Jerusalem Post Monday night. “If the sulfur is then lit on fire, the soldier will light up like a torch.”

The information was obtained from closed meetings held by participants on the ships during which some voiced their intention to “murder Israeli soldiers,” according to the IDF.

Also, despite earlier predictions that members of the Turkish organization IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation would not participate in the flotilla, it now appears that some members will sail with the ships alongside other radical Islamic activists.

We've already looked at the fact that there is no "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza, (see here), and we know that supplies can easily be sent into Gaza in an organized, legal manner. A "flotilla" is completely unnecessary if that is the true intent. So obviously this flotilla has nothing to do with any kind of "humanitarian relief", let there be no mistake about that.

Also see:

IDF fears flotilla activists will try to kill soldiers

It has recently been estimated that only eight ships will take part in the sail, instead of 15. Some 500 activists are expected to board the vessels, half the original estimated number. They will include several prominent Hamas members such as Amin Abu Rashad, who heads a charity in Holland and Mohammed Ahmed Hanoun.

She added there were other ways to transfer supplies to Gaza, stating that the mechanism created by Egypt and Israel was sufficient for such efforts.

And this:

Israel fears Gaza flotilla activists may try to kill IDF soldiers

The senior officials also said that Israel had been notified that several extremists among the Gaza flotilla participants had recently claimed that they intend on “shedding the blood of IDF soldiers.”

Moreover, despite earlier reports, it seems that activists from the Turkish organization IHH, which was involved in the deadly IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara in last year’s Gaza flotilla, will be joining several of the ships sailing for Gaza as part of the flotilla.

While this is close to happening (later this week), we also see these stories developing:

Palestinians reveal plan to drum up support ahead of statehood bid

Palestinian delegations will make the rounds of nearly a dozen countries to try to drum up more support for their bid to have the United Nations recognize a Palestinian state, senior officials said Monday.

Palestinian officials will visit Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several other countries that have not yet endorsed the Palestinian plan for recognition, said Hana Amireh, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's decision-making Executive Committee.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' foreign minister said all Palestinian ambassadors would meet in Madrid in early July to discuss how to approach all-important European Union member states, whose support would be crucial to giving the plan diplomatic heft.

And of course, any stories regarding tension increasing in the Middle East wouldn't be complete without Iran in the picture

Iran reveals underground ballistic missile silos

Iran unveiled underground ballistic missile silos for the first time on Monday in a warning to the world of its ability to protect its missiles and secretly store them in hidden locations throughout the country.

State TV broadcast footage of several military officers touring an underground silo that was holding a Shahab 3 ballistic missile. The missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers, putting Israel within its reach, but is powered by liquid fuel, which means that it requires more considerable preparation immediately before launch than a solid rocket.

The unveiling of underground missile silos was confirmation of Israeli and American warnings in recent years that Iran was dispersing its missiles in silos, likely scattered throughout the country.

“The silos look fairly sophisticated and by unveiling them, the Iranians are trying to show the world that their missiles are protected even if the country is attacked,” Inbar said. He added that other countries with missile silos used them strictly for missiles equipped with nuclear warheads and not for conventional ballistic missiles.

Iran unveils underground silos with missiles capable of reaching Israel

Iran on Monday unveiled underground silos that can carry missiles capable of hitting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf as it kicked off 10 days of war games, the country's latest show of military force amid a standoff with the West over its disputed nuclear program.

State TV broadcast footage of deep underground silos, claiming that medium- and long-range missiles stored in them are ready to launch in case of an attack on Iran. The silos are widely viewed as a strategic asset for Iran in the event of a U.S. or Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities.

And more trouble from Israel's north (as the anti-Israeli coalition grows stronger by the day):

Lebanon has a radical new government. It gives Assad his second front

After five months of political stagnation, Lebanon has a new government headed by Najib Mikati, ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hizballah. Formed suddenly on June 13, the 30-minister lineup has awarded an unprecedented number of portfolios – 18, including defense interior – to Hizballah loyalists and pro-Syrian politicians.

The breakthrough was directly spawned by the Syrian uprising: The Shiite Hizballah capitalized on neighboring unrest to grab its largest slice of government ever.

Lebanon's first pro-Syrian defense minister can bend the Lebanese army to the will of Damascus and the pro-Iranian HizballIah.

The pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian government installed now in Beirut is a major shot in the arm for the radical Iranian-Syrian-Hizballah alliance

It is all coming together exactly as we would predict - the coalitions, the military build-up, the war preparations, the anti-Israeli rhetoric and a weakened U.S. who most likely will abandon Israel in their time of need. We're watching the preparations for the final battles consolidating before our very eyes.

In the news:

New global financial crisis alert

MASSIVE debts in some countries and extremely low interest rates make the task of avoiding another global financial crisis ''enormous'', a global banking organisation has warned. The international organisation of central banks says the scene is set for a new financial crisis unless Greece and other countries lift interest rates and more rapidly slash debt.

The report says the dangers are "towering debt, global imbalances, extremely low interest rates, unfinished regulatory reform and financial statistics still too weak to illuminate emerging national and international stresses".

No shelter from the economic storm

From inflation-pressured China and other emerging markets to debt-rattled Europe and a consumer-challenged U.S., all signs point to a global slowdown of serious dimensions.

To get a gloomier assessment of American prospects, we need look no further than the darkening crystal ball of David Rosenberg, Gluskin Sheff’s eminent chief prognosticator, who puts the chance of another U.S. recession by the end of next year at 99 per cent.

George Soros says it is 'probably inevitable' a country will leave euro

While he called survival of the European Union a "vital interest to all", he said the EU needed structural changes to halt a process of disintegration.

"Let's face it: we are on the verge of an economic collapse which starts, let's say, in Greece but could easily spread. The financial system remains extremely vulnerable...

"We are on the edge of collapse and that is the time to recognise the need for change."

Some steps the EU could adopt included creating a larger central budget; directing some of the income from value-added tax or a levy on financial transactions to Brussels; having a European institution guarantee banks, and tripling the size of its bailout fund by topping it up with tax revenue, he said.

So Soros calls for more centralization and more tax...Right out of his playbook, predictably.

Interfaith service at Washington National Cathedral promotes religious tolerance

In the center aisle, in place of the baptismal fountain, candle-lit stands bore three books: a Bible, a Torah and a Koran. When a visitor asked a nearby usher what to do, the usher replied: “This is a totally different service than what we usually do. There’s no wrong answer.”

That says it all doesn't it? Perhaps he should read John 14, where Jesus made it clear that there is only one answer.

'Problem in Gaza is arms buildup not humanitarian crisis'

Speaking to Independence faction, Ehud Barak calls flotilla "unnecessary provocation," and says "there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza," warns that Iran has far-reaching missiles, is "developing abilities to attack."

Palestinians going ahead with UN statehood bid

The Palestinian leadership officially announced Sunday it will turn to the UN for recognition of an independent state in September. The decision was made after a meeting convened by President Mahoud Abbas in his Ramallah headquarters.

The Palestinians also called on the international community to continue investing funds in the PA, which they said is suffering from an acute financial deficit.

Is the 'Peace Process' the Road to War

Last week, President Shimon Peres warned that written peace agreement on Jerusalem will cause a “world war.” Now, leading Kadima Knesset Member and former IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz says conflict is the fate of a United Nations declaration recognizing the Palestinian Authority as a country.

The prospect of war being an inevitable result of diplomatic moves was underscored by Mofaz, who said that a United Nations declaration of the Palestinian Authority as an independent country based on its own unilateral definition of its borders also would cause a conflict.

"Given the great changes in the region, it is very difficult to predict what will happen. In this situation, an Israeli-Palestinian conflict could lead to a harsh reality

Netanyahu Orders Navy to Interdict Flotilla

Prime Minister Binyamin ordered Israel's defense establishment Monday to interdict the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla 2, Voice of Israel radio reported.

Netanahyu gave the order during a meeting of his Security Cabinet dedicated to preparations Israel was taking in advance of the new flotilla expected to set sail for Gaza this week. The Cabinet voted in favor of a Navy plan to prevent the upcoming flotilla from arriving in Gaza and granted the IDF authority to prevent the ships' arrival by any means necessary.

Media Blackout Over Nebraska Nuclear Plant Flooding

As the U.S. populace idles along in relative ignorance over the looming nuclear disaster in Nebraska, we turn our attention, quite naturally, to the agency in this nation that monitors and regulates these deadly energy sources, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC.

Of course we count on agencies like this to ensure that people are safe and aware of potential developments, like the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Facility that has for some time now, been surrounded by the waters of the overflowing Missouri River.

The river is significantly above safe levels and has been for some time now. The nuclear plant was closed in April.

Major Alaskan Quake

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook Alaska's Aleutian Islands late Thursday, triggering a tsunami warning that sent people heading for high ground before the alert was canceled.

Strong quake strikes off Indonesia's Papua island

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Papua on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey said.

Active Week For Ring Of Fire

Earlier this week Irish Weather Online reported that 2011 is on target to record the largest number of earthquakes in a single year for at least 12 years.

Research by Irish Weather Online, using data from the US Geological Survey (USGS), has found that earthquake activity (5.0-9.9 magnitude) from 01 January to 19 June 2011 is already exceeding the total annual seismic activity for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. 2011’s total number of recorded earthquakes is also expected to exceed the most seismically active year of the past 12 years, 2007.

A total of 1,445 earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 5.0 to 9.9, have been recorded in the year up to 19 June. The total number of earthquakes recorded globally for the entire of 2007 was 2,270.

...the number of earthquakes ranging 5.0 magnitude to 7.9 magnitude is rising. In particular there has been a sharp rise during the past 12 years of moderate earthquakes in the range 5-6.9.

The Fall of the United States

We are continuing to see the decline and the fall of the United States - something prophecy scholars have predicted for decades, based upon a literal view of prophecy and the striking omission of the U.S. in the descriptions of the Tribulation provided in Revelation 6-18.

We are watching this take place before our very eyes, and it is becoming more and more clear that this was a planned process.

First, we have more information on Agenda 21 and this draconian plan by the UN, which is unfortunately, being embraced by our current administration:

The Fascist Stealth of Agenda 21

I didn’t even know about Agenda 21 until a couple of months ago. Did you know it has been around since 1992? It is quietly and stealthily being implemented throughout the United States and the world. And within its scope is contained some oldie but goody concerns that I have held for some time: confiscation of public lands by the government (the Wilderness Project), EPA over-regulation, population distribution and control and the list just keeps getting longer and scarier…

Agenda 21 is a 40 chapter plan that lists a series of goals to be achieved globally. It is the global blueprint for changing the way we “live, eat, learn and communicate” because we must “save the earth.” Humans be damned.

Under Agenda 21, everything you can imagine would be heavily controlled by the government: water, electricity and transportation are just some of the areas of concentration that are targeted

This new way of living would usher in an uber-nanny state globally, the likes of which we have never dreamed of. Forget one-world government… Think one-world totalitarian regime.

What is even more interesting is how the MSM is hiding this process and how ignorant most Americans are regarding this epic loss of freedom.

So what exactly does Agenda 21 entail? It consists of 115 specific programs designed to facilitate, or to force, the transition to Sustainable Development. The objective, clearly enunciated by the leaders of the Earth Summit, is to bring about a change in the present system of independent nations. Agenda 21 is broken into 8 sections:

Agriculture
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management
Education
Energy and Housing
Population
Public Health
Resources and Recycling
Transportation, Sustainable Economic Development

And this:

Think this monstrously evil agenda isn’t progressing? Well, hold on to your hats, because Agenda 21 is moving ahead exponentially. On June 9th, 2011, President Obama signed his 86th executive order. From The Blaze:


President Obama’s E.O. 13575 is designed to begin taking control over almost all aspects of the lives of 16% of the American people. Why didn’t we notice it? Weinergate. In the middle of the Anthony Weiner scandal, as the press and most of the American people were distracted, President Obama created something called “The White House Rural Council” (WHRC).

Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an important role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.

“Sustainable Rural Communities” are code words for the UN plan for Sustainable Development known as Agenda 21. This executive order shows that the government is planning to take full control of food, fiber and energy. They also intend to fully control economic growth, health care and education.

There is much more contained within this article and it is a worthwhile read.

At the same time, we have to recognize what is happening in Middle America - as the planned destruction of the heartland is now taking place. If you don't believe it, just read below:

The Purposeful Flooding of America's Heartland

Because of the environmental movement, the water in these dams was held until the last possible moment, then "mini-flooding" (my words) was forced so that it would mimic the "natural events" (aka "spring pulse") and human needs were ignored in this policy. Unfortunately, this year, rather than waters being released progressively in small amounts, because of the "environmentalist" mandates, the water was contained until it was too late.

Perhaps the environmentalists of the Corps grew tired of waiting decades to realize their dream of a "restored Missouri River." Perhaps these elements heard the warnings and saw in them an opportunity to force an immediate re-naturalization of the river via epic flood. At present, that is impossible to know, but to needlessly imperil the property, businesses, and lives of millions of people constitutes criminal negligence. Given the statements of Corps personnel, and the clear evidence of their mismanagement, the possibility that there is specific intent behind their failure to act must be investigated without delay.

And take a look at what is happening to these flooded areas:

Updated: Look Who's Buying Up Flood Ravaged Farm Land

1. File this one under “Now It All Makes Sense”. A Missouri farming and ranching contact just got off a conference call wherein he was informed that the federal government is sending out letters to all of the flooded out farmers in the Missouri River flood plain and bottoms notifying them that the Army Corps of Engineers will offer to BUY THEIR LAND.

And guess who is lurking behind the scenes on this one....

George Soros appears to be “investing” in farmground through the same puppet company that he used to get into the grain elevator and fertilizer business. The company is called Ospraie Capital Management and is buying up farmground in a joint venture with Teays River Investments as a partner. Here is that announcement:

Thats right. Once again, like always, whenever one sees hardships - whether financial, religious, land ownership (pick one) one typically finds George Soros lurking.

Okay. Here’s the connection. This Ospraie outfit was a hedge fund specializing in commodities

But it appears that Soros swooped in and saved the day because this Ospraie is the “co-investor” with Soros that bought the remnants of ConAgra’s trading operation and renamed it . . . Gavilon. In the industry, it is widely acknowledged that Ospraie IS Soros

As you probably remember, Gavilon just recently bought both DeBruce Grain out of Kansas City and the biggest grain elevator company in the Pacific Northwest, thus making Soros (who is the money behind Gavilon through both his own Soros Fund Management AND his de facto control of Ospraie) the third-largest grain company in the U.S. with 280 million bushels of storage capacity

Bottom line: Soros, through Ospraie, is buying up farmground. Please also note that the hotlink citation above is dated June 26, 2009. My contact says this has been going on for two years – and also remember what I told you about farmground prices inflating wildly, especially in Illinois.

At the same time, we see this - new coal regulations as imposed by the EPA - intended to shut down the coal industry:

Coal Regs Would Kill Jobs, Boost Energy Bills

Two new EPA pollution regulations will slam the coal industry so hard that hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost, and electric rates will skyrocket 11 percent to over 23 percent, according to a new study based on government data.

“Many of these severe impacts would hit families living in states already facing serious economic challenges,” said Steve Miller, president of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “Because of these impacts, EPA should make major changes to the proposed regulations before they are finalized,” he said.

Overall, the rules aimed at making the air cleaner could cost the coal-fired power plant industry $180 billion, warns a trade group.

Obama Backs EPA War on Coal

It is no longer a secret that President Obama's administration is willing to allow electricity prices to "necessarily skyrocket," in order to accomplish his green energy agenda.

Although he has so far been unsuccessful at instituting cap-and-trade, Obama's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hard at work running coal companies and consumers into the ground. Not that you'd know it from ABC, NBC and CBS news coverage.

The Hill reported that the EPA is attempting to "impose new regulations aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants

American Electric Power (AEP) released its proposed compliance plan on June 9 for those "pending" EPA regulations. AEP, which is one of the largest U.S. utilities and delivers electricity to more than 5 million people, said that in order to comply with the new regulations they would need to retire 6,000 megawatts of coal-generated power in the next couple of years.

They would also have to shutter five plants (two in W.Va., two in Ohio and one in Va.) entirely and retrofit others, costing $6 billion to $8 billion. AEP also estimated a net loss of 600 power plant jobs, not including the ripple effect through the industry and affected communities.

With more than half the nation's electricity currently fueled by coal, the impact will be huge especially in the nation's heartland.

Julie Wern writing for the Chicago Tribune said that consumers in the 13 states serviced by the PJM Interconnection (which includes Illinois) could see their electric bills "jump an estimated 40 to 60 percent in the next few years."

Wern correctly identified pending EPA regulations that will make coal plants more expensive to run (and shut some plants down) as the cause for the potential rate hikes.

And last, we see this:

Shredding Freedom

But is has to be noted - that all of this has to happen as the Tribulation approaches. A strong and free United States is highly inconsistent with a world government, a world financial system and a world dictator. None of these things can take place with a U.S. which exists as our founding fathers planned.

What we are watching is the continual steps towards the Tribulation, and we must know that these things have to take place. Although disconcerting, we can trust that this is all part of God's plan, and one of the reasons that God has given us the prophetic scriptures - so that we could place our trust entirely in Him and rest in the comfort that He provides.

I believe what we are seeing today served as the basis of the scriptures given below, all in the context of the "gathering up" of the Church Saints:

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing"
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

"Therefore encourage each other with these words"
(1 Thessalonians 4:18)

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near"
(Luke 21:28)

"Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near"
(Luke 21:31)

Jesus knew what we would be seeing in these last days, and He knew that these things would be disconcerting and alarming. But He wanted to give us peace in these days, with the promises that He will come for His bride.

Our faith needs to be strong now, as we see the approaching Tribulation. And as the apostle Paul knew, we would find strength, not only in the holy scriptures, but in each other - and our words of encouragement to each other - and our building up of each other.

And rather than looking at the things of this earth, Jesus wants us looking up - towards our destiny, which is not of this earth.

We will be home with Jesus soon. Its a promise.

Maranatha! He is coming soon!

One Step CLoser to One World Religion

It is just amazing how close we are to the Tribulation. Just take a look at this:

Another Step Closer To A One World Religion: 50 U.S. Churches To Read From The Quran On Sunday

The three main pillars of the "New World Order" that the global elite want to bring about are a one world economy, a one world government and a one world religion.

A lot of attention gets paid to the development of the first two pillars, but the third pillar gets very little attention. But the truth is that a one world religion is getting closer than ever.

"Interfaith" conferences and meetings are being held with increasing frequency all over the globe. Major global religious leaders are urging all of us to focus on our "shared" religious traditions. The belief that all religions are equally valid paths to the same destination is being taught in houses of worship and at religious institutions all over the globe.

Now some U.S. churches are trying to take things to another level. On June 26th, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and approximately 50 other churches in 26 U.S. states will publicly read from the Quran during their Sunday worship services.

Interestingly, it is typically the same churches who refuse to support Israel - ignoring the mandate as directed by the Holy Bible.

This is all part of an interfaith project being promoted by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. The theme of this Sunday is "Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding", and the goal is apparently to show how much Christian churches in the United States respect Islam.

The following are some of the other prominent U.S. churches that will be doing Quran readings this Sunday....

*Christ Church in New York City

*All Saints Church in Pasadena, California

*Park Hill Congregational in Denver

*Hillview United Methodist in Boise, Idaho

*First United Lutheran in San Francisco

*St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu

In all, churches in 26 U.S. states will be participating.

I have a feeling these same churches would refuse to take a literal view of the Bible, including prophecy.

But these Quran readings are just supposed to be the beginning of something bigger. The following is from a description of the Quran reading project on the website of Human Rights First....

At its core, this project will bring together Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy to read from and hear from each other’s sacred texts. In doing so, they will serve as a model for respect and cooperation and create a concrete opportunity to build and strengthen working ties between and among faith communities moving forward.

There are at least some strong rebuttals to this effort, thankfully:

Obviously, many Christian leaders are not pleased with this development. Worldview Weekend President Brannon Howse recently made the following comment regarding the reading of the Quran in U.S. churches....

"They have denied the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. They have denied the inerrancy of Scripture; they've denied the inspiration of Scripture."

But too few and far between. We already saw what happened to Jack Van Impe for his strong rebuke.

Many top U.S. Christian leaders have been very involved in the "interfaith movement" as well.

For example, Brian McLaren, one of the top leaders of the emerging church movement, actually celebrated Ramadan back in 2009.

Rick Warren, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has been a guest speaker at the national conference of the Islamic Society of North America.

Lets not forget what the Bible has to say:

In John 14:6, Jesus made the following statement.....

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

You would think that would be so clear that no Christian leader would ever be able to misunderstand it.

Let us also not forget that Jesus warned us of this day in His prophetic messages:

"At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many will false prophets will appear and deceive many people."
(Matthew 24:10-11)

"Jesus said to them: Watch out that no one deceives you."
(Mark 13:5)

And we also know from the book of Revelation, chapters 2-3, as we proceed through the history of the Church Age, that in these last days the predominate church on earth would be the Church of Laodicea.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
(Revelation 3:15-17)

A one world religion is coming to the earth, and the ground work is being prepared. Like all of the other signs that we follow daily, we are watching this one shaping up exactly as we would expect based upon a literal view of prophecy.

We shouldn't be surprised.

Comet Elenin: An Overview and Prophetic Implications

So much has been written about "Comet" Elenin (also known as ELE), I thought it was time to produce a summary so we could all take a look at the facts (at least what is known) and know what to watch for in the coming weeks and months.

I'll break this study down as follows:

1. The "official" position from Nasa
2. Some of the inconsistencies, coincidences (?), and possible reasons to dispute the "official" position
3. Scriptural references that may be in play
4. The "Bottom-line" on this mystery

1. The "Official" position, per NASA:

Comet Elenin: Preview of a Coming Attraction

You may have heard the news: Comet Elenin is coming to the inner-solar system this fall. Comet Elenin (also known by its astronomical name C/2010 X1), was first detected on Dec. 10, 2010 by Leonid Elenin, an observer in Lyubertsy, Russia, who made the discovery "remotely" using the ISON-NM observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. At the time of the discovery, the comet was about 647 million kilometers (401 million miles) from Earth. Over the past four-and-a-half months, the comet has – as comets do – closed the distance to Earth's vicinity as it makes its way closer to perihelion (its closest point to the sun).

"That is what happens with these long-period comets that come in from way outside our planetary system," said Don Yeomans of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "They make these long, majestic, speedy arcs through our solar system, and sometimes they put on a great show. But not Elenin. Right now that comet looks kind of wimpy."

How does a NASA scientist define cometary wimpiness?

"We're talking about how a comet looks as it safely flies past us," said Yeomans. "Some cometary visitors arriving from beyond the planetary region – like Hale-Bopp in 1997 -- have really lit up the night sky where you can see them easily with the naked eye as they safely transit the inner-solar system. But Elenin is trending toward the other end of the spectrum. You'll probably need a good pair of binoculars, clear skies, and a dark, secluded location to see it even on its brightest night."

Comet Elenin should be at its brightest shortly before the time of its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 16 of this year.

That date is worth remembering, but we'll get into that later in this post. On October 16-17 this "comet" will be at its closest point to the earth.

Now NASA takes effort to debunk some of the "internet conspiracy theories":

"Comet Elenin will not encounter any dark bodies that could perturb its orbit, nor will it influence us in any way here on Earth," said Yeomans. "It will get no closer to Earth than 35 million kilometers [about 22 million miles]."

"Comet Elenin will not only be far away, it is also on the small side for comets," said Yeomans. "And comets are not the most densely-packed objects out there. They usually have the density of something akin to loosely packed icy dirt.

"So you've got a modest-sized icy dirtball that is getting no closer than 35 million kilometers," said Yeomans. "It will have an immeasurably miniscule influence on our planet. By comparison, my subcompact automobile exerts a greater influence on the ocean's tides than comet Elenin ever will."

So there you have the "official position" from NASA.

Also see this "Q and A" from NASA:

Answered Question: Ask an Astrobiologist


2. Why NASA may be incorrect or hiding the truth

(I don't necessarily endorse these views, but below are some links to what is currently being discussed):

I will also add that if there were to be a "significant" event coming our way, I don't trust NASA any more than I trust some of the sources below). Additionally, I don't mistrust NASA either. In this current era, the only trust I have is in the Holy Bible:

There are reasons to believe that Elenin may not be a comet, but a "Dwarf Star" and/or a comet that is much much larger than NASA is telling us. One of the reasons for this belief (and there are many) is the fact/coincidence of the epic earthquakes we have seen on earth over the past several months, and the idea that Elenin may be causing these quakes:

One of the most rational and easy to understand links to this idea is seen here (video that is worth watching):

Planet Elenin - Nibiru - Brown Dwarf Star Is Coming

This video links the position of Elenin when it is in alignment with other planets (theoretically, then exerting the greatest gravitational pull on earth), and therefore precipitating the big quakes seen such as Chile and Japan.

Also see this related article, which gives us key dates, the "alignments" and key earthquakes:

Here Comes Elenin

Big seems to be the appropriate word for we now have the first actual astronomical calculations that puts the coma (the part they can see is 50,000 miles in diameter. Yes a big rock!

“On April 8th at our Russian observatory we carried out planned observations of Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin). An analysis of the results of the observations shows a rapid growth of the coma. Besides the internal compact gas envelope, the forming rarified external coma is also visible in the image. Its diameter exceeds 1 minute of arc, or 80,000 km! It is possible that such a rapid growth of the coma is associated with the apparent superposition over it of the comet’s dust tail, which after opposition, still remains invisible to the earthly observer.”

The coma is what astronomers actually see and is actually much bigger than the core. It’s the green in the above picture that they are saying is 80,000 km or 50,000 miles across. We could estimate that the core might be half the diameter of the coma or approximately 25,000 miles. Big enough—it seems to be already stirring up the Earth under our feet.

There is also a video link contained within this post which explains why Elenin may be much larger than NASA is telling us.
The paragraph below serves as an introduction to a nice chart revealing the alignment of Elenin with the solar system planets and subsequent earthquakes:

We have news out of Cornell University that sustains the view that Elenin is playing a direct part in causing large earthquakes. Professor Mensur Omerbashich is saying that his “georesonator concept in which tidally induced magnification of Earth masses’ resonance causes seismicity.” This trashes NASA’s assertion that the humongous earthquake we saw in Japan and before that with the ones in Chile and New Zealand were coincidental with alignments between Elenin, the Earth and the Sun.

It seems like every time Elenin lines up with Earth and another planet or the Sun we have an earthquake, the nearer Elenin gets the bigger the earthquake

This link (below) also contains some interesting information and a nice visual graphic in which you can enter various dates and see where Elenin will be at different times (past and future):

COMET ELENIN

And this:

Bad News from NASA: Proof That Comet Elenin is Affecting Earth

Elenin is presently being tracked as it goes through the asteroid belt on its way into the inner solar system. I am truly sorry to have to be the bearer of such grave and threatening news but the source, NASA, is impeccable. We have an incoming mass (what might possibly be a neutron star) coming in and it will do a hard turn around the sun like any comet would, crossing and coming in between Mercury and Venus before starting its journey back out. On its way out it will cross our bow, meaning it will pass very close to the earth and the earth will pass behind it, plowing into its tail.

In the video below you will see this explained graphically. What you will see with mathematical precision is that every time this celestial body comes into alignment with the earth and sun we have a huge earthquake.

The last three alignments produced the Japanese 9.0 quake, the one in New Zealand and before that the one in Chile. On March 11th Elenin was much farther out. When the next alignment happens it will be devastatingly close. The main point to understand is that if Elenin was just a normal comet it would not have the mass to generate a gravity pull that would affect the earth when the earth swings around into alignment.

David Morrison, Astrobiology Senior Scientist at NASA, in an official communication on March 1st acknowledged no threat from Elenin. Ten days later Elenin came into alignment with the earth and the sun . . . and Japan was almost destroyed.

So let me attempt to summarize what we have thus far:

1. This object may be a comet which will have no affect on the earth

2. This object could already be causing earthquakes on earth (based upon its alignment with other planets and the sun) and if this is true (as opposed to coincidences) then it is much larger and if this is so, we would expect it to have even bigger impacts on earth as future dates would see more significant "alignments" along with the fact that the "comet" would be closer to earth.

KEY DATES TO REMEMBER (if the above is true):

September 27:
Another alignment with the sun and other planets (similar to the alignment's seen above which, theoretically cause the huge earthquakes seen). If the theory is true, then around this date we would expect to see another large quake.

October 16-17:
Elenin is closest to the Earth and presumably would affect the earth's crust simply because of the close proximity.

November 5:
If Elenin is indeed a comet, then beginning on or around this date, we would be in the tail and could see a meteor shower like never seen before.

November 23:
This date marks another planetary and sun alignment with Elenin, as it begins its exit from the solar system. If theories are true, we would expect to see more large quakes on or around this date.

I am marking these dates on the calendar - just in case - and it has generated enough interest around the world that it is worth watching.


3. Scriptural references that could be in play

(in addition to Jesus informing us of earthquakes in His Olivet Discourse):

Luke 21:25-26

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehension of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken."

Revelation 6:12-14

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains."

The reason for not including other, similar biblical references, such as Revelation 8:7-12 is the simple fact that such references occur much later in the Tribulation, and the fact that the next 5 months just wouldn't allow enough time on the prophetic timeline for such events to happen so soon.

You may also note that the reference above is early in the Tribulation (from the first seal judgements, thus making such events possible within the time frame of the next 4-6 months).


4. The "Bottom-Line":

1. We know that this comet or "brown dwarf" will not collide with the earth or cause complete destruction of planet earth - simply based upon what we know about the viability of the planet, which is necessary for the remaining prophecies to be completed, not to mention Christ's 1,000 year reign on the planet.

2. It is quite possible that this object is larger than what we are being told (whether it is a larger comet or a brown dwarf), and it is quite possible that it will cause large earthquakes during the dates given above. This would be consistent with the Olivet Discourse (earthquakes) and a world which is in turmoil, with "fear", "apprehension" and "heavenly bodies" being shaken.

3. It is also possible, as some speculate, that this object could cause Yellowstone to erupt and the New Madrid fault to erupt - both of which would completely remove the U.S. from "world power" status - something we also know will happen.

4. IF (and I repeat "if") the scriptural reference given in Revelation 6 (above) is associated with Elenin - then several things have to happen very rapidly between now and then, and such events would include:

- The Rapture of the Church
- The confirmation of the covenant of Daniel 9:27 (involving the rise of the antichrist)
- The beginning of the Tribulation.

#4 seems unlikely, and this is without mentioning the various battles of Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 38-39, etc., all of which we expect to happen either prior to the Tribulation or very early in the Tribulation.

5. Many of us (me included) believe that Matthew 24:37 is a reference to the Rapture of the Church, therefore, we will be living "As it was in the days of Noah", and in this context, life will essentially be relatively "normal" at the time of the Rapture.

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SO.....From all of this, my humble opinion is as follows:

- The Rapture of the Church could occur in the coming weeks, and if so, all bets are off. In this scenario, Elenin could be a huge, epic event, contributing to or causing the sixth seal judgment. This still seems unlikely, given that the battles of the Middle East would almost have to take place in the midst of these epic, global events (or earlier, but that means they need to start in the next few weeks). Somehow this seems highly unlikely, but still possible.

- It seems more likely to see the following:

1. This Elenin object could continue to cause large earthquakes, which is highly consistent with Jesus' prophecy (Olivet), causing further destruction as we would expect on planet earth, based upon these quakes.

2. We could see meteors hit the earth (consistent with Luke 21:25) as the earth passes through Elenin's tail in early November.

OR

3. NASA is correct and this is a relatively small comet having no effect on the planet al all.

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Once again, here are the key dates:

1. September 27: Another "alignment" which would theoretically cause large earthquake(s)
2. October 16-17: Elenin passes closest to earth
3. November 5: Earth passes through Elenin's tail.
4. November 23: Another "alignment", theoretically causing large earthquake(s).

We shall see.

PA Will Seek UN Statehood "No Matter What"

One has to wonder what the point is, in renewing the "peace talks" when the PA plans to seek UN approval (independently from any Israeli considerations) regardless of any ongoing negotiations:

PA Pursuing Statehood Bid No Matter What

The Palestinian Authority will seek United Nations recognition for statehood in September even if peace negotiations with Israel are under way, a senior PA diplomat said Thursday.

Riyad Mansour, the PA envoy to the United Nations, said the PA was simultaneously pursuing three independent tracks: restarting negotiations, building institutions for an independent state, and gaining recognition for statehood.

“If we succeed in opening the door for negotiations, we’re not going to stop from attaining what belongs to us as Palestinians in this General Assembly starting on September 20,” Mansour insisted.

In other words, they are attempting to gain statehood regardless of the methods employed and they are using every front possible. No wonder they still refuse to accept or acknowledge Israel's right to exist.

"Unlike the construction in the West Bank, which is an illegal unilateral act, declaring a state is a given right which is not considered unilateral," Mansour insisted.

Israel "did not ask permission to declare a state in 1948, the US did not ask the British for permission to declare a state in 1776. Our declaration of state in a natural right and not a unilateral act," he said.

Also see (Turkey is right on schedule as we would predict):

'Erdogan to Abbas: Turkey will support PA statehood bid'

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday pledged to support Palestinian plans for statehood at the UN this September in his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Turkish daily Today's Zaman reported.

According to the report, Erdogan said during a joint press conference in Ankara that a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be reached if a Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital, were established.

The Turkish president also reiterated calls on the international community to back Palestinian efforts to form a unity government, and was quoted as saying, "We told President Abbas that we do not want brothers to shed each other's blood.”

Meanwhile, PLO official Saeb Erekat, also in Turkey this week, said Friday that the Turks promised to help the Palestinians enlist additional nations to support their bid for statehood, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported

Erekat said the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit, scheduled to begin next week with Turkey's participation, will be a forum where "messages will be sent to all countries across the world to recognize the Palestinian state," Ma'an reported.

And this:

Muslim Brotherhood Creates Super-Coalition

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has created a coalition of 17 parties, including liberal and secular groups, to form a common platform ahead of legislative elections, Egyprian state media said Wednesday.

The new political alliance, including the Brotherood's Freedom and Justice Party, the liberal Wafd party, the left-leaning Tagammu, and the newly formed Salafi (Muslim Fundamentalist) Noor party, say they joined forces to "channel their efforts

A September election is expected to boost Islamic factions, particularly the highly organized Muslim Brotherhood

Early elections are also thought to favor the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood whose senior leaders have said they will impose Sharia Law in Egypt if they come to power

We're watching all of this come together just as predicted and just as we would expect based upon biblical prophecy.

And all of this is happening as we inch closer and closer to the September dates that are so important.