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.
24 comments:
Scott, I've been thinking lately about the current events and the coming of Jesus.
It makes sense to me that it would occur before the absolute economic collapse of the worlds financial institutions. We know that in the days of Noah people were buying, selling, marrying, entertaining, and of course scoffing at Noah. Looking at today's economic situation-- how could the world continue the trend if it were in such dire straits from a total collapse? Also, Jesus said that when we think not, that's when He will come for us. I cannot help but think that He will come while things are still relatively stable. If things were so very desperate, wouldn't many people expect Him at any moment? Granted there are many brothers and sisters who are being tormented and tortured for their faith as I write this and I am sure they are looking toward the Heavens for their Redeemer. Yet the world, as a whole, is still enjoying a state of hedonism.
These are just a few thoughts that I wanted to share and we know that God's thoughts are not our thoughts. : ) Jesus could return at any time, whether it's a day, a week, or even a year from now.
Gearedup2go... I totally agree with that assessment Here is another thout Could the economic collapse In greece And all the rioting Coming to america next 4 there rejection of god's truth And rebellion? Perhaps america is not far behind greece.
geared up this has been my assertion for about a year now. Most people however remain unconvinced when I share the "Days of Noah"/business as usual thought.
To me it makes perfect sense and yet most folks still like to throw out the great depression as an example of America's suffering from the past. Jesus was not ready to return at that point and it did not affect the entire world either. This will be much worse than the great depression anyway.
It does not matter to them what Jesus said about coming as a thief (indicating surprise). Also when America collapses this time the rest of the world will as well since we are now interconnected in a global economy.
The final point.... this collapse will be bad (world wide and sudden) and it will best be described by what we read in Revelation chapter 6...at that point we are well into the tribulation and the church will be long gone.
Once he dominos begin to fall it will not take long for the world's economies to come to a screaching hault and again the church will not be here for that.
Besides all that....it is occuring on a parallel track with end time battles between Israel and her enemies. War is imminent and it is looking like Isaiah 17/Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 are in the near future. If this was not simultaneously occuring I might think differently. But of course they are and the ultimate tipping point may just be the rapture of the church.
September looms on the very near horizon. Many hands will be forced to be played before that time IMO. Time is running out on all fronts.
Maranatha!
Wv, I was thinking the same thing this morning about the rapture sending the world over the edge.
WV, I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if China steps up to the plate to rescue Greece to steady things short term. They are already eyeing Canada's oil resources. Once they agree and are comfortable with a single global currency, the new means of buying and selling will be in place. And don't forget that Soros wants a "sheriff" to handle it all.
On another note: Turkey may launch offensive against Syria. Yep, Turkey.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-248653-report-turkey-tells-west-it-might-launch-offensive-against-syria.html
Dominoes are soon to fall. Stay the course, read the Word. : ) I'm looking forward to my banquet meal in the New Jerusalem.
I am not sure exactly what will happen, but I am still waiting for
the AC to show up per 2 THESS 2....
and that will MORE THEN likely happen once the crisis hits with
Greece, ect.
ELLIOTT WAVE counts indicate that
Gold and Silver are in big trouble,
as well as the Dow Jones averages.
Possible scenario is BIG CRISIS,
then AC shows up to fix it, then
rapture hits.....
then 7 year TRIB period begins,
Stephen in Hawaii !!!!
2 Thes. 2:3 literal from Greek (dashed words equal one Greek word):
...if-ever not he-may-come or-else departure first and he-may-be-revealed person the lawlessness Apollo/ruin
Several possible renderings:
1- He may not come until first the Departure, and [then] the lawless one...
2- He may not come until first the "falling away" and the lawless one, Apollo, will be revealed.
Considering that "falling away" is not the primary meaning of apostasia since the context is not about false teachings but the Day of the Lord, The Departure (Rapture?) seems to me to be the most likely understanding. And it is listed before the revealing of the AC then I think Paul is saying "First will be the Rapture and then the AC will be revealed".
Can't be ruled out, anyway. Something to consider.
Was reading Fruchtenbaum last evening and he has presented what I think is the best explanation of this passage I've ever seen. Here is a condensation of what he says. Keep in mind that Fruchtenbaum believes that there will be a period of time whether short or long, between the rapture and the start of the trib.
Paul was writing to comfort the believers of Thessalonica letting them know that they were not in the Tribulation, nor had the Tribulation arrived. He was teaching them that there will be two separate revelations of the Antichrist at different points in time. Paul states that the Tribulation could not have come yet because two events, both of which must precede the Tribulation had not yet occurred. (v3)
The first is the apostasy of the church and the second is the revelation of the man of sin, the son of perdition. There is to be a revelation of the identity of the Antichrist that precedes the Tribulation and it is for the believers living at that time. The Rapture may or may not have occurred by then, since the Scriptures do not state just how long before the Tribulation the Rapture will occur. Therefore, the revelation to believers before the Tribulation may be to the Church if the Rapture has not occurred, or it may be to a new generation of believers who will have accepted the gospel after the Rapture of the Church.
Whoever the believers maybe at that time, they will receive a revelation as to the identity of the Antichrist, and it will occur at some time before the Tribulation. The text does not state exactly how this revelation will come, but other Scriptures indicate that this revelation may come because of two things. First: it is clear from Daniel 9:27 that the tribulation will begin with the signing of a seven-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist. When this forthcoming covenant is announced, believers may become aware of the identity of the Antichrist. Second: it is also possible that believers will deduce who he is by the numerical value of the Antichrist's name, which will be 666.
After the parenthetical reminder of verses 5-7, in verses 8-12, Paul returns to where he left off at verse four. According to verse eight, the Abomination of Desolation of verse four will serve as the second revelation of the Antichrist. While the first revelation will be to the believers before the tribulation, the second revelation in the middle of the Tribulation will be to Israel. By the very act of the Abomination of Desolation, the Antichrist will be revealed a truly being the lawless one, and then Israel can realize with whom they have made their covenant. The Abomination of Desolation is clearly stated by Jesus to be a sign to Israel in Matthew 24:15-22.
Scott-be safe. looks like you and I both are getting slammed with bad weather right now. it's ok though, cuz Jesus is our umbrella :) ally
Good post with some video clips on Gog/Magog etc.: post
Ally, these storms have been unreal but we really need the rain...
Kem - Fruchtenbaum is always great for clarification...I have been considering reading "Footsteps" for about the 9th time, and I still learn from it!
Geared up and WV - I tend to agree..And the gathering up will be the final "tipping point" leading to massive turmoil in the financial markets IMO...
Also, Geared - There was an article a couple of days ago regarding China buying up the EU's debt...I was going to post it, but honestly, lately, I am having to delete potential posts because there is so much going on right now. Never had that problem until recently.
there is so much going on that you can't post it all! betcha never thought that would happen. LOL! Sounds like L&D (labor and delivery) right before you give birth! And look at all those people waiting in the waiting room!
Whee doggie as they say in the Caver household. Love all of you so much! ally
There seems to be alot of contention re the timing of the
Rapture, but BOTTOM LINE is this....
NO AC REVEALED, NO RAPTURE !!!!
PLEASE TAKE PAUL'S WORDS AT FACE VALUE......IN 2 THESS 2...
YOU WILL SLEEP BETTER THAT WAY....
GOOD NITE !!!!
I am taking Paul's words at face value:
1-- the Departure/Rapture
2-- the AC
3-- the Day of the Lord/Tribulation
Paul tells them not to believe forged letters saying that the Trib. was already happening, because it can't start till after the Rapture and then the AC is revealed. Again, it is not the Rapture that awaits the AC, but the Tribulation.
"Again, it is not the Rapture that awaits the AC, but the Tribulation."
Exactly! The first revelation of the
AC is likely to the group saved right
after the rapture though we MAY be
able to see who he is just before
the rapture. The Day of Christ here
refers to the tribulation, not to the
rapture.
No matter how many times people explain it, Stephen has a different take on it. At least he believes and he is looking for Jesus :) I read it the same way for quite a while but FINALLY figured it out after I hung out here for a spell!
My experience with God suggests to me that we will know or at least have a very good idea who it is before we leave this planet. God always seems to show up at the last possible second. I used to call him 11:59:59 lol because if you needed him at midnight that is when he would show up. But he shows up everytime! So if he stays true to my previous experiences with him, we will be very close to the treaty being signed before we go. But then again, he says it will be like a thief in the night so... I used to hate it when he would cut it
so close because I am such a nervous person but now I know it was to build my faith! What a good God we have, so faithful and true! So I don't know exactly when, but rest assured. He is on the way as I type right now. ally p.s. When i had to type in the word verification it said weddin (wedding) weird,huh?
Anon- I had that very conversation today at lunch :)
I have always felt that the parallels given in 2 Peter, regarding Noah and Lot were telling. In both of these cases, Noah and Lot were spared JUST in the nick of time....I believe the Rapture could take place JUST before some kind of catastrophe - whether terrorism, nukes, natural disasters or whatever....Additionally, if this is the case (and of course this is speculation) - then the Rapture may be easy to explain...after all of there is a nuclear situation or a big epic natural disaster, a few missing Christians will end up on "page 4" and then the assumption could be "well, they just headed for the hills....."
I learned from Noah that God keeps his promises! and from Lot, who really dug all the fun worldly things, to be ready to leave it all behind and NOT LOOK BACK!
Scott-I too believe the missile will be airborne, or the earth will be shaking, or stars falling, or the pen touching the paper of the peace treaty when swoosh-it happens! I'm sure satan has a plan already for an explanation for the dissapearance of the Christians. I'm hoping (in a typical God move) that everyone sees the bones fly out of the ground and then the rest of us go. I guess I say this in the hopes many will be saved by just plain seeing it happen.
For me personally, never look for the AC. The way I see it, is that God Blesses us so abundantly every second of our lives, which belongs to Him :) He allow us to be here, born into this generation...at the edge of time, for the most momentous moment in all of time. I feel I need to use the Blessing of that time, looking up, focusing on Jesus, not the AC. Gods Word tells us of all that would go on in these days. Looking at the "dark stuff" too closely, steels our time that He Blesses us with, and thats what the thief, the father of all lies wants.
Having said that, lets touch on a little what Gods Word tells us.
Daniel tells us by "peace" he'll deceive many.
Daniel 8:25
25.And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
We know that by the end of Ezekiel 38-39, the Church will no longer be here. After the enormous death and destruction that Israel suffers in the Isaiah 17 war, quickly followed by all of the enormous death and destruction of the Ezekiel 38-39 war, Israel will have had enough of all the pain.
By the end of the Ezekiel war/invasion, Israel’s immediate enemies are gone. We know that Israel is in a slow clean up stage, led and instructed by God Himself. God has accomplished His Purpose with His People. Restoring His Covenant with them, returning fully to them after thousands of years.
The world, as it is now, will put pressure on Israel to sign an agreement. After massive death and destruction, they will not want to see anything like the wars they just witnessed, happen again.
Not necessarily a "peace" agreement, it could by like the UN had Israel sign with the Lebanon war. What ever it is, Israel will benefit, and unmolested by any enemies, be allowed to rebuild the Holy Temple.
Enter ac. He probably will say something to Israel like "hey, you were lucky this time, next time you may not be so lucky...just sign here and I guarantee there wont be another war" (another Ezekiel invasion).
Again, we wont know who the ac is...by the end of Ezekiel 39...we are gone!
All the Praise and Glory to You Father!
I totally agree - I don't believe the Church will be on earth at the time of Ezek 38-39...Additionally, we live by "faith not by sight" and once Ezek 38 rolls around God will be revealing Himself in a BIG way...I don't believe God's overt revealing of Himself is consistent with the Church age
Yes Brother, God will indeed be revealing Himself in a HUGE was! :)
We know that the Church and Gods People, Israel, are mutually exclusive to Him.
Acts 15:13-18
13.And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14.Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15.And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16.After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17.That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18.Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Romans 11:25
25.For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Isaiah 17 & Ezekiel 38-39 are orchestrated by Him, for His Purposes.
Isaiah 17 - God is slowly turning His attention back to His People. The beginning of revealing Himself once again, to them.
Ezekiel 38-39 His attention is fully with His People. His is back in full Covenant with them.
It will all happen so very quickly...
God Bless! :)
Mrs. C. said:
"Isaiah 17 & Ezekiel 38-39 are orchestrated by Him, for His Purposes.
Isaiah 17 - God is slowly turning His attention back to His People. The beginning of revealing Himself once again, to them.
Ezekiel 38-39 His attention is fully with His People. His is back in full Covenant with them."
So where do you see this in terms of the AC and the 7 year covenant he confirms with Israel and all that? (You've probably said all of this before, but I need my memory refreshed. I have heard so many different views of when Gog/Magog takes place that I can't keep it straight in my mind anymore.)
Hi Ellis,
Shortly after the Ezekiel 38-39 war. That is when an agreement will come forward. I'll post this reverse view of the events...one of Scotts favorites :)
• Millennium - obviously can't happen till the Second Coming, because that's when the Lord returns to establish it.
• The Second Coming - can't happen till the end of the Great Tribulation. And that can't happen till the anti-Christ stands in the Temple in Israel declaring himself to be God. (2 Thes. 2:4) That's the event Jesus warned Israel to look for as the Great Tribulation's opening trigger. He called it "The Abomination of Desolation" in Matt. 24:15-21.
But that can't happen till there's a Temple. There hasn't been a Temple in Israel since 70AD and there won't be one until the Jews decide they need one. That won't happen until God reinstates their Old Covenant relationship, signaling the start of Daniel's 70th week. And that can't happen till the Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 is won, because it's Ezekiel's battle that officially draws the Jewish people back to God. (Ezek. 39:22) And that can't happen till the Church is gone, because the Church and Israel are mutually exclusive to Him. (Romans 11:25 & Acts 15:13-18) Bringing us to the present, because there is no event that has to happen for the Rapture of the Church. It could happen at any time. :)
Very well explained, Mrs. C. Thanks! :)
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