| (Copyright) by John Jewell (London, England) |
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| Is what most of the British people were wishing each other as the chimes of Big Ben rang throughout London and resounded from the loudspeakers of radios and television sets throughout the rest of the western world as their citizens likewise wished each other a Happy New Year or however it is in their local language. Bonne Annee I think, in French! Throughout the United Kingdom parties were being held, fireworks let off in celebration. And, of course, the usual competition for best firework display between Sydney in Australia and London. The London organizers made it clear that London was the winner! Personally, I enjoy firework displays. In past years I’ve had the opportunity of organizing firework displays which helped to make a church convention a little more special. But as an expression of hope that a new year will be a really happy one, I feel they lack somewhat. Do you remember much about this past year of 2011? It was a rather “mixed year” with catastrophic floods, the problem of drought got worse, violent weather conditions continued, except unlike the previous year, 2011 presented a much warmer climate than 2010. It was a year which saw much more conflict and especially in the Middle East. It was a year of civil disturbance. One event that we, in Britain, have ever before us is the continuing “no-win” situation in Afghanistan – a situation which is an ever present and continuing tragedy for many families of both Britain and the United States. Roughly 345 of the British forces have now died in that tragic nation. Russia couldn’t win when that nation had a battle with Afghanistan – we just never learn! And as a result, over 300 families in Britain have un-necessarily lost loved ones. Indeed, from everything we look at we have to say that a time of trouble has come upon the planet and especially so for both us and the United States, which we are bringing on ourselves through our total rejection of God and His word, as a result of which He will reject us nationally. One of the biggest and potentially most serious situation is continuing to develop in Europe. It is that of the single currency, the Euro. It is evident that a new configuration of nations is being developed by the leading nation, Germany! The church of God has, for years, pointed to this probability. The near collapse of the monetary systems brought in its wake a considerable loss in the value of houses and land and bringing about a very uneasy situation regarding interest rates in international exchange rates. One or two nations, one being Greece, could see a financial collapse. In Europe and especially Britain severe unemployment is growing because of uncontrolled immigration from the eastern European nations, members of the EU. This has, over the past year, become a major problem – especially in Britain – through illegal immigration from the east and from the African nations. which, because of European Human Rights legislation, is very difficult to correct and control. And which for some reasons or other the British Government seems unable to do anything about. Then one must consider China and India. Both these nations are very active in their drive to corner the world markets in almost everything! Especially markets in Britain and the United States. Our two nations seem to be the prime targets. Europe less so! Germany and France, the driving force of the EU, still have a mass production of cars and trucks. Both nations still make trains and ships. Britain seems to have virtually given up making anything! And America isn’t far behind! Today, as we enter a new year, this year of 2012 we see problems on every side and especially for Britain and the U.S. Britain seems to have lost its way. No longer does it appear to have a role in the world. We act as though we are the world’s policeman but, at this time, we are not a happy nation. This reality is making itself known by the disturbances that took place in a number of cities in England this past year. In addition, there appears to be an increase in personal crime with a number of murders taking place during the day and in areas where there are others. Mainly it concerns our young people. As the economy continues to deteriorate and immigration from those nations outside Europe, we can expect much more trouble. Once again violence fills the earth. People are increasingly violent to each other, and they abuse the environment. For every action there is a reaction. We see it in the changes to the climate. And change there most certainly is. Changes which could destroy all life on earth. Are they permanent changes? No! Is God’s hand once again to be shown? Yes, it is! In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, it says this: “as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” At the time of Noah God took a direct hand in the affairs of the world. He is going to do that again. The gospel of Matthew in chapter 24 says of the end of the age that the world would reach a point when but for the return of Jesus Christ everyone on earth would be wiped out. He says this: “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved…!” And he meant saved alive. The planet would reach a point at which all life on earth would cease. We are getting very close to such an eventuality. At one point in time, it would not have seemed possible that you could kill, slaughter and annihilate everyone on earth. Or virtually everyone. It may be a medium size planet as planets go, but nevertheless it is still pretty big! So how could all life be ended! Or rather what situation could arise that, if continued, would see the ending of all life? From television we are familiar with the lives of the Roman emperors. Is there anything they could have done that would have eradicated all life from earth! The answer is, obviously, No! How about the European monarchs? Not one, otherwise you can be certain one would have attempted it! How about the English monarchs? The Tudors for example! Not possible. There’s always a Cromwell around to stop it and in any case it just couldn’t be done. So, one has to come closer to our present age. Take for example, the last 100 years! The first world war would have seemed to some to threaten the life of everyone on earth. But again, not possible. There was no viable procedure. The second world war was much the same, apart from one factor! And that was the dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and upon Nagasaki, in Japan. We then entered an age within which it had now become possible, with development, to destroy all life on earth. The atomic bombs became hydrogen bombs, and an arms race began and so today Russia and America between them have around 20,000 hydrogen bombs. Britain and France also have a stock, although not so many in actual numbers. But then, in addition, a small number of “peace-loving” nations such as North Korea and Pakistan have a few each. To which must be added those held by India and Israel and now probably Iran. But it is only necessary, so it has been estimated, to set off a total of 100 at the one time to start the nuclear winter. This could, conceivably eradicate all life from earth. Could some sort of chain reaction be developed that could vaporize the planet! We’re probably in comic book territory now! I haven’t otherwise heard this as even a wild theory. What other possibilities exist? There are the weather conditions that could be as a result of Man’s activities. Conditions of which we are already becoming aware. Conditions that if continued would see the eradication of all life on earth. Drought is one such possibility. This is already becoming extensive to varying degrees and it wouldn’t take much for it to be so widespread as to cause wars between nations over food supplies and over the supply of water. The melting of ice in the Himalayas is already prejudicing the supply of water to southern China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India with the River Ganges being reduced in its flow. Drought continues to become a problem to the whole of the northern part of Africa, to most of Australia and to large parts of the United States. It is also raising its head in Spain with the Sahara crossing the Mediterranean from Africa. Water is now having to be imported in a number of areas. The ending of all life on earth is now a strong possibility. To add to what is already possible we have to consider disease epidemics. Some 2 or 3 years ago swine flu shot around the world having been generated in Mexico. Suppose that had been a highly infectious, virulent, and aggressive disease such as has been known before! Jesus Christ was not joking. He knew what he was talking about when he spoke of a situation that could see the ending of all life on earth. I quoted the verse in Matthew a moment ago. A hundred years ago it was not possible. Today, it most certainly is! We need to take warning from the clear scriptures together what we see happening in the world today. Everything the bible speaks of has come about or is now well possible. A hundred years ago, as I mentioned a moment ago, it would not have been possible. As we enter into the new year of two thousand and twelve, we should realize that we have got a lot closer to the imminent destruction of the planet’s environment and to the ending of all life on earth. Violence does fill the earth! The bible does speak of wars and rumors of war – nation continues to arise against nation. There are famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Evil and iniquity does abound! We cannot say these things are not happening! They are in fact a reality! It also speaks of false prophets deceiving many. This happens constantly and people are lulled into a religious torpor! They are deceived into believing false doctrines and so, as the bible says, many are deceived. We have just had a classic example of this with Christmas! Christmas warns no one of anything – it simply acts to soothe people instead of waking them up. |
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