January 23, 2009
Hey everyone! -- First, I would like to thank those of you who are responding to this site. It's great to hear your comments and concerns. It helps me know what to focus on and what needs to be addressed. 
Just a quick note -- I've finally retired from my employment in the secular world and can now focus my full energy on what's most important, and that is God's work. In fact, soon we will be launching a full-blown website complete with teachings on many areas of scripture. Hopefully, you will find it thought-provoking and worthwhile and will tell your friends and neighbors about it. The ultimate goal of Light in the Darkness is to inform you of how our time we live in relates to scripture and also to remove the fear that exists in many people today. -- With God's blessing and assistance, we can accomplish all things intended for each of us. Please pray for God's will to prevail.
That said, there are two questions/concerns that I want to address this week ---The first is on President Obama. Several have wondered if he might be the Anti-Christ. My opinion is absolutely no, mainly because he doesn't live and 'rule' in the right place and he's not from the right area. Remember, the Bible specifically points out that the Anti-Christ will come from the revived Roman Empire. Obama's ancestry isn't that (at least we don't think so). -- I do, however, see similarities in how it will be when the evil ruler emerges. It's fascinating to see how quickly people have accepted Obama without really knowing who he is. -- And to watch them when he speaks borders on scary -- it's like they are in total submission to his every word. -- In times of chaos and fear, this is how the masses will respond. We are in that kind of time and are seeing first-hand how it will be. ---Frightening!
The second is how America fits into prophecy in these final days. - No one can explain to any degree of satisfaction why America isn't mentioned by name in the Bible. There are many speculations and postulations, but none that I've seen have any Biblical support.
One such speculation was e-mailed to me a couple of days ago, saying that Russian academic Igor Panarin has been predicting the U.S. will fall apart in 2010. Supposedly, he's been saying this for some ten years and in the beginning no one listened, but all are listening now.
He based his forecast on classified data (being an ex-KGB guy) and predicts economic, financial, and demographic trends will provoke a political and social crisis in the U.S. -- He goes on to say that when the going gets tough, wealthier states will withhold funds from the federal government and effectively secede from the Union. Social unrest and civil war will follow.
He concludes that the U.S. will break into six pieces with Alaska reverting to Russian control. Also, the "California Republic" will be controlled by China. Texas will be the heart of "The Texas Republic", a cluster of states that will go to Mexico. Washington D.C. and New York will be part of an "Atlantic America" and will join the European Union. Canada will grab a group of Northern states which will be called "The North American Republic". Then Hawaii will become a protectorate of Japan or China.
Far-fetched? Most likely, but it's interesting to read all these different scenarios. -- What's unnerving is that because of the condition of our country, all these speculations and postulations come forth as possibilities, at least in some form.
I've talked and written a lot about America's role in these last-days prophesies, the general position being that she will decline in power because of the ongoing and rapidly increasing moral decay of its society as well as the rapidly declining strength of its economy on the global market. -- The recent election results (2006 and 2008) and current leadership certainly strengthens the possibility of this outcome.
Let's look for a moment at one possible "legitimate' scenario for America's role in these times. -- Modern Israel is living proof that America was established for God's great purposes. She helped bring Israel to birth on May 14, 1948, then acted as a protector of the Jewish state while she learned how to stand on her feet, as prophesied in Ezekiel 37.
Also, I believe God established America as a means to preach the gospel message to the whole world.
America is living testimony to the absolute truth of God's faithfulness to fulfill His prophetic word. America is the most materially and spiritually blessed nation ever to exist. God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 is 100% validated. 
"I will bless those who bless thee, and curse those who curse thee."
America then, so key to bringing fulfillment of end-time prophesy into focus in human, earthly terms by helping put Israel at stage center on the global scene, at present is now key to setting in motion the time of tribulation -- the last seven years of human history preceding Christ's triumphant return.
The "roadmap to peace", the brain-child of geo-political strategists in America and the E.U, is pushing toward the predecessor to what God calls "The covenant made with death and hell". (Isaiah 28:14-18)
The "roadmap to peace" has meta-morphed into a process that now demands that Israel give up not only land she has won with each succeeding attack from her enemies, but that Israel divide Jerusalem, allowing a new Palestinian state, and when instituted, to make Eastern Jerusalem its capital. -- This action will not set well with Almighty God.
As a result, God's prophetic storm of forewarning of wrath to come is blowing across this nation. Wrath and judgement could be just around the corner.
Jesus Christ is the only shelter to be found from the coming time of unprecedented turbulence upon planet Earth. -- The Lord promises those who accept His offer of salvation to be removed from that horrendous time. (Revelation 3:10) -- He also said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
Until next time,
Red