North Korea – is not what it appears to be – Update 4/11
I’ve been meaning to post about the situation in North Korea for the past several days, and some of you may have gotten e-mails from me while I was researching and refining the ideas I wanted to share. This post won’t be so much about prophecy directly, as it will be some of my observations about politics in the far east and how it might affect the broader landscape across the globe, and especially in the middle east.
In order to follow my post you have to accept one concept – In the world today there are many nations who see the United States as their number one adversary. They say nice things in diplomatic circles and are happy to sell us their exports, and if necessary buy some of our products, but the truth is they’d rejoice if the United States were knocked out of its position of economic and military dominance. This has been happening already, gradually, but I suspect there is a day coming that the US will suffer a crucial blow that will diminish the significance of its economy, and force it off the world stage militarily. There was a time when the US market was too critical to China, Russia and others – now I don’t know if that’s true any more. Also, if the US looks like it’s on its way to recovery, and greater energy independence – I can see how that would appear very threatening to China and Russia if they were seeing dark clouds gather over their own economy and energy exports.
As Pastor Brian commented earlier today, the North Koreans have not been escalating their rhetoric to its current heights these past few weeks without at least tacit acceptance from China and Russia. If either of them wanted to shut down Mr. Kim and his regime they easily could, but I don’t see a good reason they’d want to. Both benefit from the tension that is brought to the region by North Korea – it takes the focus off of them and anything they might be doing to expand their influence over the Pacific theater.
These past two weeks I’ve seen everyone from the US government and media (which don’t seem to be separate organisms any more, sadly) attempting to downplay the threat of North Korea. They focus on how backward and poor the nation has become, and how his missiles couldn’t possibly have the range to deliver a nuclear warhead from North Korea (NK) to the US mainland. My opinion is that they have greatly underestimated NK’s creativity and their desire to hurt the US. In this age of IEDs and guerrilla warfare it’s ridiculous to think that the only way a rogue state could deliver a nuclear weapon is via an ICBM. I’m sure there are people out there working on defending against non-traditional types of attacks (like a mobile missile launch platform concealed on the deck of a cargo ship or large fishing vessel) but it amazes me that universally the risk is being downplayed as slim to nil since their ICBMs don’t have the range. There is a pretty good analysis of the threat here: http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=node/1032
I agree with Pastor Brian as well. There are many in the world that would prefer to see the US become less and less involved in Middle East affairs. They may think the problem would have been solved many times over if not for the US meddling in the region and supporting Israel against the Palestinians and her neighbors. They do not realize that when the US stops being involved in the region – that the maker of the universe Himself will come to Israel’s aid and destroy those who would wish to destroy her. Back to the other players – this situation in the middle east and probably others are sufficient to inspire powerful nations to at the very least not hinder, and possibly provide aid to the psychotic ambitions of NK.
All of the analysts I’ve heard also seem to count on North Korea realizing it would be completely obliterated by US response if it attacks. This assumes that Kim Jong-un cares at all what happens to his people. The interment camps and rampant starvation of his people are strong evidence that he only cares about one North Korean – Kim Jong-un. I’m purely speculating here, but if I were another nation who wouldn’t mind seeing the US severely crippled, but didn’t want a war myself, I might secretly send word to Mr. Kim that he would be safe to flee to my country if he attacks the US. I may have no intention of honoring that promise, but if I make it convincingly enough, he might just go and do the awful thing that will destroy his nation, cripple the US and give me a chance to emerge as the next great global power. Another thing to consider, due to the size of North Korea and its proximity to Russia, China, South Korea and Japan it’s not like the US could unleash a punishing nuclear response to any attack – because the fallout would be carried on the winds to either Japan or China depending on the season (this time of year I think the winds would carry it directly over Japan). The US could still inflict massive damage on certain parts of NK – but I don’t think it given the terrain it would be as easy to destroy as Iraq’s military was, and I honestly don’t think the leadership there cares. There has been speculation in the news as well that preparations are being made for the fall of the NK govt from within. This further underlines my suspicion that the leaders there like Mr. Kim are aware of this and may see it as their last chance to strike out at those they see as their mortal enemies – who they blame for destroying their country. If they are about to fall anyway – why not poke the US in the eye as hard as they can, and then run away.
I suppose I should make one last speculation. How does this relate to prophecy? I am not really sure, but many of the studies I’ve done and works I’ve read on end-times prophecy indicate that the US is not directly referred to at all. I know some may debate this, but I really have yet to see anyone make a clear, convincing case based on a very plain reading of scripture that the US is at all a leader or a key play in the last days. Is this one of those things that begins to push this country off the world stage? I don’t know, I just know that this is a far more dangerous time than people that run our government and mass media want us to believe.
On a personal note, I have a step-daughter who is currently living about 30 miles northwest of Washington DC – which is one of the primary targets in a first strike scenario. Thankfully that puts her upwind of the city, but if this continues to deteriorate please keep her in your prayers.
Update 4/10/2013
Read this article at Extinction Protocol.
He outlines why and how this crisis is different than other blusters from North Korea in the past – how Kim Jong Un hasn’t left himself and out, and how Obama foreign policy is further exacerbating the situation.
Update 4/11/2013
It’s now 1 day past when North Korea had indicated they may attack. There are reports that they’ve readied a missile along their east coat -I personally think that it’s a distraction from what they are really doing. It’s kind of like the magician doing the card trick – he makes the big flourish at the deck or item you’ve chosen with one hand while his other hand is quietly positioning your card or planting one up his sleeve. Also the most important news story in my opinion, that no one picked up – Iran has vowed to defend North Korea if they come under attack.
Iranian Military Chief Vows to Defend North Korea from US
As indicated yesterday – in the normal sense their strategy makes no sense at all, and backs him into a corner. I think that is by design, I am guessing Kim will continue to bluster and make grandiose, aggressive claims, and appear more and like his forces are about to attack – until someone blinks and launches a pre-emptive attack to stop them, and only then do he and any of his allies launch their real attack that is intended as a single crippling blow to the US. At that point he and his allies, whoever they may end up being can run to China and Russian claiming self-defense in order to blunt the response from the US. These are all just educated guesses on my part – but I’m with Brian and others that believe there is a lot more going on here, and a lot more that has been orchestrated than is being talked about by the media.
Turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness?
This courtship has taught me more about Christ than ANY other sermon , Pastor or teaching in my walk with the Lord and am blessed for the understanding it has taught me.Is this not what the Lord meant by us being known by the love we have for one another?
Deception on Cable, Calling Itself “The Bible”
I have to start this post with an admission – I have not seen any of the History Channel mini-series entitled, “The Bible”. We don’t have cable or satellite television in our house and it hasn’t been made available on the streaming providers we do subscribe to.
Many might be thinking – “This guy hasn’t watched any of this, what right does he have to criticize ” I guess that would be a valid criticism, but with theological advisers like Joel Osteen (a flat-out heretic), TD Jakes (a modalist who denies the doctrine of the trinity), and Rick Warren (another heretic who’s invented his own “purpose-driven” religion he cloaks in language that sounds like christianity) I can hardly imagine how they could produce a biblically sound dramatization of the scriptures.
In lieu of my own review- which I am obviously unqualified to give, I highly recommend you read the review below which appears to be very thorough and entirely biblical in its approach.
SOMETHING HUGE IS MISSING FROM THE LAST SUPPER!
I think I might have messed up this link. The above article is mostly a repost of this article here:
History Channel’s ‘The Bible’ exalts man over God
Something to ponder
I found this gem of truth written by gospel singer Don Francisco on Facebook. I just had to share:
Did you know that you don’t have a covenant with God? You don’t and that is a good thing… You couldn’t keep your end of it to safe your life! The New Covenant is between the Father and Jesus. You and I are now in Him, but He is the one that upholds the human end of it. Your inclusion and all of the promises and benefits of it, are a gift of love… All you need to do is rest in it.
Isn’t the Gospel wonderful? Don’t we serve an awesome God?
A prototype for the Mark
“This will help us, the medical experts, to keep you healthy” they said
“This will help us, the bankers, to keep your financial transactions secure” they said.
“This will help us, the government, to prevent fraud and provide better security against terrorists and subversives” they said.
They will tell the world that this device will solve the problems that plague the modern world, and you can place your trust in them. Place your trust in them, in him, and not God and you will have taken the mark of the beast.
It’s coming – the attached articles says it’s a prototype that will be implanted in humans within four years. I’m guessing they’ll have it ready a lot sooner than that when the crises of health, financial security and global war come.
Device Under Skin Tells Doc You’re OK (or Not)
More Speculation about Kittim
Last summer I posted: Speculation about Kittim
Now we fast forward about 9 months – and we see that Cyprus (biblical Kittim) remains in dire financial straits because of its entanglement with Greek bonds and financial instruments that have gone south and taken their equity with it.
As it troubled me before – if the Antichrist is from the EU and Daniel 11:30 is a prophecy about events yet future, which I think it is – but more on that in another post, how does Kittim send ships that cause the the AC to turn back when they are still a part of the EU?
My opinion is that they soon won’t be part of the EU any more. I spent a good part of my life in technology sales. Why is that relevant? Well sometimes in the course of managing customer relationships you happen upon some that are unprofitable, or more trouble than they are worth. When that happens and there is a new business opportunity on the table, or a contract is up to be renewed – I’ve seen it happen many times that my management would require a huge price increase or some other contractual provision or requirement that would make a future relationship with that customer at least very unlikely, if not impossible. I think the same thing is happening here between the EU and Cyprus. Like in business, it would be very hard for the EU to just throw up its hands and walk away from a member. It could however, present a set of requirements so odious that to embrace them would be political suicide for all involved. That is exactly what I think the EU has done here – and done it masterfully I might add. The banking bail-out was going to be another huge cost to the EU – one the more wealthy nations (especially Germany) don’t wish to bear. Cypriot banks are also home to large deposits by Russian elites – so essentially the EU was going to paying to ensure the continued financial well-being of many Russian organized crime figures and oligarchs. No one wanted to do that with out extracting some painful pound of flesh for their trouble – and I think at the highest levels, Cyprus is increasingly being seen as more trouble than it’s worth. I also think the EU was looking increasingly with suspicion at the amount of funding Cyprus was also taking from the Russians.
My guess then is that in the next two days we are very likely to see the Parliament in Cyprus reject the bail-out offer in order to look like heroes to their people, and soon after begin the process to leave the EU. They need a bail-out for their banks and I am certain the Russians will be more than willing to provide it – but not as long as they have to deal with encroaching EU regulations and audits over the banking they are trying to do in the Mediterranean.
With the deteriorating situation in Syria, and the increasing likelihood that instability will continue for some time I believe the Russian Military is also assessing it options for being able to project naval power into the region. Today, the only naval base the Russians have on the Mediterranean, is in Syria. It would be very convenient if in exchange for a very generous banking bail-out package Cyprus were required to agree to closer strategic ties with Russia, and perhaps access to her ports.
I won’t be able to spend much time on it here – but I mentioned that the offer from the EU was masterful, because it will accomplish their goal of getting rid of Cyprus while saving face and still looking like they value all member states equally. It also accomplished something else. It is setting a precedent for the coming Antichrist run monetary system – “all your money belongs to us, and we can take it back whenever we choose” – a future monetary system that will be about total control and culminate in requiring a physical pledge of loyalty to the beast (most likely in the name of more secure financial transactions among increasingly sophisticated cyber-criminals and counterfeiters).
Update 3/19: Apparently for Cypriot MP’s, voting for the EU bailout and resulting tax on depositors could not only be political suicide, but actual literal suicide due to the number of Russian Mafia who put their money there: Gartman Warns Cyprus: One Does Not Steal Russian Mafia Money And Get Away With It
Update 3/30 Israel began pumping Natural Gas from the Tamar find in the Eastern Mediterranean – part of a oil/gas field that crosses over into Cyprus’ territorial waters, and that large international natural gas players like Russia Gazprom are very interested in tapping into. It’s so fascinating that one portion of the find is called Leviathan. Hinting at the hook that will draw the nations into their plan to destroy Israel and plunder her wealth perhaps?
Netanyahu hails ‘historic day’ as Israel starts pumping gas from major offshore find
The Roman “Church” Selects a New Leader
As a man who was born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church, I presume I should share some of my reflections on a day when talk of the happenings in Rome will be the norm. I’ve been talking about my past in the Catholic church quite a bit lately and it breaks my heart that some of it brought out some of the worst in people I thought were otherwise kind thoughtful, and possibly even among the redeemed.
Today Rome selected for itself a new infallible ruler. I pointed someone who was excited about this to 1 Samuel 8 where we see God’s own reaction to the people of Israel demanding a king – and the subsequent warning from his prophet. I caution anyone about putting any mere man, no matter who pious and godly he seems in the place of infallible mouthpiece for the God of the Universe. There was one man, not a mere man who was perfectly that – and his name is Jesus Christ.
Today Rome selects what to many was a surprise candidate- Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal of Buenos Aires to be it’s own appointed “successor to Peter”. I scratch my head when I think of some group of men, even apostles thinking they can appoint a man to be an Apostle of Christ, or a successor to an Apostle. Reading Acts 1:12-26 where the remaining 11 apostles selected Matthias, who by all account was a believer and a good man, never really amounted to anything since he is not heard of again in scripture. We know better, that Jesus himself selected none other than Saul, who became Paul, through whom He gave us the majority of New Testament. Other traditions about Matthias aside, I think just about anyone would have to say Jesus selection for Apostle had a much larger impact for the Glory of God than the one selected by men. An example of this happened again today – men want a man who they can influence, cajole and control, not a man under the control of the Holy Spirit who will speak the truth to them in love.
What of the so-called “prophecy” of “saint” Malachy we’ve been hearing so much about lately? I have to admit it never really set right with me. It had the warning signs of fraud in that it failed to surface or be attested to for centuries after the supposed “prophets” death. It’s fulfillment is also fully in the hands of sinful men that I believe have invited the influence of Satan due to their proud statements and rejection of clear scriptural truth. If was fulfilled clearly and perfectly, I would still be suspicious that it was not completed by the work of a very clever but very evil spirit to distract us from the true prophetic word that comes from God alone via the scriptures. Will anyone claim it was fulfilled? They probably are already – even though he’s from Argentina, he’s the son of an Italian rail worker. They will point loudly and say see! see! see! – he’s “The Roman”. The last time I checked though the name “Peter” was not the name “Francis” in any language so I can hardly wait what convoluted logic they use to make that one fit.
The other possibility with the whole Malachy document – a deception intended to discredit prophecy altogether. So many Christians have asked me what I thought of it. In some ways, even myself, I wanted it to be a true word from God. I long to know that the last pope has taken his throne – since by that I know the rule of my Lord over the whole earth is near. If anything we need to careful about what we affirm as prophecy – and the we are committed to being BOTH wise as serpents and innocent as doves since we are sheep sent out among the wolves.
To all of you who read and post here regularly, I pray that you will resist the schemes of the devil and see through his deceptions. Keep me in your prayers as well, that I would not make any provision for the flesh and do all I can for the glory of God.
Update 3/14 – Thanks to Hisown for forwarding this effort to make the appointment of the new pope fit Malachy’s “prophecy” – and provide a commercial for their own reasonably price book at the same time! http://www.stevequayle.com/index.php?s=33&d=317
Second Update 3/14 I am very troubled that the Catholics would choose a Jesuit though. This Christian research site “The Master’s Table” wrote on the Jesuits and their vigorous promotion of global ecumenism
http://www.masters-table.org/warning/ecumenical.htm
While I still hold the same stand on Malachy – even if it appears with some convoluted logic to be fulfilled I can’t find any reliable evidence that it is a word from the Lord which leads me with just one assumption that is clever counterfeit from the enemy – who we have been warned will perform “false signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
The Diabolical Distraction.
As as very young child I vaguely recall the endless discussions on the ” end of the world” as the Jehovah’s Witnesses prepared their families for the now infamous “1975″ Armageddon prediction.
Wide-eyed childlike innocence told me that this was just not right, I mean a child is very intuitive to things about adults by just observing . The Lord knows how to protect His own and I can testify of that from a very young and tender age. Being so sensitive was God’s covering over me as I would get physically ill at almost every ” meeting” and spent most of my childhood in the JW sick bay. Now I understand why.
Since then I’ve seen prediction’s come and go, from Jim Jones , Hebert Armstrong and the Y2K craze not forgetting the oh so destructive Harold Camping.Has this not been a total set up by the enemy as a form of diabolical distraction? I fear so yes.
Is it Scripture or News Headline?
“Egypt against Egypt;each will fight against his brother and each against his friend,city against city, kingdom against kingdom”
Two People Killed In Egypt After Court Confirms Death Sentence Of Soccer Rioters
Which is it? In case you were wondering the first line is most of Isaiah 19:2
I can’t say for sure that this is fulfillment, since there are other conditions still to be met in that prophecy – but it sure is strange that something that would have been unconscionable just a couple years ago now seems to be the persistent chaos that exists in Egypt.
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