Bible In The News

Every week, by God's good grace, we spend time on the 'Bible in the News', to consider the latest international news stories in the light of Bible prophecy. This week we stop to consider the reasons and benefits for doing so. This is Matt Davies joining you.

This week in Israel a small community near Bethel, called Givat Assaf (Asaph's Hill), was removed due to a ruling by the supreme court. This was based on a claim that the land was owned by Palestinian Arabs. On a trip to Israel a few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Givat Assaf, hearing the story behind the community and meeting some of the residents. This incident, although small, highlights a very real struggle for the character and soul of the nation of Israel. Welcome to Bible in the News, this is David Billington.

For this Bible in the News we take a look at the role of Turkey in Bible prophecy and how this relates to current events. This is Matt Davies joining you.

The crisis in Ukraine is demonstrating the inability of NATO to stand up to Russia, and highlights America's growing impotency. At the same time indications are being seen of a burgeoning relationship between the Vatican and Russia as it cautiously unites against a common foe - America.

Russia has been keeping the news rooms of the world busy over the last few months and this week is certainly no different with the situation continuing to get hotter. The Economist front cover from April sums up the Russia the world is dealing with very well with one word “Insatiable.”

This week there has been more movements in the Crisis between Russia and Europe, over the disputed areas of Eastern Ukraine. The crisis is not over as Russia moves to gradually take up the position, that the God of Israel has determined her to be in before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Matt Davies joining you.

Russia is making moves that strongly suggest that the bear is prepared to devour another piece of Ukraine. The idea of a new Palestinian state is going nowhere. U.S. Iran tensions are returning, The Economist suggests that America could Abandon Israel. Keep listening as we consider some of the many events taking place this week, that are related to Bible prophecy!

Russia has started threatening the use of the energy weapon once again. Turkey is involved in a Trans-Anatolian Pipeline project which will eventually bring gas to Europe, and Turkey into Russia's sights. Israel is also discussing a pipeline to Turkey to join in the venture.

Since the end of World War 2, major world powers have not truly clashed apart from cold wars and proxy wars. With so many years past since World War 2 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, many have been lulled into thinking that the days of “empire building” are over. Certainly the West has lost its appetite for conflict and many did not see this coming. It was in a debate leading up to the 2012 US Presidential Election that Barack Obama mocked at Mitt Romney for saying that Russia was the biggest threat to world peace. How foolish that sounds now.

"Members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma, citizens of Russia, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, today, in accordance with the people’s will, I submit to the Federal Assembly a request to consider a Constitutional Law on the creation of two new constituent entities within the Russian Federation: the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and to ratify the treaty on admitting to the Russian Federation Crimea and Sevastopol, which is already ready for signing. I stand assured of your support." The events we have been watching closely in recent editions of Bible in the News reach a dramatic climax as Russia annexes Crimea and sets the precedent for future activities which will see Russia fulfill its role mapped out in Bible prophecy. This is Matt Davies joining you amongst momentous times.

When Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon had a dream of a great metallic image, he was so troubled that he threatened to have all of his magicians dissected if they were unable to reveal his dream and its interpretation. The prophet Daniel, however, revealed that the dream signified “what shall be in the latter days” (Dan 2v28).

The Headline on CNN reads: "U.S. condemns Russia's 'invasion and occupation". Headline news on The Guardian newspaper website today "Ukraine PM Warns of War as Russian Military Seizes Control on Crimea". Another article on The Guardian website by Orlando Figes notes: "The signs are ominous: Crimea's parliament has been stormed by pro-Russian gunmen; its airports seized by soldiers in Russian uniforms; and Russian military trucks and helicopters are on the move. It looks like we are heading for a new Crimean war." The area of the Crimean peninsular is strategically, culturally and historically tied to Russia. The Guardian article continues: "Crimea is vitally important to the Russians. According to medieval chronicles, it was in Khersonesos – the ancient Greek colonial city on the south-western coast of Crimea, just outside Sevastopol – that Vladimir, the Grand Prince of Kiev, was baptised in 988, thereby bringing Christianity to Kievan Rus', the kingdom from which Russia derives its religious and national id

This week the heir to the British throne His Royal Highness Prince Charles, has been making a four day tour to The gulf to visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar exposing the deepening ties between great Britain and the Gulf states as we would expect from Bible Prophecy.

You may have been thinking that Bible in the News could have been on the Olympic Hockey game that took place today between the King of the North or Russia and the King of the South! However, this week we are going to consider events in Jordan and their relation to Bible prophecy. Welcome to Bible in the News, this is David Billington with you.

Judenrein was a policy of the Nazi government in Germany to make Europe “Cleansed of Jews.” The same policy has been adopted by the Palestinian Authority who would like portions of Israel to be “Jew Free” if they achieve a Palestinian state.

As the world lead by the United States continues to discuss “the peace process” the numbers of Jews in the “West Bank” continues to climb to record numbers. Dave reasoned earlier on this program this month that “it is evident that the current round of talks, on a purely practical basis, cannot go anywhere.” Well apparently the penny may be starting to drop for others.

This week we consider movements in Eastern Europe and the rising confederacy of nations which are being bound together by none other than the power of Russia. This is Matt Davies joining you for another Bible in the News.

As the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, heads to Israel this week-end, the Canadian press is engaging in the controversy of Zion with vigour. The super critical Globe and Mail says that the Canadians will be deluded by the Israelis, and will only see what the Israelis want them to see. But whether the Toronto-based Globe and Mail approves or not, Harper and about 200 delegates are visiting Israel and will make a clear commitment to support the Jewish State.

The 20 year anniversary of the signing of the Oslo peace accords, between Yitzhak Rabin and Yassar Arafat passed last year with little fanfare. There have been Nobel peace prizes, billions of dollars, countless hours of shuttle diplomacy and conferences, that have been put into — and continue to be put into — the "peace process", but in reality the whole fiasco has been a complete disaster. John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State, seems to have made the "peace process" the main goal of his office, making many visits to the region and pushing the sides toward reaching an agreement.

This week Time Magazine declared Pope Francis “Person of the Year.” The criteria for this honour is to be the person who “for better or for worse...has done the most to influence the events of the year.” The book of Revelation describes his influence over the Kings of the Earth.