Common Threads?: Concerning the Coming World Messiah

Today while scanning news I noticed yet another article concerning a coming world leader, who will seek to unite people both politically and religiously, brining peace to the entire world. In this case, it was Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Here is a short bit of the article:

“Iran clerics rebuke Ahmadinejad over ‘hidden imam’”

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080507094625.zy32hvir&show_article=1

“Clerics have told President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stick to more worldly issues after he was quoted as saying the “hidden imam” of Shiite Islam was directing Iran. Ahmadinejad has always been a devotee of the Mahdi, the twelfth imam of Shiite Islam, who Shiites believe disappeared more than a thousand years ago and who will return one day to usher in a new era of peace and harmony.

But in a speech to theology students broadcast by state television on Monday, Ahmadinejad went further than ever before in emphasising his belief that the Mahdi is playing a critical role in Iran’s day-to-day politics.

“The Imam Mahdi is in charge of the world and we see his hand directing all the affairs of the country,” he said in the speech, which appears to date from last month but has only now been broadcast.”

What makes this so interesting? Well, for a Believer who keeps track of current events and popular teachings of many world religions this type of information may ring a bell. No?

Well, maybe this will help. Ever heard of ‘Christian’, ‘Evangelical’ leaders call for international policies which align with eschatological, or end time events…looking for Jesus to ‘come back’ and bring ‘peace’? (Still not quite sure what I am getting at? Well…)

How about this one: A Jewish scholar once talked with our class. After I asked a question regarding traditional types of Jewish understanding regarding ‘end times’ events, he responded that many are looking for 2 ‘big, Messiah-type figures’ to come onto the scene to help save Israel: A great political leader to bring physical peace, and a great religious leader to bring revival back to Israel.

(Have you guessed it by now?) What am I trying to get at? Well, do we know Scripture so well that we can tell the difference between a fake and the real thing? Reading from Mark 13 (note:emphasis mine):

“ 14“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’^[a]standing where it^[b] does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ^[c]!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”

Do we see the groundwork being laid for a fantastic lie…that may even fool ‘Christians’ into following another Messiah? Are we following the clues given by Jesus to give us hope…and guide us through the future? Or is it simply for scholars, debaters, or people who like to show off their linguistic prowess? Aren’t putting events and social trends into the framework of scripture what we are all supposed to do?

What do you think?

Growing Bureaucracy Jobs Answer to Loss of Private Sector Employment?

For the past few years experts and pundits on stations such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox News have heralded our strong economy. Indeed, many denied news headlines regarding job losses, the international dollar decline, or even changes in the way economic statistics and trends have been handled…Problems? “No”, we were told: “Things have never been better! Now go out and spend, spend, spend!”

I can still remember listening to my college economics professor discuss what it meant to live in a properly ‘industrialized’ civilization. We were told that instead of people working in industrial jobs such as manufacturing, more and more of the population would move into service jobs, such as food services, consultation firms, or the like.

Well, look back on this past week’s newspapers or news. How many articles did you see concerning manufacturing jobs lost to other countries? Then ask yourself: What affect, both immediate and future, does that have upon our country. Is the ability to manufacture goods in-country a benefit, or detriment?

Then consider your job situation. Talk to recent college graduates, and look at recent grad statistics. Go beyond that, and even include people who have not completed or have chosen not to go to college. What is happening to our new job force? Has it been financially advantageous to attend higher learning on average? Where are most of the job openings, for both high school and college graduates? Are they generally the same….or different? What type of future outlook do their careers seem to project?

Now consider a recent article from USAToday, entitled: “Hiring leaps in public sector”. Here is the first part of it:

“Hiring leaps in public sector”

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080430/1a_lede30_dom.art.htm?

By Dennis Cauchon
USA TODAY

“Federal, state and local governments are hiring new workers at the fastest pace in six years, helping offset job losses in the private sector.

Governments added 76,800 jobs in the first three months of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

That’s the biggest jump in first-quarter hiring since a boom in 2002 that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks. By contrast, private companies collectively shed 286,000 workers in the first three months of 2008. That job loss has led many economists to declare the country is in a recession.

Job numbers for April, out Friday, will show if the trend is continuing. Some economists say a government hiring binge could soften a recession in the short term.

“Government jobs are an important cushion for the economy when the private sector falters,” says North Carolina State University economist Michael Walden.”

Take a second and read through the rest of the article. What is it suggesting? Just what is it these economists are saying?

Think about this: if we reach a point where the main job growth sector….where the main sector for bright future advancement in employment are ‘public sector’, or government jobs, then a couple of questions you may be asking yourself include: “What kind of work will everyone be doing?” And furthermore…”Who is going to be paying all of these salaries?”

What does this say about our country when it appears to become increasingly accepted that the majority of our public work in some sort of government job? Is that a good thing, or a bad thing…or perhaps neither? Does that say anything about us as a people, or the thoughts, ideas or philosophies we espouse?

I ask these things because many people have talked to me about what they consider the lack of US dominating presence in prophecy. Many ask: “How can such a dominant international country with the world’s standard currency (the American dollar)…How can a country who has remained such an innovator in the private sector…How can a country who culturally has had such an indelible impact on the nations of the world….How could such a country not play a very clear and integral part in prophecy?

To sum it up… I do not believe that we can take the US potentially out of prophecy. Are the prophetic nations in scripture named? Some, but not all. As for the ‘integral’, or ‘large’ role that some would seem to seek in prophecy….Unless I am missing something, it is at least not mentioned specifically. Again, God has given us a general picture, and while we can try to use that picture to point out the flow of events to ourselves and others, there are many things that will not appear as clear until perhaps more major parts of prophecy start to fall into place.

However, one could very well ask: What kinds of influences will we have with so many in public sector jobs? What kinds of impact upon ourselves or others will that have? Is that historically the philosophy behind our successful government and private industries, or not? And, for example, if our country was built upon solid private sector work and flourished….Could one make the case that our downswing in economic terms could be at least partially attributed to how we have organized ourselves now?

Does this have potential prophetic impact…or not?

What do you think?