Nations In Distress - Roaring Seas

Study: Rising sea levels could displace 300M people by 2050
UPI reports: "Rising sea levels could displace hundreds of millions of people before the end of this century, according to a new study. [...] If these new calculations prove true, 340 million people could be displaced by 2050 and 630 million could lose their homes by the end of this century, which is three times previous estimates."

Comment:  There's no doubt that island nations and countries with large coastal cities will be severely challenged in the next few decades as sea levels rise and coastal storms become more frequent and severe. I know there is large overlap between the Bible prophecy community and the modern conservative community and we know that many modern conservatives have doubts about global warming. The effort to manipulate public opinion to the view that global warming is a hoax and an ideological conspiracy has been well documented here (and here). So, it is my hope that those in the BP community will see that global warming fits within our expectations for near-future events and is solidly based on Bible prophecy. When countries all over the world are in distress because of rising seas and coastal flooding I will count it as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, regardless of how pundits frame the debate about global warming.

Rumors of War - King of the North

Russia preparing new ballistic missiles -- including 'Satan-2'
UPI reports: "The Russian military is actively preparing and testing ballistic missiles in an effort to modernize its weapons arsenal -- including one that was fired for the first time Wednesday. [...] Russia is also planning at least five tests next year for its new liquid-fueled Sarmat, or Satan-2, nuclear missile -- which is equipped with multiple hypersonic warheads to evade defense systems."

Comment: The U.S. and Russia together account for most of the nuclear weapons in the world. Sure, other countries have them, but they might have a few hundred nuclear weapons. The superpowers have thousands. More than enough to wipe out all life on Earth many times over.  So, do they need more? Probably not, but they are getting more. This report offers details on the new weapons systems that Russia is fielding as they continue the nuclear arms race many thought ended with the Cold War.

Earthquakes

Strong quake jolts southern Philippines, 6 dead, scores hurt
The AP reports: "A powerful earthquake shook the southern Philippines on Tuesday, triggering landslides and loosening boulders that killed six people and injured more than 100 others in a region already damaged by a strong quake two weeks earlier, officials said. [...] The Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990."

Comment: Always worrisome when the "Ring of Fire" starts to act up.

Wars & Rumors of War

Trump says US forces cornered IS leader in dead-end tunnel
The AP reports: "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , the shadowy leader of the Islamic State group who presided over its global jihad and became arguably the world’s most wanted man, died after U.S. special operators cornered him during a raid in Syria, President Donald Trump said Sunday. [...] The death of al-Baghdadi was a milestone in the fight against IS, which brutalized swaths of Syria and Iraq and sought to direct a global campaign from a self-declared “caliphate.” A yearslong campaign by American and allied forces led to the recapture of the group’s territorial holding, but its violent ideology has continued to inspire attacks."

Comment: This is a significant victory in the battle against Islamic terrorism. 

Nations In Distress

AP - From Beirut to Hong Kong, protests evoke global frustration
The AP reports: "Recent weeks have seen mass protests and clashes erupt in far-flung places triggered by seemingly minor actions that each came to be seen as the final straw. The demonstrations are fueled by local grievances, but reflect worldwide frustration at growing inequality, corrupt elites and broken promises. Where past waves of protests, like the 2011 Arab Spring or the rallies that accelerated the breakup of the Soviet Union, took aim at dictatorships, the latest demonstrations are rattling elected governments. The unrest on three continents, coupled with the toxic dysfunction in Washington and London, raises fresh concerns over whether the liberal international order, with free elections and free markets, can still deliver on its promises."

Comment: If we had not been paying attention, this would be surprising.  Breaking News: Civil unrest sweeps the globe!! Of course, we have all been paying attention and we know that things have been on a slow boil in many parts of the world for some time. From Asia and the Middle East to South America long suppressed frustrations are surfacing and resulting in mass protests in the streets of capital cities and running street battles with authorities. This above news report from the AP gives a good summary of the places and causes of protests sweeping the globe. Is the world getting ready to embrace a global peacemaker?

Gog Alliance

Turkey, Russia agree to terror-free zone in Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Ankara and Moscow have reached a "historic" deal to create a terror-free zone in northern Syria, the Turkish government said Tuesday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the deal after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's coastal city of Sochi to go over Turkey's Operation Peace Spring, state-Run Anadolu reported."

Comment: It appears that Russia and Turkey have agreed on how best to carve up Syria. The pieces are in place for Ezekiel's first battle of Gog & Magog. Most impressive. Where is the U.S. in all of this?

Earthquakes

Five dead, dozens injured after strong earthquake rocks Philippines - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The death toll climbed to five Thursday after a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Philippines, damaging buildings and threatening landslides, officials. [...] At least 27 people were injured and 5 were killed by the earthquake, including a 5-year-old boy who died when his house collapsed on top of him in Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur, said Anthony Allada of the local government public information office."

Comment: This would appear to be a standard quake on the "ring of fire" and it has me wondering if there will soon be a ripple around the ring? 

Rumors of War - Doomed Damascus

VP Mike Pence: Turkey agrees to cease-fire in Syria, future 'safe zone' - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. officials said Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to stop his offensive in Syria, signaling an end to a military campaign that has so far killed dozens of Kurdish fighters and drawn international condemnation."

Comment: This is good news for a change. I'm wondering if Turkish troops will withdraw from Syria or will they stay to monitor the new "safe zone" and thus carve out a chunk of Syria as a permanent Turkish colony?

Rumors of War - Doomed Damascus

United States imposes sanctions on Turkey; Erdogan calls for NATO help in Syria
UPI reports: "U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new sanctions against Turkish officials for their role in the country's military operation in Syria. [...] Nations in the European Union agreed Monday to halt exporting weapons to Turkey, saying they undermine stability and security in the region and hinders the Syrian peace process."

Comment: I'm not sure what to make of this. Trump withdrew to allow an Turkish invasion and now seems angry that the invasion happened? He has zero credibility and his leverage looks like sour grapes.

Roaring Waves

At least 56 dead, several missing in Japan after Typhoon Hagibis - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Record-breaking rainfall, strong winds and severe flooding struck central to northern Japan on Saturday, as Hagibis made landfall on Shizuoka Prefecture's Izu Peninsula. Nagano, Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures were inundated by floodwaters after levees failed."

Comment: At some point it no longer matters if global warming is man-made or natural, it's real, it's happening, and we can see that coastal damage is increasing as storms increase in frequency and severity. 

Wickedness Increases

At least 2 dead in shooting attack near German synagogue - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A gunman shot at least two people dead near a synagogue in eastern Germany on Wednesday, authorities said. [...] Authorities later said they had arrested one suspect, but warned there could be others. The attack occurred in Halle's Humboldstrasse, which houses a Jewish cemetery and synagogue. The attack coincided with Yom Kippur, a religious festival during which members of the Jewish faith fast and pray."

Comment: Anti-Semitism is rising in Europe and I don't think laws will stop it because it's a spiritual malady and must be addressed with spiritual remedies.

Rumors of War - Gog Alliance

Turkey launches air, land operations against Kurds in Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Turkey launched air and land operations against Kurdish forces in northern Syria on Wednesday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said. On Wednesday afternoon, Turkey's Ministry of Defense announced the Turkish Armed Forces and the Syrian National Army launched a land operation east of the Euphrates River as part of the military operation."

Comment: I wonder if this is the start of a small incursion or a full-fledged invasion of northern Syria? the presence of Russia, Iranian and Turkish forces just across the border must be very disconcerting for Israel.

Gog Alliance

President Donald Trump draws backlash for move to withdraw U.S. troops in northern Syria
UPI reports: "In a highly controversial move, the White House has said it will remove U.S troops from northern Syria ahead of a Turkey military advance to expel Kurdish forces from the region."

Comment: If Trump draws down U.S. forces in the Middle East, who does that help? It does not help Israel. It helps Russia and Iran, who don't appear to be leaving Syria anytime soon. And now it helps the Turks, who are happy to help carve up Syria and get their piece of the pie. It's an odd situation. Plus, he is supposed to be a great negotiator, but I'm not sure what kind of deal this was in those terms. What did the U.S. get for betraying the Kurds? In prophetic terms, it looks to me that this betrayal has done something very important regarding Ezekiel 38:2-9.

I do think that even if this move in Turkey is ill-advised for U.S. interests, it can also be prophetically important in setting the stage for the strong alliance unfolding between Russia, Iran and Turkey. It's possible that this move will cause Turkey to have increased tension with Russia (because Russia backs Assad and Turkey does not), so we will have to watch out for that. In light of Bible prophecy, I suspect we will see this work out somehow to mean increased cooperation between Russia, Turkey and Iran and that the Turkish invasion of northern Syria will go well for them.

Wickedness Increases

Civilian employee kills 4 in knife attack at Paris police HQ
The AP reports: "A civilian employee raged through Paris police headquarters with a knife Thursday, stabbing four police colleagues to death before he was shot and killed, French authorities said. The man, a technology administrator in the police intelligence unit, launched the attack in his office then moved to other parts of the large 19th century building across the street from Notre Dame Cathedral. Three of the people he killed were police officers, the fourth an administrator, the Paris prosecutor said."

Comment: Another workplace incident in which people are forced to confront that harsh reality that we are not really safe anywhere anymore. Perilous times indeed. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China's 70-year parade shows global ambition as HK protests
The AP reports: "Trucks carrying nuclear missiles designed to evade U.S. defenses, a supersonic attack drone and other products of a two-decade-old weapons development effort rolled through Beijing as soldiers marched past President Xi Jinping and other leaders on Tiananmen Square. [...] The display highlighted Beijing’s ambition for strategic influence to match its status as the second-largest global economy [...] Those strategic goals include displacing the United States as the Pacific region’s dominant power and enforcing potentially volatile claims to Taiwan, the South China Sea and other disputed territories."

Comment: I believe that it is China's aim to force the United States and Western powers to confront a terrible choice:  defend Taiwan and Hong Kong and risk nuclear war or capitulate to Chinese hegemony over Asia.