Merry Christmas

I'm off for my holiday break and wanted to wish you all a happy and joyous Christmas. I know that the news we link to here is often grim but I'm sure that most of you who visit this site are Christians who understand that beyond the headlines we know that God is sovereign and always in control. We know that this effort to be watchful has a purpose and a focus, and that focus is on Jesus Christ.

We watch the signs of His return, but this season is all about the First Coming and not the Second Coming, so as we turn to our families and friends to celebrate the holidays we offer thanks and praise to God and above all, celebrate Jesus as the reason for the season. I'd like to leave you with the lyrics to one of my favorite holiday carols. I like this one because the words share the Good News of salvation.  Merry Christmas!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
lyrics by Charles Wesley

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Earthquakes

6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 3 miles to the south-southeast of Magsaysay, Philippines, on Sunday. The earthquake had a depth of 17.5 miles and struck at 12:11 p.m. Multiple aftershocks ranging in magnitudes from 4.8 to 5.7 have been reported in the area, according to the United States Geological Survey. CNN reported three people died."

Comment: The Ring of Fire continues to be very active. 

Pestilence

Samoan government extends state of emergency amid measles outbreak
UPI reports: "The Samoan government announced Saturday that it has extended a state of emergency meant to contain an active measles epidemic that has sickened 5,100 people and killed 72."

Comment: It's a tragedy when people die of an illness that is easily prevented.  If governments find it difficult to get people vaccinated for diseases we have known about for generations, how will they contain new and emerging diseases?

Covenant With Many

U.N. Security Council members rebuke U.S. policy shift on Israeli settlements - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The members of the U.N. Security Council strongly rebuked the United States for its announcement that it will no longer consider Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law. The members of the council Wednesday criticized the shift in U.S. policy as it threatens peace in the region by undermining the two-state solution at a time of recent hostility between Palestine and Israel."

Comment: To me it's a supernatural thing, how often the affairs of this small little country in the Middle East are the focus of the entire international community. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Report: Chinese aircraft carrier could be deployed to 'protect' South China Sea 
UPI reports: "A Chinese aircraft carrier that recently entered the Taiwan Strait could be deployed to guard the South China Sea, Chinese state media said Monday. [...] Global Times said Monday the carrier is likely to be deployed to guard the South China Sea, where the country has been militarizing disputed islands."

Comment: The military progress China has made in just one generation is impressive.  I think they are on the verge of announcing their own Monroe Doctrine and declaring all of the South China Sea to be under their sovereign control. Will the U.S. risk WWIII to challenge that or accede to Chinese demands?

Nations in Distress - Roaring Seas

Venice declares emergency amid historic flood levels - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has declared a national state of emergency after flood levels in Venice reached six feet above sea level, its highest level in more than 50 years. [...] Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed global warming for the rising water levels, which flooded the Veneto regional council chambers on Venice's Grand Canal during a meeting this week - incidentally, just after it rejected a measure to address climate change."

Comment: This is really a preview of what is to come for coastal cities all over the world. I don't think they are ready.

Wickedness Increases

At least 2 dead, 3 injured in shooting at Santa Clarita, Calif., high school
UPI reports: "A 16-year-old student opened fire at a Southern California high school Thursday, killing at least two students and injuring three others, local authorities said. The male suspect was hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Kent Wegener said. Authorities said the shooting happened at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, about 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, shortly before classes began."

Comment: I wonder how many school shootings happened before they took God out of our schools? 

Pestilence

Outbreak of bubonic plague confirmed in China
UPI reports: "A deadly disease that once swept through Europe in the 14th century is being reported in rural north China. [...] Television networks KBS and JTBC reported Wednesday at least two patients with the bubonic plague have been hospitalized at Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital since Nov. 3. [...] Possible lack of government transparency has triggered rumors on Chinese social media that claim the patient count is higher, and some people are already dead, according to KBS."

Comment: Praying they will get this outbreak under control. It's pretty horrific to imagine the plague unrestrained in a country to size of China. 

Global Community

SpaceX faces competitors in race to build Internet-satellite constellation
UPI reports: "SpaceX isn't the only company trying to build a satellite constellation capable of providing global Internet coverage. Last winter, OneWeb launched six small satellites. Tests confirmed the mini constellation produces a serviceable signal, and the company expects to launch another 60 satellites in early 2020. OneWeb, which is targeting an initial constellation population of 650, and later 2,000, expects to begin offering service in the Arctic by the end of 2020 and global coverage in 2021."

Comment: The world is vastly more interconnected than at any time in history and that trend is only accelerating as internet access expands to include the most remote areas of the world.  The day when everyone on Earth can participate in a common culture is fast approaching.

Jerusalem Security

Islamic Jihad fires 50 rockets into Israel after senior leader killed
UPI reports: "Israeli security forces said Tuesday they killed a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in a predawn attack on the Gaza Strip, inciting the militant group to fire about 50 rockets in retaliation. [...] Rocket alerts blared across southern and central Israel early Tuesday as the Islamic Jihad "indiscriminately" fired rockets at Israeli towns near Gaza in retaliation, the IDF said via Twitter."

Comment: It appears that the security situation in Israel is getting complicated as more pressure is brought to bear on the Islamic State. From what I've read, there is a huge arsenal of rockets under the control of Palestinian forces in Gaza and in Lebanon. Pray for Israel.

Gog Alliance - King of the North

In Libyan war, Russian mercenaries add deadlier firepower and modern tactics
The Washington Post reports: "Hundreds of Russian mercenaries, many highly trained and well-armed, are fighting alongside renegade Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter as he seeks to oust the country’s United Nations-backed government, according to Libyan military commanders and fighters, as well as U.S. military and other Western officials. [...] the arrival of these mercenaries comes at a time when Russia has been expanding its military and diplomatic reach across the Middle East, Africa and beyond, enjoying greater clout in places such as Syria where the United States is disengaging."

Comment: This news report reminds us of the ongoing and past involvement of Russia in Northern Africa. It's worth noting that the prophetic Gog Alliance includes Libya and North Africa and so it's very important to note those ongoing links with Russia.  We expect they will grow stronger over time.

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.