Audio - 2023-09-23
Tabernacles... Depicting Peace
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32:17)
Today's World
If there is just one word that sums up the world today, it would be CONFLICT. According to various sources, between 30 and 50 armed conflicts take place every year. This paragraph from the United Nation's Press Release of January this year makes for sobering reading:
Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, stating that peace — the United Nations’ raison d’être — “is now under grave threat”, observed that people’s sense of safety and security is at an all-time low in almost every country. Six out of seven worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity, the world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War and 2 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live in places affected by such conflict. Recalling the Secretary-General’s words that “the world is at a key inflection point in history,” she underscored the need to rethink efforts to achieve sustainable peace. “There is only one route to durable peace,” she stressed — the route of sustainable development. (un.org)
As Mr. Armstrong brings out in the Plain Truth article '1982 - The Year of Violence?':
Working for Peace: Everybody wants PEACE – or at least, so we profess! We WORK for peace! The pope pleads for PEACE! Prime ministers strive for PEACE! Yet there is no peace! WHY?
The very NEWS of all this “working for peace” was reported millenniums ago in biblical prophecy! But, it was also reported, “The WAY OF PEACE they know not” (lsa. 59:8).
So, the nations and world leaders CRY for “peace” – work for “ peace,” while they endorse, sanction and continue the way of WAR! They follow the way that is the CAUSE of WAR, trying to STOP war by dealing with the effect, ignoring the CAUSE! (The Plain Truth – February 1982)
Tomorrow's World
But if there is one word that sums up the World Tomorrow it is PEACE, or as the Hebrew expresses it; "Shalom", and in Greek; "Eirene". And in a few days' time God's church will once again be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, a 7-day festival of which the overarching thrust is the depiction of the very opposite of the conflict we witness all around us. And during that period we once again will be reminded of God's Plan for bringing all hostilities to an end, and how peace will finally come to this war-torn world.
But will that millennial peace be just the absence of war, of conflict, of contentions - as beneficial as that might be? Or is there more to it than that? In Strong's concordance the words Shalom in Hebrew (H07965) and Eirene in Greek (G1515) have a much greater spread and depth of meaning than first meets the eye, and I think it will be worthwhile to have a closer look at these two words, as I believe that will enhance and amplify what we will learn at the Feast this year. It should give us a clearer vision of what life will be like for all humanity when Christ sets up His government on this earth.
The Hebrew Shalom
- "Great [shalom] have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165)
These people have a deep love for the very WAY of God - His mind, His lifestyle - and this enables them to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually stable, grounded. Their life is enriched with spiritual blessings, which brings about a feeling of security, of wellbeing and contentment. Because of the world we live in today, with its various "peace treaties" (so often broken) we tend to think of peace as possibly just a pause in hostilities, in order to let the aid agencies through to the afflicted areas. But the Hebrew word conveys SO much more than the mere absence of war. It is translated from the Hebrew word 'shalom' that also carries a sense of completeness, soundness, abundance, safety, well-being, tranquillity, health, prosperity, contentment, friendship and every good thing. It is a word that describes the kind of world promised for the Millennium. We find this aspect of peace mentioned in Proverbs 3:
- My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
- For length of days, and long life, and [shalom], shall they add to thee (Proverbs 3:1,2)
Here's another example a few verses further on in the same chapter:
- Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding...
- ...Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are [shalom].
- She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her (Proverbs 3:13,17,18)
This wisdom comes from a healthy fear of the Eternal, and when humanity as a whole grasps this truth and lives by it, the automatic result will not only be freedom from hostilities but also physical abundance and every good thing. In the Old Testament this word is used over 200 times, and in Numbers 6, Jesus Christ, the God of the Old Testament gave this command to Moses:
- Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
- The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
- The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
- The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee [shalom].
- And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:23-27)
In stark contrast to the idea that the God of the Old Testament was harsh, vengeful and vindictive, "shalom" is what the Eternal God desired for the whole house of Israel (and eventually for all); completeness, prosperity, stability, and just filled to the brim with wellbeing. Joy pressed down and running over. Over in Isaiah we have another example, but the KJV doesn't always capture the original thought:
- In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
- Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
- Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:1-3)
Now in verse 3, the phrase 'perfect peace', is actually 'shalom, shalom' in the original Hebrew, as you'll find mentioned in the margin. It is repeating and therefore emphasising the word shalom, It is this continual and complete plentitude, complete wellbeing, EVERY GOOD THING - and this is the meaning of the word that is so often translated as peace within the Old Testament.
The Greek Eirene
- How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth [shalom] that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
- Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. (Isaiah 52:7,8)
And the apostle Paul, quoting from the above scripture in Isaiah, puts it this way:
- And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of [eirene], and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15)
It's the gospel - the good news - of 'eirene' (Strong's 1515) as it's used in Greek. Shalom means complete in a sense of abundance, of wellbeing, of having everything that is good. But in the case of the Greek word it comes from a base word (eiro) that literally means to join, to stick together. To put two parts back together, to unite, to set at one again, "peace between individuals, ie. harmony, accord". So it has a slightly different meaning.
Here in Acts 7:24, when Stephen is mentioning Moses' involvement with the slaves in Egypt:
- And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
- For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
- And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? (Acts 7:24-26)
The words "at one again" is this word eirene. It is the word that is translated in Galatians chapter five as peace. So he set them at peace again. But it means more than peace as we might think of it today. It means 'at one' - bringing the two parties back together. Where it is talking about the fruit of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace" - it is not just that we have peace personally, it is that we are drawing people back together again. And it is prophesied that in the coming millennial reign, nations as well as individuals will be brought back together to live in peace and harmony with one another. China with Japan, Russia with Ukraine, Northern Ireland with mainland Britain, the African nations currently at war with each other, North Korea with almost everyone else, and finally peace in the Middle East:
- In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
- In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: (Isaiah 19:23,24)
- And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
- The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. (Isaiah 11:12,13)
A Different Spirit
The Deputy Secretary General mentioned in the above quote: “There is only one route to durable peace,” she stressed — "the route of sustainable development." As Mr. Armstrong so often said, man's problems are spiritual in nature and the world just doesn't realise that. Not only do the leaders of this world and age not know how to achieve peace but not comprehending the spiritual dimension of their actions, they so often unwittingly support and promote the very lifestyle that destroys it.
I have already mentioned how the intellectuals and scholarly of this world feel that, given sufficient KNOWLEDGE, human carnal MAN could solve all problems...
God let many generations of ancient Israel and Judah PROVE by hundreds of years of human experience, that the best of humanity, without God’s Holy Spirit CANNOT SOLVE HUMAN PROBLEMS AND EVILS!... The problems and evils are of a spiritual nature. And a carnal mind without God’s Spirit cannot come to grips with spiritual problems. (The Plain Truth – September 1980)
Nearly 80 speakers at the conference had their say in what they regarded as the best way to bring peace to the nations of this world... and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission stressed: "that inclusivity is key to advancing national peacebuilding processes and objectives, as it ensures that the needs of all segments of society are considered. Underlining, in that regard, the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, he called for their inclusion — along with youth — in capacity-building efforts at all levels".
No, the overriding reason we don't have peace in this world, from family relationships all the way to wars amongst the nations has nothing to do with "sustainable development" or "inclusivity" or too much CO2 affecting our weather, or combating famines through eating bugs instead of meat. Even providing adequate housing and clean water for every human being on this planet is no guarantee that mankind will live in peace with his neighbour. The answer is really very simple and in reality boils down to mankind's rejection of his Creator, and taking, on a daily basis, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Taking to himself the understanding of how to live. And as Mr. Armstrong also explained:
...The very first man God created, Adam, rejected the tree of life which meant reliance on God and the gift of eternal life from God. Instead he chose to rely on himself and his own mind to guide his life and solve all his problems. To this very day, the nations and the leaders of this world still try to rely on themselves and human attempts at solution of their escalating problems. The world still refuses to rely on God.
It is only when the world and its leaders have come to the place where they have to realize their utter helplessness before their own problems and that their only hope from here on is reliance on and obedience to God, that God will intervene and bring about the end of this world by sending Jesus Christ. ("Are we in the Last Days")
As the apostle Paul explained to the church at Rome:
- Their feet are swift to shed blood:
- Destruction and misery are in their ways:
- And the way of peace have they not known:
- There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans :15-18)
God tells us through His prophet Isaiah what one of our main problems is:
- Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God , and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1,2)
But that is prophesied to change! After God has gained the attention of the world through aversion therapy now, the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord, then:
- And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
- And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
- And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:27-29)
- A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
- And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
Even the natural world will be at peace with mankind - the satanic broadcast being replaced by this great outpouring of this spirit of God, as Isaiah mentions:
- The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
- And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
- And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the [adder's] den.
- They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Eternal Peace
No number of Peacebuilding Commissions and their conferences will ever bring shalom or eirene to this war-torn world. You have got to change the very mind and heart of man. Yes, you need absolute power, but absolute power by itself is not going to be enough. We shall no doubt witness in the coming years between now and the return of Christ that total control and consummate power is not going to make peace! That is just going to crush people. As we have seen, it will take a complete change of heart. The overriding reason for mankind's existence in the future will change from SELFcentred to being OUTgoing - in obedience, love and respect to our God and loving his neighbour as himself. Once Satan is banished for good and the Holy Spirit made available to all flesh, then and only then will eternal peace be possible. And it IS possible, as Mr. Armstrong wrote in his Good News Article "Exciting New! Peace is on the Way!"
Is a real utopia impossible? Men ridicule the idea of a utopia today, as though it were impossible. But WHY should utopia be thought of as impossible? WHY shouldn’t men have it? The answer comes through another question: Why is there so much unhappiness, strife, injustice, fear and suffering now? Simply because men are thinking, acting and living contrary to all the laws by which such happiness, universal prosperity and joy could come. That’s the plain and simple answer. Because of selfishness, greed and vanity.
Suppose everyone on earth loved all his neighbors equally with himself. Suppose everyone was honest, kind, just, considerate, gentle, pleasant and cheerful, industrious, in perfect health and of keen, alert mind, humble, trusting fully in God and working happily with zeal and enthusiasm to accomplish all the good he could. Can you visualize what a wonderful world would result? Well, it would be a real and practical utopia.
But, you say, that’s contrary to human character. Yes, true. But Jesus Christ is coming to change that! The POWER OF GOD in one, through His Holy Spirit, changes, converts, that soul. It gives him power, if he wills, to master – to overcome – the nature within. Through FAITH he can be changed into the kind of person described above. And the mission of Jesus Christ of Nazareth at His Second Coming is to work exactly that change in humanity!
IMPOSSIBLE! Oh, no! Nothing is impossible with God! And Jesus is coming in all the supernatural power and glory of GOD! (The Good News – September 1982)
Remember we are looking eventually past the Millennium, past the Last Great Day even, to new heavens and a new earth:
- For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
- But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
- And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65:17-19)
We are looking at the new Jerusalem ultimately, of which the physical Jerusalem that will be built during the Millennium is going to be a type. It is interesting that in the Hebrew, the word Jerusalem (H03389) means "teaching of peace".
- Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
- That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
- For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
- As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 66:10-13)
This shalom/eirene will come from the very river of the Spirit of God, arising from beneath the temple, (Ezekiel 47) and that will then go out from there into the rest of the world throughout the Millennium, the Great White Throne judgement period and eventually the entirety of creation ... for eternity.
- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)
These past few weeks have have seen the puny attempts of man to land vehicles on the moon, in what they believe will be the first step to getting out into the universe. God has got that all sewn up and ready. The earth will be the centre, and God's spirit born sons will be personally involved in taking this peaceful and abundant and joyful way of life to the outer reaches of the universe. Hostility will be replaced by harmony. Conflict replaced by cordiality. And it's learning more about this contented and peace-loving way of life at the Feast this year - and how it is destined to affect ALL of creation - that will encourage us and strengthen us for the years ahead.
An enormous shift… a game changer… a watershed event… It could change everything - the BRICS now add…
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, arid, a sparsely populated kingdom of the Middle East.
“Extending across most of the northern and central Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia is a young country that is heir to a rich history. In its western highlands, along the Red Sea, lies the Hejaz, which is the cradle of Islam and the site of that religion’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. In the country’s geographic heartland is a region known as Najd (‘Highland’), a vast arid zone that until recent times was populated by nomadic tribes. To the east, along the Persian Gulf, are the country’s abundant oil fields that, since the 1960s, have made Saudi Arabia synonymous with petroleum wealth. Those three elements — religion, tribalism, and UNTOLD WEALTH — have fueled the country’s subsequent history.
It was only with the rise of the Saud family (Āl Saʿūd) — a Najdi group for which the country is named — and its eventual consolidation of power in the early 20th century that Saudi Arabia began to take on the characteristics of a modern country.” (britannica.com)
The ‘Petrodollar’
One Of The Machine’s Most Essential Components Is Under Threat
Is Saudi Arabia preparing for the collapse of the petrodollar and US dollar dominance?
“One of the most illusory phenomena in our current existence is the money we use for buying, selling and hoarding on a daily basis. It is, to put it simply, in the air, backed up by nothing and reliant on nothing, yet at the same time highly delicate and sensitive to geopolitical and monetary shifts. The currencies we all use are reliant on the strength and performance of the US dollar, and that dollar is backed up by debt and the global trust in itself and its delicate monetary system.
A major part of that system and America’s hegemony over it, of course, has been the ‘petrodollar’ – the payment of US dollars for the trade and sale of oil globally from Saudi Arabia and other member states in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – following the deal struck between Washington and Riyadh in 1974, coincidentally a mere three years after Nixon took the dollar off the gold standard.
That deal not only secured military defence of the kingdom through guarantees by the US, but also secured a stable stream of foreign purchase of US Treasury bonds and debt – a strategy of recycling the petrodollars back unto Washington – through the Gulf state’s reserves. It was one of the machine’s most essential components.
So when it was revealed last year that Saudi Arabia is considering trading its oil with China in the yuan, it was no small matter or minor shift. Saudi Arabia has not been the only country, as other considerable US allies such as India, Pakistan, and UAE have also struck deals with Russia or China to pay for oil or other commodities in their various respective local currencies. Iraq was the latest to distance itself from dollar dominance, announcing this month that it plans to regulate foreign trade from China directly in yuan.
Those states’ decisions – predicted soon to be joined by many more – have represented a huge shift towards a more decentralised global monetary system away from the dollar, primarily due to a major miscalculation by Washington in its hard-hitting sanctions against Russia at the outset of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
That is exactly why the Ukraine war is such a pivotal issue – it is a gamble the US is willing to take to re-secure the dollar’s fortunes, having the potential to restore trust in it as a stable currency worthy of remaining the dominant global reserve exchange. That is if Ukraine wins and lands a Russian defeat. If Kyiv loses and Moscow scores a victory, though, it would spell a further disaster for the dollar. There lies one of the primary reasons why so much is reliant on the results of the war in Ukraine.” (middleeastmonitor.com)
Saudi Arabia And The BRICS
Here is a classic example of propaganda. Was this a direct threat to the US dollar? Was this a warning shot? A BRICS currency backed by gold would be an absolute disaster for the fiat US dollar.
“Back on July 5th, RT sparked a firestorm of rumors when it reported that a decision to introduce a new BRICS currency that would be backed by gold would be made prior to the upcoming summit in Johannesburg. In the aftermath of that report, many prominent voices were warning that the US dollar was in big trouble.
Without a doubt, the dominance of the US dollar is under threat from multiple directions. But a new BRICS currency will not be introduced during this upcoming summit. During an interview with Bloomberg, one of the top executives at The New Development Bank publicly admitted that the creation of a new BRICS currency is ‘a medium to long term ambition’, but he also confirmed that such a currency will not be introduced right now.
In addition to the core BRICS nations, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay are apparently getting very close to joining The New Development Bank. Those are relatively minor players on the global scene, but if Saudi Arabia also joins, that could change everything. There is lots of chatter that this could happen soon…” (themostimportantnews.com)
“A Watershed Event”
“Saudi Arabia joining BRICS would be ‘a watershed event,’ he said. ‘I think if we wake up and Saudi Arabia joins the BRICS alliance, the world would be a different world in a meaningful and significant way.’ If Saudi Arabia joins BRICS, it would represent an enormous shift. And that would probably greatly accelerate the transition to trading Middle Eastern oil in currencies other than the US dollar.
Even without a new currency, it appears to be inevitable that BRICS is going to continue to accumulate more power and more influence. When BRICS was formed in 2009, many western leaders didn’t take it very seriously. But now it has become a powerhouse.” (themostimportantnews.com)
The “Enormous Shift” Just Happened!
Saudi Arabia Joins The BRICS!
“The addition of six new member states will propel the BRICS group of countries far ahead of its major rival, the G7, in economic terms, several Russian media outlets reported this week, citing calculations based on global data. BRICS currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, but next January it will admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, SAUDI ARABIA, and the United Arab Emirates.
According to reports from the news outlets RBK and TASS, the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the expanded BRICS in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) will be roughly $65 trillion. This would see the bloc’s share of global GDP rise from the current 31.5% to 37%. In comparison, the share of the G7 group of advanced economies is currently around 29.9%.” (rt.com)
A New Order In The Middle East
Within a just few days, the Middle East changed – dramatically!
“On March 6, 2023, representatives from Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing for discussions brokered by China. Four days later, Riyadh and Tehran announced that they had decided to normalize relations. This landmark agreement has the potential to transform the Middle East by realigning its major powers, replacing the current Arab-Iranian divide with a complex web of relationships, and weaving the region into China’s global ambitions. For Beijing, the announcement was a great leap forward in its rivalry with Washington.
Both sides will uphold the April 2022 cease-fire in Yemen and begin work on a formal peace agreement to end the civil war in that country. Iran will cease supplying Houthi rebels with arms and persuade them to halt their missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. In addition, the deal calls for enhanced economic and diplomatic ties between Iran and the GCC countries, and for Iran and its Arab partners to begin discussions on building a new regional security framework. Moreover, China will continue to oversee all of these steps.” (foreignaffairs.com)
Iran, Saudi To Restore Ties In Major Step For Middle East
“Regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed Friday to restore ties and reopen diplomatic missions in a surprise, Chinese-brokered announcement that could have wide-ranging implications across the Middle East. In a trilateral statement, Shiite-majority Iran and mainly Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia said they would reopen embassies and missions within two months and implement security and economic cooperation deals signed more than 20 years ago.” (france24.com)
The US Is Losing Its Grip On The Middle East
“On Friday, members of the Arab League welcomed the Syrian regime back to the organization. Representatives from several Arab member states shook Syrian leader Assad’s hand and gave him, a ‘warm’ reception according to several news outlets. Syria was suspended from the league in 2011, but on May 7 in Cairo the league agreed to reinstate the Assad regime. This represents a reversal from years of isolation placed on the regime, and a break with US policy which remains staunchly opposed to Assad.
Indeed, the League’s rapprochement with Assad should be seen as a repudiation of US policy, and especially as a sign of how Washington’s influence among League members —the most powerful of which are Saudi Arabia and Egypt — has waned. Moreover, this is just the latest bad news for Washington’s influence in the region coming mere weeks after Iran and Saudi Arabia re-established diplomatic relations.” (greatgameindia.com)
China Wants To Replace US As Mediator Of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
China’s goal? To upend US influence in the Middle East. In just a few short months, China has changed the whole situation in the Middle East.
The Iran-Saudi Arabian conflict has ended.
The war in Yemen has been stopped.
Syria is accepted back into the Arab League.
The dollar as the world’s reserve currency is well on the way to being dumped as nations trade using their own currencies.
Now China seeks to get involved with the conflict in Israel… all without a single shot being fired!
China And The Palestinian Authority
“Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a ‘strategic partnership’ with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with Abbas currently visiting China for four days. Abbas is the first Arab leader to visit China in a state visit this year, and this is Abbas’ fifth such visit to China, according to Chinese media. The strategic partnership reportedly includes laying a framework for future negotiations on free trade, humanitarian aid and development projects.
China looks intent on using this strategic partnership as a springboard for greater influence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
China will attempt to resuscitate the Israeli–Palestinian ‘peace process’ regardless as a tool to upend US influence in the Middle East, much like it accomplished with its brokering a détente between Iran and Saudi Arabia and its supporting role in Syria’s re-integration into the Arab League.” (saraacarter.com)
Saudi Arabia – The Key Player
Why? Because they have money – huge amounts of money. And money is power. We must watch as the war against the US dollar increases. We need to be watching what happens to Saudi Arabia carefully, as they add their power to the BRICS.
But we must not lose our focus on watching Israel and Jerusalem. This is the ground zero of end time events. Control of the land of Israel is what the Arab peoples want.
Their Goal Has Never Changed!
“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
…They have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
The tabernacles of Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites[Arab nations]; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
Assur [Assyria - Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan].” (Psalm 83:4-6, 8)
A Change Of Direction In Germany?
“Berlin is debating reactions to the BRICS group’s increase in influence following its successful summit in Johannesburg last week. The West’s attempt – Germany’s included – to drive a wedge into the group has failed: Despite disputes over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s participation, the summit made two major advances. BRICS will admit six nations as members by January 1, 2024, including the four most powerful in the Middle East, where the West’s influence will be noticeably reduced.
The bloc’s share of the global GDP will rise from around 25 to approximately 37 percent. In addition, BRICS countries will shift their trade transactions from the US dollar to national currencies, to an even greater extent than before, most likely including Saudi, Emirati and Iranian oil trade. This will gradually reduce the US currency’s global importance.
German government advisors are promoting a shift from a strategy of division to one of inclusion vis-à-vis BRICS to prevent a further loss of the West’s influence.” (german-foreign-policy.com)
As Mr Armstrong pointed out, the real issue is Israel…
With the backing from BRICS nations – China and Russia, and possibly Germany, the Arab nations become stronger. Their goal to destroy Israel has not changed…
“The Arabs believe Palestine should be theirs because they are descended from Ishmael.
The Turks want it because they come from ESAU.
The Jews want it because they come from Jacob, but through JUDAH!
What a hot firebrand it is!
It may yet set the whole world on fire!” (The Plain Truth February 1979)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
Read online or contact email to request a copy
