Signs of the Times

We all know Globalism is in full swing and following is major movement in the church. A report from ENI (Ecumenical News International), Evangelicals and Globalists together stated from the European "Church and Society Commission" that the purpose of that commission if to help European churches "monitor and react to developments in intitutions such as the European Union and the Council of Europe, and to deal with ethical questions facing European society. Ethical questions will encompass: "..peace, justice and the integrity of creation, reconciliation and relations between churches and governments.. democratisation, human rights and minorities, European security, and the environment.. (and) the specific responsibility of the churches in member states of the European Union for EO policies." The January meeting took place is Strasbourg, the French city which houses the headquarters of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the European Parliament. It is significant that opening this session was JACQUES STEWART, who described the meeting as being "historic" and "long awaited". (Report/ NWsletr 4.9.98 timbarbaho @email.msn.com)
The Commission on Global Governance, recent work report refers to an international criminal court. (last updated March 8,1998 http://www.cgg.ch/ stories.htm)
"Governments are to hold a conference in 1998 to adopt a convention to establish a permanent International Criminal Court. The Commission on Global Governance called for such a court in its proposals to strengthen the rule of law worldwide. Its report, Our Global Neighbourhood, said the absence of such an institution "discredits the rule of law" and devotes a full section to arguing the case for an International Criminal Court. The Court's establishment will enable individuals who commit serious crimes under international law to be prosecuted. The International Court of Justice - the World Court - deals only with disputes between states. Some governments and a number of non-governmental bodies, including leading human rights organizations, which have long campaigned for a permanent internal criminal court.. Italy has agreed to host the conference.

Another major development just took place regarding the Lutheran World Federation, which comprises 57 million of approximately 61 million Lutherans worldwide. It is in "process" of reaching consensus on the signing of a joint declaration with the Vatican regarding the outstanding issue of the Protestant Reformation - justification by faith. This "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" is available online: http:// wccx. wcc- coe.org/ lwf/jd.html (ignore the spaces). From the Reformation perspective, justification was the crux of all the disputes. It is a 400 year dispute. The LWF had asked its 124 member churches to indicate whether they accepted.. that a consensus existed between Catholics and Lutherans on the "basic truths" of the doctrine of justification and whether they agreed that Lutheran condemnations of the Catholic doctrine of justification no longer applied to the Roman Catholic Church. Only 4 of 66 member churches rejected, which means that 40 million members already agree and more coming.
The LWF-sponsored Institute for Ecumencial Research in Strasbourg would prepare an analysis of the responses before next month. Oppegaard said: "If we agree that the common expression of justification in the document can be endorsed by the two churches, then the declaration says that the mutual condemnations for the 16th century no longer apply to the teaching proclaimed by the churches today.. To express this is itself a major step forward in ecumenical relations.. in the direction of a future shared eucharist. (ENI, Ecumenical News International. AOL 5.6.98)
ENI is a news service of the World Council of Churches we do not endorse them. The Catholic Church is not officially a member but works closely with them since 1960. Many Catholics serve in leadership positions within the WCC. "Rome's conception of the ecumenical movement is the joining of all churches - eventually all religions - to Rome. Rome does not join the WCC; she invites the WCC to join her.
The whole ecumenical program has been called "the reversal of the Reformation" (The World Council of Churches, p.40) "We could speak of its Doctrinal Heresy, its Modernism, its Marxism, its Humanism, its Feminism, its Sacramentalism, its Syncretism, its Universalism. The simple fact is that the WCC fails every Biblical test which could be applied. It is patently and grossly unscriptural." (David Cloud, Way of Life Encyclopedia).

Who else, but LDS, are flaunting headlines in their "Church News" ending April 25, 1998. "LDS, Catholic youth serve together. Overcoming religious and ethnic barriers, 1,200 LDS and Catholic youth from the city of Gilbert, Asizona, worked side-by-side in a massive service project in the small Hispanic town near Phoenix.. The Interfaith Youth Service Project was held April 18, 1998... all wearing donated, matching T-shirts, could be found around the town repairing or replacing mailboxes, removing rubbish, building ramps for wheelchairs, painting houses, furnishing emergency housing trailers, landscaping, or painting a mural.. Last fall two church leaders met and discussed in which the youth from the two religions could be brought together to foster better relationships within the community.. as a result, 12 youths and two adult leaders representing the Catholic church and the five Gilbert states formed the service committee.. Several weeks later 100 youths tied quilts and canned carrots at the LDS Cannery in Mesa.. interest has blossomed and both churches are talking about group activities.. We have made new friends.." Is it any wonder they get along?

Petitions seem to be a new wave circulating through churches and the Isaeli Jubilee Celebration was no exception. Vows, covenants with Jews and global unity are appearing everywhere. (Despatch Magazine, Vol 9:4) [It is not an activity for believers see James 5:12] They are designed to get church-goers to "vow" unity, forgetting differences, to follow the leaders without question, to begin moving under the international control thus taking authority of the local assembly away. A petition was given to every attendee who wished to participate (also available on their website) at the Christian Alliance for Israel conference. The people there was told that the theme of the petition was to ask people to agree that they would not tolerate any anti Semitic activities against Jews in finances, business or personal encounters. There were a number of items listed that they wanted people to agree to. We don't have the details. They are available on the website: http://www.israelsjubilee.com.
The Jubilee Celebration was an event to help rid the church of the social cancer of prejudices, to open up to the new church in the making and to unity with Israel. It was not what we thought it would be, "a celebration of Israel's Jubilee 50 years back in the Land." In Orlando, Florida, 4/29/98 the Jubilee was built around the holocaust and a heartwrenching event for me. I was fourteen years old when I first heard about the holocaust and it changed my life forever in many ways. The Israeli's want to keep the memory of the holocaust in front of the world to insure such a tragedy will never be repeated. There is an effort in this country to conceal the historical facts in school curriculums. To commemorate what happened a large group of young people did a superb reenactment on stage. It was quite moving and well done.
Much authentic Jewish artwork was on display which was awesome. They had gorgeous large wall hangings in metallic brocade which were exquisite. Each tribe was represented by name and crest. I took pictures but they didn't come close to the real thing. At the entrance they had a huge display of the city of gold: The New Jerusalem, another awe inspiring piece to set the mood for a celebration.
It might have been if it had been anywhere but Orlando, U.S.A. and away from the new ecumenical movement which includes many Messianic Jews. We plan to quote just a few highlights which are important to know for future reference.
Jay Alan Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, has argued a number of cases before the Supreme Court, working on getting prayer back into the schools, including one upholding the right of free speech and assembly for religious groups talked about his progress and plans of going international. He is opening an office in Strasbourg (Strassburg) where the law of freedom will be established. The European Union Human Rights Court is establishing religious freedom. The center will not be the United States. Strasbourg is the hub and is located on the border of France and Southern Germany. He is a "Messianic" Jew who probably knows the U.S. judicial system from a to z.
A taste of this was last week. A murderer was to be executed last Tuesday in Virginia and President Clinton was told to turn the case over to a world court. The Pope doesn't believe in capital punishment. He submitted to the United Nation's request. Sekulow said that the holocaust was an abuse of power 52 years ago and they are afraid of a repeat and are working feverishly to prevent that. "There is a promise of peace in globalization," he added.

The president of Christian Alliance for Israel concentrated on the 50th Jubilee in the Old Testament and its four blessings: liberty proclaimed: "claim it!"; family restoration, reuniting of families, divine provision (canceled debts): "claim it!" and restoration "claim it!".

Messianic Jews had a lot to say about the replacement theology, prominent in Christian churches. It was stated that they need to get in tune with God. God has not left Israel, which replacement theology teaches. The war in 1967 was a miracle from God. Israel was vastly outnumbered and yet God restored Israel.
Messianic Jews believe the outpouring of the Spirit is the Toronto Blessings, Brownsville, the Charismatic movement, the Jesus movement and is parallel to the Jewish roots and that it is a sign of Jesus's return.
Alan Keyes took a powerful stand for the Christian right movement and tied the possibility of Christian salvation and Israel's survival to joining into the fight against the evils of this country.
At one time Ambassador of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, Alan Keyes, who reaches millions of Americans through his syndicated radio and television programs spoke and admitted that the same evil that claimed so many millions of Jews still stalks the world.. as we stand now, we are being undermined by it. The U.S. in partnership with Israel is a problem to the United Nations and there are people in the U.S. Government who want to turn their backs on Israel for monetary reasons. It is too costly. He said: "we have to stand with Israel no matter what the cost for God's sake. The "God is Dead" generation claimed the lives of millions through godless philosophers.
Obviously Alan Keyes was not in Europe during those years or he would not have said that. Religion was not removed from the schools. Germans were not approached from a godless point of view. Standards of high moral conduct was the theme to the people from the leadership. The leadership was godless.
Alan Keyes attributed the liberation of Israel to the United States. Because we claimed freedom for this country, we had to exercise that freedom out of respect for the will of God. With the strength of almighty God we drove the darkness back with the light of His truth. Israel is back to life and we must expect a more clever assault. We are in the midst of it. That which now tears down the walls of Israel is that which whispers that we turn our backs on God, same lies that shaped the hearts of so many people in Europe. He was telling us what is behind the New World Order. The book I had just read was a preparation for this meeting.
We are about to receive that same leadership that led to the holocaust of so many lives. He stated: "You cannot stand for Israel if you stand for evil against the authority of God. God has raised up the image of our corruption which is growing larger and the only thing that matters to most is their financial bottom line. He was telling the audience basically that we are God, we have to clean up the world and your salvation depends on that.
His truth is: "If you truly stand with Israel then you must stand with those who want to rebuild the moral strength of this nation's heart.. In this vocation we become strong soldiers in the cause of Israel because we soldier in the cause of God." End abortions and we work for the safety of Israel.. Those who kill the conscience of America will be called to account for their deeds. The battle is undecided.. If we truly love America and Israel and one another pray for that place on the right hand of God and work for it in every way.. Proclaim liberty.. As he remembers Israel so he shall remember us..

Jesus began his ministry with the following words: "..The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)

Others who represented the Christian Right were Ben Kinchlow known as co-host of The 700 Club, Daniel Lapin syndicated radio host and for the Conservative Political Action Committee, Focus on the Family, and the 1996 Republican National Convention. Musician Don Potter who joined the Morning Star Ministry team of Rick Joyner, who also attended. Benny Hinn, Dr. John C. Hagee, Marty Goetz who performed with Billy Graham, Jack Hayford, David Wilkerson and Promise Keepers. Mashesh Chavda founder of the "All Nations Church" and Jan Willem van der Hoeven, a genuine Middle East specialist, David Aikman a frequent guest on Voice of America, writes for Charisma magazine, Time magazine and Readers Digest.

Don Potter's music was so loud one could not hear one's mind. "Let's Rise Together One Nation Under God".. prayer circles were everywhere in many corners. On stage during this music way in the back small black flags were flying in a circle. His service was announced as a different experience. Chanting and motions from him beckoning something to come in. Lights circling jagged lines which felt like they could put one into a hypnotic trance. A woman with long gray hair sang hauntingly and screaming in the background. My mind went to seances in movies. I could hear rattle snake noises and a sound like people were throwing up and Don Potter told people to stay in the presence of the Lord. I was so sickened that I had to leave.
At home I was able to follow the rest of the conference on the satellite Dish system. Rick Joyner's talk was quite revealing about the future of America's "Christianity". He brought up his relationship with Paul Cayne. Joyner is the founder of MormingStar Publications and presented himself as part of the New Testament leadership which is going to be a key ministry in healing the wounds between the Jews and the Church. His book "The Final Quest" has been on the best seller list for months. Like Betty Eady, he wrote about his trip to heaven and people are enthralled with it.
The high points of Rick Joyner's speech which relate to the new church: he calls the church so boringly uniform, a tyranny of pressure to conformity and wants the church to confront denominational racism, which he called homo-sectuality. The audience laughed. He blames the church for homosexuality, that it crushes creativity and is responsible for anti-Semitism. He said: "the church has been the source of Jewish people living under the constant threat of annihilation." He stated, "the tree of knowledge of good and evil was not put there by God to trip them up. Without the opportunity to disobey there would be no obedience from the heart. It enabled them to prove their obedience."
Joyner talked about music and creativity repeatedly, that we should allow it to flow without restraint, that creativity is from God and should be open to anything that wants to express. He brought up Don Potter, one of the greatest musicians in his estimation and asked him on a previous occasion why he wasn't playing in church. Don Potter said because it is offensive to the church, its too much. Joyner's reply was that he should never hold back no matter what anyone thought.

Episcopalian David Aikman began with the comment that he was not planning to proselytize (instilling a new principle of the new church), and began by telling a joke about church that religion is not taught in his church. He offered a new book he is marketing: "Great Souls" Billy Graham, Mother Teresa.. etc.. He traced the history of acts of hatred and violence by so called "Christians" against the Jews which included the evangelical, fundamentalist, others of Roman Catholic and Orthodox tradition. He commended Pope John Paul II who has done more than any other pope in history to bring about reconciliation between his church and the Jewish community world wide.
Aikman said that the Roman Catholic Church has abandoned the theology that the Jews were primarily responsible for the death of Christ. Catholics and Protestants have been moving toward affinity with the Jews during the past 40 years by reaching out to them in many ways. Since the recovery of Jerusalem in 1967 there is a resurgence of Jewish pride because of God's accelerating role in prophetic fulfillment of history. There seems to be a deeper spirituality among evangelicals from ardent fundamentalist to zealous charismatics. Even if Jesus does not come back when expected, he believes the alliance is permanent. He illustrated positive effects in history resulting from reaching out to Jewish people. He brought up an incident when Baron Rothschild rendered financial assistance to someone who was working with the Hebrew language for the Jews.

Sid Ross, a Messianic Jew, who most Christian radio and television listeners know as the host of "The Messianic Vision" used John 17:21 as an example that Jew and Gentile together would cause a supernatural cataclysmic explosion and produce Jesus in the flesh which will cause the world to believe. Revival means to bring back to life and doesn't mean bringing a dead church back to life but a river of living waters such as Brownsville for example.
Jan Willem van der Hoeven who is known for ceaseless efforts for a united and undivided Jerusalem, powerfully presented Israel's case and the global threat of Islamic dedication to erasing the Jews and Christians and that we are facing another holocaust. Prayer is not enough he said. What made America great was Jesus Christ not oil. He was referring to the Dallas Council of Foreign Affairs which decided that oil was more important than saving Israel. He called Washington anti-Christ. Out of Jacob's trouble, the holocaust was born and today is the state of Israel. God is fulfilling his Word to pore out his spirit not another holocaust. He said he is not a student of eschatology and advised believers to get off the rapture train. Israel is more than a puzzle piece in the puzzle, not a lesson in dispensaltionalism.
Messianic Jews are the basis of the church not the World Council of Churches, the Vatican.. He referred to the meeting in London of our President, Mrs. Albright and Toni Blair who are insisting on 13% to an unrepentful murderer Arafat while the church sits and waits for the rapture. He pointed to the story of Ruth and Naomi, Ruth, a Gentile who clang to Naomi her mother in law, a Jewess, while Orpah Ruth's sister, kissed her mother in law and returned home to her people.
Mr. van der Hoeven likened Christians who come to Jerusalem to sightsee and go home, to Orpah and hardly in God's graces. He said that our attitude must be to cling to the Jews just like Ruth did to Naomi. God is not a beggar. He doesn't need Mr. Clinton. Mr. Clinton needs God. He referred to the Persian Gulf War and the fiasco of unfinished business even though President Bush's ratings hit 91%. 39 scud missiles fell on Israel. God bless him if it was for Israel not for oil. He said that Billy Graham who is known all over the world could have told the administration in Washington what the Bible has to say, that they should not turn against the Jewish people that God will turn against them.
Mr. van der Hoeven is worried about the European Union helping the administration to get 30% of the West Bank. God is calling another nation, born again believers, to bring in the fullness of Israel and he referred to the revival in Toronto and Pensacola and what the Spirit is doing all over the world. He received a standing ovation. He went on to tell the audience that he is here to call out the rest of the Jews to come home. All nations are turning against Israel in the United Nations. One hand raised up for Israel and a half hearted one from America.
The Shechaniah's Glory will suddenly come to his temple when we pray for the peace in Jerusalem. He pointed to a map of the third temple. Cling to the Jews like Naomi. Be brothers not friends. Again he brought up Pensacola's purified army quick to hear.
He said that God told him the reason six million died in the holocaust is the resurrection of Israel. Israel would not have come back to life without creating this horror to shock men into realizing what needed to happen for Israel. Because of their death, Israel will be saved. He will go forth, no more defeat for Israel. We urge you no more deals.

Speaker Shimon Erem smuggled Jews into Palestine from Austria, Russia and Siberia. He waved the Bible as his only compass, "there is no other," he said. Israel is the only nation which survived out of the Old Testament, even though pulverized by the Roman Catholic Church. He told of many miracles that happened during this rescue. Nobody wanted to co-operate. He said everything connected with getting 600,000 Jews back to Israel defied logic. It was a miracle of God. They all had faith. The impossible became possible. The war in 1967 which returned Jerusalem to the Jews was an act of God. The Jews were completely outnumbered. It again defied logic.
The enemies that Israel is facing are our enemies as well. He read from a paper given to him by a Pakistani Muslim General who had written the following. "Islam is the only right religion on earth. All other religions are wrong. Non Muslims are on the path to error. It is the prime religious duty of every Muslim to convert to Islam nonstop.. First stage: advise non-Muslim to get converted to Islam. Second stage: create psychological demoralization and confusion in the mind of the non-Muslim. Third stage: attack non-Muslim and create terror in heart of non-Muslims and teach survivors what happens to them if they don't surrender to Islam. Many Christians are being eliminated in Europe. So far the only country Muslims have not conquered is Israel which will be the bulwark to protect the Christian community.

This week President Clinton is in an eight nation summit in Birmingham, England, meeting with foreign and finance ministers from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan and Russia to discuss the Mideast and other significant issues which were the original intent for the Alliance between East and West. Our future is in the balance of their discussions.


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