This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

[Heaven soon]

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate. Last week, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria's membership until Bashar al-Assad either steps down or stops his government's crackdown on protesters. The United Nations estimates that more than 3,500 have died in the continuing violence.

The economic sanctions imposed by the League will be a blow to Syria's economy, which is already weakened. But the suspension is an even bigger blow to Syria's pride. It has long considered itself a bulwark of Arab nationalism.

Syria's belligerent response -- not to mention Iran's and Hezbollah's moves to strengthen their ally's position -- has caused seven of Syria's neighbors to place their armed forces on high alert.

To further heighten the tension in the region, Russia has dispatched three warships to its naval maintenance base at Tartus, Syria. Its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, is headed for Syrian waters, too. Although Russia denies it, its naval presence in the region is widely considered a response to the fact that the United States has moved its carrier USS George H.W. Bush and part of the Sixth Fleet to lie off the Syrian coast.

Russia has already let it be known that it will not allow to happen to Bashar al-Assad what happened to Muammar Gadaffi in Libya. This, however, is not necessarily a stand Russia is taking on principle. Libya was one of Russia's prime customers for a variety of goods and services, arms included. Syria is also a major client state of the Russians. They've lost one good customer, they don't intend to lose another.

This will be the first military standoff between the two superpowers since the end of the Cold War two decades ago.

Some have asked if this might be the lead-up to the Bible's Psalm 83 war or the Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38 and 39. At this point, it doesn't appear to be developing as such. However, Isaiah's unfulfilled chapter 17 prophecy of the total and almost instantaneous destruction of Damascus makes any movement toward armed conflict with Syria worth watching. Especially since Syria has threatened Israel with attacks utilizing weapons of mass destruction. Israel has already made clear that if that happens, it will respond quickly and with overwhelming force. And Israel has the capability to make good on its threats. The only weapon that could cause the sudden and total destruction of Damascus -- as Isaiah predicted -- would be nuclear.

Folks, it's time to get ready for Christ's return. The utter destruction of Damascus is an important benchmark in God's "last days" scenario.

As we near the end of 2010, lots of viewers are also writing in to ask about the various and sundry 2012 doomsday predictions. Many want to know about the Mayan calendar, Planet X or Planet Nibiru, Comet Elenin, Edgar Cayce, Nostradamus, and so forth. I've addressed this subject a few times before on the program.

Opinion about the Mayan calendar is split. Some experts believe the fact that it abruptly ends in what translates to 2012 indicates that there will be a positive physical or spiritual transformation of the earth next year. Others -- especially Hollywood and the popular culture -- prefer the other theory: the world will literally, physically, and, apparently, very violently end on December 21, 2012.

The Planet X believers also promote a traumatic physical-destruction-of-the-earth theory. Planet X, or Nibiru, is supposedly four times larger than the earth and is headed on a collision or near-miss course with our globe next year. Obviously, if it collides with us, we're goners. If it passes near us, its size and gravitational pull on the earth will make us wish we were goners. Neither is a pretty picture.

(Just a marginal note for those who have never heard of Planet X. We "know" about it because a woman started a website in 1995 to reveal its existence. She "knew" about it because some alien visitors to earth had implanted a communications device in her brain so they could keep her posted about its arrival. Oddly, no reputable astronomers have been able to locate it in the universe. The ones who claim to have found it say that it's "hidden" behind other planets and will become visible as it gets closer to earth. Unbelievably, Planet X has gathered quite a following here on this planet!)

Obviously, I believe that neither will happen. That's because I believe the Bible's version of what's to come on the earth. And it does not entail the imminent destruction of the universe or the disappearance of our planet. And why do I believe the Bible's version? Because EVERYTHING predicted by God's prophets in the past has come true with amazing precision. If they've been 100% right so far, why should I believe they'll be wrong now? (See how that works? That's why I keep insisting that knowing and understanding Bible prophecy is important for the Christian -- and for the non-believer, too!)

Finally, since it's the beginning of the Christmas season, I'm going to take a few minutes for a meditation on the advent of Jesus Christ. I want to discuss an aspect of His coming into this world that many preachers often overlook or fail to emphasize. Some simply don't understand this important point. It has to do with the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice and the promise it holds for everyone who believes and receives that gift of pardon.

Fully understanding the implications of the totality and finality of His sacrifice for us may revolutionize your approach to Christmas this year.

Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey

--
============
www.heavensoon.com

[Heaven soon]

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

Do you remember how I've often told you that the march toward the rise of the Antichrist will mostly be slow, but inexorable? Remember, too, how I've said that each new development that paves the way in the end times scenario will seem imminently logical, rational, even necessary at the moment? In other words, conditions on the ground will make the decisions taken almost irresistible.

A recent example of this is the economic chaos currently enveloping our world. As nation after nation faces fiscal collapse, the calls for a centralized system to control the chaos are growing. For many -- even some of the smartest among us -- a single world authority to control the interlocked global economy seems to be the only solution. Now, the ancient prophets didn't specify exactly why otherwise sensible and intelligent people would accept the total authority of a single man in the last days, they just said that they would. Well, now we can begin to clearly see how that could happen. And when it does, it will be thought to be totally logical, rational, even necessary.

Another example of this inexorable move toward the control of the populace that will be necessary to implement a one-world government occurred right here in the United States just last week. When all is said and done, it may not stand as law, but just the fact that it happened is important.

The U.S. Senate last week passed S.1867 by a vote of 93-7. That bill, known as The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, authorizes the budget authority of the Defense Department for 2012. Whether or not you agree with the fiscal make-up or future implications of that budget, here's the critical part. At the last moment, an amendment, drafted in secret by Senators Carl Levin and John McCain, was added to the bill. That amendment authorizes the use of the US military to arrest and detain people -- including American citizens -- suspected of terrorist activities. Here's where it gets alarming. For the first time, it authorizes the use of US armed forces for domestic law enforcement within the United States! Further, it allows the military to hold detainees in military facilities for indefinite periods, without charges, and without due process.

It's possible that the reasoning followed this line: One of the greatest weapons that Islamic terrorists -- especially homegrown or newly radicalized ones -- use against the United States is America's tradition of domestic liberty and freedom of movement and association. Now before you fist pump and yell, "Atta boy! Arrest those terrorists wherever you find them!", consider this: Who determines who's a "terrorist?" In this amendment, apparently the White House gets to make that call.

Uh-oh. If you take just a quick look at the Department of Homeland Security's list of potential terrorists, you'll find Christian extremists, Jewish extremists, anti-immigration extremists, anti-abortion extremists, tax resisters, members of the alternative media, gun owners, former members of the military, and people who stockpile gold or silver. I don't think the "Tea Party" is listed, but it someday might be. Just this week in England, for instance, the government designated some members of the "Occupy London" movement as domestic terrorists.

Hopefully, the media exposure and public outcry will get this provision removed from the final bill, but it nonetheless illustrates how easily these kinds of repressive measures can be implemented. It must have seemed "logical, rational, even necessary" since 93 of our 100 senators voted in favor of it.

The Middle East seems to be headed for war. Here's a brief look at recent developments: The latest statements by the leaders of Israel, Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah suggest that both sides are not just poised for war in the next few weeks, it's a forgone conclusion. Both Israel and Syria are conducting intensive war games exercises. Israel's air force is also conducting long-range training missions with NATO forces based in Italy.

The United States has moved an aircraft carrier and strike force into the Mediterranean opposite Syria. Russia responded by airlifting 72 of its lethal ship-killer missiles to Syria and dispatched its only aircraft carrier and support group to lie off the Syrian coast. The US then withdrew its carrier from the danger zone, but has apparently moved another carrier group into position off the coast of Iran.

Several international newspapers are reporting that Saudi Arabia is so concerned about the progress of Iran's nuclear weapons program that it has secretly agreed to allow Israel's air force to overfly its territory in a strike on Iran. In fact, observers say that the Saudis have actually practiced "standing down" their air defense system.

Analysts report that the United States also seems to be stepping up its expansion of military ties with the Persian Gulf states that oppose Iran.

I don't believe that what we're seeing take shape now will become the predicted "Gog-Magog" war. This means that whatever action Israel and others may take against Iran will still leave it a viable nation. The Bible says that Iran will later join a military confederacy with Russia against Israel. Also, Ezekiel says that at the time of the Gog-Magog war, Israel will be living in peace and security without feeling the need for "bars nor gates." Obviously, that does not describe Israel's situation today -- or any other day since its founding in 1948.

It's possible that if Israel strikes Iran and scores a military victory, it will experience the same post-victory response that the United States experienced after the Gulf War in 1991. Though most of the Arab world hated and feared Saddam Hussein -- and cheered when we defeated him -- the ease with which we accomplished the victory inspired both fear and jealousy. Some of those who sided with us then are our adversaries now. And since Israel already has so few friends and allies in the world, if it "defeats" Iran and suffers the same post-victory alienation, it will probably become totally isolated from the world. And that will make it an even more compelling target for its enemies -- just as the ancient prophets foretold.

Finally, this week I want to continue my short series of Christmas meditations. I'm going to address a question that seems too simple to ask, yet may be deceptively complex to quickly answer: "Who is the Son of God?"

The perspective I provide this week may help make this Christmas season even more meaningful for you and your family.