The battle is on for the foundations of our civilisation.

President Trump’s demolition of Obama’s legacy continued this week with the issuing of a directive overturning Obama’s federal guidance that students have unfettered access to whichever bathroom and locker room best matches their ‘gender identity’.

A joint letter sent out by the Departments of Justice and Education on Wednesday referred to the legal battles being fought in a number of States against the Obama directive, which was issued in May 2016. These State Governments have refused to comply with the federal guidance, on the grounds that boys claiming to be girls and exercising a right to use the girls’ toilets and showers would not only be an infringement of the rights of girls, but could expose them to acts of violence.

The Trump administration has cited these legal battles as justification for withdrawing the federal guidance issued by Obama, on the grounds that these complex legal issues all need to be clarified before education policy is finally established.

LGBT Backlash

LGBT rights groups immediately attacked the Trump administration saying “This is a mean-spirited attack on hundreds of thousands of students who simply want to be true to themselves and be treated with dignity while attending school.”¹ That was said by Maria Keisling, Executive Director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality.

Trump’s demolition of Obama’s legacy continued this week with the issuing of a directive overturning Obama’s transgender bathroom guidance.

Of course, she gives no evidence for the claim that there are “hundreds of thousands” of children who want to change their gender; although no doubt with all the publicity being given to the subject, more children will think it is a good idea and climb onto the bandwagon! This has been part of the tactics of the LGBT lobby for a long time – to exaggerate the numbers involved and to gain publicity far above their numerical value.

‘Equality’ and ‘Tolerance’

The main line of attack used by LGBT groups is on the grounds of ‘equality’. In one of the lawsuits currently being pursued in the USA, a student is suing her school for refusing her permission to use the boys’ toilets because she is registered as a girl. A so-called medical expert stated “refusing to respect and affirm transgender students’ gender identity communicates a clear, negative message: there is something wrong with the student that warrants this unequal treatment.”²

‘Equality’ and ‘tolerance’ are the two main values put forward by the LGBT lobby as justification for their campaigns. However, do not be fooled by these smooth, positive-sounding words. The radical agenda of the LGBT lobby is (and always has been) to change the whole structure of Western society, with the ultimate goal of destroying our Judaeo-Christian biblical foundations. In Britain, way back in 1971, a collective of gay rights groups issued a ‘manifesto’ in which they stated that the traditional family was the start of all gay oppression and had to be destroyed.³

Do not be fooled by smooth, positive-sounding cries of ‘equality’ and ‘tolerance’.

Maria Miller, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee. See Photo Credits.Battle for the Foundations of Civilisation

What we are facing today is nothing less than a great spiritual battle to uproot the foundations of Western civilisation. Immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the USA, LGBT groups and other far-left radical political groups who had formed an alliance made an appeal for funds. The alliance is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In the first month, they raised more than $80 million as a war chest for fighting the Trump administration.

In Britain today, the same radical social engineers who are to trying to destroy our Christian heritage are supporting a Private Members Bill in Parliament. The ‘Gender Identity (Protected Characteristic) Bill 2016-2017’ is being debated today (Friday 24 February 2017), led by Maria Miller, who was David Cameron’s Equality Minister who drove through Parliament the Same-Sex Marriage Bill that was opposed by more than half of Cameron’s Conservative backbenchers.

Miller’s latest assault on traditional family life is aimed at stopping so-called ‘unjust discrimination’ against people on grounds of gender identity and allowing men into women’s changing facilities. The new thing about this Bill is that whereas until now it has been assumed that transgender people are those who have had some surgical adjustment to change their gender, this Bill redefines ‘gender identity’ in terms of a person’s subjective perception of themselves. So, anyone claiming to be a person of the opposite gender will have a right to use public conveniences of their choice!

Britain’s own transgender bathroom bill is being debated today.

The Nature of the Battle

It really is essential that Christians should recognise the spiritual nature of the battle in which we are all involved. This is not just a gender issue. Neither is this just a local issue. We are facing a fundamental attack upon the biblical revelation of the God of Creation, that is being mounted by secular humanists throughout the Western world. They have been carrying out a planned campaign of social engineering for 40 years.

Their first target was to destroy the Christian concept of family and marriage. They have certainly been highly successful in this by redefining marriage and changing the whole concept of family. We now live in a society where – increasingly – any and all forms of family life are considered acceptable, normal and equally valuable.

Their second target has been to brainwash children and young people: moulding them into radical protesters who can be quickly mobilised through social media to take to the streets on any issue that threatens their ‘equality’ and ‘tolerance’ agenda.

This is why we have seen huge demonstrations against Trump in the USA and many other nations in the Western world. In their eyes, Trump represents a threat to all they have achieved in the past 40 years, not least because in his administration are many committed Christians who are dedicated to holding firmly to traditional biblical values.

A Crooked Generation

This is the heart of the battle today. It is a result of God shaking the nations and revealing their deep and widespread corruption. These revelations have generated an awareness among ordinary people that our leaders cannot be trusted, which has led to the rise of populist movements in Britain, the USA and Europe that are challenging the ruling authorities.

But these ruling elites are not just well-known leaders: they are civil servants and local government officers and other minor officials who have been infiltrated and dominated by the liberal left.

The radical agenda of the LGBT lobby has always been to destroy the biblical foundations of Western society.

We need to avoid implying that there is some kind of joined-up dark conspiracy; but there is plenty of evidence that there are lesser-known individuals and groups operating behind the scenes, (such as Common Purpose, George Soros-backed Indivisible and Organizing for Action) dedicated to manipulating social values and undermining our biblical heritage in order to work towards a one world government (presumably whereby they can seize power to gain their own ends).

Anti-establishment, populist victories like Brexit and Trump are perceived to be a threat to their power and the achievement of their purpose. They have instigated far-reaching counter-revolutionary demonstrations – and now even occult groups are calling their supporters to put a curse on Trump at midnight tonight, 24 February 2017.⁴ The forces of darkness are certainly being stirred!

This is why Christians need to understand the nature of the spiritual battle that is raging in Western nations today. Believers need to understand what Isaiah meant when he said:

When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord. (Isa 26:10)

It is surely time for the army of the Lord to rise up in prayer; and to declare publicly God’s truth to a crooked generation!

References

1 Smith, D and Redden, M. Trump administration rescinds Obama-era protections for transgender students. The Guardian, 23 February 2017.

2 Ibid.

3 Gay Liberation Front: Manifesto. London, 1971, revised 1978.

4 We have examined evidence for this claim and are satisfied that it is true, but we are not publishing website details as we have no wish to promote these organisations.

The furore over Trump and Eurocrat denials of reality have the same spiritual root.

The latest media furore to erupt over President Trump concerns comments he made last weekend about Sweden. Speaking at a rally in Florida, he said “You look at what’s happening in Germany, you look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.”¹

Jumping at the chance to debunk his poor choice of wording, the left-wing media were once again given a golden opportunity to make the President look like a fool. Media outlets worldwide exploded with cries of ‘fake news’.

Meanwhile, voices pointing out that there was a legitimate point buried in Trump’s bungled phrasing have largely gone unheard – in fact, in some cases, they seem to have actively been censored.²

The Truth About Sweden

It has since surfaced that Trump was referring to a report by Ami Horowitz on a surge in migrant-related gun violence and rape in Sweden in recent years. Despite attempts by the Swedish establishment and the Western media to ‘debunk’ both Trump’s comments and the Horowitz report, the [little-reported] facts speak for themselves.

Hours after Trump’s comments, violence erupted in Rinkeby, Stockholm with a mob attacking police officers with rocks and setting fire to cars.

Last year, 55 areas of Sweden were marked off as ‘no go’ zones – that is, where police admit that they have lost control.³ The Swedish National Police Commissioner has publicly called for thousands more officers to help cope with unrest in asylum centres.⁴

Voices pointing out that there was a legitimate point buried in Trump’s bungled phrasing have largely gone unheard.

Across the country, an increase in rapes has coincided with the mass influx of migrants (Sweden was named the ‘rape capital of the West’ in 2015⁵), and research shows that migrant men are overrepresented amongst the perpetrators.⁶ Most recently, live-streaming of rapes in Stockholm has been used by Tunisian men to attract others to the city via social media.⁷

Meanwhile, the Swedish political establishment has been accused of trying to hush up the rise in assaults, to avoid boosting support for the right-wing Sweden Democratic party.

Reclaiming Reality

Of course the situation is far from simple – there are also reports of counter-attacks on migrants and refugee centres, as well as violence erupting between migrant gangs.

But that said, the reality of this situation is still not being reported properly in Britain. Our liberal press is far more concerned with having another pop at Trump.⁸

Now, please don’t read me wrong. Sweden isn’t falling apart. Europe is not completely devoid of the rule of law – and nobody is pretending that the plight of genuine refugees should be ignored. However, neither should the darker underbelly of the migrant crisis be denied – for the sake of those being assaulted, and also for the sake of understanding the direction in which Europe is headed.

EU Renewal of Vows

President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. See Photo Credits.

Next month marks the 60^th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (i.e. the EU’s 60^th birthday), and EU member leaders are being invited to Rome “to renew their wedding vows”,⁹ at a time of unprecedented crisis for the institution.

Earlier this year, President of the European Council Donald Tusk circulated an open letter to the heads of member nations, outlining key threats to the bloc’s future and calling upon members to unite in the face of crisis. On the one hand, the letter is an understandable attempt to rally morale at a difficult time. The EU is facing a number of grave threats, any one of which could cause it irreparable damage.

On the other hand, however, Tusk’s letter exemplifies the extraordinary denial still so rank amongst EU elites, and gives us a clue as to where this might lead. For instance, the rise of populism across the continent, according to Tusk, does not signal that there are genuine issues that need addressing. Instead, key populist objections to the EU are written off as “the rhetoric of demagogues” that needs to be “opposed”.

EU elites still seem to be in denial about the problems facing the institution.

Buried near the end of the letter, in a sea of platitudes about unity, faith (in ‘our achievements’), peace and prosperity, is a very telling call:

We must…take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level.

Exactly what kinds of “assertive and spectacular steps” will be tabled, in this last-ditch attempt to hold on to power? And how exactly do those in power plan to “change the collective emotions” to be more in line with the European ideal?

We do not yet know the answers to these questions. However, what we do know is that here, in crystal clear terms, Tusk is suggesting that instead of responding to criticism, the EU should consolidate itself against it. Ignore the masses, keep to the original programme, keep the faith – renew the vows (!).

Common Threads, Common Battle

It is not difficult to trace some common threads here, across the USA and Europe. In both, we are witnessing a sustained reaction from the liberal establishment (in politics, business, the media, etc) against two key things.

First, the reality of the failures of the secular humanist liberal project. By this I mean the real, factual failures of this agenda to improve the lives of ordinary people, whether we are talking about the underbelly of open-door immigration, the effects of multi-faith ‘tolerance’ or the negative impacts of abortion, easy divorce and LGBT advances on family life. The liberal left will not and cannot afford to acknowledge these realities.

Secondly, and as a result of this, they are reacting against those who are calling them out and holding them to account in this – whether individual journalists, academics or politicians, or the ‘populist’ masses on the ground. Tactics here can include anything from media demonisation to the seeding of entire counter-demonstrations.

In both the USA and Europe, we are witnessing a huge backlash from the liberal left against its critics.

In worldly terms, this twofold backlash from those who have long held onto power has been precipitated by various popular rejections of the Western liberal project, including the Brexit vote and the Trump win. Even secular commentators have read events like these as mass expressions of anti-establishment feeling.

In spiritual terms, what we are witnessing is, seemingly, the enemy’s response to God’s shake-up of decades of satanic values and ideals being imposed upon largely unsuspecting populaces, lulled into a false sense of security with talk of ‘unity’, ‘freedom’ and ‘tolerance’. The downright falsity of these man-made ideals is being revealed – for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

In this magazine, we have argued that this is God’s direct intervention, shaking the nations and providing Christians with a window of opportunity for the Gospel. But what has come along with that, of course, is a very angry enemy who is writhing and thrashing about, knowing that his time is short (Rev 12:12).

Where Will This Lead?

No wonder, then, that populist movements like Brexit and the Trump victory have faced incessant attempts to derail them. No wonder that there are such common threads to be drawn between the US and Europe at the moment – it is the same spiritual battle cross-cutting the two. Make no mistake: a war is raging right now, for the heart and soul of the West.

Whether the EU survives the present crises, or collapses and is replaced by something else, its underlying vision and spirit will endure. This is because its spirit is one of human pride and self-sufficiency – in fact, it is the perennial spirit of rebellion common to all humans (save One).¹⁰ Those in power, and the purse-strings and agendas fuelling them, will not give up easily – but neither, hopefully, will we.

God has been shaking up decades of satanic values and ideals – and this has made the enemy angry.

For the vital thing to understand is that God’s key weapon in this war is us – ordinary, average Christians. We are the primary vehicle the Lord has chosen to use at this time in the battle for truth and righteousness.

As such, we are not to sit back and watch these huge events unfold on the global scene as if they were nothing to do with us – neither are we meant to become so engrossed in them that we lose perspective and get distracted from God’s call on each of our lives. Like the instruction that Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave to the servants at the wedding of Cana, we should also “do whatever he tells you!” (John 2:5).

Where Can We Start?

And there’s something we can do today! As stated in this week’s Editorial, occult networks are calling members to a worldwide, co-ordinated cursing of Trump, to begin today. This is part of a concerted, demonic effort over the next month to remove him and his team from power (nine of his cabinet of 15 are reportedly evangelical Christians – no doubt part of the reason why the administration is so hated). We urge believers to seek the Lord over this, cover yourself in the full armour of God, and pray positively for the President and his whole team.

References

1 Click here to watch the extract from Trump's speech.

2 Hasson, P. Huffington Post Removes Blog Post Saying Trump Is ‘Absolutely Right’ About Sweden. The Daily Caller, 23 February 2017.

3 Stromme, L. SWEDEN IN CHAOS: Number of ‘no-go zones’ INCREASED as police lose control over violence. The Daily Express, 22 September 2016.

4 Phillips, M. Sloppy words but the substance was true. 23 February 2017.

5 Calrqvist, I and Hedegaard, L. Sweden: Rape Capital of the West. Gatestone Institute, 14 February 2015.

6 Van der Born, V. Swedish professor confirms: "migrants fiercely overrepresented in crime". Gatestone Institute, 23 February 2017.

7 Frankehuis, D. Sweden: Arab men live stream sexual assualt on Facebook. Again. Gatestone Institute, 23 February 2017.

8 As far as I can tell from our mainstream press, and perhaps predictably, only The Telegraph and The Mail have so far dared to offer an alternative perspective on his comments.

9 Barigazzi, J, Herszenhorn, DM and de La Baume, M. Tusk calls on EU countries to renew their wedding vows. Politico, 2 January 2017.

10 That’s why the EU places such an emphasis on integration, on oneness – because it is built on a rejection of the worship of a totally separate God – it worships itself and depends upon itself instead. Power, prosperity, wealth and happiness are all to be found from inside the humanist programme.

Is Trump a modern version of the Persian king Cyrus?

Rival petitions calling for a ban on a state visit from President Trump and supporting such a visit, have attracted sufficiently large numbers of supporters in the UK to trigger a debate in Parliament scheduled for 20 February 2017.

The outcry from the anti-Trump campaigners has been the larger and most vociferous. It rapidly attracted over 1 million petitioners in the first few days, encouraged by street demonstrations in many cities across the world.

The petitions resulted from an executive order signed by Donald Trump imposing a three-month suspension of visas for visitors from seven countries with Muslim-majority populations. The seven are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen – all known to have connections with Islamic terrorists.

Recent anti-Trump protest, New York. See Photo Credits.Why has this caused such an outcry in Western nations? It surely cannot be that large numbers of Westerners want to encourage Middle Eastern Muslims to go to the USA. There has to be another reason. Of course, it’s an opportunity to express dislike of Trump and the many offensive things that he said during his campaign. But the spontaneous outburst also needs to be seen in the wider context of the huge backlash against the Trump inauguration both in the USA and in many other nations.

Elite Outcry

This backlash has come particularly from those within the US who support the liberal elite – the secular humanist intelligentsia who have controlled the political scene in the country for several decades. The prospect of them losing the political power and social status they have enjoyed for so many years is driving them to a frenzy of protest, using every possible means of expressing their fury - from traditional street demonstrations to celebrity endorsements and social media.

The latest move by President Trump to appoint a conservative judge to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court underlines the social and moral revolution that is beginning to unravel decades of social engineering that has taken place in the USA.

The backlash against Trump is coming from the secular humanist intelligentsia who have controlled the political scene in the USA for decades.

One of the major reasons for Trump attracting large numbers of supporters who do not usually vote Republican and large numbers of the disillusioned and disenfranchised is because he promised "to drain the Washington sump". Americans understood this as getting rid of the cabal of professional politicians and civil servants who have imposed a far-left social ideology upon the USA for the past two or three decades.

Trump as Cyrus

Evangelical Christians in the USA have hailed Donald Trump as being in the mould of Cyrus, the 6^th Century BC Persian ruler who was described by the Prophet Isaiah as being chosen by God, although he didn’t even know the name of the God of Israel (see Isa 45:4).

It is an interesting comparison because Cyrus overthrew the all-powerful Babylonian Empire that had ruled what we now know as the Middle East for 70 years. The then-current Babylonian Emperor, Nabonidus, was weak and ineffective. When Cyrus approached Babylon there was no battle and no resistance – people welcomed him and he took control of the whole Babylonian Empire without a drop of blood being shed.

Cyrus was different from any other ruler before him. He did not publicly kill Nabonidus. He arrested him but treated him kindly. Also, he signed a decree releasing all the political prisoners held by the Babylonians. This enabled all the Jews who had been enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar and used as forced labour in Babylonia, to go back to their homes in Israel and to re-build the ruined city of Jerusalem.

Cyrus’s decree also released people from other countries who had been deported to Babylon. They were allowed to go back to their countries of origin and take with them the edifices of their gods which had been brought to Babylon. The Jews did not have images of God, but they were allowed to take all the sacred vessels stolen by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple in Jerusalem.

Evangelical Christians in the USA have hailed Donald Trump as being in the mould of Cyrus, the 6th Century BC Persian ruler.

Helping God’s People

Cyrus not only allowed the Jewish people to go back to Jerusalem; he also gave a large sum of money to the Jews for the re-building of the Temple, on the understanding that they would regularly pray for him and his family. The ‘Cyrus Cylinder’ which is held in the British Museum in London gives details of this arrangement, which is hailed by many historians as the first ‘Charter of Human Rights’ in world history.

Cyrus was the first Emperor to rule his empire by ‘consensus’ and not by force. He believed that if the people felt gratitude towards him and he showed generosity rather than cruelty; they would accept him and not oppose his authority. History shows a period of peace throughout the region during his lifetime and those of his immediate successors.

Today’s Changes

So, are American Christians justified in comparing Trump with Cyrus?

First, look at the situation in Washington: a revolutionary period of change has begun in the USA – not through violent revolution (even though there have been protests) but via a peaceful transition of power, like Cyrus’s takeover of Babylon. The man leading today’s revolution is very different from all those who have gone before; he has no entrenched political ideology. He has no experience of government or diplomacy; but that was probably what was needed to effect fundamental change (although he is likely to make some clumsy mistakes until he gains experience).

Now look at the nature of the changes that are taking place. The secular humanist liberal elite that has ruled Washington for decades is being replaced by a much more conservative administration who wish to emphasise traditional, biblically-based social and moral values. Of course, there are many in America who hate what is happening and they are very vocal in protest. But that doesn’t mean that the changes taking place are necessarily bad.

Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire in a peaceful revolution, and was different from any other ruler before him.

Battling for the Soul of the West

Meanwhile, the same battle is going on in Europe: it is a battle for the soul of the Western nations in a largely post-Christian era. In Britain, the battle has become focused around Brexit, with secular humanists on both the left and the right, such as Nick Clegg and Ken Clarke, still fighting to keep Britain within the European Union.

Listening to the debate in the House of Commons this week, it was clear that the division between supporters of Brexit and Remainers is no longer political and economic - it is about social values and the ethos of our national identity: at root, it is a spiritual battle.

It is essential that Christians understand the nature of this battle that is taking place in our lifetime – for it is a battle where prayer and Christian witness are of vital significance for the outcome.

Is Trump a Modern Cyrus?

So, back to the original question: could Trump be a modern Cyrus? Cyrus the Persian was a great leader: he was wise and compassionate. Do we see the same characteristics in Trump? Probably not at the moment, but can he change? Only time will tell.

The same battle is going on in Europe – it is a battle for the soul of the Western nations in a post-Christian era.

But one thing is certain – God has allowed his election to happen and I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God and that with God nothing is impossible. So, I’m prepared to wait and see and to join American Christians in surrounding the man with prayer, in the hope that he may grow in wisdom and grace for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the world.

Negotiating an age of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts'. 

Why do politicians find it so hard to tell the truth – the plain, simple and unvarnished truth? I was sad to see our Prime Minister refuse to answer a simple question this week as to whether or not she knew about the failure of the test firing of an unarmed rocket from the Trident submarine when the issue of renewing the weapon system was being debated in the Commons last summer.

Four times she was asked and four times she made little speeches, but dodged the question. She did not tell a direct lie; she simply refused to tell the truth.

It sometimes seems as though politicians have a different definition of ‘truth’. Donald Trump, during his first week in office, has striven to convince the public that he is more popular than Hillary Clinton who gained 3 million more votes than he did. He said this week that he didn’t try to win the ‘popular vote’ but he could have won it if he had tried! Trump also claimed that Clinton’s vote was inflated by fraudulent voting, for which there is no evidence – but that doesn’t seem to matter to him.

Aerial photographs of crowds at the Obama (top) and Trump (bottom) inaugurations. Crowd sizes have been disputed by Trump.‘Alternative Facts’

Trump’s spin doctor lambasted the press for reporting that the crowd attending the inauguration was not as great as the one attending Obama’s inauguration, despite the evidence of TV pictures and photographs, which Trump said were doctored.

Trump’s team also contested the truth of the vast crowd that demonstrated against his inauguration last Sunday. They invented a new term for truth – ‘alternative facts’! Just think of that as a definition of ‘truth’ – surely facts are facts and ‘alternative facts’ are lies! It’s as simple as that: you either have facts or lies.

May Vs. Trump

Donald Trump and Theresa May are meeting today for the first time in an historic encounter. Trump has already likened Mrs May to Margaret Thatcher, saying that he expects her to be his ‘Maggie’. He is the kind of man who prides himself on his female conquests and this meeting will be a particular challenge that he will be desperate to win. He will be wanting our PM to like him! But how will she respond?

Perhaps an even bigger question is – can Theresa May tell the truth to Donald Trump? He has announced that he is quite happy for American security services to use torture to obtain information from men suspected of being involved in terrorism. But this is directly against our national values.

It sometimes seems as though politicians have a different definition of 'truth'.

Moreover, our legal system would not allow the use of information in a trial that had been obtained under torture. It could mean that US and UK security services would be unable to share information on security issues affecting our nations. So, should Theresa May, on her first visit to the new President, jeopardise their relationship by not telling him the truth about British values?

These are difficult areas of moral responsibility for politicians to handle and our PM is going to require a great deal of wisdom. So much depends upon the importance the respective leaders put upon handling truth.

Great Battle Raging

What we’re seeing here is indicative of a great battle for truth raging right across the Western world. Another example of this is fake news deliberately being injected into the media. There is nothing new in the attempt to deceive the public with false information and by twisting the truth. It was the technique used by Joseph Goebbels who masterminded the Nazi brainwashing of the German public to make the murder of Jews socially acceptable.

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, when we remember the greatest act of mass murder in the history of the world, which happened in the lifetime of many still living. Many in the older generation will remember the sense of bewilderment as well as horror when the first pictures were published of the survivors in Auschwitz when Germany was defeated. It seemed beyond belief that such incredible mass murder and cruelty could have been carried out by human beings in our lifetime. Gradually it emerged that it was not only Germans who were involved; most of Europe was complicit in trying to exterminate the Jews.

There is a great battle for truth raging right across the Western world.

The rise of anti-Semitism today in Europe and across the world, which includes the increasing denial of the Holocaust, is part of the battle for truth. It is part of humanity’s self-delusion about our own goodness and popularity which millions of young people are seduced into worshipping through social media. It’s like Donald Trump trying to convince himself that he is the most popular President the USA has ever had! Why are we human beings so reluctant to face the truth about ourselves?

Defining Truth?

To answer this question, we must first ask: where do we get our definition of ‘truth’? In countries such as Britain with a long history of Christianity, our social and moral values are rooted in the Bible where truth, integrity, faithfulness and loyalty are seen to be attributes of God. These define the standard of ‘absolutes’, or fundament values, which we aim to follow.
In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus made a seminal statement regarding truth. He said:

Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:19)

This applies to nations as well as to individuals. There is really only one standard of truth and that is the one established by the God of Creation which is part of his own nature. When ‘alternative facts’ are peddled as ‘truth’ in a nation; that nation is in dire trouble because nobody can trust the word of their neighbours, friends, family, colleagues, or government any longer. So, the whole basis of our human relationships begins to break down. This is what we face once we abandon truth.

Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to face the reality of our unredeemed human nature and admit that we really need what only God can do for us – to bring about a basic change in our human nature through responding to his love and what he has done for us through Jesus.

There is a really only one standard of truth and that is the one established by the God of Creation.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘God’s Chaos Candidate’ by Dr Lance Wallnau (2016).

One of the big questions of 2016 was, ‘How did Donald Trump get elected to the highest office in the USA, if not the world?’ As his inauguration happens today many will be repeating that question and wondering how it will all work out. Here is a fascinating book that provides insights into the personal journey of the new President and the state of the country he is about to lead.

The title itself is an interesting one, based upon Jeb Bush’s description of Donald Trump as “the chaos candidate”. Lance Wallnau has taken this and given it a prophetic twist, advocating that Trump, rather than being the candidate of chaos, is the right man to lead America through and out of the chaos that has descended upon the nation in recent decades. Hence the phrase in the subtitle, the American Unraveling, to which he devotes a whole chapter towards the end of the book.

A Wrecking Ball?

The first chapter is available as a free download on the author’s website and I would recommend reading this as a taster for the book as a whole. In sum, Dr Wallnau believes that God has chosen Trump to be a “wrecking ball to the spirit of political correctness” (p7) and that he is God’s anointed leader for the coming years in the same way that the Lord chose Cyrus in the past (Isa 45).

The author is clear that Trump’s personal faith is not the main issue here, though he does argue that while Trump is far from being an evangelical Christian, he does support many Christian values and offers a new opportunity for America’s Christian heritage to flourish again.

Wallnau advocates that Trump, rather than being the candidate of chaos, is the right man to lead America out of the chaos that has descended upon it in recent decades.

A New Cyrus?

The author’s thesis is that God can use those who are not specifically ‘one of his own’, just as he has in the past (as well as Cyrus, Wallnau cites, among others, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill). In emergency situations (especially those of a chaotic nature), what is required is a different kind of leader, someone with a transformational agenda and the capability of putting it into practice - rather than one committed to maintaining the status quo with all its self-interest and propagation of political power.

Trump’s emergence as a “rugged wilderness voice” has created a “destabilizing threat to the vast deal making machinery” (p8) that permeates the Washington scene in both political parties. And this, the author believes, is exactly what is needed at this time.

Warning - Dominionism

Quite a bit of the book is devoted to the US political scene, which may be of more interest to some readers than others, but it does not prevent the book being a readable account of how the USA has been affected by the strategists of the Progressive Left. The author argues that the ‘seven mountains of culture’ (Religion, Family, Education, Government, News Media, Entertainment, Business/Economics) have been hijacked to reduce the impact of Christianity in the nation and to attack Christian values.

As such, Wallnau suggests, the USA is now facing its ‘Fourth Crucible’, a defining moment on a similar plane to events like the founding Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression and WW2. Another four or eight years of the same kind of government, from either party, could lead to a permanent unravelling and even ultimate collapse.

There are many interesting insights in this part of the book, but it is also important to note at this point the author’s clear and problematic devotion to dominion theology, specifically the ‘Seven Mountains’ branch. Dominion theology involves dangerous and deceptive interpretations of Scripture that this magazine does not endorse – neither can we endorse the highly influential ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ (NAR) group in the USA, out of which many of these teachings emanate.

Nevertheless, despite Wallnau’s clear connections here, this book provides a valid perspective on Trump and his entry into modern American politics that is worth weighing and holding in the context of a broader understanding of God’s word and purposes.

The author's thesis is that God can use those who are not specifically 'one of his own' - he cites Cyrus, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, among others.

Trump the Man

Furthermore, Wallnau is not writing from a distance. He has met Trump personally and had regular access to him as part of a group of Christian pastors and leaders with whom Trump has had several meetings in recent years.

Wallnau has also researched Trump’s past and gained an understanding of what makes him tick as a businessman and family man, and how he thinks and operates today. These sections of the book provide revealing insights into the man who is about to become one of the world’s most powerful leaders. If our view of Trump so far is based on mainstream media output, then here is a welcome balance. The author has sought to put the record straight - or at least to straighten it out a bit.

Trump may be an unpolished performer politically, and he will make mistakes, but he is someone who tells the truth as he sees it and who will shake things up where necessary. As a very successful businessman and CEO his approach to the American economy will be to treat it as one big enterprise, a company that needs to pay its way rather than get deeper and deeper into debt.

God’s Common Grace

Inevitably the author faces questions along the lines of 'Is Trump a Christian?' He admits that Trump is no choir boy but believes that he does pray and is genuine in seeking God and re-establishing Christian principles which he does understand. His declaration to church leaders that they “have gotten soft” (p49-50) is most revealing! He has had personal moments of soul-seeking and spiritual transformation, and many encounters with anointed preachers (mainly African-American clergy who remain a key influence).

The author firmly believes that God’s ‘common grace’ is upon him, which he explains more fully in chapter 5. He asserts that “It has gradually dawned on evangelicals that having the right person in the Oval Office may be more important than voting their favorite Christian” (p68). Perhaps that answers the question posed earlier of how Donald Trump did get elected.

There are many interesting insights in the book, but it is also important to note the author's clear and problematic devotion to 'dominion theology'.

Seeing a Different Future

If we believe that God really does control nations and their destinies, then a critical consideration of Dr Wallnau’s book is important – whether or not you agree with the rest of his theology.

Perhaps, as the author suggests, Trump has been able to see a different future and is not afraid to go there. And if he has offered himself to the task of guiding America there, then at least he deserves our prayers. Perhaps he will find the Presidential office a transformational one for himself. If God has called him, then he will want to equip him.

God’s Chaos Candidate (156 pages, Killer Sheep Media Inc.) is available from Amazon for £10 (less on Kindle). For more information about the book and to read its first chapter, visit the official website.

What an incredible week this has been in international politics!

The week began with 70 nations gathering in Paris, with the intention of trying to force Israel into a two-state solution that would effectively commit national suicide. This was followed by world business leaders meeting in Davos, Switzerland, trying to assess the health and direction of the world economy.

On the same day that Davos started came the statement from Prime Minister Theresa May outlining British Government plans for Brexit which have long-term implications for Europe and the rest of the world. Today, the eyes of the world are upon Washington as the people of the USA install the most unlikely President in the history of the United States – Donald J Trump.

The pace of change worldwide has been increasing exponentially over the past 40 years. Today it is almost bewildering for all those who try to follow world events and to understand what is happening.

At the beginning of this year, political and economic commentators were looking back over 2016, trying to assess how accurate their forecasts for the year had been. Most of them admitted honestly that they had been taken by surprise on almost all major world events.

Christians who have been recognising for some years that God is shaking the nations can trace the hand of God in all this. The Psalmist got it right when he declared that God scoffs at the nations when they try to throw off all restraint and conspire in vain against his purposes (Ps 2). Paul touched on a deep truth when he said that “God made foolish the wisdom of this world…For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom” (1 Cor 1:20, 25).

Last year, most political and economic commentators were taken by surprise on almost all major word events.

The Nature and Purposes of God

So, how do we understand what’s going on in the world today? If we’re going to get a clear view of what is happening, we have to start by getting a biblical perspective of the nature and purposes of God.

This may sound boring to those who simply want to forecast the future. But without this broader perspective we have no yardstick of truth and no focal point for an investigation.

We need to know the God of Creation, who holds the nations in his hands. Despite having given human beings freedom of will, God nevertheless still guides the affairs of the nations to fulfil his overall purpose of bringing his Gospel of salvation to all people.

We have only to look at the incredible destruction of the city of Aleppo in Syria to see what human beings can do when all restraint is removed and there is no regard or value for anything, including human life. This is a picture in miniature of the direction the nations of the world, armed with the most incredible weapons of mass destruction, are taking towards collective global self-destruction. And this is the reason why God intervenes in world affairs - to steer the nations in a different direction.

Watching and Praying

Christians in the Western world have slowly been waking up over the past few decades to the reality of the world situation and the dangers that confront us. They have been stunned by the level of violence in the Middle East and the horrific acts of terrorism in Europe and elsewhere carried out by militant Muslims in the name of their god Allah. They feel helpless as the North Koreans strive to produce their first nuclear bomb and the Chinese establish military bases on unoccupied islands in the South China Sea.

An increasing number of Christians are taking seriously the command of Jesus to watch and pray. The significant rise in the number of home-based small groups around Britain is evidence of this. This prophetic, awakened Church is increasingly resembling that of New Testament times; not only for meetings in the home but also for emphasis upon prayer and Bible study.

If we’re going to understand what is happening, we have to start with a biblical perspective of the nature and purposes of God.

Prayer Makes a Difference!

In Britain, we are seeing more Christians involved in corporate prayer for national and international issues than we have seen since the days of the Second World War. I was at a conference last Saturday when the whole company agreed to stop and pray about the meeting of world leaders that was taking place in Paris. It was not on the agenda, but we spent a whole hour praying about the event and the issue of Israel and the Palestinians. I’m sure we were not alone and that prayer greatly influenced the outcome; bringing confusion among the delegates and resulting in no resolution that could harm Israel.

The business leaders’ meeting in Davos was also said to be a non-event, with delegates being more interested in what was happening in London, where Theresa May was speaking.

The Prime Minister’s speech certainly was very warmly received by much of the British media; especially her promises that Britain will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (or injustice, as many see it!), no longer subject to the free movement of labour so that we can control immigration and no longer under the control of European customs regulations so that we can develop international trade. Especially welcome was her statement that Britain would not accept a ‘bad deal’ - and that both Houses of Parliament will have a vote on the final agreement.

Of course, none of this has gone down very well in the European Union, which was to be expected. But during the next two years we may expect to see further major shaking of the EU and upheaval that will affect the negotiations with Britain. In threatening to make life difficult for post-EU Britain, European leaders are failing to factor in the activity of God.

In Britain, we are seeing more Christians involved in corporate prayer for national and international issues than we have seen since the Second World War.

Today: Focus on the USA

Anti-Trump demonstrators in Washington, today.

World leaders and Europhiles in Britain have all been surprised that their pre-Referendum forecasts of doom and economic disaster have not been fulfilled. But Christians know that prayer played a large part in Brexit and therefore we may expect to see God’s blessing – especially if believers continue to pray actively for the nation.

Today, the focus for prayer should be upon the USA – urgently asking the Lord to guide the new President and members of his Administration, that they will be given wisdom far above the normal human level to exercise Godly leadership as they navigate a confusing world and the rapid changes that are sweeping across the nations today.

Those who are fearful that Trump’s ungodly and erratic past could carry over into his presidency need to remember that with God nothing is impossible; as Jeremiah rightly declared:

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” (Jer 32:17)

Author: Dr Clifford Hill

References: Second image: Jose Luis Magana/AP/Press Association Images.

A call to prayer.

In two days' time, on Sunday 15 January, representatives from 70 nations will gather in Paris for a conference aimed at resurrecting the Israel/Palestine peace process.

Last week we commented on the passing of anti-Israel UNSC Resolution 2334 and John Kerry's speech setting out parameters for a 'two-state solution' (both December 2016). The next stage in Obama's swansong would appear to be a last-minute attempt to force through some kind of international agreement along these lines, using this Paris summit.

We do not yet know the form this agreement might take - whether further pressure on Israel to declare their West Bank settlements illegal, or even a global 'roadmap' for establishing a Palestinian state.¹ Its outcome may quickly be overturned when President-Elect Trump assumes office next Friday (20 January) – nevertheless, its clear follow-on from Resolution 2334 and its rushed placement just before Trump's inauguration are causing concern amongst Israelis and friends of Israel.

The Nations Gather

70 nations will be present at the summit (though some news outlets have reported that the eventual number might be 72 or 77), which has been instigated by the French and will be chaired by French President Francois Hollande.

This is prompting some biblical speculation. One Rabbinic commentator has noted that in Torah terms, '70 nations' signifies all nations – prompting connections to be made to Bible prophecies about all the nations of the world gathering against Israel during the end times.²

70 Nations Deciding the Fate of One

What is certain is that this is no gathering for the sake of peace – however it might be billed. We do not see similar conferences happening to solve the Syrian civil war, or to combat the spread of ISIS, for instance. Israel is being singled out in yet another international attempt to carve up her God-given land and further undermine support for her very existence – as Charles Gardner eloquently expounds in his article this week .

Though Israeli PM Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas have been invited to attend the conference's conclusion, Netanyahu has refused this invitation on principle, stating: "This conference is a fraud, a Palestinian scam under French auspices, whose goal is to lead to the adoption of additional anti-Israeli positions".³ Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has called the summit "a modern-day Dreyfus trial".⁴

70 nations will be present at the summit, prompting some biblical speculation.

The present American embassy in Israel, Tel Aviv. See Photo Credits.American Betrayal

Earlier this week, Washington confirmed that John Kerry will be in attendance, as part of his last foreign trip as Secretary of State.⁵ Relations between Israel and the US have been at an all-time low since UNSC Resolution 2334 was passed last month. Obama's clear involvement in this surfaced soon after, in what many are calling a deep betrayal of the long-standing friendship between the US and Israel.

These diplomatic tensions are being worsened by the current outcry against Donald Trump both within and outside of the USA, as he has so far refused to rescind his promise to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Indeed, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, the day before the Paris conference, as part of a campaign to stop Trump's 'explosive' plan.⁶

Israel's Last Chance?

All this is coming at a particularly vulnerable time for Israelis, who are still recovering from the terror attack last week in Jerusalem, when a lorry was driven deliberately into a group of IDF soldiers.

Israeli officials have predicted that the chain of international events currently unfolding will undermine Netanyahu's leadership and incite further Palestinian violence, whilst removing all hope of a 'two-state solution'.

As if to confirm this, a top adviser to the Palestinian President has told The Jerusalem Post that the Paris conference is Israel's 'last chance' to accept such a 'solution'.⁷ In a veiled threat, he implied that if Israel does not bow to the pressure being loaded upon them by the world, they will be solely responsible for the breakdown of the peace process and any violence that might ensue.

This will be no gathering for the sake of peace - no matter how it might be billed.

Unfolding Rapidly

Events are moving quickly. The week ahead looks set to be momentous – with the Sunday summit feeding into a further convening of the UN on Israel/Palestine matters on Tuesday 17 January.

The World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, where global leaders meet annually to discuss the world's future in both open and closed meetings, also begins on Tuesday, whilst Trump's inauguration is set for Friday 20 January.

There is certainly no time like the present for Christians to turn to the word of God for guidance, hope and encouragement in prayer! But what are we to expect – and how are we to pray?

Watch and Pray – But How?

We know that in general terms, those who seek to harm Israel do so at their peril – for they risk bringing Divine retribution upon themselves. This is an eternal principle set out in Scripture (e.g. Gen 12:3), the grim reality of which has been confirmed time and again through history.

The Bible is also very clear that at the end of days there will be a special, global revolt against Israel (e.g. Zech 12-14, Rev 16, Jer 25), with many nations assembling together to attack Jerusalem. This will be part of the Lord's judgment - and part of an inevitable chain of events foretold in Scripture that lead directly to the return of Jesus Messiah.

Joel 3:1-2 specifies that these nations will historically have had a hand in scattering Jews into exile and dividing up the Lord's land. However, the siege will be directed against Zion (Jerusalem), implying that the City at the centre of it all will remain under (or eventually be restored to) Israeli control: "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves" (Zech 12:2-3).

The eternal principle set out in Scripture is that those who seek to harm Israel do so at their peril.

Though the nations conspire together, however, the timings of this final onslaught are completely in the hands of the Lord God. Psalm 2 is a wonderful psalm for regaining this heavenly perspective ("Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?...The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them...").

As Christians watching keenly the events currently happening on the world stage, we must pray that the Lord will accomplish his purposes fully at this time, using the instability and the great evil abroad in the world to bring as many into the Kingdom as possible. We should pray blessing on the people of Israel – and seek to support them in more tangible ways. And we might pray that Britain will work for Israel's best interests in all our diplomatic endeavours, instead of paying lip service to her one day and betraying her the next.

A Final Warning – and a Hope

Finally, we can all take heed of the warning in Zephaniah 2, given to those nations that would come against Israel. This is the very same chapter that prophesies the emptying of Gaza and the final destruction of Canaan, the land of the Philistines (from whence we get our modern terms 'Palestine' and 'Palestinian'). The warning is this:

Gather yourselves together...Before the decree is issued, before the day passes like chaff, before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the Earth who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, Seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.

References

1 A draft closing statement for the conference was leaked by Haaretz earlier this week. Full text available here.

2 Berkowitz, Biblical Origins of the 70-Nation Anti-Israel Paris Conference. Breaking Israel News, 5 January 2017.

3 Ravid, B. Netanyahu: Paris Peace Conference Is Rigged by Palestinians Under French Auspices. Haaretz, 12 January 2017.

4 Ynet News, Associated Press. Abbas hopes Paris summit ends settlements. 27 December 2016.

5 AFP, Kerry to attend Mideast peace conference in Paris. Times of Israel, 11 January 2017.

6 Lazaroff, T. Abbas to meet Pope Francis in advance of Paris parley. The Jerusalem Post, 11 January 2017.

7 Rasgon, A. Palestinians put hope in Paris conference as possible 'last chance' for two-states. The Jerusalem Post, 3 January 2017.

2016 was a turbulent and difficult year by most accounts. How can believers position themselves wisely as we move into 2017?

The New Year 2017 started very much as the old year 2016 ended, with the battle for Brexit growing in intensity. The resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers shook the Whitehall political establishment – or so it was reported. But did he jump or was he pushed? Clearly Sir Ivan could not have led Britain's negotiations to leave the EU successfully when he had a clear preference to remain within the European Union.

Sir Tim Barrow, the new British ambassador to the EU. See Photo Credits.In biblical terms, the principle that can be applied to such negotiations was clearly stated by Jesus, "Whoever is not with me is against me" (Matt 12:30). In this instant, it would certainly not have been in Britain's interest to have negotiations led by a man whose heart was not in the task of achieving a successful outcome.

Theresa May moved swiftly to replace him with another career civil servant who has publicly committed himself to Brexit. Sir Tim Barrow was British Ambassador to Russia from 2011 to 2015 and while in Moscow he established his reputation as a keen negotiator who will give support and advice to our politicians in the coming months of talks in Brussels.

Greater Problems to Come

The Brexit battle is by no means over and may be expected to grow even more intense as the date for triggering Article 50 approaches. But there are much greater problems on the horizon for the coming year, with the turmoil in the Middle East increasing by the day and the threat of terrorism right across Europe a constant anxiety.

The good news is that the threat of terrorist attacks in Europe initiated by ISIS may be diminishing now that the border between Syria and Turkey has been closed, due to Turkey's reaction to ongoing ISIS' atrocities against soft civilian targets (such as the New Year attack upon a nightclub in Istanbul).

The Brexit battle is by no means over and may grow more intense as the date for triggering Article 50 approaches.

These attacks have hardened Turkish public opinion and strengthened the military determination to close the long border with Syria. The effect of this is to deny ISIS direct access to the West and reduce its capacity to recruit and to infiltrate its fighters into Europe. But European nations must face the threat of terrorism for some while yet, as unknown numbers of terrorists may have already come in through flows of refugees, in addition to 'home-grown' militants radicalised on European soil.

Trump Incoming

The great unknown in all this, of course, is what the Trump Administration will do in the Middle East. The policy of the Obama Administration has been disastrous. They clearly backed the wrong side in arming the so-called 'moderate' Muslim rebels in the Syrian civil war. This allowed Russia to intervene on behalf of President Assad which has turned the war in his favour. But a negotiated peace is not in sight. The rebels will never agree to Assad remaining in power and he will never agree to their demands.

A further complication is the involvement of the Kurds, who have proved to be a useful ally in fighting ISIS in Syria, but they will never be acceptable in Arab areas due to centuries-old hostility.

Obama's policy has been primarily aimed at destroying ISIS. This led to US acceptance of Russian military intervention and the reversal of its opposition to Assad who is backed by Iran – an implacable enemy of the West whose stated aim is the destruction of Israel.

Will Trump continue this policy, particularly in view of his friendly attitude towards Putin? But Trump has also declared unswerving support for Israel. If he carries through his declared aim of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv up to Jerusalem, 'the eternal capital of Israel', this could well cause the whole Israeli-Palestinian dispute to explode.

If Trump carries through his declared aim to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the whole Israeli-Palestinian dispute could explode.

UN Resolution 2334US Secretary of State John Kerry, who delivered a blistering speech against Israel in the aftermath of the recent UN vote.

The vote last month in the United Nations Security Council condemning Israel's policy of settlements in disputed territory has highlighted the Arab-Israeli conflict. Obama's refusal to exercise the USA's veto allowed the almost unanimous vote against Israel (see the article by Charles Gardner elsewhere in this issue). The USA's decision was defended in a critical speech by John Kerry a few days later.

Sadly, Britain also voted in condemnation of Israel, once again breaking all the promises we made in the 1920s when we agreed that the whole land from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea would be a Jewish homeland. Winston Churchill was the Colonial Secretary at the time and he stated explicitly that the Arab part of Palestine would be East of the River Jordan in what is now known as 'Jordan' and the west would be Israel. This was officially and formally approved by the League of Nations on 22 July 1921 – the original 'two-state solution'!

There were only 600,000 Arabs living east of the Jordan at that time and they would be peacefully absorbed into Israel, as they are today in northern Israeli towns such as Nazareth where they have Israeli citizenship and vote for Arab MPs in the Israeli Parliament. Churchill stated on 30 March 1921:

It is manifestly right that the scattered Jews should have a national centre and a national home to be reunited, and where else but in Palestine with which for 3,000 years they have been intimately and profoundly associated? We think it will be good for the world, good for the Jews, good for the British Empire, but also good for the Arabs who dwell in Palestine and we intend it to be so; they shall share in the benefits and progress of Zionism.¹

Sadly, Britain also voted in condemnation of Israel in the UN vote at the end of December.

Zechariah 12 on the Horizon?

If Donald Trump carries out his promises to Israel and the USA becomes the first nation to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel established by King David some 3,000 years ago, and the vast injustice that has denied Jews the right to their own land for the past 2,000 years – it may embolden Israel to annex the whole land in accordance with the League of Nations' declaration.

This would no doubt bring strong protests from the Arab nations with the support of all the anti-Semitic nations of the West. This would look very much like the kind of scenario envisaged in Zechariah 12, when all the nations gather against Israel. Jesus himself warned that "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains" (Matt 24:7-8). Jesus also said that "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24). Are we approaching that time?

The Prayers of Believers Are Vital

Jesus told his disciples "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7) but he also told them to watch and pray - and in particular to discern the signs of the times, so that no-one is caught by surprise.

Despite this warning, 2017 is likely to bring many surprises, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe, as the great shaking of the nations spreads across the face of the earth (in particular opening up cracks in the European Union). But Britain is likely to find the exit from the EU to be easier than expected and, provided the right decisions are made by our politicians, we may expect to see God's blessing upon the nation and the economy faring better than expected.

Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray – and to discern the signs of the times.

Much is dependent upon the prayers of believers – genuine, heartfelt, persistent intercession is the only thing that will truly protect and change the nation in the turbulent days that lie ahead. Will Christians study the word of God and understand the times, so that they know how to pray? And will they commit their time to faithful prayer? The future of the nation depends upon our response.

References

1 Quoted in Fromkin, D, A Peace to End All Peace. Phoenix Press, London, 2003, p519.

There is a great spiritual battle raging for the soul of the West.

These are dangerous days for the USA and for Britain. Both are seeing an unprecedented level of social and political unrest. Both have had national referendums, democratically conducted. But both are now seeing these democratic resolutions challenged.

In the US, Donald Trump is said to be the most unpopular choice of President in living memory and street protests against his election have been taking place in cities across the country. More than 4 million people have signed petitions calling upon the Electoral College to reverse the decision of the people and appoint Hillary Clinton as President-elect.

Technically this could happen. Donald Trump is not yet President-elect: he has been nominated by vote of the people, but it is the Electoral College that actually makes the appointment of President-elect. They meet on 19 December 2016, when the representatives from the states who are committed to vote for Donald Trump could, in theory, change their minds and vote for Hillary Clinton on the grounds that she won the popular vote.¹ These rebel delegates would incur a personal fine if they did this, although there will be plenty of Democrats only too willing to pay their fine. But it is highly unlikely that this will happen, despite the petition and despite the vehemence of the street protests.

In a similar way, the Lib Dems in Britain, backed by Tony Blair, are campaigning for a second referendum to overturn the decision taken on 23 June this year, which they do not like. They want to remain in the European Union regardless of its restrictions upon national sovereignty. It is strange that a Party that has always championed democracy is now seeking to undermine democracy and to defy the will of the people.

UK and US Similarities

There are many similarities between the situation in the USA and that in Britain. This was perceived by Donald Trump during his campaign when he said that the outcome of the vote would be "Brexit plus plus plus". No doubt this is the reason why, as part of his celebrations, he invited Nigel Farage as the first British politician to meet him. There are strong similarities between the US presidential election and Brexit. In both cases, evangelical Christians played a large part in the outcome. I cannot prove this statistically, although one report from the States estimates that as many as 80% of white evangelical voters chose Trump.²

Both the USA and Britain are experiencing unprecedented levels of social and political unrest.

Christians in the US are happy that the Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, is a committed Christian and they are praying that Donald Trump will also commit his life to the Lord. They voted for him, not because they thought he was a good man, but because they believed that in some way God was going to use him to break the dominance of the secular humanist liberal elite that has been driving America for decades. And this is very similar to the motives of British Christians who voted for Brexit in order to get Britain out of the increasingly evil influences of the EU.

Battle for the Soul of the West

Many Christians on both sides of the Atlantic have a sense that a great spiritual battle is raging over our nations that is essentially a battle for the soul of the West, which has been witnessing its centuries of biblical heritage rapidly draining away under the impact of a toxic mixture of Marxism, secularism, humanism and Satanism. What is becoming abundantly clear is that this is not a battle against flesh and blood but against what Paul aptly described as "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph 6:12).

There is a desperate need today for committed Christians who understand the times in which we are living and who are able to engage in prayer that is directed by a clear understanding of the nature of the battle; and who are also willing to be witnesses to the truth in their sphere of influence, so that the word of God is directed into the life of the nations both at a grassroots level and into the arteries of power.

In order to gain the level of understanding required for the incredible times in which we are living, we need Godly revelation. This was something of which Moses had foresight. At a critical point in his life, with half a million people to feed in the desert, he cried out to God that he just couldn't carry on. God appointed 70 elders to share the burden of leadership and the Spirit of God came upon them so that they prophesied (Num 11:24-25). God had already given Moses a definition of prophecy as declaring the word of God [being his mouthpiece] (Ex 4:5-16).

Moses then expressed a wish that has prophetic significance for our day. He said "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets" (Num 11:29). That is what we greatly need today – all God's people knowing the word of God and having the ability to declare it openly among their friends and neighbours, and more widely when they have the opportunity.

Christians on both sides of the Atlantic have a sense that a great spiritual battle is raging over our nations - a battle for the soul of the West.

Need for Divine Strength

There are many stories in the Bible showing how, when those with leadership responsibilities got to the end of their strength and cried out to God, miracles happened. It happened with Moses several times. It also happened with King Jehoshaphat, who realised that the tiny army of Judah could not face the vast army coming against him. He led the whole nation in prayer that ended with a cry for help "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" (2 Chron 20:12).

The response from God was "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's." It is when we admit our powerlessness to deal with the situation that God is able to take over and exercise supernatural power. St Paul found this many times in his own life when God said to him "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9). Paul's own testimony was "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10).

For Those in Power...

It is this divine strength that is needed by our leaders in these testing days, but it is not easy for politicians to express weakness. This is where they need the prayer support of Christians who understand the times. We should be giving special prayer covering to the meeting of the Electoral College in America on 19 December and the inauguration of the new President on 20 January 2017.

We should also be praying for Prime Minister Theresa May in Britain and all the politicians and civil servants who are engaged in the negotiations to get Britain out of the European Union. This is already a giant spiritual battle in the heavenlies and on the ground in Brussels and other European capitals. But if the battle is God's, it is more than possible that he will do something spectacular in Europe before the completion of the Brexit negotiations! Right now, the greatest need is to mobilise prayer among Christians.

There is a desperate need today for Christians of understanding and wisdom, who are able to pray strategically and witness to the truth in their sphere of influence.

References

1 Forster, K. Hillary Clinton voters call on Electoral College members to stop Donald Trump. The Independent, 17 November 2016.

2 Bailey, SP. White evangelicals voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, exit polls show. Washington Post, 9 November 2016.

Clifford Hill asks: why?

Donald Trump's election as the 45^th President of the United States has been hailed as the greatest political upset in the country's 240-year history. But what is its significance? Opinion is sharply divided. Is this the death of democracy, or the start of a new era of prosperity and justice in the USA? Trump has no political experience; he is a businessman used to hiring and firing and exercising autocratic rule. How will he manage as head of state?

This is just one of a multitude of unknowns, with commentators across the political spectrum speculating about what the unexpected result might mean for freedom, justice, peace, the economy, the environment and a host of other hot topics.

President Hollande of France, on hearing the news of Trump's election said that the world is entering a time of great uncertainty. This contrasted Theresa May's message of congratulation in which she looked forward to working closely with the new President and refreshing the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US.

Champion of the Forgotten?

Trump's numerous references to Brexit during his turbulent campaign struck a similar note to that of the 'Leave' campaign in Britain. And, just as Remainers in Britain are continuing to oppose Brexit, so too the Democrats are demonstrating against the President-elect.

Trump's anti-establishment pronouncements appealed to the disconnected, the alienated and the powerless – to those who felt that they were the forgotten underclass who didn't matter to the privileged elite. This is just what happened in Britain, where people felt alienated from the lawmakers of Brussels and wanted the freedom to make our own laws. Both Brexit and Trump appealed to the disenfranchised masses.

Trump's anti-establishment pronouncements appealed to the disconnected, the alienated and the powerless.

Student protest at University of Connecticut, Wednesday. See Photo Credits.But isn't this exactly what Jesus did? Read Matthew 23 where Jesus addressed the crowds warning them against the religious authorities who "tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them" (Matt 23:4). Jesus said some outrageous things about the rulers in his day, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous...You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt 23:29-33).

The crowds of ordinary people loved Jesus and followed him everywhere he went. It was the authorities who hated him and who eventually crucified him, even manipulating a crowd to condemn him. But the ordinary people who were suffering oppression and injustice at the hands of the powerful elite - the poor who struggled to feed their families and felt powerless in a system that benefited only the rich – they all heard the words of Jesus with joy!

Trump's Messianic Appeal

Now, before you pick up stones to throw at me, please hear me out! I'm not likening Trump to Jesus! I'm looking at the situation in the nations today and looking for some biblical precedents. The Bible shows many similarities between Jesus and the Prophet Jeremiah. He was told that there were many things in the nation that had to be "uprooted, torn down, destroyed and overthrown" before there could be any creative building up in the national life (Jer 1:10). Jesus had a similar message. They both warned of coming disaster upon the nation unless there was radical change.

Despite all his vulgarities and obnoxious statements, Trump has had a 'messianic' appeal to the crowds in America who feel disenfranchised and forgotten by those who control the system. The vote for Trump was a vote against the 'establishment'; it was a vote for change, primarily among blue-collar workers and so-called 'middle America'. They are bitterly disappointed with Obama who promised so much change, but after his eight years in power they feel worse off than before.

Despite all his vulgarities and obnoxious statements, Trump has had a 'messianic' appeal to those who feel disenfranchised and forgotten.

It is this same anti-establishment spirit that is spreading across Europe today and will eventually lead to the break-up of the European Union. Protest groups in each of the EU nations are rising in support and significance, as will probably be seen in the Presidential election in Austria next month. But the protest movements do not only have political and social significance, they also have implications for the moral and spiritual future of the Western nations in a day when the threat from both secular humanism and Islam is rising.

Biblical Hopes

Most evangelical Christians in Britain have welcomed Brexit as providing an opportunity to re-emphasise basic biblical values, moral and spiritual, that have been neglected in recent decades under the impact of the secular humanist social revolution. So too evangelical Christians in America - while disliking Trump as a man - have embraced the opportunity for change!

Already, two Christian organisations, Family Watch and the National Organisation for Marriage, have welcomed the new President and outlined their expectations which include:

• the appointment of judges to the US Supreme Court, who will reverse rulings on same-sex marriage and enact laws to protect the unborn child, reversing Obama's policy of easy abortions right up to birth;
• the change of Obama's gender identity directive allowing public toilets to be used according to felt gender identity;
• the reversal of Obama's policy of coercing other countries into accepting same-sex marriage as a condition of receiving US aid;
• the appointment of a Presidential Commission to examine the harmful effects on public health of internet pornography.

If changes of this nature take place during a Trump presidency, many Christians will feel justified in having voted for him. But it does seem strange that an autocratic billionaire becomes the champion of the poor and a self-confessed immoral, racist bigot becomes a 21^st-Century social reformer carrying the expectations of the moral majority! What a strange world we live in!!

Perhaps Most Importantly...

But why has God allowed Trump to triumph? Could there be a deeper reason that has nothing to do with Trump's moral promises, or America not being ready for a female President (as some commentators have said)? Hillary Clinton not only represented the status quo – the political elite who have dominated Washington for decades – but she and her husband were advocates of the Two-State solution to the problems of Israel and the Palestinians, which would reduce still farther the tiny piece of land occupied by the Jewish state. For the Palestinians, such a reduction would only be a step towards the total annihilation of Israel – their ultimate objective, backed by all the Arab states.

Trump has publicly stated his intention of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognising Israel's historic right to the land of their forefathers. The word of God states unequivocally the promise given to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Gen 12:2).

With events in the Middle East moving dangerously towards an Arab conflict with Israel, to have an American President who is a friend of Israel could be extremely significant for the future of world events.

An American President who is a friend of Israel could be extremely significant for the future of world events.

Call to Prayer

Yes, as President Hollande said, we are undoubtedly moving into times of great uncertainty. Surely the greatest need among Christians is to study the word of God to understand the times, and increase our commitment to prayer – praying for our leaders, upholding our brothers and sisters and covering our nations.