Clifford Hill connects the migration crisis to Bible prophecies about the end of days, and suggests that God may have a special purpose for Britain at this time.

As of today, Friday 18 September, in this fast moving crisis, Croatia has become the latest European country to close its borders as the great migrant invasion of Europe intensifies, and Hungary has begun extending its fence along the borders with Croatia. Even Germany has introduced border controls to stop the unmanageable flow of migrants from Austria.

Europe in Turmoil

So what is the significance of all this as Europe is thrown into turmoil by what appears to be an unending flow of migrants? Clearly these are not just refugees fleeing war-torn Syria and Iraq, but something is stirring in nations right across the world where there is dissatisfaction with current life chances. Already hundreds of thousands are on the move and potentially this could be millions who want to jump on the bandwagon and reach Europe.

It is significant that the most popular destination is Germany – not because the migrants speak German but because it's the richest country in Europe. Angela Merkel has lit the touch paper of a migrant tsunami that is already causing major confusion, social chaos and political disunity throughout Europe. It has the potential of creating a catastrophic social, economic and political disaster.

Militant Islam

It is significant that the majority of the migrants attempting to enter Europe are Muslims. Some 25 years ago I published an article in the print magazine Prophecy Today saying that the greatest threat to peace in Europe was not from the Soviet Union but from militant Islam. The USSR was at the height of its power and the Cold War between East and West occupied the attention of newspapers and politicians alike. Islam was hardly given a thought except to note the brutal war between Iran and Iraq that lasted for most of the 1980s and resulted in more than 1 million deaths. But for those who were studying the signs of the times with an open Bible and an ear tuned to God, there were unmistakable warnings that Islam would soon be a major threat to world peace.

For those studying the signs of the times with an open Bible and an ear tuned to God, there have long been warnings that Islam would soon threaten world peace.

MI5's WarningMigrants push through a police line in Croatia on Thursday.

I'm not implying that I was the only one sounding a warning note about Islam. In Prophecy Today we published a number of articles in the 1980s by writers such as Clifford Denton, Lance Lambert, Ray Register, John Lafin, John Ray and Patrick Sookhdeo, who all perceived danger lying ahead. This danger is now being intensified by news of ISIS' plans to infiltrate Europe with half a million jihadists and that an unknown number have already mixed with the flow of migrants into Europe. This danger was highlighted yesterday by the head of MI5 warning that they had intercepted and prevented five attempts by jihadists already this year.

200 More Mosques

It is notable that Saudi Arabia, which has so far taken no refugees from Syria, has offered to build 200 mosques in Germany! No doubt this is their contribution to the Islamisation of Europe! Saudi Arabia has also just announced that it intends to crucify an 18-year-old boy for taking part in a protest against government policy. This is in accord with sharia law that they want to impose upon Europe!

So what's going on? Is there any word from the Lord? What does the Bible have to say about the times in which we are living?

Lance Lambert's View

Lance Lambert, who died recently, was one of the greatest of modern prophets, a Jew who accepted Jesus as Messiah. He gave us two interviews for Prophecy Today some three months before the 40^th anniversary of the State of Israel. We published these in March and May 1988 and are re-publishing them today and next week because we believe they are relevant to the situation that is now developing across the Middle East and Europe (see the first article here). Lance said that he did not think that anything remarkable was going to happen to Israel on the 40^th anniversary. He said,

I do feel that we have nevertheless passed irreversibly into the last phase of world history. We know this from Luke 21:24, where Jesus prophesies that the Jewish people will fall by the sword, be taken as captives into all the nations, and Jerusalem trampled on by foreigners 'until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled'.

Times of the Gentiles

Are the 'times of the Gentiles' now fulfilled? This is the big question that biblical scholars have been debating since 1967, when Israel re-gained hold of Jerusalem. There is no definitive answer to this but the 'great shaking of the nations' prophesied by the biblical prophets (Isaiah 2, Haggai 2 and Hebrews 12) appears to be happening in our lifetime.

Back in 1988, Lance Lambert stated a belief that we have passed into the last phase of world history, when the 'times of the Gentiles' will be fulfilled.

Words of Jesus

Add to these prophecies the words of Jesus' warning that "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places" (Matt 24:7). Jesus also warns that those who believe in him will be persecuted and at the same time there will be a great increase in wickedness, but the gospel will be preached in the whole world (Matt 24:9-14).

There is plenty of evidence in the daily news that all these things are happening today, including the Church worldwide growing at the fastest rate in history, despite the great falling away in Europe. So how does the migration crisis in Europe fit into this picture?

The Servant Songs

The prophet Isaiah actually refers to the British Isles a number of times. He links "the islands" with "the ends of the earth". In those days the islands off the coast of Europe were at the end of the known world, so it is a reasonable assumption that he is referring to the British Isles. There are some significant references in what biblical scholars know as 'The Servant Songs' (all Messianic statements that link Israel as a nation with the person of Messiah). The Songs show God working out his ultimate purposes for the salvation of the nations through Israel and the Messiah.

Can Britain Serve the Purposes of God?

The first of the four 'Servant Songs' is Isaiah 42:1-4 which begins "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations." God has undoubtedly used and mightily blessed Britain in the past, but in today's highly secularised environment, has the faithful remnant of believers sufficient spiritual strength to stand against the tide of unbelief and godless moral anarchy? Is there sufficient spiritual strength to serve the purposes of God at such a time as this?

Isaiah actually refers to the British Isles a number of times, perhaps indicating that they have a special place in the purposes of God.

This prophetic statement indicates that the British Isles have a special place in the purposes of God. God does not change his mind so this is still true today! The second Servant Song (Isa 49:1-6) begins with a call to the islands – "Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations..." It concludes with the promise to Israel, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Final Great Conflict

Historically, Britain has indeed enjoyed a special place in God's purposes, being used powerfully in the worldwide spread of the Gospel. But does that purpose still exist for modern, 'post-Christian' Britain?

The final reference to 'the islands' in Isaiah is found in the last chapter, which is all in the context of the final conflict before the advent of the new heavens and the new earth, establishing the reign of God upon earth. It speaks of a sign being sent to "the distant islands...They will proclaim my glory among the nations" (Isa 66:19).

If we put this in the context of Jesus' words in the days leading up to his second coming, "There will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equalled again" (Matt 24:21), we may expect a time of unparalleled upheaval and conflict among the nations.

My own interpretation is that we are moving towards a time of great conflict that will engulf Europe and the Middle East. The 'Arab Spring' that began on 18 December 2010 in Tunisia lit the fuse for this period, which has spread across North Africa and the Gulf States to link with the intense conflict within Islam that began with the Iran/Iraq conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims and is now devastating Syria.

Britain's Biblical Heritage

An irreversible process has begun that will lead to open conflict unless there is divine intervention. If it is a right interpretation of Isaiah's vision, Britain has a special part to play within the purposes of God. The question is whether there is sufficient strength in the Judeo/Christian biblical heritage of the nation to enable Britain to carry out its role of bringing the word of the Lord into this situation.

Leaving the EU

In order to do this it may be that Britain will need to separate from the rest of Europe and be prepared to stand alone under God (alongside an increasingly secularised Europe but not under its godless direction). I believe the word of the Lord to Britain today is, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty" (Zech 4:6). To this we must add the words of Jesus to his disciples that we should, "watch and pray" (Matt 26:41).

I believe that we are moving towards a time of great conflict in Europe and the Middle East, unless there is divine intervention. Britain may well have a special part to play, but will she be prepared to stand for God?

Dr Hill will elaborate on this theme in another feature article, to be published on Friday 25 September. In the meantime any comments from readers posted below would be greatly appreciated.

So there's still some common sense among our Members of Parliament – and maybe even the remnants of Christian faith!

Victory for Common Sense

The widespread fears that many of the new MPs are unknown and may have secular humanist values have been dispelled this afternoon. The House of Commons has voted by a large majority to throw out the Private Members Bill put forward by Rob Marris, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East.

The Vote

Voting was 118 in favour and 330 against which effectively kills the euthanasia debate for the rest of this Parliament. Sarah Wootton, the chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said it was an "outrage" that MPs had gone against the views of the majority of the public (which should surely be questioned!). No doubt those who have passionately campaigned for this Bill will try again at some time but for the moment it can go no farther.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Dr Peter Saunders, director of the 'Care Not Killing' campaign, celebrated the result saying the current law existed to protect the elderly, sick and vulnerable, especially "those who have no voice against exploitation and coercion".¹

Welcome Surprise

The result is surprising as it is a larger majority (212) than the last time the house voted on this issue nearly 20 years ago. It is a welcome victory against the relentless secularisation of the nation and the undermining of its centuries-old Christian heritage. The nation would indeed have crossed a rubicon if this Bill had been passed into law.

It would not only have caused many people who are sick and frail to feel pressured to end their lives to spare their carers, but it would have meant that the nation no longer has respect for human life which is the precious gift of the God of Creation and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It would have been a rejection of the whole of our biblical heritage and the belief system and values upon which this nation is founded. But it wasn't to be – a result for which we should be giving thanks to Almighty God!

References

1 BBC News, Assisted Dying Bill: MPs reject 'right to die' law, 11/09/15.

'The Secular Terrorist: The Slow Suicide of Christian Britain', by Peter Mullen (RoperPenberthy, 2012, 189 pages, available from the publisher for £9.99)

This is an interesting if disturbing read on a familiar theme: the decline of Christianity and Christian values in Britain. The author's experience as rector of Anglican churches in London, together with his keen observation of society in general, means he is well informed. Moreover, he believes the situation is so dire that he is prepared to speak out strongly, in some cases very strongly, hence his choice of words for the title.

Moral reversal

Mullen examines all the usual areas of concern, starting with sexual morals, abortion, embryo research, and family breakdown. His main contention here, as elsewhere, is that over time, through a slow but steady series of incremental changes, humanistic values and secularism have transformed society until an almost complete reversal has occurred. Utilitarianism now dominates our thinking and consumerism our lifestyles.

He contends that the denial of our Christian roots has produced a slow suicide. We have been beaten by losing faith in what we believed. Secularisation is the hidden terrorist in our midst, creating impotence and encouraging self-doubt. Cultural and social defeat was "guaranteed once Christianity had died in the soul of Western man" (p119). The author maintains that only the re-discovery of our Judaeo-Christian heritage will save Western society. What is needed is "nothing less than a return to the practice of our faith" (p9).

Mullen contends that Britain's slow demise is due to our loss of faith, with secularisation the hidden terrorist in our midst.

Moreover, he believes that we "shall not turn again to God until we are overwhelmed and perhaps almost annihilated by some great catastrophe" (p180), and not one that we can blame upon God for: we will have brought it upon ourselves, as has happened repeatedly throughout history. Israel's desertion and repeated disobedience brought disasters. We cannot expect to be an exception to this pattern in the human/Divine story.

The problem with political correctness

In a strong section of the book full of good examples, Mullen vigorously attacks political correctness as a key component of the decline. He argues that "the secular gospel of Political-Correctness" creates a linguistic dictatorship and a form of social conditioning, deceiving many, especially into thinking that we have made moral progress. The claim that we are now much more advanced and enlightened has found an enthusiastic audience. We now feel superior to the primitive pre-PC era.

Mullen vigorously attacks political correctness as a linguistic dictatorship and a form of social conditioning that deceives us into thinking we have made moral progress.

In discussing science, creation and design, Mullen also makes many useful points, simply put but displaying good knowledge. The same is true when he examines literary trends and the history of reason and philosophy. Overall, he covers a wide range of intellectual ideas with skill and understanding.

Looking forward or backward?

The weaker points in the book come, first, when he attacks the press (tabloids and others) for crude reporting and dumbing down of information. His excessive examples add little to his overall argument and may be off-putting.

Second, Mullen rails against the Church of England for trying to be modern, correctly arguing that the Church has done little to stem the decline and has indeed contributed to it through situation ethics and de-mythologising Biblical truth. But his insistence that the only proper Bible translation is the Authorised Version and that the Book of Common Prayer is vastly superior to the Alternative Service book make him appear stuck in the past. He may be right that, in a typically memorable phrase, modern worship is merely a "third rate echo of recently abandoned fashions in pop culture" (p86) but to assert that the AV and BCP were meant to be preserved for all time suggests his only solution to modern trends is to retreat into a bygone age.

Nevertheless, the book overall is an important contribution to a vital debate. We do need to "wake up to the fact that there is a militantly anti-Christian elite in Britain today" (p41). But he ends with positive advice for Christians in such circumstances: be diligent in prayer and study, form strong church communities, and trust in God.

Our third instalment on 'Changing Britain' looks at patterns of church openings and closures around the country. Following the statistics is a comment from Monica Hill.

Churches - Openings and Closures

Re-printed from Brierley Consultancy's FutureFirst, June 2014 issue, with kind permission.

As the map indicates there have been more openings of churches than closures in the 30 years since 1989 in the West Midlands and the South East of England, and the reverse elsewhere.

There have been almost 2,900 new churches started between 2010 and 2015 in England, or about 600 a year, three new churches every two days! It is also true that churches close. Over the last 5 years, 1,400 churches have closed altogether, or four every three days, leaving a net growth of some 1,500 churches in the 5 years to 2015.

Where are these extra newly-started churches? The number varies by region, but there are some in every part of the country:

170 in the North                                 170 in East Anglia
200 in the Yorkshires                         370 in South East North
270 in the North West                       410 in Greater London
250 in the East Midlands                   330 in South East South
370 in the West Midlands                  320 in the South West

These new churches are mostly one of three kinds:

• New congregations started by some of the New Church streams (such as Vineyard, Newfrontiers, Ground Level or Salt and Light).
• Fresh Expressions of churches, which are often Church of England (which has 900 across England) or Methodist (which has 800), but might also be Baptist or Salvation Army.
• Black Majority Churches, especially if they are in London where some 400 such churches started between 2005 and 2012. Catholic chaplaincy churches are also important in the capital.

Invariably these fresh congregations have good community links, which is where much of their support comes from. All three groups given above are beginning new church "plants", not trying to revive small or declining churches, or particularly trying to grow existing congregations. Nearly all are lay-led initially (although half of Fresh Expressions are led by an ordained person). Theological conviction is the main motivation for starting these churches; most of these new churches are evangelical. Different ethnicities are also involved.

Questions: Are the established forms of churches now becoming outmoded? Should scarce resources be mainly allocated to these new models?

Source: UK Church Statistics, No 2, 2010-2010, ADBC Publishers, Tonbridge, Kent, 2014.

Topical Comment

Monica Hill

This research finding on the planting of new churches may initially seem to be good news, at a time when we hear of so many of the traditional denominations closing down churches and meeting places where numbers have declined below an economic level.

The number of churches in England (40,300) remains the same in 2015 as it was in 1979. But the shape and location of them has changed somewhat. Many of the new church plants have not re-used traditional buildings but created or hired new ones often more suited to the task. There are also many which have started again as the early church did and are meeting in houses.

Redundant Church Buildings

Selling older redundant buildings to fund fresh outreach in other areas has often seemed a natural and valid outcome and a good idea showing good stewardship. There was a time when the closure of church buildings was rationalised as using the money 'to plant churches where the people are'. There was almost a blind spot to the need for continued mission to meet the needs of newcomers to the area (or perhaps a lack of people with a vision). So those areas which already had plenty of churches often received more – not quite the intended interpretation of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25!

Where is the Growth?

Not all areas of the country are benefiting from these closures and sales. Both the North and the South West have been closing between 300 and 400 more churches than are being opened in those areas in this time period.

Neither has growth been consistent over time. There was specific growth bursts between 1995 and 2000 and between 2010 and 2015, but there were also periods of decline between 2000 and 2005 and further decline is expected in the period between 2015 and 2020 unless this can be averted in some way.

But there are three kinds of growth identified:

1. Immigrant churches, particularly those from Africa, sparked off the earlier growth wave. The Redeemed Christian Church of God started as a 'reverse mission' movement, and it now has some of the largest churches in the country and is gradually moving beyond its Nigerian base. Prior to this, there had also been national churches created following World War II – for instance when there were sufficient Poles in Britain to warrant a church presence, or after the influx of West Indian economic refugees in the 60s and 70s. But these churches were each created from a very different base – and the latter are no longer growing at the rate of their initial expansion in the 1960s and '70s.
2. The traditional denominational churches have been experimenting with Fresh Expressions in the last ten years. Anglicans and Methodists have been particularly successful and these have increased six-fold in the last 5 years. 41% attend from outside the church with a further 35% coming back to church – overall 95,000 were attending these kinds of church in 2015. Attendance at 'Messy Church' showed the greatest increase with its emphasis upon fun, fellowship, food and families in a welcoming, worshipful environment. Although many of these are within existing churches an increasing number are in different venues and are led by lay people.
3. The new independent church streams (known as the 'New Churches') commenced in the 70s, grew eight-fold in the 80s and then doubled in the 90s with an increasing number of newer streams continuing to be created. They have concentrated upon neighbourhood, community and family concepts and many of the fully independent churches eventually link with others to form a stronger base.

The Bad News

Overall churches are getting smaller as the size of most congregations is reducing (on average by 37%), with a number of regions losing more than half the number of Christians attending places of worship. Death (or 'passing on into glory') without replacement by younger people accounts for much of this membership reduction as the attendees get older. But there are also an increasing number of older people who are becoming disillusioned or leaving, although a number do continue to practise their faith in small groups.

In 1989, UK Church Statistics estimated total church attendance in England as 4,186,000. By 2012 this number had dropped to 3,018,600 and is likely to drop to 2,708,700 by 2020.

Methodists have seen more than half (48%) of their churches close during this period, but they are still expected to have more than 3,500 churches in 2020. The Anglicans have closed over 1,000 churches (that is one in every ten days), but church building closures are more difficult because of their links with the state, so they will still have over 16,000. The URC are closing nearly two a week and the Catholics one a week.

So what of the future?

• Can we learn anything from this information on the future shape of Christianity in this country?
• When you pray about the situation do you get any answers you can share with others?
• Is God answering the prayers of his people by giving them a challenge?
• Are the remnant listening and responding in the right way by becoming mobilised and taking action before anno domini takes over?

Please add your comments.

Previous instalments:

The Rise of Secularism: YES, I have NO religion!

Transmitting the Faith

Two important prophecies that speak of the role of believing women in Britain's future: one from a Russian bishop in 1911, and the other from an Asian Christian, given at the 1986 Mount Carmel gathering.

The 1911 Prophecy: Background

Mother Barbara, Valentina Niolaevna Zoegkova, was born in Moscow on January 2 1889, the fourth child of extremely pious parents. Her father, Nicholas Alexeevitch, was chief director of one of the biggest banks in Russia, yet throughout his life he dedicated himself to defending the interests of the church and to serving its people.

From her birth, Valentina was surrounded by the intensely spiritual. Her family were often visited by 'starets' (holy men) and other Russian religious figures. This kind of contact filled her with an intense desire to consecrate herself to the Church and in her early youth she was blessed for missionary work and monachism by her spiritual father, Bishop Arseny of Moscow.

One starets who regularly visited her parents' home was Bishop Aristocoli, from Mount Athos. Ten days before his death, Aristocoli spend some time in discussion with Valentina, outlining her own future and that of a Russia already under a revolutionary yoke.

"You have received the gift of speaking and writing about what is useful for the soul, especially in our times", said Aristocoli. "Your inclination to monastic life will find its fulfilment, but far from here. You will live in one country, then will go further - to Palestine, to Jerusalem, and you will live there for a long, long time. In Jerusalem is the Holy Land, where much work and activities exist. You will live under different powers, but do not fear anything. You will always be under the protection of a right and just hierarchy.

Many sufferings will come to the world. Many people will perish. But it is not yet the end of the world; the time and the hour are known only by God. God's army- the powers of angels -will battle with Satan's army. In Russia people will suffer. It will be a worldwide sorrow from the evil spirits who put to trial all believers in God. Many will be killed. God knows who he must take, and who to leave. But Russia's fate is in God's hands and she will rise again. It will be a great miracle of renewal after great sufferings, sent to her with purifying aims. Light from the Orient will shine on the whole world and God will forgive in answer to suffering and repentance. This is very important- to have a conscience about one's sins; everyone and all are siners and all must repent."

The starets said much more to Valentina, foreseeing the establishing of a convent in Palestine and the building of a school, all of which eventually came to pass.

The 1911 Prophecy

Shortly before his death, Bishop Aristocoli passed this prophecy onto Mother Barbara.

Tell the women they must belong absolutely to God.They must believe in the great things that are happening and that God is doing on the earth. They must prepare their souls, their children and their husbands. And they will have very much work to do for God. Oh, what a great work the women will have to do in the end time, and the men will follow them.

Not one country will be without trial - do not be frightened of anything you will hear. An evil will shortly take Russia and wherever this evil comes, rivers of blood will flow. This evil will take the whole world and wherever it goes, rivers of blood will flow because of it. It is not the Russian soul, but an imposition on the Russian soul. It is not an ideology, or a philosophy, but a spirit from hell.

In the last days Germany will be divided in two. France will just be nothing. Italy will be judged by natural disasters. Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin, but will be saved by praying women. America will feed the world, but will finally collapse. Russia and China will destroy each other. Finally, Russia will be free and from her, believers will go forth and turn many from the nations to God.

The 1986 Prophecy: Background

On Mount Carmel, March 1986, an Asian man shared a prophetic insight with a woman from Britain. He had visited Britain only on the one occasion of his journey to Israel for the Carmel gathering, and knew little or nothing of the state of the church. As he stepped over the threshold of the conference centre on Mount Carmel, he was aware of a strong anointing from God and was given a vision concerning Britain.

The 1986 Prophecy

He saw a large church with a number of people in it. As he looked he saw that the men were asleep on their benches- and scattered around the church were women standing with arms uplifted crying to God.

He asked the Lord, 'What is this?'

God said 'I am showing you the true situation in the church in Britain. The men are asleep and not aware of what is going on, but I have my handmaidens who are seeking my face and who are understanding my heart and I am using my handmaidens for the nation.'

He then asked the Lord for a scripture to confirm the vision and the interpretation and was immediately given Judges 4:4: The situation in Israel at that time was bad and God chose a woman, Deborah, to judge Israel. She knew God's ways and was receiving messages for the people. Then, when she saw that the time for confrontation had come, she called for the man who was commander-in-chief of the army (she respected him and reverenced God's order). He would not go without her, so she went with him and because of this the victory would be the Lord's, but the honour would go to the women. Jaal hammered in the nail that killed Sisera, captain of the enemy forces. God used women who both knew his ways and waged warfare and gained the final victory.

God's call comes to his handmaidens of Britain to stand strong, to seek his face, to know his ways and to wage warfare. He says 'I am with you, be strong and of a good courage.' They will be persecuted from within the churches, but the time will come when those same people will come and ask them to show them the way in the battle and to go with them. The Lord will be victorious through the church but the honour will go to his handmaidens. 'When my people take a firm stand then I will reveal my glory through them'.

Zechariah 4:7 - the mountains will become a plain - we have nothing to fear.

The following is a prophetic word for Great Britain given through Lance Lambert, who had a great love for the UK as his adopted country after he escaped here from the Nazis as a child. Please read and weigh this prayerfully.

Lance Lambert, Saturday 6 August 2011

Hear the voice of the Lord, O Isles that I have so greatly loved and favoured. I the Lord the Almighty, I took you when you were nothing, clothed with skins and woad, and through My saving power, I made you great. When you were nothing, through My Word and your faith in Me, l lifted you and made you Great Britain. Through many awakenings and many revivals, stage by stage, I took you until you became a great power with the greatest Empire in the history of the nations. From you My Gospel and My Word went throughout the world, and tens of thousands came into an experience of saving faith! That Empire with all its many failings and weaknesses was still one of the most just and righteous Empires of history.

Those Isles of yours were soaked with the blood of My faithful martyrs and its soil received the burnt ashes of those who would not renounce My Name, My Truth, and My Word. I, the Lord have not forgotten those who gave their all for Me!

But now the whole nation that l created and sustained has turned from Me. They paganise their land, state and institutions; there is no voice heard to warn the nation. False religion, the work of world rulers of darkness, cover your Isles; a Laodicean church, neither hot nor cold, rumbles on like machinery. It is a church where I am outside of its routine; its organisation and its methodology. It is Christianity without Me: Religion without Me!

My being is seared with pain, for judgement is determined against your land. I can do no other. I will destroy the vestiges of her greatness; l will return her to her first estate. I will wreck her economy, destabilise her in every way. I will change her climate, even her weather. I will prove to her that the way of the transgressor is hard and terrible. I will allow demonic forces held in check erstwhile by My Word and Gospel, and the living faith of so many, to become rampant in her social life, to the destruction of her society.
Will you who know Me and love Me go blind and dumb and deaf into this judgement?

It is time for you who love Me, who are faithful to Me, to take action! Stand before Me and plead The Finished Work of My Son. At least cry out to Me, that there will be those who turn from darkness, from sin, and be saved for whosoever shall call upon My Name in the midst of these judgements, l will save!

lt will cost you everything to stand in the gap, but you will enter into My heart, and know deep fellowship with Me. Such travail conceived in your heart by My Spirit will cost you deeply, but it will end in My Throne and Glory.

Magna Carta Unravelled (Wilberforce Publications, 2015, 217 pages, £7.99)

This book, a joint venture between Wilberforce Publications and Voice for Justice UK, is a collection of essays by eight experts in various fields (eg politics, law, the Church) largely based upon talks given at a conference held in May to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Among the better known contributors are Baroness Cox, Lynda Rose, and Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, but all those involved have distinguished reputations and are highly experienced.

Six of the original talks were expanded by the speakers into written form and to these were added two extra chapters. The overall result is a comprehensive survey covering the origins of Magna Carta, the development of its ideas throughout history, and its relevance today. The whole makes an important contribution towards the discussion on the contemporary challenges we face in our nation regarding our freedoms.

The opening chapter provides an excellent overview and sets the scene, declaring that "what we need to recognise today is that we are in the middle of a predominantly three-stranded ideological war: between Christianity, secularism, and Islam" (p29). Society is now in the grip of competing belief systems as the ruthless imposition of non-Christian values with their own ideas of 'rights' and 'freedoms' are being selectively applied. The result is a vigorous shaking of our foundations which is causing many to wonder what the eventual outcome will be.

This is an important contribution towards debating the ideological war currently gripping British society."

Other chapters cover the historical and theological background to Magna Carta, its Christian origins and legacy, the role of the State concerning freedoms, and the rise of Islam and sharia law in the UK. The final parts focus on the current challenges to individual liberty. On reflection, not all sections are of equal interest or engagement; some are more difficult to follow and rather stolid. Certainly, there are also many anecdotes and testimonies, including up-to-date personal stories, but often these have been well covered elsewhere and are over-long in the context of this particular book. There is even some overlap between speakers, which may be one of the disadvantages of a book produced from a conference. Overall it is difficult not to be disappointed at times that this is not a more enjoyable read.

However, the book clearly has a place within the current re-assessment and evaluation of Magna Carta. It is of a suitable length to fit between short introductions and fuller studies, and above all it does ask the right questions. Realising that the UK is "at a crossroads, with the soul of our nation at stake" (p17), it is very pertinent to consider the relevance of Magna Carta. Clearly it is an important historical document but what about now, eight centuries later, in our multi-cultural society? The fundamental principles and freedoms that it established have recently been attacked, dismantled and shattered. How did this happen and why? And where do we go from here?

This book asks the right questions about the present situation and future outlook in Britain, showing how Christian principles and values are not just being eroded and marginalised, but being branded as dangerous."

As the authors show, Christian principles and values are currently being marginalised, rebranded as hate speech and provocation if expressed publicly, and even portrayed as dangerous to a liberal and secular modern society. At the very least the likelihood is that there will be continuing attempts to contain Christian views and eventually eliminate them in the cause of new freedoms and ideas of tolerance. The ultimate fear is that we will lose our specifically Christian freedoms altogether.

Is this unduly alarmist or a wake-up call? You decide! Either way here is an informative and valuable resource for those seeking to think through these vital issues.

Clifford Hill looks at the migrant crisis.

We are witnessing today one of the greatest movements of human population in the history of the world. This is the conclusion of population experts as millions of refugees are on the move throughout the world and many of them are heading for Europe. Amnesty International says "We are witnessing the worst refugee crisis of our era, with millions of women, men and children struggling to survive amidst brutal wars, networks of people-traffickers, and governments who pursue selfish political interests instead of showing basic human compassion".¹

More than 100,000 migrants – asylum seekers and economic refugees – have descended upon Europe since the beginning of this year, coming from diverse nations in Africa (e.g. Eritrea, Somalia, Nigeria) and the Middle East (Syria, Afghanistan). This is causing a political crisis among European leaders and a social crisis on the ground.

Experts are concluding that today the world is witnessing one of the greatest movements of human population ever known."

Greece and Italy have borne the greatest burden as boatloads of migrants flow across the seas from Turkey and Libya – a journey fraught with danger as people-traffickers overfill unseaworthy fragile boats and set them adrift in the Mediterranean and the notoriously dangerous waters between Turkey and Greece.

Pressure on ports

Malta, Sicily and the southern ports of Italy are struggling to cope with the human influx. The Italians also are complaining that the rest of Europe is not doing enough to help. They are threatening to block HMS Bulwark from docking in their ports to drop off migrants. But a Downing Street spokesman said "Our ships are there to save lives, not to offer people asylum in the UK".²

Britain is taking the same attitude to the mounting crisis across the Channel in Calais where some 3,000 migrants are desperately attempting to board trucks heading for Channel ferries to Dover. They have already travelled thousands of miles to reach Calais and there is increasing desperation among them. A similar situation is in northern Italy where African migrants are camping out at the French border-crossing near Ventimiglia but are being denied access.

More trouble for Greece

The situation is even worse in Greece where tens of thousands of migrants fleeing the conflict in the Middle East have been landing in the popular island resorts of Kos, Lesbos, Tilos and Symi, adding to the economic woes of Greece, whose government is barely able to feed their own unemployed victims of the banking crisis.

The Greek Interior Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou, warned "The reception systems there, already understaffed and underfunded, have collapsed. It is no surprise that thousands of destitute migrants are milling around in the streets and squares, searching for food and shelter. We simply don't have the money or resources to provide for all of them. It's tragic, I tell you, tragic! And it's going to get worse, really worse, and Europe isn't batting an eyelid. It's watching this unfold with criminal indifference".³

Colonial past

Why is all this happening today? Could it be that Europe is now reaping the harvest of its past history of oppression? For some 400 years British traders, backed by the Army, carried out a policy of colonisation right across the globe until the British Empire controlled one quarter of the world.

Most of the other European nations did the same, carving up Africa, Asia and the Americas into colonies which provided untold wealth to Europe. In doing so, they ignored tribal territories in creating new nations right across the Middle East and Africa, which today are boiling cauldrons of violence and mass murder from which millions of asylum seekers are fleeing.

Europeans carved up much of the world into colonies and then left them with unstable political systems, crippled economies and huge under-development, from which millions are now fleeing."

Europeans were happy to take the raw materials and cheap labour from their colonies and give them bank loans to enable them to purchase our manufactured goods while withholding technical and industrial patents and failing to help them develop the means of production to compete in global markets.

As a result, in almost all the colonies (except where there was a white majority) we left behind unstable political systems, crippled economies and huge under-development, creating conditions of poverty, unemployment and fragility from which millions are fleeing today.

Scales of justice reversed

The result is a human tidal wave which is now threatening to overwhelm the ageing population of Europe, complicate the continent's fragile economic and political state and irrevocably change its culture. This is not to overemphasise Europe's woes at the expense of the migrants, who are undoubtedly suffering most. It is to draw attention to our largely forgotten colonial history, which may be coming back to haunt us now in ways that will actually transform the fabric of the entire continent.

Could what is happening in Europe be related to what the biblical prophets see as a principle of justice that is built into Creation? The Prophet Jeremiah foresaw judgement falling upon the Babylonian Empire after 70 years and Isaiah said, "The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled." (Isa 2:12) He went on to declare that when this happens - "The Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the Holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness." (Isa 5:16)

God's basic principles of justice are built into creation- if we deliberately go against them, there will come a time when the scales are reversed."

The evidence of the Bible shows that God has built into his Act of Creation three basic principles: equality, justice and love. All men and women are created equal in the sight of God and therefore no one has the right to oppress others. Justice and love are part of the revealed nature of God.

When we deliberately go against these basic principles, we actually bring upon ourselves a time when the scales of justice are reversed. When this happens, it is a triumph of the justice of Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe. Could this be what is happening in Europe today? At least in part, is the migration crisis a legacy of colonialism that we ourselves sowed?

References

1 The Times 16.06.15

2 Ibid.

3 The Times 12.06.15

Is there any prophetic significance in the warnings given to MPs that the Houses of Parliament are crumbling?

Just look at the facts. It was back in October 2012 that MPs were first alerted to the serious problems in the Grade 1 listed building, part of which is nearly 1000 years old and is listed as a World Heritage Site. A new report this week gives further urgency to the warnings that unless urgent repairs are carried out the building could collapse in 20 years.

Warnings

MPs have also been warned that if they insist on staying in the buildings whilst repairs are carried out it could take up to 32 years and cost up to £7 billion. The building doesn't just require minor repairs. The whole structure is crumbling. Built on London clay, it is slowly sliding towards the river. There are serious problems with the roof, the walls are crumbling and the foundations are cracking so MPs are facing a number of options. If they move out the work could take up to 10 years and cost about £3 billion, which is clearly the surveyors' favoured option.

But where do they go?

A number of different scenarios have been proposed including moving out of London to Manchester or Birmingham. Most MPs will probably favour staying within London which would certainly be the cheapest option, particularly if they can stay close to Westminster so that all the Whitehall offices can be maintained and the hugely costly movement of the civil service bureaucracy will be unnecessary.

A number of buildings in Westminster and nearby are being considered such as the Methodist Central Hall, or the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, just across from Parliament Square. Other suggestions include moving Parliament into the Olympic Park in East London – which is the downmarket option. The upmarket option is to move into Buckingham Palace. But the Queen might have something to say about this! Another alternative is to build an entirely new building somewhere in London and sell the old building to the highest bidder who would no doubt either be an Arab sheik or the Chinese!

Is there a deeper reason for the crumbling condition of the Houses of Parliament? Is God saying something about the laws passed there that have been anathema to his will and word?

Neglect

Why has the 'Mother of Parliaments' reached such a state of neglect? We have just been celebrating the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta and earlier this year we marked the 800th anniversary of the Simon de Montfort Parliament, the oldest in the Western world. The Houses of Parliament are part of our national heritage. Of course, those responsible for the buildings should have carried out many of these repairs as routine maintenance over past decades. Surely, to allow the buildings to reach such a state of decay shows a failure in caring for the property somewhere along the line. Why has the building been allowed to drop into this desperate state of disrepair?

Why has it happened?

Could there be a deeper reason for the crumbling condition of our Houses of Parliament? Is God saying something to us about the laws that have been passed through both Houses of Parliament in the past 40 or 50 years that have been in direct opposition to biblical standards and the teaching of his word?

As a nation we have acknowledged Christianity to be the faith of our people for more than 1000 years. At the Coronation of each Monarch we expect them to declare their commitment to uphold the Christian faith- and yet we have required the Queen to put her signature to Acts of Parliament that are anathema to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Bible we claim to revere.

Unholy laws

We have passed laws abolishing the Sabbath and permitting Sunday trading and Sunday sports and entertainment, making it a day like any other day. We have undermined family life through abortion, easy divorce, and same-sex 'marriage'. We have sent our soldiers to fight in wars that had little or nothing to do with our national security. We have passed laws that favour the rich and deny justice to the poor.

Greed and corruption have been exposed in every part of the life of the nation over the past 10 years – among the bankers, among MPs, among newspaper moguls and journalists, among the police, among celebrities and entertainers, among all sections of society – even in the church – because God is shaking the nations as he promised in Hebrews 12:26-27. Now we are seeing our Parliament buildings cracking at the foundations.

The sorry condition of Parliament is a powerful metaphor of Britain's crumbling moral and spiritual state.

So what is God saying to us?

For those who are unwilling to view the sorry condition of Parliament as a prophetic sign, it is nevertheless a powerful metaphor of Britain's crumbling moral, spiritual, economic and political state. Should we not be calling upon our MPs to cancel business in the House for a whole day and get before the Lord in prayer, in humility and repentance, seeking what he is saying to the nation? If the Commons will not do this, surely Members of the Lords, who are ostensibly older and wiser, will recognise the need to seek what God is saying to the nation today? At least the bishops in the House of Lords should lead the way!

But will this happen? Is there any spiritual life left in the great Mother of Parliaments where in former years the word of God was often quoted and always upheld? In the words of King David, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psa 11:3)

'The Church and the Charter: Christianity and the Forgotten Roots of the Magna Carta' by Thomas Andrew (Theos, 2015, 60 pages, £5)

This book demonstrates, using many references to other writers and sources, how the Christian Church and theology were influential in the making of Magna Carta. Andrew first poses the question - why have the Christian sources of Magna Carta been so neglected? His book seeks to explore this position and show how Magna Carta reflected the theological ideas of the day and the important contribution by Archbishop Stephen Langton. In so doing the author provides useful information and encouragement to the general reader who wishes to maintain that our Christian heritage still plays a vital role in society today.

The introduction makes the point that "it is in the Magna Carta ('The Great Charter of the Liberties of England') that we first see rights language extended to 'all free men', rather than restricted to an elite group" (p10). The first chapter (The Road to Runnymede) deals with the tyranny of King John, his corrupt court and his fights with the rebel barons. The version of Magna Carta sealed at Runnymede hints at the struggle between King John and the English Church but contains the clause "the English Church shall be free, and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties unimpaired".

This book seeks to explore the question: why have the Christian sources of Magna Carta been so neglected?"

After Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered and Stephen Langton eventually succeeded him, the 1225 version of Magna Carta (issued with Langton's backing) formed the basis upon which the language of rights and liberties could be built, and Langton made sure that the rights of the independence of the Church would be maintained. "The history of political thought and the history of theological thought developed separately" (p31); the gap needed to be bridged and Langton sought to do just that.

The last chapter concerns the importance of "due legal process", which places the authority of the law above that of the king. This, again, was a major theological concern for Langton.

"The final version of the Magna Carta was not a charter for the privileged few, but a charter for the whole community of England..." This extension of the language of rights was greatly influenced by Gratian in his Decretum who put forward important principles for the understanding and use of canon law by the 'golden rule': "All things whatever that you would wish other people to do to you, do the same also to them." (p42, also Luke 6:31). To Gratian, this 'lies at the heart of justice'.

This brief book sets out in comprehensive detail the influences of Christian theology and the Church on Magna Carta- an encouraging account of Britain's Christian heritage."

The extension of rights language for all, as it became the common law of England, gave legal protection and rights regardless of status. It is important to remember that the principles enshrined by Magna Carta were rooted in Christian theology and the Church: "This fundamentally egalitarian message was central to the Christian gospel" (p43). As we celebrate the history of the Magna Carta on its 800th anniversary we can cherish the thought that the influence of the Christian Church played a major part. This pocket-sized book belies its brevity by setting out in comprehensive detail how this all came about. Theos have served the general public well in providing an accessible but thorough account of the forgotten roots of the Magna Carta.

Notes

The Appendix to the book has a translation of the Magna Carta made available by the British Library.

Theos is a Christian think tank that seeks to influence public opinion about the role of faith and belief in society. Launched in Nov 2006, Theos provides: high-quality research, reports and publications; an extensive events program; news, information and analysis to media companies, parliamentarians and other opinion formers. For more details visit www.theosthinktank.co.uk.