Shalom friends,

As we race towards the end of another year, the world is racing towards its final destiny with God – and for most of humanity, that will not end well (Rev. 19:11-21). As for the Church, despite what Dominion Theology says, it will not conquer the world for Messiah Yeshua but will need to endure until the King of Israel returns to extend God's sovereignty over the earth (Rev. 6:9-11; Zech. 14:9, 16).

For those who trust in the Lord Yeshua, we must keep our eyes on Him (Heb. 12:2) and recognize that so much of what is happening today has been prophesied to take place in the days leading up to His return (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12; Luke 24:44). As I often write in Intercessors for Israel's Friday Prayer Alerts, nothing takes God by surprise and there are no emergencies in heaven (Isa. 42:9; 46:9-10; John 13:19).

If God is truly sovereign and the Lord Yeshua already has all authority in heaven and on earth, then why be anxious (Psa. 103:19; Isa. 52:7; Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36)? And yes, I ask myself this all the time. On the other hand, if He is not sovereign and Messiah does not hold the reins of this age – then all the panic in the world will not make a bit of difference.

The next section shows us that while we usually know only what the mainstream media deems is important, yet God is openly restoring Israel – and He is reaping a final harvest of millions today. Yet God's Spirit has been moving on the earth ever since the Jews started to return to their land in large numbers in the late 1800s – and it is still ongoing! But because this is no longer happening in the West, most Western Christians are still waiting for it. So be encouraged and look up. Our redemption is definitely drawing near.

Messiah Yeshua is building His Body

Christian Broadcasting Network reported that on September 11th the main focus in the media was on the growth of Islam. Yet what most experts and scholars "missed is the incredible growth of Christianity," most likely because this expansion "has moved from the sophisticated humanistic West to 'developing world'."

In the southern hemisphere and in Asia, the "scale of Christian growth is almost unimaginable," said Dr. P. Jenkins, History and Religious Studies professor at Penn State University. In his book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, Jenkins argues that "the greatest movement of the past century was not communism or capitalism," but what he calls "Pentecostalism" – Spirit-filled Christianity.

The modern Pentecostal movement began "at the start of the 20th century." [This was shortly after Jews began to return to their land in large numbers, and there is a biblical connection between these two end-time events]. Today, there are "several hundred million" Pentecostals worldwide and estimates are that by 2040's or 50's, there will be upwards of a billion, which means "more Pentecostals than Hindus, while today they already outnumber all Buddhists. Jenkins writes that in about two decades, "two-thirds of all Christians will live in Africa, Latin America or Asia."

In 1900, there were around 10 million African Christians; today "there are 360 million," about 50% of the population of Africa. This shift has gone unnoticed by many – even believers – and so every scandal or dispute in an American Church has the media treating it "like a worldwide crisis…" But churches in the developing world are barely affected "by debates over homosexuality or abortion," because "they believe the Bible," and take the Word's "authority very seriously, both the Old and the New Testament," in a way which puts Western Christianity to shame.

Yet as this growth "threatens Islam," believers "are being martyred in places like Nigeria and Indonesia.

"There are about 80 million Christians in China," and many predict that in 20 to 30 years China will be as a nation 25 to 30% Christian. That is enough" to change society and government…" Even today, "Chinese church leaders have a burden to take the gospel" west, evangelizing the Muslims, in line with their "back to Jerusalem" vision.

Jenkins: "Christianity is returning… to its roots. It is a religion that originated in the Middle East [ME] and in Africa. Perhaps it went away for a while, but now it's back". ("A tidal wave of Christianity," CBN, cbn.com, Oct. 2021)

Western Church in decline

If this is happening in America, I can only imagine that it is much further advanced in the rest of the West.

David Isaac writes that "evangelical Christians have emerged as one of Israel's core bases of support," yet in today's West, "growing trends of secularization and liberal ideology," including an erosion of a pro-Israel theology, are undermining this support, especially with young evangelicals.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke professors Inbari and Bumin commissioned a poll by the Barna Group. It exposed "a sharp drop in support for Israel" among evangelicals, falling from 69% in 2018 to 33.6% today, while support for the Palestinians rose from 6% in 2018 to 24.3%.

The poll focused on evangelicals, ages 18 to 29, and enforced earlier polls which also showed "a widening gap in support for Israel between younger and older evangelicals. In 2015, 40% of young evangelicals said the US should lean towards Israel, a number that dropped to 21% in 2018."

One factor is theology. Evangelicals who "identify with premillennialism" believe that God's promises to the Jewish people are still valid, and they have a definite place in God's end-time plans, including "a return to the Land of Israel." Yet amillennialists often believe in replacement theology which says "God's promise to the people of Israel has been fulfilled with the advent of Jesus…"

Inbari sees an "erosion" of premillennialism, while Bumin adds that they found "amillennialist pastors tend to be younger than premillennial ones. He surmises that young evangelicals gravitate towards younger pastors."

Bumin also sees a decrease in end-time prophecy teachings as many leaders focus on the "daily concerns of young evangelicals." So if the focus shifts away from today's prophetic events, the issue of Israel and the Jewish people is not talked about either.

This often occurs in megachurches, which do not normally teach "eschatology or theology." A Hartford Institute 2020 Megachurch Report found about "1,750 mega-churches in America," congregations with 2,000 plus in regular attendance. Bumin says these churches "tend to be far more supportive of the Palestinian people."

Another gap is that while older premillennialists usually "interpret Bible very literally…younger evangelicals may take the Bible as a guideline or portrayal rather than literal rules."

Does the poll show that support for Israel is dwindling, or – and much more troubling – does it show that the next generation of American Christians are also drifting "from the Bible and traditional evangelicalism as well?" Jim Fletcher, a researcher and writer with years in the Christian book publishing field, sees it as the latter, with a "mass exodus" of young evangelicals from church, especially when they go to college. "Bible study has been diluted, premillennial theology weakened, and social-justice issues have been injected into the Church."

He lists as a key factor "a 'subtle' de-emphasis on the Bible," in many modern congregations. Today's "Bible Study" is often one "created by and for the lead pastor. The end result is you're not going to get a comprehensive view of Scripture." And where there is no context – there is no understanding of Jewish history.

Another factor is many churches are nondenominational, with people from various backgrounds. "If you are a pastor and you want to teach about Israel, if you want to teach about Jewish history, if you want to teach about Hebrew Scriptures, you're going to have people in that congregation who don't want to hear that…"

Fletcher also sees liberal theology as a "huge problem" which often relegates many Old Testament stories to myths, leading to viewing Jewish history as not real. "So if Jewish history isn't true, then a Christian millennial today can say, 'Well, then why is the Jewish claim to the Land of Israel stronger than the Palestinians or anybody else?' And that is absolutely what's happened." ("Why is young Evangelical support for Israel eroding?" D. Isaac, Jewish News Syndicate, 25 June 2021)

So how far has the US Church moved from a biblical standard? R. Bratton's article, "The American Church has fallen: shocking poll shows 'Fake Christianity' has supplanted the Biblical worldview," gives us some idea. She says, "Thanks to cultural corrosion and a lack of biblical literacy, a new 'fake Christianity' is now being preached," and labels this "counterfeit religion…Moralistic Therapeutic Deism [MTD]." This is a worldview that has "quickly gained prominence" resulting in "a theology that looks nothing like historical Christianity …" An early 2021 Barna survey noted that MTD, a "watered-down, feel-good, fake Christianity" is the most popular worldview in the US today. He said MTD "has some Christian elements in it," but it is not the biblical faith. 

Barna describes MTD as a "moralistic perspective" based on Deism, which is "the idea that God created the world but has no direct involvement in it." So MTD believes "there is a distant God who just wants everyone to be nice, and the purpose of life is to be happy. American 'Christians' who have adopted this philosophy have… elevate[d] personal definitions of right and wrong above any objective standard of Truth – like the Bible…

"The faith that motivates Americans today is not the 'singular' faith proclaimed by Wesley …or the confident faith of St. Paul…nor is it the creedal conviction of the early Church," which declared, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord." Today's faith "isn't even anchored in the bold exclusivity of Jesus himself, who said, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me!"

Bratton says, "It makes sense that 'Christians' who embrace MTD are hesitant to [be salt in] the culture. How can anyone pass judgment if everyone's just trying to be happy? The only sin is getting in the way of someone's personal 'truth'. That's why so many are siding with [neo-Marxist atheistic] groups like BLM and the LBGT movement…Enter the screaming woke mob; [those who] promote sin under the guise of 'loving everyone'."

Christian apologist F. Turek adds, "Some people call themselves progressive Christians when they're neither progressive nor Christian because they disagree with Jesus on several significant issues. They disagree with Jesus on sex…on the Bible…on Heaven and Hell…on His atonement." So why call yourself Christian?  

"Followers of Christ have forgotten that Jesus didn't come to tell people to be nice. His message has always been a stumbling block, and [this is] especially hard for 21st century Americans to accept," says Bratton, noting that Yeshua's message "is one of confession, not counseling and comfort…" (" America's new religion: Fake Christianity," Everett Piper, The Washington Times Op-ed, 25 July, 2021)

Israel & Africa vs. Israel & Ben & Jerry's

In July, Herb Keinon wrote that while the focus was on Ben & Jerry's boycott of Israelis in Judea and Samaria, Israel "regained its observer status on the 55-nation African Union [AU]… Just as the Vermont-based ice cream company signaled its virtue by indicating it wants to boycott Jewish state, the Addis Ababa-based multilateral organization lifted what amounted to a nearly 20-year quasi-diplomatic boycott of Israel and reinstated Israel as an observer state." And yet "the AU step barely registered" in the media.

"While neither event will have an immediate earth-shattering impact on Israel they are important symbols." B&J's move sends a message that "people should not do business with Israel because of its policies," yet the AU message is that "there is absolutely nothing wrong with dealing with Israel. Those who pressed B&J's to change its business practices toward Israel want to cast Israel as racist, colonialist, apartheid regime that should be shunned…Africa knows something about racist, colonialist, apartheid regimes, yet rather than continuing to boycott Israel, it is extending a hand."  

This reinstatement of Israel's observer status is the fruit of former PM Netanyahu's outreach to Africa. There were several reasons why this was a high priority to him. First, "while Israel had no status in the organization, the Palestinian Authority [PA] did, gaining observer status in 2013." Therefore, while PA President Abbas could "address the body and the PA had a hand in crafting the organization's statements on the ME that were very critical of Israel, Israel's own voice was completely absent."

Second, Israel is making efforts "to improve its standing in multi-lateral institutions. While Israel has good, strong bilateral relations with many countries…its relationship with international organizations leaves much to be desired. So while it has developed good relations with numerous African states… it was getting clobbered at the AU. A similar situation exists with the EU – Israel has strong relations with numerous European states, but a very difficult relationship with the EU based in Brussels…" 

Observer status in the AU also gives Israel "relations with 46 of the Union's 55 states, and being able to address the bloc could give legitimacy to some of the holdouts such as Djibouti, Mali, and Niger to establish ties.  Furthermore, it could pave the way for Israel to take part in Africa-wide projects." ("Israel's African Union status is as important as Ben & Jerry's," H. Keinon. JP analysis, 26 July 2021)

With what was just noted in the previous section, as to how the Church is growing in Africa, this link with the AU is also another link to believers who will stand with and pray for the nation of Israel.

The EU bows to Iran

Fiamma Nirenstein said the August 5th "swearing-in ceremony" for Iran's new president, Ebrahim Raisi, "was a testament to political and moral indifference," erasing all distinctions "between terrorism and democracy; it was the tomb of human rights…" Raisi was defeated in Iran's 2017 election, but Supreme Leader Khamenei placed him in top judicial positions, "for which he received horrified reactions even from Amnesty International, for his having sentenced to death tens of thousands of dissidents and others not appreciated by the regime."

Yet in spite of Raisi's crimes against humanity, there were 115 officials from 73 nations in attendance to see him sworn in. Seating arrangements were made according to Khamenei's and Raisi's preferences. Hamas Chief Haniyeh, Islamic Jihad leader al-Nakhaleh and Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Qassem, were all in the front row, and right behind them sat E. Mora, deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic body, who had officially placed the three groups listed above on the EU blacklist, and who has "been leading Europe in the talks in Vienna to breathe new life into…the nuclear deal with Iran."

Nirenstein wonders how Europe can "pay homage to a country that has made the destruction of the Jewish state and hatred of America its principal banner? How can it celebrate a government that invites and honors those who plan the murder of women and children on buses and pizzerias and supplies them with money? The ayatollahs can be pleased with themselves. While terrorists take their place prominently in the first row, we in Europe, without a word, situate ourselves behind them in the second row." ("Europe kneels before Raisi," F. Nirenstein, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 10 Aug. 2021)

Jerusalem – the center of the end-time war

According to the Bible, Jerusalem is the geographic center of God's end-time plans. Not only is it His city (Psa. 48:1-2, 8; 87:3; Matt. 5:35b), but it is God's bait to trap the rebellious nations (Zech. 12:2-3) and the city to which His Son will return (Zech. 14:2-4; Acts 1:11).

While many in the Church might ignore this, Hamas' leader confirms it – and he does not even believe in the One True God. In August, Ismail Haniyeh said that Jerusalem is the focus in gaining a "great victory" leading to "the liberation of 'Palestine'." He emphasized that "the battle for Jerusalem" has now become the target "in the path of conflict with the enemy," and victory over Jerusalem will result in "the withdrawal of the 'occupation'."

He said the war in May against Israel, "Operation Guardian of the Walls," proved once again "that the city of Jerusalem was and still is the focus of the confrontation with the enemy," adding that "the confrontation with the occupation of Palestinian land is not a conflict over borders, but an existential conflict, and a religious and ideological fight." ("Hamas: This is an existential conflict," Arutz 7, 23 Aug. 2021)

Palestinians reject peace with Israel

With great insight Jonathan Tobin said, "While those who represent the Jewish state need to be flexible and resourceful while competing on a diplomatic playing field that is most often stacked against their country the idea that Israel thrives when being more accommodating is a myth." Signing the 1993 Oslo Accords, "Israel accepted the false premise that it was a thief in possession of 'occupied Palestinian land'," and since then it has gone backwards diplomatically. Anti-Zionism is now acceptable in mainstream discussions – even in the US –"because Israel has made so many vain concessions for the sake of peace like Oslo and the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, not because it didn't make enough of them. Such concessions validated the case being made by those who falsely accused it of practicing 'apartheid' and other slurs."

In contrast, when Netanyahu rejected "the idea of a two-state solution," Israel gained many more allies in the world, including among ME Arab nations. ("Will Lapid's charm offensive work better than Netanyahu's realpolitik?" J. Tobin, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 28 July 2021)

Israeli-Arab Khaled Abu Toameh notes that while the Biden administration increased "efforts to bolster the PA," Palestinians have increasingly rejected their leaders and "any peace process with Israel." Many want to annul the Oslo Accords and want to see Israel's demise. Yet the US administration, which has "restored relations with the PA and pledged to resume unconditional financial aid," still believes these moves will revive negotiations leading to a "two-state solution."

Pressured by the US, Israel's government also "announced a series of gestures aimed at strengthening the PA," in order that Hamas, which is vying to take control of Judea and Samaria from the PA, will be weakened.

Most Palestinians are not impressed, rejecting the PA, the US and Israel, while preferring Hamas who seeks Israel's destruction over PA President Abbas. An Arab World for Research & Development poll released at the end of August reveals that America is deceiving itself if it thinks its dollars can "change the hearts and minds of the Palestinians." Two-thirds support Oslo being annulled and 61% oppose the current "security coordination between the PA and Israel." In other words, a majority oppose peace because "they do not recognize Israel's right to exist…"

Also, if elections were held today, most Palestinians would reject Abbas and his people, as a majority "would vote for Hamas and Abbas critic Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader presently serving five life terms in an Israeli prison for his role in the murders of five Israelis during the Second Intifada (2000-2005)."

Ominously, Hamas' popularity continues to rise, "especially after its 11-day war with Israel in May," with 74% of those polled believing that it was the winner. "The Palestinians are essentially praising Hamas and the Gaza-based terror groups for firing thousands of rockets and missiles into Israel."

While Biden and his cohorts have a "strong commitment to a negotiated two-state solution" as the way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 60% of those polled oppose this, wanting Israel to be "replaced with a Palestinian state, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea." This is an endorsement of Hamas' charter, which states: "… the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Wakf throughout the generations and until the Day of Resurrection; no one can renounce it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it… The liberation of that land is an individual duty binding on all Muslims everywhere… In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad [holy war]. We must spread the spirit of Jihad among the Islamic nation, clash with the enemies and join the ranks of the Jihad fighters."

The poll's results are no surprise to "those familiar with the inner workings of the PA and the anti-Israel and anti-US sentiments on the Palestinian street." US dollars may sustain the PA in the short term, allowing Abbas to hold on to power for a while, but they "will not restore the Palestinians' confidence in Abbas or the PA leadership," nor will dollars entice "Palestinians to accept Israel's right to exist."

The reality on the ground is very clear: "Palestinians have been so successfully radicalized by their leaders that they want to see Israel removed from the face of the earth. Hate has been embedded so successfully that they would rather see their people suffer and die than accept any accommodation with Israel." ("Palestinians: Why Biden's aid will not bring peace," K. Abu Toameh, Gatestone Institute, 8 Sept. 2021)

Bassam Tawil, an Arab living in the ME, confirms what Abu Toameh had written. Tawil quoted Biden's statement at September's UN General Assembly's annual session. "The commitment of the US to Israel's security is without question …our support for an independent, Jewish state is unequivocal. But I continue to believe that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure…Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state living in peace alongside a viable, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state."

Ironically, that same day a Palestinian Center for Policy & Survey Research poll showed once again how "Westerners are clueless about the real attitudes of the Palestinian public," as most view "Hamas and other terrorists as their heroes and role models," and they believe "that violence and terrorism are the best and only way to deal with Israel." With these attitudes, the "Palestine" Biden wants to create "will be controlled by Iranian-backed terrorists such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad whose declared goal is to replace Israel with an Islamist state after killing or expelling as many Jews as possible…"

The poll revealed that "nearly 80% of the Palestinian public" demands Abbas' resignation, 62% oppose a "two-state solution," with 61% against even restarting peace negotiations. These results "highlight the wide gap between the perceptions and wishes of the Biden administration and the international community, and the reality of the Palestinian situation. Those who continue to talk about a 'two-state solution' are not only deluding themselves, but also endangering the security of the ME by seeking to establish yet another terrorist state…"

Tawil offers some advice to Biden and other Western leaders: "before you link the idea of peace and security to the idea of a 'two-state solution'," please believe that "when the Palestinians say they reject peace with Israel – they actually mean what they say." ("Biden ignores Palestinian support for terrorists," B. Tawil, Gatestone Institute, 4 Oct. 2021)

Global anti-Semitism is now acceptable

JP's Seth J. Frantzman reported that the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan want to have diplomatic "relations with the world," including the US, Iran, India, and every other nation – except for Israel.

So what? "Why would Israel want relations with the Taliban anyway?" But is that the correct response? Why is it that only the Jewish State is spurned by certain governments, like the Taliban, Pakistan and Malaysia? This is outright antisemitism as only Israel is singled out.

Most nations rejecting relations with Israel "are Muslim-majority states, who based their rejection on "a toxic mix of religious hatred and antisemitism," along with the idea that by sidelining Israel, they are supporting their Palestinians "brothers". This "ideological logic" might be viewed as not "anti-Semitic if it was applied anywhere else, but it isn't." These same governments have relations with many nations "accused of abuses against Muslim minorities. It isn't about their coreligionists: It's about Israel and Jews…"

This political form of antisemitism started in 1948 and is widely accepted today, "not only among some Islamic states, but also generally in international forums. The exclusion of Israel and the attempt to sideline it," at the UN, or UNESCO, or various other global entities expose "a global antisemitism in which hatred for the Jews was replaced by international hatred of Israel." 

And Israel is the exception since normally the concept of "engagement" is seen as good, and "diplomacy is preferable to war." Yet even nations that have fought wars "usually have relations." But Israel is different, as it is "a religious prejudice" that moves nations to refuse relations with it. "During the Soviet era there were also Cold War excuses, but today's excuse why countries like Malaysia lack relations with Israel is solely based on anti-Semitism."

To the world's shame, anti-Semitic as the "basis of foreign policy… is not controversial," as nations can support hatred of Israel and the Jews, yet hardly receive any criticism for it. A list of nations in this category includes "failed states such as Libya, Yemen, Somalia," but also nations that "cut ties with Israel allegedly over tensions with the Palestinians, such as Venezuela and Bolivia." As they did not cut ties with other nations over similar issues, this exposes antisemitism in their foreign policy. Sadly this sidelining of "Israel and excluding it in international forums, groupings and foreign policy" is now quietly accepted, "including in Western countries where the Holocaust happened…"

Many nations who "reject ties with Israel have also expelled Jews or make it impossible for them to openly practice their faith…" Jews are the only ethnic group where it is not seen as controversial "to reduce them to zero in countries where they once thrived," for example, in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, and Yemen. This "reduction of a minority community to zero is generally called genocide," or when "racial and religious minorities in the West" are banned, it is called "a hate crime, or racism, or Islamophobia.

"What is the phobia that guides expulsion and disappearance of Jews in all those countries that also lack relations with Israel? It is antisemitism…No other international relations concept can explain it, since no other such concept applies to any other countries or religious minority community in the same way." ("The Taliban & implicit antisemitism in int'l relations," S. J. Frantzman, JP Analysis, 8 Sept. 2021)

UN and the New World Order

In Isaiah 34, God threatens the nations with political, military and ecological disasters (34:2-4) as He reaches the end of His patience with how they deal with His nation, Israel. For it is the day of YHWH's vengeance, and the year of retribution for the strife/controversy over Zion. (Isa. 34:8) Is there a sense of some of this coming to pass in what UN Secretary General Guterres said in September, as he "issued a dire warning that the world is moving in the wrong direction and… continuing business as usual could lead to a breakdown of global order and a future of perpetual crisis…"?

He says the world is under "enormous stress," and the Covid-19 pandemic is "a wake-up call" to reveal "the failure of nations to come together and take joint decisions" to help people face this "global life-threatening emergency." This "paralysis" extends "to the failures to tackle the climate crisis," to inequalities which undermines societies, and include technology's advances without guidelines "to protect us from its unforeseen consequences."

Included in his list of items bringing chaos into the world was "rising poverty, hunger and gender inequality," the annihilation of all life from nuclear war, and the scourge of injustice in nations. Yet not once did he mention anti-Semitism or anti-Zionism which according to the Bible is the factor for the world's sudden slide into chaos (Joel 3:1-2 is just one example).

In essence, he sees the solution in a new world order, a one world government although he does not call it that. Instead he called for "more effective multilateral institutions including a UN '2.0' more relevant to the 21st century," but this time "multilateralism with teeth," and he proposed a 2023 summit "to strengthen global governance of digital technology and outer space," as well as "a New Agenda for Peace" with rules "to reduce strategic risks from nuclear weapons, cyber warfare and lethal autonomous weapons…"

Guterres said the Covid pandemic "exposed deficiencies in the global financial system," with the solution being an integration of "the global financial system with other global priorities…" All of the international monetary giants must pull together, including "the 20 leading economies in the G20, the UN's Economic and Social Council, the heads of international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and the UN secretary-general."

He recommended a series of steps to deal with "the threats to social stability," by providing "universal health coverage, education, housing, decent work and income protection for everyone, everywhere." ("UN chief warns of 'breakdown of global order'," Israel Hayom, 12 Sept. 2021)

Repentance is so old fashioned that it never made it on his list of possible solutions, and neither did fasting and prayer (Psa. 50:15).

Putin warns the West vs. "Wokeism"

Compared to Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin makes much more sense – especially to bible believers, as he correctly stated that "the far-left woke ideology…is causing societal ills throughout the Western world," adding that this was similar to "what happened in Russia during the 1917 revolution." His speech was at the 18th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi where the topic was "Global Shake-up in the 21st Century."

Putin: "We see with bemusement the paralysis unfolding in countries that have grown accustomed to viewing themselves as the flagships of progress." We witness "the social and cultural shocks" shaking Western nations, where people "believe that the aggressive blotting out of whole pages of your own history, affirmative action in the interest of minorities, and a requirement to renounce the traditional interpretation of such basic values as mother, father, family, and the distinction between sexes" will lead to "a renewal of society."

While Western nations can do whatever they want, yet he stated that "the overwhelming majority of Russian society" rejects this thinking. "The recipes they come up with are nothing new. Paradoxical as it may seem, this is what we saw in Russia…after the 1917 revolution," as the Communists followed the ideologies of Marx and Engels. They also aimed to change "the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of morality, the basic principles for a healthy society." They also tried "to destroy" ancient values, distorting family relationships, and hailing it "as the march of progress." It was very popular then and it is being resurrected today.

The Communists were also "absolutely intolerant" of different opinions. This too is happening in the West, as we see "the fight for equality and against discrimination turned into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity," with even the great authors of previous generations no longer being taught because they "did not understand the importance of gender or race…"

The fight against racism is being turned into "a cancel culture, and into reverse discrimination…" It drives people apart, "whereas the true fighters for civil rights were trying to eliminate those differences…

"The proponents of these new approaches go so far as wanting to eliminate the whole notion of men and women, and those who dare say that men and women exist, that this is a biological fact, they are all but banished." It is "monstrous" that one can now "teach children that the boy can easily become a girl," and vice-versa. "You push the parents aside and make a child take this decision that can destroy their lives."

He adds that all of this is to him a "crime against humanity…under the banner of progress…" ("Putin warns 'Wokeness' is destroying the West: It happened in Russia; it's evil, it destroys values," Ryan Saavedra, DailyWire.com, 22 Oct. 2021)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Unfortunately, it seems that many believers are focused on all the craziness that is happening in the world and have taken their eyes off Yeshua, who is still today Lord of all (Acts 10:36). To them, it looks like the enemy is challenging God with his demonic plans, when in reality the only ones whom the enemy can challenge is us. So here is a word from Lamentations which, if we keep this truth in mind, will bring much peace and faith into our lives even if we do not understand what God is doing (Prov. 3:5).

Who is he that can speak a thing, and have it come to pass,
if YHWH has not commanded it?Lam. 3:37

Amen!

Blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen