CULTURAL CALAMITY

From My Perspective - - - 

We are living in a day and time where the Cultural Calamity and shift is far outpacing one’s ability to either comprehend or cope with the changes. The more recent is the movement of ISIS and the movement to the establishment of a Caliphate. The Christian Science Monitor reported on June 12, “Istanbul, Turkey — A transnational Jihadist group now controls a swath of territory across northern Iraq and Syria, creating a de facto Sunni Islamic “caliphate” in its wake as it pushes south toward the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) endangered the oil refinery of Baiji and yesterday seized Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, 80 miles northwest of Baghdad. The advances came just a day after ISIS shocked observers by easily taking full control of Mosul, one of Iraq’s largest cities, where Iraqi soldiers trained and equipped by the US shed their uniforms as they fled…”

Fox News reported, “Long before it looted the Iraqi central bank in Mosul of $429 million, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Syria (ISIS) was well-funded in its quest to establish a Sharia caliphate, thanks to a raging criminal enterprise of extortion, bank robbery and petty theft, as well as donations from well-heeled sponsors throughout the Arab world, according to experts. The latest payday — gained when the jihadist group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi overran Iraq's second largest city and emptied the vaults of cash and gold bullion — swelled already healthy coffers and made ISIS, by some estimations, the world's richest terrorist organization. The group also seized U.S.-made tanks, Blackhawk helicopters, cargo planes and an unknown quantity of guns, all part of a $14 billion arsenal the U.S. sold or donated to the beleaguered Iraqi security forces. The money and weapons are already helping ISIS in its ferocious bid to carve out a nation governed by strict and merciless Sharia law in northern Iraq and northwestern Syria. The group already sees itself as an independent state with large swaths of the two battle-scarred nations, areas it now controls and is bent on expanding. The "Levant" refers to an eastern Mediterranean area that also includes parts of Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Cyprus. Could this be their design and goal?

Our nation and its allies are caught without a contingency plan. Is it because they are naive about Jihadist and Islamic goals? Is it due to arrogance: “Bin Laden is dead and Al Qaeda is on the run”? Could it be be leadership incompetence and stupidity? Could it be ignorance of a larger plan, an eternal plan, a definitive plan of God? Is Revelation 17 and 18 a prophecy about the revival of Babylon as the center of world dominance? What is the location of the Biblical Babylon? Wikipedia contains the following: “The Babylon of the Bible and Nebuchadnezzar's day is now called Iraq. All that really remains of the Ancient city are some mounds of broken mud/brick buildings and debris in the plains between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They are found in present-day Hillah, Babil Governate, Iraq, about 85 km (53 mi) south of Baghdad.” The focus of the news today pertains to the defense and protection of Baghdad, Iraq. ISIS is on the move toward the seizure of Baghdad. Why? What is their design and plan?

For your thought and consideration, Revelation 17:13,17 states: “These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast…for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” Revelation 18 speaks of the prominence and centrality of Babylon as well as its sudden demise and judgment. A reason for this is Revelation 18:24, “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” The resulting judgment of God is the fulfillment of Romans 12:19, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” If you believe God is in control of all He has created and He has an eternal plan, then regardless of the Cultural Calamity of our day, you can confidently abide in His peace. Consider these things with me!