LUK.21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Look Up
Dear Friends,
Greetings once again, in what has been another event-filled week around the world. We are continuing to see astonishing changes take place at a very rapid pace. To many, the events that are occurring could appear very negative, they can however be viewed in a very positive light, which we will explain as you read through this article.
Below, once again, are a sampling of some notable news articles that have appeared in recent publications from different parts of the world:
*******Mail Online (UK)
"Worst financial crisis in human history": Bank boss's warning as pound suffers biggest fall for 37 years
By SAM FLEMING
25th October 2008
Pound suffers worst fall against dollar for 37 years
Asian markets tumble for a third day amid global fears
Consumers face higher shop prices, dearer fuel and more expensive holidays after the pound slumped yesterday.
Sterling took a hammering as economic figures showed the UK approaching full-blown recession.
Bank of England deputy governor Charlie Bean warned that the pain is just beginning, calling the situation the "largest financial crisis of its kind in human history".
• Markets tumbled around the world, with leading UK shares losing almost £50billion;
• Sterling had its worst-ever week against the dollar since 1971 and hit a record low against the euro;
• The oil cartel Opec cut production, a move likely to increase petrol prices up to 5p a litre;
• Experts warned that hedge funds are facing disaster, with billions likely to be wiped off savings and pension funds;
• Hundreds of jobs were axed in the insurance, cosmetics, haulage and textile industries.
Mr Miliband said the meeting had highlighted the significant shift in economic power towards the east but also how interlocked everybody's interests were in tackling "deep imbalances" in the system.
"I don't think it's just the fact that we are meeting in The Great Hall of the People and we listened to the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party talking about the need to prop up global capital markets that brings home to one that there is this big shift in economic power," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"But what is also clear is that there's been an increase in economic vulnerability: the Pakistani prime minister was here talking about how his country is now threatened with an economic tsunami.
At one stage, the pound was worth as little as $1.52, prompting speculation that the UK was on the brink of a currency crisis.
Foreign investors are less willing to finance the UK because of its record debt burden and slumping economic output. The rush to sell sterling means prices of imports like clothing and electronic goods will rise, holidays will cost more and overall living standards will suffer.
Analysts warned that the nation faces an extended period of austerity, as unemployment soars and families are forced to save on even basic essentials.
Professor Andrew Clare, of Cass Business School, said Britain has amassed a record debt burden that must now be paid off.
Rainy day: David Cameron visiting a medical manufacturers' in Oxford. He said yesterday was the day "recession became real"
Yesterday's pain was not confined to the currency markets. In the City, the FTSE 100 tumbled 204.47 points, or 5 per cent, to 3883.36. On Wall Street the Dow Jones industrial average fell 291 points in afternoon trading as panic continued to ripple across world markets.
Strategist Chris Turner of investment bank ING said: "This isn't just a sterling crisis, this is a global financial crisis."
Disbelief: Traders on the floor of the Stock Exchange in Japan struggle to believe their eyes as stocks plunged 9.6 per cent
Times Online
October 25, 2008
Wall Street halts futures trading amid panic
Suzy Jagger in New York
Stock markets across the world cracked yesterday, forcing Wall Street to suspend trading on a key futures contract to stem panic-selling while Moscow shut for business altogether.
Sharp losses in New York, London, Europe and the Far East raised the spectre that governments may be forced to impose emergency holidays to avert a meltdown across world stock markets.
Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics at New York University, said that his prediction earlier this week that markets would have to be shut down is already coming true.
A forced closure of stock markets in America would respresent the first time that Washington would have shut Wall Street since the terrorist attacks of September 2001. It would also have echoes of the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt shut American banks during an enforced holiday.
Yesterday, investors became gripped with fear as they realised that recent attempts by central bankers to bail out financial institutions and cut interest rates would not prevent a severe global recession.
WorldNetDaily"
October 09, 2008
Farrakhan on Obama: "The Messiah is absolutely speaking." "Barack has captured the youth", "will bring about 'universal change".
Farrakhan says when Obama talks "the Messiah is absolutely speaking."
Addressing a large crowd behind a podium with a Nation of Islam Saviour's Day 2008 sign, Farrakhan proclaims,
"You are the instruments that God is going to use to bring about universal change, and that is why Barack has captured the youth. And he has involved young people in a political process that they didn't care anything about. That's a sign. When the Messiah speaks, the youth will hear, and the Messiah is absolutely speaking."
*******
How can the preceding articles be viewed in a positive perspective? We know the worlds economy is collapsing, people are losing their livelihoods, a leading political leader is being proclaimed the "messiah". (Concerning the "messiah" this is another sign we are living in the End Time: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not." MAT.24:4, 5, 11, 23).
When viewed through the eyes of faith, these events, and the changes that are yet to come,(which will be much greater than what has already occurred) can be looked at in a positive light. We must realize that the sooner things get worse, the sooner they are going to not only get better, but are going to get better beyond almost anything we can imagine. What do we have to look forward to? "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1CO.2:9)
Jesus said in John 15:19: ".....ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world". If you have received Jesus into you life and heart then you have been chosen "out of the world". This is literally going to happen. What Jesus was saying was, when all these terrible things begin to happen to the world "look up" because I am coming back soon to lift you up out of this terrible mess into heaven to be with Me at the rapture at the end of the Great Tribulation. (For more information about the Great Tribulation see our "Studies" section on this web site.)
(1TH.4:16-18) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." That is how we can be encouraged, and look upon the events that are happening with a positive view point.
How you look on the events taking place in the world depends on your perspective. While we can be "looking up" with great expectation, unfortunately many in the world will not share this perspective. The same chapter that encourages us to look up also says that; "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken". (LUK.21:26)
Do you love Jesus and have Him in your heart and life? You can receive Him right now by praying this simple prayer: Dear Jesus I acknowledge I need your grace and mercy and ask that you please come into my heart and forgive me my sins. I receive you right now and ask that you give me eternal life. In Jesus name, amen.
Please do write us. We would love to hear from you. Don't forget if you are in need of guidance in your life it may be possible one of our Christian mystics may be able to channel an answer for you.
We also want to remind you that all the people involved with this web site are volunteer workers. We do ask that if possible you could help with a gift to help support the work. (MAL.3:10) "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
God bless you. We love you. Have a great week!
Almondtree Productions
PSA.91:9-10 "Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."
