Vladimir Putin: Friend, Foe or Fiend?

Is Russian President Vladimir Putin the Antichrist? Only to some folks who fear that Putin intends to rebuild the old Soviet Empire through military force.

Putin's not the Antichrist. Rather, he's a shrewd and ruthless political leader who takes no prisoners when it comes to those who oppose and cross him. Just ask former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky who served eight years in prison, (2005-2013) allegedly for financial fraud.

In reality, Khodorkovsky was one of Putin's most outspoken critics until he was jailed. Before he was arrested, Khodorkovsky was one of the richest men in the world with an estimated wealth of $15 billion. When he was released from prison two years ago, his wealth was estimated at $100-200 million. Did Khodorkovsky's harsh criticism of Putin have anything to do with his incarceration and loss of wealth? Does the sun come up in the east?

Indeed it does. And indeed, Putin's not a nice guy when it comes to his enemies. But he's not stupid either, unlike many western political leaders who see the world much differently than he does. Putin deals in reality rather than in the fantasies and social theories that his western counterparts deal in.

For example, western leaders such as President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel are convinced that the upheaval going on in Iraq, Syria and Libya is caused by poverty and joblessness. Putin knows that it was caused by ignorant western leaders who believed they could replace strongmen dictators such as Assad, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi with benevolent leaders disposed to "democracy."

Why has Putin put Russian troops in Syria? To protect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by destroying the coterie of rebels from "freedom-fighters" to ISIS that marched into Syria after the United States pulled its troops out of Iraq. Though Assad's a brutal man who has used force and torture against his enemies, he's kept a lid on terrorism and religious fundamentalism in Syria.

There are those who want Assad out of Syria--western leaders who want to a more "democratic" leader to rule that nation, and Islamists who want Assad out so they can reestablish a caliphate in that region that vanished 90 years ago with the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Why does Putin need Assad? Because if Assad falls, ISIS will take over that nation and begin moving northward into nations such as Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Those are Muslim nations that will offer no resistance to ISIS. And Russia sits to the north of these nations. Thus, the Russians can either deal with ISIS in Syria, or they can deal with the jihadists in Russia. Since Russia's too massive of a nation to build a fence around, Putin plans to do away with ISIS and the American-trained rebels who are fighting Assad in Syria before they begin moving northward toward the Bear.

And if Putin succeeds and keeps Assad in power? Then what? Will Putin abandon the Middle East? Hardly. With the United States retreating from the world stage, Putin plans to reshape the Middle East according to his worldview. That means that Islamists will eventually be driven from the Middle East into the west where they will cause havoc and destruction before Russia eventually extends her power across the entire world.

Here's what Putin said in a speech to the Russian Duma in 2013: :"In Russia, we live as Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, and live the life of Muslims, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need Muslim minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell discrimination."

Putin clearly means that Islam has no future in Russia. And if he has his way, Islam won't have a future in many other places on the planet. Taking a swipe at the west, Putin said this: "We will not tolerate disrespect of our Russian culture. We had better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Muslims are taking over those countries and they will not take over Russia. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of Sharia Law and Muslims. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the Russian national interest first, observing that the Muslim minorities are not Russians." 

Putin indeed plans on building a new Russian empire. And unlike the old Soviet Union, the new empire will be a global one. Who says? Biblical prophecy says. Two ancient prophets--Daniel and Ezekiel--who lived about 2,600 years ago, revealed the rise of Russia as a world power in the last days (Daniel 11, Ezekiel 38-39). 

And we're beginning to see that happen. It will take time; perhaps many years. But it's going to happen. And the dreaded Antichrist will eventually come from this rejuvenated superpower. Thus, Russia's ascent to global dominance is no coincidence. It's prophetic. And in some ways, Vladimir Putin has become a foreshadow of the coming Antichrist.

Satan's Lies Part II

Are some people born with a sixth sense that allows them to predict the future? And if so, is that sense genetically inherited? Or, is it acquired via initiation into some ancient mystical wisdom?

First of all, no one can predict the future. No one is born with that ability and no one can learn or acquire that ability. Then how do we explain the ancient prophets who are recorded in the Bible? They never predicted the future. Rather, they recorded God's words concerning specific future events.

But how can we prove that? Because the events they foretold of happened. Such as? Such as the prophet Isaiah's revelation in the 8th century B.C. concerning the virgin birth of the Jewish Messiah Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 7:14) 

And Isaiah's recording that revealed the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ. Here's what he wrote: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:5-6)

There are many other examples of biblical prophecies that were recorded several centuries before they were fulfilled. The prophet Micah revealed the birthplace of the Messiah (Jerusalem) over 500 years before Christ appeared (Micah 5:2); King David foretold of Christ's resurrection nearly 1,000 years before Jesus appeared (Psalm 16:10), and Zechariah foretold that Christ would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey shortly before His crucifixion, over 500 years before that happened. (Zechariah 9:9)

The prophets heard from God and recorded His words. But what was so special about these men that God chose them to deliver His prophetic message to the world? Were they better than others? Were they more religiously devout than others? Did God just happen to like them more than other folks? Absolutely not.

Then why did God choose these men to reveal His word? Because they were humble men who loved the Lord and obeyed His commands. That's why. They weren't any more special than anyone else. In fact, according to the world's standards, these men were nothing at all. The apostle Paul explained it: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Thus, those who boast that they have the ability to predict the future--psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, spiritists, shamans, fortune tellers etc.--are liars, con artists, charlatans and demonic dupes. Demonic dupes? Yes, because there are people who are influenced by demonic spirits that can manipulate circumstances to make it seem as though these people have the ability to predict the future.

For example, many years ago I had a friend who was unhappy with his life. Though he was intelligent and successful, he was a flop with women. And so, he visited a psychic who told him that a neighbor of his had placed a curse on him when he was a young boy. The psychic broke the curse--for a fee of course--and then told him that he would be highly successful and meet a blond-haired woman who would become his wife.

What do you think happened? A few weeks later, a blond-haired young lady contacted him; they became friends and they eventually got married. Was that a coincidence? Perhaps. Or perhaps not. 

Also, the man's psychic warned him to stay away from me because she told him that I was "extremely dangerous." After he received that advice, our friendship abruptly ended. My friend told me that since his psychic had accurately predicted his future, he decided to heed her advice and stay away from me. And I haven't spoken to him in over 30 years.

Though his psychic never explained to him what made me so dangerous, I knew. I had become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and I knew the truth concerning salvation and eternal life. My ex-friend had exposed himself to Satan who wanted to make sure than he would never hear the gospel and gain eternal life by professing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. 

Tragically, by consulting with a psychic, my former friend came under a new curse. The Lord gave us this caveat: "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:31)

Sadly, I've learned that my ex-friend is having a lot of personal problems these days. I won't elaborate other than to say that this is what inevitably happens to people who seek spiritual counsel and blessings from those who traffic in the demonic. Things may go great for a time, and then life comes crashing down. Hard. It's a bitter pill that's extremely hard to swallow.

If you've ever sought the counsel of a psychic, then you're under a curse. But the good news is that you can break that curse by repenting and confessing that sin and all of your sins to Jesus Christ. If you'll make Him Lord and Savior of your life, he'll remove every curse that's on you. And best of all, you'll have gained the greatest blessing of all--eternal life.

Satan's Ageless "Secrets"

The Tarot card Wheel

Throughout history, many folks have believed that a secret, hidden wisdom exists that can be accessed to make their lives healthier, wealthier and happier. Though the Bible declares that such "knowledge" is nothing but demonic deception, many people are convinced that such a body of wisdom indeed exists.

What would we call this "wisdom?" We'd call it occultism. In the ancient times, it was known as Gnosticism. Gnosticism entails utilizing specific methods, rituals, incantations, chants, prayers etc. to make contact with spiritual forces in order to tap into an alleged body of knowledge that's otherwise inaccessible through the normal senses.

A website titled gnosis.org explains what Gnosticism is: Gnosticism is the teaching based on Gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior, intuitive means. Although Gnosticism thus rests on personal religious experience, it is a mistake to assume all such experience results in Gnostic recognitions. It is nearer the truth to say that Gnosticism expresses a specific religious experience, an experience that does not lend itself to the language of theology or philosophy, but which is instead closely affinitized to, and expresses itself through, the medium of myth. Indeed, one finds that most Gnostic scriptures take the forms of myths. The term “myth” should not here be taken to mean “stories that are not true”, but rather, that the truths embodied in these myths are of a different order from the dogmas of theology or the statements of philosophy.

In other words, myths are really truths cloaked in symbols and metaphors. And in order to decipher these myths, we must go beyond the physical realm to tap into a hidden knowledge or gnosis to find higher truth. Thus, Gnosticism is the ideological foundation of Jungian psychology, Roman Catholic Mystagogy, Islamic Sufism, Judaism's Kabbalah and Free Masonry's 33 degrees.

Where does the lie of Gnosticism-occultism originate? It's found in the Book of Genesis where the serpent (Satan) enticed Eve to violate God's command by eating fruit from a tree in the Garden of Eden that she and husband Adam were ordered to avoid.

When the serpent asked Eve why she refused to eat the fruit from that particular tree, she responded: "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" (Genesis 3:2-3) Here's how the serpent responded: "You will not certainly die. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5)

Satan enticed Eve to rebel against God by stating that the forbidden fruit would make her as wise as God. He claimed that God declared that particular tree off limits for that specific reason. But if that was true--and it wasn't--then why did God put the tree there? Certainly, as a test of loyalty and devotion to Him. But the tree's fruit contained no secret knowledge.

Rather, that fruit introduced the sin nature into the DNA of Adam and Eve. And all human beings have inherited that sin nature from the first couple. That evil nature has encouraged all the multiplied murders, crime, violence and moral depravity throughout history.

Thus, the belief that a hidden body of esoteric knowledge exists that can be accessed to acquire vast wealth, power, good health and even immortality is a lie that traces back to the dawn of history. If such wisdom existed, God would've revealed it to mankind. No one would have to search for it. In fact, no secret body of wisdom has ever existed.

Rather, those who embrace Satan's lies that a secret wisdom exists often end up making contact with a dark spiritual realm that frequently results in demonic oppression and even possession. How? Through occult techniques such as necromancy, spiritism, shamanism, sorcery and witchcraft. And through hallucinogenic drugs and eastern religious techniques such as transcendental meditation and visualization.

The myth that secret, gnostic wisdom exists that can be acquired to gain wealth and power is a canard that will always fail to deliver on its promises. It will leave its adherents bitter, cynical and depressed about life. In some cases, it will lead to destructive behavior and even suicide.

For those who are seeking a better life, why not heed God's word in the scriptures? For example: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and health to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." (Proverbs 3:5-10)

And here's another example: "Because they love me," says the Lord, "I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name. They will call on me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, and I will deliver them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation." (Psalm 91:14-16)

You can take that to the bank. Trust in God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and serve Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then you'll find true happiness, contentment and prosperity. That's a promise that will always deliver.

A Real Inconvenient Truth

Dr. Ben Carson

Dr. Ben Carson, a Republican presidential candidate who enjoyed a successful career as the director of neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, isn't shy about sharing his opinions when it comes to subjects that most career political hacks avoid like the plague.

Such as Islam that's become a third rail topic in American politics. Or, at least for Republicans who are always held to moral standards that Democrats aren't held to. Perhaps that's because Democrats no longer possess any moral standards.

Carson provoked faux outrage from members of America's faux media recently when he said this: "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that." 

After Carson dared to say what should've been said long ago, he was denounced by Ibrahim Hooper, the National Communications Director of CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) who retorted: He is not qualified to be president of the United States. You cannot hold these kinds of views and at the same time say you will represent all Americans, of all faiths and backgrounds. 

For the record, CAIR is an organization that was created specifically to dispense propaganda for the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the oldest and most notorious Islamic terror groups in the world. The Muslim Brotherhood seeks to establish a global caliphate by dismantling western democracies and replacing them with governments that rule according to Sharia Law. 

While Islamic terror groups are usually associated with violence, the Brotherhood uses CAIR to advance Islam in America through its vast propaganda machine. That machine's tentacles have penetrated the media, education and entertainment industries that dispense CAIR propaganda like confetti. When Carson suggested that no Muslim should occupy the Oval Office, the CAIR propaganda machine went into high gear.

CAIR mouthpiece Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said this: For Ben Carson, Donald Trump, or any other Republican politician to suggest that someone of any faith is unfit for office is out of touch with who we are as a people. It’s unimaginable that the leading GOP presidential candidates are resorting to fear mongering to benefit their campaigns, and every American should be disturbed that these national figures are engaging in and tolerating blatant acts of religious bigotry.

Will Carson's comments damage him? They shouldn't with people who understand what Islam is truly all about. But very few Americans understand Islam or even care what it's all about. They'll swallow CAIR's manure that Carson is a xenophobe who hates Muslims and doesn't understand that Islam is really about peace, tolerance and coexistence. 

But Islam isn't a religion of peace, tolerance or coexistence. It's never been and it never will be because Islam demands that its followers conquer the world by the sword if necessary. And any Muslim who dares to suggest that Islam coexist with other faiths is considered a blasphemer and deserving of death under Islamic law. Islam considers all other faiths and religions to be evil.

Though CAIR would deny that, here's what the Koran says about those who don't accept Islam: 

1. Don't bother warning the disbelievers. Allah has made it impossible for them to believe so that he can torture them forever after they die. (Surah 2:6-7)
2. Allah has blinded the disbelievers. "Allah taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, where they cannot see, Deaf, dumb and blind." (Surah 2:17-18)
3. They who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein. (Surah 2:39)
4. Allah stamped wretchedness upon the Jews because they killed the prophets and disbelieved Allah's revelations. (Surah 2:61)
5. Allah will make disbelievers' lives miserable in this world and torture them forever after they die. (Surah 2:114)

 To his credit, Carson didn't back down when he was asked to clarify his opinion that a Muslim shouldn't be elected to the presidency. Carson stated that if a Muslim candidate's faith is inconsistent with America's values, then he isn't fit to be president. When he was asked whether Islam is consistent with the Constitution, Carson replied bluntly:  "No, I don't, I do not." 

According Islam, all mankind is required to submit to Sharia Law. A Muslim president who placed the Constitution above Sharia would be considered a traitor to Islam and worthy of death. A Muslim president would be expected to defer to Sharia over the Constitution and work to replace the Constitution with Sharia.

Ben Carson understands that. He understands just how dangerous Islam is and he understands that there's a movement in America to subvert the Constitution and replace it with Sharia Law. Though his remarks may have cost him the presidency, he showed the type of courage that few people--especially politicians, public figures and celebrities--have anymore. And he should be commended for that.  

The Christian Brand of Tolerance

Bernie Sanders

There are two types of tolerance; the genuine type that respects everyone, including those who embrace different worldviews, and the phony type that wears a mask of benevolence to hide the ugly face of fascism.

Liberty University demonstrated what real tolerance is all about by inviting Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont) to speak at its campus in Lynchburg, Virginia last week. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Liberty University, it's a Christian school that provides its students an education with a Christian worldview.

For those of you who are familiar with Bernie Sanders, Liberty University isn't exactly the place you'd expect someone like him to be welcome at. Why? Because Sanders is a socialist who demonizes capitalism and believes that government--big, big government--should control everything from the economy to the banking system.

In the world of Progressives and the Far Left, capitalism is the progeny of greedy, white European Christians who came to America for the sole purpose of expanding their big money empires. Leftists believe that those greedy white Europeans stole land that rightfully belonged to the Indians and then imported slaves from Africa and the West Indies to build their financial empires by forcing the slaves to work on their plantations and in their sweat shops under brutal conditions. 

While that's a part of American history, Jesus Christ never encouraged His followers to acquire slaves and exploit them for financial gain. In fact, the apostles commanded slave-owners to treat their servants with dignity and respect. 

The apostle Paul wrote this: "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." (Colossians 4:1) Those slave-owners who claimed to be Christians and mistreated their slaves, did so in opposition to what the Bible teaches, rather than in obedience to the scriptures. Nevertheless, the stereotype of the greedy, white Christian capitalist lives on, mainly because of ignorance and those who have an agenda to remake the United States into a Marxist nation.

Unlike Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders isn't a liar and he doesn't have a hidden agenda. When he promotes socialism, he means it because he believes in it, despite the fact that socialism has failed miserably wherever it's been tried. 

And it will always fail because it ruins incentive by discouraging poor people from succeeding via welfare and punishing successful people by confiscating their money. Why work when the government will support you? And why work hard when the government will punish your success?

Socialism was part of Sanders' message to Liberty students last week, and it must have been painful to listen to. Here's what Sanders also said to the students: I believe in gay rights and gay marriage...And the right of a woman to control her own body. (Abortion) Sanders also told students that he believed the United States was founded on "racist principles," which is code-speech for white European robber barons. 

Nevertheless, Liberty students listened to Sanders and applauded him at the end of his speech. No one threw eggs at Sanders or tried to shout him down or attempted to hijack the stage or held demonstrations outside. That's pretty impressive coming from a group that's continually mocked as racist and intolerant. The Liberty students may not have agreed with Sanders, but they allowed him to speak.

Liberty students demonstrated what true tolerance is all about, not the phony brand that in reality isn't tolerance at all, but rather intolerance. The Leftist brand of tolerance is really fascism in disguise. Fascists hate the First Amendment and loathe free speech. And they're experts at destroying those who don't share their totalitarian worldview by demonizing them as racists and morons.

Thus, actions do indeed speak louder than words. Just listen to what Christ said: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:15-20)

Indeed. We demonstrate true tolerance when we offer honor and respect to others, even to those who disagree with us. And we recognize false tolerance by those who are only friendly towards people who agree with their fascist ideology.

A Pope for a New World Order

Pope Francis

Can there be any doubt that the Roman Catholic Church is going to play a major role in the coming New World Order? In what way? In the partnership between a world government and a powerful religion.

That's a partnership that mainly exists today in Islamic nations such as Iran and Saudi Arabia where government laws are determined by Shariah. Though the Bible provided the inspiration for the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution, the Bible's long since lost its influence in the western world and is now considered an outdated relic. That's fairly evident with the multiplying violence and moral depravity that's destroying the west.

Some historians and religious scholars will argue that the Bible inspired the ancient Holy Roman Empire. But that's a falsehood. The Holy Roman Empire arose from the compromise of perverted Christianity and paganism rather than the Bible. 

If the Holy Roman Empire was truly about the Bible, there would be no such celebrations as Christmas and Easter, because these occasions were taken from pagan festivals and repackaged as "Christian" holidays. For example, Christmas comes from the pagan festival called the Saturnalia while Easter is derived from Eostre, a pagan festival that was celebrated in honor of the ancient fertility goddess Ishtar. 

Millions of Christians celebrate these holidays, completely ignorant of their historical roots. But wasn't Jesus Christ born on December 25? No he wasn't. Then why do Christians celebrate that day as His birthday? Because, in order to attract the pagans, the early Roman Catholic Church kept the pagan festival of the Saturnalia--celebrated on December 25 as the birthday of the Roman god Saturn--and renamed it Christmas in honor of Christ.

The Roman Catholic Church was born in the 4th Century A.D. and went on to become the most powerful church on earth, despite its corruption and duplicity. In the ancient times, it installed and deposed kings; conquered nations and spread its strange gospel to the ends of the earth. Strange gospel? Yes, strange, because it's an unbiblical gospel that promotes works over the biblical gospel of grace. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-12, Ephesians 2:8-9)

Certainly, the Catholic Church has lost much of her influence across the world over the past 100 years. The spread of Islam in the east, combined with the spread of secularism in the west, and the multiplied pedophile scandals involving Catholic priests have significantly damaged the church's reputation.

But that's going to change. The Roman Catholic Church is going to experience a revival that will catapult her to world dominance once again. Is that a good thing? No it's not because the Catholic Church is a counterfeit that's sent millions of people to hell throughout her history with her false gospel.

How do we know that the Catholic Church is going to partner with a global government? Because of of a prophetic vision the apostle John received from God in about 90 A.D. while he was in exile from Rome on the desolate island of Patmos. What did John see? John saw "a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries." (Revelation 17:3-4)

The beast with seven heads and 10 horns represents the coming world government that will consist of 10 nation groups ruled by seven kings. But who is this mysterious woman? She is called "Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth." (Revelation 17:5)

Then John revealed that this allegorical prostitute dwells in a city surrounded by seven hills (Revelation 17:9). What city is that? There are only two cities that are surrounded by seven hills; Rio de Janeiro that's located in Brazil and Rome that's located in Italy. The Vatican is located in Rome and is the world headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

Furthermore, the colors of the woman's dress--purple and scarlet--are the colors worn by the Roman Catholic priesthood. And furthermore, Mystery Babylon is a moniker that Catholic Church officials have used for centuries to identify their church. When John recorded the Revelation, the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence for another 250 years.

The Catholic Church is indeed on the rise once again with the rock star popularity of Pope Francis who claims to be a Christian but speaks like a globalist and a Marxist. He claims that Climate Change-Global Warming is caused by capitalism, and he believes that global government is the only solution to eradicate poverty and clean up the environment.

Here's what he said during a recent encyclical on climate change: To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority.

Francis also says that wealthy nations owe a "social debt" to the poor and impoverished people of the world, a debt which can be paid by increased funding and better distribution of wealth. That sounds more like Karl Marx than Jesus Christ. That's a message that's immensely popular with those who seek a world government. And that's coming--the revival of the dreaded "Holy" Roman Empire.

The Increase of Wickedness

The police sketch of a dismembered child found in a Chicago lagoon

Chicago's Garfield Park has certainly seen better times. Named after James Garfield, America's 20th president, the park sits in the midst of Chicago's deteriorating Near West Side. It still retains its charm and beauty that's provided folks an oasis from Chicago's dust and stink for nearly a century and a half.

Certainly, when the park opened in 1869, you didn't find the empty muscatel bottles and the discarded needles used by drug addicts and the used condoms that contaminate its landscape today. While the Chicago Park District does its best to hide the symptoms of the relentless moral rot that's killing Chicago and America slowly, it can't erase them.

And tragically, the beautiful lagoon that sits in the middle of the park couldn't hide something hideous that someone tried to hide beneath its sparkling waters recently. Someone dumped the body parts from a dismembered child into the lagoon in the hopes that the child and his memory would vanish forever. When someone spotted the child's foot floating in the water, they became hysterical.

The police arrived and sent divers into the water to search for more parts. They found the child's other foot and both hands before they decided to drain the lagoon in hopes of finding the rest of the child. 

Forensic experts said the body was likely that of an African-American boy between 8 months and 4 years of age. But they cautioned that a “mixed race heritage” and the possibility the body is that of a girl cannot be ruled out. And the age could be closer to between two and three years old.

That child was an innocent human being created in God's image. He--or she--was at the complete mercy of someone who decided to destroy the child's life and then dispose of the body like garbage. Of course, the politicians wagged their fingers before the cameras and the clergy clowns dressed in their finest Armani pontificated about poverty and despair and violence, and the media trotted out the big-time psychologists to analyze why someone would do such a horrible thing to a young child. 

Why? Here's why. Because the world's turned away from God and has forgotten His laws. Whoever murdered and dismembered that child has no fear of God and no concern for what eternity brings to those who commit such heinous acts. Nearly 3,000 years ago, Solomon wrote this: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and understanding." (Proverbs 1:7)

While many people are still focused on the nightmare of the Garfield Park lagoon, they've conveniently forgotten about Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortion butcher who proudly displayed the dismembered parts from aborted babies in jars that sat on his clinic's shelves. Or, those Planned Parenthood officials caught on film calmly discussing selling organs from aborted babies like street vendors selling vegetables from a produce truck.

And so, what's worse; the tragic murder and dismemberment of a young child? Or, abortion industry executives and doctors who treat aborted babies like merchandise? They're all wicked.

When a society no longer fears God, it defecates on His laws. As such, human life is considered no more sacred than the life of a worm or an ant. A world that treats human beings--young, old, infirm or handicapped--as disposable goods, is a world that's deserving of God's judgment. And that judgment's coming. In fact, it's already happening in many places.

The world's descent into evil and depravity isn't an anachronism; it's prophetic. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ said this concerning the end times: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13)

The apostle Paul issued this prophetic caveat concerning the last days, and decide for yourself whether this sounds like the time we're currently living in: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Paul warned of a frightening end time world. If the murder and dismemberment of a young child doesn't bother you, then reread 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Because that describes you and your ilk.