THIEF IN THE NIGHT

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

(part 1)

These times that we are living now are very dangerous. We live in a dangerous world.

The big news across all world media right now are centered on whether Russia will invade Ukraine. According to the president of the United States, Joe Biden, it is imminent. More than 100,000 Russian troops are massed in the Ukrainian border, while the world holds its breath in anticipation. Friends this is no more to what I call 'A holiday from prophecy'.

Does this international crisis matter? Why should a student of the Bible be concerned with a geopolitical event?

There is a general thought among many that such an event has nothing to do with the Bible and one's spiritual life. People, that is very wrong! What is happening now on the border of Ukraine could change the face of Europe. It will further change the rapidly evolving world we know into something different, with consequences that could affect millions of people.

The capital of Ukraine is Kiev, and both have had a very important role in Russian history.

Let me remind you that Kiev is the theological birthplace of the Russian Orthodox faith. It is also important to mention that Ukraine has always been a distinct group of people with its own language. It is a fact that in recent history, in modern times, Ukraine has been a part of the greater imperial Russian Empire and the Old Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union dissolved and Ukraine became an autonomous country it shocked Russia and its president Putin, setting in motion a series of events meant to reconnect and to make Ukraine part of Russia again. Ukraine's location is vital as a border-buffer nation to Russia. Russian's invasion will upset a delicate European balance that has been in place since the end of World War II.

On the other side, since the early 1990's when the Cold War ended, the United States of America entered what was called "a breaking holiday from history". For over two decades there was a period of benign global order. That dream was obviously shattered with the events of 9/11.

Looking at the world today, more than two years after Covid-19 unleashed a global pandemic, China seeks to replace America as the global leader in every conceivable category. To make matters worse, America is going through internal upheaval that is threatening not only their influence but also its historic role among the nations of the world.

As a theologian, and a student of the Bible, I cannot ignore the fact that if Europe's map is redrawn, it could set in motion a major prophetic events.

The result that can be deduced from "a holiday from history" is a "holiday from prophecy".

I know that this is a very 'touchy' subject, but Bible prophecy is a topic that can be easily understood and see its relevance to today's world scene. Bible prophecy is the only tool to properly understand what is happening in our current geopolitical and religious affairs. With a sound prophetic foundation of prophetic teaching, you can have confidence and hope that God controls history and major world events. It's all part of His plan.

I also know that people put their trust in many things. And what is worse is that as we watch the world deteriorate before our very eyes, we see people moving further and further away from trusting God and putting their trust more heavily in man and governments.

To me, because the times we live and what is expected to some degree, is extremely frustrating to watch. It is written in the Word of God that this would happen. God spells it out in many ways. What I want you to know is that by putting our trust in anyone else other than God is a slippery slope that will ultimately lead to destruction. (End of part 1)