LCG: Wheat & Unrest, China & the Middle East
Wheat
The Living Church of God had the following in yesterday’s World Ahead Weekly Update:
World Wheat Conditions Worsen. The UN food agency has announced that the drought in China could place that country’s winter wheat crop in jeopardy. Experts warn that if much of the crop fails it could lead to social unrest like that in Egypt and Tunisia (Associated Press, February 8, 2011). Currently, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization believes that more than two-thirds of China’s wheat crop could be at risk for failure. In the U.S., growers fear that excessive winter cold throughout the “bread basket” Midwest region may also damage the winter wheat crop (www.abcnews.go.com, February 2, 2011). Meanwhile, many Middle Eastern nations have placed wheat orders with the U.S., yet Russia and India are refusing to sell wheat that they are presumed to have in surplus. “All these point to an impending crisis in food availability and prices that could lead to further turmoil globally” (The Times of India, February 14, 2011). Bible prophecies have long warned that just before the end of the age, drought and famine would drastically impact world food supplies—including wheat! (Mark 13:8; Revelation 6:6). Where will world food problems go from here?
Food prices are rising and are expected to rise further. Civil unrest is spreading.
Food fund promise unfulfilled
Washington Post – Howard Schneider – Feb 18, 2011…Prices of some grains such as wheat have doubled in the past year. United Nations and World Bank food price indices are nearing record highs. And there is concern that food inflation may push tens of millions of additional people into poverty or lead to political instability in some countries.
Jesus foretold on a time of famines and wars as part of “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8) and that there would be “troubles” (Mark 13:8). World events are aligning towards the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.
The price of wheat, which has already raised substantially, will ultimately raise even more:
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6, NKJV)
The above scripture is indicating that a man will only make enough in a day of work to pay for a quart of wheat. While that may be enough for him, it really will not be enough for his family, the elderly, and others. That is how bad things are expected to get.
Now there is good news as ultimately, God’s kingdom will come and those issues will be gone (Revelation 7:16). But a terrible hour of trial is coming first (Revelation 3:10).
Now, we are seeing civil unrest and other troubles in the Middle East:
Libya unrest death toll ‘tops 200’
Aljazeera.net – 20 February 2011Dozens of Muslim leaders call for end to civilian deaths after security crackdown on funeral procession of protesters. Hundreds have been killed in Libya since protests broke out across the North African nation six days ago, according to rights watchdogs and eyewitnesses across the country.Residents told Al Jazeera that at least 200 people had died in the eastern city of Benghazi alone, while the New York-based Human Rights Watch on Sunday put the countrywide death toll at 104. The rights group said the figure was “conservative”.
Tunisia seeks Ben Ali’s extradition
Reuters – Tarek Amara, Richard Valdmanis – 20 Feb 2011TUNIS Feb 20 (Reuters) – Tunisia is seeking the extradition of former President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali from Saudi Arabia to face charges stemming from the violent crackdown on protesters last month, Tunisia’s foreign ministry said on Sunday..Unrest Encircles Saudis, Stoking Sense of UneaseNew York Times – Feb 19, 2011As pro-democracy uprisings spread across the Middle East, the rulers of Saudi Arabia — the region’s great bulwark of religious and political conservatism — are feeling increasingly isolated and concerned that the United States may no longer be a reliable backer, officials and diplomats say.Saudi Arabia is far less vulnerable to democracy movements than other countries in the region, thanks to its vast oil wealth, its powerful religious establishment and the popularity of its king.But the country’s rulers were shaken by the forced departure of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, a close and valued ally. They are anxiously monitoring the continuing protests in neighboring Bahrain and in Yemen, with which Saudi Arabia shares a porous 1,100-mile border. Those concerns come on top of long-festering worries about the situation in Iraq, where the toppling of Saddam Hussein has empowered Iran, Saudi Arabia’s great rival and nemesis. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/world/middleeast/20saudi.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Libya protesters seize streets, Bahrain mood eases
Reuters – 20 February 2011Witnesses said Libya’s second city was in chaos, with government buildings ransacked and troops and police forced to retreat to a fortified compound, from where they picked off demonstrators with sniper and heavy-weapons fire….
In Iran, thousands of security personnel were deployed on the streets of Tehran and other cities to prevent protesters rallying in spite of a ban, opposition websites said.
Unrest also hit Yemen, Morocco, Oman, Kuwait, Algeria and Djibouti over the weekend as people took to the streets demanding political and economic change.
The clamour for reform across a region of huge strategic importance to the West and the source of much of its oil began in Tunisia in December. The overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali then inspired Egyptians to rise up against strongman Hosni Mubarak, overthrowing him on February 11.
Gadhafi’s Son Warns of Civil War
AOL 20 February 2011
Son of Libyan leader says his father is in the country and that they will ‘fight to the last minute, until the last bullet.’
The Chinese are concerned:
Arrests after China web users call for protestsAFP – Feb 20, 2011BEIJING — Several top Chinese rights activists have disappeared into police custody as a web campaign urged angry citizens to mark the Middle East’s “Jasmine Revolution” with protests, campaigners said Sunday.
Up to 15 leading Chinese rights lawyers and activists have disappeared since Saturday, campaigners said, while the Chinese government appeared to censor Internet postings calling for the demonstrations. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iblKmk0zFyrloDdKUWP56cuOfD2Q?docId=CNG.7a0509e93accafbdfd4785aad6cc3018.5b1
China Tightens Security Ahead of Calls for Nationwide Protests
Voice of America – Stephanie Ho – 20 February 2011China has increased the presence of security forces around the country in response to an on-line call for nationwide demonstrations in solidarity with the so-called “Jasmine Revolutions” in the Middle East.
An online posting on the Internet called for demonstrations around the country Sunday, to mark what it called “China’s Jasmine Revolution.”
The appeal went out to all Chinese who feel there is injustice in the country — including parents whose children suffered from tainted milk, people who feel their homes were unjustly torn down, and people who are upset at the abuse of official privilege.
We in the Living Church of God have long suspected there would be civil unrest in China. Notice something written by LCG’s Presiding Evangelist in 2007:
In the coming years, you will perhaps even see a revolt of the peasants in the outlying Chinese cities, who have lagged far behind the standard of living afforded those who have moved to Beijing and Shanghai. Plus, the tremendous pollution of the water, air and foodstuffs may bring about massive disease epidemics and other problems for the Chinese. (Meredith R.C. An Inspiring and Successful Trip. Living Church News. May-June 2007, p. 21)
So, even if computerized communications are blocked, it still may be that there will be civil unrest in China. China will have problems.
Other events are also occurring in the Middle East:
Israel Takes ‘Grave’ View of Iranian Warships Transiting Suez
Voice of America – 20 February 2011Israel says it takes a “grave” view of Iran’s plan to send two warships through Egypt’s Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, in what would be Tehran’s first such move since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran wants to provoke a war. Based upon what I have read, it seems like they wish to do so no later than 2012. If a war begins, it may also contribute to the rise of an Islamic power known biblically as the King of the South (Daniel 11:40). As I have reported before, the Shi’ite Muslim Iranians would like to see a leader that they call the Imam Mahdi rise up in 2012, while the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood wants to see a leader known as the Caliph rise up as soon as possible. An Islamic leader like that may become the final prophesied King of the South.
Now, while I do not believe that the USA will become an Islamic state, apparently someone wants to protest for that:
Extremist cleric to lead White House protest calling for Muslims to ‘rise up and establish Islamic state in America’
As Jesus said:
37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)
Food shortages, war ships, and civil unrest are items to watch.
Tougher times are coming. And for some parts of the world these tougher time may be here now. People who can prepare, should. Both spiritually and physically. And this will not only affect people in places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East–the Anglo-descended nations of the West will themselves suffer hunger, civil unrest, and famine.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011 or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 3: China in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
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