Does Christianity offer a great God sort of like an internet scam?

Question

You can see the scammers writings but you never see their face.
reminds me of God.

Unexplained events is not proof that God exist

Answer 1

it's called faith

Answer 2

Let's not stop with Christianity. God is definitely an attempt to make sense of our existence here on earth and why things happen. The name of God has been used by certain unscrupulous people to make a dollar and to manipulate people for political and economic ends. However, God has also been used by people to try to make sense of and improve the state of their lives. As with all things there are good and bad aspects of how God's name is used.

I agree that unexplained events are not proof that God exists. But if someone's faith in God helps make them a better person and doesn't cause them to discriminate against or trample the rights of others then I say let them be.

Answer 3

The scammer gives no proof of his scam, God has given all of us proof of His writings. One of those proofs would be nature itself.

Answer 4

Read the Bible...you might find out the truth about Christianity.

Answer 5

You have not seen the face of God because you have not sought Him.
There are no coindidences in our lives. All is planned by our Father.

Answer 6

You must have faith to believe in God. There is no proof.

Answer 7

But instead of asking you to surrender your bank account details, religion demands that you surrender your mind.

Answer 8

why stop with
christianity?

Answer 9

Hello Black Atheist
It is not my desire or duty to try to change your mind about God. It is my duty to show you the truth as a wittness against you.

Between 25 and 30 percent of your Bible is prophecy. If these prophecy have in past history come to past and are at this very time comming to past; that would prove that the Bible is true.


The Middle East in Prophecy
By Richard F. Ames

The Middle East has seen a history of war—from ancient times through the present—and your Bible reveals that there will be even more regional wars in the Middle East, leading to what is commonly called “Armageddon”! Jerusalem will be a focal point of conflict in coming years.

Jerusalem is the most important city in the world. Scripture shows that the region surrounding it-the Middle East-will eventually explode into world war. Do you know what the Bible teaches about the end-time climax of world events in that region?

With its present uncertainty and turmoil, can we know the final outcome of the Middle East conflict? We can. The Bible outlines end-time events leading up to Jesus Christ's return. A Millennium of peace and prosperity is coming, under the rulership of the Messiah. As King of kings, Jesus Christ will rule the earth with justice and righteousness, and all nations on earth will learn a new way of life-the way to peace.
Yet throughout history, human nature has looked to war as the final arbiter of disputes. The Apostle Paul made a profound statement: "The way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:17-18).
The Middle East has seen a history of war, from ancient times through the present. More than one million were killed in the Iraq-Iran War from 1980 to 1988. Thousands upon thousands more died in the Persian Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. In that conflict, Iraqi troops set fire to more than 600 oil wells in Kuwait. The black smoke evoked images of Armageddon. This widespread pollution was called at the time the "world's worst man-made environmental disaster" (Time Almanac 2000, p. 605).
Will there be more wars in the Middle East? Sadly, the answer is "yes." Your Bible reveals that there will be even more regional wars in the Middle East, leading to what is commonly called "Armageddon"! Jerusalem will be a focal point of conflict.
Arabs and Israelis have been at war again and again since the modern state of Israel was established [see inset]. Peace has often been proclaimed in the region, but has never been realized. At present, there is little prospect of lasting peace among Middle East nations.
Hopes were high in September 1993 when Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed an accord in Washington, D.C. Two years later, they signed an interim agreement leading to increased Palestinian self-government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In October 1998, the Wye River Memorandum provided steps to implement the 1995 interim agreement, looking to a May 1999 target date for a final resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But no resolution could be found. The July 2000 Camp David summit, called by United States President Bill Clinton, failed to formulate a final peace agreement-underscoring the bitter truth that both Israel and the Palestinians consider Jerusalem their exclusive capital, and do not want the other to have unfettered control of this historic city.
Jerusalem is sacred to the three major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Muslims and Jews have been at odds for more than 1,300 years, since an Arabian trader named Muhammad, 800 miles southeast of Jerusalem, founded the religion of Islam [For more about Islam's role in history and prophecy, please see "Islam in History and Prophecy" on page 26 of this issue].
The Temple Mount is a focus for Muslims and Jews. Islam's Dome of the Rock stands where Solomon's Temple once stood. Jews are not allowed to pray on the Mount itself, so they come to the Western Wall-or "Wailing Wall"-at the base of the Mount to pray. Jews yearn to have a religious presence on the Temple Mount itself.
In September 2000, when he was still opposition leader, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount, inciting Palestinian protesters to begin a new intifada of escalating violence against Israeli targets. Since Sharon's visit, more than 500 have been killed-at least 481 Palestinians, 88 Israeli Jews and 13 Israeli Arabs as of late May-in Israeli-Palestinian clashes. In May, Israel used fighter-bombers against Palestinians for the first time since 1967. Arab countries have responded by calling for suspension of relations with Israel until the violence ceases.
What does Bible prophecy say will eventually occur in Jerusalem? Scripture is plain. "Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city" (Zechariah 14:1-2).
"All the nations" will fight in this conflict, during that period of time known as the Day of the Lord, the year just before Jesus Christ's prophesied return. But what major prophetic events will lead up to this battle in Jerusalem? "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22).
All of humanity will then see dramatic and frightening activity in the heavens. Revelation 6:12-14 describes these "heavenly signs" as the "sixth seal." Jesus said: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Matthew 24:29).
We need to be forewarned of these major events. The Great Tribulation is primarily the time of trouble for the U.S. and the British-descended peoples, who are descended from the ancient patriarch Joseph. When he was near death, Jacob blessed two of his grandsons-Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh-and said: "The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name [Jacob, i.e. Israel] be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth" (Genesis 48:16).
The end-time prophecies relating to Jacob, or Israel, generally refer to the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh who were given Jacob's name. Scripture gives an end-time warning about the Great Tribulation. Upon whom does this tribulation fall? "Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it" (Jeremiah 30:7). This is a time unique in all of human history-a time "that none is like it."

Watch and Pray

What does the Bible tell us to do? Jesus tells us: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
What should you watch for in the Middle East? When Jesus was on the Mount of Olives, He gave an outline of end-time prophecy, with parallel accounts recorded in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13. We will review here the sequence of events Jesus described in Matthew. Jesus' disciples had asked him about the sign of His coming and the end of the world, or the end of the age. He spoke about religious deception, wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes. These trends reveal, in sequence, the meaning of the four horsemen of Revelation, who, toward the end of this age, intensify their dangerous ride. Jesus declares: "All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8).
Religious persecution and martyrdom will follow. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many" (Matthew 24:9-11).
But the Truth will still be preached. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). As Jesus Christ opens doors for the gospel to expand in coverage and power, you will know the end is drawing near. Do not be asleep to world conditions and the prophetic trends intensifying before your very eyes!
Jesus then warned: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Matthew 24:15-16). What is this abomination of desolation?
The Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes issued a decree in 167bc that prohibited further Jewish sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple. "And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation" (Daniel 11:31).
In addition to stopping the daily sacrifices, Antiochus erected a statue of Jupiter Olympus in the temple and directed everyone to worship it. This abomination, also described in Daniel 8, is a type of an end-time event-the end-time sacrifices are cut off 1,290 days before Christ's return. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days" (Daniel 12:11). Jesus warns us as Christians to be alert to an end-time abomination of desolation. Just as Antiochus Epiphanes profaned the Temple in 167bc and cut off the sacrifices, so will a profane authority cut off Jewish sacrifices in the future. In fact, the Apostle Paul warns of a great false prophet that will stand in the holy place. "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
A false prophet will work great miracles and deceive millions of people. He will cultivate worship toward himself and claim he is divine. Revelation 13:13-14 shows that this great false prophet will work amazing miracles, even calling down fire from heaven, and that he will deceive millions of people around the world! Do not be deceived by these signs and wonders! As Scripture exhorts us: "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The end-time religio-political power dominating Jerusalem will cause the sacrifices to cease. Remember that the Jews have not offered animal sacrifices since 70ad, when the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. In order for the end-time sacrifices to be stopped eventually, they need to begin! When animal sacrifices begin once again in Jerusalem, you will know that the prophecies Jesus spoke about are heading for a climax!
When the abomination of desolation prophesied by Jesus is set up, three prophetic milestones will begin over a period of three and one-half years-the Great Tribulation and the Heavenly Signs, culminating in the year-long Day of the Lord. The last three verses in the book of Daniel show that there will be 1,290 days from the time of the abomination of desolation until Christ's return, when Daniel will be raised in the first resurrection.
Elsewhere identified as the Beast (Revelation 13:1-10; 17:12-13), this king of the North (meaning generally north of Jerusalem) will invade the Holy Land, according to Daniel's prophecy. "At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, [or the Holy Land] and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape" (Daniel 11:40-42).
A 20th century king of the North invaded North Africa during World War II. In contrast, the end-time king of the North will be provoked by the king of the South. We have already seen war in the Middle East over the issue of oil. Will there be another Arab oil embargo like that of 1974? When fuel costs began to rise last September, European protests of skyrocketing petroleum prices and shortages were even more vigorous than in the U.S. Europe is far more dependent on Middle East oil than is the U.S., importing more than half of its oil from Arab countries, compared to the U.S which imports roughly 20 percent of its oil from that region. Whatever the provocation, the king of the North will invade the Middle East.
Luke's account of the Olivet prophecy follows the same general sequence as Matthew's account. But he adds one important point of information. After religious persecution intensifies, Jesus states: "By your patience possess your souls. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:19-20).

Escalating Violence Ahead

What should Christians be watching for in the turmoil of the Middle East? Watch for continuing conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land. A recent New York Times article described the damage done by the escalating violence. "The psychological frontier between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs has become a minefield.… [Many had believed] that the occupation was all that stood in the way of reconciliation, that if Israel dismantled Jewish settlements, withdrew from the territories and permitted a Palestinian state, the conflict would end. That may still be possible, but the worst fighting since 1967 has called the assumption into question" ("A Conflict's Bedrock," May 27, 2001).
Because of these trends, watch for increasing demand for international intervention and control, not only in Gaza and the West Bank, but in Jerusalem itself. The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, has himself lobbied for a United Nations peacekeeping force in Gaza and the West Bank.
Watch for increasing unity among Arab nations in their stand against Israel. One prophetic Psalm lists those peoples who comprise Arabic and Muslim nations in the Middle East. They are supported by European groups in their strong opposition to Israel. "They have said, 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.' For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You" (Psalm 83:4-5). Watch for an end-time Arab-Muslim union or confederacy forming against Israel.
Watch the European Union's growing economic, political and military unification. As we saw in Daniel's prophecy, the king of the North will eventually occupy the Holy Land. In November 2000, the European Union chose a German general to head its Rapid Reaction Force, envisioned to project European power to crisis zones over a 2,500-mile area by 2003. "Why should we have to go through NATO?" asked General Jean-Pierre Kelche, France's Chief of Defense Staff, saying that the force would be operational by the end of this year even without NATO's agreement and that "the balance of power needed to be changed" ("EU Force Will Not Need NATO," London Daily Telegraph, March 28, 2001). Will these forces eventually play a significant part in the Middle East conflict? Watch the development of Europe's own military forces.
In Israel, watch for the preparation and eventual implementation of animal sacrifices by the Jews in Jerusalem. Many believe a physical temple will also be built, but history and the book of Ezra confirm that sacrifices can be conducted with just an altar at the holy place.
Watch for the increasing consolidation of religious power in Europe, long planned by some. Visiting Austria in 1983, Pope John Paul II appealed for European unity, stating: "Europeans should overcome the menacing international confrontations of states and alliances, and create a new united Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals" (The Principality and Power of Europe, Adrian Hilton, p. 36).
The developing European religio-political power will eventually exert controlling influence over the Holy Land. We have seen that the king of the North will ultimately dominate Jerusalem and the Middle East. The book of Revelation also predicts a conflict between Asian forces and the European Beast power, the king of the North (cf. Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9:13-19). Shockingly, upon Christ's return, these armies will combine as the world's armies are "gathered together to make war against Him" (Revelation 19:19). God Almighty says: "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 14:2). Then "the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east…" (Zechariah 14:3-4). Jesus Christ will intervene! He will stop World War III and bring lasting peace to the world!
Also called the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Kidron Valley (between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount) widens to the south. Here, God will judge the nations. "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there" (Joel 3:1-2).
The Day of the Lord will bring judgment on the nations. Christ will conquer all the armies opposing Him! He will usher in the Millennium of peace on earth, and teach all nations the way to peace. Then the Arabs and Israelis will be reconciled. "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria; a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance'" (Isaiah 19:23-25).
We all look forward to the world peace and reconciliation that only the Messiah, Jesus Christ, can bring to this earth. In the meantime, Jesus tells us to watch and pray always. Be sure to do so!

www.tomorrowsworld.org


Bible Prophecy and the European Dream
By Douglas S. Winnail

For centuries, many Europeans have looked beyond their small nation-states and dreamed of a powerful, unified continent. As the European Union grows, matures and negotiates obstacles, Bible prophecy can shed light on the prospect of a united Europe.

Is the unification of Europe the pathway to a peaceful future—or is it a nightmare in the making? Bible prophecies show that big surprises are ahead for Europe and will affect the whole world.

What is so important about Europe? Why should people in North America, Africa or Australia be concerned about events taking place on a continent halfway around the globe? The answer is simple—we are witnessing a turning point in human history that will dramatically change the course of world events. T.R. Reid, former London bureau chief for the Washington Post, observes, "At the dawn of the twenty-first century, a geopolitical revolution of historic dimensions is taking place across the Atlantic: the unification of Europe… Europe is a more integrated place today than at any time since the Roman Empire" (The United States of Europe, p. 1).
Reid notes that Americans, like many others, have "largely ignored this European revolution" although European leaders have openly stated that in the coming century "the united Europe is determined to challenge American claims to global supremacy and gain equal standing with the United States on the world stage" (ibid., pp. 6, 228). He relates how British Prime Minister Tony Blair summarized the goal of Europe’s politicians: "We are building a new world superpower. The European Union is about the projection of collective power, wealth, and influence. That collective strength makes individual nations more powerful—and it will make the EU as a whole a global power" (ibid., p. 4). Reid concludes, "A geopolitical earthquake is taking place in Europe that will have a profound effect on the world of the twenty-first century and America’s place in it—but so far most Americans [and Britons, Canadians and Australians] have chosen to overlook the tremors" (ibid., p. 227).
Tony Blair is not the only political leader with grand visions for Europe. Romano Prodi, former head of the uropean Commission, has stated, "Europe’s time is almost here. In fact, there are many areas of world affairs where… Europe is already the superpower" (ibid., p. 25). Though Europe occupies only 6 percent of the earth’s surface and has only 12 percent of the earth’s population, it holds 40 percent of the world’s wealth and conducts more than 50 percent of the world’s commerce. The euro is the world’s strongest currency, and the EU is the world’s largest trade market. Bureaucrats in Brussels now make business regulations that govern industries around the globe. European consortiums such as Airbus are overtaking former industry leaders like Boeing. Based on such developments, French President Jacques Chirac has grandly proclaimed, "Europe can become the number one power in the multi-power world of tomorrow" (Superstate, Haseler, p. 67). Chirac is merely echoing the dreams and ambitions of another famous French leader, Charles de Gaulle, who proclaimed that a united Europe "from the Atlantic to the Urals will decide the fate of the world" (ibid., p. 68). In addition to becoming a major civilian and economic power, Europe is also "located in a pivotal global position… crucially placed at the center of a web of civilizations" between America, Africa, Russia, the Middle East and China (ibid., p. 70). For all these reasons, and more, a unified Europe will be a power to be reckoned with in the years ahead.



A Fanciful Hope

The idea of a united Europe is more than just a quest for economic stability and prosperity. It is a long-standing vision that has captured the imagination of intellectuals who have wanted something to believe in as they attempt to build a better world. European unification was devised as a way to eliminate war from the continent. By tying the countries of Europe together with common laws, a common currency, a European Court, a Central Bank and a host of other intertwined institutions, Europe’s planners hoped to keep age-old rivalries from resurfacing and tearing Europe apart.
Optimists consider the attempt to build a united Europe a "bold new experiment" and a "bridge" to a new global era of supranational governments and the path to a secular humanistic utopia of peace, harmony, economic stability and ecological sustainability (The European Dream, Rifkin, pp. 3–8). Some even see the European Union as a model for a future world government. American author Jeremy Rifkin, a student radical in the 1960s, is now an advisor to former Italian prime minister (and EU enthusiast) Romano Prodi. Rifkin writes idealistically that "my hope for the future pulls me to the European Dream, with its own collective responsibility and global consciousness… The fledgling European Dream represents humanity’s best aspirations for a better tomorrow… The world is looking to this grand experiment in transnational governance, hoping it might provide some much needed guidance on where humanity ought to be heading in a globalizing world… The European Dream is a beacon of light in a troubled world" (ibid., pp. 8, 358, 385). For some today, the quest for the European Dream has practically become a new religion—a quest for a secular "holy grail."
However, the reality of life inside the EU is quite different from these idealistic sentiments. Mark Gilbert, a professor of contemporary history at the University of Trento in Italy, writes: "The weight of expectations placed on the EU in Rifkin’s book verges on the ridiculous. If the EU is a beacon for humanity, it is a smoky one" ("Europe: Paradise Found?," World Policy Journal, Winter 2004-05, p. 9). Gilbert lists a series of problems facing the EU: high taxes that support Europe’s extensive welfare states, reams of regulations that stifle economies and produce high unemployment, opposition to an unpopular constitution, a hopelessly cumbersome decision-making apparatus, recurring budgetary battles and corruption charges, and a swelling population of immigrant workers spawning far-right protest movements. French analyst Laurent Cohen-Tanugi states that when the electorate in two of the EU’s founding members (France and Holland) chose to reject the proposed EU constitution, this was a "crisis of unprecedented seriousness" for the EU that "reflects and deepens a profound crisis in the process of European unification" ("The End of Europe?," Foreign Affairs, November-December 2005, p. 55). Cohen-Tanugi believes that "the 25-member union of today is an unworkable and unreasonable project" and that "the worst outcome of the EU’s current crisis would be the gradual undoing of European unification… as a result of declining EU legitimacy and rising nationalism. Such a development would generate political instability and tensions in and around Europe" (ibid., pp. 64–65). Cohen-Tanugi observed that "the political leadership required for change is unlikely to come from Brussels" (ibid., p. 62). Many observers expect future European leadership to come from a reassertive Germany (for more on this topic, see page 16 of this issue).



Danger and Uncertainty

Misgivings about European unification have surfaced, because of its failure to improve European economies and reduce unemployment. There are also disagreements about the EU’s future direction. Even EU enthusiast Rifkin admits, "I’m not sure how thick the European Dream is" (Rifkin, p. 383). He wonders whether the European commitment to cultural diversity and peaceful coexistence will remain firm in the face of terrorist attacks by foreign agents, or whether Europeans will remain committed to the principles of inclusivity and sustainable development if there is a serious economic downturn or a global depression (ibid., p. 384). Other observers note that Europeans are "participants in a vast and farreaching political, economic, and cultural experiment" and that "no one has any clear idea of the outcome" (The Idea of Europe, Padgen, p. 3). Historians recall that when Napoleon and Hitler attempted to unite Europe through a common currency and a common code of laws enforced by a central government, their efforts ended in failure and bloodshed (ibid., pp. 122, 191).
While many EU analysts are unsure about possible outcomes of the European experiment, some are quite firm in their views. Connor Cruise O’Brien, a former pro-chancellor of the University of Dublin, wrote, "The idea of a United States of Europe is a dangerous mirage" (The Question of Europe, Gowan & Anderson, p. 84). Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher believes that the drive to create a European superstate is "a classic utopian project, a monument to the vanity of intellectuals, a programme whose inevitable destiny is failure: only the scale of the damage done is in doubt" (Statecraft, Thatcher, p. 359). But what will actually happen in Europe, and where are current events leading? Can we really know?



What Prophecies Reveal

Few today understand that Bible prophecies describe major events that will mark the end of this age and signal Jesus Christ’s imminent return to set up the kingdom of God on this earth. In fact, Jesus told His disciples to "watch" world events so that they would not be surprised by these rapidly developing events (see Matthew 24–25).
One key event that will announce the approaching end of this age will be the appearance of a powerful—yet fragile—federation of ten nations in Europe with links to the ancient Roman Empire (Daniel 2:40–45). Bible prophecy illustrates the unstable nature of this union through an image with feet and toes made of a mixture of iron and clay. This is an accurate description of what is developing in Europe today. The EU nations lack the bonding power of a common language, common customs or common history. Policy decisions often pit small European nations against larger ones. Interests of the two so-called core nations of Europe—France and Germany—often diverge and conflict. Analysts are aware that as long as "member states remain ‘sovereign,’ unity will remain temporary and fragile" (Superstate, p. 75). British journalist Timothy Garton Ash comments: "The great gamble of this continental project is that the Franco-German core will indeed be a magnet, that where Bonn and Paris lead, others will sooner or later follow… The trouble is that this project is very likely to fail" (The Question of Europe, p. 123). More than 2,500 years ago, the Bible prophesied the fragile nature of this end-time European experiment!
Other prophecies describe four empires that would arise to dominate the Mediterranean world. The fourth empire, recognized as the Roman Empire and pictured as a beast with ten horns—was to be "different from the first ones" in that it would exist as a succession of ten kingdoms (the ten horns of Daniel 7:24). Efforts currently underway to unite Europe will mark the final revival of this Roman system. The leaders of the EU have made no secret of their desire to link the unification of Europe to the legacy of Rome. It is also interesting that the transnational governance of the EU has been described as "something new" that "differs qualitatively… from any previous arrangements of European states and from any current arrangement of states on any other continent" (The Question of Europe, p. 120).
Bible prophecies describe the final revival of the Roman system as a mysterious beast (Daniel 7:7, 19–20; Revelation 13:1–10; 17:3–8). The Hebrew and Greek words for "beast" can also be translated "creature" or "wild animal" (see Strong’s Concordance). The EU has been called, "a thing… this maze… an impenetrable labyrinth" (The Question of Europe, pp. 120, ix). The EU is shrouded by an air of mystery in that its decisions are made "behind closed doors" in secrecy, the institutional arrangements are complex and unfamiliar, and its treaties are written in convoluted language that is unintelligible to the average person (see Padgen, p. 27). The EU has also been referred to as a chimera—defined as "a fire-breathing monster with body parts from various different animals; a fantastic hybrid; an impossible folly" (ibid., p. 77; English Dictionary, Geddes & Grossett). This definition matches the biblical description of the endtime creature that was prophesied more than 2,000 years ago (see Daniel 7:7; Revelation 13:1–2).
British journalist Christopher Booker actually refers to the EU as "The Federal Monster" that is steadily—and stealthily—eating away at British sovereignty (Daily Mail, December 10, 2005). He writes: "The chief reason why this massive takeover of national sovereignty has not been more widely noticed is that the EU exercises its control from behind the scenes, so carefully disguised that even many of those directly affected still think that their own national ministers and agencies are still in charge… Instead of sweeping away all the existing national institutions in each country, these have all been left standing while being hollowed out from within… We have become victims of a slow-motion coup d’etat" (ibid.). Others have noted that during the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazis operated in a similar manner in Denmark and in France (The Question of Europe, pp. 86–87). Many in Europe will be shocked and surprised when they realize that they are no longer in charge of their own governments, and have been deceptively corralled into a transnational European government—a government that has talked of peace, harmonization and human rights, but has taken away their cherished national rights and freedoms (see Daniel 11:21).



Fate of the Dream

The prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation provide sobering views of the European Dream’s ultimate destiny. Scripture reveals that a miracleworking religious figure will help bring about the final end-time revival of a political-economicmilitary beast created in the image of the ancient Roman Empire. The Apostle John wrote that this religious figure "was granted power to give breath [life] to the image of the beast" (Revelation 13:11–15). Amazingly, one EU policy paper has used the same biblical terms, projecting that in constructing a political Europe, "it is for the Union [the EU] to give life to its model on the international stage" (Building a Political Europe: 50 proposals for tomorrow’s Europe).
Bible prophecies reveal how religion will ultimately play a decisive role in bringing to life this end-time European federation. The Bible also indicates that unless people in Europe conform to certain religious-inspired legislation (the "mark" of the beast—which will probably preclude the observance of the biblical Sabbath), they will not be able to function within this trans-European social-economic-political system that will be part of a global trading network (Revelation 13:15–18; 18:10–15). History records that in the past, church councils have influenced civil laws to bar "heretics" from participating in social and economic activities.
Scripture also reveals that eventually "ten kings [leaders, nations]… will give their power and authority to the beast" for a short time—about 31⁄2 years (Revelation 17:12–13; 13:5). The main mechanism for uniting Europe today involves surrendering national sovereignty to trans-European governance—the EU Commission and the EU Parliament—which, the Bible indicates, ten leaders will ultimately do. In the years just ahead, we will probably see a reshuffling of the 25 current members of the EU into a new configuration that has a more solid core of ten politically federated nations in central Europe, bound together by a common religious belief in Roman Catholicism. Surrounding this smaller unified core will be other more loosely affiliated nations. This idea of a smaller core of nations leading the rest of Europe resurfaces periodically when the drive to unite Europe stalls over disagreements among the member nations. Bible prophecy indicates that the final revival of the European Dream will be a federation built around a core of ten nations!
The prophet Daniel states that a vile and deceitful leader (referred to as "king of the north") will gain control of this revived Roman system under the guise of being a peacemaker. He will militarize this end-time European federation, and will invade the Middle East—under the pretext of promoting peace and stability, or as a reaction to a provocation from an Islamic power to the south (see Daniel 11:21–25, 40–43). The Bible also indicates that "Assyria"—modernday Germany—will lead this revived European power (Isaiah 10:5–19). To learn more about Assyria’s role in prophecy as modern- day Germany, please request our free reprint article, A Fourth Reich?. God will use this final revival of the Roman Empire to punish the backsliding Israelite nations, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Britain and other nations of northwest Europe. This episode of national punishment will wipe out two thirds of the population of modern Israelite nations (Ezekiel 5:12).
The European beast power, in league with an influential religious leader, will persecute those who actually live by biblical precepts (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 13:7, 15; 17:6). The leader of the beast power will also enter an agreement—which he will later break, ending a period of religious tolerance—that will for a time allow the Jews to begin sacrifices in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:26–27; 8:11). Eventually, this deceptive political leader will engage in a devastating conflict with nations to the north and east (e.g. Russia and China) that will claim the lives of one-third of the human race (Daniel 11:44–45: Revelation 9). He will also clash with his ally—the powerful religious leader—in a struggle reminiscent of conflicts between medieval emperors and popes. The political leaders of this revived federation of ten European nations will then turn on and destroy the religious organization that once gave it life (Revelation 17:16–17). Thus, Bible prophecies reveal that the European Dream, after a short span of 31⁄2 years, will turn into a horrible nightmare—and will crumble when Jesus Christ returns to set up the kingdom of God (see Daniel 2:44–45; 11:44–45; Revelation 17:15–18; 18:1–24). This is the ultimate fate of the secular utopian dream that is driving European planners who ignore the biblical admonition, "unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Psalm 127:1).
But how does all this relate to you? The God of the Bible reveals the future so that human beings today can know and prepare for what lies ahead (Isaiah 46:9–10). Scripture also tells us that it is not God’s will that any should perish, "but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). If we are actually willing to study the Bible, and begin to live by the instructions God has placed in His word, it is possible to escape much of the turmoil that lies ahead for the nations and peoples of this world. This is why Jesus told His disciples, "Watch… and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36). These promises can apply to you, if you are able to see through the mirage of the secular European dream and avoid becoming entangled with the beast that is rising in Europe.
The historic move to unite Europe will not become a "beacon of light" to a troubled world. Rather, it is a warning sign that dramatic, long-prophesied events are about to erupt on the world scene and bring human civilizations to the brink of disaster. You need not be surprised, because Bible prophecies revealed thousands of years ago that this end-time scenario would occur just before Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth. The return of Christ and the kingdom of God are the real hope and the real beacons of light for our troubled world. When the prophecies of the kingdom become reality, the European Dream and the short-lived European experiment will seem naïve by comparison. May God speed that day.

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The Real God
By Douglas S. Winnail

Can you prove that God exists? Is God a product of the human imagination, or is He real? How can you know Him? The answers to these questions may both shock and amaze you! The God of the Bible is real. The Creator, Designer and Sustainer of the Universe is alive, bringing to pass what He has prophesied in His Word.

Why is the God of the Universe not real to most people today?

Does God actually exist? Can you prove it? Is there one true God, or are there many gods—or is the idea of God merely the product of the human imagination? You need to know the real answers to these questions about God. You cannot afford to remain in the dark about such fundamental issues. The real answers may both shock and amaze you!



Modern Superficial Religion

Surveys indicate that about 95 percent of Americans believe in God—yet most Americans live their lives as if God doesn’t exist. More than 80 percent of Americans seldom or never attend church or read a Bible. Only about 30 percent of Americans view the Word of God, the Bible, as the ultimate authority in their lives; most just follow their consciences. In European countries the belief in God is much lower and the number of people who do not regularly practice any faith is even greater. While interest in religion among Americans runs high by some measures (e.g. religious books sold), America has been described as a secular and materialistic society. Vanderbilt Divinity School professor Edward Farley asserts "religiosity is marginal" to most of our cultural institutions (government, business, education and entertainment), and pollster George Gallup reveals that America is a "nation of biblical illiterates" where less than half of all adults can name the four gospels of the New Testament (The Empty Church: The Suicide of Liberal Christianity, Reeves, 1996, pp. 49, 63).
Many Americans practice what has been described as a superficial "consumer Christianity" or "cafeteria religion"—that is, they pick and chose what religious tenets they wish to believe and reject doctrines that do not appeal to their interests. For many Americans, religious beliefs are often generalized, casual and personal. Levels of confidence and conviction are often rather low. Doctrinal specifics are usually fuzzy. Each person believes what seems right in his or her own eyes. One teenager when asked by a reporter about what she thought about God answered, "God is everywhere. God is in me. I am God."
America, Canada, Australia and other European countries appear to have entered a "post-Christian" era (cf. Reeves, chapter 2). In this age of watered down religion, ideas about God are vague, and awareness of His power and purpose is just not real to most people. But how did this happen in Europe and America—in countries that had shared the God of Abraham with the world? Did a real Almighty God foretell that this very era would occur?



Reason Replaces Religion

The United States—whose very coinage proclaims to the world "In God We Trust"—developed from European roots. The knowledge of the God of the Bible was carried to Europe from Jerusalem by the Apostles, the disciples of Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts we read of how Paul informed pagan, superstitious Greeks in Athens about the One true God. Noticing an inscription "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD," Paul stated: "The One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:23–24).
What many today do not realize is that the knowledge of the true God and the teachings of true Christianity, which Paul brought to Greece and Rome, were soon mixed with pagan religious ideas and corrupted. As Catholic historian Will Durant writes, "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it." The form of Christianity that developed in Europe and later spread to America and the rest of the world "was the last great creation of the ancient pagan world" (Caesar and Christ, Durant, 1944, p. 595). Durant and other historians explain how the One true God became a "Trinity" as a result of the influence of pagan philosophy, how Gnostic ideas "obscured the Christian creed" (beliefs) and how theologians schooled in pagan philosophy tried to explain the nature of God through speculation, instead of teaching what God had revealed about Himself in the Scriptures. After centuries of such debate, the often abstract God of modern Christianity bears little resemblance to the true God of Scripture.
However, other ideas also emanated from Europe that altered and undermined ideas about God. The Enlightenment of the 18th century, and the discoveries of science that seemed to contradict traditional understanding of the Scriptures, led some to conclude the Bible and its God were only myths (see God’s Funeral, Wilson, 1999). Darwin’s speculations about evolution seemed to remove the need for a God of Creation. Julian Huxley, a promoter of Darwin’s ideas, asserted "operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler, but the last fading grin of a cosmic Cheshire cat." He further stated that "our concept of God needs to stress religious experience instead of belief in a particular dogma." In other words, God is the warm feeling you get in your heart—not a Supreme Being, whose existence you can prove and who intervenes in history. Sound familiar? Just believe—no need to prove anything. This idea was promoted in the 1600s by the French philosopher Pascal who said: "It is the heart that experiences God, and not the reason". Yet Paul told a Greek audience to "Prove all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The prophet Malachi quotes God as saying "Prove Me" (Malachi 3:10). Proof involves solid, convincing reasons—not just warm feelings in the heart!
Over the last two centuries belief in God has come under direct attack by many intellectuals in the West. Nietzsche said, "God is a thought." Freud termed belief in God a form of mental disorder that mankind would eventually grow out of. Karl Marx termed religious belief "the opium of the people." Atheist H. L. Mencken asserted, "God is the immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable." Playwright Tennessee Williams described God as a "senile delinquent." Prominent theologians in the 1960s actually proclaimed that "God is Dead." In light of such outright attacks on belief, combined with the near absence of powerful teaching of biblical truths by clerics, it is not surprising that the real God of this universe remains little-known to most people today. But are the critics right—or have they been deceived? Have the rantings of secular, atheistic intellectuals tragically misled our society about God? Let us notice some important lessons we can learn from the Bible and our recent past.



Emerging Evidence

David wrote in the Psalms over 3,000 years ago, "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’" (Psalm 14:1). Solomon states: "The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness" (Proverbs 15:2). Looking back over the last several hundred years, it is becoming painfully obvious that many of the "enlightened" intellectuals—who have molded our modern world—were simply wrong! They were essentially the blind leading the blind. The communism envisioned by Marx and enforced upon millions has proven to be a dismal failure. Freud’s psychological theories have largely been discredited. While Freud proclaimed religion a neurosis, one of his students (Carl Jung—who later rejected his teacher’s ideas) found religion to be very beneficial in treating psychologically disturbed individuals (God: The Evidence, Glynn, 1997, p. 69). There is a growing body of scientific literature that documents the positive effects of certain religious beliefs on personal health. Sigmund Freud, whose ideas did much to secularize our society by undermining its religious and moral foundation, was mistaken about many things.
The evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin, that supposedly did away with the need for God, have also come under increasing criticism in recent decades. While random changes and natural selection can explain the appearance of a certain amount of variety (essentially within species), Darwin’s theory was not, and is not, adequate to explain the origin of new species. Darwin saw variations in finches, turtles, and dogs and concluded that—given enough time—nature alone could create entirely new species. The problem is that nature doesn’t work that way. New species appear in the geological record quite suddenly and fully developed—they appear to have been created— they do not appear to have evolved. The many intermediate forms that his theory postulates are simply not there. The actual fossil record, compiled over the last century does not support Darwin’s ideas. The theory of evolution, which has been termed "the greatest engine of atheism ever invented" does not refute the existence of God (see "Debating Darwin," Christian Century, July 15–22, 1998, pp. 678–681).
Some of the most remarkable evidence for a powerful Creator God has emerged in recent decades from astronomy, cosmology, physics and biochemistry. For most of this century the idea has prevailed that the universe and life on earth developed gradually over eons of time as a result of random, mindless, accidental occurrences. This now appears not to be the case at all. The Big Bang theory indicates the universe began suddenly. Scientists are coming to realize the conditions for life on earth are so delicately balanced that all this had to be "pre-planned" from the very beginning. As one author states, "Far from being accidental, life appeared to be the goal toward which the entire universe from the very first moment of its existence had been orchestrated, fine-tuned" (Glynn, p. 8). This is called the "anthropic principle" (Greek anthropos=man).
The modern emerging line of evidence strongly suggests that the universe must have been designed. Design requires an intelligent designer. This has been one of the traditional proofs that there must be a God who designed the universe— and for a purpose. The Bible states quite plainly that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This is exactly what Paul told the Athenian Greeks as he explained to them about the one true God (Acts 17:24). The secular notion that life, animals and man, is merely the result of random biochemical accidents is not supported by the accumulating evidence. The actual evidence points in the opposite direction— to a real God who is a designer and creator and sustainer.
This is how David describes God when he states, "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Solomon writes, "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens" (Proverbs 3:19). Abraham Lincoln commented, "I can see how a man can look upon the earth [man’s activities] and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he can look up into the heavens and say there is no God." Even Albert Einstein realized "God is not playing dice with the Universe." The creation requires a real Creator. Design requires a real Designer. Mindless, accidental occurrences over eons of time are totally inadequate explanations for the origin of life and the universe.



Evidence Ignored

The Apostle Paul told an audience in Rome that we can see the evidence for God and how He operates by observing what He has created. He also cautioned his audience that if we ignore the obvious, and follow our own theories that are contrary to what we observe in nature, we would become fools (Romans 1:18–22). Paul even indicates in these verses that the truth about God would even be suppressed. That is exactly what has happened in the last century.
Numerous experiments have been carried out over the last 50 years, in an attempt to validate the evolutionary theory that life developed by accident in a primordial pool of chemicals. Yet none have succeeded. Stanley Miller, a professor of chemistry who did one of the early experiments has admitted: "The problem of the origin of life has turned out to be much more difficult than I, and most other people, envisioned" (The Creation Hypothesis, Moreland, 1994, p. 175). This should not be a surprise. For years, biology textbooks have described the law of biogenesis, that life only comes from life—not nonlife. While this law has been downplayed or ignored in textbooks in recent years due to the influence of evolutionary theory, it has never been refuted. The Scriptures assert that God imparts life (Genesis 1:11,24). God made Adam’s body out of the elements of the earth, then "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). Man’s attempts to create life from non-living matter have all failed. Is that because we are foolishly trying to do something that is not possible? Are we trying to assume a prerogative of the Creator God?
For years biology texts have referred to another law known as the fixity of the species—that there exists a genetic limit to the amount of variety that can occur within a species. Plant and animal breeders are aware of these limits. The Bible states plainly and repeatedly that God created creatures to reproduce "according to its kind" (Genesis 1:24–25). As we have already noted, Darwin saw that variety was possible within species (e.g. birds, turtles, dogs, horses and cattle), but he speculated that given enough time and chance this could produce new species. However, this just doesn’t happen. Scientists have tried and failed. This, too, ignores what is plainly revealed in the Bible and the evidence in nature that substantiates what God has said in His Word. This evidence—basic laws of biology that point to a supernatural Law Giver—is simply ignored and suppressed today.
However the physical laws of biology are not the only laws that have fallen from favor in the last century. The moral and spiritual laws of God—the Ten Commandments—have been subject to derision and ridicule. Secular humanists have assumed that these are merely the ideas of men, and that they can be disregarded without consequence. This approach is also turning out to be a social disaster. The idolatry of our materialistic society produces only empty lives. Fornication not only ceases to be fulfilling, it is dangerous—as many AIDS victims are learning. Adultery is destroying the family—the fundamental building block of a stable society. In a culture saturated with media violence, human life has little value. Today, killing is commonplace—whether on city streets or in the birthing rooms of hospitals or abortion clinics. Crime is epidemic around the world. We have been led to believe there is no God, no purpose for human life, and that the laws of God can be ignored. The moral breakdown around us is the result of such ignorance. Physical and moral laws are sustained by a real God. Those laws apply whether or not we believe in God. They cannot be ignored without consequence. The existence of immutable laws points to existence of a real God.



Back to the Future

Many prophecies that date to the time of Abraham (2000BC) reveal in remarkable detail the future course of history that many modern nations would take. Because of Abraham’s obedience, God prophesied his descendants would become great, inherit blessings and be a blessing to mankind (Genesis 12:1–2). In their ascent to greatness they would gain possession of the gates of their enemies (22:17), eventually becoming a great nation and a company of nations (35:11; 48:19) that would spread colonies around the world (49:22). These and other incredible promises have actually been fulfilled by the United States of America and the nations of the British Commonwealth. However, additional prophecies indicate that because of our disobedience to the laws of Almighty God, the blessings and privileges we have been given are going to be taken away as God teaches our peoples some very important lessons (for more on this topic, request our free booklet entitled What’s Ahead for America and Britain?).
Speaking of the "latter days," the God of the Bible also describes an empire that would undergo a series of revivals, arising for the last time just before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (see Daniel 2:28,40–45; 7:7–8,19–28; Revelation 13,17,18). This great system which began as the Roman Empire appears to be rising again in Europe. Initially, this will seem like a good thing, yet this Central European union of nations will turn into an aggressive war-making power that for a short period of threeand- a-half years will blaspheme the true God and persecute true believers (Revelation 13:1–9). The God of Scripture foretold over 2,500 years ago this three-and-a-half year period would be "the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:1–7). God will use this resurrected Roman Empire to correct the rebellious and backsliding nations of Israelite origin who forgot the true God. Remarkable as it may seem, the God of the Bible predicted to Moses that the very peoples He chose to be an example to the world (Deuteronomy 4:1–10) would forget the true God and wind up in deep trouble in the "latter days" (Deuteronomy 4:23–30; 31:27–29). The real God is going to intervene dramatically and decisively in human affairs in the not too distant future. Mankind is going to come to see and understand there is a real God. These events will shock the world and impact your life!



Judgment and Salvation

While the God presented to the world by mainstream Christian religion is loving, forgiving and endlessly patient, barely believable and probably used evolution to accomplish His purpose, the real God of the Bible is a study in striking contrasts. The God that emerges from the Scriptures is a powerful Creator, an intelligent Designer who sustains what He has created and the laws He has put into affect. Although loving and merciful, He is also a God of justice and judgment who rewards us according to our works (cf. Revelation 22:12)—He lets us reap what we sow. The God of the Bible commands His true servants to "cry aloud and show His people their sins" (Isaiah 58:1) and not just preach "smooth things" that deceive people (Isaiah 30:9–10). The real God forgives us when we repent— when we come to understand how God defines sin (see 1 John 3:4) and begin to change our lives to actually live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4).
The Bible reveals that the real God is going to send Jesus Christ back to this earth to judge this earth in righteousness (Psalm 96:13; Revelation 19:11). He is going to put an end to human suffering and misrule and point mankind in the proper direction—towards peace, justice and truth (Isaiah 9:6–7; Revelation 11:15–18). The prophet Micah relates, "He shall judge between many nations afar off; and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:3). The prophet Ezekiel was inspired by the living God to write, "So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord , the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord " (Ezekiel 39:7–8).
The God of the Bible is real. The Creator, Designer and Sustainer of the Universe is alive. He is bringing to pass what He has prophesied in His Word. This all-powerful God is preparing to intervene dramatically in the affairs of this world. Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth to establish the kingdom of God that will rule over all nations. The powerful, loving and just God, our Father, is going to save us from ourselves. This is what the gospel is all about. You can be part of this exciting future if you get to know the REAL GOD. The question is—Will you?

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