A taster of the selection of videos we upload to our YouTube channel, All produced in highest quality HD 1080p and PCM quality audio ideal for download and viewed on the TV, or Projected onto the big screen.
Saturday 28 December 2013
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 8 The Whole Earth was of One Language
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 7 The Origin of Nations Genesis 9:18-28 and Gen. 10
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 6 THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 5 Generations
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 4 Faith & Murder
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 3 For Signs and For Seasons
Understanding the Bible book of Genesis Part 2 Sin Entered the World
Friday 27 December 2013
Understanding the Bible book of 'Genesis' Part 1 In The Beginning
Our first view of the earth is of a planet, empty and covered with water where even light did not penetrate. The initial act of creation prior to the process mentioned in the rest of the chapter provided the raw materials for the acts of creation that were to follow. Genesis does not provide us with a means of dating the point at which creation occurred and so does not contradict scientific findings regarding the age of the earth.
When and why Jesus was born! Mr Mick Storey
This however is grounded in human tradition, not the word of God. It's why he was born that is important. The three announcements
by the angels about his birth encapsulate the gospel message of salvation from sin and death. When Jesus was born, the exact date is not important; it's why that matters.
Only through the birth, life death and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God and our association with him can we personally have a hope of eternal life.
So what does the birth of Jesus mean to you?
A Time of trouble such as never was. Daniel 12 & Jeremiah 30, Mr Jim Cowie
Pope francis-Time Magazine Person of the Year 2013 - But what saith the Scriptures?
Monday 9 December 2013
A light to the Gentiles: Part 2 - The Recabites and their pioneers Mr.Jim Cowie
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpFPKFpyds4&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpFPKFpyds4&feature=youtu.be
A light to the Gentiles: Part1 - The family of Caleb. Mr.Jim Cowie
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVh1J3-YZ5w&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVh1J3-YZ5w&feature=youtu.be
Friday 29 November 2013
Monday 25 November 2013
Can I Believe the Bible? Mr StuArt Courtonel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5REXCymyxQs&feature=youtu.be
What evidence is there outside the bible itself to show that the Bible is The Word of God as it is claimed by many Christians,
Mr. Courtonel examines recently discovered Archaeological evidence and considers Bible Prophecy as a means to understanding this question.
To Promote The Understanding of Gods Word to those who are seeking the Truth About the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
For more information on the Christadelphians visit http://TheChristadelphians.org.uk and for more videos visit http://YouTube.com/RugbyChristadelphian
Read a variety of Pamphlets on-line concerning various Bible subjects.
http://www.thechristadelphian.com/pamphlets/standardseries/default.html
Visit our website for further information, videos and audio talks covering a varied Biblical subject base and find more info on how to get in touch with the a Christadelphian hall near you. this page is managed by the Christadelphian's at rugby.
http://bibletalksrugby.org/
Have a question on a biblical subject? Ask it here...
http://bibleq.info/
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Monday 18 November 2013
Revelation 17: A Tale of Two Cities, Jerusalem and Rome -Mr. S. Hunter
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Friday 15 November 2013
Signs Of The Times Milestones Prophecy Autumn Update For 2013 Mr. Don Pe...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Promotional Video no:3 for the Christadelphian Bible Truth & Prophecy Ch...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Thursday 14 November 2013
Promotional Video no:3 for the Christadelphian Bible Truth & Prophecy Ch...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Wednesday 13 November 2013
Monday 11 November 2013
Thursday 7 November 2013
Jesus and the Jews: Mr Roger Long Bible Prophecy update 2012
http://www.youtube.com/v/Z4XlMqhbYlM?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=zu6-cKYrMPo3ivGmBQZ8Mw&feature=share
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Amazing Recent Archaeology Discoveries: Dr Eilat Mazar interview on Jeru...
http://www.youtube.com/v/6unKOQqtBEM?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=-Nz9Zo_3dMVv-WgnFQ5jGA&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share
Monday 4 November 2013
Russia's pending invasion of Turkey The king of the North shall push aga...
http://www.youtube.com/v/OoAudBK-0pA?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=eR6aTlSEtGM-fs0oc_YwfQ
Thursday 31 October 2013
Britain's role in drying up the Euphrates: The King of the South shall ...
Britain's role in drying up the Euphrates The King of the South shall push at him Mr Jonathon Bowen
Wednesday 30 October 2013
Bible Prophecy and the Uniting of the Nations of Europe Mr.Matt Davies (...
Video: Bible Prophecy & The Uniting Of The Nations Of Europe
Video of an exciting Christadelphian lecture showing the amazing developments in Europe and how they connect to Bible prophecy and the events which surround the Lord Jesus Christ’s return.
Tuesday 29 October 2013
Saturday 26 October 2013
Tuesday 22 October 2013
An Exposition of the Book of Job: The Wilderness Journey - Mr J Pople
An Exposition of the Book of Job: The Wilderness Journey - Mr J Pople
From the 45th Nz Bible school.
Monday 21 October 2013
An Exposition of the Book of Job: Enter Satan Mr J.Pople
"Have you considered my servant Job?"
The Biblical drama of Job is haunting. A blameless man is tormented by 'the Satan': stripped of wealth, status, possessions, health and children -- all with God's permission! Who is this Satan? More chilling still, who is this God? And why, despite this cataclysmic carnage, does the drama focus on the resulting argument between Job and his 3 friends?
The ending of the drama seems no clearer. When God reveals Himself, what is He saying? Finally, God restores Job. Yet does this truly repair His permitted destruction of him?
With its distinctive identification of the Satan, this interpretation offers unique insights into the classic interactions between God, Satan and the Righteous Man; revealing the Messianic message encoded within. Most importantly it lends reason to persevere in faith, as Job did; and speak well of God.
I offer a synopsis below. My attempt is to make this synopsis free of any interpretation ans simply a presentation of the prima fascia facts.
Prologue (chapters 1-2, prose): God invites a character termed "the Satan" to consider the piety of his servant Job. The Satan counters that God fails to realize Job is only pious because he is well blessed in riches and, were he deprived, he would curse Him. God meets the Satan's demands by Himself destroying Job's fortunes, children and ultimately health. Yet Job does not curse God; the Satan loses the barter.
Debate (chapters 3-31, poetry): Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar come to sympathize but, ultimately, they chastise Job. A debate ensues where each speaker attacks Job in turn, calling him to repent of the sins they believe must have triggered his destruction, and Job replies in self-defense.
Fourteen speeches and rebuttals are voiced, with the debate growing ever more heated and culminating in lengthy speeches from Job appealing to God to appear so that his (Job's) righteousness can be revealed.
Intervention (chapters 32-41, poetry): Instead, a young witness, Elihu, speaks out. He too is critical of Job, yet limits his criticism to Job's recent words, not lifestyle, all the while defending God as righteous.
Then God speaks (His longest speeches in the Bible!). He first presents a tour of creation, focusing especially on wild animals, observing that He can control them where Job cannot. When Job briefly responds, God rebukes him and launches a second speech focused wholly on His ability to control two beasts whose descriptions seem other-worldly. Job's latter response states he has 'seen God' and avers a new life direction.
Epilogue (chapter 42, prose):
God rebukes the three friends for not speaking correctly about Him; praises Job for succeeding in that regard; and directs Job to intercede in prayer for his friends for God to forgive them. God then restores Job: he receives double of his previous blessings yet, while he receives twice as many flocks and herds as previously, he is only blessed to receive as many children as before.
An Exposition of the Book of Job: To Speak Well of God - Mr J Pople
"Have you considered my servant Job?"
The Biblical drama of Job is haunting. A blameless man is tormented by 'the Satan': stripped of wealth, status, possessions, health and children -- all with God's permission! Who is this Satan? More chilling still, who is this God? And why, despite this cataclysmic carnage, does the drama focus on the resulting argument between Job and his 3 friends?
The ending of the drama seems no clearer. When God reveals Himself, what is He saying? Finally, God restores Job. Yet does this truly repair His permitted destruction of him?
With its distinctive identification of the Satan, this interpretation offers unique insights into the classic interactions between God, Satan and the Righteous Man; revealing the Messianic message encoded within. Most importantly it lends reason to persevere in faith, as Job did; and speak well of God.
I offer a synopsis below. My attempt is to make this synopsis free of any interpretation ans simply a presentation of the prima fascia facts.
Prologue (chapters 1-2, prose): God invites a character termed "the Satan" to consider the piety of his servant Job. The Satan counters that God fails to realize Job is only pious because he is well blessed in riches and, were he deprived, he would curse Him. God meets the Satan's demands by Himself destroying Job's fortunes, children and ultimately health. Yet Job does not curse God; the Satan loses the barter.
Debate (chapters 3-31, poetry): Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar come to sympathize but, ultimately, they chastise Job. A debate ensues where each speaker attacks Job in turn, calling him to repent of the sins they believe must have triggered his destruction, and Job replies in self-defense.
Fourteen speeches and rebuttals are voiced, with the debate growing ever more heated and culminating in lengthy speeches from Job appealing to God to appear so that his (Job's) righteousness can be revealed.
Intervention (chapters 32-41, poetry): Instead, a young witness, Elihu, speaks out. He too is critical of Job, yet limits his criticism to Job's recent words, not lifestyle, all the while defending God as righteous.
Then God speaks (His longest speeches in the Bible!). He first presents a tour of creation, focusing especially on wild animals, observing that He can control them where Job cannot. When Job briefly responds, God rebukes him and launches a second speech focused wholly on His ability to control two beasts whose descriptions seem other-worldly. Job's latter response states he has 'seen God' and avers a new life direction.
Epilogue (chapter 42, prose):
God rebukes the three friends for not speaking correctly about Him; praises Job for succeeding in that regard; and directs Job to intercede in prayer for his friends for God to forgive them. God then restores Job: he receives double of his previous blessings yet, while he receives twice as many flocks and herds as previously, he is only blessed to receive as many children as before.
Wednesday 16 October 2013
Saturday 12 October 2013
Thursday 19 September 2013
Wednesday 4 September 2013
Friday 16 August 2013
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Friday 7 June 2013
Greeting in our shared hope, many of you will be aware that our YouTube
Channel...
http://www.youtube.com/user/
has been down for quite some time.
I am pleased to say that we now have it back, although we can only upload
videos to the length of 15min (A temporary restriction which will be lifted
in approx 10days) all videos on the channel can be viewed again.
We had set up a temp channel which we will probably keep - it can be found
here....
http://www.youtube.com/user/
It has our most recent material on.
Channel...
http://www.youtube.com/user/
has been down for quite some time.
I am pleased to say that we now have it back, although we can only upload
videos to the length of 15min (A temporary restriction which will be lifted
in approx 10days) all videos on the channel can be viewed again.
We had set up a temp channel which we will probably keep - it can be found
here....
http://www.youtube.com/user/
It has our most recent material on.
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Monday 22 April 2013
Friday 19 April 2013
Thought For The Day 18.4.13
Today's thought
“Gather into one the children of God”
(April 18)
Disunity is a common feature in our world. The nature of politics highlights this; there is constant debate between opposing voices. In contrast the message of God’s word looks forward to a time of oneness. The friction created by those who were jealous of the tremendous popularity of Jesus reaches its peak following the fresh burst of support and belief in him after he raised Lazarus.
The High Priest Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied “that one man should die for the people” (John 11:50). But he saw it from his own jealous human perspective that Jesus should die – so that there would be no rebellion that would jeopardise and even destroy their own position of authority.
Then John adds the comment, that the death of Jesus would also “gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (verse 52). Initially Jews and Gentiles who believed in Jesus became one body in Christ. Their united appreciation of the plan and purpose of God was the catalyst.
Mary and Martha demonstrated their faith in God’s plan even before Lazarus came to life again. We read today, “I know that he (Lazarus) will rise again in the resurrection at the last day … that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (verses 24,27). This is when “the children of God” will be one. The principles that God’s children must willingly follow are well spelt out in Proverbs 28 which we also read today. “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely” (verse 5). “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered” (verse 18). “A faithful man (or woman) will abound with blessings” (verse 20). “Whoever trusts his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered” (verse 26). Let us not trust in our own mind but feed daily on God’s word and look forward to being there when Jesus returns to “gather into one the children of God”.
Thursday 18 April 2013
The Papal influence over "the kings of the earth and of the whole world"
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon visits the Vatican
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This week the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon made his way to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. This gives us a glimpse of the power of the Papacy in our days, just as we would expect from Bible prophecy. This is Matt Davies joining you again for another Bible in the News.
A meeting of two minds that think alike.Reports stated that "Once he saw the Pope", Mr Ki-moon" he bowed his head before greeting him" and as he was greeted by the Pope he said, “Your Holiness, it's a great honor for me to have an audience with you.”
Just before journalists were ushered out, he was reported to have said, "The United Nations and the Holy See share common goals and ideals."
The Vatican press office referred to the UN Secretary of state as "His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon." It also stated that "The meeting, which follows in the tradition of audiences granted by Popes to the various Secretaries-General of the United Nations who have held that position over the years, seeks to express the appreciation that the Holy See has for that Organization’s central role in the preservation of peace in the world, in the promotion of the common good of humanity, and in the defence of fundamental human rights."
The press release continued:
"During the course of the cordial conversations, issues of mutual interest were discussed, in particular: situations of conflict and serious humanitarian emergency, especially in Syria and other places such as the Korean peninsula and the African continent where peace and stability are threatened. The problem of human trafficking was noted, in particular that of women, refugees, and migrants. The UN Secretary-General, who recently began his second term in this role, outlined his project for his second five-year mandate, which focuses, among other things, on conflict prevention, international solidarity, and equitable and sustainable economic development.
Pope Francis also recalled the Catholic Church’s contribution... in support of the entirety of human dignity and in promoting a Culture of Encounter that helps to realize the UN’s highest institutional goals."
Source: Vatican Press Office
Another news report stated:
"After their private meeting, Ban introduced to the pope, members of his entourage, which included his wife, his Argentine chief of staff and the U.N. undersecretary for disarmament.
Pope Francis went around the room giving each guest a small boxed rosary, which still carries the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI; a papal aide said they are awaiting the arrival of rosaries with Pope Francis' emblem.
Pope Francis spoke a few words of English during the meeting. Presenting a mosaic to Ban, the pope said, "This is for you." Then he immediately switched to Italian to describe it as a view of Rome.
Ban gave the pope a blue-bound tome containing the text of the United Nations Charter in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. He told the pope the charter reflects "the goals and objectives of human beings, which you also promote."
Source: National Catholic Reporter
The power of the papacy
These events show us the power of the Papacy. No other religious leader has so much influence in the modern world. Which other religious Imam or Church leader would have the UN's plans for the next 5 years outlined to them?
As Bible students we should expect to see reports like these, as the power of the Papacy grows, to fulfil its role as the influencer of nations in the coming world crisis - set out in Bible prophecy.
Since the Papacy lost its temporal, political power back in 1870 - when Garibaldi stripped it from him, it has had to make do with simply being a religious voice. This was emphasised by the Pope, who, in that same year of 1870, declared the doctrine of Papal infallibility for the first time.
As time is going on, the Papacy is becoming better and better at influencing those in the world who wield the political power of the day.
This is exactly as the Bible prophesies.
The beast and the false prophet
In Revelation chapter 19:20 we read:
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
So here we read of the symbolic destruction of two symbolic entities. One called "the false prophet" and one called "the beast".
The "beast" is a symbol used of political European empires which existed around the Mediterranean. Consider for example Daniel 7 which goes through 4 of these beast systems. It depicts the powers of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece as various beast symbols. The last beast is called "the fourth beast" which relates to the Roman Empire and its influence exists up until Christ destroys it in verse 26 and 27.
In Revelation, this fourth beast is described in more detail - as four beast 'phases' but all of these phases denote the same beast system, just in different periods of existence down through time.
Rev 12 - Dragon Phase - Pagan Roman Empire
Rev 13:1-10 - Sea Beast Phase - The Christian Roman Empire 313AD-800AD
Rev 13:11-18 - East Beast phase - The Holy Roman Empire 800AD-1870AD
Rev 17 - Whore Riding Beast Phase - European Superstate - The Latter Days
So this beast in our day represents the political powers that sit on the beast territories, namely Europe.
In Revelation 19 we read of this powers destruction by Christ.
The distinctive symbol of the false prophet
Notice what the false prophet is mentioned as doing - "the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast". Now this links back to another passage in Revelation and a characteristic of a former beast phase. In Revelation 13, speaking of the symbol of the earth beast we read:
"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:14
So within this beast phase which existed between 800AD-1870AD, an aspect of the political beast was religious in nature and it "wrought miracles before" the previous beast phase (the sea beast) and "deceived". The very things that the "false prophet" does in Revelation 19. So what does this tell us? It tells us that a change takes place amongst the political organisation of the beast power. Clearly it’s telling us that the religious aspect of the earth beast becomes separated from the political aspect. It becomes so separate that a new symbol is required for it within Revelation, that of a "false prophet". In other words, the religious aspect is no longer directly a political power but only an influencing prophet - and a false one at that.
As we've mentioned - this separation of the Papacy from its political powers occurred in 1870 when Garibaldi took it from the Pope. Since that time the Papacy has only been a religious voice.
The Sixth Vial
We would like to direct our listeners to this month's Bible Magazine the general theme of which is "Gentile times in the Apocalypse". On page 30 we have exposited for us the time period we are living in, known as "the sixth vial" defined as being from 1820 - around the time when the decline of the Ottoman empire commenced. This is depicted in the Bible as the drying up of the river Euphrates.
The record of this sixth vial period is found in Revelation chapter 16:12-16. During this time we read that Christ returns to the earth to establish God's Kingdom in verse 15.
Also within this time period the symbol of the "false prophet" is first introduced to us.
The requirements of the prophecy dictate that during the period from the drying up of the Euphrates, around 1820, to our day today, a religious leader would appear who would be part of a system which could be traced directly back to having political power with the beast system. Clearly the only power existing today which fits this requirement is the Papacy - whose current status of being only a religious leader without any political power came about in 1870 within the time period of the sixth vial. Incidentally this is one reason why the false prophet symbol cannot be related to Islam (as some commentators suggest) because Islam appeared in the sixth century, not during the time period of the sixth vial.
This false prophet appears in our time and so we should be able to look at world affairs and see the growing influence of this symbolic power.
"go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world"
So what does this have to do with the recent news stories of the Pope meeting with the UN Secretary General? Well in verse 13 of Revelation 16 we read how John sees 'frog like spirits' come out of the mouth of the false prophet. What is this a symbol of? Well, amongst other things, the frog in scripture is associated with a false hope of human liberty (Exodus 8:1-2) and so we relate this to the call of humanism which seeks to liberate mankind from restrictions. We link it with the ideas reflected in the Vatican's press release of "the promotion of the common good of humanity, and in the defense of fundamental human rights."
What is the effect of the frog like spirits? Verse 14 records "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
So just before Christ returns, the false prophet will be influential in calling kings to muster their armies and to fight. The false prophet will speak of false liberty and of the defence of human rights. He will have the ear of the "kings of the earth and of the whole world".
Therefore, as we live in the sixth vial period and as we await the coming of Messiah we can have confidence in Bible prophecy. We see a religious leader who is part of a religious system which used to wield direct political power in Europe - now separate and fulfilling the destiny which scripture has set out for him, that of an influencing false prophet. We see this as the Papacy whose Popes have been croaking its doctrine of “Chrisitian Humanism” and "Ecumenicism" louder and louder since it became a false prophet in 1870 - the most recent Pope Francis continuing the chorus. This influence surely will grow and grow until, when the time is right and all the pieces of the prophetic jigsaw puzzle are in place, this false prophet will indeed influence those nations who heed its croakings to gather for the great battle of Armageddon.
So let us continue to watch these signs of our times together and tune in next week for another Bible in the news God willing.
Thursday 28 March 2013
The world erupted with another economic volcano of fear and dread this week as Cyprus stands on the brink of financial collapse that could drag Europe’s economy into another dive. The curtain is being drawn back on Russia's interest in the region.
The world erupted with another economic volcano of fear and dread this week as Cyprus stands on the brink of financial collapse that could drag Europe’s economy into another dive. The crisis is so dire that banks have been closed in Cyprus all week – and only ATM machines available for people to withdraw their money.
The Crisis
What is the problem? When the Greek economy almost collapsed the refinancing and restructuring of Greek debt and the banking system meant that Cyprus, heavily linked to the Greek economy, had to go elsewhere for money. For all intents and purposes Cyprus is bankrupt, but is borrowing money from a so-called troika of lenders — the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank. In the past few weeks these three lenders have been tightening the economic thumbscrews on Cyprus. Cyprus has to raise 5.8 billion euros to ensure the extension of a 10 billion euros, ($13 billion US Dollars), lifeline that Cyprus needs to keep its banks from collapsing.
The Cyprus government doesn’t have the money. The EU has demanded that Cyprus introduce a tax that would confiscate between 9-25% of the private money held in Cyprus banks to raise the capital. The deal put before the Cyprus government was rejected due to a huge backlash from the Cypriot citizens who would see up to quarter of their savings being robbed out of their accounts by EU through banking legislation.
The European Central Bank, controlled by Germany, has imposed Monday as a deadline on Cyprus to raise 5.8 billion euros.
A simple biblical principle is at play:
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
Cyprus is servant to its creditors and is being forced – very strongly into servitude to the EU, or whoever will lend it the money.
There is grave concern that when Banks open on Tuesday there will be a run on them that will bring the Cypriot banking system down, and the government along with it – the country would be bankrupt.
Draw Back The Curtain
What is fascinating to Bible students – is Russia role in the situation. The New York Times reported:
Russian money flowing into Cypriot banks dwarfs the island’s $25 billion economy. About 25 percent of Russian foreign direct investment moves through Cyprus, according to an estimate by Morgan Stanley, frequently in a “round-trip” process that serves to lubricate the Russian economy. Cypriot entities, often owned by rich Russians, lent $40 billion a year to Russia from 2007 through 2011….
The stakes are particularly high for wealthy Russians: Moody's, the rating agency, has estimated that Russian deposits in banks and loans to Cypriot companies total $70 billion, or about 4 percent of Russia's gross domestic product. Some 42 percent of the value of Cypriot bank deposits is in accounts with more than half a million euros.
So all of a sudden – Russia is at the heart of the Cyprus banking crisis. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president expressed extreme concern about the EU deal with Cyprus, which was made without Russia’s knowledge at all. Putin has been quoted as saying, “Such a decision, if taken, would be unjust, unprofessional and dangerous."
Russia jumped into the fray very quickly. The Cypriot finance minister, Michael Sarris, went immediately to Russia to seek help – and stayed there for several days to try to secure a deal. Although a deal was not initially reached, what was interesting was the revelation of the cost of a deal with Russia.
Reuters reported,
"It might be possible for part of this loan to be convertible over time to equity in Cypriot assets, such as privatized state assets and hydrocarbon rights," Jacob Nell, a Moscow-based economist, said.
"There are precedents in Belarus and Ukraine for similar deals involving Russia," said Nell, referring to deals with Russia's ex-Soviet neighbors in which debts owed to state gas export monopoly Gazprom were swapped for assets.
Sky News reported the following, under the article headed “The Russians Are Cooking With Gas In Cyprus”
Gazprom, the world’s largest extractor of natural gas has offered to bail out the Bank of Cyprus in return for effective exclusive control of the gas reserves off the coast of the island.
If Cyprus did accept the deal, then Gazprom beats the world’s other energy companies to a very attractive piece of real estate. If that costs $10bn (£6.6bn) or so, that is not too big a deal for Russia’s largest company.
But the offer is not purely commercial.
The Russian government owns 50.02% of Gazprom and its chairman is a former prime minister of Russia.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 Russia’s influence in the Mediterranean and the Middle East has waned. It was ten years until a weakened Russia began to try and re-establish itself in its ‘near abroad’, never mind on the global stage.
Since then it has succeeded in pushing its influence back out into the world and it keeps a close eye on opportunities to do so.
The eurozone crisis was one such opportunity.
Well right way, we are reminded of the words of Ezekiel 38:4
“I will turn the back, and I will put hooks into thy jaws and I will bring thee forth…”
Russia’s revival is a fulfillment of this prophecy. To bolster its “return to the world stage” we see that Russia is looking to get its mitts on the massive gas reserves that sit off the coasts of Cyprus.
The German news service Spiegel outlined the Russian interests in Cyprus:
Gas: In exchange for Russian support, Moscow may demand that state-owned Gazprom be given rights to exploit potentially lucrative natural gas fields off the coast of Cyprus.
Behind the scenes – the high stakes poker game has been going on for some time. The angels have used the Cypriot banking crisis to draw back the curtain to allow us to see what is really going on.
What Russia wants is access to the gas and oil reserves off the coast of Cyrpus so that it can control Europe.
Waiting for the Right Moment to Strike
For the moment, Russia has walked away from a deal with the Cyprian government. On Friday, the Cypriot finance Minister Michael Sarris returning empty-handed from Moscow.
Reuter’s columnist Felix Salmon stated,
Russia is doing absolutely nothing which might help the EU. It’s making a risky and aggressive move to essentially seize Cyprus from the hands of Europe, and to gain an important geopolitical foothold in the eurozone. The downside to that move is that… a lot of Russians, especially the ones with deposits at Laiki, could lose a lot of money. But even if that does happen, Russia will be waiting patiently on the sidelines, with a lot of new money if needed, ready to snap up Cypriot assets at fire-sale prices… There’s no doubt that the best outcome for Cyprus, and for the EU, would be for Russia to extend its help now, before Cyprus’s banks reopen on Tuesday. But Russia doesn’t want what’s best for Cyprus, or for the EU: Russia wants what’s best for Russia.
Russia is coolly holding its cards for the right moment. Their intentions have now become clear. Russia is just waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to strike.
The goal is the sew up the oil and gas market. Canada’s Financial Post reported,
Germany is also captive to Russian natural gas and oil, with its high prices. It also would not welcome a Russian takeover of Cypriot gas fields but would favor Turkey’s involvement. This would diversify sources and the competition would lower prices throughout Europe, now inordinately high because of Moscow’s hegemony.
The natural gas issue is material. Between Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel is an estimated 122 trillion cubic feet of gas offshore. Enough has been discovered in Cypriot waters to cover 40% of the European Union’s annual gas consumption.
What we have to realize is the proximity of all this activity to Israel. The Cyprian gas field border the Israeli ones – and Russia now has huge interests in this area, much greater than propping up a few ideological Arab puppet states.
In February, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom signed a deal with Israel's Levant LNG Marketing Corp to buy liquefied natural gas from the Tamar offshore gas field in the Mediterranean Sea, about 80 km off Israel's west coast city of Haifa. Gazprom will buy 4.2 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas annually from the Tamar field for the next 20 years.
There is a struggle to control the gas market – and who the players and partners are. The publication Oil Price reported a few weeks ago,
Russia is also keen to avoid seeing Israel and Cyprus get too much closer in terms of energy cooperation because this would sever Russia’s hold on the European market, which it can’t let go until it diversifies. With this in mind, Russia also has its eye on the Leviathan field (450 billion cubic meters of gas) and it is heavily courting both Lebanon and Syria in the meantime, which are also privy to the Levant Basin (122 trillion cubic feet of gas and 1.7 billion barrels of oil).
We see clearly that Russia is interested in sewing up the gas market – and getting its claws into Cyprus would help it do so.
This is where the plot thickens. Russia is not out of the game with Cyprus… just waiting. The New York Times reported,
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, assured the Cypriots Moscow “has not closed the door” on possible future assistance. But, he added, “this will only come after there is a final plan of support for Cyprus from the European countries.”
Russian Military Interests
From a Biblical perspective we know the way things must turn out in the end.
Daniel 11 depicts the way the King of the North will eventual come down into Israel:
“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” (Daniel 11:40)
The King of the North will come with many ships. There has to be a build up of Russian Naval presence in the arena – and this is one of the outcome being suggested by the German news source Der Spiegel as a goal of Russia in negotiations with Cyprus, when it wrote of Russias request for a Military Presence on the island:
Russia would like to pursue ambitious plans for its own Mediterranean fleet, but only has access to a single harbor in the region: a small Navy base in Tartus, Syria. The possibility that Russia might demand tighter military cooperation in exchange for financial aid cannot be ruled out.
The Financial Times reported the concerns of Western diplomats,
“some of whom wonder whether the Kremlin could use the island to challenge their security interests in the eastern Mediterranean.”
The business daily wrote,
“If Russia were to provide a large rescue package, or if Cyprus was to plunge out of the euro zone, diplomats would certainly begin to ponder the diplomatic consequences.”
The interesting thing to note is that Cyprus is a former British Crown Colony. This is where the British sent the Jewish refugees they did not allow to enter Palestine during the time of its mandate there. There are British Forces stationed in Cyprus today to defend British bases. Cyprus is home to the RAF base Akrotiri the only full-fledged Royal Air Force air base in the Mediterranean. The two Sovereign Bases on Cyprus are a British overseas territory. This raises the stakes in the whole struggle between the powers of the North and South as described by Daniel.
Drawing Russia into Conflict with Turkey
Another issue tangled up in this web is the Turkish claim to northern Cyprus – and its oil and gas reserves. The International Herald Tribune stated,
The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted analysts as saying Cypriot offshore gas projects were likely to be a hard sell in light of possible opposition from Turkey.
Turkish officials, quoted by Reuters, had warned that Ankara might challenge any unilateral move to speed up offshore exploration that ignored the rights of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which only Turkey recognizes.
If Russia is really interested in the gas off the coast of Cyprus, it may well have to contend with Turkey to do it. The scriptures are clear that Turkey will have to come under Russian control before the final invasion of Ezekiel 38.
The reading of Daniel 11:40 has been understood the following way:
“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south (Britain) push at him (Turkey): [fulfilled in 1917] and the king of the north (Russia) shall come against him (Turkey) like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
He shall enter also into the glorious land (Israel), and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” (Daniel 11:40-41)
Brother John Thomas wrote in the Exposition of Daniel in anticipation of this, back around 1867:
“As to the Ottoman (The Turk), his existence in Constantinople is exceptional. His mission was to punish the Greek Catholics, and the Latins also to some extent, for their excessive superstition and idolatry, with the loss of their sovereignty over “a third part” of the Latino-Greek Babylonian empire; and not to extinguish temporarily or finally the Little Horn Power…. The existence of the Ottoman regime in the Kingdom of Babylon must be regarded by way of illustration, as a splint upon a broken leg. It remains therefore the support of the limb until the fractured ends shall be reunited by the callus, after which it is removed as useless…
The time is now about to come, when the Ottoman splint may be removed, and the Latino-Greek Leg of the image repaired by Russian callus be permitted to stand under a regime more in consonance with the catholic constitution of the kingdom of Babylon…
When the Autocrat (Russia) gains Constantinople, and Russianizes Italy and the West; and having superseded the Ottoman regime in Asia, comes as Gog to invade the Holy Land and to besiege Jerusalem, the Little Horn of the Goat will again represent the power of the whole dominion briefly united under one chief, and he the proudest that ever exalted and magnified himself above all the rulers upon the earth.
So as we watch the nations of Europe reeling over the pending financial crisis, we see great biblical significance. We rejoice that the angels have pulled back the curtain to show us the purpose of God being advanced, fulfilling the words of the prophets, and turning to sight the faith of generations of Christadelphians – ultimately bringing the son of God to Israel to save it from the Gogian invader.
Cyprus may well be little spark that ignites the fuel in the area – bringing into place all the pieces as dictated by the prophets. How the pieces are moved remains to be seen, but the end result of the game is sure.
Tuesday 5 March 2013
The Truth About Heaven & Hell- Key to Understanding the Bible Series
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