My dear readers,

1. "Watchman, what of the night?"

I have just scanned through our national paper (13 July 2014), The Straits Times. What significant happenings do I see? My duty as watchman is to warn.

I see a great increase in the threat of war.

At the same time, there is widespread deception by Christian workers. Quoting our Lord:

"… many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…" (Matt 24:5-7).

Many charismatic "Christian workers" who captivate the masses with their "signs and wonders" and miracles, are deceiving churchgoers everywhere. The way to identify them is to check what they say and do against the Scripture. Be wise and heed God’s Word. See Matthew 24:24:

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

These signs tell of the soon return of our Lord.

2. The "Fourth Beast" and its "components"

This is our main "focus of interest," a current happening which we can better relate to. This "Fourth Beast" is the World Power which succeeded the "Third Beast" (Greece). Without controversy it is "Rome" (which therefore includes components and derivatives of Europe e.g. EU (European Union) and USA).

The "Fourth beast" therefore includes "Europe" and all those of Roman origin (the whole of Europe was occupied by Rome). This clearly identifies the USA (which comprises 85 percent original settlers from Europe) and the EU as the "Fourth Beast".

Now the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8. What country is the "little horn"? One country fits this "little horn" description. Read Daniel 7:20 and the identity of "little horn" becomes unmistakable: it "had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows." Only the USA fits! Only the USA has "eyes" (super intelligent, world leader in science and technology, in particularly every advanced technology – in all these areas USA is "world leader."). Therefore it is "America" whose eyes of intelligence shine brightest and its mouth naturally "speaks" to tell the rest of the world its knowledge. Finally, the "little" does not mean "physically small in size," but "last" in order of appearance.

Now who are the "three horns" which fell – being "plucked up by the roots"? (Dan 7:8,20). Interestingly, for those of us who went through the "war years" 1941-1945, the "three horns" were clearly the three "Roman powers" (Great Britain, France and Holland) which lost their colonies and colonial power status, never to recover them ("plucked up by the roots").

3. Christians "Most Persecuted Group in World"

by Raymond Ibrahim

June 23, 2014 at 4:00 am

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4365/christians-most-persecuted

"This is not a mosque for prayers but a base for recruiting Muslim youths to engage in terrorist activities." — Police official, Mombasa, Kenya.

A new law appeared in the Indonesian province of Aceh saying that Islamic laws (Sharia) would be extended to non-Muslims, the majority of whom are Christians.

"Over the last few years, religious minorities have been targeted, their villages burned, accused in false cases of blasphemy, victims of intimidation, forced marriages, and forced conversions. When a Christian is accused of blasphemy, the people of a neighborhood gather to punish the culprit, burning him alive or lynching him. The police and the government have never punished such acts." — The Anglican Bishop of Karachi, Pakistan.

The most historic and emblematic sign of Muslim persecution of Christians returned in February: Christians in Raqqa, Syria, under the occupation of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS], which has since consolidated more territory, were given the three classic choices of Islam: 1) convert to Islam or 2) pay jizya (tribute or extortion money, as in the Koran 9:29) and uphold all the conditions stipulated in the medieval Conditions of Omar—which include heavy restrictions on Christian worship—or 3) the sword.

According to the BBC, ISIS issued a directive: citing the Islamic concept of "dhimma", [which] requires Christians in the city to pay tax of around half an ounce (14g) of pure gold in exchange for their safety. It says Christians must not make renovations to churches, display crosses or other religious symbols outside churches, ring church bells or pray in public. Christians must not carry arms, and must follow other rules imposed by ISIS (also known as ISIL) on their daily lives. The statement said the group had met Christian representatives and offered them three choices—they could convert to Islam, accept ISIS' conditions, or reject their control and risk being killed. "If they reject, they are subject to being legitimate targets, and nothing will remain between them and ISIS other than the sword," the statement said …."

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor