Compass Point

I am preparing classes I teach on early church history for the Ambassador Bible Center and have been focusing on the book of Revelation lately. The first chapter of this book sets a foundation for approaching the prophecies and message of the book.

Chapter 1 puts the stamp of Jesus Christ as author, revelator of the book. Christ is "the ruler over the kings of the earth". For John's readers this was a revolutionary thought. They lived in the iron grip of the Roman Empire and were suffering its persecution. John was exiled to the island of Pamos for his belief.

The reader of Revelation must lock in on this fact. Christ is the ruler and He "has made us to be kings and priests to His God and Father...".  Members were being focused on this reality to encourage them in their daily life. They needed this knowledge to understand what was happening to the church and how they were to live their lives. Armed with this understanding they could make sense of the persecution, the faith and what God was doing.

It is a challenge to us today. As we watch our world, the politics and movement of events, we try to understand not only what is taking place but why is it happening the way it does. Why is America entangled in the web of Middle East politics and now the war in Iraq? Why does it seem an intractable situation that threatens to unravel the complex relations of the region and tarnish American influence? Why can't the competing factions come to a workable agreement for peace?

These questions can be answered when you understand the meaning and challenge from Revelation. Things in this world are not what they seem. There is a spiritual dimension that works unseen but very much in direct influence of daily events. The world's leaders do not understand or acknowledge this fact. For them it is fiction and beyond comprehension. Revelation has something to tell us about that as well.

Christ is showing the church that He sits astride world events and He guides the church and its members along the course of destiny toward the kingdom of God. Focusing on this reality each day is the real headline news.

Was Osama Right?

Islamic historian Bernard Lewis says in this piece that in Muslim eyes the American reaction to 9/11 was out of character. Invading Afghanistan and Iraq caught them off guard and forced a change in tactics. But now that the possibility of withdrawal from Iraq is at hand the consequences would be far reaching.

A Need for Russia to Repent

Repentance is a powerful spiritual tool. Done by the individual it leads to a clearing of guilt and the start of new behavior. Done by a nation it leads to restoration among the community of nations. A former Russian official says  his native land needs to repent of its communist past. That it never has taken this step is the reason Russia has returned to its heavy handed ways asserting its power in today's world.

Russia has been in a dust up with Estonia over that countries removal of a Soviet era monument to Russian soldiers. Russia is using the threat of shutting off its gas exports to Estonia as a means of bringing them back in line. This is Soviet tactics without the military might of the old regime. Nonetheless it is the only language Russia knows.

When guilt is not acknowledged sin lingers in the shadows ready to assert itself once again.

Iran's Nuclear Plans Askew

Iran's reasons for acquiring nuclear weapons is outlined in this article.