Prophecy Article Today: “Israel's Birthday.”-Chuck Missler

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The People of Destiny: Israel's Birthday by Chuck Missler

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RESOURCES Betrayal of the Chosen

Israel will celebrate her Independence Day on the Fourth of Iyar, which is May 4th on our calendar (May 1995). (The modern state of Israel was born on May 14, 1948 on our calendar, but it was the Fourth of Iyar on hers.) The celebrations this year, however, are likely to be a bit muted with an atmosphere of "sell-out," which has resulted from the so-called "Peace Negotiations."

A Decade of Deceit

Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin made the following promises before and after his election in June 1992:

1. He said he would never negotiate with the PLO. Yet he began secret talks with them within weeks of being elected.
2. He said he would never allow the creation of a Palestinian state. Yet in fact he has agreed to turn over vast portions of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza to the PLO.
3. He said he would protect 136,000 Jewish residents of the settlements of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and not uproot their communities--ever. But in fact, since 1992 He has instituted a housing freeze and cut off all government funding to these communities, and he is now insisting they leave and turn their lands and homes over to the PLO.
4. He said he would never surrender the Golan Heights to Syria. Anyone who has been there will confirm the untenable nature of defending the area without this essential high ground. Denying Israel a conventional response when their very survival is at stake is forcing a pre-emptive nuclear response. (NATO believes it's inevitable.)
5. He promised he would preserve a united Jerusalem under Israel's sovereignty as Israel's capital. But in fact he has agreed to negotiations over Jerusalem (to begin in 1996). His deputy foreign minister has recently announced a willingness to turn over east Jerusalem--including the Western Wall--to the PLO.

We have a tendency to bemoan the disgraceful gap between commitments and performance in our own country. It is important to realize that a similar disillusionment is virtually global. A similar disgust is prevalent in Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany, and other countries, with a widespread despair over leadership. The gulf between promises and performance is not unique to America. We are not the only country that has disconnected character and destiny.

Terrorism Pays

One of the biggest lies of the 20th century is "Terrorism does not pay." Wrong. It does pay. Handsomely. And recent episodes in Japan and the Philippines have underscored the fact that terrorism is not confined to the Middle East.

Nelson Mandela, who for years headed a terrorist organization, is now head of state in South Africa and feted the world over. He has now received the prestigious Order of Merit from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

A few days earlier, Gerry Adams of Ireland's Sinn Fein/IRA was celebrated by the Clinton administration in the White House. In a 25-year terror campaign, the IRA has killed around 2,000 blameless people. Although nothing in the condition or treatment of the Roman Catholic minority in Northern Ireland justified the taking of one life, the IRA has now been rewarded with a capitulation by the government of Great Britain.

Yassar Arafat, of course, is but another example. Kill enough innocents and you might also win a peace prize. Now even the notorious Hamas are being invited to participate in the "peace negotiations."

Terrorism is not only effective, it's cheap. The entry costs are low for anyone with the ruthlessness to pursue his cause by killing innocent people.

Experts have calculated that over the past century, fewer than a dozen terrorist attacks have resulted in more than one hundred deaths. This ratio is destined to change dramatically as the chemical, biological, and nuclear armed terrorist becomes a shadow over the coming decade. With modern technology and education, and for a modest capital outlay, even the smallest group of determined people can hold for ransom any of the world's most powerful nations.

Willingness to compromise with terrorists offers the ultimate encouragement to all those fanatics with causes they deem more important than an innocent individual's life. From now on, however, it will not just be bombs and bullets these fanatics employ in their dubious causes.

A Year of Destiny?

Next year is shaping up to be a very exciting year, indeed! In 1996, there will be:

• A watershed election in the United States
• Major elections in the European Superstate
• A very important election in Russia (see our audio book The Magog Invasion)
• A major election in Israel
• The negotiations over Jerusalem will also begin. This should all prove very illuminating from a prophetic viewpoint.

Struggle for Jerusalem

This is one of our Ten Strategic Trends. Architects of the Middle East "peace process," recognizing that Jerusalem was the most difficult of the issues between Islam and the Jews, postponed this issue until the final settlement negotiations, which are due to begin in 1996.

The difficulties are compounded by the fact that a building project, which could become the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, is scheduled to be completed in July of 1996. With both Israel and the U.S. having an election year, this could become very tense.

What is also ignored is that East Jerusalem, which includes the Temple Mount, is even more important to the Jews than West Jerusalem due to the religious context (and what other context is there when it comes to Jerusalem?). Isn't it interesting that Zechariah anticipated this when he noted:

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
Zechariah 12:3

Will Israel Survive?

The integrity of God Himself is at stake. He has openly committed Himself to Israel's preservation. Not because they deserve it (nor do they any less than others), but because He has committed Himself to do so before the nations (as He says in Ezekiel 36:22ff ):

22] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine Holy Name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23] And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

This is the "second time"--the first was the regathering after Babylon--and Isaiah specifically designates it:

"And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathos, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
"And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."
Isaiah 11:11-12

The cry of "peace" will, of course, be premature:

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4

There will be no real peace until the Prince of Peace arrives. But that may not be very long off; the next few years will be exciting, indeed! Be ready! Do your homework.

 Yes! Jesus is Coming!

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Prophecy Article Today: “Forever our Passover Lamb.”-Koinonia House

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Dan Stolebarger

Biblical Perspective: Forever our Passover Lamb by Dan Stolebarger, Executive Director of Koinonia Institute    This article will paint the picture of Yeshua as being the Lamb of God, which John the Baptist introduced to the multitudes on the banks of the Jordan. It will continue by unveiling Him in the two fundamental images of the Seder Service: the four cups of wine and the three separate matzos. A glimpse back to the origins of the Passover will give context to the yesterday, today and forever claims of Christ as being our Passover Lamb. The book of Exodus is where we first get a glimpse of what we now call the Passover. Here we discover the initial unveiling of God to deliver those who would become His people from the bondage of their Egyptian tormentors. God will take this occasion to exalt Himself above all gods and continue the scar-let thread of redemption which He prophesied in Eden, when he proclaimed the bruising of the heel and the crushing of serpent’s head. In order to avoid the plague of the death of the firstborn, the Israelites were to select a lamb, kill it, and use the blood (see Exodus 12). And then God says the following: For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12,13 We then read that this feast is to be remembered indefinitely: So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Exodus 12:14 As we look back, just as Paul explained that Christ was that Rock in the desert (1 Cor 10:4), so too in the same vein we see that the blood on the original walls of the dwelling of the Israelites paints the picture of the cross and is a foreshadowing of the permanent “once and for all” sacrifice that Yeshua will make over a thousand years later at Calvary. In the Passover service today, let’s see if Yeshua is visible behind the symbols that make up the Seder service. The two most significant items on the table—which are central in the reading of the Haggadahwill be the cups of wine and the Matzoh Tosh. But before we approach today’s modern Seder, let’s look back to the time of Jesus and call to mind what John declared concerning our Messiah: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 Here we have our first glimpse of the mission and the fate of the Incarnate One. Now as we walk through the Gospels, our next stop will be on the Day of Preparation, when the Passover lambs were selected. Remember they had to be without spot or blemish, and they were to be kept for four days within the house for observation. On this day, Yeshua chose to ride the donkey into Jerusalem with the crowds singing praises, waving palm branches and shouting HOSANNA! He comes as the selected One and will spend the next four days before the Priest and religious leaders in Jerusalem for inspection. At the end of this observation period, Pilate speaks those prophetic words: You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him. John 19:6 Peter also includes the following in his epistle: ...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:19 Jesus is then taken to be crucified, and it is noteworthy that none of His bones were broken and then laid in the Tomb. At the exact time of his death, tens of thousands of lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple. Jesus, prior to all of this, had His own Passover remembrance with His disciples. It was at that time that He too broke the bread and drank from the cup. Here we learn about the deeper meaning of the third cup—the cup of redemption. At every Passover service there will be four cups of wine served, and each cup has a specific meaning as seen in Exodus 6:6-7: Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Exodus 6:6,7 We read in the Gospel of Luke that after the dinner He took the cup—this, according to Seder service, would be the third cup: the cup of redemption. He blesses it and and again brings more clarity to His role as the eternal Passover Lamb whose blood and sacrifice would now be remembered in the taking of this third cup. Interestingly enough, He does not drink the fourth cup, but He does allude to it in Luke 22:18. ...for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Luke 22:18 Remember, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and He will not drink that fourth cup until He returns to take us with Him as His people! Now, let’s focus on the Matzoh Tosh, which is located in the middle of the table. Here we see three pieces of matzoh that are both striped and pierced. The middle one is taken and broken, and half of it is wrapped in a white clothe and hidden. It is referred to as the afikomen, which literally means “that which will come again.” As believers, we see the Godhead rep-resented in the three matzohs with the central one being Messiah, who was broken, buried, resurrected and will one day come again! Unlike most Jews today, we also know why they are striped and pierced: And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was op-pressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:5-7 As believers in Yeshua we can rejoice in the Passover as we worship the One who was, is, and is to come! In the Exodus we can see Him as the One who was, in the Gospels as the One who is and whose sacrifice was once for all (Hebrews 10:10) and throughout time and space. We read in the book of Revelation that He will appear throughout eternity as the Lamb looking as if it were slain! (Revelation 5:6,12).

 Yes! Jesus is Coming!

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Prophecy Article Today: “The Jewish Wedding & The Christian Walk.”-Nancy Missler

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Nancy Missler

The Jewish Wedding & The Christian Walk by Nancy Missler

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MINISTRY WEBSITE King's High Way RESOURCES The Kingdom Power and Glory - The Overcomer's Handbook

For the last several months, we have concentrated on the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema Seat as it is often called) and learned what it is, what happens there and what some of the rewards are that will be handed out. The next event that occurs in heaven is the gathering of the “bride” to attend the Marriage Ceremony itself (Rev 19:7-8).

The Marriage Ceremony is an area that is not well trodden, so be as the Bereans—get into the Word and check out everything that is shared (Acts 17:11).

The word marriage in the Greek is gamos (Strong’s #1062), and can mean either a “wedding ceremony” or a “wedding feast.” This is where the confusion often comes in. In other words, the word gamos can be used for either the “wedding ceremony” itself or for the “wedding feast” which happens at a later date. In a moment we’ll explore the entire Jewish wedding celebration, which hopefully will help to clear up some of the confusion.

I believe the sequence of future events that will occur after the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ are:

1) The Wedding Ceremony (or the Marriage of the Lamb), which will occur in the Father’s house in heavenwith only a few in attendance (Revelation 19:7-9).

2) This event is then followed by Christ’s return to earth with His wife.

3) And finally, the Marriage Feast (or the Marriage Supper), which will be held on earth with many in attendance just as the Millennium begins. The Marriage Supper includes “the friends of the Groom” (i.e. John the Baptist and other Old Testament saints) who are not resurrected until after His Second Coming (John 3:29).

Those believers whose “works” pass the Bema Seat Judgment criteria and who are deemed ready, worthy and prepared will obviously attend both the Wedding Ceremony in heaven and the Marriage Feast on earth that follows.

It will be the highest honor possible to be a part of the “wife of Christ” (Revelation 19:7), but also an honor to be one of the King’s guests at the Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1–14; 25:1–13).

The Jewish Wedding Ceremony

To help us understand the sequence of these future events a little more clearly, let’s describe the ancient Jewish marriage ceremony, as this is the model that Christ uses.

There are many parallels in the Bible to various events in a believer’s life, but none more visible than the similarity between the Christian life and that of aJewish marriage ceremony.

In the Old Testament, the parents normally arranged the marriage between the young Jewish couple. Romantic unions, in those days, were uncommon. This arranged “marriage” consisted of three parts:

1) The first part of the Jewish wedding ceremony was the betrothal, which was called the erusin or the kiddashin.

This is where the groom gave his bride-to-be an object of value such as a ring, money, or a deed of intention, which was symbolic of a promise providing a legal tie between the two.

The father of the groom usually paid the bridal price. This was a true legal document, having no immediate effect on their personal stake, but just a promise for the future. (Deuteronomy 20:7)

After this ceremony, the “bride” then remained in her father’s home to prepare for the day her groom would come back for her, marry her and take her to his house or some special room he had built.

Cohabitation was forbidden at this time and the bride must remain a virgin, using this time to prepare herself for her marriage. If she was found not to be a virgin, she could be rejected. (Matthew 1:19)

This in-between time was where the bride must make herself ready for her coming groom. (Revelation 19:7) This preparation meant making her own wedding gown, getting ready for her new role, transferring her allegiance from her father to her new husband, going from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from depending on family to depending upon her husband for everything, learning to love him, and setting her mind on how to please him.

During this “preparation period,” the bride is referred to as “consecrated,” or set apart (or sanctified). She always wore a veil, so it was apparent to others that she was engaged. This veil was symbolic of a pledge or a commitment.

2) The second part of the Jewish marriage was called the nissuin or the marriage ceremony itself. The groom often surprised his bride by his unexpected or early return.

All Jewish brides were said to be “stolen, caught up, or snatched up by surprise.” The bride was then led to the groom’s house by a wedding procession of women carrying lighted lamps, similar to the Parable of the Ten Virgins that we will explore in next month’s Personal Update.

Lamps were a part of the bride’s preparation in case her groom came at night. The bride was arrayed infine linen, clean and white. 

The wedding ceremony itself was held at the groom’s father’s house and usually included only a few invited guests. At this time a series of benedictions are made and the couple were finally made husband and wife.

3) The wedding ceremony was then followed by seven days of celebration, great rejoicing, and finally, a marriage feast. This occasion was often held at a different place and many people were invited.

See Chart 15: The Jewish Wedding and Its Parallels

Now that we understand a little more about the Jewish marriage celebration, let’s compare this ceremony to the Christian life.

1) The salvation of our spirit (called justification) with the seal of the Holy Spirit, I believe is analogous to the betrothal of the Jewish bride with the down payment, pledge, or seal of “an object of value” (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 ).

Hosea 2:19-20 puts it this way: “I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord” (2 Corinthians 11:2). The process of sanctification that we are all in now as we wait for our Lord’s return, can be compared to the long wait between the time the groom leaves to prepare a place for his bride and the time he returns for her.

Note the importance placed upon the Jewish bride during this waiting period to prepare herself for her groom’s return—to make her own gown and her own wedding garment, which we see as “the righteousness of the saints” (i.e., bearing “spiritual fruit.” (Revelation 19:7) This stresses the significance of the sanctification process––our time of preparation, our time of fitting, and our time of making ourselves ready, worthy, and qualified for our Groom’s return.

Sanctification, again, is our bridal preparation! It’s getting ourselves ready for our coming new role: transferring our allegiance from earthly things to heavenly things; learning to love God rather than self; replacing our preoccupation with our friends and families to making the Lord and His will the most important thing in our lives; and finally, going from depending upon self (and our own abilities) to depending upon Christ for everything.

The bride of Christ must make herself “ready” so she can be presented to the Lord without stain or wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27)

2) The second part of the Jewish marriage ceremony—the nissiun (or marriage ceremony itself—where the Jewish groom surprises his bride by coming back early for her, I believe could be compared to the unexpected return of our Lord at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

As we said, the procession of women carrying lighted lamps to meet the groom when he returns re-minds us of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The five wise virgins, whose lamps were still burning when the groom returned, were ready and prepared to go into the wedding ceremony; the other five virgins were not prepared and thus, were not allowed to enter.

The Jewish wedding ceremony that was held in the groom’s house is analogous to the Marriage of the Lamb in heaven, where Christ will finally be united with His bride and she will become His wife.

3) The seven days of Jewish celebration and rejoicing between the wedding ceremony itself and the marriage feast, may be analogous to the rejoicing that will occur first in heaven at the wedding and then at the Marriage Supper on earth where Christ will again drink of the “fruit of the vine” (Revelation 19:9). Many resurrected Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints will also attend this feast on earth.

In summary: As Christians, our initial commitment to the Lord and our “justification” by Him can be compared to the Jewish betrothal. Our “sanctification,” then, can be compared to a Jewish woman preparing herself for her future wedding. Our “glorification” (which happens at the Rapture) can be compared to a Jewish groom coming by surprise to carry his bride away.

The Marriage of the Lamb in heaven can be compared to the Jewish wedding ceremony itself. And the Marriage Feast at the beginning of the Millennium can be compared to the Jewish marriage supper.

Do not think for a moment that God has not already planned and designed our future destiny in minute detail. He has! Look at the above incredible example. His intentions are clear and His strategy is discernible. I believe this Jewish wedding celebration is one of the most impressive indications of what exactly we, as believers, are supposed to be doing now in this lifetime and what we can expect in the near future when He returns for us and takes us to His home in heaven.

Can you even imagine what that will be like!!!

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love (agapao) Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

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To be continued next month: “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” This article has been excerpted, in part, from Chuck and Nan’s new book The Kingdom, Power and Glory. 

 Yes! Jesus is Coming!

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Prophecy Article Today: “The Sane, The Insane, and Those in Between.”-Mary Miller

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Mary Miller

States In Crisis by Mary Miller

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The current status of the individual states that comprise the United States of America could be defined with the possible title for a television reality show—“The Sane, The Insane, and Those in Between.”

A cursory glance at the “state of the States” reveals an interesting pattern. The economic health of a state is determined by its relative independence from the federal government.

The Sane

A shining example is North Dakota, in which only 6.4 percent of the land is managed by public agencies. The federal government manages 4.3 percent while the state manages 2 percent.

In fact, North Dakota has far less federally managed land than other resource-rich states like Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. It is this fact to which University of North Dakota economist David Flynn attributes the “stellar years.” The state’s unemployment has remained under 5 per-cent since 1987. In the first decade of the new millennium, the state’s per capita income rose from 38th to 17th in the nation—the largest advance of any state.

The privately owned land in the western part of the state is producing an oil boom, drawing workers from across the country. The oil windfall has created a $1 billion state budget surplus.

Trailing North Dakota in their own oil boom is Montana. According to Montana Governor, Brian Schweitzer:

We’re increasing in Montana by thousands of jobs in drilling in what’s called the Bakken (Shale Formation) in eastern Montana. It is the richest geologic structure in all of the United States. Recent estimates are that there’s about 25 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Bakken in North Dakota and Montana. To put this in perspective, we import about 4 billion barrels a year. We use about 6 billion barrels a year. So this structure in North Dakota and Montana could be one of the keys to energy independence in the short term.

Indeed, it seems it is no coincidence that North Dakota and Montana are the only two states with budget surpluses at a time when others are slashing spending just to stay afloat.

Other states, with land availability, are following suit, however. New Mexico collected $9.5 million from oil and natural gas lease sales during the first quarter of 2011. Eastern Wyoming and Colorado are creating job opportunities with increased drilling in the Nobrara Shale Formation.

According to Kathleen Sgamma, Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Western Energy Alliance, the outlook could be even better. Most of the lands in production in the Bakken and Niobrara formations are privately owned. The bureaucratic red tape for drilling permits on federal and tribal lands is almost prohibitive. Sgamma made her point clear:

Because of certain regulatory efforts by this ad-ministration, particularly in the Department of the Interior and EPA, western producers were prevented from investing about $3.9 billion in 2010 and that translates roughly into 16,200 jobs.

Perhaps not wanting to be left behind, the Interior Secretary (and Colorado native), Ken Salazar, reported in March that there would be a 44 percent increase in permit approvals for oil and gas drilling on public lands in 2011.

The Insane

In the state of total insolvency is California. Unlike its more sane counterparts, California has swallowed the “green” pill of fiscal death. The most recent recycling effort was a plea for “revenue anticipation notes,” in which current notes (current debt) could only be re-paid by the revenue anticipation notes—essentially a never-ending supply of debt to repay debt in the ultimate recycling scam. 

Needless to say, the efforts to raise $14 billion fell flat. California has now turned to the federal government to guarantee its debt against default, which means the taxpayers will have to be the ultimate buyers. So just what would we be purchasing?

The future of California may very well lie in the con-sequence of the November 2nd elections—the loss of the referendum to repeal Assembly Bill 32, the so-called Global Warming Solutions Act passed in 2006.

AB32 requires that the state economy be forced back to 1990 levels of “greenhouse gases” by 2020, a 30 percent drop, with an 80 percent drop by 2050. Many financial analysts agree that this legislation, with the unsustainable $500 billion public pension projection and the $28 billion 2011 budgetary shortfall, destines the state to bankruptcy.

According to George Gilder, founding fellow of the Discovery Institute, Assembly Bill 32 is a “parody of the supply side economics of creative destruction.” It seeks to usurp existing fuels with alternative energy sources that create new jobs and industries. 

This economic model sees new wealth emerge from dismantling the existing energy economy and replacing it with the “medieval system of windmills and solar collectors.” The core problem, according to Gilder, is that the destruction of the old energy system does nothing to enable a new one.

The logic could be compared to razing an existing housing development and replacing it with fancy renewable tents. Of course, this economic decision is supported by the federal government via a system of subsidies for green jobs and environmentally (read that politically) oriented research and development within the state. And, many Californians believe they are the beacon to the rest of the country.

It is argued that California is the nation’s most important state. It has been dominant in the innovation, manufacturing, and enterprise that made the U.S. both economically and militarily powerful. Approximately two-thirds of the nation’s new technology originates in California or is financed by its venture capitalists.

Interestingly, the attorneys general of Alabama, Nebraska, Texas, and North Dakota have devised a legal strategy to block the effects of California’s strategy on the rest of the country. Wayne Stenehjem, attorney general of North Dakota, said:

We are going to test the limits of how much you can constrain interstate commerce in the name of climate change.

Regardless of viewpoint, one fact remains clear. California cannot collapse (economically or physically) without inflicting serious damage on the rest of the country.

Another story is unfolding in Texas, where it is difficult to determine the actual rate of recovery.

According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Ac-counts, two-thirds of the jobs shed by employers during Texas’ “shorter recession” have already been recovered as of January 2011. However, Texas’ unemployment rate remained relatively the same between September 2009 and January 2011.

In fact, one project which promised “shovel-ready” jobs with federal stimulus funds was the Trans-Texas Corridor.

This massive roads project promised to connect Mexico, the U.S. and Canada along Interstate 35 and allow for an economic North American Union.

The project was scuttled in 2010 when Texans invoked the Coordination Process (see the December 2010 issue of Personal UPDATE for more details).

In March, however, a bill surfaced in the Texas Legislature that would resurrect the tolling mechanism that would fund the corridor projects—both I-35 and I-69.

Once again, Texas promises to be on the forefront of eminent domain abuses while Governor Rick Perry advocates for Texans’ property rights on his website.(The irony may become more apparent when we consider the Governor may consider running for President in 2012.)

The In Between

As of March 2011, 44 states and the District of Columbia have projected budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2012 (which begins July 1, 2011 in most states) totaling $112 billion.

 

On top of the larger shortfalls totaling $430 billion suffered between 2009 and 2011, many states will continue to struggle to find revenue needed to support critical public services for a number of years to come. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Over the past three years, states and localities have used a combination of reserve funds and federal stimulus funds, along with budget cuts and tax in-creases, to close these recession-induced deficits. While these deficits have caused severe problems, and states and localities are struggling to maintain needed services, this is a cyclical problem that ultimately will ease as the economy recovers. [emphasis mine]

The statement “as the economy recovers” appears to be the new panacea for the current status of the states with regards to budgets. However, the critical question is how long can each one survive until that uncertain goal is attained? While there were political rumblings of not accepting federal stimulus money in 2009, reports indicate a distribution of some portion of the allotment to every state.

During fiscal year 2011, states had access to approximately $59 billion in federal monies to assist in budget shortfalls of $130 billion. In fiscal year 2012, states are reporting budget shortfalls of $112 billion with only $6 billion in federal monies available. The federal stimulus money simply allowed a certain “status quo” in many states and delayed the inevitable analysis of cutting large budget items.

Essentially, federal assistance has lessened the ex-tent to which states are required to make “pro-cyclical” actions. State revenue streams cycle with the economic booms and busts, both locally and nationally.

Federal assistance in the form of subsidies in agricultural, education, commerce, energy, and housing among other sectors have assisted in propping up states’ budgets and allowed for excesses that can no longer be sustained in the current financial environment.

Moving Forward

In what is shaping up to be a year of discontent, both conservative and progressive sides are lining up their troops and their arguments.

The one commonality is the lack of accepting accountability.

One of the hottest issues causing widespread protests as seen in Wisconsin is the attack on public employee compensation and benefits as a major cause of budget shortfalls. Unions such as the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) are coordinating efforts to fight back. Papers such as the “State Budget Issue Brief” prepared by the Center for American Progress Action Fund does present an argument worthy of note:

Furthermore, states at the center of the debate over public-sector employees and budget deficits have smaller than average deficits. Wisconsin is projected to run a deficit of 12.8 percent of its budget in FY 2012 while the average for all states is 16.9 percent. Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa are projected to have shortfalls of 11 percent, 2 percent, and 3.5 percent, respectively, all below average.

However, all states are not in the same shape as those listed above. Universally, management of pension funds have created a mixed bag of results and the recipients will be affected—both public and private sector. An article in the McClatchy Newspapers reported:

Pensions are underfunded, in large measure because – like the investments held in 401(k) plans by American private-sector employees—they sunk along with the entire stock market.

No one seems to be questioning the practice of putting pension funds into the stock market as it is assumed the market will rebound. But, from an historical perspective, the stock market can be manipulated in either direction.

From a Biblical perspective, we could look at the condition of the hearts and minds of men (and women) before we look at budget protocols. One thing we do know is that we are in a series of birth pangs that have the attention of Believers. From individuals, to businesses, to local and state governments, to the federal government, to the global governments, each have put their faith in the upstream entity. This is the road paved to globalism.

We are seeing faith put in the establishment of world systems that have nothing to do with God’s plan for His people in the end of days. 2 Timothy 3 gives a view of mankind that is revealing itself exponentially in this economic crisis.

As we review the state of the States, we find a large “target-rich environment” in which to be salt and light to those who do not know who to blame or who to follow.

Shine your light!

 Yes! Jesus is Coming!

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