In 1 Chronicles 12:32, we are told the sons of Issachar were able to discern the times in Israel. The nation was in a time of transition to the monarchy of David after the demise of the house of Saul. Here was a group of men who understood and could act upon the shifting events of their day.

Later Jesus Christ, in talking to those of His generation, expanded the thought to a broader context in Matthew 16:3 when He answered the challenge of the Pharisees for a sign by telling them: "Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." Can we discern the signs of our times?

With this issue of World News and Prophecy we complete our first year of publication. We have been pleased with the reception the magazine has had within the United Church of God. Comments from many readers tell us we are read by many more who are not part of the United Church of God. We have seen our press run increase throughout the year and know that many others access us through the World Wide Web.

Our goal from the start has been to "provide...commentary and analysis of selected world news topics in light of Bible prophecy...to help our readers discern the times and increase their awareness and understanding of the answers Christ gave to His disciples' questions: 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your Coming, and of the end of the age?' (Matthew 24:3)."

What events should we be watching in today's world that will help us discern the times? Let's look at three key trends that are forming and starting to shape the future: globalization, religious ecumenism and global power shifts.

Think Globally

Thomas Friedman, in his recent book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, writes, "if you want to understand the post-Cold War world you have to start by understanding that a new international system has succeeded it-globalization. That is 'The One Big Thing' people should focus on. Globalization is not the only thing influencing events in the world today, but to the extent that there is a North Star and a worldwide shaping force, it is this system" (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, New York, 1999, page xviii).

You will not understand the front pages of today's papers that describe social unrest in Indonesia, the problems of the Russian economy or the astronomical pricing of Internet stocks without a firm grasp of this concept called globalization. Friedman describes globalization as "the overarching international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of virtually every country" (Ibid., page 7).

He lists six interrelated areas that make up this trend: world financial markets, politics, culture, national security, technology and the environment. None of these considered alone could give a complete picture of what is taking place today. But viewed together they give definition to the progress of the developed world toward a highly integrated network of relationships. There is a seamless web connecting these key areas.

But the world is not just high technology, finance or politics. Important as these are to the health and welfare of nations, there are other deeper rivers that feed into the ocean of humanity. One of these is religion.

Ecumenism

Religion has done more than any other institution to shape the development of nations and influence the lives of people. Religion is a defining force in life-for both good and bad. Christ told His disciples to watch religion under the guise of His name or authority as a key end time trend. The end result would be deception (Matthew 24:4, 5).

For all the faith that religions have generated in history, they have fueled untold division and schisms among peoples. The Christian world alone has been divided since A.D. 1054, nearly a millennium, into western and eastern segments. Since the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, hundreds of different denominations have developed along with a variety of religious ideas.

The movement to unite the different faiths is called "ecumenism." Today the movement to promote a worldwide religious unity and cooperation centers on the calls and efforts of the current Roman Pontiff, John Paul II. His vision to unite the factions of Christianity has resulted in past gatherings of leaders from a variety of faiths to pray and focus on common tenets of faith. The influence of the papal office across denominational lines is evidenced in a recent paper produced by a joint Anglican-Catholic commission that stated, "only the Pope has the moral authority to unite the various Christian denominations" (Electronic Telegraph, Issue 1448, May 13, 1999, article by Oliver Poole).

There is slow but incremental movement along the path of religious unity. It's important to understand that progress is being made step by step. A 500-year-old rift between Lutherans and Catholics over the doctrine of justification was recently resolved. It took 30 years of talks to reach this accord, but does represent a significant development when one remembers this was a significant doctrine that Martin Luther challenged.

Revelation 17 shows a powerful and influential religious system symbolized by a woman sitting on a scarlet beast with a name on her forehead "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth." She holds in her hand a cup full of abominations (a corrupt mixture of religious dogmas) and is drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:3-6). To wield the kind of influence described in this chapter will take a high degree of cooperation between, or control of, many of the world's religions. The movement toward religious unity will be but one part of the massive shifting of power to occur in the coming years.

Global Power Shifts

In the aftermath of the Cold War there has been a 10-year period of changes. The Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, leaving a significant vacuum in Europe. The former Iron Curtain countries of Eastern Europe have developed in varying stages. Some, like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, are now part of NATO, the alliance formed as a Western defensive bulwark against the old Soviet Union. Germany has been reunited and today plays a significant political and economic role in the European Union and among the Western democracies. Yet, as we have tragically seen in the Balkans, some nations have not been able to handle the freedom from external control without resorting to age-old hostilities which have resulted in the unspeakable atrocities of ethnic cleansing.

The introduction of the euro, the single monetary unit of the European Union, has yet to display a significant impact on the world economy. This does not mean it will not do so in future years. The launch of the unit last January is a milestone all by itself. The transition to a single currency among all members of the EU may yet trigger other social and economic reforms that will have far reaching consequences on the world economy.

Though the current value of the euro has fallen compared to other currencies, its long-term impact should not be underestimated. A recent Wall Street Journal article pointed out that in 1985 the mighty British pound sterling had fallen to $1.03. Today at over $1.80 it is considered a strong currency within a vibrant economy. It takes years, not weeks, to sort out the many elements that ultimately determine the success of a new currency unit. If anything has been learned in the last 50 years of European history, it is that far-reaching change and progress toward any goal takes a long and circuitous route before achieving completion.

Russia-China Alliance?

Events in Asia are also important for us to understand. Relations between China and the United States are going through their worst period in 50 years. Revelations of Chinese spying and the theft of sensitive nuclear information from supposedly top secret U.S. nuclear laboratories have shocked those who really understand what is at stake. Coupled with the outright sale of computer technology in the past three years, China now has the ability to develop, arm, launch and target cities and sites in the United States.

A recent forecast by the Stratfor agency projects: "Russia and China will be moving into a closer, primarily anti-American alliance in 1999. That process is the most important global trend today. It is well under way and is also intensifying" (Stratfor's Third Quarter Forecast, June 27, 1999). The report refers to a proposed summit meeting which will take place in Beijing between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Chinese leader Jiang Zemin sometime this summer or autumn.

Two significant items need to be resolved between these nuclear powers. The first is the status of Central Asian republics, which are experiencing ethnic and religious unrest from Muslim groups within their midst. This is spilling over into Chinese provinces causing problems for the Chinese leadership. The Russian leadership is reluctant to get involved with these sticky disputes, but there is pressure from some elements in the Russian military and government to exert control as a show of strength, with hopes of reviving some of the lost glory of empire. In the wake of Russian involvement in the Kosovo and Iranian crises of the past year, there is cause to be concerned.

The second item is the desire to create a viable Russian-Chinese alliance that offers a credible counterweight to Western influence (read American) in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Peripheral nations such as Turkey, Iraq, Iran, India and Pakistan, all of which have had recent conflicts, continue to be courted by China and Russia. A strategic alliance of these huge Asian nations would dramatically impact the interests of America and other Western powers. Ezekiel's prophecies of a massive Eurasian army in the end time take on greater significance when we can see such activity. The irony is that neither Russia nor China wants to seriously disrupt relations with America. Both need U.S. financial and technological assistance. America's wealth and technology is a major plus for her continued influence and dominance on the world stage. You might say the power created by this wealth is a shield that protects the cherished freedoms of the United States.

Yet Bible prophecy shows us there will be a shift in some unknown, yet critical, manner that will alter the balance of power among all nations and particularly the leadership role of the United States. Leviticus 26:19 foretells the breaking of "the pride of your power" because of sin. It is written to Israel and its modern descendants, including the United States. When this happens, the stage could be set for the rise of an end time economic and political power called "the beast" which the book of Revelation shows will dominate the world.

From Babel to Babylon

All three of these trends can be linked into one overarching theme that runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Mankind has sought to build a global system operating against the will and purpose of the Creator God. In Genesis chapter 11 we see the attempt to create a city with a tower to reach into the heavens. The goal was to make a name for themselves to prevent their dispersion upon the earth. There is strength in numbers and uniformity, and here was the first round of globalization in human history. Understanding that nothing would be beyond the grasp of man, God thwarted this effort by confusing their languages, which caused confusion and led to a scattering over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9).

Babel was an attempt to weld together human society into one system. No doubt there were noble and seemingly benevolent reasons for doing so. But God knew that any such universal human culture built without His will and plan in mind would lead to tyranny. Every attempt since then has failed. Empires and systems of government have risen and fallen through the generations. Most have attempted to dominate the world or at least the known world of their day, from Alexander the Great in Greece to Adolf Hitler in the 20th century.

Revelation shows that at the end of the age there will be one final effort to revive this system. It will come closer than any previous attempt and is called Babylon the Great. Revelation 18:3 shows that all nations will participate in some manner of her dominating control over world systems. "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

To His people, the Israel of God, the Creator says, "Come out of her…;lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4). Like the sons of Issachar, we must discern the times and understand the course of events in today's world. World News and Prophecy will continue to keep you informed on the major trends shaping today's world. WNP