With this issue we begin a new column for World News and Prophecy. "Restoration" will take its place here on page 2 as a front piece guiding you into each issue. The title comes from Acts 3:21 where Peter, in speaking of the role of Jesus Christ, said, "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21).

Our goal with this column is to point our readers to the positive hope which Bible prophecy shows for mankind. It is easy to form a negative impression of not only biblical prophecy, but also of today's world conditions and man's efforts to chart his way through the challenges of life. Prophecy is more than an attempt to predict the coming of Christ or the rise of an end-time superpower. Prophecy is also a means of stabilizing life and avoiding many of its problems. And when life throws us the unexpected curve ball, prophecy can be a source of promise to help us through a difficult time.

This follows the pattern that God has always taken with His people. In Leviticus 26 we see how God showed Israel His way of life and how it would produce the blessings of life: "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit" (verses 3-4). He also showed the curses for disobedience. This is a prophecy showing what will happen based upon a pattern of behavior. In verse 14 God begins, "But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments," and then follows with a list of the curses that would befall the nation if they turned from God.

These blessings and curses are familiar to students of prophecy. But it is easy to overlook how God completes this prophetic section. In spite of sin and rebellion, He offers them the hope of restoration. If they confess their sin and humble their heart, God promises to restore. "Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God" (verse 44).

God's judgment is sure, but so is His mercy and purpose. God will restore His way of life, His government and law to this earth. The words of Isaiah 9:7 will come to pass: "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

In this issue, we have several articles that show man's efforts to bring about solutions to long-standing problems. An election in Bulgaria last month highlights efforts to resolve issues left over from the former Communist rule. On a recent trip to Berlin, Germany, our contributor, Paul Kieffer, talked with people about their perceptions of the consolidation of the German government in the historic capital. It has been 40 years since the Berlin Wall went up. Now the city and the nation are united and moving on to a new chapter. We also offer an article about the growing trend toward "single mothers by choice" and its impact on the American family.

Enjoy this issue of World News and Prophecy. Our goal is to help you place today's world events within the context of God's promise of the ultimate restoration of all things. We look forward to sharing this vision of hope with you. WNP