The Middle East crisis continues to dominate each day's news. And from the looks of my blog postings, it has absorbed a lot of my interest. I am sure you are just as absorbed by what is happening between Israel and Lebanon in this current clash. Where will it end? Will it escalate into a larger regional war involving Syria, Jordan or Egypt?

Every time a crisis like this erupts in this region, the interest in Bible prophecy increases. Preachers of prophecy become very popular along with their books and media material. I remember in 1991 when America and coalition forces pushed Saddam Hussein's troops out of Kuwait in the first Gulf War. At that time the works of various evangelical ministries became best sellers.

Our own UCG Websites have seen an increase in traffic in recent weeks as people have been coming on and reading, ordering and downloading our booklets on prophecy. As you can imagine, our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy has been very popular.

The question often asked at a time like this is, "Where are we in Bible prophecy?" While this is an intriguing question to occasionally ponder, I would not advise you going too far down the normal paths created by such a question. Reading too much into one event, setting dates or obsessing over biblical numbers that are deliberately obscure is not a wise approach to prophecy. About His return Christ said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36).

One point I take from this scripture is that when everyone is looking at that part of the world, it is a sign the end is not here. There are indications that the world will be in a time of supposed "peace" accomplished through the rise of a system called Babylon in Revelation. There will also be a time of great deception by a powerful religious figure (2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13). For people to be caught in a snare implies a lot of false assumptions about the state of world affairs at that time.

I have found that turning this question back on us is a far better approach to prophecy. Ask yourself, "Where am I in preparation for the coming of the Lord?" In Luke 21:34 Christ told us, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly." These same personal excesses are called "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches [that] choke the word" in Matthew 13:22.

Far better that we spend our days living righteously and striving against sin that we might be prepared for Christ's return. "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14). Years ago I heard a piece of wisdom that applies to this question. It goes like this, "If I knew that Christ was coming back tomorrow, I would plant a tree today."

The work of God's Church is not finished. There is much to be done while it is still day.

August World News and Prophecy

By the time you receive this letter the August edition of World News and Prophecy will have gone to press and should be posted at wnponline.org. We have two articles about the Middle East crisis in this issue. I begin a two-part series on America's "pride of power," and we have an article on the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, India. Rounding out the issue, as usual, is Robin Webber with an few thoughts about a marriage supper.

Keep watching.