Urgent Times: Oil and Greed in the World

I received a letter from CBN which I agree with. The letter is a call to prayer with a sense of grave urgency. You see, Russia's vicious dismemberment of the nation of Georgia is the beginning of an unfolding sequence of aggression. Presently, pipelines from Siberia that run through Russia supply the majority of natural gas and oil used by Western Europe and Ukraine. A pipeline from the Caspian Sea has been bringing one million barrels a day of non-Russian oil through Georgia to Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea. Russia wants to control all of those vital pipelines. Further, Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is near Baghdad, capital of Iraq. Russia helped Iran build its two aggressive nuclear facilities. Georgia and Iraq are sandwiched between the dictatorships of Russia and Iran. Vladimir Putin (Russian leader) appears to want to dominate the Caspian and the Persian Gulf oil and add it to Russia's enormous supply of oil and gas. If he succeeds, Russia will gain a stronghold over the economies of most of the world and can then act to bring America to its knees.

Iran is under the domination of a fanatical group of Shiite Muslim clerics. The president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a fervent believer in the Mahdi, a mythical messiah who, according to his belief, will come to make the entire world Muslim, but only after a period of worldwide chaos and destruction during which all Jews will be killed. Despite warnings from the United Nations, Iran is on an accelerated course to build nuclear facilities and an atomic bomb. They recently test fired an improved intermediate-range ballistic missle, the Shahab-3, that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads to hit Israel, Iraq, and most of Europe. In 2008, the nation of Israel cannot ignore the ravings of a fanatic who soon will possess nuclear bombs with a will to use them. If Russia moves again to crush a neighbor or enter the Middle East, and if Iran develops an atomic bomb, time for talk will be over.

In Lebanon, on Israel's northern border, the radical group known as Hezbollah has, along with Iranian help, completely rearmed and now possesses as many as 40,000 rockets targeting Israel. To the south of Israel, in Gaza, another Iranian client, Hamas, is armed to the teeth and longing for an opportunity to strike Israel. Any Israeli strike against the nuclear facilities of Iran will trigger a counter blow from Iran and possibly Syria. These are not the only dangers. Russia could consider hostilities the excuse to enter the fight on trumped-up reasons in order to further its ultimate aim of controlling Middle East oil.

As the potential conflict spreads, oil terminals would be engulfed in smoke and flames. The Straight of Hormuz would be blocked, and with it 40 percent of the world's oil. The industries of the world would face severe energy shortages and the economies of both America and the European Union would face a devastating depression. What if the United States decided to oppose the Russian expansion? The Russians have enough long-range nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles aimed at the United States to annihilate all of our cities. Would the United States risk war with Russia over Middle East oil? Perhaps, but unlikely. If we act, it will be ugly. If we don't act, our economy could either be crippled or faced with continually escalating exactions demanded by Russia for oil.

About 2600 years ago, God gave the Prophet Ezekiel a description of an invasion of Israel after the Jews had been regathered to the Promised Land from all over the world in the 'latter days'. Ezekiel wrote of an invasion force led by Russia that would include Iran and 'Cush', which is Sudan. The other parties described by Ezekiel that constituted the invading force could include some of the Muslim nations in the former Soviet Caucasus region and possibly Turkey. According to Ezekiel 38:12, they would come seeking "plunder and loot". What greater plunder than the oil riches of the Perisan Gulf?

What is clear is that the Israeli strike against Iran will be the trigger. From then on, dramatic events will follow in quick succession. It will conclude when God has rained fire on the islands of the sea and on the invading force coming against Israel. According to Ezekiel, the "young lions of Tarshish" will be questioning the Russians about their aggression - questioning, but not acting to stop it. The term "young lions of Tarshish" refers to England and the United States. According to Ezekiel, when the Middle East trouble begins, the young lions of Tarshish warn Russia and Iran, but refuse to act. We will suffer grave economic damage, but will not engage in military action to stop the conflict. However, we may not be spared nuclear strikes against our coastal cities.

Prayer can change the course of history! The Bible says, "Seek righteousness, seek humility.... that you may be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath." The fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. The believing prayers of tens of thousands of God's people can change the hearts of the leaders of Russia and Iran. God can cause situations to arise which will save Israel. He is Almighty. With God all things are possible! Please prepare your heart in earnest and pray.

Pray that God's mighty angels would surround and protect our nation in these perilous times. Pray for unity among the body of Christ as we intercede for our nation and our world. Pray that America's leadership will seek Godly wisdom as they face critical events in the weeks and months ahead. Pray for the Holy Spirit to sweep across the globe, preparing hearts to accept Jesus and enter God's Kingdom before tragic events unfold. Pray for God to change the hearts of leaders in Russia, Iran, and other nations who wish to harm Israel.

Pray for God to fill the hearts of all Americans and their leaders with the Holy Spirit in that America will be set on the right path and Americans will clean up their act and confess their sins. These are urgent times. Hopefully, our Lord will intervene and head off the disaster that seems to be approaching. Let us pray together.