Bye Bye babylon Part 2 by Doug Krieger

RUMORS OF MY DEATH PERSIST

…The Decline of the USA – Part II

Doug Krieger

Response from what’s morphed into Part I (Bye-Bye Babylon) was surprising—our readership increased 200%. This inspired a keen awareness that something more must be added to this missive . . . especially in light of the pervasive subterfuge being orchestrated by big oil through willing accomplices in both the executive and congressional branches of the United States Government. Conjecture? Not really . . . and we’re hardly operating in a vacuum here.

Therefore, in this brevity we shall expand upon the alleged decline of American Empire, especially from several leading lights of the Euro-Revived Roman Empire Premillenarian evangelical patriotic (in the main) pastors and pundits (Chuck Missler and Charles H. Dyer) . . . while looking at the expanding world of Realpolitic under American aegis. Finally, we shall consider the immediate implications of war with Iran and her surrogates (Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc.) some time this summer (2007)—imagine, all in one article!

LUGAR – CHENEY – NIXONIAN STONEWALLING

Now, go figure . . . here we have the stalwart administration foreign policy hack, Senator Richard Lugar, telling us it’s time for Plan B, as somehow proposed by the Iraq Study Group, seemingly political eons ago, jaunting forth at the 11th hour to tell the world that the President’s policies are just about ready to do irreparable damage to America’s image abroad and the war hawk, Senator John Warner, giving the thought a nod.

Meanwhile, Dems. relish the thought that Fred Thompson should somehow give them a clear shot at the Presidency by having Bush can Cheney (conveniently under doctor’s orders as a result of battery replacement for his pacemaker) and take over as VP, thus (Cheney) committing hara-kiri in the process; but giving us all a breather from Halliburton et al—in any event, Cheney’s not a member of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, so who cares; behold: The Imperial Vice-Presidency!

Now we hear that “executive privilege” is exercised and the documents regarding the firing of Justice Dept. attorneys (docs. held by former presidential counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor) will not be forthcoming—so much for congressional subpoenas (same goes for trying to subpoena warrant-free eavesdropping on Americans—Cheney and Bush say “no way”). Frankly, this whole charade is about to head for a battle in the federal courts over separation of powers—let the Nixonian stonewalling begin. We’re talking tough hombre here—as in IMPERIAL PRESIDENT; and that’s what this has evolved into in a little over 200 years!

The only people more irresponsible than Bush’s quest for commercial empire—feeding America’s 5% of the world’s population, consuming 20% of its oil—is the enfeebled Congress which knows that 80% of the American electorate were disgusted with this amnesty immigration bill being rammed down the throats of the sheeple who were convinced that the only federal entity worse off than the Presidency is the duplicitous, globalist-minded Congress elected to putting a halt to this absurdity; and, as it turns out, are aiding and abetting in the high crimes and misdemeanors being perpetrated upon the disenchanted multitude. We’ve probably watched the last time that the people were heard over the aristocracy, I mean, the Congress.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury—we have here a remarkable semblance of a foreign policy under a nigh miraculous ability to reinvent itself virtually every week . . . becoming more and more entrenched in the quagmire of the Middle East with no end in sight. And, listen up—you can surmise all you wish that American military power, as extended throughout the region by this Presidency, is about to implode—but be disabused of that notion, that cannot nor will not happen on George’s watch, and for that matter, on the watch of the “powers that be” who orchestrate these matters . . . no matter what “they say out there”—so entrenched is the military-industrial complex which pervades every nook and cranny of our economy, let alone the world’s economy.

Talk show host Michael Savage has finally imploded on all this—he’s convinced we’re living in a benign, although ever-tightening, dictatorship; however, it hasn’t quite made it to “military dictatorship” – but that’s not far down the pike; however, in the benign dictatorship the malcontents speak out as they, like flies on an elephant’s back, await the next mud bath, and the cycle repeats itself. An incident here, a situation there—hey, and for stability’s sake, the American populous would heartily welcome such a full-blown military dictatorship . . . and wouldn’t you know it, it’s the military that scores the highest trustworthy rating of 70% from the American populous vs. the meager President’s 26-32%. Alas! Only the Congress’ ratings are lower: 24%. But, wouldn’t you know—it’s the President who’s Commander and Chief!

ONE COLLOSAL EMPIRE – IT WILL NOT GO AWAY

It seems like only yesterday, but now nigh three full years, that Laurence M. Vance pinned this shocking summation of America’s global empire—and know full-well that the “transformation” of Rome from a republic to a military dictatorship took several hundred years wherein the ruse of the Roman Senate became nothing more than the façade of democracy, all the while Caesar carried the day, orchestrating the major decisions of empire, leaving the Senate to scavenge the more mundane elements of social stability . . . all knew who did the governing.

So, what you read here has been greatly expanded by multi-billion, even trillion-dollar “security” budgets for the past three years since this summation occurred in 2004 (and growing as we write):

“There is a new empire in town, and its global presence is increasing every day.

“The kingdom of Alexander the Great reached all the way to the borders of India. The Roman Empire controlled the Celtic regions of Northern Europe and all of the Hellenized states that bordered the Mediterranean. The Mongol Empire, which was the largest contiguous empire in history, stretched from Southeast Asia to Europe. The Byzantine Empire spanned the years 395 to 1453. In the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf in the east to Hungary in the northwest; and from Egypt in the south to the Caucasus in the north. At the height of its dominion, the British Empire included almost a quarter of the world’s population.”

Now, Vance forms a distinction to US Empire unlike any other . . .

“Nothing, however, compares to the U.S. global empire. What makes U.S. hegemony unique is that it consists, not of control over great land masses or population centers, but of a global presence unlike that of any other country in history.

“The extent of the U.S. global empire is almost incalculable. The latest ‘Base Structure Report’ of the Department of Defense states that the Department’s physical assets consist of ‘more than 600,000 individual buildings and structures, at more than 6,000 locations, on more than 30 million acres.’ The exact number of locations is then given as 6,702 – divided into large installations (115), medium installations (115), and small installations/locations (6,472). This classification can be deceiving, however, because installations are only classified as small if they have a Plant Replacement Value (PRV) of less than $800 million.

“Although most of these locations are in the continental United States, 96 of them are in U.S. territories around the globe, and 702 of them are in foreign countries. But as Chalmers Johnson has documented, the figure of 702 foreign military installations is too low, for it does not include installations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. Johnson estimates that an honest count would be closer to 1,000.

“The number of countries that the United States has a presence in is staggering. According the U.S. Department of State’s list of ‘Independent States in the World,’ there are 192 countries in the world, all of which, except Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, have diplomatic relations with the United States. All of these countries except one (Vatican City) are members of the United Nations. According to the Department of Defense publication, ‘Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country,’ the United States has troops in 135 countries.” (If you care to check out the list of 135 countries, go to: The U.S. Global Empire, by Lawrence M. Vance.)

IRAQ AND THE MIDDLE EAST: THE U.S. BASTION

Somebody out there should notify the European Union, the United Nations, the Russians (all of whom know deep down in their little jealous hearts what I’m saying is true) that America has absolutely no immediate nor far-reaching intention of ever leaving the Cradle of Civilization, the infamous Plains of Shinar, the golden head of Babylon betwixt and between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. The region holds 75% of the known petroleum reserves of the world—and there’s no way we’re leavin’! NEVER!

You can discuss scale down, redeployment, Plan B, and concern yourselves all bloomin’ day long about America’s image throughout the globe being tarnished—the WAR ON TERRORISM is the perfect cover, and tell the world to bug off. Now, we may be having a little “interior set to” but it’s all politics—the major thrust is the total militarization of the Middle East by the overwhelming military presence of the USA—a presence wholly enveloping Iran as we speak. So, if you’re wondering just why Iran wants the bomb, there’s plenty of reasons—least of which is TOTAL ENCIRCLEMENT!

And if you’re wondering why Iran is freaking out—guess no further. Indeed, what we’re witnessing here is the irresistible force (USA) ready to destroy the fanatical immovable object of Islamic fundamentalism (Iran) head on! A massive military encirclement of Iran—now in its full ascendancy—has, like a massive Crusader’s sword descended upon the region to protect the oil reserves of the West, headed by the USA, while ready to crush everything and anything within its path. . .especially, the world’s first and foremost Islamic Republic. Those with graphic capabilities witness the star-studded map—and the one below, just in case you weren’t sure about Azerbaijan and Armenia which demands equal US military assistance and can’t wait to have a full-blown US military presence in their nation as well.

One gets the insane image of tens of thousands of Iranian youth, crazed out of their brains, running bear foot across the desserts to blow up minefields on their way to Allah’s paradise and 72 virgins, delirious to crush the Great Satan-USA, while incensed with the Little Satan, Israel. This strategy of blowing yourself up and taking out as many as you can in the process can only work for so long—eventually “the plan” calls for continued and measured chaos to keep a grip on things and to keep the oil flowing. SUVs rule!

PERMANENT DENIAL IS A RIVER IN IRAQ – RUMSFELD, cir. 2000’s

After reading these series of articles I now believe in evolution—military-style, as only the God of Fortresses can effect:

April 19, 2003 – Pentagon Expects Long-Term Access to Four Key Bases in Iraq: (1) Baghdad International Airport; (2) Tallil, near Nasiriya in the south; (3) An isolated airstrip called H-1 in the western desert; along the old oil pipeline that runs to Jordan; and (4) At the Bashur air field in the Kurdish north. (Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt, New York Times)

April 21, 2003 – US Calls for 4 military bases in Iraq – While the bases would be used to guarantee Iraq’s security, they would almost certainly be seen as a threat by neighboring countries such as Syria and Iran, with the latter already concerned by the US presence in Afghanistan . . . Mr. Lugar (Senator Lugar, the same Senator telling the Bush Admin. to get out of Iraq) called on the Bush administration to give clear estimates of the duration and cost of US involvement in post-war Iraq and said the political transition to a democracy could take four to five years (hummm…. that brings us to 2008)

(Alex Massie, The Scotsman)

March 23, 2004 – Christine Spolar of the Chicago Tribune: “A long term military presence (is) planned in Iraq…the U.S. engineers are focusing on constructing 14 ‘enduring bases,’ long-term encampments for the thousands of American troops expected to serve in Iraq….”

November 1, 2004 – Analysts Ponder U.S. Basing in Iraq – During the first presidential debate, Senator John Kerry suggested that the U.S. military is planning to make 14 bases now in Iraq “a permanent concept.” …Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (April 2003) dismissed any serious talk of a permanent military presence in Iraq . . . “Yes, they are permanent,” he (Military analyst Col. David Hunt, Ret.) said of the bases. “Building bases there is a good idea, to fight the war on ‘terror and to keep pressure on the

Middle East.” (Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, FoxNews.com)

February 2005 – Rumsfeld reported again to the Senate Armed Services committee: “We have no intention, at the present time, of putting permanent bases in Iraq.” (Sarah Meyer, Index Research)

April 13, 2005 – Afghans Seek Close US Military Tie – “The Afghan people want a longer term relationship with the United States. They want this relationship to be a sustained economic and political relationship and most importantly of all, a strategic security relationship to enable Afghanistan (to) defend itself, to continue to prosper, to stop the possibility of interferences in Afghanistan,” Karzai said (Karzai is President of Afghanistan). (CBS News)

May 22, 2005 – Commanders Plan Eventual Consolidation of U.S. Bases in Iraq – U.S. military commanders have prepared plans to consolidate American troops in Iraq into four large air bases as they look ahead to giving up more than 100 other bases now occupied by international forces (in Iraq), officers said . . . U.S. forces currently occupy 106 bases, ranging in size from the sprawling Camp Victory complex near Baghdad’s international airport where the U.S. military command is headquartered, to some outposts with as few as 500 soldiers. (Bradley Graham, Washington Post Staff Writer)

Mid-2005 – If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building ‘permanent’ bases? This Friends Committee on National Legislation article then lists 14 MAJOR Bases being built permanently in Iraq. (Friends Committee on National Legislation…source: GlobalSecurity.org)

October 2005 – Blood, Sweat & Tears: Asia’s Poor Build U.S. Bases in Iraq – (Note: This article details how thousands of impoverished workers hailing from south Asian countries like the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are doing the grunt work for Halliburton.) Upwards of 100,000 of these “Invisible and Indispensable Army of Low-Paid Workers each earning between $200 to $1,000 monthly are building a vast chain of military bases for the US – prime contractors are Halliburton and Bechtel. (David Phinney, Special to CorpWatch)

April 10, 2006 – Iraq’s US/UK Permanent Bases: Intentional Obfuscation – There is Pentagon and US governmental obfuscation surrounding United States permanent bases in Iraq…On the 21st of April (year?) Rumsfeld said in a press briefing “I have never, that I can recall, heard the subject of a permanent base in Iraq discussed in any meeting…we don’t plan to function as an occupier, we don’t plan to prescribe to any new government how we ought to be arranged in their country…We have no desire to be there for long periods, we simply don’t…and that’s just a cold, hard fact.” (Sarah Meyers, Index Research)

March 19, 2007 – “Enduring U.S. Bases in Iraq – Monopolizing the Middle East Prize” – It is difficult to believe that with the U.S. establishment having all but conceded defeat in Iraq, and with the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group having signaled that the United States needs the help of its rivals Iran and Syria – as well as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other influential Middle Eastern nations – to contain the Iraqi civil war, the U.S. is still pursuing the war and building permanent military bases in the disintegrating nation. Yet, this is precisely what the Pentagon is doing. (Joseph Gerson, CommonDreams.org)

This article continues: Washington’s current pursuit of permanent military bases in Iraq is not an aberration. During the past six decades, the U.S. has constructed a network of military bases and access agreements that extends across North Africa, to Persian Gulf nations and Turkey, and onward to the atoll of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, whose Chagos people have been driven from paradise to make way for U.S. bombers and pre-positioned munitions. U.S. troops and bases in Europe, ostensibly assigned to NATO, have also helped to enforce U.S. Middle East hegemony, as have U.S. subversion, coups d’etat, and threats to initiate nuclear war.

President Bush, the elder, wasn’t kidding when he said that the Desert Storm war was fought to create “a new world order” in which “what we say goes.” It permitted the U.S. to reconsolidate its control over Middle East oil reserves. Bombing Iraq into the “pre-industrial age” served as a warning to all who might challenge U.S. dominance. It also provided the U.S. the necessary rationales to expand and to revitalize its infrastructure of military bases across the Middle East. Thousands of U.S. warriors and their fearsome weapons were dispatched to Saudi Arabia. Kuwait was occupied with air fields, munitions depots, and training grounds. U.S. bases and other elements of U.S. military infrastructure in Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates were post-modernized.

The US maintains more that 200 military bases in Iraq and is building an estimated 14 permanent bases. The red circles indicate US military airbases. Source: Global Security.

May 31, 2007 – US Looking to long-term presence in Iraq: Gates (New Secretary of Defense) – US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the United States is looking to a long-term military presence in Iraq under a mutually agreed arrangement similar to that it has long had with South Korea. Gates told reporters here that plans still call for an assessment of the US “surge” strategy in September but he was looking beyond that to the type of military presence the United States will have in Iraq over the long term. (ABC News)

June 9, 2007 – Withdrawal won’t happen – The US plans permanent military bases in Iraq, confirming to many that it really was all about oil . . . this is a geopolitical development of the first importance. In spite of current difficulties – May was the most lethal month for American soldiers since 2004, with 119 killed – the United States firmly intends to maintain control of Iraq and its vast oil reserves. Iraq’s neighbors, and energy-hungry states and oil companies, will take note. (Patrick Seale, The Guardian)

June 13, 2007 – NYT and WaPo: Iraq Failing Both Politically and Militarily – Iraq will remain incapable of taking full responsibility for its security for many years – five years in the case of protecting its airspace – and will require a long-term military relationship with the United States, said Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who until recently led the U.S. military’s training effort in Iraq. (by Turkana – Source: New York Times)

June 23, 2007 – Permanent Bases the World Over: Behold the American Empire – an old story – The Korean Model you know, a limited number of major American bases tucked away out of urban areas; a limited number of American troops (say, 30,000-40,000), largely confined to those bases but ready to strike at any moment; a friendly government in Baghdad; and (as in South Korea where our troops have been for six decades) maybe another half century-plus of quiet garrisoning. In other words, this is the time equivalent of a geographic ‘over the horizon redeployment’ of American troops . . . in this case, ‘over the horizon’ would mean through 2057 and beyond. (by AlterNet)

CHUCK MISSLER AND THE DECLINE OF THE UNITED STATES

“It was the best of times and it was the worst of times” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities).

“By many reckonings, it appears to be the best of times in America: We enjoy a robust economy, reinforced by continually advancing technologies. At least one computer in every home, and a personal telephone on almost everyone’s belt. People are buying their 3rd and 4th cars. Our military is the most feared throughout the world. Indeed, in many ways, it seems like the best of times . . . (Missler then goes into a tirade of moral collapse in America.) . . . why hasn’t God judged America? The only ostensible answer is God’s commitment in Genesis 12:2-3, in which He promises Abraham that He ‘will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee.’ It may well be that America has been spared—so far—due to its support of the nation of Israel . . . But that, too, may be short lived.” (Monitor The Strategic Trends, Missler).

Chuck Missler, a techno-eschatologist, follows in a train of American evangelical pundits whose assessment and/or expositions of Scripture find little relevance for America as the Babylon of the last days, nor any dominance as the 11th Horn ascendant over the 10 Horns of the Euro-Revived Roman Empire—ipso facto, Antichrist and his military machinery hail from the WEO/EU, etc. This, don’t forgive me, convoluted and Euro-centric persistence is remarkable for its denial of both Biblical, as well as obvious geopolitical realities.

Missler is a bit more sophisticated in diminishing America as a player in the Last Days—juxtaposed to Hal Lindsey who simply asserts: America doesn’t even have a bit part!

“One of the mysteries in the Biblical prophetic scenario, is where does America appear? The final battle—the Battle of Armageddon—is a four-power conflict: triggered by the ‘Kings of the South’ (Egypt?), responded to by the ‘Kings of the North’ (Syria? Russia?…various opinions), and dominated by a Western Confederacy (The Antichrist, et al) until the ‘Kings of the East’ are drawn in.

“Where is the United States? There are many conjectures among scholars. Some assume that we will ultimately be somehow associated with the Western Confederacy (getting close?). The continuing erosion of our constitutional republic, plus the increasing move toward a police state to ‘fight terrorism,’ (oh, so close) seems consistent with the growing tide toward a global government.

“Others assume that America simply will not be a major player at that time. As variations of this second view, some suggest that America will have become economically and militarily less relevant by then. Others (disturbed by the hint in Ezekiel 39:6), fear that we may have been the subject of a major nuclear exchange over the growing tensions in the Middle East.”

Missler wraps up his possible overshadowing of America by the European Antichrist, et al, by taking recourse to the safety of unapproachable ambiguity:

“It remains to be seen whether the wake-up call of September 11, 2001, will prove to be more effective than simply a brief spasm of patriotism, or where it may lead to a more serious revival and return to our heritage. In any case, we each need to prepare and to rise to the opportunities that present themselves for a spiritual revival and we must begin with ourselves.”

“AMERICA MUST BE DESTROYED”

The above caption seems to be the only way that these eschatologists can handle the diminishing of America in their scenarios of Bible Prophecy. Since the bulk of American Premillenarian-Pretribulational eschatologists acclaim a Euro-Centric Antichrist, then America’s decline MUST necessitate a rather violent economic, moral, and military implosion.

Missler lists 10 “trends” in futuristic Premillenarian prophecy:

1. The Struggle for Jerusalem

2. The Rise of Islam

3. The Rise of the Far East

4. The Rise of a European Super State

5. Global Government

6. Weapons Proliferation

7. The Magog Invasion

8. Biotech & Global Pestilence

9. THE DECLINE OF THE U.S.

10. Global Religion

In keeping with Europe’s ascendancy, it is mandatory that there be “the decline of the U.S.”

“The European Union has steadily moved forward in its attempt to unite Europe politically and economically. It has succeeded in unifying and strengthening its economic market, creating a common currency, and establishing both a European legislative and judicial system. It has been suggested by some that the European Union may be the revived Roman Empire. Thus it is interesting to note that the introduction of the Euro is the first time since the days of Caesar and the Roman Empire that Europe has had a common currency, others have tried, most notably Napoleon Bonaparte, but none were successful.” (The United States of Europe, Missler, April 19, 2005 eNews issue)

MISSLER’S “WORLD POWER” – THE EU

Acclamation of Euro-prowess astounds:

“Over the last few years we have watched closely as the European Union has emerged as a growing world power ... the bitter debate over Iraq between the United States and the EU has been seen by many as a foreshadow of what is to come. A battle in which the EU, lead by France and Germany, is positioning itself to surpass the United States as the dominant world power.” (Ibid.) (My emphasis.)

Missler’s strategic analysis of the EU juxtaposed to the USA in terms of military dominance flabbergasts; notwithstanding, he attempts to base the following exposition and literal interpretation upon the Word of God. If I did not hold the man and his analysis in significant esteem, I would not confront in this manner through the internet; however, Chuck Missler holds a tremendous amount of credibility within the believing community here in America and throughout the world—therefore, it is mandatory that we attempt to come to terms with his, and for that matter, the likes of many others with whom we beg to differ, and to differ by comparing Scripture with Scripture and geopolitical realities with the obvious facts.

WHERE IS THE 11TH HORN?

In Missler’s “Twilight’s Last Gleaming?” he excoriates the American association with “Sodom and Egypt” – i.e., as Billy Graham has said: “If God doesn’t judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!”

However, America’s immorality and leadership as the world’s pornographic capital, as well as its export of Hollywood and other degradations, including crime, drugs, sexual behavior, adnauseam adinfinitum, does not, as a nation, isolate man’s proclivity to evil—evil is everyone’s business! One can reasonably argue that Americans, though self-centered and bent on world subjugation and eccentricities relative to evil, are no more degraded than the people of Malta or Sierra Leon or Viet Nam. The evil of Corinth is akin to the evil in Pergamos, etc. The book of Revelation is incensed with the “Merchants of the Earth” – who traffic in the “bodies and souls of men” – they are ubiquitous; they are amongst all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples—ALL! Grant it, Babylon the Great is the ultimate embodiment of the “abominations of the earth” – full of putridity, etc.—ultimately, she shall be judged!

But in the meantime, consider where is America in Biblical prophecy according to Missler:

“The Lord prophesied that before His return a Fourth Kingdom would arise, often referred to as ‘the revived Roman Empire,’ that would crush and rule over all the other kingdoms of the earth (Daniel 7:23). In more common terms, this implies a global, one-world government will someday exercise total sovereignty over virtually all of the people and nations of the earth. This suggests that America will eventually surrender its own national sovereignty and submit to the power, authority, and dominion of the coming Fourth Kingdom. Furthermore, there are many who ask, ‘Why hasn’t God judged America?’” (Missler, The Twilight’s Last Gleaming? By voicefromzion.org)

I am not being crude or rude here, nor patronizing; however, the empire referred to in Daniel 7:23 is NOT the Revived Roman Empire—it is, specifically, the Fourth Kingdom, the original Roman Empire:

“Thus he said: ‘The Fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces” (Daniel 7:23).

I am sure that Brother Missler would concur with this exegesis; furthermore, however, the succeeding verse (Daniel 7:24) brings into focus the Revived Roman Empire at the end of days:

“The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom (Note: “Out of” this original Roman Empire there shall arise ten horns.)” (Daniel 7:24a).

Now, just as the “ten horns” are representative of ten kings with ten separate kingdoms (i.e., “states”); even so, the 11th “king” (i.e., the Antichrist) is not only an individual (i.e., “king”) but also has/is a kingdom that will challenge the other kings/kingdoms. This is critical, insofar as the interpretation concerns—not simply an individual but a SUPERIOR KINGDOM! Not headed up from within the 10 Kingdoms/Kings but himself a King with a Kingdom which is apart and separate from the original 10 and/or Revived Roman Empire—according to Revelation 17:12-13: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings WITH THE BEAST. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.”

Hence, the significance of what succeeds Daniel 7:24a:

“ . . . and ANOTHER shall rise after them; he (i.e., both a king/kingdom) shall be different from the first ones (i.e., the first 10 kings/kingdoms), and shall subdue three kings (i.e., also, three kingdoms) (Daniel 7:24b).

Now, this ANOTHER is clearly the Latter Day’s Antichrist and persecutor of the saints of the Most High:

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. The saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25) (cf. Revelation 11:9, 11; 12:14-17)

It is not spurious to adjudge history’s immediate development of the modern nation-state of Western Europe included the three most outstanding clarifications of that Revived Roman Empire—to wit: Britain, France and Spain . . . all other nation-states gradually developed from the persistent three insofar as Western Europe and/or “Colonial Europe” concerns: Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Russia matured later.

Of immediate historical interest in the evolution of the modern nation-states of Europe is the “uprooting” (while still maintaining the identity of the TEN—cf. Revelation 17:12) three of the “first ones” (i.e., first in line) to make provision and/or allowance for the 11th to arise. History is abundantly clear that England, France and Spain were virtually “plucked up” and/or “uprooted” to make way for the United States of America. The USA is “out from” the 10—but is wholly separate from the 10! And, yes, the WEO of the EU (its military wing) is roughly equivalent to the 10 original colonizers of Europe, excluding Russia; however, this is a minor consideration for Denmark or any of the Scandinavian colonizers could be adjudged as part of the original 10, or for that matter, little Luxembourg.

Missler continues:

“There are, at present, at least four emerging challenges to America (i.e., to American hegemony juxtaposed to an ascendant Western Europe, Revived Roman Empire—I believe this supposition is within Missler’s thinking): 1) Ezekiel 39:6, which hints at a nuclear exchange; 2) Al Qaeda, with its ‘American Hiroshima’ 3) Iran, and its EMP threat; and 4) The collapse of the U.S. economy . . . it is this last one that is not widely understood.” (Ibid.)

Here, Missler articulates the position of many of the Euro-Centric Antichrist proponents. Ezekiel 39:6 states: “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security (i.e., “securely” or “confidently”) in the coastlands.” Missler clearly has in mind a nuclear exchange between the Islamic hosts (allied with Russia) who have come up against Israel (i.e., the “Gog-Magog War”) and the USA (i.e., “those who live in security in the coastlands”). Naturally, if the “coastlands” are an allusion to the USA, Missler would be correct (cf. Isaiah 66:19); however, it is difficult to conjecture in light of Ezekiel 38:13 that the “merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions” who are contesting the intentions of the forces of Gog-Magog (if indeed, these ancient identifications are representative of a future end-time’s mercantile empire—i.e., the USA—inheritor of the King of Tyre and of the ancient traders/merchants of the Phoenicians/Punic peoples, etc.) actually are destroyed in the “exchange.”

Furthermore, the account of Daniel (Daniel 11:40-45) places the same Gog-Magog War in the context wherein the forces of gog-Magog (King of the North and King of the South) come up against "him" (i.e., the Antichrist); whereas in Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog come up against Israel--hence Israel and the Antichrist are associated and/or are in alliance during this struggle. I am not the only evangelical expositor who attributes the Willful King of Daniel 11:40-45 with the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39:16 . . . allow me to quote from one of our previous articles on this matter:

“Later on in Daniel 11:40-45 we read that the Antichrist (according to Robert Duncan Culver in his classic: Daniel in the Latter Days—Moody Press) has, apparently, positioned his forces in the area between the King of the North and the King of the South (NOTE: These North/South forces are referred to in Ezekiel 38-39 as Gog/Magog (northern nations—Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Mesheck, Beth-Togarmah and Iran or Persia—all of these nations are located in Turkey or the Trans-Caucuses); in addition to these ‘King of the North Nations,’ a number of nations to the south of Israel (the Beautiful Land) are mentioned, among which are Ethiopia and Libya. Then in Daniel 11:44-45 the Gog/Magog war is expanded upon; although this time instead of Israel being the object of attack (Ezekiel), Antichrist is the object, who evidently is located somewhere in the Middle East north of Israel-the Bible doesn't specify where.

“In Daniel 11:40-45 Gog is referred to as the King of the North; and another entity is introduced as the ‘King of the South.’ Now, Egypt is introduced as being allied with Ethiopia and Libya, along with other unnamed countries south of the Holy Land. Now, the King of the North and the King of the South attack—and the object of their attack is Antichrist. We will discuss (in light of America's current invasion and troop placements) the unbelievable significance of the above Gog/Magog conflict which is nigh upon us. I have referred to the fact that the current invasion of Iraq, by America, and the incredible placement of nearly a quarter million American troops in Iraq, is the fuse that will light the Gog/Magog conflagration.

“It is no small thing that Israel (target of Ezekiel 38-39 of the forces of Gog/Magog) and the forces of Antichrist—King of Babylon—(target of the forces of both King of the North and King of the South in Daniel 11) find that their ‘mutual concerns’ against Gog/Magog—King of the North/South (undoubtedly strengthened through ‘your Covenant with Death and your agreement with Hell’ (‘The Covenant with the Many’ wherein Antichrist underwrites Israel's security in a Defense Pact), appear united in their efforts to defeat the forces of Gog/Magog and/or the King of the North and the King of the South.” (CHAPTER 24 GOG-MAGOG –WORLD WAR III

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE—PART I)

After America’s possible demise suggested by Missler from Ezekiel 39:6 (and, grant it, our presupposition is that the Ships of Tarshish are clearly identified with the great end-times’ Commercial Empire, Babylon the Great (Revelation 18) and the very seat of Antichrist!), he then suggests that al Qaeda will pull off another Hiroshima in reverse (Alas! the 10 missing nuclear suitcases smuggled out of Russia’s collapsing arsenal have found their way to Osama’s operatives!)—simply another way to destroy America’s involvement, and ipso facto, the establishment of a Euro-Centric Antichrist.

Next, Missler suggests the same thing from Iran:

“An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), triggered by a high-altitude detonation of a nuclear weapon, poses a considerable threat to our national security and is one of a small number of weapons that could be used to bring the whole of America to its knees. An EMP attack would strike what has become the United States' Achilles heel - its relatively unprotected, yet vital, technological infrastructure.” (Missler, The Threat of EMP)

Once again the USA is diminished—it MUST be removed in order for Western Europe’s ascendancy.

Finally, Missler suggests the veritable collapse of the US economy—that we all can calculate; however, it is highly unlikely until the very last when the judgments under the “Wrath of the Lamb” are poured out upon Babylon the Great (i.e., if, indeed, America is the Babylon of the last days—the great commercial empire of the earth) (cf. Revelation 18).

Missler conjectures:

“The U.S. had positioned itself with this (Bretton Woods and Its Betrayal) in mind before the war because it was known that America would end up supplying its allies with provisions, weapons, and thousands of other items during WW II, with the only acceptable form of payment being gold; thus, the U.S. had accumulated a significant portion of the world’s gold by the conclusion of the war. The Bretton Woods agreement worked well until the guns-and-butter policy of the 1960s was instituted and the money supply was expanded as never before to finance the Vietnam War and Lyndon Johnson’s ‘Great Society’ programs.” (The Twilight’s Last Gleaming?).

Missler then devotes extensive time and energy exploring the demise of America’s economic crisis now pending and the ultimate development of a “one world currency.” However, the economic collapse of the USA, along with the almighty dollar to which all currencies of the world are de facto pegged (even the Euro, the Yen, Yuan, etc.), would so traumatize and economically stagnate all the world’s populations, it would be nigh impossible to adjudge this as a possibility—again, especially, in light of the delay in the judgment of commercial Babylon in accordance with Revelation 18 (which takes place at the final extension of the Reign of the Beast).

Again, Missler holds out little hope for the USA, however, there is a sparkle of possibility—but not much; he sums it up:

“The failure of our public schools, a decimated military, a corrupt Executive branch, and an ever-increasing involvement in the United Nations globalist agenda do not bode well for America. Can we stop this downward trend before it’s too late? Once veiled in secrecy, the movement toward a unified, socialist government dissolving national boundaries has hit the mainstream. Even American political leaders are embracing this movement. Are we playing a deadly game, setting the stage for the Coming World Leader of the Tribulation?” (Ibid.)

CHARLES H. DYER – MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE – AND AMERICA’S DEMISE

I commend Brother Missler for not using the Rapture of the Church (Pretrib) as an excuse for the diminishing of the USA—unlike his counterpart, Charles H. Dyer, current eschatologist of the Moody Bible Institute, who, in his book, “The Rise of Babylon—is Iraq At The Center of the Final Drama?” contends:

“So where does the United States fit into the picture? It is clear from Scripture that the dominant political and military power will center around the Mediterranean and Europe—not the United States. By the end times, the United States will no longer be a major influence in the world. But how can this be, especially since we are playing such a major role in the Middle East today?

“First, it is possible that the United States is not mentioned in prophecy because we will become a second-class international power overnight when God removes Christians from the earth (i.e., the Secret Rapture of the Church), an event scheduled to occur just before the beginning of this seven-year period. True believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be taken to heaven before the Antichrist is revealed. Today as many as half of all Americans claim to be ‘born again,’ or believers in Jesus Christ. If only one-fourth of that number have genuinely made a personal commitment to Christ, then over 28 million Americans will suddenly ‘disappear’ when God removes His church from the earth!

“Can you imagine the effects on our country if over 28 million people-people in industry, government, the military, business, agriculture, education, medicine, and communications—disappear? That is approximately double the entire population of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston all rolled together!” (America is Strangely Absent – pp. 140-143, The Rise of Babylon, Charles H. Dyer, Moody Publishers, Chicago, 1991, Revised 2003).

The reoccurring theme of the Rapture spelling the demise of America, making room for an ascendant Western Revived Roman Empire and Antichrist is pervasive amongst pre-tribulational Premillenarians.

However, Dyer gives three final possibilities for America’s devolution: (2) Moral collapse and “secularization; (3) Terrorists unleashing WMD upon her cities; and (4) “We will suffer a military defeat or simply weaken in our national resolve…financial crises at home could increase our isolationist tendencies…anything less than victory in the current struggles against the twin threats of terrorism and Saddam Hussein (Note: His entire thesis was the recreation of Babylon the Great inspired by Saddam Hussein—now, in sum, defeated, captured and hung by the Americans via a proxy puppet Iraqi government.) will further weaken America’s resolve and could force us to abdicate our role as world leader.” (Ibid.)

There you have it—to those of us here at the Tribulation Network . . . to those of us keenly aware of the direct teaching of the Scriptures and of the realities of the current geopolitical world in which we live and of that latter-day nation’s proclivity to military, economic and cultural dominance—there can be no question that these brethren are grossly deceived and inadvertently deceiving multitudes of unsuspecting Christians and are a laughingstock to the nations for the ludicrous notion that somehow America is about to fold her tents and still away through these outrageous scenarios into becoming less than a “bit player” a la Hal Lindsey’s prognostication!

ULTIMATE WAR WITH SYRIA, IRAN, GAZA, LEBANON, et al

Now, as promised, let’s cut to the chase—the pending 7th and final Arab-Israeli War (Conflict) is about to take place. This conflict will pit, in the main, a radicalized Lebanon (led by Hezbollah), Gaza (Hamas), the “stronghold of Ephraim/Ramallah—the PLO, Syria, along with support from Iran against a combination of Israeli-USA and some miscellaneous coalition forces (primarily the British and miscellaneous support from sundry nations of Europe and USA lackeys).

Our “spotters” have informed us of these pending scenarios:

June 29, 2007 – Iran bombers attack our Boys – Iranian forces are being choppered over the Iraqi border to bomb Our Boys, intelligence chiefs say. Military experts claim this worrying move means we are at WAR with Iran in all but name. Last night an intelligence source told The Sun: ‘It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran – but nobody has officially declared it. We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us. (Tom Newton Dunn, Defense Editor, Friday, June 29, 2007 The Sun Online)

June 27, 2007 – Bolton: I’m ‘very worried’ for Israel – Sanctions and diplomacy have failed and it may be too late for internal opposition to oust the Islamist regime (now reeling under gasoline shortages in Iran), leaving only military intervention to stop Iran’s drive to nuclear weapons, the US’ former ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday… Worse still, according to Ambassador Bolton, the Bush administration does not recognize the urgency of the hour and that the options are now limited to only the possibility of regime change from within or a last-resort military intervention, and it is still clinging to the dangerous and misguided belief that sanction can be effective.

Bolton continued:

“The current approach of the Europeans and the Americans is not just doomed to failure, but dangerous,” he said. “Dealing with [the Iranians] just gives them what they want, which is more time…we have fiddled away four years, in which Europe tried to persuade Iran to give up voluntarily,” he complained. “Iran in those four years mastered uranium conversion from solid to gas and now enrichment to weapons grade…We lost four years to feckless European diplomacy and our options are very limited.”

Speaking about Europeans in a disgusted manner when it comes to Israel’s vulnerability:

“Bolton, who served as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security from 2001 to 2005, before taking the ambassadorial posting to the UN from August 2005 to December 2006, said the failed handling of the Iran nuclear crisis was one of the reasons he had left the Bush administration. ‘I felt we were watching Europe fiddling while Rome burned,’ he said. ‘It’s still fiddling.’” (David Horovitz, THE JEUSALEM POST, June 27, 2007).

June 28, 2007 – Weapons from Iran, Syria flowing easily into Lebanon – The Lebanese Army, assisted by nearly 15,000 United Nations forces, have been ineffective against the increasing influx of Iranian and Syrian weapons to Hezbollah. The United Nations reported that weapons smuggling to Lebanon has increased over the last few months from neighboring Syria.

The Lebanese government has agreed with the UN report. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said Syria was sending weapons to two camps controlled by Fateh Al Intifada and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. (WorldTribune.com)

WAR BY JULY, 2007

June 25, 2007 – Israel braces for July war with up to five enemies – Israel is preparing for an imminent war with Iran, Syria and/or their non-state clients. Israeli military intelligence has projected that a major attack could come from any of five adversaries in the Middle East. Officials said such a strike could spark a war as early as July 2007.

On Sunday, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Cabinet that the Jewish state faces five adversaries in what could result in an imminent confrontation. Yadlin cited Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda.

“Each of these adversaries is capable of sparking a war in the summer,” Yadlin was quoted as saying.

Officials said Iran has direct influence over Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. He said Al Qaeda has increasingly come under Iranian influence and was being used by Iran and Syria in such countries as Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

Already, military intelligence has assessed that Hamas acquired more than 50 missiles with a range of 22 kilometers. Officials said this would allow Palestinian missile strikes on any part of Ashkelon, the largest city in southeastern Israel and which contains strategic sites.

Israeli military intelligence has assessed that Hamas was being quietly supported by neighboring Egypt. Officials said that despite Egypt’s announced ban, Cairo has continued to allow Hamas leaders to enter the Sinai Peninsula from the Gaza Strip. (World Tribune)

CONCLUSION

Predicting this war is a no-brainer; frankly, any pundit in their right mind could figure it out—the timing is what disturbs . . . meanwhile the American Evangelical Church fiddles as much as Bolton’s U.S./European confabs on getting Iran to stop producing the bomb.

The pending conflict is NOT the Gog-Magog War—we affirm it to be THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS as found in Isaiah 17-18 and in Zechariah 9. It will, however, lead up to the Gog-Magog War which we believe will take place after the USA orchestrates, propelled by its supreme leader, the peace accord as prophesied by Daniel the Prophet in Daniel 9:27. That’s a mouthful, no doubt, but it appears all the more obvious each day where this is leading us. May the Lord have mercy upon us all—and, especially, upon the innocents in the Middle East whose world is about to change radically in the days and months ahead. We commend them to His grace and ourselves to His Word which cannot fail!