"There has now been some spark of unrest in places as far afield as Cote d’Ivoire and Iran. For the most part, these protests are limited in size and scope, and not all of them are connected. But are some? Are there protests unified by common themes? Are there common forces at work behind the scenes in some cases?"
Today FOX New reported that "witnesses say protesters and security forces are battling for control of central Tripoli, with snipers opening fire on crowds and Qaddafi supporters speeding through in cars, shooting and running over protesters."
Even in our own U.S. we see the beginnings of civil unrest over Labor Union benefits and pensions. The WEEK Reported:
"A clash between Democratic protesters and Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin, over the proposed gutting of collective-bargaining rights for public-employee unions, has sparked a national debate. The protests in Madison are already being replicated in cities across the Rust Belt, with national leaders throwing their weight behind each of the causes."
We also see similar disputes now in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and New Hampshire.
While the issues abroad seem to be distinct from the issues here, STRATFOR is correct in that they all share in one common denominator, a common theme - frustration. The people are frustrated. They are frustrated over the particular situation that they face and have become angered to the point of aggressive action.
Abroad, the people seem to be frustrated over government oppression, as in the case of Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, and Libya. In the case at home, people are actually fearful that they will be deprived of their retirement pensions and union benefits, all of which will be unsustainable at this present rate of inflation and government debt. Whether they like it or not there will eventually be no money for any entitlement program, union or otherwise.
Theologically, however, we can be assured that there is ONE common force behind these providential happenings - God Holy will and orchestration of all things.
Amos tells us, "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil [lit. calamity] in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?"
Daniel tells us that God "changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:"To look beyond the physical occurrences of the world to the metaphysical, is to see it from God's vantage point. This is wisdom.This is true intel.
God is shaking the nations. The difference in our day is that He is shaking them collectively. This is something we have not seen in our generation, or in past generations. We face a global restructuring which if not restructured God-ward will mean years of tribulation for all of us.
But let me hasten to say that this does not in any way signal the 'end of the world' as some might think, no matter what the Aztecs predicted. They were never privy to God's Revelation. God has clearly stated that the end will only come when Christ, through His Body, the True Church, subdues all His enemies on earth, in time and history.
1Co 15:24-25 "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet."
The end of the world will only be signaled by the total Advancement of Christ's Righteousness according to God's Law. The end will come only after every knee bows to the Supremacy of the Christ and when all kings either Kiss the Son or are destroyed by Him. Scripture concludes that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea just before the end of time. We are no where near that yet.
These global developments should rather be a signal to the saints to prepare themselves - i.e. arming themselves with the Law-Word of God - in order to give Biblical answers to the many problems facing the world. At this historic juncture Christendom is ill-prepared for the very task that she is called to accomplish. Generally speaking Christians have not led the culture but rather have been led by the culture. They have rejected the Law of God and the application of it to the real world, and thus have reaped the whirl-wind of global unrest, violence, anger, frustration and uncertainty. This must change. Christendom must provide Biblical answer to real problems.
So what are the Saints to do?
Firstly: Understand that the only way for Peace is through Covenant obedience to the Word of God. This means that the moral and judicial Law of God must be implemented to our modern world properly, and not as some would claim "tyrannically" (as if the implementation of God's Holy, Just and Equitable Law is tyrannical).
I remember at a conference that I attended in 2001 one of the speakers was from a U.N. watch-dog group. After his speech he paused and said very soberly, and entirely unscripted, "Aside from everything I have said, I believe that the only way for world peace is through Jesus Christ." He had it right.
Secondly: Christians need to look beyond what is happening and ask "Why" is it happening?
Third: Christians then need to seek similar situations in Scripture and use them as case-studies to see if any light is shed for solutions through these Scriptural case-studies and examples.
Finally: Any solution to any problem that is not explicitly Biblical can never solve the problem. At best, it may alleviate it for a season but it can never solve it long term. Most times, when solutions are presented apart from Scriptural sanction, the result is further oppression and unrest a la the French Revolution. The situation simply goes from the frying pan headlong into the fire of God's Judgment and the end is worse than the begining.
The implementation of the standard of the
Justice, Equity and Righteousness of God's Law is the only hope for our unsettled world.
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