Fireworks of a different kind

by Michael G. Mickey

(7-4-05)

They weren't a red, white and blue spectacle, but the cosmic fireworks NASA created by blasting a hole in a comet were something for scientists to cheer about this Fourth of July weekend, according to a Fox News story. I know the dramatic images captured by NASA as its Deep Impact probe neared Comet Tempel 1 and moments after impact will be the most memorable event of this July 4th for me. I am awestruck concerning the incredible technologies we now possess to be able to fire a rocket into space and hit a comet in the depths of space with pinpoint precision at 23,000 miles per hour! Fireworks of a different kind!

Speaking of fireworks of a different kind, I am worried and I do mean WORRIED by the headline of a Reuters news story I read tonight. Concerning the upcoming G8 summit to be held in Scotland July 6-8, the headline reads: Bush sees chance to help Palestinians at G8 summit. Talk about taking the wind out of a Bible-believing American Christian's sails! What is President Bush trying to do? Is he trying to provoke Almighty God at this point?

While President Bush is seeing a chance to help the terror-loving Palestinians, at a time when American servicemen and women are fighting a war against terrorism no less, WorldNetDaily is reporting analysts are worried the terror group Hamas will use gains created by Israel's upcoming Gaza withdrawal to impose a Taliban-like Islamist regime alongside Israel. Is there any doubt whatsoever this is a legitimate concern? Of course not - and I believe there is no chance the Bush administration isn't fully aware of it, as sad as that is to admit.

What is going to take place at the aforementioned upcoming G8 summit is anyone's guess, but my curiosity is piqued more than a little by Bush's suggestion there may be an opportunity at the G8 to help the Palestinians, especially when that tidbit of information is coupled with a Haaretz article suggesting Tony Blair, who currently holds both the EU and G8 presidencies, is going to be seeking an initiative to inject new impetus into Middle East peacemaking at the G8 meeting.

Blair is quoted in the Haaretz article as saying, "I hope but I can't yet be sure that there will be a specific initiative on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. I've set aside time within the summit now to do this because there have been developments over the past few days that lead me to believe we may be able to make some progress."

What is leading both President Bush and Tony Blair to think the G8 is going to bring about something "positive" in the quest to bring peace to the Middle East? What developments have surfaced "within the last few days" that would lead Tony Blair to "set aside time" at the G8 where the focus, according to most news articles I've read, is going to be on climate change, global trade, and aid for Africa, to discuss the issue of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

What does all this add up to? PROPHETIC POTENTIAL!

Brothers and sisters in Christ, although no one knows the hour nor the day when the Son of man will return to call His Church out of a world that has forgotten its God, within this commentary we see the potential exists for those of us longing to see the face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to see it, potentially in the not-too-distant future!

Daniel 12:4 tells us the end times will see many running to and fro and knowledge will be increased. Today, NASA hit a comet with a probe traveling 23,000 miles per hour! In my opinion, that's pretty strong evidence the return of Jesus Christ is drawing near!

Not only is knowledge on the increase, the focus of the entire world is on Jerusalem in fulfillment of end times Bible prophecy, as seen in Zechariah 12:2-3. Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is repeatedly a topic in the news of our world today! Bible prophecy tells us a prince of Roman descent - the prophesied Antichrist - is going to eventually confirm a seven-year covenant of peace in the Middle East, as seen in Daniel 9:26-27 - an event which will be preceded by the Rapture of the Church.

At the upcoming G8 summit, unbeknownst to many who know more about their favorite baseball team than Bible prophecy, the leaders of the industrialized world are going to have a discussion on resolving peace in the Middle East with unspecified cause to think progress may be made in achieving that goal. The fact they're going to be discussing Middle East peace doesn't seem to be getting much play in the mainstream news sources I'm reading, which always gives me hope the moment of our redemption may be at hand! {a hearty AMEN, Mike -- I think so, too!!}

Luke 12:40: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

After the Rapture of the Church takes place, those who have rejected Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and Bible prophecy are going to see a different kind of fireworks than the kind I'm hearing discharged near my home as I type this commentary in the late hours of July 4th - seven long years of tribulation upon the earth unlike any that has been seen or will ever be seen again!

Got Jesus?

If you're reading this commentary having never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray you will not delay in doing so as time is swiftly running out for you to come to Christ this side of the Tribulation Period.

Many people, even members of my own family, often say to me, "You've been saying that for years!" Truly I have, but nothing has happened during the time I've been doing so to lessen my conviction that Jesus Christ is coming soon in the least! Far from it!

While I don't pretend to know exactly how or precisely when the remaining unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible will be fulfilled, the evidence is piling up that the time when they will be fulfilled is drawing near. In fact, the time may well be at the door! Thus, the incredible need to come to faith in Jesus Christ TODAY!