Weekly Prophecy Review

News from around the world...

• A 23-foot tidal wave engulfed the northwest coast of Papua New Guinea. The death toll was set at 1,200 but could rise dramatically when all the missing are accounted for.

• In Khartoum, Sudan a man who converted from the Muslim faith to Christianity will be tried on the charge of religious apostasy. If convicted Mikki Kuku, a teacher and father of 10, may be executed.

• A new International Criminal Court, headquartered in the Hague, Netherlands, has been approved by 120 nations. Despite objections from the U.S. and Israel, this Court will try cases involving war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and aggression. As reported last week, the definition of "war crimes" happened to include the establishment of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. The court will become official when it has been ratified by at least 60 nations, a process which could take up to five years.

• From the "Who cares what the Bible says about it" department: On the eve of a worldwide gathering of Anglican priests in London, a lesbian Episcopal priest, Elizabeth Kaeton of New Jersey, conducted a service, an action which was in violation of church teaching. She is one of many gays and lesbians who are calling on the church to change its position on gay marriage and the ordination of gay priests.

• One Methodist Church, however, has had enough of its denomination's lack of firmness on the issue of same-sex marriage. A Kingsburg (California) church voted to declare it is no longer part of the United Methodist Church.

• King Hussein of Jordan is ill with cancer (lymphoma). He is currently undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S.

• A U.S. federal court has found a Palestinian immigrant guilty of plotting to blow up a crowded subway station in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. The man testified (against the advice of his lawyers) that the U.S. was supporting Israel and needed to be punished. His plan was to set off a suicide bomb that would kill as many Jews as possible.

• The U.S. House of representatives voted to override President Clinton's veto of partial-birth abortions. The Senate, however, does not appear to have the votes necessary to override. No doubt, Joseph Mengle would be proud of our President and those craven Senators who seek to keep this unspeakable practice alive.

• An American intelligence satellite detected an Iranian test of a medium-range ballistic missile. That means Iran now has the capability of striking Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. American officials believe Iran purchased the missile from North Korea. Our "missile in every pot" President has already vetoed a bill calling for sanctions against nations who supply missile technology to Iran.

News from Israel...

• This week the U.S. turned down appeals from both the Palestinians and the Israelis to resume a mediation role in their peace talks. Those talks are reported to have broken down. Both both sides blame each other for the lack of progress.

• Two Jews were allowed to pray on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This did not represent a change in policy by Israeli authorities. Rather, it occurred because of a sympathetic policeman. The Israeli Parliament, however, is considering a bill which would remove restrictions on Jews who wish to pray on the Temple Mount.

• The British government has raised the status of the Palestinian mission to a "general delegation," giving it almost the same status of an embassy. (Clearly, the British never met a Palestinian they didn't like.)

• According to the U.S. Center for World Missions, there are 14,785,000 people, spread across 81 nations, who consider themselves Jews. Of these there are estimated to be 132,000 who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah.

Feature Storyette

Rabbis say "Leave your dancing shoes at home."

As part of what is becoming known as the "Jerusalem Syndrome," millions of visitors are expected to celebrate the millennium in Israel. But because December 31, 1999 falls on a Sabbath, religious authorities are proclaiming there will be no "festive celebrations with music and dancing."

The director of the Jerusalem Hotel Association laments, "We are in dire straits...No hotel in Jerusalem will celebrate the New Year, even if it is 2000."

Till He Returns...