december 1998 vol. 1, no. 4 the millennium bug— is the ... · we anticipate one, maybe two heavy...

alled the El Ni�o of computer-based communication, the mysteri-

ous Y2K (year two thousand) problem is atopic of much conversation. What is beingdone about it? Should you be concerned?

While conducting business recentlyin a branch of a major American bank, Iasked a bank officer if the bank is readyfor the Y2K problem. When she looked atme with a quizzical expression and saidshe had no idea what that meant, I thought,This does not bode well for what littlemoney I have in the bank if there really isa serious problem! Another bank patronspoke up and said, ÒOh, you mean theMillennium bugÓ whereupon the light ofrecognition dawned in the eyes of thebank officer. She quickly assured us, ÒOhyes, weÕre completely prepared for that.

We anticipate one, maybe two heavy busi-ness daysÑnothing more.Ó

Only a busy day or two? Not every-one is so nonchalant or confident.

The Armed forces of Canada are onstandby, ready to provide backup for civilauthorities in the event of chaos when themillions of embedded computer chips turntoÑor crash atÑthe beginning of the year2000. Police forces in Toronto andVancouver as well as the RCMP havebeen notified that no personnel will beallowed to take vacation time from a fewdays before the end of 1999 over into theyear 2000. MontrealÕs fire department isinstituting a similar Y2K vacation ban, asis the Calgary police force. That doesnÕtmean that the Canadian military or civilauthorities know that chaos will strikeÑ

nobody knows. It does mean that thethreat is being taken seriously by morethan just doomsayers.

Y2K is shorthand for the year 2000.Concern is rife that devices with built-incomputer chips will cease to function atthe beginning of the year 2000 becausetheir programming does not recognize thatdate. Prophets of Y2K terrors warn of thesudden failure of devices that utilize pre-programmed chips, including cars, airlinenavigation, medical equipment (such aspacemakers), virtually all communica-tions systems, and most businessesÑfromthe producers of food to the trucking firmsthat distribute it to the supermarketshelves! Dire predictions have been wide-ly circulated about these concerns.

In This Issue...RReligious Deception — Religious Deception — Russia’ussia’s Nuclear Arsenal — Ws Nuclear Arsenal — World Neworld News Rs Review — eview —

ThThe Citadel and the Citadel and the Carae Caravvan — Tan — Turning Swurning Swords Into Ploords Into Plowwsharesshares

December 1998 Vol. 1, No. 4

The Millennium Bug— Is the Threat Real?

Concern that critical computer chips will cease to function at the beginning of the year 2000.

by Cecil E. Maranville

CC

(See ÒBUGÓ page 3)

The United Church of God provides World News andProphecy (WNP) as an educational service for interestedpersons. The purpose of WNP is to help readers discernthe times and increase their awareness and understandingof current events in the light of Bible prophecy. Althoughthe staff strives for truth and accuracy in its reporting,analysis, and Bible commentary, WNP is not a doctrinalpublication. Articles do undergo both an editorial and areview process.

World News and Prophecy s published monthly by the UnitedChurch of God, an International Association, 5405 DupontCircle, Suite A, Milford, OH 45150. © 1998 United Church ofGod, an International Association. Printed in the U.S.A. Allrights reserved. Reproduction in any form without written per-mission is prohibited.

The mission of World News and Prophecy (WNP) is to pro-vide our membership and interested persons with commentaryand analysis of selected world news topics in the light of Bibleprophecy.

Its purpose is to help readers discern the times and increasetheir awareness and understanding of the answers Christ gave toHis disciplesÕ questions: ÒTell us, when will these things be? Andwhat will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?Ó(Matthew 24:3).

Editor: Don WardManaging editor: Darris McNeely

Senior editor: Melvin RhodesContributing editor: John Ross Schroeder

Copy editor: Cecil E. MaranvilleLayout/design: Peter W. Eddington

Scriptural references are from the New King JamesVersion (© 1988 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers) unless other-wise noted.

Subscriptions: World News and Prophecy is sent free to themembership of the United Church of God, and all who request it.There is no subscription price. To request a subscription, write toWorld News and Prophecy, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH45254-1027, or download a copy off our Web site athttp://www.ucg.orgAddress changes: POSTMASTERÑSend address changes toWorld News and Prophecy, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH45254-1027.

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2 World News and Prophecy

December 1998 Vol. 1, No. 4 ContentsThe Millennium Bug—Is the Threat Real?

by Cecil E. Maranville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1

Religious Deception in the Post Modern World

by Donald Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4

Russia’s Dangerous Nuclear Arsenalby Mario Seiglie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8

The Citadel and the Caravanby Melvin Rhodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 10

In Brief... World News Reviewby Cecil Maranville, Fred Nance, David Palmer, John R. Schroeder . . . . . page 12

Book Reviewby John R. Schroeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 14

This Is the Way... Turning Swords IntoPlowshares: Starting Now

by Robin Webber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 16

Another area of much concern is that of financial transac-tions. From governments to grocery stores, computers are used tobuy and sell. Will your life be turned upside down by Y2K? Willyou be unable to access your money in the banks? Will you be ableto purchase food, water and other necessary commodities?

The Truth isÑItÕs Difficult to Say

One assessment characterizes the Y2K problem as the ÒElNi�oÓ of the vastly complex world of computer-based communi-cation. That is, there may be devastating and catastrophicÒstormsÓÑor there may be nothing other than the ordinary glitch-es. ThatÕs one of the more evenhanded predictions opined on thesubject, as forecasts vary from a complete breakdown of life as weknow it to what would amount to an extremely loud false alarm.

One thing is for certain: a lot of money is being spent to ensurethat the Y2K problem (if there is one) is minimized, if not elimi-nated. Otis is in the process of checking the roughly one millionelevators it maintains, not really anticipating any problem with itsown systems, but rather potential problems interacting with securi-ty systems in the buildings that have Otis elevators. The WorldTrade Center has ordered a replacement for its parking system,fearing that the present one is not Y2K compliant.

British Telecom has already spent £350 million on the problem;Railtrack has spent £150 million to prevent rail disruption in Britain.The British government is offering to train up to 20,000 people fromsmall companies to be Òbugbusters,Ó able to help their companiesavoid any Y2K catastrophe. The allocated budget for this project?Ñ£100 million!

Similar to their Canadian counterparts, British police forceswill cancel all leaves over the four-day extended Millenniumbank-holiday next year. The British army is also preparing a pro-gram of emergency transportation for assisting police forces in theevent of a serious Y2K-caused breakdown in computer-controlledservices. Downing Street has denied that the military is involvedin any Òdoomsday scenario,Ó and emergency plans are being laidout in a quiet and low-key manner.

What possible problems do the British foresee? ÒThe planneduse of army Chinook helicopters to airlift police around the coun-try raises the prospect of the motorway chaos because of the shut-down of the computer-controlled anti-congestion warning sys-tems. Millennium bug problems are also officially regarded asposing a potential threat to electricity and telecommunications ser-vicesÓ (ÒArmy on Standby over BugÓ by Alan Travis ©1998Guardian Media Group).

Operation Abacus is theCanadian militaryÕs name for itsemergency plan. ItÕs named afterÒan ancient Chinese bead-and-string calculator that needs nopower and is not susceptible

to glitchesÓ (ÒArmy Fears CivilChaos from Millennium BugÓ by

Jeff Sallot and John Saunders, ©1998 The Globe & Mail).

An honest assessment is offered in the same article. ÒNo oneknows [emphasis mine throughout] whether a common program-ming flawÑa seemingly small matter of dealing with datesbeyond 1999Ñwill cause cascading failure in the worldÕs com-puter systems, knocking out in the dead of the Canadian wintermachines that run everything from traffic lights to nuclear reac-tors. It could turn out to be one of historyÕs great anticlimaxes, butthe armed forces are taking no chances.

ÒNavy captains have been told their ships may have to dockto serve as garrisons, power plants, field hospitals and soupkitchens.

ÒAs police, fire and other civilian emergency services maketheir own plans, military commanders have been told that meetingthe threat of the year 2000 bug is their highest priority and will bethe focus of all training from January on. The equipment purchas-es that do not contribute to the effort are to be postponedÓ (op. Cit.The Globe & Mail).

Some Envision Immense ProblemsÑOthers See Little Threat

Is this all a ÒTempest in a Teapot?Ó Perhaps so, according to LeeGomes of the Wall Street Journal. ÒMoreover, the extent of the dam-age caused by Y2K bugs in embedded chips is likely to be relative-ly limited. For example, a traffic light with a Y2K problem probablywouldnÕt stop working, but it may be out of synch [sic] with thelights at other intersectionsÓ (ÒWill Computer Chips Go down Whenthe Year 2000 Arrives?Ó © 1998 Dow Jones & Co., Inc.).

On the other hand, concerns about building security systemsappear to be legitimate. They Òneed to work with dates and areusually programmed to open all doors in the event of a glitch. Thatis one reason that most state prison systems now have active Y2KeffortsÓ (op. Cit. The Wall Street Journal).

Many have speculated that both commercial air travel and air-freight will be interrupted, if not shut down at least temporarily, byY2K. Is the case overstated? Consider this report about a largeAmerican aircraft manufacturer: ÒBoeing Co. says it has foundembedded Y2K problems in three different on-board systemsaffecting roughly 750 of the 12,000 commercial planes it has man-ufactured over the years. In 700 of the aircraft, the embedded bugwould merely cause the year to be displayed incorrectly on a con-trol panel. In the other 50, though, the bug would keep the planefrom ever leaving the gate. One example of a problem: navigationsystems that rely on date information. [ButÉ] A Boeing official

December 1998 3

ÒBUGÓ (Continued from page 1)

(See ÒBUGS,Ó page 7)

The British army is also preparing aprogram of emergency

transportation for assisting policeforces in the event of a serious Y2K-

caused breakdown.

The British army is also preparing aprogram of emergency

transportation for assisting policeforces in the event of a serious Y2K-

caused breakdown.


hurch pews in Europe are all but emptyon Sunday mornings. Even though

European history is inextricably linked to WesternChristianity, the link seems irrelevant in the post-modern world. The countries that comprised theHoly Roman Empire show little evidence of holi-ness. Save for the peals of their bells, the impos-ing church structures of Europe are but silentrelics of the past. Europeans have little interest ortime for religion in a society given to secular pur-suits. Of the people in England who profess to beChristians, only ten percent attend church regu-larly. Even though the percentage is higher in theU.S., its social, political and educational institu-tions are secular to the core.

Yet, Bible prophecy reveals a time of reli-gious deception so great that if it were possibleÒthey shall deceive the very electÓ (Matthew24:24 KJV). The thoroughly secularized peoplesof the Western world view themselves as sophis-ticated and educated. Nothing is to be accepted asvalid, reliable or relevant unless it can be scientif-ically proven. So how are the highly sophisticat-ed, educated and scientifically oriented people ofthe Western world going to be deceived?

SatanÕs insatiable desire to be worshiped willeventually be realized. ÒAll who dwell on theearth will worship him, whose names have notbeen written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slainfrom the foundation of the worldÓ (Revelation13:8). The false prophet will unleash a barrage ofdeceptive miracles that will deceive everyone butthe very elect (Revelation 13:13, 14).

The peoples of the world are being condi-tioned to accept these miracles. Movies portrayvarious invasions from outer space. Variousforms of alien life have become common place onour television and movie screens. From Star Trek,to the American television program ÒTouched byan Angel,Ó moviemakers and television producers

are increasingly portraying supernatural charac-ters and supernatural phenomena in their produc-tions. Several of the new movie releases portrayapocalyptic events. Psychic hot lines abound.Even some in the scientific community tell us thatin all probability life exists beyond our planetearth. More and more people regularly consultvarious spiritual mediums in their quest to copewith the postmodern world.

They seem to be saying we have tried edu-cation and science and found them lacking. Asknowledge increases, and science discovers moreand more, we know less and less about the bigissues of life. ÒBut know this, that in the last daysperilous times will come:...always learning andnever able to come to the knowledge of the truthÓ(2 Timothy 3:1, 7).

Many voices are crying out concerning thehuman condition. Many of them eloquently iden-tify and articulate the root cause of the sense ofhelplessness and hopelessness that saps our cre-ative energies. When the second leading cause ofdeath for persons under thirty years old is suicide,it takes little discernment to realize the problem isspiritual.

We live in very paradoxical times. On theone hand, the world is enjoying one of the mostpeaceful periods in human history. One could eas-ily ask why all the fuss? But on the other hand,there is great unrest and dissatisfaction with thehuman condition. The gap between the rich andpoor continues to expand. Crime, disease,immorality, family decay, political corruption,aberrant behavior of all sorts, national and ethnicsquabbles, war and rumors of war, apathy andloss of vision and lack of leadership plague peo-ple around the world.

The solutions to these problems cannot besolved through science or by politicians. Theseproblems reside deep within the heart and mind of

Religious Deception inthe Post Modern World

How will the sophisticated people of the Western world be deceived?

by Donald Ward

CC

Bible prophecyreveals a time

of religiousdeception so

great that if itwere possible

“they shalldeceive thevery elect.”

humankind. These problems are spiritualin nature. Solutions can come only fromthe true source of all spiritual knowl-edgeÑthe God of Abraham, Isaac andJacob.

World Ripe for Deception

The peoples of the world have beendeceived into believing that there aremany gods, or that the true God has man-ifested Himself in different ways to differ-ent cultures. All of the worldÕs major reli-gions are looking for a great spiritualleader to come on the scene at the begin-ning of the next millennium. Christiansare looking for the return of Jesus Christas King of kings and Lord of lords. Jewsare looking for a Messiah. Hindus arelooking for Krishna. Moslems are lookingfor the Iman Mahdi. Buddhists are look-ing for the fifth Buddha. New Agers arelooking for Maitraya. The world isripe for great religious deception.

The great end-time deceptionwill parade under the banner ofChristianity. The False Prophet willdeceive the world into believing thatGodÕs true witnesses are the Beastand the False Prophet. So the Beastmakes war against GodÕs servantsand kills them (Revelation 11:7).ÒAnd those who dwell on the earthwill rejoice over them, make merry,and send gifts to one another, becausethese two prophets tormented those whodwell on the earthÓ (Revelation 11:10).One will sit in the temple of God exaltinghimself above all that is called God whileshowing himself that he is God (2Thessalonians 2:4, paraphrased).

Even though the two witnesses havepower to perform miracles and call firedown from heaven, they will not seek toglorify themselves. Their mission will beto warn people of GodÕs impending judg-ment upon all nations. Satan will deceivethe earth into believing that the plaguesthe two witnesses inflict upon the peoplesof the earth, in an effort to bring them torepentance, are not of God. Satan willcleverly reverse the roles. He will feignthe return of Christ and set himself up asGod.

Exactly how this deception will takeplace no one knows for sure, but Christ

warns us: ÒFor false christs and falseprophets will rise and show great signsand wonders to deceive, if possible, eventhe elect. See, I have told you beforehand.Therefore if they say to you, ÔLook, He isin the desert!'Õdo not go out; or ÔLook, Heis in the inner rooms!Õ do not believe it.For as the lightning comes from the eastand flashes to the west, so also will thecoming of the Son of Man beÓ (Matthew24:24Ð27).

The current pope, John Paul II,believes that after a series of heavenlysigns he will be given the authority to cre-ate a new universal religious system andrule over a church-state world govern-ment.

A former Jesuit Priest, MalachiMartin, in his book, The Keys to ThisBlood, writes of the current popeÕs devo-tion to the visions (apparitions) of Fatima.MartinÕs book reveals that the political

and religious agenda of John Paul II is dra-matically influenced by these visions.

Beginning on May 13, 1917, Marysupposedly appeared to three peasant girlsover a period of five months. During thistime she gave them three secret messages.In brief, these messages elevate Mary to aposition of worship, and demands that theworld, especially Russia, be consecratedto Mary. The visions also contain variousdetails concerning end time events thatwill afflict the world at the close of thismillennium. For example, the third visionspeaks of the great political, military andnatural disasters that will come upon theworld if the Vatican does not take theactions demanded by the messages. PopeJohn XXIII and Paul VI allegedly read themessages of Fatima but refused theirauthority. According to Malachi Martin,Pope John XXIII explained his refusal to

his papal successors by stating that,Òthese [predictions] do not concern ourtimes.Ó

Pontiff Devoted to Fatima Messages

By contrast, John Paul II is totallydevoted to carrying out the demands of theFatima messages. His devotion to the mes-sages was firmly set on the day that theTurkish assassin, Ali Agca, tried to killhim. On May 13, 1981, during a papalaudience the Pope noticed a little girl wear-ing a picture of Mary at Fatima. As thePope bent over to greet her, Ali Agca firedtwo shots at his head. The bullets missedtheir mark because at that instant the popestooped to greet the child. But the next twoshots hit his body. As the Pope recoveredfrom his wounds, he seriously consideredthe visions of Fatima in relationship to his

role in their fulfillment (Final Warningby Grant Jeffrey page 157).On the first anniversary of the assas-

sination attempt, John Paul held a spe-cial service at Fatima in which heaffirmed his commitment to obeyingthe commands in the visions ofFatima. His personal motto is ÒTotusTuusÓ (entirely yours). He publiclyprofesses that his life is motivated anddirected by Mary.John Paul II firmly believes that he is

destined to be the pope that fulfills thethird vision of Fatima. According toMalachi Martin, the Pope is waiting for agreat miraculous intervention from heav-en that will stun the world with its displayof supernatural power. The event will fea-ture an appearance of Mary in conjunctionwith the sun.

Martin writes, ÒHe is waiting, ratherfor an event that will fission human histo-ry, splitting the immediate past from theoncoming future. It will be an event onpublic view in the skies, in the oceans, andon the continental landmasses of this plan-et. It will particularly involve our humansun, which every day lights up and shinesuponÉthis earth for our eyes. But on theday of this event, it will not appear mere-ly as the master star of our so-called solarsystem. Rather, it will be seen as the cir-cumambient glory of the Woman whomthe apostle describes as Ôclothed with the

December 1998 5

John Paul II is totally devoted tocarrying out the demands of theFatima messages. His devotion tothe messages was firmly set on

the day that the Turkish assassin,Ali Agca, tried to kill him.

sunÕ and giving birth to a Ôchild who willrule the nations with a scepter of iron.ÕFissioning it will be as an event, in JohnPaulÕs conviction of faith, for it willimmediately nullify all the grand designsthe nations are now forming and willintroduce the Grand Design of manÕsMaker. John PaulÕs waiting and watchingtime will then be over. His ministry as theServant of the Grand Design will thenbegin. His strength of will to hold on andcontinue, and then when the fissioningoccurs, to assume that ministry, derivesdirectly from the Petrine authority entrust-ed solely to him the day he became Pope,in October of 1978. That authority, thatstrength, is symbolized in the Keys ofPeter; washed in the human blood of theGod-Man Jesus Christ. John Paul is andwill be the sole possessor of the Keys ofthis Blood on that dayÓ (The Keys of ThisBlood by Malachi Martin). Martin allegesthe Pope believes that this phenomenonwill give him the authority to create a newreligious order and rule over a newchurch-state world government.

Marianism IncreasinglyPopular

Couple the fact of apparitions ofMary occurring all over the world andJohn PaulÕs commitment to ecumenism,and you have the formula for great reli-gious deception. These supposed appear-ances of Mary basically coincide with thevisions of Fatima. That is, Mary has beensent to warn the world that unless theyrepent and become consecrated to her,God will bring severe plagues on the earth.

Web sites dedicated to disseminatingMaryÕs messages to the faithful abound incyberspace. Of these sites, the Medjugorjesite is perhaps the most notable. The siteÒis dedicated to providing informationabout one of the most incredible andimportant supernatural events of ourtime.Ó Since 1981, Mary has been appear-ing and giving messages to the world in asmall village named Medjugorje inBosnia-Herzegovina. Her messages arecommunicated through Òvisionaries.Ó(The ÒvisionariesÓ Mirjana, Vicka, Jacovand Ivanka, reside in Medjugorje. There isone other visionary, Marija, who currentlyresides in Italy.) The visionaries receive

the pilgrims daily (Medjugorje Web site).Mary tells the ÒvisionariesÓ that God

has sent her to our world, and that the timeshe is spending with us is a time of gracegranted by God. Millions of people fromaround the world have visited the site.Thousands of believers claim that theyhave been healed and converted as a resultof visiting Medjugorje. Throughout themonth of September in the shrine of theQueen of Peace in Medjugorje, 114,000Òholy communionsÓ were distributed and2,732 priests from around the world con-celebrated ÒHoly Mass.Ó

According to the Medjugorje Website: ÒMedjugorje is the continuation of

Fatima.... Through her presence inMedjugorjeÑin this year dedicated to herSon, Savior of the world, sheÑthe motherof God, continues to encourage us to fol-low the pope, the vicar of Christ, whereverhe goes. Medjugorje has become likeFatima, an international center of prayerand of spiritual sustenance for the univer-sal church and, in a particular way, for theministry of Pope John Paul II. One reasonwhy the Queen of Peace came to the vil-lage of Medjugorje was to confirm theÔTotus TuusÕof the Holy Father by helpinghim carry to the end the immense work theLord has entrusted to him. This workentrusted by the Lord to the Holy Father, ashe himself often recall, is the task of bring-ing the church in the third millennium.Ó

The Marian Web sites are totally

committed to helping John Paul II fulfillthe visions of Fatima and Medjugorje.These visions call upon the Vatican andthe Pope to usher in a new world order.The pope delivers from time to time ÒTheNovus Ordo (New Order) Mass.Ó TheMarian Web site, Yellowstone, greets itsvisitors by stating: ÒWelcome to one of thebusiest sites on the Internet covering thenefarious new world order from aChristian perspective.Ó Yellowstone offersa book titled ÒRebuking the New WorldOrder.Ó In their view, the creation of a neworder is reserved for John Paul II. Theyreason that John PaulÕs Ònew orderÓ willderive its authority directly from God. Soany other Ònew orderÓ is of the Devil.

John Paul is working feverishly tounite the people of the world under thebanner of religion. In his Papal Encyclicaltitled, ÒUt Unum SintÓ (That They MayBe One) he writes: ÒI myself intend topromote every suitable initiative aimed atmaking the witness of the entire Catholiccommunity understood in its full purityand consistency, especially consideringthe engagement which awaits the churchat the threshold of the new millennium.That will be an exceptional occasion, inview of which she asks the Lord toincrease the unity of all Christians untilthey reach full communionÉThis is thespecific duty of the Bishop of Rome as thesuccessor of the Apostle Peter. I carry outthis duty with the profound conviction thatI am obeying the Lord, and with a clearsense of my own human frailtyÉTogetherwith all ChristÕs disciples, the CatholicChurch bases upon GodÕs plan her ecu-menical commitment to gather allChristians into unity.Ó

Pope Sees One Spirit in All

The PopeÕs tactical strategy for bring-ing the nations of the world togetherthrough religious unity centers around thepresence and action of the ÒspiritÓ in otherreligions and in the world. In an articletitled, ÒPresence and Action of the HolySpirit in The World and In OtherReligions,Ó Giovanni Cereti writes,ÒSincere and full recognition of theSpiritsÕs action in the world and amongnon-Christians, fully constant with biblicalfacts, has come about in the Catholic


Web sites dedicated to disseminating Mary’s

messages to the faithfulabound in cyberspace.

stressed that these problems arenÕt likelyto occur because the systems will havebeen updated by customers by next yearÓ(op. Cit. The Wall Street Journal).

On the other hand, the British gov-ernment, once again, is taking the possi-bility of air traffic problems seriously.ÒThe Department of Transport has alreadytalked of banning some flights from ThirdWorld airlines to the U.K. because ofexpected computer-related problems indeveloping countriesÓ (op. Cit. GuardianMedia Group). More than a few expertswarn that while computers in the westernworld may be made Y2K compliantbefore the deadline, linkage with comput-ers in the developing world that are farbehind the technological curve will crashthe entire communications system.

What about medical equipment?Should users of pacemakers fear their sud-den failure? Indications are that problemswill not be serious. Thomas B. Shope,who works on the Y2K problem with theFood and Drug Administration, called theidea that pacemakers will stop workingnext year Òan urban legend,Ó adding that,ÒImplanted devices donÕt depend on thedate.Ó In addition, the FDA Òhas sent Y2Ksurveys to nearly 2,000 medical-devicemakers and has so far heard back fromtwo-thirds of them. While scores of testingand diagnostic devices may have someproblems unless they are updated, most ofthe problems will be small, like displayinga date incorrectlyÉÓ (op. Cit. The WallStreet Journal).

Disaster Preparedness

Many voices can be heard calling forpeople to prepare for the ultimate cata-strophe, including no food, water, ormoney, for a protracted period of time.Certainly the Bible addresses the subjectof preparedness. We are told, for exam-ple, to consider the ways of the commonant that gathers food when it is availableagainst the times when it is not (Proverbs6:6Ð11).

On the other hand, the Christian iscounseled to avoid panic. Jesus said,ÒTherefore do not worry, saying, ÔWhatshall we eat?Õor ÔWhat shall we drink?Õ....Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow willworry about itsown things.Sufficient for theday is its own trou-bleÓ (Matthew 7:31,34).

Even if the threat of technical prob-lems associated with Y2K fizzles out,widespread panic could create the predict-ed shortages as people hoard supplies. Inthe financial markets, panicÑjustified ornotÑcan trigger disastrous results.

No matter what happens with Y2K,disaster preparedness is wise. ÒIf an earth-quake, hurricane, winter storm or otherdisaster strikes your community, youmight not have access to food, water andelectricity for days, or even weeks.Ó Sosays a brochure prepared by the FederalEmergency Management Agency in coop-eration with the American Red Cross andthe U.S. Departmental of Agriculture.

The brochure contains informationon calculating emergency food and waterneeds for your family, how to store waterand food, the shelf life of various foods,how to purify water, and provides a list ofdisaster supplies that every family shouldhave on hand. Free to the public, thebrochure can be found on the Internet athttp://www.disasterrelief.org/Library/Prepare/food.html.

Afinal word of caution: the subject ofdisaster preparedness brings out the basestelements of human nature in some people.Financial counselors stand ready to adviseyou on how you can make yourself rich bytaking advantage of the financial losses ofothers in a coming disaster. Other peopleboastfully talk of stocking up on ammuni-tion to use against any that would try totake their food and water. In such, weobserve a chilling fulfillment of the apos-tle PaulÕs prediction that Òin the last daysperilous times [times of stress] will come:For men will be lovers of themselves[selfish], lovers of money [greedy]É bru-tal [violent]Ó (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

How will the Y2K threat end? Onlytime will tell. v

Sources: Guardian Media Group © 1998;The Globe and Mail © 1998; The WallStreet Journal © 1998 Dow Jones & Co.,Inc.; U.S. Government Agencies.

December 1998 7

Church above all thanks to the courageousdeclarations made by John Paul II. In hismessage addressed from Manila to thepeople of Asia in 1981, the Pope says hehas come as a witness of the Spirit, who[sic] acts in the history of peoples andnations, and whose action thus seems notto be limited to calling non-Christians tothe Church.... In his address to the RomanCuria after the World Day of Prayer forPeace in Assisi, Pope John Paul II stressedonce more the universal presence of theHoly Spirit, stating that every authenticprayer is called forth the Holy Spirit, who[sic] is mysteriously present in the heart ofevery person, Christian or otherwise.Ó

In his Apostolic Letter for thePreparation of the Jubilee of the Year2000, John Paul explains how he hopes allChristians and peoples of other religionswill join hands in a simultaneous celebra-tion of the Jubilee in Rome and in localchurches throughout the world. The Popehopes to create a religious ground swellthat will rally the peoples of the earth tohelp him fulfill the visions of Fatima.

Can you be deceived? The ApostlePaul wrote to the church atThessalonica urging them to love thetruth so they would not be deceived.ÒAnd for this reason [not loving thetruth] God will send them strong delu-sion, that they should believe the [nota] lie) lieÓ (2 Thessalonians 2:11).What was the great lie that Paul wasaddressing at Thessalonica? He waswarning them not to believe the lie thatÒthe day of Christ had comeÓ (2Thessalonians 2:2). Paul then gavethem specific signs to watch for. Thenthe scene shifts to the end times inwhich some are deceived because theyloved not the truth and were deceived.

In view of the deceptive times inwhich we live, we must put on the wholearmor of God. Now is the time to fill ourlamps with oil. This is the time to love thetruth. This is the time to search theScriptures. Now is the time to prove allthings and hold fast to that which is good.Before ChristÕs return, Satan will estab-lish a new order that forces the world toworship him. So even though the church-es of Europe are empty today, they maybe filled tomorrow. This is indeed a timeto watch and pray as never before. v

ÒBUGS,Ó (Continued from page 3)


ussian military officers staredwide-eyed at the glowing image

on their radar screens: an incoming missile oncourse to hit Moscow in 15 minutes.... Onebuzz went to the three nuclear code briefcasesassigned to President Boris Yeltsin and his toptwo military officials. The officer carryingYeltsinÕs case rushed to the President andflipped it open. On an electronic map inside,they saw a bright dot over the Norwegian Sea.Beneath the map was a row of buttons, offeringa menu of attack options on targets in the U.S.On military bases across Russia, red lightsflashed and horns blared, alerting the troops incharge of the countryÕs strategic nuclearweapons to get ready to use them.Ó

Perhaps this may sound like another plot outof a Hollywood blockbuster movieÑbut it isnÕt.It actually happened back on January 25, 1995.How are we all still alive? LetÕs read on, asNewsweek reported in an article titled, ÒNuclearDisarrayÓ in the May 19, 1997, pages 24Ð26.

ÒYeltsin and his military commanders,linked by phone, waited to hear whether anattack had been confirmed. About 12 minutesafter the mystery missile soared onto the radarscreens, military analysts could see that it wasnot heading for Russian territory. It turned outto be a Norwegian scientific rocket sent aloft toobserve the aurora borealis. The Norwegianshad dutifully notified the Russian embassy inOslo, but the word was never relayed to the mil-itary. ÔFor a while,Õ says Sergei Yushenkov, amember of the Russian parliamentÕs DefenseCommittee, Ôthe world was on the brink ofnuclear war.ÕÓ

Mix-ups Common

Such catastrophic mix-ups are becoming morecommon. The same article mentions because ofthe lack of maintenance of their nuclear arsenal,

Òthe Russians might wrongly think they wereunder attack from the West and fire their rock-ets. This danger has greatly increased becausethe Russian early-warning system is not what itused to be. It has lost major radar stations in thenew nations of Ukraine, Latvia and others.Some of its satellite-tracking stations have goneto Ukraine, Georgia and Kazakhstan. The highcommand is now partially blind, which increas-es its apprehensions, produces false alarms andmakes good decisions harder.Ó

Defense Minister Igor Rodinov goes evenfurther. The article continues: ÒLast year[1996], the nuclear strategic forces received10.5% of the funds needed for maintenance.The result, he predicts, is that, ÔWe may losethe entire system.ÕThe links between radar andheadquarters, the computer management ofmissiles and the physical security of the war-heads could all break down.Ó

To add to their woes, troops of theStrategic Nuclear Forces (SNF) are earning anaverage of $100 to $200 a monthÑwhen theyare paid. The same article reports, ÒOne major,who has served 24 years in the SNF and willretire in six months, did not see a paycheck forfour months.Ó Another officer commented,ÒWeÕre living in poverty. ThatÕs all you need toknow.Ó

The Newsweek article concludes: ÒThepotential is there for some form of nuke-nap-pingÑgrabbing weapons for ransom ornuclear blackmailÑor sales to rogue states orterrorists, or unauthorized launches by rene-gade commanders. Some Russians even fretabout a nuclear civil war. If a region in Siberiawere to declare its independence, a retiredsenior officer in Moscow speculates, ÔTheentire missile force in the area might cut itselfoff from the chain of command and control andget re-programmed to be able to launch atwill.ÕÓ

Beneath themap was a

row of buttons,

offering amenu of

attackoptions on

targets in theU.S.

Russia’s DangerousNuclear Arsenal

In some ways, we are closer to nuclear war than we were in the 1950s and ’60s. Then, at least, the nuclear forces were well controlled and well paid.

by Mario Seiglie

ÒRÒR

personal and historical past behind onceand for all, be it people or nations.

Isaiah 58:12 (RSV) shows us thatwhen Christ comes again what this Òneworder,Ó this new and different way ofthinking, will accomplish. ÒAnd yourancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shallraise up the foundations of many genera-tions; you shall be called the repairer of thebreach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.ÓIs this simply speaking of physical ruins?Are the cities of Israel, and the rest of theworld to be rebuilt? Certainly. But howcan they be rebuilt if there is not a healingof a greater breach between nations?Today in our world, many nations cannoteven begin to build any meaningful dia-logue because of the dismal historicalruins of war or cultural misunderstanding.Most nations have not spoken the coura-geous and sensitive words of the Emperor

and Prime Minster of Japan. Neither havenations heard the response of a visionarylike the Korean President. Imagine thosefirst years of the Millennium when nationafter nation will be following in their foot-steps. No longer an anomaly, but the mostimportant step in future international rela-tionships. Diplomatic communiqu�s ofÒWe were wrong, We are sorry, We forgiveYou.Ó What a wonderful world we have tolook forward to!

This work of the future, our privi-leged opportunity now, is shown clearly inIsaiah 2:4: ÒThey shall beat their swordsinto plowshares, and their spears intopruning hooks.Ó As Òkings and priests intraining,Ó we are being called to fulfill avery tangible role in the future rebuildingof relationships between individuals, peo-ples and nations. But, before we can assistothers in bending instruments of war intoinstruments of peace, and straighten out

the seemingly endless cycle of frustrationsbetween nations, we have to do somebending and straightening in the present.We have to go to work on ourselves.

You might be saying, ÒUnthinkable!Unheard of!Ó But 50 years ago at the endof World War 11 who ever thought that theImperial Japanese Empire would one dayapologize to their former colony for thehorror inflicted upon them? WhatÕs hold-ing us back from dealing with our formeror current adversaries? Waiting till Christcomes back? God doesnÕt always grant a50-year period of reconciliation as in thecase of Japan and Korea, and He doesnÕtalways have a Ògreat fishÓ off shore as areminder of the work of reconciliation towhich we are called. Rather, He has givenus a Spirit to guide us. It is the samestraightforward and powerful Spirit ofGod that stirred the prophet to say, ÒThis isthe way, walk you in it!Ó v

December 1998 9

False Sense of Security

Meanwhile, the world is being lulled into thinking everythingis peachyÑwhen itÕs not. Another Newsweek article of June 2,1997, mentioned the current mood in the U.S.: ÒThe country hasrarely felt so secure from the threat of war. The bomb silos on theGreat Plains are on their way to becoming curious museums; totodayÕs children, the three little triangles that denote bomb sheltersmight as well be an odd form of teenage graffitiÓ (page 4).

Yet, in some ways, we are closer to nuclear war than we werein the 1950s and Õ60s. Then, at least, the nuclear forces were wellcontrolled and well paid. At that time there were only two super-powers eyeing each other. Now there are a host of nations, somewith terrorist backgrounds that could detonate a nuclear bomb.Russia still has an estimated 22,000 nuclear warheads and theU.S., 12,000. The year 1998 has been even worse for RussiaÕseconomy, and the troops have not seen their lot improved.

On the other hand, the breakdowns in the strategic nuclearsystem were so alarming in 1997 that, with the urgings of the U.S.,some improvements have taken place in 1998 to increase the secu-rity aspects of the nuclear arsenal. ÒNot all the news from Moscowis bad,Ó reports Newsweek, in the May 25, 1998, edition. ÒRussiahas sharply upgraded security at more than 30 sites containing fis-sile material.Ó

Yet, the rest of the problems still remain. How long will theunderfed and underpaid forces go on without something giving?What about the deficient radar systems? Will they continue todeteriorate as funds become scarcer? No oneknows, but the dangers of mix-ups, accidents orthefts are certainly real.

Nuclear Threat is Real

Some think that since RussiaÕs warheads(and the U.S. is presently trying to do the samewith China) are no longer pointing towards the

U.S., the world is much safer. Unfortunately, the differencebetween having them aimed or not is just a matter of a minutes.The computer memory in the missiles retain their former targets,and they can be reprogrammed very quickly. As long as Russiaremains unstable economically, politically and militarily with sucha large nuclear arsenal, the rest of the world cannot breathe a sighof reliefÑespecially the U.S.

From what has occurred so far, it appears the worldÕs danger-ous nuclear arsenal will continue to grow, especially as othernations, such as India and Pakistan, join the nuclear club. Just recent-ly, the U.S. announced it would upgrade and modernize its nuclearmissile systems so they would be in optimum condition beyond theyear 2025. Despite its economic weakness, Russia and the othernations of the nuclear club will attempt to do the same. It appears aswe enter the 21st century that the world will be chock-full of high-tech nuclear weapons, and they will be far more of a problem asmore unstable nations gain access to nuclear technology.

What we read in Matthew 24:22 certainly seems to be borneout by the facts told of our present and future generation: ÒAndunless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but forthe electÕs sake those days will be shortened.Ó

This scenario also brings to mind the issue of unawarenessand thinking everything is safe, which the Bible mentions willoccur on the earth before the coming of Jesus Christ. ÒBut takeheed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carous-ing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on youunexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwellon the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray alwaysthat you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that willcome to pass, and to stand before the Son of ManÓ (Luke21:34Ð36).

LetÕs not be lulled into a false sense of security. Things arereally not improving much on the nuclear front, especially as morenations join the nuclear club. Others, such as Iran, Iraq andLibyaÑnot to mention terrorist groupsÑare waiting in the wings.Things could heat up very quickly! v

ÒPLOW,Ó (Continued from page 15)


The Citadel and theCaravan

In explaining Europe to Americans, and America to Europeans, I have sometimes used the analogy of a citadel and a caravan. Europe is the citadel and America the caravan.

by Melvin Rhodes

rague, Budapest and Vienna are three of themost magnificent cities that any traveler can

visit. Situated right in the heart of mitteleuropa(central Europe), these Imperial cities of theHapsburgs have often shared a common history.Although the capitals of three distinct peoples,each with their own language and customs, theirhistories have been intertwined for over two mil-lennia.

What immediately strikes any American visi-tor is how old the buildings are. Most of the archi-tecture pre-dates AmericaÕs birth as a nation. Yetthese buildings are all still in daily use. Churchesthat go back the best part of 1,000 years, palaces ofthe nobility built during the golden age of theHapsburgs in the eighteenth and nineteenth cen-turies, cobbled streets that were already there thelast time the world welcomed in a new millenium,even an elaborately made church clock in PragueÕsmarket place thatÕs about 700 years old (and stillworks, in contrast to the watch I bought in HongKong three years ago).

These Cities are living and breathing history.It is difficult for those who have not had the

opportunity to travel to other continents to some-times appreciate and understand the differences inoutlook that geography and environment can leadto. In explaining Europe to Americans, andAmerica to Europeans, I have sometimes used theanalogy of a citadel and a caravan. Europe is thecitadel and America the caravan.

A citadel is a solid, permanent building, afortress designed to survive any crisis and protectthose within it from all the dangers outside. It is apermanent dwelling. A caravan is constantly mov-ing, seeking new horizons, leaving the past behind.

Citadels are Built to Last

Most buildings in America are built to last 50

years. After that, they depreciate as the buildingsneed more and more maintenance and start crum-bling. ItÕs hard for Americans to understand thatwhile older buildings in the U.S. generally arecheaper, older buildings in Europe are usuallymore expensive. The older the building, usually thebetter built (more solid), and the more likely towithstand the elements.

One reason for this difference is space. InEurope, lack of space. When Americans havemade a mess of a big city, they can move out andbuild a new city in the suburbs. Europeans, due tolack of space, do not have that luxury. They haveto rebuild the big cities. And when they rebuildthey tend to build with long-term needs in mind.Buildings are built to last.

It can also be said that the great royal dynas-ties of Europe were built to last. When Peter theGreat founded his new royal Russian capital of St.Petersburg on the banks of the River Neva, hewanted a magnificent capital that would last forcenturies, just as his dynasty would.

Similarly, the royal house of Hapsburg thatruled for centuries over Vienna, Budapest andPrague, built buildings to last. The Hapsburgdynasty lasted more than twice as long as theRussian Romanov familyÑover six centuries tothe RomanovÕs three.

Readers may remember the television seriesÒCivilizationÓ presented by the British architec-tural historian Lord Kenneth Clark, shown on theBBC and PBS over 25 years ago. Lord Clarkshowed that the great architecture, literature andmusic of western civilization was all produced inthe absolute monarchies of Europe (a put-down,incidentally, to both Britain and the U.S.). Theemperors, kings and princes of the various terri-tories sponsored their proteges, their Bachs andtheir Michelangelos. Their heritage lives on tothis day.

A citadel is asolid,

permanentbuilding, a

fortressdesigned tosurvive any

crisis andprotect thosewithin it from

all the dangers outside.

PP

What twentieth century heritage willbe passed on to future generations?

Chaos versus Continuity

This has been the century of politicalchaos in Europe, of two world wars thatended the continentÕs 500 years of worlddominance. When the great Europeanempires collapsed in the aftermath ofWorld War I, fledgling republics replacedthem that were soon overwhelmed byinternal contradictions leading to dictator-ship. The lowly born dictators of the vari-ous European countries turned out to befar worse than any of the monarchs thatpreceded them.

Europeans learned the lesson ofEcclesiastes 10:16Ð17, that rule by noblesis preferable to rule by the worst elementsof society.

Only in this decade are many of thesenations finally coming out of the dark ageof despotism and tyranny that succeededthe Romanovs, the Hapsburgs, theHohenzollerns (Germany) and theother smaller dynasties that fell atvarious times throughout the cen-tury.

The Hapsburg dynasty thatruled over central Europe fromVienna was particularly progres-sive. One of the most famousmodern Hapsburg monarchs wasthe Empress Maria Theresa, a greatreforming monarch that ruled the empirein the middle of the eighteenth century upuntil the time that the United Statesbecame a nation.

Perhaps the greatest achievement ofthe Hapsburgs was to rule peacefully andprogressively over many nations in cen-tral Europe, uniting them when theymight otherwise have been constantlyfighting each other. This unity alsoenabled most of Europe to avoid rule bythe Islamic Ottoman Turks who con-quered most of south eastern Europe, butwere held back at the gates of Vienna in1688 by fighting men from all the nationsthat then comprised the Austrian Empire.The Polish pope, John Paul II, joined inthe tercentenary celebrations markingthis victory ten years ago, rememberingthe sacrifices of his Polish ancestors inthe battle.

ReligionÑCatholic and Protestant,Moslem and JewishÑhas played a majorrole in central EuropeÕs history, a subject Iwill examine in a future issue of WNP.

E.U. Built Like a Citadel

AustriaÕs name in German isOsterreich, the eastern empire. Whereasthe other reich, the German Reich, histor-ically looked west, this Germanic Reichlooked east. The weaker nations of theeast became a part of the Austrian Empire,the lands of the Hapsburgs, subdued, yes,but also benefiting from the peace thatunity brought. The peoples of these othernations looked west, to Vienna, for hun-dreds of years. The PopeÕs home city ofKrakow did not look to Warsaw, PolandÕspresent capital, but to Vienna, the capitalof the Empire of which it was a part. Thesame was true of Prague, Budapest,Sarajevo and Bratislava.

Is it any wonder then that the newly

freed nations of eastern Europe are nowlooking west, to Vienna and throughVienna to the nations of the EuropeanUnion, of which Austria is a member?Anxious to distance themselves from theirformer Soviet masters, these nations seekrapid membership in the E.U.

But the E.U. is being built in typicalEuropean fashion. Like a citadel. And ittakes time to build a citadel. One of themost magnificent buildings in Praguetook almost 600 years to complete. Thevision of those who laid the foundationstone of this great cathedral was not real-ized in their lifetime, but they still built itbecause they were convicted it needed tobe built.

The E.U. began in a small wayshortly after World War II, with just threesmall nations, Belgium, Luxembourgand Holland. By 1957 it had become theEuropean Economic Community with

six members (West Germany, France andItaly were added). Sixteen years later, itwas enlarged to include the UnitedKingdom, Ireland and Denmark. Nowthere are fifteen member countries and awaiting list of almost as many.

Steady Progress in the E.U.

But expansion does not take placeuntil previous gains have been solidified,just as a building must have a solid foun-dation before a higher floor is added. Abadly built building in the United Statesmay fall down with only minor conse-quences, but when there is no space tomaneuverÑas in EuropeÑthe resultcould be disastrous. There have beenmany badly built ÒbuildingsÓ erected thiscenturyÑGermanyÕs Second and ThirdReich, the communist Soviet Union,FrancoÕs Spain, Vichy France and theFourth Republic; along with artificialnations like Czechoslovakia and

Yugoslavia that could not holdtheir minorities together underone flag.

The E.U. progresses slowly,ensuring that each level andevery step of the Citadel is builtto last. The most demanding con-struction work lies still aheadÑthe gradual introduction of theeuro beginning January 1st, fol-

lowed by further steps to full politicaland military union.

Revelation 17:12Ð13 suggests afuture action that would lead to a supra-national leader who will preside over thenew united Europe. ÒAnd the ten hornswhich you saw are ten kings, which havereceived no kingdom as yet; but receivepower as kings one hour with the beast.These have one mind and shall give theirpower and strength unto the beast.Ó Thisscenario is similar to the cautious mannerin which other steps have been taken onthe road to European unity.

ÒUnless the Lord shall build thehouse, the weary builders toil in vain,Ósays a pertinent scripture. Prophecyshows that this attempt at full Europeanunification will not last, that the kingdomwith the most solid foundation of all willreplace itÑthe Citadel built to last foreternity, the kingdom of God. v

December 1998 11

The most demanding constructionwork lies still ahead—the introductionof the euro followed by further steps

to full political and military union.

ManitobaÕs Francophone Perspective on Quebec

French explorers once roamed the vast Canadian wilderness,setting up communities not only in Quebec but in villages scat-tered across Canada. None outside Quebec was more dynamicthan the French-speaking enclave of St. Boniface. But bigotry,sometimes sanctioned by provincial officials, wreaked havoc onthis Francophone community, and the example of what happenedhere is cited as a prime reason why some French Canadiansbelieve Quebec should become an independent country.

Simply put, the fear is that CanadaÕs English-speaking major-ity could eventually overwhelm the language and culture ofFrancophone Canadians. French-speaking Canadians who werepupils in St. Boniface in the 1940s And 1950s still vividly recallhow their language was banned and how they were forced to hidetheir textbooks when provincial school inspectors came around toensure that nobody was being taught French.

Today there are 4,400 students studying in French at 22schools run by The Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine, butmany French-speakers fear the modest gains they have made inthe recent past could be wiped out if Quebec secedes.

The November election in Quebec is as much a vote of con-fidence in the Canadian dream of a bilingual nation from coast tocoast as on whether to elect a government committed to holdinganother referendum on Quebec secession.

If Quebecers re-elect their secessionist government onNovember 30, they may soon be asked to cast their votes on thesame issue put to them three years ago in a referendum that camewithin an ace of splitting Canada apart.

Although Manitoba was admitted into Canada as a bilingualprovince in 1870, the right to French-language education was notguaranteed and was abolished 20 years later. In Quebec, what isnow known as the ÒManitoba Schools QuestionÓ was seen as themost significant loss of French rights in non-Francophone Canada.

Some fear this could be repeated if Quebec separates. ManyFranco-Manitobans such as Francine Martin take a more cautiousview of their future in a Canada without Quebec. ÒI think French-language services will be the first thing to go including Frenchlanguage schools.Ó

Source: Reuters News Agency

Illness Tied to Global Warming

Global warming could trigger an explosion of life threaten-

ing infectious diseases in areas where they are not now present,according to a recent report released by the World Wildlife Fund.The report cites malaria, cholera, dengue fever, yellow fever andencephalitis among diseases likely to crop up as gases collect inthe atmosphere and warm the earth.

WWF released the report at the Climate-Change conferencein Buenos Aires in early November

Source: National Post

Korean Concerns

Much press has been given to the ongoing Iraqi crisis, butrecent actions by the North Korean government are setting offalarms. The Korean peninsula was called Òthe most unpredictablesecurity tinder box in the worldÓ in a recent Boston Globe article.

North Korea fields the worldÕs second-largest army, adding13,000 soldiers and 900,000 reservists last year alone, in spite ofwidespread food shortages and even famine. U.S. intelligencesays the country has three nuclear devices. Recent missile launch-es demonstrated North Korean capability to reach all of SouthKorea, Japan, and Okinawa.

For perspective, contrasting North Korea with Iraq, theNorth Koreans have thousands of tons of chemical and biolog-ical weapons along with the capacity to use them. TheCommunist Koreans have also openly threatened the 37,000U.S. troops based in South Korea, and recently refused to allowweapons inspectors access to sites of suspected undergroundnuclear facilities.

Sources: The Arizona Republic, © 1998 ; Eric Margolis, ©1998

Europe Seeks Military Role

ÒIn a series of recent speeches and articles, British PrimeMinister Tony Blair has pushed the long-debated issue of aÔEuropean defense identityÕ to thefore, urging Europeans to create themeans to do more for their ownsecurity without undermining theAtlantic allianceÓ (ÒEurope SeeksOwn Credible Military RoleÓ ©1998 Reuters).

Citing the recent crises in Iraq and Kosovo, European foreigndefense ministers discussed the need to create a European defensestructure at their meeting in mid November. Such a structure willnot be easy to put together, given the complex relationship

In Brief...World News Review


between the European Union, the Western European Union andNATO.

Source: Reuters, ©1998

Killer Germs for Sale

The special insight team of reporters for the well-respectedSunday Times has uncovered a number of laboratories around theworld willing to sell or export highly lethal biological agentscapable of killing thousands of people in one go for a mere$1,000. Posing as representatives for a medical lab in Africa,these undercover men were offered samples of anthrax and bru-cella by a lab in Indonesia.

This Asian plant made no check on their identities or evenasked how these lethal products might be used. No questionsasked! Another group of Sunday Times reporters were offeredlethal botulinum bacteria by another plant in the Czech Republic.These two labsÑone in Eastern Europe and one in the Far EastÑare among about 450 germ collectors globally. Some 50 offeranthrax; about 35 trade in the deadly botulinum bacteria, and so on.

Undercover British reporters contacted about 20 of theseplants pretty much at random, including three in Mexico, Braziland China. These latter ones did ask for an export license beforeapproving the sale.

Microscopic amounts of these germs can kill hundreds atonce if either inhaled or consumed in contaminated food prod-ucts. Rogue countries such as North Korea and Iraq, along withvarious terrorist cells scattered throughout the world, are suspect-ed of buying and storing these incredibly lethal biological agents.Several British politicians are, therefore, currently clamoring formuch tighter international controls.

One particular feature article concluded with these words:ÒThe CIA has warned that biological and chemical weapons rep-resent the most urgent long-term threat to the West. There arefears that anyone with a basic scientific knowledge and a back-room laboratory could use the bugs to make biological weapons.Ó

Source: The Sunday Times, 22 November 1998 (two featurearticles)

World Becoming Uninsurable?

The worldÕs major insurance firms are circulating a Òclimatedisaster mapÓ that combines the impacts of climatic events causedby El Ni�o and those predicted to result from increased globalwarming. A disaster assessment expert voiced the sober predictionthat, ÒWe are fast approaching the situation were some parts of theworld are becoming uninsurableÓ (ÒClimate Disaster MapPinpoints ÔNo-GoÕAreas for InsurersÓ by Nick Nuttall, The Times).

The map indicates reduced rainfall in the grain-growingareas of the U.S., at the same time as rising sea levels and heavystorms threaten islands and the Caribbean, Indian, and Pacificoceans with severe flooding. Britain can anticipate buffetingwinds from the Atlantic, as well as flooding along the coastline ofthe North Sea.

According to a U.N. official, ÒI am quite certain that there aresome areas which will be unprotected and may disappear[emphasis ours]. A major problem is brewing.Ó

Source: Times Newspapers Limited, © 1998

Euro Ahead of U.S. Dollar

ÒFollowing its August 26 peak, the dollar has literallycrashed, first against the D-mark and Swissie, and then against theYen. The collapsing dollar has set off a run [on] U.S. bonds, as over-seas bond-buyers rush to cash in their profits. In the meantime,EuropeÕs single new currency, the euro, has surged against the dol-larÓ (Richard RussellÕs Dow Theory Letters, October 21, 1998).

The euro was valued at 1.12 U.S. dollars in October 1997and surged to 1.24 U.S. dollars by October 1998. And that isbefore anyone can actually buy euros at the banksÑwhich willnot be possible until 2002. As strange as it may seem, Òfor threeyears the euro will exist only as a sort of virtual money alongsideof the existing currenciesÓ (ibid. November 18, 1998).

ÒNote: Consider this, the 11 Ôeuro nationsÕ have a net posi-tive trade balance of $140 billion a year. The U.S. has a negativetrade balance for above $100 billion a year. How long can this goon and the dollar still hold up?Ó (ibid. November 18,1998).

Is Anyone Watching Latin America?

ÒThe next near-death experience for world financial mar-kets will occur in Brazil-within weeks, or even days.Consequences for North America could be catastrophic.... Brazil,with 164 million people, accounts for nearly half of LatinAmericaÕs total economic activity.... If Brazil implodes,Argentina, Chile, and Mexico could quickly follow. Venezuela isalready in a tailspin and has recently devalued. Now, the reallyscary part...if BrazilÕs economy comes crashing down, and takesthe rest of the continent with it, American business and banks willbe dealt a devastating blow that will dwarf the Asian crisis inmagnitude and severity. U.S. banks have far more loan exposureto Latin America than they did in Asian or RussiaÉ

ÒThe financial world is overseen by three economic greateconomic powerhouses. Japan is overlord of AsiaÕs finances.Western Europe dominates East Europe and Russia. The U.S.Õsbailiwick is Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.Japan, mired in deep recession, has failed visibly to defend Asia.Europe has done no better in Russia. If the United States fumblesits financial manifest destiny in Latin America, head for the stormcellars [emphasis ours]Ó (ÒStorm Warnings in BrazilÓ by EricMargolis, October 8, 1998).

Europe Increases Its Presence inLatin America

The eighth Latin American summit was held in Oporto,

December 1998 13


Portugal, in October with some interesting results. At this summitit became clear that the Europeans, led by the Spanish, are toincrease their presence in Latin America, most of which was for-merly Spanish colonial territory.

The door is opening for Europe in the region becausethe United States has suspended further development of anInter-American free trade zone due to congressional oppo-sition.

Spain initiated this forum, making it the Òbridge countryÓbetween Europe and Latin America. European trade is growing inthe region, spurred by an interest in one of the worldÕs most attrac-tive emerging markets. Trade among the eight largest LatinAmerican economies and their top five European trading partnersreached a total of 61 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to IMFdata. Germany is Latin AmericaÕs undisputed top trading partner,

followed by Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, in thatorder.

ÒIf the United States cannot advance the hemispheric integra-tion process, Europe would be able to arrive to occupy newspaces,Ó said Miguel Rodgriguez, the president of Costa Rica.Interestingly, Latin AmericaÕs leaders will meet with the leaders ofthe European Union in their first summit in June of 1999. Themeeting will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An alliance isexpected to be proposed between both parties with political andeconomic ties.

Sources: La Nacion (Buenos Aires); The Miami Herald; LatinTrade magazine

Contributors:Cecil Maranville, Fred Nance,

David Palmer, John R Schroeder

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When Nations Dieby Jim Nelson Black

Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton,Illinois, © 1994

Review by John R. Schroeder

ÒWe are under tremendous pressures;we are confronted by a level of social

disintegration that exceeds anything wehave ever experienced in this nationÓ

Ñ Jim Nelson Black

Bill BrysonÕs new book, Notesfrom a Big Country, has only been on themarket in Britain for a few weeks, andalready it has vaulted to the top of TheSunday TimesÕ best seller list. This trav-elogue about America makes for gener-ally very pleasant, entertaining reading.

Certainly millions around the worldwill undoubtedly buy and read BillBrysonÕs new book, but in stark contrastonly a relatively few thousand have pur-chased When Nations Die, an importantwork about the darker side of Americanlife. But to ignore the unpleasant and topretend that bad things are not happeningwould be fatal to our civilization.

In recent years a number of usefulbooks have been published about thegradual weakening of traditional stan-

dards and values in the Western world.When Nations Die is one of the best onthe subjectÑperhaps mainly because itis anchored historically to the commonproblems of past civilizations and theAmerican authorÕs fundamental princi-ples are basically under-girded by bibli-cal teachings.

Jim Nelson Black has had 25 yearsexperience in several facets of the pub-lishing field. He has conducted researchat the University of Paris and received anaward from a noted French academy.The book itself is well written and read-er friendly, with many quotable state-ments.

For instance, Jim Black observedthat ÒThe entire nation must pay theprice for the arrogant defiance of DivineAuthority. The law of the land is nolonger an inviolable standard. Americanjustice is often unjust, and too manyjudges no longer subscribe to even com-mon sense principles.Ó

The author also points out thatevery single one of the ten reasons forthe decline and fall of past civilizations isÒalive and wellÓ on the contemporaryAmerican (and Western) scene. The tenwarning signs are:¥ Crisis of lawlessness¥ Loss of economic discipline

¥ Rising bureaucracy¥ Decline of education¥ Weakening of cultural foundations¥ Loss of respect for tradition¥ Increase in materialism¥ Rise in immorality¥ Decay of religious belief¥ Devaluing of human life

Although Mr Black concentrates onthe United States, the British do notescape his attention entirely: ÒBritain, onthe other hand, has turned even furtheraway from its moral and political her-itage in pursuit of a socialist utopia. Andshort of some miracle or a great spiritualawakening, even greater despair andsome final collapse may be in the picturefor Great Britain in the years just ahead.Ó

Although the United Church of Godcould not endorse everything written inWhen Nations Die (especially someaspects of the authorÕs politicalapproach), reading this book wouldenlarge our understanding of what is cur-rently happening to our Western civiliza-tion.

To conclude on a note aboutAmerica this book observes: ÒThisnation desperately needs a completerefocusing of its views and values, acomplete turnaround in its morals andbehavior.Ó v

Book Review...

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December 1998 15

totaled fewer than 50 years. IsnÕt it something we should beashamed of and something we should be reproached for by ourancestors, who forged such a history, and by our descendants?ÓHe received a standing ovation at the end of the speech.

Even so, as the old expression goes, and perhaps espe-cially with the volatile field of emotions that forgiveness cancause to surface, sometimes it truly is Òeasier said than done.ÓMr. Sullivan brings to us this reality by stating, ÒMany conser-vatives in Japan continue to defend the occupation, saying itwas legal under international law and no different from theactions of western colonial powers of the era.Ó On Thursday,several senior lawmakers from the governing LiberalDemocratic Party protested the ideal of JapanÕs issuing anykind of apology to Mr. Kim. Likewise, it is extremely difficultfor many Koreans to move forward over the Òroadblock of thepast.Ó Mr. Sullivan offers the immensity of their new challengeto accept the Japanese apology by relating, ÒIn South Korea,where people were forced to take Japanese names, speakJapanese, attend Japanese schools and obey Emperor Hirohito,memories of the occupation are still fresh. In Seoul, a civicgroup representing South Korean women forced into sexualslavery by the Japanese military during World War 11, said itwas disappointed Ôbecause the joint announcement does noteven mention the issue of comfort women, the Japaneseeuphemism for sex slaves.ÕÓ

To say you are sorry is simply not an easy thing to do. Onthe other side of the coin, to hear others say they are sorry is notalways easy to hear, especially when you are not ready to hearit! As it is with people, so it is with nations. For all of us it isoften easier to stay in the past, where we are comfortable andcan take pity on ourselves for lifeÕs unfair turn. We becomeÒsecure in our insecurityÓ because we donÕt have to take thechallenge to live in the present, much less move towards thefuture. Tim LaHaye in his book, Anger Is a Choice, on page 116shares the comical but very real dilemma of a man Òwho rush-es into the marriage counselorÕs office and said, ÔYouÕve got tohelp me! My wife is historical!Õ ÔYou mean hysterical!Õ repliedthe counselor. ÔNo, historical! She keeps bringing up the past!ÕÓ

It is easy for both the perpetrator and the victim to sim-ply stay Òhistorical.Ó But when persons or nations begin towalk down the path of apology, the victims have to face them-selves and ask what they are made of. Some make it, somedonÕt. All we have to think of is the brother of the prodigalson, whose world seemingly came crashing down when hehad to face himself, rather than point to his brotherÕs poorchoices.

Mr. Sullivan shares in his article a pivotal and personalstatement as expressed by Emperor Akihito at the welcomingbanquet for Mr. Kim when he quotes Emperor Hirohito as say-ing, ÒHe had deep sorrow, and that the sorrow that I feel overthis never leaves my memory.Ó It is a remarkable statement bythe son of the wartime Emperor.

Forgiveness is Costly

Now it is up to the Korean populace to be able to mountthe formidable challenge of being able to forgive the Japanese.Think again of the prodigal sonÕs brother. As Tim LeHaye

relates on this pivotal moment of encounter on page 112 of hisbook: ÒForgiveness is very costly. It costs you, not the personbeing forgiven. Forgiveness means that justice will not alwaysbe fulfilled. Forgiveness does not rebuild the house that hasbeen burnt down by someone carelessly playing with matches.Forgiveness does not always put a broken marriage backtogether. Forgiveness does not restore virginity to the rape vic-tim. Forgiveness is letting go. It is the relaxation of your deathgrip on the pain you feel.Ó Le Haye quotes Archibald Hart assaying, ÒForgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you backif you hurt me.Ó Le Haye concludes with a thought by DavidAugsburger saying, ÒForgiveness seems too easy. Thereshould be blood for blood. Eye for eye.Ó

Earlier in this article the brother of the prodigal son wasmentioned as an individual who had a hard time with forgive-ness. Big brothers are not the only ones who can lack vision.Prophets, men sent from God, can also be lacking in the abili-ty to reconcile. Jonah comes to mind. It is interesting to notethat Jonah was commissioned and sent forth by God to callupon Ninevah to repent, which means to change its ways. Sucha change could possibly have led to a new form of relationshipbetween Israel and Ninevah. But as we know, Jonah could notmove beyond the desire to see Ninevah destroyed. In fact, thatis why he fled in the first place. He knew what God reallydesired. ItÕs found in Jonah 4:1Ð3: ÒBut it displeased Jonahexceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord,and said, ÔAh, Lord, was not this what I said when I was stillin my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish for Iknow that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to angerand abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doingharm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, forit is better for me to die than to live!ÕÓ

Jonah could only focus on the past relationships of hiscountry with AssyriaÑone in which Israel lived in dreadedfear of the Assyrians and their war machine. The last thing hewanted to do was deliver a message that could improve theatmosphere between their two countries. He would rather facethe jaws of a Ògreat fish.Ó In fact he felt, ÒIt is better for me todie than to liveÓ (Jonah 4:8).

Peace Must be Made

Jonah was a type of Christ, commissioned by God to goto an unbelieving people, buried in a great fish for 3 days and3 nights, ÒresurrectedÓ to new service before God and man. ItÕsfascinating that his very name means Òdove,Ó often thought ofas a symbol of peace. But it takes more than being namedÒDoveÓ or a desire for peace. God says, ÒBlessed are thepeacemakers.Ó Peace has to be built one word, one apology,and one act of forgiveness at a time. It takes vision, courage,and a willingness to see it through.

When Jesus first came and proclaimed the intent of thegospel it was very clear that he was ready to move forwardwhen it came to relationships between God and man. He tri-umphantly stated in Mark 1:15: ÒThe time is fulfilled, the king-dom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.Ó As TheInterpreterÕs Bible, page 656 states: ÒA new order is at hand.Get a new mind that fits it.Ó This was His initial callÑto put our

ÒPLOW,Ó (Continued from page 16)

(See ÒPLOW,Ó page 9)

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t times prophecy can appear foreboding, evengloomy. Especially if we focus on aspects of the his-

torical cycles of pain that humans inflict upon others that arenot quite like themselves. Christ shared in the OlivetProphecy this natural tendency brought about by deception,armed conflict, famine and pestilence. Any serious student ofthe Scriptures knows all too well the refrain Ònation will riseup against nation, and kingdom against kingdom!Ó But havewe ever considered the time when this phrase will be passe,replaced by Ònation shall apologize to nation, and kingdomwill say, ÔI am sorry to kingdomÕÓ?

You will not find much news like this today. But occa-sionally there are faint glimmers of light in current events thatoffer us a sense of the possible that lies ahead when nationshave the vision and capacity to apologize and forgive. Thequestion or concern that so often holds off reconciliationÑwhether between nations, families or individualsÑis, ÒWhogoes first?Ó

Kevin Sullivan, a reporter for the Washington PostService, writes of such a bold first step in ÒIn a First, JapanÕsLeaders Apologize to Kim for Occupation of KoreaÓ(International Herald Tribune, October 6, 1998). Mr.Sullivan spotlights the challenge, frustrations, and opportuni-ties that forgiveness between former enemies can produce.ÒEmperor Akihito and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi have

offered frank and unambiguous apologies to President KimDae Jung of South Korea for suffering Japan caused during its1910 occupation of the Korean Peninsula. In a joint statementissued by the leaders...during Mr. KimÕs state visit to Japan,Mr. Obuchi expressed Ôdeep remorse and a heartfelt apologyto the people of South Korea, having humbly accepted thehistorical fact that Japan inflicted heavy damage and pain onthe people of South Korea through its colonial role.ÕÓ

The background to this historic event makes it all the moreremarkable. ÒIt was the first written apology issued to an indi-vidual country by Japan for its actions before and during WorldWar II. In the past, Japanese leaders have expressed ÔregretÕforany suffering Japan may have caused this century, but neveroffered an outright apology or specifically mentioned Korea.Ó

Apology Accepted

It is one thing to officially apologize, another to have thatapology accepted. ÒIn a speech to the Japanese Parliament, Mr.Kim forgave Japan for its behavior during the occupation andemphasized a future of partnership between the Asian neigh-bors.Ó In a visionary thought, the South Korean leader said, ÒItis truly infantile to regard 1,500 years of exchanges and coop-eration as insignificant because of unfortunate periods that

This Is the Way...

Turning Swords IntoPlowshares: Starting Now

A nation ahead of its time in repairing the breaches.

by Robin Webber

(See ÒPLOW,Ó page 15)

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december 1998 vol. 1, no. 4 the millennium bug— is the ... · we anticipate one, maybe two heavy...

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