"We will certainly help the Palestinians" he said. And so Iran, whose president has called for Israel to be wiped off the face of the map, has now said that it will provide financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Isn’t this interesting? If the democratically elected president of Iran calls for Israel to be wiped out, and if the Palestinians vote into power an organization committed to Israel’s destruction—they must be accepted as respectable regimes in the civilized world. And so we see a campaign now in process through the media, to white-wash Hamas. The hope is that the Hamas leadership will be persuaded to change its public image—and so it is that this group of terrorist gangsters receives an official invitation to hold talks in Moscow, sometime in March.

Not only that, but France backs Russia’s efforts to reach out to Hamas. A headline of one news report was: "RUSSIA AND FRANCE REACH OUT TO HAMAS." While that is going on, the other arch-enemy of Israel—Iran—is also having talks with the Russians. These talks are about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a matter that is discussed in the current issue of The Bible magazine in the article headed "Iran: Playing with fire." In that article we have suggested that Iran will be subject to heavy pressure in order to give ground. On the one hand there is the threat of a military strike against her by the United States—and in fact, articles in The Sunday Telegraph (UK). and in The Jerusalem Post are saying that preparations are being made for that possibility. Russia is offering Iran a way out of the crisis, saying that it is prepared to enrich uranium for her energy requirements and thus ensure that the nuclear energy is only used for peaceful projects. What that means of course, is that Russia ends up being in control of the nuclear energy. A very desirable situation for Russia, but not so hot for Iran! So the talks are a little difficult. Mr putin is reported by Reuters (February 22) as saying: "The negotiations are not easy but we are counting on reaching a positive result...We are not losing optimism." A member of the Russian delegation is reported as saying: "We will keep the door open right up until the last minute." Just what the alternative at "the last minute" might be, was not explained!

And so we see both Hamas and Iran being hugged by the Russian Bear—while France cheers on the development. In the light of Bible prophecy this is all very interesting—especially as it is all coming about under the banner of democracy. The United States says that it champions Democracy and has been doing everything it can to promote that political philosophy in the Arab world. But when the Islamic world votes for the destruction of Israel and for a Terrorist organization, as has been seen in both Iran and in the Palestinian areas—where does it leave the Americans; and what happens to the War on Terror? Democracy in the modern world is a political philosophy that owes its origin to the French Humanist philosophies which arose during the 1700’s. It is essentially a French-like spirit. It emerged as a political force in the French Revolution of 1789 and following the "Reign of Terror," was spread throughout Europe by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800’s. It erupted again in Europe in 1848 (the socalled Year of Revolutions), and always brought in its wake bloodshed, violence and terror. In 1917 it erupted in Russia with the Russian Revolution—and again it was of the same character. This was the voice of the people, the power of the masses. Now the Scripture identifies this spirit for us in the 16th chapter of the Revelation. It is described in symbolic language which few are able to decipher. But it is identified by an ancient emblem of the Barbarian Franks—and this was the frog—as seen on various shields and pendants of Clovis, the king of the Franks or French. An illustration of this can be seen on the printed version of The Bible in the News this week. This spirit or philosophy is referred to in the words of Revelation chapter 16, verses 13 & 14. Let’s read it: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." —Rev 16:13-14. This subject was dealt with in an issue of The Bible Magazine in 1997. It was volume 11, issue No. 2. But long before that a Christadelphian writer in 1849, John Thomas, wrote of this unclean spirit as follows: "This power is antagonistic to all peace, law, and order. It is known amongst the nations by various names, such as socialist, communist, physical force chartism, red republicanism, democracy, Owenism, atheism, locofoism. etc. etc.; the essence of all these is one and indivisible. It is a monster, but necessary, evil in the world. It is an evil like the flood, that will aim to destroy everything before it, until the time arrives for its inundation to be stayed by the direct interposition of the Almighty."

That is what we are seeing in the form of democracy that has brought Iran and Hamas to power. It will be nurtured by the Russian Dragon and by the European Beast. Its objective says the Revelation, will be to gather the nations to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. So this is a spirit that will move the rulers of Europe and the world, to become hostile towards Israel. The Islamic world will be joined to the Catholic-Christian world and they will look for ways to wipe Israel off the face of the map—for ways to dismantle the State of Israel. The Bible tells us that this is where these events are heading. As the passage from Revelation 16 says— and it is in verse 15— the Lord will come as a thief at this time and, verse 16, Armageddon will follow. And through THAT means Christ’s power will be established and the Kingdom restored to Israel. What exciting times we live in! What a terrible time lies ahead for those who oppose God and His chosen people! May a vision of the Truth sustain us as we await his coming. Hope to be with you again next week God willing.