LETTER FROM HOME (FINALLY)

Yesterday, I was able to go back to church for the first time in over four months (I’ll write about those four months later). I walked to the mailbox every day last week so that I would be able to walk into church from the parking lot, roughly the same distance.   I received a wonderfully warm reception from everybody, which was very encouraging.

It’s great to be back.

——————————————————————————————————————-

I’ve been reading a book this week on the Peasants Revolt of 1381. I know it’s over 600 years ago, but it’s still relevant and contains lessons for today, on both sides of the Atlantic. The author of the book, Alastair Dunn, even goes so far as to show that the revolution of 1381 influenced other revolutions down through the centuries, including the English, French and Russian Revolutions. The American Revolution was different as the rebel leaders were actually wealthier than those they rebelled against, which makes it unique in world history.

What I found particularly interesting is that the rebels demanded the execution of all the lawyers in the country. They even went so far as to round up any law students they could find and behead them.

Why did they do this?

They blamed the lawyers for all the restrictive and oppressive laws that had been imposed on them in recent decades.

It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that there are similarities now. Laws have been passed in recent decades that have little or no support from the people. All these laws cost money, which may explain why polls show people feel they are progressively worse off.

Nothing has changed in 3,000 years.

When the biblical prophet Samuel was asked to give them a king like the other nations, God warned the Israelites through Samuel that a king would gradually take more and more of their wealth until they would feel oppressed. The same applies in a republic. Human government is the problem.

“This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons . . . He will take your daughters . . . And he will take the best of your fields . . . He will take a tenth of your grain . . . ” (I Samuel 8). You get the picture.

Dunn’s book is titled “The Great Rising of 1381.”   It’s as relevant today as it ever was.

____________________________________________________________

Kings and money. Now there’s an interesting subject.

When King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicated a few weeks ago, he was immediately succeeded by his popular son, Prince (now King) Felipe.

The BBC interviewed people in the streets, out to celebrate the ascension of the new king.

One lady commented on how monarchy is the cheapest form of government, which happens to be true, though few realize it.

In the UK, for example, the government gives the queen the equivalent of $87 million for all the costs related to the monarchy. More than twice this amount is raised by the government from entrance tickets to the royal palaces. This effectively makes the monarchy free. Contrast the cost of the US presidential system.

It occurred to me that, if this knowledge gets around, there may be a few European countries looking to restore their thrones.

Could Revelation 17 be literal?

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” (Revelation 17:12)

___________________________________________________________

England has been on my mind a great deal the last few days, following a conversation with one of my brothers. He was talking about how Germany now controls everything and is even trying to take what’s left, including the City of London, which is still the world’s financial capital. If this happens, England will suffer a major financial setback.

Another setback is possible next month when Scotland votes on independence.

The two are connected.

If Scotland pulls out of the United Kingdom, it will have to seek closer ties with Germany, including membership of the euro. This will leave England totally isolated in Europe, surrounded by the new European (German) superpower. This situation will worsen further if England votes to withdraw from the European Union in the promised referendum.

With rising anti-semitism across Europe and newsreels showing Germans demonstrating in the streets holding up signs saying “Gas the Jews,” it’s like going back 75 years. Who says history doesn’t repeat itself?

Further danger was highlighted today by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who warned that victory for the Islamic State in Iraq would lead to the establishment of a Caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean. In turn, this would lead to terror on the streets of Britain.

I’m anxious to get over there to get the feel of things and write more extensively on the subject. This is especially important following the death of my dear friend John Ross Schroeder, who is a great loss to the COGs. John had a really good grasp of prophecy and of British and European events. His death at this time means there is nobody writing from the UK who has any great perception of history and current events.

Another friend who wrote from the UK was Rod King, who wrote for the Living Church of God’s publication. Rod is now back in his native Australia.

Three years ago John and I went to a press conference in London in connection with the upcoming celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. At the meeting, the first question asked was from Rod King. The three of us met up afterwards and went and had fish and chips at one of my favorite pubs, the Sherlock Holmes.

With John and Rod no longer writing from the UK, developments there and in Europe are likely to be overlooked, at what may be the most crucial time in their history

Bible students know that the Middle East and Europe are at the very center of prophesied end-time events.

Does anybody have any frequent flyer miles they won’t be using?