Examiner 09-23-2009: President of European Commission calls for stronger, dominant Europe

Earlier this month, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, released a proposal on how to strengthen Europe's Dominance in the world. In a 41-page document entitled"Political Guidelines for the Next Commission" he set forth several different goals he would like to see Europe achieve in the next five years under his continued leadership.

In the document, President Barroso states that he is "....convinced that Europe can, and should...provide globalisation with the leadership it needs." He goes on to say that "The European Union has had almost 60 years as a laboratory for cross border supranational cooperation, making it a natural champion of global governance." [emphasis added]

These are just a couple of the quotes from the document which is filled with references and themes of world governance and globalisation.

President Barroso's proposal appears to fit right into what the Bible prophesies regarding the last world empire. In the book of Daniel, chapter 2, Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which foretold of four world empires that would come upon the earth, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. These four world powers are reiterated in Daniel's vision found in chapter 7. The fourth kingdom will be the last kingdom in power right before Jesus comes to set up His everlasting kingdom here on earth.

Although the once powerful Roman Empire no longer exists, many prophecy scholars believe that since it did not collapse from outside powers but rather it crumbled from the inside, that it was technically never destroyed but will reemerge in the last days to set up its dominance over the whole world. Revelation chapter 17 explains in further detail this fourth world empire and more specifically about the role that the Anti-Christ will play in that kingdom.

It is evident that President Barroso is pushing for European dominance in the world and with the decline of the United States as a world superpower, it is definitely a great oppotunity for the European Union to re-assert itself on the world stage. Is President Barroso's vision of a stronger more dominant Europe the beginnings of the revived Roman Empire? Time will shortly give us the answer. Are you ready?

Examiner 09-06-2009: Russian Professor predicts collapse of U.S. in two months

Russian Professor and former KGB analyst, Igor Panarin is making waves again with the release of his new book "The Crash of America" which claims that the United States could collapse within the next two months.

Panarin first predicted a collapse of the United States back in September of 1998 by saying he believed that an economic and moral collapse would ignite a civil war which would bring an end to the country. In the late 1990's his prediction was not taken seriously in light of America's strong and growing economy, a stock market that was steadily increasing and a rising real estate market. However with the United States' economic troubles and financial calamities of the past year, people have begun to take a second look at Panarin's prediction. Now more than ever it looks as though Panarin's prediction may be validated.

Panarin has gone on the record saying that "[t]he probability that the United States will cease to exist in July 2010 is greater than 50%." He believes that the eventual collapse of the United States will divide it into six regions as shown by the map below.

Christians often wonder how America fits into Bible Prophecy and the "End Times". It is interesting to note that nowhere does the Bible specifically mention the United States. Of course there has been much conjecture as to why the greatest nation in the world would not be mentioned in the End Times prophecies of the Bible. The most obvious answer to this question may lie in the fact that America won't be around, or at least won't have the superpower status that it once had, and therefore, will not play a major role in end time events.

The decline of America has already started. It won't be too long before America which was once the greatest nation in the world, will disappear allowing for other countries, such as Europe, the Middle East, China, and Russia, (all of which are referred to in Biblical prophecies) to rise to prominence onto the world scene. Sadly, it is only a matter of time before this once great country of the United States will cease to exist. Will a collapse occur in two months or by mid-next year, as Panarin believes or will God continue to bless America for a little while longer? Whatever the answer, one thing is for sure, nations will rise and fall but the people of God will continue on and His purposes and plans for this world will never be thwarted. Are you ready?

Examiner 08-19-2009: NASA budget woes setting stage for asteroid impact events?

It's the plot of most disaster/"end-of-the-world" movies - an asteroid hurtles toward earth threatening to wipe out humanity; Sometimes mankind pulls together in order to avert the impending annihilation and sometimes the asteroid hits, killing everyone except a few lucky survivors whose job is to repopulate the earth. Maybe it was these types of scenarios, commonly referred to as impact events, that caused lawmakers to create a program in 1998 requiring NASA to monitor, detect and report, by 2020, 90% of all Near Earth Objects (NEO's) -asteroids, comets, or other space debris - that could potentially collide with earth causing numerous deaths and widespread disaster. However, as good as their intentions may have been, Congress failed to fund the program appropriately and now NASA is unable to continue the program due to a budget shortfall.

NASA estimates that there are over 20,000 NEO's flying through space but only 6,000 have been identified and, unfortunately, the United States is the only nation with this kind of detection system; Without it the World's safety may be threatened by earthbound space debris.

Although a potential impact wiping out the earth is unlikely, there have been lesser impacts that have occurred, such as the infamous 1908 meteor that hit Russia and wiped out over 800 miles of Siberian Forest or the meteorite that hit in Northern Arizona creating a Meteor Crater as well as a popular tourist attraction. Also every month it seems that there is another report or news story about an asteroid that could potentially hit earth. 

The Bible warns in Revelation 8:7-10, that during the 7-year tribulation, God will pour forth judgments upon the earth, using them as a last ditch effort to grab the attention of earth's inhabitants so that they will recognize who He is and in so doing they might turn to Him. The first three judgments in the series of the Seven Trumpet Judgments, deal with what appears to be impact events caused by comets and asteroids.

"The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—" (emphasis mine)

With the amount of NEO's and other space debris flying through the galaxy it is only a matter of time before some "deep impacts" are felt on earth but it won't be because of NASA's lack of an asteroid detection program but rather their arrival and impact will be a sign of God's judgment. Are you ready?

UPDATE:
NASA will miss Congressional deadline for asteroid tracking

Examiner 08-09-2009: Jewish-Muslim coalition calls for rebuilt Temple

Last month, a historic meeting took place between members of the Jewish Sanhedrin (the ruling judicial body of the Jewish Faith) and a well-known Turkish Muslim Leader, Adnan Oktar, who uses the psuedonym, Harun Yahya. One of their stated goals was to "wag[e] a joint intellectual and spiritual battle against the worldwide growing tide of irreligiousness, unbelief and immorality," according to a World Net Daily report. But even more interesting than this unprecedented coalition was their mutual desire to rebuild the Jewish Temple. They believe that a rebuilt temple can help bring the three Abrahamic faiths (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) together in peace. Furthermore, Oktar claims that this temple could be rebuilt within one year!

In a statement posted on their website, Sanhedrin.org, the members of the Sanhedrin, along with Adnan Oktar, set forth in further detail their expectations and objectives of their plan for peaceful co-existence. In an eye-catching statment in a section entitled, "Plan for Peace" the Sanhedrin state,

Out of a sense of collective responsibility for world peace and for all humanity we have found it timely to call to the World and exclaim that there is a way out for all peoples. It is etched in a call to all humanity: We are all the sons of one father, the descendants of Adam, and all humanity is but a single family. Peace among Nations will be achieved through building the House of G-d, where all peoples will serve as foreseen by King Solomon in his prayers at the dedication of the First Holy Temple. Come let us love and respect one another, and love and honor and hold our heavenly Father in awe. Let us establish a house of prayer in His name in order to worship and serve Him together, for the sake of His great compassion. He surely does not want the blood of His creations spilled, but prefers love and peace among all mankind. We pray to the Almighty Creator, that you harken to our Call. Together - each according to his or her ability - we shall work towards the building of the House of Prayer for All Nations on the Temple Mount in peace and mutual understanding." (emphasis added).

In Mr. Oktar's section of the declaration, he talks a lot about the need for peace among the Jews and Muslims and asserts that the Turkish Islamic Union can help bring about that peace. He states that "the establishment of this union under Turkish leadership is essential for the salvation of the Middle East and the whole world...If such a union is established, then by Allah’s leave Muslims, Jews and Christians will all be at ease. Conflict and fighting will come to a complete end. Once the Turkish-Islamic Union is founded, Jews will be able to live freely in those lands without the need for walls." (emphasis added)

Oktar's last couple of statements seem eerily similar to the passage found in Ezekiel 38, where the LORD is speaking to Gog [modern day Russia] and the nations in alliance with it, one of which happens to be the nation of Turkey.

In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety...You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars." (emphasis added)

It is interesting to note that the Sanhedrin and Oktar believe the Temple will be a way to bring peace, not only the Middle East region, but also to the world. According to the Bible, their plan to rebuild the Temple and bring peace to the region will be successful. Several passages in the Bible (2Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 11:1) imply that the temple will be functioning during the end times and will be the place where the Anti-Christ sets himself up to be worshipped as God, but not before he brings a psuedo-peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3) to the Middle East region. It appears that Adnan Oktar and the Jewish Sanhedrin are on their way to fulfilling Bible prophecy!

For information and updates on the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple click here.

Examiner 08-07-2009: People of the world unite! (Part 1)

As I was reading through this week's news headlines trying to find ideas for my next article, I came across two news stories that got me thinking about how, at first glance, many news stories don't seem to have any connection with each other. However, when you begin to dig a little deeper, past the surface of the headlines, and when you take into account the prophecies set forth in the Bible, you can begin to see that many of these "random" headlines are actually not so "random" after all.

Many of the stories that we get bombarded with on a daily basis by the news media are like pieces of the puzzle that when put together create the big picture. Just what is this big picture you may ask? Well, it involves bringing the peoples and the nations of the world together into a unified system. Now, usually this idea conjures up thoughts of conspiracy theories and the infamous "New World Order" but although it may be true that there are groups at work in the world who are secretly trying to implement a one-world governing system, the issue goes deeper than that. It is a hidden agenda with spiritual undertones that has been playing out over thousands of years.

In the coming weeks, I want to share with you why I believe that many of the various news stories we read about everyday are discreetly telling the same story and preparing us for a one world system. We will take a look at some of these headlines and how they relate to the prophecies fortold in the Bible. We will also see how this idea of a one-world government is not man-made but actually has spiritual origins which are explained in the Bible. But before we move forward it might be helpful to take a look back to the past and check out the story of the Tower of Babel because as one poet has put it, "History teaches everything including the future."

To be continued...

P.S. In case you were wondering what two headlines caught my attention, here they are along with links to the articles. In the coming weeks, hopefully you will begin to see how these two news stories actually share the same underlying message.

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  Save the Planet: Have Fewer Kids
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  WHO maintains 2 bln estimate for likely H1N1 cases

Examiner 08-02-2009: Mid-East peace met with resistance by Arab nations

Try as it might the U.S. efforts to get the Arab nations to hold peace talks with Israel are falling on deaf ears. Recently, the United States Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, was met with resistance by Saudi Arabia when he tried to persuade the Saudi King to take meaningful steps toward opening up peace talks. The Associated Press quotes Saudi Foreign minister, Osama Nugali as saying, "It is Israel that has to move seriously towards the peace process," implying that Israel must make concessions first before Saudi Arabia will begin negotiations. Nagali goes on to lay the blame on Israel's continued "defiance" in building and expanding settlements in the region. Saudi Arabia is not the only Arab nation not heeding the U.S.'s call for peace talks. On Monday the League of Arab States told Mitchell that they would not consider peace talks until there was a freeze on Israeli settlement activity. The Palestinians have also refused to continue negotiations until Israel stops construction in the West Bank. Although Saudi Arabia has rejected the United States' attempts at peace in the region, Nugali did propose implementing the 2002 Arab peace initiative which would require Israel to give back the lands they had acquired from the Six-Day War in 1967, in exchange for the Arab states' promise that they will live in peace with Israel. Unfortunately, the situation between Israel and her neighbors appears that it will get worse before it gets better. Moreover, the tension felt in that region appears to be inevitably leading to what Bible Prophecy scholars refer to as the Psalm 83 War.

Psalm 83 speaks of an alliance of what are now modern day Arab countries, who conspire with each other to wipe out Israel.

With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you-the tents of Edom [modern day Jordan] and the Ishmaelites [modern day Arabs] , of Moab [modern day Jordan] and the Hagrites [modern day Egyptians/North Africans], Gebal [modern day Lebanon], Ammon [modern day Jordan] and Amalek [modern day term that Jewish people use for their enemies], Philistia [modern day Palestinians], with the people of Tyre [modern day Lebanon]. Even Assyria [modern day countries of Iraq, Iran, Syria] has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Selah." Psalm 83:3-8

As these nations come against Israel, the Psalmist cries out to God for His deliverance:

"Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." Psalm 83:13-18

For many Israelis today, this Psalm may strike a nerve because not only is Israel surrounded by nations that hate them but even their allies have turned against them, namely the United States through President Obama's policy with regard to settlement activity. Truly, it is reaching a point where one day soon, the nation of Israel will have no one to turn to but the LORD.

As developments continue in this region it won't be long before a war could break out among Israel and her Arab neighbors; the war in which Bible prophecy experts believe could prepare the stage to be set for the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38 to be fulfilled. There is no mistaking that these are the "Last Days". Are you ready?

For more information on the Psalm 83 War, check out Bill Salus' website Prophecy Depot.com and his book Isralestine.

Examiner 07-26-2009: Ahmadinejad threatens to bring down the West

After over a month of riots and protests caused by the disputed June 12th Election, Iran's newly re-elected president has spoken out and it appears that he is angrier than ever and more intent on bringing down the West and, no doubt, ushering in the reign of the Mahdi. Angered by Britain and the United States for what he considers their interference into Iran's internal affairs, Ahmadinejad was quoted by Reuters as saying "[a]s soon as the new government is established, with power and authority, ten times more than before, it will enter the global scene and will bring down the global arrogance." The "global arrogance" being the United States and her allies, of course.

It didn't stop there though, he continued to express his attitude concerning recent events. "In this recent election the enemy tried to bring the battlefront to the interior of this country...but I have told the enemies ... that this nation ... will strike you in the face so hard you will lose your way home," Ahmadinejad preached. And in an eerie threat, Ahmadinejad warned that "[t]hey [the global arrogance] should wait as a new wave of revolutionary thinking ... from the Iranian nation is on the way and we will not allow the arrogant (powers) to even have one night of good sleep."

Read article here.

Now although Ahmadinejad's threats were directed more to the West during this particular speech, there is no mistaking that high on his priority is still the destruction of Israel, which he has sometimes referred to as the "Little Satan." According to a prophecy from the book of Ezekiel, Iran, formally known as Persia until 1935, will play a role in the coming offensive/invasion of Israel. In Ezekiel 38, God speaks to Gog of the land of Magog [modern day Russia] and says,

I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army...Persia [modern day Iran], Cush [modern day Sudan] and Put [modern day Libya] will be with them...also Gomer [modern day Turkey] with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah [modern day Turkey] from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you. 'Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land."

According to the Bible, Iran will join with Russia and these other nations in order to invade Israel. However, as Ezekiel goes on to prophesy, they will be unsuccesful and supernaturally defeated by God.

"But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 38:18:33)

As one reads the headlines, it is obvious to see this alliance coming together. The question isn't will this invasion of Israel happen but when it will happen. Are you ready?

Examiner 07-21-2009: Pope calls for One World Government

On July 8, the Vatican released a new encyclical (i.e., a letter from the Pope to church leaders dealing with various aspects of Catholic doctrine), entitled "Charity in Truth." In it the Pope calls for a "true world political authority" or what some may refer to as a one world government. According to an article posted by The NewAmerican.com, the Pope also calls for the reform of the United Nations, economic institutions and international finance in order that "the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth (emphasis added)." It now appears that the Vatican is joining in with groups such as the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderbergers, and the Trilateral Commission, in its call for a new world order.

According to Daniel chapters 2 and 7, there is a coming world empire that will dominate the whole world and be led by a man known as the Anti-Christ. Revelation 13:7 states that "...power was given him [the Anti-Christ] over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." The whole idea of a one world government has been in the works for decades but we are starting to see signs of its impending arrival more and more. It won't be too much longer before we see the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation come to life right before our eyes.

Here are just a few reasons why I believe we are going to see the formation of a one world governmental system sooner rather than later.

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  There are talks to bring the nations of the world into larger unions, such as we see with the European Union. Consolidations of power into regions such as the North American Union, African Union, and the South Asian Union, are on the horizon.
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  Several influential countries, namely Russia and China, have spent months urging the nations of the world to drop the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency and implement a one world currency, culminating in Russia's President unveiling the new one world coin earlier this month.
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  With the help of satellite technology, computer chips, and perhaps even social networking sites, the world's elite have every opportunity to track all human beings on the face of the planet.

It's not hard to see that the world we live in is moving toward unification at a breakneck pace. We are told that world unification will bring peace, understanding, and greater prosperity (which may be true in a perfect world) but unfortunately, the Bible shows us that a one world system headed up by sinful man will only bring destruction and confusion (check out the story of the Tower of Babel) and ultimately the end of the world as we know it. The clock is quickly winding down to the final chapter in history. Are you ready?

Examiner 07-16-2009: Peace marching into the world by October

This Friday, July 17, 2009, International Relations Director of World Without Wars, Tony Robinson, arrives in Accra, Ghana to promote the upcoming "World March for Peace". Interestingly enough this is the very same place that Obama recently visted and made a speech on July 11, 2009 (It appears that this whole idea of peace is literally following Obama everywhere he goes, doesn't it?). The "World March for Peace" will consist of an international team of marchers promoting an end to all wars, nuclear weapons, and any other forms of violence. The March will begin in New Zealand on October 2, 2009, coinciding with the International Day of Non-Violence, and end on January 2, 2010 in the Andes Mountains of Argentina. According to a news report on the Ghana Home Page website, those three months of the March will be "accompanied by unprecedented social mobilisation in more than 100 countries on the six continents where marches, festivals, exhibitions, concerts, forums,"

The whole idea of peace is becoming a hot commodity in today's world and buzzword in the media. Last month the world was promised by two influential and powerful leaders of the free world (Obama and Blair) that peace would be brought to the Middle East within 1 to 2 years. This month the World Without Wars (WWW) organization, is promoting worldwide peace through an international march. Rafael De la Rubia, International Coordinator for the WWW makes a rather revealing statement as to the main idea of the March. The Pressenza International Press Agency's Website quotes De la Rubia as saying,

 "The World March has the basic objectives of creating global awareness that peace is the only pathway forward and that today it’s necessary to accompany this peace with the methodology of nonviolence so that we may truly pass into a new stage for Humanity." (emphasis added)

This "new stage for Humanity" is obviously supposed to be one filled with peace and harmony amongst the peoples of the world. The book of Revelation speaks of a time in the "last days" when the world will experience a sense of "peace" symbolized by a rider on a white horse. "I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest." (Revelation 6:2). The Rider holds a bow without arrows showing that he comes peacefully - possibly something along the lines of an international march or through diplomacy? More and more world leaders and organizations are promising peace but unfortunately true peace will never be brought by mankind without God's intervention. As 1 Thessalonians 5:3 states, "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." It appears that the world is on the brink of a worldwide peace, unfortunately the Bible prophesies that this peace will ultimately usher in a time of destruction. Are you ready?

Examiner 07-11-2009: President Obama calls for Middle East peace within two years

On June 9, 2009, Israeli News website, Haaretz.com reported that President Obama had announced his plan to bring a two-state solution to the current hostility between Israel and their Arab neighbors, thereby bringing a much needed peace to the region no later than 2011. Interestingly enough, a little over a week later, Tony Blair, envoy for the Middle East Quartet (a position commisioned by the U.N., U.S., E.U., and Russia that is designed to facilitate peace in the Middle East) commented that peace was possible in that region "within the year". Is it a coincidence that two of the world's most prominent and influential leaders are calling for a peace plan in the very near future?

Both Barack Obama and Tony Blair have the "credentials" and the political weight to follow through and complete this peace plan. Obama has been singled out by former US Secretary of State and member of the Bilderberg group, Henry Kissinger, as the leader who is primed to create a new world order. Additionally, on the campaign trail, Obama was often likened to a saviour/christlike figure that would bring our country salvation from the horrible evils of the Bush administration. Many people had not only given him the title of President of the United States but they had even ventured to proclaim him President of the World and all of this before he had ever been elected! His charisma and his magnetic speech making ability have been able to capture not only the attention of U.S. citizens but the citizens of the whole world. Finally, with President Obama's ability to push through some of the largest and most controversial legislation within his first several months of his presidency leaves little room for doubt that he has the wherewithal to push through a peace deal between Israel and their arab neighbors.

Former Prime Minister of the U.K., Tony Blair, although not as ubiquitous as Barack Obama, still has credentials in his own right. He has been credited with helping to negotiate the peace plan in Northern Ireland in the mid-1990's, that ended a decades long war. In addition to being selected as the Middle East Quartet's envoy to bring peace to the Middle East region, his name has been tossed around as a candidate to lead the European Union as its permanent president. Many prophecy scholars believe that the E.U. is the Revived Roman Empire, prophesied in Daniel 2 &7 from which the Anti-Christ will consolidate his power.

With all this current talk about peace, it's beginning to look like the white horseman of the apocalypse (Revelation 6:2) may be riding into town bringing with it its psuedo-peace. Will this peace plan take the shape of the Antichrist's "covenant with many" as Daniel 9:27 prophesies? More than any other time in history, it's possible that this may be the peace deal in which the world rejoices and exclaims "peace, peace" not realizing that sudden destruction is quickly approaching (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Are you ready?

Examiner 07-05-2009: The Ark of the Covenant found?

It's the stuff legends are made of, not to mention a way for Hollywood producers to make millions. What is it? No, it's not the Harry Potter series. Rather, it's something that goes back centuries to Biblical times, a relic so holy that it was the place where the presence of God dwelt, none other than the ever elusive Ark of the Covenant. To be sure, many treasure seekers and religious devotees have spent centuries seeking out this mysterious artifact since the time of its disappearance from the Jewish Temple during the Babylonian invasion of Judah in the 6th century B.C. 

The Ark has managed to make its way to front-page headlines in the past few weeks. On June 24, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Paulos, while meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, announced that "...June 26, marks the right time to reveal the Biblical Ark of the Covenant ," according to a report from Israel National News.com (if only Indiana Jones would have waited 70 years or so, he would have saved himself a a whole lot of trouble).

However, as Friday, June 26 approached, Ark enthusiasts watched and waited with no luck. Alas, the Ark was a no show. There was not even an announcement as to why it was not revealed. That is, until Tuesday when Paulos, claimed that the Italian newspaper misquoted him and reported false information. He made it clear that the Ark would not be revealed. And so the Ark will stay hidden for now.

There is and has been much speculation as to where the Ark of the Covenant has been residing over the centuries. Some believe it is located in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Some believe it to be located underneath the ruins of the old Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Some believe it is hidden somewhere in Southern Africa or Europe. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if some people even believed it was housed in an underground cavern full of "National Treasure" below an old New York City church just waiting to be found by Benjamin Franklin Gates. But all kidding aside, a number of passages in the Bible - Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, and Revelation 11:1-2 - allude to the fact that there will be a rebuilt Jewish Temple in the Last Days. And with the rebuilding of the Temple will come the unveiling of one of the most important pieces of the Temple - the Ark of the Covenant. So with the construction of the Third Temple becoming more of a reality every day, it will only be a matter of time before the Ark of the Covenant is revealed and placed in the new Temple. And once the Temple is rebuilt it will become the place that the Anti-Christ sets up himself to be God, thus ushering in the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. Are you ready?

Check out the Official Jewish Temple website here.