News and Prophecy Staff

Last week, a powerful 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck a coastal town in northeast Chile. Remarkably, only six people were killed as buildings crumbled, landslides occurred, and power went out. The quake was felt 300 miles away (CBS, April 2, 2014). 

Tensions in the Ukraine have continued to rise as separatists stormed government offices in the nation’s east—a location where Russia has amassed thousands of troops along the border (BBC, April 7, 2014). Several eastern cities in the Ukraine have a majority of Russian speakers (ibid.). With the situation deteriorating, the U.S. and Denmark have both recently sent additional F-16 fighters to the region, and “Germany has said its air force is ready to increase security on Nato’s border with Russia, despite Moscow’s promise not to escalate the crisis in Ukraine” (EU Observer, March 31, 2014). 

Britain has joined the growing club of nations that have legalized homosexual marriage, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Argentina and others (BBC, March 29, 2014). Following the legalization, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote, “This weekend is an important moment for our country. It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth” (ibid.). “Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said ‘Britain will be a different place’ as a result” (ibid.). 

During a meeting of Evangelical Pentecostal leaders organized by televangelist Kenneth Copeland, an engaging Evangelical Anglican Bishop (Tony Palmer) called for reconciliation and brotherhood between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics—pointing out that all “Christians” are catholic in the truest sense of the word (Catholic World News, February 21, 2014; YouTube, March 2, 2014). 

In the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the G8 reduced its ranks to 7 by excluding Russia from its emergency meeting in Brussels last week. The group also cancelled a June G8 meeting in Russia and moved it to Brussels (EU Observer, March 25, 2014), citing Russia’s actions and beliefs that are “not consistent” with the other G8 nations (ibid.).