Aging World Leaders

A lot of upsets in the world are due to occur right around the turn of the MILLENIUM! What will things look like in about three to five years?

On the world political scene, we have recently received news that King Hussein of Jordan has died. He was a man of great sincerity and great dignity. As an Arab "moderate," he was-in some ways-the "linch-pin" that kept some of the Arab nations from attacking Israel or even the United States as much as they otherwise might have done. His absence on the world scene may well produce a leadership vacuum that translates into wars and upsets in the Middle East-more than might have otherwise have occurred.

In fact, an entire group of world leaders may soon have to be replaced-possibly creating great instability on the world scene. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, too ill to govern, has turned over the day-to-day running of the kingdom to his half-brother, only half-a-year younger than he.

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, 70, refuses to appoint a vice-president who could be groomed to replace him. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, 69, thought to be suffering from Parkinson's disease, has also failed to groom any successor. With Russia apparently coming apart at the seams, it is particularly significant that President Boris Yeltsin is having very serious health problems. No single strong leader has yet emerged to succeed Yeltsin. But a number of very militaristic "would be" presidents are waiting in the wings!

Finally, Pope John Paul II, leader of the one-billion-member Roman Catholic Church, is in very fragile health. He is also reportedly suffering from Parkinson's disease and other ailments. Who will be the next leader of this powerful Church? Will he be the "final Pope" and the one to fulfill some pretty scary biblical prophecies? God tells us to "watch and PRAY" (Luke 21:36). These coming sea-changes in the leadership of major nations are certainly events to be watching and praying about. For a whole new generation of leaders will begin to appear on the world scene-SOON!

Stay tuned! This is Roderick Meredith for the Living Church of God!