A papyrus unveiled in 2012 has just been pronounced “authentic” by archaeologists. The four by eight centimeter fragment known as the “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” contains the phrase, written in Coptic, “Jesus said to them, ‘My Wife…’” (New York Times, April 10, 2014).

In a recent article for an Anglican publication, Prime Minister David Cameron commented on the need for more Christian values in politics (responsibility, hard work, love, compassion, etc.). He then stated that Britain is a “Christian country”—alluding to Britain’s state church (New York Times, April 21, 2014). But critics jumped on Mr. Cameron’s comments, pointing out that Britain is “not a ‘Christian country’” (ibid.).

Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its threats to intervene in eastern Ukraine have triggered a sobering response from the European nations—a region where the future Beast of Revelation will arise.

How would you feel if someone aimed a loaded weapon at your children? And yet, in the interests of more than 700 billion dollars worth of annual purchases, many industries are doing just that: loading the barrels of their marketing campaigns with whatever ammunition they can. Their targets: the minds and impulses of children—and if you think it’s just about money, you’re only partly right.

The assigning of animal characteristics to a country is a common practice. The Bible represents Babylon as a lion and Greece as a leopard (Daniel 7:4, 6). Modern-day commentators and journalists also use this type of imagery.

The cover of the March 8, 2014 issue of The Spectator depicts Vladimir Putin as a Russian bear casting his shadow over Western Europe. The European Union appears as a terrified poodle about to be gobbled up.