Speaking to journalists to set out his plans for the coming G20 summit of world leaders in London in April, Gordon Brown said, ‘We could view the threats and challenges we face today as the difficult birth-pangs of a new global order.’ He said that world leaders face a task that is ‘nothing less than making the transition through a new internationalism to the benefits of an expanding global society.’

At a conference in Paris organised by French President Sarkozy on the subject ‘New World, New Capitalism’, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said ‘Our response to the economic crisis must be more than a few rules. The crisis is an opportunity to create an international architecture of institutions, a global economic charter.’ She proposed that an ‘economic council’ be set up in the United Nations as well as the existing body that deals with security matters with a charter for establishing rules for global financial governance. ‘The crisis is an opportunity to create an international architecture of institutions,’ she said.

At a meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, world leaders discussed how to reshape the global financial system and give a greater voice to developing nations. Brazil also called for the G20 to replace the rich-nation G7 as the main forum to decide on global economic affairs, a cause that was backed by many developing countries and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Henry Kissinger said that President Obama’s task will be ‘to develop an overall strategy for America in this period when a New World Order can be created. It’s a great opportunity, it isn’t just a crisis.’ (Interview with CNBC). Last year Kissinger spoke of the need for a New World Order telling PBS interviewer Charlie Rose that the turmoil at the end of the Bush administration ‘could actually witness the creation of a new order – because people are looking into the abyss’.

Kissinger is part of the super-secret Bilderberg Group, an organization of powerful international elites, including government, business, academic and journalistic representatives, that has convened annually since 1954. He is also a member of the Trilateral Commission whose original stated purpose was to create a ‘New International Economic Order.’ President Obama has appointed a number of members of the Trilateral Commission to high office in his administration.

The phrase ‘New World Order’ goes back at least to 1940 when author H.G Wells used it as the title of a book about a socialist, unified world government. Many Christians who study prophecy see it as the antichrist government of Revelation 13.

Not only politicians are looking for a unified world. Participants in the fourth session of the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group which convened in Saudi Arabia in October 2008 said they support Russia’s proposal to establish a consultative council of religions under UN auspices. Given Russia and Saudi Arabia’s record on promoting freedom of conscience and particularly freedom for Christians to spread the Gospel, it does not take much imagination to work out whose interests such a ‘council of religions’ would serve. The ‘Earth Charter programme on religion and sustainability’ is also seeking to bring faiths to work together on green issues in cooperation with the UN. This is also pointer to the last days and Revelation 17.1-6 – Mystery Babylon – the harlot church or the woman riding the beast.

Make prosperity history.

The past five quarters have seen 40% of the world’s wealth destroyed and business leaders expect the global economic crisis will get worse. The World Economic Forum in Davos was characterised by the gloom of its participants and warnings that the crisis will endure for some time. Newspaper articles warn of Britain heading for bankruptcy and the world economic system collapsing.

With millions of jobs being lost across the globe and formerly wealthy countries facing a sudden drop in their standard of living the next fear is of social unrest. Already there has been a general strike in France, riots in Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Russia.

Unemployment is starting to soar and cuts in public spending are hurting hospitals, schools and universities. Personal bankruptcies are at record levels. Every segment of society has been hit, but it is the young who feel the pain most - and just as in 1968, it is they who are leading the rebellion. The Greek disturbances, the worst since 1974, were triggered by the killing of the teenager, but the anger was stoked by a sense that the young were going to have to pick up the bill for the miscalculations of the political class.

Across Europe, people hope for change and recovery, but many feel a shared shock that the good times have gone. ‘The explosion conceals a compressed desperation,’ the Greek psychology professor Fotini Tsalikoglou said of December’s outburst in Athens. ‘Many young people live with the unbearable knowledge that there is no future.’

To those who feel like this we want to say that there is a hope for the future. Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords and judge the earth righteously. Then all who believe in Him will live in peace and safety on the earth in preparation for eternal life in heaven. Those who reject His plan of salvation will look to the coming Antichrist who, according to the prophecies of the Bible, will come out of the unrest and distress of the last days of this age and offer ‘peace and safety’ but in fact bring in the final catastrophe of the great tribulation period.

To be saved from the judgement that is coming on the world we must find salvation now through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins on the cross and took the punishment we deserve. He rose again from the dead to give eternal life to all who accept Him as Saviour and Lord. If have not yet done this, here is a prayer to accept Jesus as Saviour:

‘Dear Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died in my place, shedding His blood to pay for my sins, and that He rose again from the dead to give me eternal life. I am willing right now to turn from my sin and accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord. I commit my life to you and ask you to make me become the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you Father for loving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.’