Is this currently-developing swine flu epidemic (verging on a pandemic) an end-time pestilence as mentioned in Mathew 24? If not, it may be a precursor to such a pestilence. I have compiled information on this pestilence which might be worth your checking out so that you can be better informed and prepared. Read about the swine flu at my health website.

Below are a variety of news reports on social trends, the Middle East situation and other factors that are signs of the times.

Following Atheist Trend, Britons Seek 'De-Baptism'
Breitbart.com / March 29, 2009

"More than 100,000 Britons have recently downloaded 'certificates of de-baptism' from the Internet to renounce their Christian faith.

The initiative launched by a group called the National Secular Society (NSS) follows atheist campaigns here and elsewhere, including a London bus poster which triggered protests by proclaiming, 'There's probably no God.'

"'We now produce a certificate on parchment and we have sold 1,500 units at three pounds (4.35 dollars, 3.20 euros) a pop,' said NSS president Terry Sanderson, 58.

"John Hunt, a 58-year-old from London and one of the first to try to be 'de-baptised,' held that he was too young to make any decision when he was christened at five months old.

"De-baptism organisers say the initiative is a response to what they see as increasing stridency from churches -- the latest last week when Pope Benedict XVI stirred global controversy on a trip to AIDS-ravaged Africa by saying condom use could further spread of the disease.

"'The Catholic Church is so politically active at the moment that I think that is where the hostility is coming from,' said Sanderson. 'In Catholic countries there is a very strong feeling of wanting to punish the church by leaving it.'"

PM: We May Be Forced to Attack Iran
By: JPost Staff / Jerusalem Post.com / April 1, 2009

"March 20 (Bloomberg) -- European industrial production dropped by the most on record in January as the deepest global recession in more than six decades forced companies to cut output and curb investments.

"The primary imperative for the United States and President Barack Obama is to put an end to Iran's nuclear race, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said before his swearing-in Tuesday, adding that if the US failed to do so Israel might be forced to resort to a military strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear installations.

"'The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy, and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons,' Netanyahu told The Atlantic. The Iranian drive for a nuclear weapon was a 'hinge of history,' he said, emphasizing that all of 'Western civilization' was responsible for preventing an Iranian bomb.

"'You don't want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs,' Netanyahu said of the Iranian regime. 'When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran.'"

Taleban: We Will Launch Attack on America that Will Amaze World
By: Zahid Hussain and Jeremy Page / The TimesOnline.com / April 1, 2009

"March 20 (Bloomberg) -- European industrial production dropped by the most on record in January as the deepest global recession in more than six decades forced companies to cut output and curb investments.

"The primary imperative for the United States and President Barack Obama is to put an end to Iran's nuclear race, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said before his swearing-in Tuesday, adding that if the US failed to do so Israel might be forced to resort to a military strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear installations.

"'The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy, and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons,' Netanyahu told The Atlantic. The Iranian drive for a nuclear weapon was a 'hinge of history,' he said, emphasizing that all of 'Western civilization' was responsible for preventing an Iranian bomb.

"'You don't want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs,' Netanyahu said of the Iranian regime. 'When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran.'"

Medvedev Talks Super Currency
By: Ira Iosebashvilie/ The Moscow Times.com / April 1, 2009

"President Dmitry Medvedev called for a new world economic order, including the introduction of a new 'super currency,' on Tuesday as he prepared for a G20 summit in London, where Russia has been jockeying for a more prominent role.

"Speaking at a summit of CIS finance ministers in Moscow and later at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Medvedev reiterated the key points in Moscow's proposed revision of the world's financial system, including the creation of a new global currency to supplant the U.S. dollar.

"Although most political leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, dismissed the idea, it sparked international debate and found a powerful backer in China, which last week echoed the call for a global currency and less reliance on the dollar."

Ray's Comment: the name Medvedev means bear

IDF Planning Largest-Ever Drill to Prepare Israel for War
By: Anshel Pfeffer / Haaretz.com / April 7, 2009

"The Home Front Command is preparing to hold the largest exercise ever in Israeli history, scheduled to take place in about two months, in hopes of priming the populace and raising awareness of the possibility of war breaking out.

"Should there be a war, Israel would have insufficient emergency and rescue response units, according to a senior Home Front Command officer.

"'We need to train for a reality in which during war missiles can fall on any part of the country without warning,' he said.

"The Home Front Command is hoping to convince the population that in a future war the entire country can become a front without warning."

America's "Food Basket" In Dire Straits
Farms see fallow fields and laid-off workers, and some urban consumers face their first water cuts in two decades.
By: Daniel B. Wood and Gloria Goodale / Christian Science Monitor / April 17, 2009

Los Angeles-- California's third year of drought is stirring up long-standing -- and usually low-simmering -- tensions between farmers in northern and central California and urban consumers in the state's dry Southland.

"The competition for scarce water was evident this week, as up to 19 million southern Californians learned they would face mandatory water restrictions for the first time in 18 years and as tens of thousands of farm workers marched through the Central Valley to protest federal and state cuts in irrigation water for the current growing season.

"Though Los Angeles is recommending a cut in water use of 15 percent -- and surcharges for those who miss the mark -- the agricultural set is not placated. The cutbacks for consumers are not nearly equal to what's happening in farm fields, where growers don't expect to get any federal water deliveries at all and have had to lay off thousands of workers."

Israel and US Preparing For War With Iran
RT Russia Today / April 20, 2009

"Israel appears to be preparing for the greatest military exercise in the history of the Jewish state, with Iran being a potential target.

"The exercise is expected to take place on June 2 and will involve testing the US-Israeli developed missile defense system 'Arrow', intended to deter missile attacks.

"An Israeli strike on approximately one dozen targets in Iran could come within hours of receiving orders, according to an Israeli defense official quoted in the Times.

"Iran has itself not been inactive in its stance towards Israel and the US. A recent study, conducted by the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC) suggests that Iran may strike back with anti-American and anti-Israeli terror attacks through intelligence and terror networks in South American countries."

Iran Could Produce First Nuke in 60 Days With 7,000 Centrifuges Working 24/7-Western Experts
DEBKAfile.com Special Report / April 21, 2009

"DEBKAfile's military sources cite some Western intelligence and nuclear weapons experts as predicting that Iran could turn out nuclear weapons some time in the next 12 months.

"This estimate is based on Tehran's announcement that 7,000 centrifuges are in operation to enrich uranium. If all those machines were to work at top speed day and night, seven days a week, they could produce enough weapons-grade uranium to build a bomb in 60 days, say some intelligence sources. According to American experts, given the current rate of the program's development, Iran will be in a position to manufacture as many as 60 nuclear bombs and warheads in 12 to 18 months."

Iran Warns Israel of Consequences if Nuclear Sites Come Under Attack By: Daniel B. Wood / The Daily Star.com / April 22, 2009

TEHRAN -- Iran warned Israel on Tuesday against attacking the Islamic state's nuclear facilities, a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad raised tensions between the two foes by calling Israel the "most cruel and repressive racist regime" at a UN conference in Geneva. Israel has identified Iran as its biggest threat, citing the country's nuclear program and its development of long-range ballistic missiles.

"Israel believes Iran is developing nuclear weapons that could pose a threat to its existence. Iran denies those charges and says its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as generating electricity."

So there is some of the latest news. I hope you found something interesting there. Please tell others about my newsletter.

Check out my health website mentioned at the start of this newsletter, where I have information about the swine flu and what you can do about it. Again, here is that link: www.natural-pain-relief-guide.com/flu

Preparation: In light of what is coming, I also believe in physical preparation. I have started a new blog about greens where I have just posted a video of my greenhouse. As I post more videos at intervals during the growing season I hope to provide some useful information about growing and using greens.

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