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[The following material is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 11, 1995. David W. Cloud, Editor. This material cannot be placed on BBS or Internet sites without express permission from the author. Any articles which are redistributed by e-mail or print must be left intact and nothing must be removed or changed, including these informational headers. Copyright 1995 by David W. Cloud. All rights are reserved by the author. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Send to Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Canadian. Send to Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9075, London, Ontario N6E 1V0. The Way of Life Internet web site is http://www.wayoflife.org/.]
In his speech before the United Nations General Assembly in October, Pope John Paul II called for a new age of peace and harmony:
"Ladies and gentlemen! On the threshold of a new millennium, WE ARE WITNESSING AN EXTRAORDINARY GLOBAL ACCELERATION OF THAT QUEST FOR FREEDOM which is one of the great dynamics of human history. This phenomenon is not limited to any one part of the world; nor is it the expression of any single culture. ... This universal longing for FREEDOM is truly one of the distinguishing marks of our time.
"The answer to the fear which darkens human existence at the end of the 20th century is the common effort to build the civilization of love, founded on the universal values of Peace, solidarity, justice, and liberty. And the "soul" of the civilization of love is the culture of Freedom: the freedom of individuals and the freedom of nations, lived in self-giving solidarity and responsibility.
"Each and every human person has been created in the "image and likeness" of the One who is the origin of all that is. We have within us the capacities for wisdom and virtue. With these gifts, and with the help of God's grace, WE CAN BUILD IN THE NEXT CENTURY AND THE NEXT MILLENNIUM A CIVILIZATION WORTHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON, A TRUE CULTURE OF FREEDOM. We can and must do so! And in doing so, we shall see that the tears of this century have prepared the ground for A NEW SPRINGTIME OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
"I wish to the whole world and all peoples freedom and peace in living together THE ENTIRE WORLD CAN LIVE IN FREEDOM AND DIGNITY AND A TRULY ACHIEVED PEACE."
Speeches such as this were foretold in New Testament prophecy. The Pope is fulfilling Bible prophecy:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY; THEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMETH UPON THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:1-6).
[From "Digging in the Walls," O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 11, 1995. O Timothy is a monthly magazine which is available by subscription from Way of Life Literature, 1219 N. Harns Road, Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. Subscription price is $20.]