The third decade in the third millennium

In a rapidly changing world, Christians must keep on praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In this canopy of prayer, Ortwin Schweitzer shares some insights on how to pray over the issues that the world is facing today.

From the Canopy of Prayer

Dear praying friends in Europe 

The 3rd decade in the 3rd millennium 

God alone, the timeless one, knows what is coming. He reveals some things to his servants, the prophets. Others, the Futurologists for example, calculate future developments in a linear way from current trends that we are experiencing today. 

What can we expect? (1) (“Continuity”)
Political: We are in a late phase of democracy in the transition from democracy to dictatorships which are manipulated by populists but democratically legitimised .
Meteorological: The question of global warming and climate change has been recognised as a human question. It will have an influence on the next decade. Possible follow-up topics: generation conflict; Migration flows; far more dangerous methane emissions from thawing permafrost. 

Biotechnical: The increasingly precise specification of the “Crispr” gene scissors allows intervention in the genes of plants and animals. This intervention in human germ lines is still considered taboo worldwide. But for how long? 

Further trends relevant to the future (key words): 

• Terrorism, • Artificial Intelligence, • Fight for water, • (un-)social, (un-)ecological economy, • Loss of general ethical norms due to loss of religion/transcendence, • Persecution of Christians, • Middle East-/Israel conflict. 

What can we expect? (2) (“Contingency”) 

At all times, in addition to expected developments, there were sudden events that no one had “on their radar” which suddenly change all forecasts: e.g. global ash clouds, a worst-case scenario atom or a groundbreaking invention like that of artificial intelligence. 

Christian lifestyle in the world of tomorrow (6 guidelines) 

1. The more we perceive the threats, the more helpful the promise of Jesus is: “I am with you always until the end of time”. This means that the Christians are neither annihilated nor “raptured” to God when the end of time begins. But they are living without fear today and tomorrow and every day because of the promise of Jesus. 
2. Therefore their behaviour remains also in accordance with their mission: “Make disciples!” – adapted to the circumstances – but consciously missionary (see China or Iran). 
3. You can feel that Christians are held and borne by a rock-solid conviction that Jesus will come back as an absolutely unexpected event visible to everyone and then will establish the Kingdom of God. 
4. With this hope they escape the general depressive mood and the desperate emptiness of life. They are lights in the darkness of the world. 
5. Christians through their connection to the Holy Spirit will contribute at all levels to constructive and innovative and possibly even groundbreaking solutions of the world’s problems. 
6. Christians continue to live contrary to social trends according to God’s orders: (1) the order of creation (marriage and family), (2) the Sinai order (10 commandments) and (3) the Christ order (kingdom of God). This makes them beacons of orientation and at the same time troubleshooters who will be fought (increasing persecution of Christians). 

Our prayer can now be easily oriented on the 6 guidelines in personal acceptance and in ruling proclamation over the countries of Europe: “Jesus is King and Lord over Europe!” 

Ortwin Schweitzer 

Update 

How many prayers in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere in the world must have come to the throne of God to prevent a war between Washington and Teheran, so that both have been de-escalating.

Additional prayer points:

1. On the weekend of January 18/19, 2020, the Libya conference was held in Berlin in order to move the powers supporting the war in the background to no longer deliver weapons. Pray for the implementation of the agreements and the stabilisation of Libya. 

2. The coalition black/green as in Vienna could become a future model for other European countries in the defence of the right-wing nationals. Pray for Christians in the parties. 

3. On the 31^st January the U.K. will definitely leave the EU. Let us pray for the U.K. – with a grieving heart.