Beyond Today Daily

A Biblical Worldview: Sudden Changes in World Leadership: What Next?

Global leadership is shifting rapidly, with dramatic political changes echoing warnings found in biblical prophecy. Are these sudden events foretold in scripture, and what does it mean for the future of peace, safety, and the world as we know it?

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[Rick Shabi] Donald Trump will become President of the United States this month. Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Canada this week. In December, Olaf Schulz, the prime minister of Germany received a vote of no confidence, and an election will be held early this year.

There seems to be quite a shift away from the far left, more radical politics that gripped the world after the COVID crisis, to a more conservative approach going forward.

Along with these significant changes in leadership, Ukraine President Zelenskyy seems to have opened up to the talk of “peace and safety” with new leadership in the United States. He now says he believes Trump can bring an end to the war that has been going on over there for years.

As the world responds to new leadership in America, Mr. Zelenskyy recently made the following comments:

These are interesting times we live in. Who would have thought that so many big changes could come in such a shorIn t time?

And it can all change again just as quickly, with just a few events that could change the world, or the election of another man with great influence. It can happen just as this has taken much of the world by surprise.

Did you know that the Bible speaks of things “suddenly” happening and changing as the time of the end draws near?

In fact, in a warning to His people, God through the apostle Paul makes a blunt, direct and clear statement that perfectly fits the time we live in.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Did you know that “suddenly” is an integral part of biblical prophecy of the end times?

In this scripture, Paul talked about labor pains that come on suddenly. Every woman who has had a child knows about that.

In Jeremiah 30, in a prophecy for God’s people in the latter days, God inspired Jeremiah to write,

Jeremiah 30:4-7

“Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. For thus says the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

Who is Jacob today? Who are Israel and Judah today? They still exist on this earth, and for you to understand Bible prophecy you need to know who that is.

Some comment that America is never mentioned in the Bible. Oh, yes they are!

At the end of this video, we will give you a link where you can learn more about their identity and Britain’s and Canada’s identity, and prove it for yourself. You’ll also have a chance to ask us questions directly, and we will respond.

Suddenly those severe labor pains come upon unsuspecting people. Those pains come; hard times come but notice that God says His people will be saved out of it.

In Isaiah 30:12-14, God again warns about things happening suddenly to an unsuspecting people and uses an analogy we can all relate to:

“Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: ‘Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall; a bulge in the high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. And [God] shall break like the breaking of the potter’s vessel, which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water from the cistern.’”

Complete destruction comes suddenly, because people weren’t paying attention to what He says.

God commands His Church to send a warning message to His people.

You know in your hearts that America and the English-speaking nations of the world, which were founded on biblical and Christian values, have strayed too far from the way of God. There is no way that anyone should think that the lack of morality we see in our nations, the corruption that is so evident in our government, and the lies that are spoken by so many politicians is the way of God.

And God is clear that when a people depart from His principles, especially a people that have been so bountifully blessed as our nations have been, there will be a time to suffer the consequences.

America, pay attention. Canada, Britain and Australia, pay attention.

Enjoy times of peace if they come. We all hope and look forward to the time when there will be lasting peace and safety for all.

Yes, enjoy the safety and prosperity of these times, but don’t close your eyes and get lulled to sleep.

While half of the world may be celebrating this change in direction, there’s another half of the world and of America that is not so pleased.

Just like that wall we read about in Isaiah 30 that hid what was happening with those bulging pipes that were about to burst, there are forces in the world looking to bring America and the English-speaking nations down. China, North Korea and the Middle East, for example.

Keep your eyes open, and MOST IMPORTANTLY do what God commands. He actually implores us to TURN TO HIM!

Go back to the Bible. Read the Ten Commandments and meditate on them. What a wonderful life it would be for you and your children if everyone lived that way—just think about it!

And you know what? That day is coming. Jesus Christ will return to this earth and during His 1,000-year reign on earth, the way of life taught in this Bible will be lived by everyone. When He returns, there will come a time of lasting peace and safety, abundance and joy. Why? Because everyone will be taught His way, and live by that way during His 1000-year reign on earth.

You can enjoy life, understand its meaning, and have a sense of purpose, peace and joy that’s better than anything you could imagine. God wants you to have it, and we want the opportunity to have God open your eyes to the truth.

You won’t find that truth and those keys to life in the Catholic church, Protestant churches, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Islam. You can find it here, and prove what we say for yourself, from this Bible.

You will find other resources and a place where you can send us any questions you’d like at this link. We will work with you to help you come to the understanding of the truth. The real truth, the plain truth . . . the truth that Christ said will set you free! 

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The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy

The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy

The amazing story of the rise to greatness of the United States and Britain begins 4,000 years ago with the biblical patriarch Abraham. God's promises would bring an astounding future for his descendants.

Send an email to Rick Shabi at rick_shabi@ucg.org

If you have any questions or are looking for biblical support, please search our website or write directly to us at rick_shabi@ucg.org.

Read -- 25 TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE: THE PLAN OF GOD FOR MANKIND

If you have any questions on the truths listed below, or are looking for biblical support of them, please search our website or write directly to us at rick_shabi@ucg.org.

God, Creation and Man

1. God developed a plan for the earth and mortal man, before He ever created the earth.

2. God created the earth as a temporary place. When the earth and its purpose for mankind is complete, it will be replaced with a new heaven and new earth.

3. God created the earth as we know it in six days.

4. God created man as a physical, mortal being on day six of creation. He was created as a mortal being with the potential for becoming immortal. Man does not have an immortal soul and can die an eternal death.

5. Adam and Eve rejected God and His law, and chose to govern themselves. Rather than be governed and led by God, they chose to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. As a result, they chose to be under the sway of the Devil, which leads to death, rather than being subject to God and His way, which leads to life.

6. Satan, the Devil, is a living spirit being who is the adversary of God. He rebelled against God before man was created, and he is in opposition to God, His plan and His people. Satan is the god of this world. He has deceived all mankind and is dedicated to destruction, division and death for all people—especially to those people who commit to and follow God.

The Bible

7. The Bible is the word of God and is true in its entirety. It is profitable for instruction in righteousness, correction and direction. It shows humankind the way to live godly lives. God’s people—those whom He calls and those who choose to follow His way—are “sanctified” (that is, set apart) by God. God’s people live by every word of the Bible, including all ten of the Ten Commandments, just as the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ, did, leaving us an example that we should follow.

8. We do not add to, or take away from, anything written in the Bible. We obey God as He directs.

The Sabbaths

9. We observe God’s weekly and annual Sabbaths. The weekly Sabbath was created by God on day seven of creation and is time dedicated to Him. No work is done on the Sabbath day, and His people gather together before Him each Sabbath day.

10. We observe all of the “appointed times” that God commanded His people to observe as listed in Leviticus chapter 23—including the weekly (Saturday) Sabbath. God’s feast days (annual Sabbaths, Holy Days, or “appointed times”) picture the plan of God and salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ. No work is done on these Holy Days, and His people gather before Him at these appointed times.

Covenants with Abraham and David

11. Abraham was a friend of God and kept His commandments and statutes. As a result, God blessed Abraham and made a covenant with him—that in him all nations would be blessed. That covenant promised physical blessings to His descendants, and a spiritual blessing for the whole world through Jesus Christ. We believe that God still loves the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (known as Israel) and that He knows where these people are in today’s world.

12. David was a man after God’s own heart. Because of David’s loyalty and heartfelt commitment to God, He promised His throne would last forever. That throne still exists today, and is the throne upon which Jesus Christ will rule at His return to earth to establish His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ

13. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and Savior—who was the Word with God, and who was God—who was born as flesh and blood, both Davidic and Divine. He lived a perfect life. His life and suffering perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies of His coming recorded in the Old Testament, and His life and blood paid the penalty for our sins. He died in our stead.

14. Jesus Christ died and lay in the tomb for three days and three nights—exactly as He and the prophets foretold. He was resurrected to eternal life, the first of the firstfruits, and the firstborn among those who dedicate their life to God and who are truly filled with His Spirit. Because of His resurrection, mankind has the hope of eternal life.

15. Before Christ died, He started His Church with teachings based upon the truths of the Bible. He is the living Head of the Church, which is comprised of those whom God calls and those who respond to His call through true repentance, turning from their ways to His way, and who are baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

16. During the New Testament time, or Age of the Church—which spans from the time of the apostles until Christ’s return—God calls people from all nationalities and tongues. No one can come to understand the truth of God unless the Father who sent Christ calls him. Upon repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands, one becomes a member of the Body of Christ (His Church) and the Holy Spirit is imparted to him or her.

17. After His resurrection, Christ was taken “up into the heavens” where today He sits at the right hand of the Father. He promised to return again, and will return to set up His Kingdom on earth at the time Father sends Him.

The Time of the End

18. Prior to Christ’s return the world will turn farther away from God—becoming an increasingly immoral, evil, lawless and violent place. Because of her sins, the modern-day nations of Israel (known as the house of Jacob) will go into the time of “Jacob’s trouble” as prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.

19. In the end time Satan is cast down from heaven, knowing he has but a short time before the return of Jesus Christ to claim the Kingdoms of this world as His own. Satan will thus wreak havoc on the earth, subjecting humankind to the time of Great Tribulation foretold by the prophet Daniel and Jesus Christ.

20. Shortly before Christ’s return, God will exact His wrath on the world in a time known as the “Day of the Lord,” during which time the seven bowls of God’s wrath are fulfilled and the great armies gather for the battle of Armageddon.

Return of Christ

21. At the Seventh Trump, Christ will return and slay the armies who fight against Him. Those people who lived their lives filled with God’s Holy Spirit—known as the firstfruits or the saints—will be resurrected and stand with Christ on the Mount of Olives at His return.

22. Upon Jesus’ return, Satan will be bound and Christ will usher in a 1,000-year period known as the Millennium—wherein all people on earth will live by His laws and be under His government. The saints will serve as kings and priests and judges under Christ. It will be a time of worldwide peace, joy and abundance under Christ’s righteous rule.

The Great White Throne Judgment

23 At the end of the Millennium, the “rest of the dead” who never knew Jesus Christ—all those who have lived and died, and who now are “sleeping” in their graves [they have not ascended to heaven or had any consciousness since their death]—will be called to life by Jesus Christ. They will be resurrected and their minds opened to God’s truth and—upon repentance—offered salvation.

24. During this Great White Throne judgment period, they [the rest of the dead] will have an opportunity to choose God (“The Tree of Life’) or Satan’s or their own way (“The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”). Those who choose God and repent, will live and be offered eternal life. Those who reject God will be burned up along with the earth which purpose is now fulfilled. Such is the second, or eternal death.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

25. After the destruction of the earth, there will be “new heavens and a new earth.” God the Father will live on the new earth with those who overcame the world by the blood of the Lamb and who now have eternal life. Thus, salvation is made possible for all mankind by a loving, merciful and compassionate God—whose will it is that all repent (turn from their way to His way) and receive eternal life.

Thus completes the purpose for mortal, human life and the original creation. The rest of eternity awaits those who yield to and serve God with all their heart, soul and mind.

Contact us with questions

If you have any questions on the truths listed above, or are looking for biblical support of them, please search our website or write directly to us at rick_shabi@ucg.org.

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The Decline and Fall of Nations: A Prophetic Perspective 
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Rick Shabi

Rick Shabi (1954-2025) was ordained an elder in 2000, and relocated to northern Florida in 2004. He attended Ambassador College and graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a major in Accounting. After enjoying a rewarding career in corporate and local hospital finance and administration, he became a pastor in January 2011, at which time he and his wife Deborah served in the Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida, churches. Rick served as the Treasurer for the United Church of God from 2013–2022, and was President from May 2022 to April 2025.