It’s Tuesday, February 18th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Kevin Swanson
New Libyan Islamic rules could hurt Christians
Please pray for the small Christian community in Muslim-majority Libya after the introduction of a Public Morality Protection unit, also referred to as the “morality police.”
Imed Trabelsi, a minister of Libya’s Government of National Unity, said there is “no space for personal freedom in Libya.”
Women are particularly affected by the “morality” measures. Among restrictions on clothing, female students will be required to wear the hijab, and women will be banned from traveling without a male guardian.
Barnabas Aid reports that Christians are among those who may be at risk of greater repression and more extensive application of the Islamic law.
Most Christians are migrant workers. There is a small number of Libyan converts from Islam which could lead to a death sentence if discovered.
Japan’s hurting economy
The world’s third largest economy of Japan is not doing well.
After nearly 30 years of recession, the Japanese yen has lost half of its value against the dollar since 2011 — now set at 151 yen per U.S. dollar. That’s up from 72 yen per U.S. dollar 13 years ago.
Japan’s Gross Domestic Product languished in 2024, registering only a 0.1% improvement in 2024, much reduced from 2023. Japan’s real GDP has not improved since 1992.
By contrast, China’s real Gross Domestic Product has improved 9-fold since 1992 and the real Gross Domestic Product for the United States has improved 3-fold since 1992.
British Prime Minister willing to put British troops in Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Stormer issued hawkish comments on the Russia-Ukraine war in an op-ed column published in The Telegraph over the weekend.
Stormer said his country is “ready and willing” to put British troops on the ground in the conflict in the interest of “securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term.”
U.S. State Department officials will be meeting with Russian diplomats in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia today to negotiate the potential end of the war.
16 million Americans between 110 & 369 years old getting SSI checks?
Here in the United States, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have identified 16 million Americans between ages 110 and 369 receiving checks or multiple checks from the Social Security Administration. Quite bizarre!
According to gerontology wiki, there are only 32 living Americans over 110 years of age.
In a separate X post, Musk wrote, “There are FAR more ‘eligible’ social security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history.”
First generation immigrants use more welfare than native born citizens
The Center for Immigration Studies reported last year that 54% of first generation immigrant households in the United States access welfare programs, compared to 39% of U.S.-born households.
U.S. immigrants who are most dependent on socialism are those from Africa. 46% of these immigrants use three or more welfare programs, 37% of immigrants from South America use three or more welfare programs. But only 27% of Asians and 17% of European immigrants use three or more welfare programs.
That compares with 29% of U.S. natives using three or more welfare programs.
Numbers 24:22 reads: “You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God. ”
Trump and Obama at the top of last 5 presidents
When Rasmussen asked Americans how they ranked the five most recent presidents, 34% thought Donald Trump was the best, followed closely by Barack Obama at 32%.
The remaining three presidents were far behind: Bill Clinton at 12%, George W. Bush at 9%, and Joe Biden is in last place with just 4%.
Under Trump, 50-fold decrease in illegal southern border crossings
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan took to X yesterday, informing the U.S. public that border encounters have dropped to 229 as of the last 24 hours. That’s down from 11,000 a day during the heyday of border crossings under the Biden administration. That’s a 50-fold decrease!
Also, Homan noted that “Interior arrests by [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] have increased more than 137% under President Trump. Arrests of aliens with criminal convictions have doubled under President Trump.”
Elon Musk cut $1.2 billion of waste out of Dept. of Education
The Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, has just shut down another $373 million of Department of Education DEI training grants.
One of those Diversity, Equity and Inclusion grants was set up to “engage in ongoing learning and self-reflection to confront their own biases and racism, and develop asset-based anti-racist mindsets.”
The Department of Government Efficiency already terminated 89 Department of Education contracts amounting to $880 million.
China’s Ne Zha 2 pagan movie earned $1.6 billion in 11 days
China has now outstripped Hollywood in the major motion picture production business.
The animated film Ne Zha 2 has become the highest grossing film in history — now at $1.6 billion after only 11 days of release, reports Variety.
The hero in the film is a demon child, who attempts to redefine himself, and determine his own destiny in opposition to the fates. More pagan worldviews set within an eastern context.
Ted Baehr’s MovieGuide, a Christian movie review website, described the original 2019 Ne Zha movie as a film that should be avoided because of its inclusion of intentional blasphemy, evil, gross immorality, and its problematic worldview.
Despite its visual appeal, no doubt the second Ne Zha film is just as bad, if not worse morally and theologically speaking, than the first one.
Modern-day Jonah story
And finally, here’s a true Jonah and the whale story!
A kayaker in the Strait of Magellan off the coast of Chile was briefly eaten by a humpback whale, and promptly spit back out. Adrián Simancas’s father was close by filming the event.
Canada TV contains the whole scene for any viewers interested which we have linked in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Jonah 3:1-2, 7, 9 reads that “Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: ‘I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol, I cried, and You heard my voice. … When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple. … Salvation is of the Lord.’ So, the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 18th in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.