Christianity, UFOs, Islam and America's future

The major challenges facing American Christians in the coming months, "the Vatican, the pope and UFOs," Islam in biblical prophecy and the Dead Sea Scrolls are among the fascinating topics slated for this weekend's Strategic Perspectives International Conference.

Chuck Missler's Koinonia Institute has assembled an all-star lineup of speakers for the event, Oct. 25-26 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

For those who can't make it to the Coeur d'Alene Resort on idyllic Lake Coeur d'Alene, the conference can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, via live and on-demand video streaming.

The speakers include author Tom Horn, author Joel Richardson, William Welty, Dead Sea scroll expert Peter Flint and WND founder and CEO Joseph Farah.

Christian fiction author Frank Peretti also will be a special guest.

The conference aims to help Christians understand the times and prepare for the coming 12 to 18 months, warning them not to follow "the rest of society" as it succumbs to "the deception" that permeates it.

Missler, who founded Koinonia Institute and Koinonia House after a distinguished military career and more than 30 successful years in corporate America, will talk about the challenges Christians face in coming years.

Tom Horn, the author of "Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope is Here," will discuss "The Vatican, Pope and UFOs – How Are They Linked?"

Joel Richardson, an expert on Islam and author of "The Islamic Antichrist," "Islam and the End Times," and "The Mideast Beast," will address "The Impact of Islam."

Richardson is a recognized expert on biblical prophecy and the Middle East.

William Welty, the executive director of the ISV Foundation, will talk about "When God Disciplines His Own." David McAlvany of McAlvany Wealth Management will discuss "Can America Endure The Coming Years?"

Peter Flint of the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute at Trinity Western University will link the New Testament, prophecy and the ancient writings. Dan Stolebarger, the executive director of the Koinonia Institute, will lead a call to prayer.

Farah will head a workshop on "Discerning Truth in a World Full of Lies."

Other panelists and moderators will include Clint Robertson and Gordon McDonald.

Pre-conference workshops, which begin Thursday, include Steve Elwart on the threat from an electromagnetic pulse and Mark Gustafson on keeping the private private.

Peretti, author of "This Present Darkness," "Piercing the Darkness" and other major bestselling books, will be the speaker at the Friday night dinner.

Last month, Missler received a "shout-out" from $75 million actor Robert Downey Jr., of "Iron Man," "Sherlock Holmes" and "Avengers" fame.

Downey was on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" when he expressed respect for Missler – "Love Chuck" is how Downey put it.

Missler's work includes "Church in the End Times," "Angels," "The Kingdom, Power, and Glory," "Twilight's Last Gleaming," "Return of the Nephilim," "Prophecy 101," "The Rapture," "How We Got Our Bible," "Learn the Bible in 24 Hours" and a long list of Bible book studies.

Koinonia House explains its goals are to "create, develop, and distribute materials to stimulate, encourage, and facilitate serious study of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God."

The name comes from the New Testament word often translated as "communication," "fellowship" or "communion."