Posts Tagged ‘Invasion of Israel’

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President Obama’s bipartisan Debt Commission: America will go broke under status quo

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

(July 14, 2010) Earlier this year President Obama created a bipartisan Debt Commission to analyze America’s fiscal status and future financial outlook. The co-chairmen of this commission are former Republican senator Alan Simpson from Wyoming and President Clinton’s former chief of staff Erskine Bowles. These two men spoke at the National Governors Association this past Sunday.

A Washington Post article (Obama’s debt commission warns of fiscal ‘cancer’) states,

“Bowles said that unlike the current economic crisis, which was largely unforeseen before it hit in fall 2008, the coming fiscal calamity is staring the country in the face. ‘This one is as clear as a bell,’ he said. ‘This debt is like a cancer.’

The commission leaders said that, at present, federal revenue is fully consumed by three programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. ‘The rest of the federal government, including fighting two wars, homeland security, education, art, culture, you name it, veterans — the whole rest of the discretionary budget is being financed by China and other countries,’ Simpson said.

‘We can’t grow our way out of this,’ Bowles said. ‘We could have decades of double-digit growth and not grow our way out of this enormous debt problem. We can’t tax our way out. . . . The reality is we’ve got to do exactly what you all do every day as governors. We’ve got to cut spending or increase revenues or do some combination of that.’”

In February of this year Richard Fisher, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, spoke before the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth (Roadblocks to Recovery). In that speech he said,

“Pundits and analysts like to focus on the year in which Social Security will go permanently into the red on an annual cash flow basis—which recently was projected to occur in 2019 but could occur as early as 2016. But they largely ignore the severity of the broader problem: accumulated entitlement debt over the infinite horizon. According to our calculations at the Dallas Fed, that unfunded debt of Social Security and Medicare combined has now reached $104 trillion—trillion with a ‘T’—in discounted present value. And while much attention in recent years has been devoted to Social Security, the lion’s share of the total entitlement shortfall (nearly $90 trillion) actually comes from Medicare. This is a prodigious number. Others—like Pete Peterson’s foundation, which uses a different time horizon in its methodology—calculate the unfunded liability at north of $40 trillion, growing by a sum of $2 trillion to $3 trillion per year. No matter. The problem is frightful, whether you take his numbers or ours.”

The picture these governmental and financial experts paint for America’s future seems to be one of apocalyptic economic devastation. What is the prophetic significance of such an outcome? In September of 2007 I wrote an article titled “The Decline and Fall of America“. In that article (before the 2008 meltdown of America’s economy) I wrote,

“If you read the article “The Coming Invasion of Israel” on this web site, you know that Bible prophecy reveals that a conglomeration of countries will invade Israel in the future. In the last sixty years no non-Arabic nation has dared attack it. There is one very simple reason for this. Any country outside the Middle East knows that America would defend Israel militarily if they initiated a war with them. During the 1967 Six Day War, Russia saw that Israel was decimating its Arab allies. They considered intervening in the conflict but knew that America would have to respond. Thus, a major conflict between the superpowers was averted. Such is the case to this day. However, because of the prophecy God gave to Ezekiel, I believe that America has to lose its superpower status. With a weakened America the invasion of Israel can take place.

Is this another Christian fanatic declaring the sky is falling? Not if you listen to what the U.S. Comptroller General (who heads the United States Government Accounting Office) stated recently in an interview. He is very pessimistic about America’s future as these excerpts from the Financial Times article will reveal:

David Walker, comptroller general of the US, issued the unusually downbeat assessment of his country’s future in a report that lays out what he called “chilling long-term simulations”. Drawing parallels with the end of the Roman empire, Mr Walker warned there were “striking similarities” between America’s current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, including “declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government”.

Inspector General Walker lays out a pretty dismal scenario for America’s future. I agree with him. In the 1960s, Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, read a chapter out of her husband’s new book. After handing the book back to him she said, “Billy, if God doesn’t come soon and bring judgment upon the United States, He’s going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!” We as a nation continue to live our lives as if God doesn’t exist. Our political leaders’ only goal is to maintain their power at whatever the cost to America’s security. The Judicial system releases child predators, rapists, murderers on a frequent basis. A segment of America wants to ignore the laws of America by allowing anyone to violate the Immigration Laws of the United States. There is a mindset in our culture that declares the criminal is the victim, a victim of bad upbringing or bad circumstances. Pornography, homosexuality, adultery are prevalent throughout our entertainment and in our lifestyles. The legalization of abortion has resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 million unborn babies. The difference now is that society accepts these behaviors as alternative lifestyles. Liberal Churches deny the miracles of the Bible. They deny the Bible’s authority to guide human beings. The lists of America’s ills goes on and on. The rest of the world is no better. Although God’s judgment is coming upon the world, I believe He will start with America…

The downfall of America may come as a result of a financial collapse. It could come from a military defeat. The War on Terror is not going to go away. Just ask the Israelis after six decades of fighting it. The moral climate which declares there is no right or wrong will also play a part. Whatever it takes for the rest of the world to see that America is weak will happen. Once this occurs, the other powers in the world will have a free hand to wreak havoc wherever they please. This will lead to the invasion of Israel and the End-Times.” [end of my 2007 article]

Another factor in the downfall of America could be political in nature. Even if we are economically or militarily capable of continuing our protection of Israel we may be politically unwilling to support it. President Obama’s administration, unlike all the previous administrations since 1947, seems to be turning away from Israel in favor of the Arab nations of the Middle East (see my blog article from March 18th of this year The Decline and Fall of America Redux and Ezekiel 38-39.

I personally do not want to see America decline in any fashion. However, if it is God’s will for this to happen then I want to keep my eyes on Him and be in His will for my life.

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Posted in America, Archives 2010, Biblical prophecies, Economic watch | No Comments »

Gog and Magog vs. Gog and Magog

Monday, May 31st, 2010

(May 30, 2010)  Recently a commenter on one of my blog articles brought up the issue of the War of Gog and Magog mentioned in the Books of Ezekiel and Revelation. They were of the opinion that the prophesied War of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapters 38-39 is the same prophetic event as the one John saw at the end of the Millennium in Revelation chapter 20. Are the two Gog/Magog passages speaking of a single event or two separate ones?

An interesting question which has called for little discussion amongst prophecy students. I think the best way to answer it is to look at the Ezekiel prophecy of Gog and Magog separately from the Revelation prophecy and see if they are indeed separate prophetical events.

The only biblical references to the name Gog are found in the Books of 1 Chronicles, Ezekiel, and Revelation. The reference in 1 Chronicles chapter 5 is of a minor genealogical nature and irrelevant to the Gog of our discussion. It is in Ezekiel we discover that Gog is a name or title of a ruler:

“1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” (Ezekiel 38:1-3)

It is in this same verse that we see Gog is a ruler over the land of Magog. Genesis chapter 10 tells us that the land of Magog refers to lands settled by the descendents of Noah’s grandson Magog:

“1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras…5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.” (Genesis 10:1-2,5)

Generally, Western prophecy students believe various regions of the former Soviet Union constitute the land of Magog. The First Century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that the Scythians inhabited the land of Magog in the regions of what is now Russia and the various Islamic countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Empire. Therefore, some prophecy students believe that the Gog invasion of Israel mentioned in Ezekiel will be led by a leader from this region.

Ezekiel also lists an alliance of nations that will accompany Gog in this invasion. They consist of several Middle Eastern countries which are now governed by Islamic leaders. Many Western prophecy students believe this invasion will occur prior to the Battle of Armageddon.

Eastern prophecy commentator Walid Shoebat has a different perspective on Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog prophecy. He believes that Magog includes Turkey and the southern Islamic countries of the former Soviet Union but not Russia proper. Mr. Shoebat also believes that the leader Gog is actually the Antichrist and that the prophesied invasion of Israel is part of the Battle of Armageddon. You can find his reasoning for this belief in his excellent book God’s War on Terror (my article Islam and End-Times Prophecy is a synopsis of this book and contains a section on Gog and Magog).

I believe the difference between the Gog and Magog prophecy of Ezekiel and that of Revelation can be ascertained by looking at the circumstances surrounding the invasion of Israel and the results from it.

Ezekiel gives a limited list of nations that will invade Israel. They all seem to be located in the Middle East and Northern Africa. It appears that countries north of Israel will begin the invasion and then the other countries in the alliance will join in: “4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee…14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? 15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: 16 And thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:4-6,14-16) Conversely, in Revelation God’s servant John saw that the Battle of Gog and Magog will involve all the nations of the world: “7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” (Revelation 20:7-8) Thus, the Millennial armies of Gog and Magog will arrive from the four corners of the earth whereas Ezekiel’s invasion limits the number of countries involved. Although the Millennium will be a kind of Utopia on earth for a thousand years with Jesus reigning from Jerusalem, there are prophetical passages that allude to sin as still being part of the human experience during that time, “19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isaiah 65:19-20) This may seem strange that God would allow sin to exist during His Millennial reign but it is consistent with God’s creation of the first Edenic Utopia. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve in the midst of God’s paradise on earth still had the capacity for sin, one which they exercised a the behest of the Devil. Likewise, this Millennial army of Gog and Magog will consist of those humans who are still intent upon rebelling against God. After being loosed from his chains, Satan will rally these men and women for one final battle against God.

The description of Ezekiel’s Battle of Gog and Magog sounds extremely similar to God’s judgments that are to occur during and at the end of the Battle of Armageddon:

“18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that My fury shall come up in My face. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38:18-23)

The Bowl or Vial judgments of Revelation chapter 16 occur at Armageddon. They include a great earthquake (Ezekiel – “great shaking in the land of Israel”), fish and animals dying from the ecological devastation (Ezekiel – “the fishes of the sea…”), Armageddon ends with “flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as had never been since men were on the earth, so great was that earthquake…and great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from heaven” (Ezekiel – “and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone”).

Chapter 39 of Ezekiel continues describing the results of the Gog and Magog invasion:

“1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: 3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. 4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.” (Ezekiel 39:1-4)

Notice that God declares that He will leave a remnant of the invasion force (“and leave but the sixth part of thee”). In Revelation God destroys the entire enemy force and casts the Devil into Hell for eternity (“9 And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever”). Also, Ezekiel mentions that the birds of the air will devour Gog’s defeated army. This parallels the description of the aftermath of the Battle of Armageddon:

“17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great…21 And the rest were slain by the sword of Him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from His mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh”. (Revelation 19:17-18,21)

There is one parallel between the Gog and Magog prophecy of Ezekiel and and that of Revelation which does match, “6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. 7 So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:6-7) Revelation states, “9 And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” (Revelation 20:9) However, I don’t think it would be unusual for God to use the same form of fiery judgment in separate events. The bible makes it clear that fire is a purifying agent and that “God is a consuming fire”. (Hebrews 12:9)

Ezekiel states that after the Gog and Magog invasion Israel will be burying the dead for seven months:

“12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. 13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. 14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. 15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.” (Ezekiel 39:12-15)

The Gog and Magog uprising in Revelation occurs at the end of the Millennium. There is no more Israel after that because John declares what he saw next:

“10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it; from His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” (Revelation 20:10-11)

One final observation on the difference between the two prophecies concerns the salvation of Israel. After Ezekiel’s prophesied invasion, the nation of Israel knows who the true God is:

“7 So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)

The salvation of the Jews occurs at the second coming of Jesus Christ:

“1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it…9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:1-3,9-10)

There will be no more chances for salvation after the Millennial defeat of Gog and Magog because the Great White Throne judgment occurs after its over.

I believe there are obvious differences between the prophesied events of Ezekiel chapters 38-39 and Revelation chapter 20. The fact that the terms Gog and Magog are used in both instances can be confusing. Whether or not Ezekiel’s Gog is the Antichrist, it is the Devil who wants to destroy the Jewish nation of Israel hoping to defeat the Lord’s plans. The Bible refers to the Devil by various names throughout (i.e. “Prince of Tyre, King of Babylon etc.) and so it may be that the title/name of Gog is just another appellation describing the diabolical force which has fought against the Lord since the Garden of Eden and will continue to fight Him until the culminating Battle of Gog and Magog at the end of humanity’s history on the earth.

May 30, 2010

[Update: June 4, 2010] - (Rabbis: Flotilla Clash Similar to Gog and Magog Prophecy) – “The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the results of the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza seem like the Biblical description of “the beginning of the Gog and Magog process where the world is against us, but which ends with the third and final redemption.”

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Posted in Archives 2010, Website Articles: evenatthedoors.com | 2 Comments »

Arab League: End of the Middle East Peace Process?

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

(March 27, 2010) Amr Moussa, chief of the Arab League which was formed in 1945 and now consists of twenty-two Arab nations, warned that Israel’s recent settlement declarations could bring a final end to the Middle East Peace process. (Amr Moussa: We must prepare for failure of peace process) The Jerusalem Post article reports, “Amr Moussa urged an Arab leadership summit in Libya on Saturday to forge a new strategy to pressure Israel, saying the peace process could not be ‘an open ended process.’

‘We must prepare for the possibility that the peace process will be a complete failure,’ Moussa said. ‘This is the time to stand up to Israel. We must find alternative options, because the situation appears to have reached a turning point.’

Speaking at the event, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said there would be no peace agreement without ending the occupation of Palestinian land, first and foremost east Jerusalem. He accused Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu’s government of trying to create a de facto situation in Jerusalem that would torpedo any future peace settlement.

Abbas added that conflict in Jerusalem was dangerous and could ignite the entire Middle East. He said the PA would not resume peace talks with Israel, including indirect talks, until Israel stops construction in the settlements.”

What alternative options to the peace process the Arab League would choose is unknown. In the past Yasser Arafat invoked Intifadas or Arab uprisings in order to disrupt everyday life in Jerusalem. At the extreme the Arab League could decide that the only way to win against Israel is through military confrontation, something they’ve tried unsuccessfully several times in the past. Eventually there will be an Arab invasion of Israel according to biblical prophecy (see my article The Coming Invasion of Israel).

The idea that the “peace process” could ever lead to peace in Israel has been a sham from the beginning. I wrote an article for my website titled Why There will never be peace in Israel until the Messiah returns in which I show why the peace process is fraudulent:

Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb means no peace in Israel

There are two concepts in Islam that will never allow Israel to have peace until the Messiah returns. The first is Dar al-Islam which means House of Islam or House of Submission. Its adherents are made up of Muslim extremists. Dar al-Islam refers to countries where the law of Islam prevails and an Islamic government rules. Non-Muslims may live there under subjugation. Dar al-Harb means House of War and refers to those countries that are not under Islamic rule. It also refers to those lands which were once Islamic but were conquered by non-Muslims. The lands that are not Muslim are not legitimate because they are not under the authority of Allah. In the case of Israel those Muslims who subscribe to Dar al-Harb believe that the Jews are living on land that Allah gave to Islam. Therefore it is a disgrace to Islam and can only be rectified by Israel returning to Islamic rule. The Muslims riot over cartoons depicting their prophet Muhammad because it is a dishonor to him. How much more will they fight to regain Israel since it is a dishonor to Allah. No matter how many moderate Muslims may want peace with Israel the Islamic hardliners can never allow Israel to exist. Under Dar al-Harb treaties and truces may be made but only with the goal of eventually retaking the land that once was under Islamic rule. Since Israeli soldiers swear an oath declaring “Never again” will they be brought under the power of another government, they will never stop fighting to keep Israel.

Palestine Liberation Organization and the Recognition of Israel

One of the main requirements of any peace treaty between the Arabs and Israel is that the Arabs have to recognize that the state of Israel has a right to exist on their land. The problem is that for Muslim extremists to declare that Israel has a right to live on their land it would lead to a couple of unacceptable ramifications for them. Either Allah made a mistake in giving the land to Islam in the first place or they are willing to allow Allah to remain dishonored by not regaining the land he gave them. Thus, the Muslim extremists will never be able to truly recognize Israel even if they return to the pre-1967 borders. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed in 1964, three years before the 1967 Six Day War. At that time the Arabs controlled the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. This then begs the question, “What part of Palestine were they trying to liberate” in 1964? The only part they didn’t control was the land ceded to Israel by the United Nations in 1947 and the armistice agreement of 1949. In 1978 Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat made a separate peace agreement with Israel. This led to his assassination in 1981 by a Muslim extremist group known as Islamic Jihad. Yasser Arafat, who became the head of the PLO in 1969, during the late 1980s and 1990s declared that he would recognize Israel if a two state solution was created. However, in 2000 he rejected a peace offer that a lot of observers thought was an excellent deal in that it gave the Palestinians almost 97 percent of the land they requested. Since then there has been much conflict between the two sides. As long as there are Muslim extremists who subscribe to the concept of Dar al-Harb true peace will not exist in Israel until Jesus Christ returns to govern the world from Jerusalem.

In 1993 my wife and I watched Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shake hands on the White House lawn. They both made speeches during that event proclaiming Jerusalem as the eternal capital of their respective lands. I told my wife at that time this meant their peace agreement was meaningless. Neither side can ever give up Jerusalem to the other side. Thus, there will never be peace in the Middle East until Jesus Christ returns to make Jerusalem the capital of His global kingdom.

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Posted in Archives 2010, Israel | No Comments »

POLL: 14% of Americans believe President Obama is the Antichrist! He’s not but he is treading on dangerous ground

Friday, March 26th, 2010

(March 26, 2010) According to a recent Harris poll 14% of the American people think that President Barack Obama may be the Antichrist! Strictly speaking, an American President would not meet the requirement of either the Eastern interpretation or the Western interpretation of End-Times biblical prophecy which declares where the Antichrist rises to power. According to Eastern commentators like Walid Shoebat the Antichrist will come from the Turkey/Syria/Arabia region of the world. Western commentators declare that the Antichrist will come to power in Europe. The Bible does not allow for America to play a direct role in Biblical prophecy and thus an American president could not be the Antichrist. However, I believe President Obama is treading on dangerous ground with recent displays of his attitude toward opposition to his Healthcare legislation and toward Israel.

In previous posts I have made it clear that the United States of America has to become either militarily, economically, or politically unwilling or unable to protect Israel at some point in the future. Without American protection Israel would be susceptible to Ezekiel’s prophesied invasion by the nations surrounding it. Recent events would seem to indicate that this is closer to happening then at any other time in America’s history.

President Obama campaigned on the idea of change for America and the people elected him to the office of the Presidency. Whether his policies lead to the type of change the American people wanted remains to be seen. The historic passage of Universal Healthcare legislation this week may lead to worsening economic conditions for the United States in the next few years. One troubling aspect to the divisive Healthcare issue was President Obama’s most unpresidential response to critics of this policy: “He mocked Republicans for acting as if the bill would lead to “Armageddon.” ‘After I signed the bill, I looked around to see if there were any asteroids falling, some cracks opening up in the earth,’ Obama said, adding it turned out to be a nice day and ‘birds were chirping, folks were strolling down the mall.’” (Obama dares Republicans to seek healthcare repeal) I cannot believe that God is pleased with this type of arrogance coming from a world leader. However, President Obama displayed a further arrogance during the same week he signed the Healthcare legislation into law.

While U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden visited Israel on March 10, 2010 Israel’s Interior Ministry (without Prime Minister Netanyahu’s knowledge) announced that it would build 1,600 housng units in East Jerusalem for its citizens. This caused quite a diplomatic uproar between America and Israel. When the Prime Minister of Israel came to Washington D.C. to meet with President Obama to discuss the Middle East peace process and recent events in Israel he was treated with contempt by the President. The Times of London described the reception that the White House afforded to Mr. Netanyahu:

“For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of. Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip viewed in Jerusalem as a humiliation. After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on settlements, Mr Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisers and ‘let me know if there is anything new’, a US congressman, who spoke to the Prime Minister, said, ‘It was awful’. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting ‘a hazing in stages’, poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House telephone line. Another said that the Prime Minister had received ‘the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea’.” (Binyamin Netanyahu humiliated after Barack Obama ‘dumped him for dinner’)

Political columnist Linda Chavez perceptively wrote, “Judging by his actions to date, President Obama appears to have an almost visceral antipathy toward Israel. He’s happy to bow and scrape to Saudi King Abdullah, to have photo ops with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and, as he made clear during the campaign, would even open his door to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Korean leader Kim Jong Il if only they would deign to sit down for a chat. But Obama gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the bum’s rush on his recent visit to Washington. No photo ops, no joint press conference, no diplomatic niceties whatsoever. Why? Because the Israeli government had the temerity to announce plans to build housing units for its own citizens in its own capital. The White House claims that building additional units for Jews in East Jerusalem imperils the “peace process.” But the so-called settlement issue is simply a convenient excuse to distance the administration from Israel. There is nothing in the United States’ self-interest that would prompt this reversal of more than 60 years of U.S. pro-Israel policy, so the explanation has to be some deep-seated animus by the president. Israel remains the only true democracy in the Middle East, one with whom we share a common set of values and history. By contrast, it is surrounded by countries ruled by autocrats or downright tyrants, many of whom are committed to wiping Israel — and all the Jews who live there — off the face of the earth. Were it not for the consistent support of the United States over decades, both moral and strategic, Israel’s enemies might well have succeeded in doing so.” (Bum’s Rush for Bibi)

Political intellectual and analyst Charles Krauthammer wrote, “So why this astonishing one-sidedness? Because Obama likes appeasing enemies while beating up on allies — therefore Israel shouldn’t take it personally (according to Robert Kagan)? Because Obama wants to bring down the current Israeli coalition government (according to Jeffrey Goldberg)? Or is it because Obama fancies himself the historic redeemer whose irresistible charisma will heal the breach between Christianity and Islam or, if you will, between the post-imperial West and the Muslim world — and has little patience for this pesky Jewish state that brazenly insists on its right to exist, and even more brazenly on permitting Jews to live in its own ancient, historical and now present capital? Who knows? Perhaps we should ask those Obama acolytes who assured the 63 percent of Americans who support Israel – at least 97 percent of those supporters, mind you, are non-Jews — about candidate Obama’s abiding commitment to Israel.” (The Biden Incident)

I believe President Obama’s arrogance in dealing with Israel is a dangerous path for him to follow. God promised to Abraham that He would bless those who bless Abraham (i.e. his Jewish descendants) and curse those who curse him (i.e. his Jewish descendants) – “1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) In the prophetic Book of Joel God states, “1 For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of My people and My heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations, and have divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1-2) In the last days God will judge those who have divided up the land of Israel. If President Obama pursues a policy of disengagement with Israel America may no longer find itself under God’s blessing.

in 1899 Mark Twain wrote:

“If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and obtuse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, and faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greeks and the Romans followed and made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time. But it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all. Beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”

I cringe when I hear a political leader finish a speech with “God bless America”. Our nation has killed more than 40 million unborn babies since 1973. Pornography and homosexuality are part of our modern culture. Religion is told it has no place in the public arena. I believe the only reason God hasn’t judged America until now is because we have protected Israel and therefore God has blessed us as He promised He would in Genesis ch. 12. If we turn away from Israel I believe He will remove His blessing from us. If it is His will for America to fall in order to fulfill Ezekiel’s prophecy then America will fall. President Obama may be the instrument He uses to initiate His unfolding plan for the future. Mark Twain listed the historical empires that conquered the Jews and Israel. The Egyptian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and the Roman Empire all met their demise yet the Jewish nation of Israel and its people are still with us as Mr. Twain points out. The American Empire may be the final addition to this list if we turn our backs on the Jewish nation of Israel, “the apple of His eye”. (Deuteronomy 32:10)

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CNBC article agrees that America will decline

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

(March 25, 2010) Yesterday the CNBC website ran a news story titled Health Care Law Signals US Empire Decline? The opening paragraph of this article states, “The passage of the health care law shows that the US empire is declining because it illustrates the fact that people expect the state to take care of them, David Murrin, the co-founder of Emergent Asset Management hedge fund manager, told CNBC.” The article goes on to say, “In their expansionary phase, empires force people to go out, seek risks and fend for themselves, Murrin said, reminding of the dismantling of the British empire after the war, when the National Health Service, which ensures universal health coverage in Britain, was created. This (empire decline) is actually a dead-set course that societies get into and it will happen very quickly I’m afraid, he told ‘Squawk Box Europe.’ ‘As you start to build a system it becomes cohesive because of its success… the fractures in the American system I think are more apparent than ever,’ Murrin added.” The article points out that while America is declining China will be ascending in global influence.

At the same time as the headline above was appearing on the Drudge Report he linked to another story which I consider to have a related import in regards to End-Times prophecy: Israel-US relations hit historic low amid White House blackout … This article reports, “Two separate meetings between President Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, failed to produce so much as an official photograph as a chill settled over US-Israeli relations and secrecy shrouded any efforts to repair them. The Israeli Prime Minister was due to fly home from Washington after three days marked by Israeli defiance on the issue of settlements and an extraordinary silence maintained by both sides after his three-and-a-half-hour visit to the White House. The meeting was overshadowed by Israeli approval for 20 homes built for Jews in Arab east Jerusalem — a move denounced by one senior US official as ‘exactly what we expect Prime Minister Netanyahu to get control of’. White House staff denied Mr Netanyahu the usual photo opportunities afforded to a visiting leader, issued only the vaguest summary of their talks — let alone a joint statement — and reversed a decision to release an official photo of their meetings.”

These two news stories, one about the decline of America and the other about the deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Israel, appeared on the Drudge Report six days after I wrote the post immediately below this one. (The Decline and Fall of America Redux and Ezekiel 38-39) In that post I pointed out how for years I have believed that something has to happen to disrupt the relationship between Israel and America in order for Ezekiel’s War of Gog and Magog prophecy to come to pass. I believe that America will abandon Israel for either political or economical reasons. With Israel no longer under U.S. military protection the alliance of nations mentioned in Ezekiel would feel unrestrained in attacking Israel. Recent secular news stories seem to indicate that America is headed in that direction.

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The Decline and Fall of America Redux and Ezekiel 38-39

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

(March 18, 2010) In September of 2007 I wrote an article for my website titled The Decline and Fall of America. The point of this article was to say that America had to decline in power in order for a prophecy in Ezekiel ch. 38-39 to come to pass. Another article I wrote, The Coming Invasion of Israel, describes the Ezekiel prophecy (usually referred to as the War of Gog and Magog) which declares that an alliance of nations surrounding Israel will attack it yet be supernaturally defeated by God. Scholars are uncertain as to the timing of this war and only agree on the fact that it occurs during the End-Times. In November of 2008 I wrote a post for my blog titled World economic fears and the decline of the United States where I quote an intelligence report that said:

“U.S. economic and political clout will decline over the next two decades and the world will be more dangerous, with food and water scarce and advanced weapons plentiful, U.S. spy agencies projected on Thursday.”

In that post I wrote, “I believe that America has to become either economically or militarily impotent or both and therefore become unwilling or unable to protect Israel. The Bible prophesies of a war where countries surrounding Israel invade it to their own peril in the last days. No non-Arabic country in the world would take on Israel as long as the powerful United States is protecting it. If the U.S. becomes impotent militarily then there is no more deterrent to those who would destroy Israel.”

Recent events have led me to believe that America may not only be on the decline economically but is also becoming politically unwilling to protect Israel. Our current government seems intent on increasing deficit spending which will lead our nation to economic impotence both nationally and globally. The unrelenting obsession with passing healthcare legislation regardless of its deleterious impact on the economy and future of America is perplexing. Environmental and Immigration policies of this government will further weaken the U.S. economy and is equally disconcerting. I can find no logical answers as to why our govenment is disregarding public opinion on these economic issues and pressing ahead even if it means political suicide for many members of the ruling party. It may be that President Obama thinks America’s sins against minorities throughout its history need to be atoned for and one way to do this is to weaken its free market system so that a socialist system might replace it. He did choose to sit under a pastor for twenty years who spoke against America’s faults. Michele Obama made the statement “for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.” in regards to the acceptance and support of her husband’s presidential quest by the American people. However, there may be a much deeper reason why America is pursuing what appears to be economic ruin.

It may be God’s unseen hand that is leading America down this path in order to fulfill His prophetic will concerning the nation of Israel. He used Egypt to fulfill His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13). He used the ungodly Chaldeans/Babylonians to perform His judgment: “For, lo, I RAISE up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their’s.” (Habakkuk 1:6) I would think that Mary and Joseph had to consider their mandated trip to Bethlehem a tremendous inconvenience and probably didn’t understand what God was doing at the time. But for His prophetic purposes He used the emperor of Rome to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2/Luke 2:1). Thus, God could be using America’s current administration to fulfill His prophetic purpose for Israel.

America and Israel

There are several news stories reporting President Obama’s Administration’s anger with Israel over plans to build 1600 apartments in East Jerusalem. The following headlines link to these stories:

U.S.-Israeli Ties in ‘Historic’ Crisis – “Top U.S. officials have lined up in recent days to condemn the Israeli plan to build 1,600 apartments in east Jerusalem, the sector of the holy city that the Palestinians claim for their future capital. The project caused a storm in Washington because it was announced during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to the region last week, badly embarrassing the U.S. and complicating its efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. The Palestinians immediately threatened not to join upcoming U.S.-brokered talks meant to jumpstart negotiations after a 14-month breakdown…”

US envoy cancels Mideast trip, Israel feud deepens – “A U.S. envoy’s postponement of his Mideast trip appeared Tuesday to deepen one of the worst U.S.-Israeli feuds in memory – even as Israel’s foreign minister signaled his government had no intention of curtailing the contentious construction at the heart of the row…”

Obama runs out of patience with Israel – “The US is now said to be demanding substantive concessions from Israel after a warning by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he would not take part in talks if the plan to expand the mainly ultra-orthodox Ramat Shlomo settlement went ahead. The row has appeared finally to bring to a head the year-long tensions between the two governments since Barack Obama tried in vain to persuade the Israeli Prime Minister to agree to a total settlement freeze. He was thwarted by Mr Netanyahu who agreed only to a partial 10-month freeze, which did not include East Jerusalem…”

US may be seeking Israel ‘regime change’ – “The Obama administration’s row with Israel over settlements has prompted some analysts to wonder whether it seeks “regime change,” a new government that can make peace with the Palestinians…”

The Obama Intifada? – “Are we seeing the beginning (heaven forbid) of the Obama intifada? The escalating Arab rioting today in Jerusalem and the West Bank is undoubtedly being stoked up by the fact that the Obama administration has turned so viciously against Israel. Doubtless as a result the Arabs now smell victory within their grasp and may now unleash another wave of violence against Israelis…”

If President Obama turns from Israel in favor of the Muslims it may lead to a policy to where we would no longer protect Israel at any cost. A more likely scenario is that America will become economically unable to protect Israel. Either way the War of Gog and Magog will take place. How soon may be determined by the fate of the United States of America.

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Is America turning its back on Israel?

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
President Obama and Palestinian President Abbas

President Obama and Palestinian President Abbas

(June 3, 2009)  I wrote an article on my website titled “The Coming Invasion of Israel” which describes a prophecy in Ezekiel. This prophecy declares that during the last days an invasion of Israel is going to take place by the countries surrounding it. The problem is that America has defended Israel since its rebirth in 1948. For this prophecy to be fulfilled I believe that America has to become economically or militarily impotent or be unwilling to protect Israel for whatever reason. Recent headlines seem to indicate that the United States may be in the beginning stages of turning its back on Israel:

The London Times: “Barack Obama hints at tougher line on Israel” (May 5, 2009) - “The Obama Administration has signalled a tougher approach towards Israel ahead of fresh talks on the Middle East peace process by insisting it must endorse the creation of an independent Palestinian state. ‘Israel has to work toward a two-state solution,’ declared Vice-President Joe Biden today in a speech to the annual conference of a powerful pro-Israel lobby group in Washington. ‘You’re not going to like my saying this,’ he warned the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) before adding that the Jewish state should not build any more settlements on Palestinian territory, and should ‘dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement’.”

Jerusalem Post:  “Clinton to PM: No more settlement construction”  (May 20, 2009) -  “Sharp differences emerged between the US and Israel over the settlement issue on Wednesday – one day after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu concluded his first official visit to the White House – with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for an absolute stop to all settlement activity and sources close to the prime minister saying the terms of a settlement freeze still needed to be defined.”

Jerusalem Post: “‘US never threatened Israel with punitive steps”  (June 1, 2009) – “Israeli government sources downplayed reports Monday that the US was considering taking punitive measures, such as decreasing its support for Israel at the UN, if Jerusalem didn’t comply with demands to freeze settlements…When asked about the New York Times story, which said the US might not always veto UN Security Council resolutions opposed by Israel, State Department spokesman Robert Wood declined to discuss the details of conversations occurring between the two countries.”

Reuters:  “U.S.-Israeli relationship takes new direction”   (June 2, 2009) – “At odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Palestinian statehood and Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the new U.S. president will try to patch ties with the Muslim world in an address he will deliver in Egypt on Thursday…The U.S.-Israeli rift after eight years of a Bush presidency that pursued statehood only late in its second term and turned a blind eye to settlement building is raising questions over whether a close alliance will deteriorate into alienation.”

Jerusalem Post:  “Obama: US must be ‘honest’ with Israel”  (June 2, 2009) - “Although the US needs to maintain its “strong support” for Israel, Washington also has to be ‘honest’ with Israel regarding the direction in which the region is heading, even if this includes resorting to tough love, US President Barack Obama said Monday, three days before a highly-anticipated address to the Arab world in Egypt.”

CBS News:  “Obama Reaches Out To Muslim World”  (June 2, 2009) – “CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports that Muslims around the world are paying close attention to the overtures made by Barack Obama from his first moments as president. ‘To the Muslim world we seek a new way forward based on mutual interest and mutual respect,’ Mr. Obama said in his inauguration speech in January. That way forward begins in Egypt. ‘ This is the first time that an American president comes to a Muslim capital and wants to deliver a speech – a speech of reconciliation with the Muslim world,’ said Professor Mohammed Kamal of Cairo University.”

The Washington Post: “Obama says Iran’s energy concerns legitimate”  (June 2, 2009) – “President Barack Obama reiterated that Iran may have some right to nuclear energy provided it takes steps to prove its aspirations are peaceful. In a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday, Obama also restated plans to pursue direct diplomacy with Tehran to encourage it to set aside any ambitions for nuclear weapons it might harbor. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity. But the U.S. and other Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons. ‘Without going into specifics, what I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations. On the other hand, the international community has a very real interest in preventing a nuclear arms race in the region,’ Obama said.”

McClatchy Newspapers: “Israelis growing increasingly anxious about Obama policies”  (June 3, 2009) – “Sirens blared across Israel on Tuesday as the nation carried out its biggest-ever ‘doomsday’ drill meant to simulate a catastrophic attack. The faux fears, however, were overshadowed by deepening anxiety in Jerusalem that Israel is heading for an unavoidable political showdown with President Barack Obama over the center-right government’s refusal to stop building Jewish homes in the predominantly Palestinian West Bank…The building apprehension comes as Obama is preparing to make a direct appeal to the Islamic world in Cairo on Thursday that’s widely seen as a chance for the U.S. to launch a new, more cooperative era with Arab nations in the Middle East. Central to the success of Obama’s attempts to reshape America’s image in the region will be a shift in U.S. policy toward Israel.”

London Daily Telegraph: “Barack Hussein Obama: US “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world”  (June 3, 2009) - “It is important to note that ‘if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world’. So says President Barack Obama. Or I should say: Barack Hussein Obama. That’s right: Barack Hussein Obama. Say it proud. Say it out loud. The middle moniker that dared not speak its name during the election campaign is now front and centre of the US president’s attempt to woo the Muslim world, the theme of his visits to Riyadh on Wednesday and Cairo on Thursday. Petrified of the potential political fallout of being branded a Muslim, Candidate Obama – a practicing Christian – never used the name ‘Hussein’ and its use was frowned upon as a forbidden code for the nutty accusation that he was some kind of Islamic Manchurian candidate.”

Taken as a whole these news stories do seem to indicate a possible shift in the way the United States deals with Israel and the Arab-Muslim world. If indeed this shift leads to rift between Israel and the U.S., one day the countries mentioned in the Ezekiel prophecy may become emboldened and invade Israel as the Bible says they will. Of course this will be their downfall but this event may possibly usher in the End-Times scenario that the Bible says is going to come upon the whole world.

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“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about…And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people” – Zechariah 12:2-3

Thursday, March 19th, 2009
smalljerusalemstorm

Jerusalem

(March 19, 2009)  In February of 2008 I wrote an article titled: (Why is Israel in the world news every day?) For more than 1800 years there was no nation of Israel. In 1948 the modern state of Israel was born. Ever since then Israel has consistently been in the news. The reason for this is because God declares in His word, “1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it…9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:1-3,9-10)  In the last days Jerusalem will be at the center of God’s End-Times plans. This would have been unthinkable over the last eighteen centuries but in 2009 it is clear that this prophecy can be fulfilled. It has been a year since I wrote that article but Israel is still front and center on the world stage.

 The global edition of the New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, has an article titled:  (Is a global rebranding what Israel needs?) The premise of the article is that Israel is under constant criticism from the world for its actions over the decades and Benjamin Netanyahu’s election as the new Prime Minister will only exacerbate the situation. The article states, “Israel, whose founding idea was branded as racism by the United Nations General Assembly in 1975 and which faced an Arab boycott for decades, is no stranger to isolation. But since its Gaza war, and as it prepares to inaugurate a hawkish right-wing government, it is facing its worst diplomatic crisis in two decades.” It goes on to give some examples of international discontent with Israel, “Its sports teams have met hostility and violent protests in Sweden, Spain and Turkey. Mauritania has closed the Israeli Embassy. Relations with Turkey, an important Muslim ally, have suffered severely. A group of top international judges and human rights investigators recently called for an investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza. ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ drew participants in 54 cities around the world this month, twice the number of last year, according to its organizers. And even in the American Jewish community, albeit in its liberal wing, there is a chill.” The world is already predisposed to fault Israel for the troubles in the Middle East.

Rupert Murdoch, maybe the most powerful media mogul in the world, spoke to the American Jewish Committee about the current status of Israel in the world (I am not Jewish but…). The Jerusalem Post article gives a few examples of the problems that Israel faces: “MOST FUNDAMENTALLY, we see a growing assault on both the legitimacy and security of the State of Israel. This assault comes from people who make clear they have no intention of ever living side-by-side in peace with a Jewish state – no matter how many concessions Israel might make. The reason for this is also clear: These are men who cannot abide the idea of freedom, tolerance and democracy. They hate Israel for the same reasons they hate us.”  He goes on to say, “THE FIRST HANDICAP is military. It’s true that Israel’s conventional superiority means it could flatten Gaza if it wanted. But the Israel Defense Forces – unlike Hamas – are accountable to a democratically chosen government. No matter which party is in the majority, every Israeli government knows it will be held accountable by its people and by the world for the lives that are lost because of its decisions. That’s true for lives of innocent Palestinians caught in the crossfire. And it’s also true for the Israeli soldiers who may lose their lives defending their people. In this kind of war, Hamas does not need to defeat Israel militarily to win a big victory. In fact, Hamas knows that in some ways, dead Palestinians serve its purposes even better than dead Israelis.” The last point Murdoch makes is, “THE SECOND HANDICAP for Israel is the global media war. For Hamas, the images of Palestinian suffering – of people losing their homes, of parents mourning their dead children, of tanks rolling through the streets – create sympathy for its cause. In a battle marked by street to street fighting, the death of innocents is all but inevitable. That is also true of Gaza. And these deaths have led some to call for Israel to be charged with war crimes by an international tribunal. But I am curious: Why do we never hear calls for Hamas leaders to be charged with war crimes?”

Israel has become a “burdensome stone” to all the world. Now the world is wondering whether Israel will attack Iran or Iran will attack Israel with nuclear weapons. Another headline today deals with Russia and Iran: (Reports: Russia confirms Iran missile contract) The article states, “Russian news agencies cited a top defense official Wednesday as confirming that a contract to sell powerful air-defense missiles to Iran was signed two years ago, but saying no such weapons have yet been delivered. Russian officials have consistently denied claims the country already has provided some of the S-300 missiles to Iran. They have not said whether a contract existed.” This is important because of a prophecy found in Ezekiel which declares that a coalition of countries will attack Israel in the last days. Two of the countries listed in this prophecy are modern day Russia and Iran. You can read about this prophecy in my article (The Coming Invasion of Israel).

The fact of the matter is that Israel is in the news constantly. Biblical prophecy declared that this would be the case in the End-Times. The world will turn against Israel when it follows after the Antichrist. The Antichrist will rise to power when the world is in economic chaos just as Hitler rose to power during the financial collapse of Germany in the 1920s and the world in the 1930s. Recent events have shown just how quickly the world’s economic systems can fail. Whether or not the current global situation leads to the events listed in End-Times prophecies remains to be seen. It could be that some similar future events bring about the time of trouble that is coming upon the whole world as Jesus declared in Matthew ch. 24. We do know one thing and that is in our modern world events happen quickly so these things could come to pass in a very short time whenever God chooses to initiate them.

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World economic fears and the decline of the United States

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

(November 20, 2008)  The economies of the world seem to be on the verge of collapse and it is causing fear around the world. (Fear stalks the world’s economies) According to this article, “Market analysts said panic had set in among traders. ‘Markets are utterly unhinged,’ said Bill O’Donnell, a strategist at UBS. ‘One problem is that financial institutions are powerless to take the other side of panic trades.’” As I pointed out in other news items in this section, the Bible declares that in the last days there will be worldwide chaos leading to famines, pestilences, and worthless economies. The use of the word fear has a prophetic air, “25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:25-28) Jesus said in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear and on earth there will be distress of nations.
The Book of Revelation speaks of an earth-shaking economic collapse, “1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” (Revelation 18:1-24) The historical Babylon is located in Iraq however John may be speaking of a metaphorical Babylon representing the evil in this world. In this instance it is the evil economic systems that have turned people from God and oppressed the people of the world. John is describing what he sees in at least the 21st century since this hasn’t taken place yet. He says that he sees this collapse occur in one day and the world is devastated by it. They had put their trust in riches and now those riches are gone. Fear and distress will indeed be the appropriate responses.

More predictions of the decline and fall of America

Reuters reports that the National Intelligence Council foresees a decline in American power and influence. (UPDATE 2-US clout down, risks up by 2025 -intel outlook) The article states, “U.S. economic and political clout will decline over the next two decades and the world will be more dangerous, with food and water scarce and advanced weapons plentiful, U.S. spy agencies projected on Thursday.” I believe that America has to become either economically or militarily impotent or both and therefore become unwilling or unable to protect Israel. (The Decline & Fall of America) The Bible prophesies of a war where countries surrounding Israel invade it to their own peril in the last days. (Coming Invasion of Israel) No non-Arabic country in the world would take on Israel as long as the powerful United States is protecting it. If the U.S. becomes impotent militarily then there is no more deterrent to those who would destroy Israel. The article further states, “‘A world with multiple power centers has been less stable than one with a single or two rival superpowers, and there was a growing potential for conflict…Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade, investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we cannot rule out a 19th century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion and military rivalries,’ the report said.” According to this assessment, a weakened America will lead to a more unstable world in which military alliances (like the one mentioned in Ezekiel) will be able to act upon their territorial expansion designs.

Professor Igor Panarin, a leading Russian political analyst, stated that the United States is headed for an economic collapse, confirming a prediction he made in 1998 when America’s economy was strong. (RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA) The article reports him saying that the U.S. will break up into six sections: “Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: ‘A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles.’” When asked who would replace the U.S. as the economic power of the world he said, “Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia.” According to biblical prophecy Russia is going to lead a coalition of countries against Israel (click on the link above “Coming Invasion of Israel”). China too may be the prophetic fulfillment of two passages in Revelation that describes a coalition of countries that invade the Middle East: “13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand [i.e. 200 million men]: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Revelation 9:13-19) “12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:12-14)

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October Updates: Economic Crises, Antichrist, Russia and Israel

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

(October 12, 2008)  According to the September 25th Financial Times the United States will lose its superpower status. (“US ‘will lose financial superpower status’”) If you read my article on this web site (The Decline & Fall of America) you will see that last year I stated that one day America had to become either economically or militarily impotent or both. The reason for this is because the Bible prophesies that one day a coalition of nations including Russia, Iran, and the surrounding countries will invade Israel. However, since the U.S. has been Israel’s protector this invasion could not take place. If America does decline in power then sometime in the future this invasion can take place. Whether or not the current situation leads to such a scenario is not clear. What is obvious is that such an erosion of America’s economy (and the world’s) can take place very quickly.

The world’s economy has suffered as a result of the interconnectedness of the global financial systems. Financial leaders from twenty countries are meeting in Washington D.C. in hopes of solving the current worldwide economic crisis. (“Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors”) The third judgment of the Tribulation Period (Revelation 6:5-6) speaks of a global economic meltdown that leads to hyper-inflation for food (e.g. a days wages for wheat. barley etc.) and other commodities. Jesus also spoke of famines in His End-Times discourse in Matthew 24:7. It is interesting that Adolph Hitler rose to power out of the economic chaos in Germany after World War I. It is very possible that a similar world leader will one day arise out of a global economic chaos. As I stated above, if this is not that time it is still revealing in how short a span of time economic catastrophe can occur because of the global nature of the world’s financial systems. The one bright spot in all this is that oil has come down in price. However, I believe this is a temporary reprieve because demand for oil is increasing throughout the world. (“Energy Department: World demand to rise 50 percent in next 20 years”)

Russia continues to assert their military strength after invading Georgia and making arms deals with Venezuela. Now they have test-fired long-range ballistic missiles. (“Russia test-fires ballistic missiles”) Russian President Medvedev said, “This shows that our shield is in order. We will build up our armed capability, which means we will acquire new weaponry while also launching traditional ballistic missiles.” In my article (The Coming Invasion of Israel) I discuss how Russia is supposed to be part of an invasion of Israel towards the last days that also includes Iran. According to an October 7th, 2008 Jerusalem Post article, Russia is going to increase its involvement in the Middle East. The article states that Israeli leader Ehud Olmert “urged the Russians to play a more active role in getting Teheran to cease uranium enrichment.” One of the many pieces of the End-Times prophetic puzzle to keep an eye on!

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