Further down on my home page you will find a section titled End-Times Headlines. There you can read current news stories that I believe relate to biblical prophecies concerning events that God said will happen when He begins His judgment of the world. The subject matter of many of these news items revolve around one particular prophetic theme or another. This page will consist of a compilation of news stories that relate to the prophecies that speak of an invasion of Israel in the last days. On this web site I wrote an article titled ("Coming Invasion of Israel") which explains the biblical prophecy that speaks of an invasion of Israel by Middle East countries and their surrounding neighbors. The key to End-Times prophecy revolves around the nation of Israel. God declares in His word that He has chosen Israel for His dwelling place: "13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation." (Psalm 132:13) Therefore, it is incumbent upon the student of prophecy to watch news events that affect Israel. That Israel is in the news almost every day is confirmation that God's prophecies concerning them have come true and the rest will come true. The Bible declares that God is always watching Israel: "11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: 12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." (Deuteronomy 11:11-12) If God keeps His eyes on Israel so too should we.
[April 22, 2008] - HILLARY CLINTON: WE COULD OBLITERATE IRAN - In an interview with ABC news, Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton declared that if she were President and Iran attacked Israel the United States would retaliate against them. (Clinton: We could 'obliterate' Iran) "'I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran,' said Democratic Presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton Tuesday in an interview on ABC News. 'In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them,' she added."
Although it is true we could currently "obliterate" Iran or any other country with our nuclear arsenal, it may not be true over the next ten years. The Bible declares that Israel is going to be attacked one day by Iran and many other neighboring countries [see on this web site ("Coming Invasion of Israel")]. However, for the exact reason that Mrs. Clinton stated, I don't believe any country would be foolish enough to attack Israel as long as the United States is its protector. Therefore, in order for the prophetic invasion of Israel to occur, I believe that the United States has to become either economically or militarily impotent or both. As oil prices continue to soar and thus affecting every other area of our economy, it is possible that economically we will not be able to maintain our current level of military power. The Iraq/Afghanistan war has drained our resources immensely. It may be that if the American people become economically disadvantaged (U.S. Consumers Destined for a Future with Fewer Choices, Much-Higher Costs), they may rebel against any further intervention in the Middle East, even if it means sacrificing Israel.
[April 21, 2008] - TRUCE WITH HAMAS MUST INCLUDE JERUSALEM AS CAPITAL OF PALESTINE - Former President Jimmy Carter traveled to the Middle East in order to try to jump start peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas. According to a Jerusalem Post article, any truce (notice that Hamas isn't speaking of a peace treaty) with Israel must include Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Palestine. (US: Hamas truce offer meaningless) The article elaborates on Hamas' conditions for a truce, "Khaled Mashaal, whose group has sworn to destroy Israel, told reporters in Damascus on Monday that Hamas would accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank with Israel as its neighbor, but stressed that his group would not formally recognize it, a move immediately dismissed by the US as meaningless. 'We agree to a (Palestinian) state on pre-67 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital with genuine sovereignty without settlements, but without recognizing
Israel,' Mashaal said.'We have offered a truce if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, a truce of 10 years as a proof of recognition.'"
Once again it is clear there will be no peace between Israel and Hamas, Hizbullah, or any other Islamic terrorist organization because of unreasonable demands. It is going to take the future world leader whom Christians call the Antichrist to seemingly solve the Israeli-Arab conflict.
"Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make anend of
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know
therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the
desolate." (Daniel 9:24-27)
In the last verse of this passage in chapter 9 of Daniel, it states that
this ruler or prince will confirm a covenant with many for one
week of seven years. Many believe this covenant will be a peace
treaty of some kind. Daniel speaks of this ruler or Antichrist
and what he will do during this period:
"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when
the transgressors are come to the full,
a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be
mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall
destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy
also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify
himself in his heart, and by peace shall
destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of
princes; but he shall be broken without
hand." (Daniel 8:23-25)
It declares here that this ruler will destroy many through his policy
of peace. The apostle Paul
agrees with Daniel where he says that the Antichrist will magnify
himself and stand up against the Prince of
princes:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits
in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is
God." (II Thessalonians 2:3-4)
On the Mount of Olives Jesus too made mention of the Antichrist
entering the Temple when He said:
"When you therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him
understand:) Then let them which be in Judea flee into
the mountains." (Matthew 24:15-16)
It appears this future leader will either author or at least support
a peace treaty that lasts seven years. Part of this agreement
will probably include the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple since
the last verse of Daniel chapter 9 states that in the middle of
this seven-year period the Antichrist will cause the Temple
sacrifices to cease. This cessation of sacrificial offerings will
come about when the Antichrist enters the Temple to declare
himself God. Daniel writes that this will lead to the desolation
or desecration of the Temple. Paul seems to be speaking about the
results of this peace treaty in his first letter to the
Thessalonians:
"For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not
escape." (I Thessalonians 5:2-3)
No matter how good the intentions of those who would bring peace to the Middle East, they will be unsuccessful until this future world leader initiates his reign. Even then though, true peace will not come until Jesus Christ comes again to set up His kingdom on earth.
[April 2, 2008] - NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? - U.S. diplomats in Saudi Arabia declare that if Iran obtains nuclear weapons a lot of the other Middle East countries will try to keep with up them by building their own nuclear arsenals. (U.S. Diplomats Forecast Nuclear Arms Race in Middle East if Iran Gets the Bomb) The report on this issue states, "the future Middle East landscape may include a number of nuclear-armed or nuclear weapons-capable states vying for influence in a notoriously unstable region." Though this scenario could be several years away it once again lends itself to the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. 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." (Zechariah 12:1-3)
And what appears to be a description of a nuclear war:
"12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. 14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. 16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. " (Zechariah 14:12-16)
[February 22, 2008] - WHY IS ISRAEL IN THE WORLD NEWS EVERY DAY? - About 1900 years ago the nation of Israel ceased to exist. The Jewish natives were dispersed throughout the world and no longer had a land to call their own. They should have assimilated into every culture they were sent to yet for those same 1900 years they maintained their identity and eventually wound up back in their land and reestablished the nation of Israel. Why?
The American author Mark Twain asked a question in a similar vein, "What is the secret of [the Jews'] immortality?" (Concerning the Jews by Mark Twain)
As I wrote in my book the answer to Mark Twain's question is God. God has a plan for the Jewish people and this plan included bringing them back to the land of Israel that He gave to them. God declared, through the prophet Amos, that one day He would bring the Jews back to the land of Israel forever:
"And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD your God." (Amos 9:14-15)
The Jews are in the land of Israel to stay. God's plans for the End-Times revolve around the modern nation of Israel. This is why a country two and a half times the size of Rhode Island is in the world news every day. Thus, it is interesting that some Middle East leaders keep calling for the destruction of Israel or declare that Israel will cease to exist. The head of the Hizbullah terrorist organization based in Lebanon declared, "The disappearance of Israel is an inevitable fact. It is a historic process in the region which will come about over several years." He was responding to the fact that arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus earlier in February.(Nasrallah: Israel's disappearance inevitable)
This is just one example of how Israel stays in the news. The president of Iran continues to make anti-Israel statements frequently. South American leaders have made disparaging remarks about Israel. The United States' foreign policy has a large interest in what goes on in Israel and its environs. China has a large investment in Middle East oil and is concerned about anything that may inhibit the free flowing oil to its country. This would include any disruptions caused by the Arab-Israeli conflict. The European Union constantly makes statements concerning the Israel-Mideast situation. The Russians have been involved in this conflict for decades. Islamic terrorism will continue its agenda of spreading Islam throughout the world while at the same time calling for the destruction of Israel. The impact of the tiny nation of Israel will continue to be felt by the world until Jesus returns again to set up His kingdom in Israel. God declared that this would be the case in the End-Times:
"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." (Zechariah 12:1-3)
[November 25, 2007] - PAT BUCHANAN'S BOOK "DAY OF RECKONING" PREDICTS END OF AMERICA - In his new book "Day of Reckoning: How hubris, ideology and greed are tearing America apart", Pat Buchanan declares that America will not survive if it continues on its self-destructive course. According to the Drudge report (NEW BUCHANAN BOOK DECLARES 'END OF AMERICA') Buchanan lists some of the following reasons for the downfall of America:
-The U.S. Army is breaking and is too small to meet America’s global commitments.
-The dollar has sunk to historic lows and is being abandoned by foreign governments.
-manufacturing is being hollowed out.
-The greatest invasion in history, from the Third World, is swamping the ethno-cultural core of the country, leading to Balkanization and the loss of the Southwest to Mexico.
-The culture is collapsing and the nation is being deconstructed along the lines of race and class.
-A fiscal crisis looms as the unfunded mandates of Social Security and Medicare remain unaddressed.
I too believe America's superpower status has to decline. On this web site I wrote an article titled ("Coming Invasion of Israel") which explains the biblical prophecy that speaks of an invasion of Israel by Middle East countries and their surrounding neighbors. For this invasion to occur I believe that the major defender of Israel, i.e. the United States of America, has to become either incapable of or unwilling to defend Israel. If Pat Buchanan is right about the causes of America's downfall then it would mean that we would be unable to protect the nation of Israel. This would then lead Israel's enemies to the conclusion that they could invade Israel with impunity.
[October 5, 2007] - IRAN VOWS TO LIBERATE ALL OF PALESTINE - In a speech made on the observance of the Islamic-political "Al Quds Day" (i.e. Jerusalem Day), Iran's President Ahmadinejad stated, "The Palestinian people are standing firm. The Iranian people and other peoples will not stop until all of Palestinian territory is liberated." (Ahmadinejad in new tirade against Israel) Since there never has been a country created named Palestine, one could interpret his words in different ways. He was apparently misinterpreted in a 2005 speech where the media claimed he said, "Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement." The phrase "wiped off the map" was trumpeted around the world and Internet in news stories. Since then others have claimed that the translation of the speech was incorrect and should have read "'This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.' This sentence is very wise." Their reason for pointing out this clarification is to resist the apparent momentum in parts of the U.S. and world to attack Iran. The same analysis of his Al Quds Day speech could possibly lead to a seeming misinterpretation of his words again. Is Ahmadinejad referring to not only "liberating" the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Israeli hands but also the rest of Israel? It is historically noteworthy that Arab League formed the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964. At that time the Arabs had control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. It wasn't until three years later in the 1967 Six Days War that Israel gained control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. This then begs the question, "What part of Palestine were the Arabs trying to liberate in 1964?" If President Ahmadinejad's intentions toward Israel are not aggressive then he should make that clear. Instead his ambiguity could lead to disaster as recent events have made clear. The Bible does declare that one day an alliance between Iran and its neighboring countries will indeed invade the land of Israel. The results for this alliance will be devastating. Only God knows the timing for this event and whether the current regime in Iran will participate in it.
[October 4, 2007] - PRESIDENT BUSH WARNS IRAN THAT U.S. MAY DEFEND ISRAEL - President Bush warned Iran that if they are serious about destroying Israel then he believed the United States would defend Israel. The actual quote in the article is, "My belief is that the United States will defend our ally Israel." (Bush: US will 'defend its ally Israel') I find the word belief to be an interesting choice of words by the President. In the past the United States has defended Israel's interests many times. However, this time the President used the word belief instead of saying "The United States will defend". I'm not sure if any hesitancy on his part was intended but that is the way it sounds. I believe that one day the U.S. will either be unable or unwilling to defend Israel. This scenario would lead to an invasion of Israel as predicted in the Bible (See my article: The Coming Invasion of Israel'). It is difficult to say what the Presidential elections in 2008 will bring to the global arena. What the new President's policies toward Israel and the Middle East will be are unknown and are worthy of careful observance.
[August 22, 2007] - MADELEINE ALBRIGHT STATES THAT ANYBODY WHO CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF JERUSALEM IS A SOLOMON; [IT WON'T BE SOLOMON BUT A MAN MUCH MORE EVIL] - In an interview with CNN, former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discussed the importance of religion in foreign policy. (Albright: Ignore religion 'at our own peril') During the course of this interview Ms. Albright was asked about the problem of the religious divisiveness over the city of Jerusalem. She responded by saying "Anybody that can really solve that issue is a Solomon. With this being holy to all three of the Abrahamic religions, it's very difficult. And religion, rather than bringing people together on this, is driving them apart, which ... I don't think [is] what is intended. It's so interesting; we're talking about the whole issue of sovereignty here. Because the parties both believed that God gave them that little piece of land, we started playing with a term, which was that it belonged to God. Divine sovereignty." On September 13, 1993, my wife and I watched the Prime minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shake hands in front of President Clinton on the White House lawn. They had just concluded a peace agreement that hopefully would settle the problems between their two peoples. Several issues were supposed to be resolved through this agreement. However, the future of Jerusalem would be determined at sometime in the future. After listening to Mr. Rabin's and Mr. Arafat's speeches conducted on the lawn that day I turned to my wife and told her that this peace agreement was a sham. Both men within a few minutes of speaking had declared Jerusalem to be their people's undivided capital. This meant that there had been no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ms. Albright now seems to understand the importance of Jerusalem in resolving the Arab-Israeli problem. She stated that it would take a man with the wisdom of Solomon to solve this dilemma. Actually, the man who seemingly solves this issue is going to be a world leader whom Christians refer to as the Antichrist. In the Book of Revelation God revealed the future to one of his servants named John. One of the events God showed to him was the rising of a man whom John called the beast and Christians call the Antichrist. John's description of him explains how this evil leader is going to deceive the world: "...and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon [i.e. the Devil] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?... And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."(Revelation 13:3-4,8) The prophet Daniel spoke of this man and declared; "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."(Daniel 8:25) The Antichrist will come with a peace initiative which will include the rebuilding of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. For the Muslims to allow this they too will have "wondered after the beast". The apostle Paul states that this Antichrist will then sit in the rebuilt Temple and commit the greatest blasphemy, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) So it would seem that the Antichrist will have finally solved the problem of Jerusalem but just a short time late the true problem-solver, Jesus Christ, will return. He will destroy the Antichrist and reign from Jerusalem as the King of Kings.
[August 15, 2007] - JERUSALEM POST ARTICLE SPEAKS OF THIRD TEMPLE BEING REBUILT IN JERUSALEM WHICH WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR 1800 YEARS - An article in the Jerusalem Post discusses whether a Third Jewish Temple should be built. (Should Jews build the Third Temple?) The author gives a history of the previous two Temples and gives reasons as to why he doesn't think that the rebuilding should take place. The Jewish groups who support building it have already made all the utensils and articles of clothing that will be used in this Temple. The Third Temple will be rebuilt! The Bible declares that it will have a prominent place in the Tribulation Period or time of trouble that is coming upon the whole world before Jesus comes again. The amazing aspect to all this is that for 1800 years the Jews have been dispersed from Israel throughout the world. Yet in 1948 that changed and the Jews once again resided in their land. Here in 2007, the rebuilding of the Temple is the subject of a major world newspaper. (To see the preparations that the Jews have made for the Third Temple go to: The Temple Institute
[August 14, 2007] - U.S. COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARNS THAT AMERICA PARALLELS THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE - The director of the Government Accounting Office for the U.S.A. declared to the Financial Times that America "is on a 'burning platform' of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon." (Article: Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned) The article goes on to say, "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”. I have no doubt that Mr. Walker's warning will come true. The Bible declares that in the last days military alliances will be formed which will attack Israel. These alliances are occurring at the present time such as the one between Russia and Iran. However, America has been the protector of Israel since its rebirth in 1948. No one outside of the surrounding Arab countries would dare attack Israel knowing full well that they would have to fight America also. Russia considered intervening militarily in the 1967 Six Day War but refrained from doing so after the American Fleet pulled up off the coast of Israel. Thus, for biblical prophecy to come true, America has to either be out of the way or its power and influence greatly reduced. What the Comptroller General warned of may actually be part of God's plans for the consummation of His End-Times plans.
[July 30, 2007] - RUSSIA WILL SELL JETS TO IRAN - The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Russia will sell 250 long-range fighter jets to Iran (Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia). Russia has already had other military business dealings with the Iranians as the article points out, "Despite Israeli and US opposition, Russia recently supplied Iran with advanced antiaircraft systems used to protect Teheran's nuclear installations. At the time, Moscow said it reserved the right to sell Iran weapons, such as the antiaircraft system, that were of a defensive nature." The prophet Ezekiel declares that in the end the enemies of Israel will form many military alliances. These alliances will include Russia, Persia (i.e. Iran), Turkey and other Islamic states in the Middle East. They will then attack Israel albeit unsuccessfully which in turn may set in motion God's plans for the final stage of the current age we are living in.