Palestinian Authority plan for a Palestinian state

The Palestinian Authority is still considering asking the United Nations to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state called Palestine. Obviously this state would incorporate land that belongs to Israel. Such a declaration by the U.N. would force the nations of the Earth to either side with or against Israel.

It would be very dangerous for any nation to side against Israel in such a scenario, however we do know that the day will come when all nations will come against Israel.

It does concern me that the current trend of U.S. foreign policy is to push for a Palestinian state at all costs. Should such a declaration be made by the U.N., and should the U.S. support it, trouble could be on the horizon for the U.S.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141067

Syria drawing Israel's attention

The following article details the growing concern that Israel and the United States have over Syria. Part of the concern both nations have is Syria's relationship with Lebanon.

Both nations are prophesied to be involved in military conflicts with Israel in the last days (Psalm 83, Isaiah 17). It will be interesting to keep watching to see if the current tensions are temporarily resolved, or if the long ago prophesied clashes break out soon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120306852.html?hpid=topnews

An excellent read on the importance of Jerusalem

http://www.examiner.com/canada-bible-prophecy-in-canada/jerusalem-a-cup-of-trembling-and-a-burdensome-stone

U.S. should be careful

The United States recently did not oppose nine anti-Israeli resolutions to the United Nations. This is further evidence of a negative trend toward a more anti-Israel foreign policy by the U.S. Christians in American must pray that the U.S. stays committed to standing with Israel and not against them.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140783

Will the U.S. mid-term elections have an affect on U.S. foreign policy?

After the changes that will occur as a result of the recent elections here in the United States, it is interesting to ponder what implications they will have in regard to U.S. foreign policy in regard to Israel.

The looming battles on domestic and economic issues between the White House and the newly elected congress could cause the President to look outside of our borders for political victories before his reelection bid in 2012. Achieving a Mid-East peace would be a major accomplishment for any politician. Hopefully if this approach is taken it will not lead the U.S. to place pressure on Israel to surrender land.

This could be the dumbest idea yet

I am amazed at what I read in the article linked below. Apparently the U.S. is advocating a peace deal in which Israeli land would be used to create a Palestinian state, but Israel would be allowed to lease the land (land they already posses, land given to them by God) from the Palestinians.

Two things strike me as bad about this. First, that land is Israel's and the U.S. should not be a part of trying to take it from them or force them to give it up. Second, I can't help but think that some of the money Israel would pay could be used to fund terrorists looking to destroy Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-u-s-proposes-israel-lease-lands-from-palestinians-under-future-deal-1.321794

The growing financial influence of Islam

According to the following article Islamic banking systems are gaining popularity in the world. I think this is an interesting trend to keep an eye on. There are a couple of reasons why.

First, the growing popularity and influence of Islamic banking fits well with the theory that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. Should an Islamic banking system come to world-wide prominence due to oil wealth, major economic meltdown of the other economies of the world, or any other reason it is not unreasonable to believe the leader of such a system could require a "mark" to buy or sell within that system. It is forbidden in Islamic law for one Muslim to charge another Muslim interest. A dominant Islamic banking system could cause numerous people to convert to "one-world-religion" to avoid interest.

Second, the article mentions the Vatican's support of Islamic banking principles. As mentioned in an early post, some scholars believe the false prophet of Revelation will be an apostate pope. Couple that with the possibility of an Islamic Antichrist and any news item involving the Vatican and Islam becomes worth tracking.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2010-10-19-islamicbank19_ST_N.htm

The Vatican speaks out against Israel

The Vatican recently spoke out on behalf of the Palestinians against Israel. I think this has some interesting implications for the future.

Some scholars believe the false prophet of Revelation will be an apostate pope. There are also scholars who believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim. Any story or event linking Islam and the Vatican is worth tracking.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3973590,00.html

This would be a bad idea

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering asking the U.S. to recognize a Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders if the peace process breaks down. Recognition of such a state by the U.S. would be a horrible mistake.

Publicly taking the position that land belonging to Israel should go to someone else would, in my opinion, put the U.S. on the wrong side of this issue. I have to wonder if that in God's eyes would put the U.S. as cursing Israel and not blessing.

Whatever happens, I doubt will happen before the elections in November.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=190740

Israel, the U.S., and November

This is the number one reason why I believe the news from the Mid-East peace talks has been quiet recently, and will continue to be quiet for the next 7-8 weeks.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3959769,00.html

The future of the peace process

The coming days should produce quite a bit of interesting news about the peace process due to the end of the settlement slow down in the West Bank. It is possible several scenarios could play out, but two in particular are interesting.

1. The peace process could entirely break down. With tensions at an all time high in the region already this could further hasten a military clash between Israel and Lebanon and Syria.

2. The current U.S. administration could begin to pressure Israel to halt construction in the West Bank. In my opinion, it is doubtful they would place too much pressure on Israel this close to the November elections. However, once the elections are over I would not be surprised to see the pressure increased.

In my mind the concerning scenario is number two. We do not want to find ourselves in the position as a nation of placing pressure on Israel to surrender their God-given land.

Here is a recent article on the end of the slow down.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/09/26/israel-end-settlement-slowdown-midnight-threatening-mideast-peace-talks/

Psalm 83 conditions taking shape

Conditions in the Middle East continue to trend in a direction that could bring about the fulfillment of Psalm 83 and possible Isaiah 17:1. One article in particular I found interesting is the following one in which a U.S. analyst breaks down possible war scenarios.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/next-israel-hezbollah-war-will-be-worse-says-u-s-analyst-1.314880?localLinksEnabled=false

What I found particularly interesting was his statement that a war between Israel and Lebanon could come to include Syria. This would bring the nations involved in Psalm 83 into play, as well as Damascus from Isaiah 17:1.

Jordan's king warns of war by year in

The king of Jordan is warning that a war between Israel and the Palestinians is possible by year's end. He hinges his opinion of this what happens with the settlement freezes.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3959234,00.html

U.N. Looking to increase it's role

According to the following article the U.N. is looking to increase its role in the world. Could this be another building block in the future one-world-government controlled by the Antichrist?

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/09/17/security-council-summit-boost-global-involvement/

Rosh Hashanah

Tomorrow at Sundown (sundown in Jerusalem will be approx noon EDT in the U.S.) the Jewish feast of Rosh Hashanah begins. This is the celebration of the Jewish new year.

Also, it is the beginning of the season on the Jewish calendar known as the "Days of Awe." This takes place the ten days between the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement.) The Days of Awe are a time for introspection and repentance.

It is interesting to study the symbolism and foreshadowing of the rapture in the feast of Rosh Hashanah.

Click on the following links to learn more about Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe.

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm - for Rosh Hashanah

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday3.htm - for Days of Awe

Peace talks to start in Washington D.C. tomorrow

Please keep Israel in your prayers as peace talks are to start between Israel and the Palestinians tomorrow. I find the following article interesting.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/01/tropical.weather/index.html?hpt=T1

It seems interesting to me that the hurricane is set to make land on the same day the peace talks start.

Another sign Israel may be ready to launch an attack

Where there's smoke.............

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=196377

Attack on Syria might be coming soon

According to a source, Israel is on the verge of attacking Hezbollah arms depots in Syria. Such an attack could escalate into a full scale war. If such a war broke out, an attack on Damascus could come into play. Isaiah 17:1 states that Damascus will one day be destroyed. This could be the lead up to the fulfillment of this prophecy.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-israel-planning-to-attack-hezbollah-arms-depots-in-syria-1.310655

The above article also states that Israeli drones have been flying over Lebanon. This is interesting in light of the fact that Israel delivered a message to this week to Lebanon saying a plan was in place to wipe out the Lebanese army in four hours in the event of another border skirmish. It is possible Israel was delivering this message to give Lebanon pause about getting involved in a war between Israel and Syria. However, Psalm 83 says one day both of those nations will be involved in a war with Israel.

The latest on the upcoming peace talks

The following article gives an update on the upcoming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The most interesting item, in my opinion, from the article is the large role President Obama plans on playing in the talks.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3944645,00.html

U.S. views Israeli settlements in West Bank as illegitimate

The following article states the position of the U. S. government that Israeli settlements built in the West Bank are illegitmate.

At the risk of sounding redundant, this is part of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants by God. Any nation that tries to force Israel from this land will find themselves under God's curse, and that is not a desirable place to be.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-warns-israel-palestinians-refrain-from-harming-peace-talks-1.310001

U.S. wants peace agreement within a year

The following article explains how the U.S government is expecting a full, not partial, peace agreement within a year. Most experts agree this time frame is not realistic. Considering this, it makes me wonder how much pressure the U.S. is willing to exert to bring about peace.


http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3943318,00.html

Excellent read on the Israel/Iran situation

The following link is to a great opinion piece from foxnews.com on the Israel/Iran situation. The whole article is worth reading, but here are the two most interesting points.

* Apparently the U.S. has convinced Israel that Iran still a year away from having a nuclear weapon, therefore there is no need for an imminent attack.

* According to the author, President Obama is going to try to use this situation to push through an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/08/20/obama-administration-thinks-road-tehran-runs-jerusalem/

Direct talks between Israel and Palestinians set to begin September 2

Things could get very interesting in the next couple of weeks. It was announced today that direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will begin in Washington D.C. on September 2.

According to Fox News' Special Report a one year time frame has been established to reach a peace deal. However, many are skeptical this time frame is realistic.

This could be the beginning of a major setting of pieces in place for the fulfillment of significant end time events. It his highly unlikely these talks will lead to the seven year agreement made by the Antichrist (although nothing is impossible), but they could lead to the peace mentioned that will be in place in Israel at the time of the invasion by the Gog-Magog coalition of Ezekiel 38-39.

Without question this is an exciting time to be alive.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-direct-peace-talks-to-begin-on-september-2-in-washington-1.309143

United States support of Israel

There are three reoccurring topics from this blog I want to briefly mention to you again.

First, as has been stated here many times, it is very important for the United States to continue to be a supporter of the nation of Israel. We know that Genesis 12:3 promises those who bless Israel will be blessed, but those who curse Israel will be cursed.

Second, it has also been pointed out here many times that there is a correlation between disasters (natural and others) in the U.S. and negative foreign policy decisions toward Israel. Bill Koenig has an excellent book on this topic entitled Eye of the Storm. (Follow the link to watch.org on the right side of the page to find how to secure your own copy.)

Third, I have documented the disturbing trend in U.S. foreign policy to being less friendly to Israel and more antagonistic.

With those things in mind, check the following article.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-support-for-israel-is-decreasing-new-poll-shows-1.308855

Also, could this be a reason for the trend away from supporting Israel?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/19/nearly-americans-thinks-obama-muslim-survey-shows/

Is it too late to stop Iran?

There are some who believe that it may already be too late for Israel or the United States to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

According to former U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Saturday is the deadline for Israel to strike Iran. However there are those who believe that would not stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, only delay them.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/19/air-military-strike-delay-stop-irans-nuclear-program-officials-say/

Terrorists planning for Israeli-Iran war

With the possibility of a Israeli-Iran war looming, Islamic terrorists are making plans for attacking Israel.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3939898,00.html

Possible August 21 deadline for Israeli strike on Iran

According to former United States Ambassador to the U. N. John Bolton, Israel could be faced with a deadline of August 21 to launch a preemptive strike on Iran. The August 21 date is due to the news this week of Russia loading fuel into an Iranian nuclear reactor. Read the following article for more details.

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/John--Bolton--Iran--Nuclear--israel/2010/08/13/id/367449?s=al&promo_code=A80B-1

Ahmadinejad once again threatens Israel

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened Israel by saying any invasion of Lebanon will be met by retribution from the Islamic/regional nations. This statement makes one wonder if the first domino is getting ready to be pushed over that will cause the others to follow.

A. Israel will be involved in a war with Lebanon. Psalm 83

B. Iran will be part of a coalition of nations to attack Israel. Ezekiel 38-39.

It is possible that a war between Israel and Lebanon (and more than likely Syria, Isaiah 17) could lead to the nations of Ezekiel 38-39 forming their coalition to come against Israel.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/139081

Election year effects on U.S. foreign policy toward Israel

Don't be surprised if U.S. foreign policy is much softer in tone and action toward Israel in the coming weeks and months. Harassing Israel is bad for business when it comes to getting elected in this country.

There are a large number of Jewish voters who will think twice about voting for candidates they would normally support if they are supporting anti-Israeli policies. Alienating this voting bloc is not a risk any politician is willing to take, whether running for his own re-election or just campaigning on behalf of someone else.

I fully expect after November for our government to begin applying pressure again on Israel to surrender land for peace and a Palestinian state. There will be politicians looking for a peace agreement in the Middle East by the elections of 2012 to use a feather in their cap.

Netanyahu rejects pre-1967 border

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected pre-1967 borders for a proposed Palestinian state. This statement has delayed what seemed to be a possible soon start for direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

As time goes on I am sure we will see Netanyahu vilified for his stance on no accepting pre-1967 borders. I would also speculate that after November's mid-term elections that our government will take a much harsher and outspoken stand against Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-rejects-peace-talks-based-on-1967-borders-1.307430

More from the Lebanese President

The Lebanese president is vowing to arm Lebanon's troops with advanced weaponry after the recent skirmish along the Israeli-Lebanon border.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/lebanese-president-vows-to-arm-military-with-advanced-weaponry-1.306561

Hoepefully, that advanced weaponry won't come from the United States. However, the following article does not eliminate that possibility in my mind.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-blames-u-s-france-for-arming-lebanon-1.305848

Syrian president speaks out against Israel

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently stated his nation's position not to negotiate with Israel, and that he believes Israel's unwillingness to surrender land for peace could lead to a war in the Middle-East.

Scripturally speaking, we know that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). It is possible that this could happen in a future war involving Israel and Syria; a war which looks more and more possible and imminent each day.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/assad-warns-of-growing-threat-of-middle-east-war-1.305314

Skirmish along the Israeli/Lebanese border

Four people were killed in a skirmish along the border between Israel and Lebanon. As of this time, it does not look like it will escalate beyond more than what already transpired.

This even is a reminder that tensions in the region are high, and that the smallest spark could start an enormous fire. I believe this is a small preview of greater fighting to come.

We know from Psalm 83 that Lebanon will be involved in a war in the future with Israel. This incident shows this war could come sooner rather than later.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/03/lebanese-israeli-troops-clash-border-solider-lightly-wounded/

A Few new artilces on Israeli/Arab peace talks

I am linking below a few new articles relating to peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. It is clear from the following articles that both sides are under tremendous pressure from the United States to come to the table to talk about peace.

As part of this peace, the U.S. is intent on the creation of a Palestinian state using Israeli land. It disturbs me that our government is advocating this position. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wants the borders of such a state base on pre-1967 war lines. An adoption of this proposal would force Israel to surrender a large quantity of land. Any pressure on Israel to surrender God-given land is a bad idea (Genesis 12:3).

September 26 looks to be a key date in the entire peace process. That is the date the settlement freeze in the West Bank is set to expire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it would be politically impossible to hold the nation's government together if the freeze were to be extended. PA President Abbas appears to want to wait until the freeze expires to make his next move.

I believe the reason Abbas wants to delay is to destabilize the government of Netanyahu in Israel. Many in the Arab world believe peace is impossible as long as he is in power. If he was out of the way, they probably believe they would have an easier time in securing the land they want for peace and an independent state.

The thing to remember is that no amount of land will truly bring peace. The Islamic nations that surround Israel want nothing more than to see Israel and the Jewish people destroyed. This is so much more than just a political situation.

As believers we need to continue to pray for Israel, her leaders, our nation, and her leaders.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=183083

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-extending-settlement-freeze-will-cause-government-to-collapse-1.304671

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-believes-abbas-will-bide-time-on-direct-talks-until-settlement-freeze-nears-end-1.304944

Slow pace could be ready to pick up

It seems the last few days have been relatively quiet on the Mid-East peace talks front. However, we could be ready to see the pace begin to pick up in this area.

The article linked below discusses the current status of peace talks and our president's position on creating a Palestinian state.

I'll continue to say this like a broken record until I can no longer, we as Christians in America desperately need to pray for our leaders to take foreign policy positions that place us on the side of blessing Israel.

Keep an eye on developments in any Mid-East peace talks as this movement toward peace in Israel is a sign of the times we are living in.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/28/egypt-says-assurances-boost-chances-direct-peace-talks/

RFID chips

RFID chips could very well be the technology used to implement the mark of the beast. The following article shows how they are being used in a store I am sure many of you are familiar with.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704421304575383213061198090.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

Interesting commentary on why Israel has not already attacked Iran

Pay particular attention to the forth theory set forth by the author.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720504575376742991948412.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

Possible Palestinian takeover of Israeli land by year's end

The following article details how by the end of the year we could see the takeover of Israeli land by the Palestinian Authority. The concerning thing about this article is the involvement of the government of the United States of America in such an outcome.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=181281

Financial crisis looming

When studying current events through the lens of what scripture says about the end times, Christians often focus solely on what is happening in Israel. While Israel is the key, other current events need to be looked at as well.

I believe the most overlooked current news item for students of end time prophecy is the abysmal shape of the world's financial system(s). Many economic experts believe and are warning that we are just a couple of years, if not months, away from a major global economic crisis.

What does this have to do with what the Bible says about the last days? We know that the day will come when the Antichrist will control the government and economy of the world. Many Biblical scholars believe that much of the infrastructure for such a government will be in place by the time he comes on the scene. A global economic crisis could push the world further down the road to having more of a globalized (central) government and economy than we do know.

The following article describes the present economic situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/business/global/12refinance.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1

The 9th of Av

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 on our calendar will be the ninth day of the month of Av on the Jewish calendar. This is a very significant and ominous date in Jewish history.

It has been on this date, 9th of Av, that many bad things have happened to Jerusalem and the Jewish people. According to the Mishnah (Jewish law transmitted orally) five negative events have befallen Israel on this date. They are:
1. The ten spies returned with a negative report from the promised land.
2. The temple built by King Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians.
3. The second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD beginning the Jewish exile from the Holy Land.
4. The Romans crushed a Jewish revolt killing over 100,000 Jews in 132 AD
5. The Romans plowed the site of the temple in 133 AD

Besides the tragedies here are other events that have happened on this date:
1. The Jews were expelled from England in 190 AD.
2. The Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 AD.
3. In 1914 WWI broke out setting the stage for WWII and the holocaust.
4. On the eve of the 9th of Av in 1942, the transfer of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto to Treblinka began.

Many Jews fast on the 9th of Av every year. I think it would be appropriate for Christians everywhere to set aside some time on July 20, the 9th of Av, to pray specifically for Israel.
1. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
2. Pray for the salvation of the citizens of Israel.
3. Pray for protection for Israel and Jerusalem as war looms on the horizon.
4. Pray that the leadership of the United States will stand beside Israel, and that our nation will continue to bless Israel and not curse Israel. (Genesis 12:3)

Hezbollah/Israel war may be on the horizon

The following article has some good insight on a possibly looming war between Israel and Hezbollah. According to the article the key is Iran. Iran could be looking to take international attention off of its nuclear program by having its proxy, Hezbollah, go to war with Israel.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/hezbollah_israel_war_if_iran_wants_QtlirWV5yM5SVVsaKQa3vK

The following article gives more information on this topic.

http://www.debka.com/article/8905/

It appears that a war involving Israel and Iran, Hezbollah, or a combination of the two is only a matter of time. As Believers we need to be earnestly praying for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), Israel's leadership, and the people of Israel.

Perry Stone conference July 12-16

I encourage anyone who is able to attend the Perry Stone conference in Louisville, KY this week. He will be teaching on the book of Revelation for seven of the nine sessions. Every year this is a great conference that I always enjoy attending.

A fresh look at Daniel 9:27

Let me say from the start this post will be considered as everything from the ramblings of a man with too much time on his hands by some to out and out heresy by others. I say that because some of what I am about to write goes against some of the traditional views we have had of end time events in the church. This post is not meant to start a new doctrine or teaching, but rather to provoke thought and prayerful consideration.

Daniel 9:27 is one of the most studied and quoted verses by students of end time prophecy. It is the verse where we learn of the Antichrist's seven year peace agreement with Israel. Here is the text of Daniel 9:27 - Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. There is one word I want to take a closer look at in this verse, and that word is confirm.

In Hebrew the word confirm is gabar which means: exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more strength, strengthen, be stronger, be valiant. (New Strong's Dictionary of Greek and Hebrew Words)

Many Biblical scholars, especially those who study the end times, believe that a better understanding of this verse is not that the Antichrist will make a new covenant with Israel, but rather he will confirm (strengthen, make stronger) one that already exists. This confirmation (strengthening, making stronger) will be for seven years.

Since we the church will be raptured before this occurs, what does this have to do with us? Consider if you will the overwhelming effort underway to bring peace to the Middle East. Rarely a day goes by that there is not a story in the news about movement on the Middle East peace process. Could it be that in the coming months and years we will see a peace agreement reached involving Israel that will be the peace agreement the Antichrist confirms (strengthens, makes stronger) when he arrives?

No one can say for sure. Israel will be living in peace at the time of the Gog-Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39 (Ezekiel 38:8,11,14). It could be that any peace reached in the near future is the peace that will be in place then. Could that peace be confirmed (strengthened, made stronger) by the Antichrist after Gog-Magog?

Only the unfolding of time will tell if a peace agreement reached in the coming moths and years is one that will be confirmed (strengthened, made stronger) by the Antichrist. What we do know is this, someday there will be a peace agreement involving Israel and calls and progress toward one are a sure sign that we are living in the last days.

The myth of peaceful Islam

As we hear more and more about peace talks and peace agreements between Israel and her Arab, and more importantly Muslim, neighbors it is important to understand that any peace agreement will be short lived.

Obviously, scripture is clear about this. Israel will be living in peace before the invasion of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39 (Ezekiel 38:8,11,14). Also, Israel's peace agreement with the Antichrist will be broken 3 1/2 years into the seven year agreement. There will be no lasting peace for Israel until the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ after the seven year tribulation period.

Keep in my mind that a "lasting peace" involving Israel and any Muslim nation, and I use the word Muslim instead of Arab intentionally, will not last due to Islam's teaching on Jews. For a greater understanding of this please read the following article.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/why_islam_will_never_accept_th.html

Frank assessment of U.S. relations with Israel

If you want to hear a frank assessment of U.S. relations with Israel, click on the link to watch.org found in the links section at the right. Scroll down to the youtube clip of Dr. Rubenstein. Be prepared, Dr. Rubenstein does not pull any punches and anyone easily offended may want to skip watching.

Movement toward a one-world currency

When we look at current events through the lens of what the Bible says about the last days we can often see how the stage is being set for the events of end time prophecy to take place. The following article is one such example.

This article does not represent a one-world currency, but it illustrates how the movement that the world is making in that direction.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65S40620100629

This is the wrong side of history to come down on

In a recent meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, President Obama restated his belief in the two state solution in the Middle-East. The only way to create such a state is to take away land from Israel, land promised to them by God.

God will not judge any individual or nation favorably who would have a part in forcing such a scenario. We need to continue to pray that the eyes of our leader's understanding be opened to see the need of supporting Israel.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3912764,00.html

Two (potentially related) news stories to track.

There are a couple of items in the news to keep track of in the coming days.

The first is the upcoming visit of Israelis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit with U.S. President Barack Obama. The deteriorating of the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has been well chronicled here. It will be interesting to see the state of the relationship after this visit. The following article details the recent changes in this relationship.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7857487/US-Israeli-relations-suffer-tectonic-rift.html

The second is the developing tropical depression Alex. Will it develop into a full blown hurricane? Will it hit the U.S.? You can read more about it by clicking the following link.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1521

I mentioned in this entry title that these stories could potentially be related. We have seen in the past that anti-Israeli actions/foreign policy on the part of the United States have led to negative consequences somewhere in the country. As chronicled by William Koenig in his book Eye of the Storm, sometimes those consequences have come in the form of hurricanes inflicting sever damage on various U.S. cities and states.

If President Obama uses this visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu as an occasion to take a more anti-Israeli posture, could tropical depression Alex become Hurricane Alex and slam the United States? No one can say for sure, but it is worth watching.

Click the link and watch the video

The following link takes you to an interesting article and video dealing with the oil spill in the gulf and it's timing in relation to U.S. foreign policy decisions involving Israel.

We need to pray like never before that the U.S. stands beside Israel. If we don't, I don't think any of us will like the results.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=170373

Israeli - U.S. meeting scheduled

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama have scheduled a meeting for July 6 at the White House. Numerous topics will be covered.

One interesting item to be covered is the possibility of an international conference in 2012 to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons. This sounds like the kind of conference where a peace agreement could be signed to bring about peace in Israel, such as there will be at the time of the Gog-Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-sets-date-for-netanyahu-meeting-after-talks-delayed-by-gaza-flotilla-1.297279

One world currency

Click on the link below to read about a test version of a one-world currency being minted. Pay particular attention to the quote from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the fourth paragraph.

http://preview.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aeFVNYQpByU4

The rise of Turkey

The following article from CNN chronicles the rise of the influence of Turkey in the Middle East. It also details the turn of Turkish foreign policy from being friendly toward Israel to more antagonistic. This article is interesting for a couple of reasons.

1. Turkey is prominently mentioned in Ezekiel 38 & 39 as one of the nations that will be part of the Russian led alliance that will come against Israel. This would have seemed unlikely just a few short years ago, but now it seems entirely possible.

2. Much is made of the fact that the Antichrist will come from a "revived Roman empire." While many people assume this means western Europe, much of the original Roman empire was in the Mediterranean region around the Middle East including Turkey. In fact the capital of the empire was eventually moved to Constantinople which is modern day Istanbul, Turkey.

Could it be possible that a revived Roman Empire could spring up from this area of the original Roman Empire? Could Turkey lead the formation of a ten nation Islamic empire that would produce the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1, Revelation 17:12, & Daniel 7:7-8)? Only time will tell, but Christians interested in the end-times should keep an eye on the actions of Turkey.

Two new links added

I have added two new links to the links at the left hand side of the page. These links will take you to the websites of two fantastic end-times scholars.

Lamb & Lion ministries will take you to the website for Dr. David Reagan. This man is a true Biblical scholar.

The link entitled Mark Hitchcock will take you to the end-time blog written by Mark Hitchcock. Mr. Hitchcock is a pastor and end-time scholar. I have had the privilege of hearing him in person and he is a fantastic scholar and speaker. He is the author of The Late Great United States a book I consider to be a must read for every Christian in America.

Some bad news for next week

I sincerely hope this is an inaccurate report. If this is true, this signals a major move in an anti-Israeli direction for U.S. foreign policy.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/blogs/sources-obama-administration-support-anti-israel-resolution-un-next-week.

Revelation 16:12

This article is a little older, but its an interesting read nonetheless.

http://e360.yale.edu/content/digest.msp?id=1968

The scriptural significance of the flotilla situation

I thought it was important to point out scripturally the significance of what has been happening with the flotilla situation. Consider the following passages from the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 12:2-3 - See, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth shall come together against it.

Zechariah 12:9 - And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Never in all my years of watching current events through the lens of scripture have I seen a time when the nations of the earth have been so anti-Israel in their rhetoric. However, we should not be surprised to see this happen after reading from Zechariah 12.

In verse two of chapter 12 we read that Jerusalem will be made a cup of reeling for all surrounding peoples. Throughout scripture the imagery of a cup has been used to describe God's judgment. It could be that we are seeing the hardening of the nations' hearts against Israel by God, as with Pharaoh in Exodus, to bring about his judgment on these nations.

Let's continue to pray for the leaders of our nation to have the courage to stand up for Israel. We need to pray that the eyes of their understanding (Ephesians 1:18) will be open to see God's will in this situation.

The foundation of a one world government

This is an interesting read on the Bilderberg group which is having its yearly meeting from June 3-6 in Spain.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=160549

Israel, Syria, and war

This is one of the most interesting articles I have seen in a while. According to the article Syria has 1,000 missiles zeroed in on Israeli targets. There is already a command center set up in Damascus to coordinate a possible offensive against Israel.

Israel will not stand for this. Israel could find themselves in a position to launch a preemptive strike to quell this threat. Isaiah 17:1 says that Damascus will one day be destroyed. This has never happened throughout history, but we could be on the brink of seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy in the very near future.

http://www.debka.com/article/8808/

More on the flotilla

The international reaction to Israel's raid on the flotilla that was heading toward Gaza continues to be primarily anti-Israeli. According to the following article Turkey is not limiting its reaction to strictly a diplomatic one.

Turkey has been friendly to Israel in the past, but after some time trending in the other direction the flotilla situation seems to have pushed them over the edge. This is significant due to the fact that Turkey is part of the Gog-Magog coalition of nations in Ezekiel 38-39.

We know from scripure that the day will come when all nations will come against Israel. In all my years of observing the news through the lens of last days prophecy, I have never seen a time when the tone of the nations has been more anti-Israel than it is now.

We as believers need to pray earnestly for two things. First, we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Second, we need to pray for the leaders of the United States to make sure we stand beside Israel, and not turn against her.

http://debka.com/article/8823/

The flotilla situation

The Israeli attack on a flotilla could be one of the most significant events we witness in the shaping of events to unfold this summer.

The outcry against Israel from all over the world has been significant. Multiple world leaders and figures have spoken out on the issue: Tony Blair, the Vatican, and representatives from the EU just to name a few.

World sentiment has recently been trending toward more of an anti-Israeli stance. I am sure this issue will not do anything other than help to continue this trend. We know from scripture that the day will come when all nations of the earth come against Israel. This could lead to one more step in that direction. The following article shows some of the reaction from around the globe.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3896586,00.html

We are already seeing the spinning of this story to paint a picture of Israeli aggression against a "humanitarian" effort. However, this is not entire true. While there were humanitarian ships in the flotilla, the one attacked by Israeli forces was sponsored by IHH, an extremist organization.

Also, ignored is the fact that the Israelis were forced to open fire in self-defense. Another ignored fact is that those on board were heard chanting Islamic battle cries that call for the killing of Jews.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=176998

http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=676&fld_id=676&doc_id=2337

Tensions in Mid-East continue to grow

The Israeli raid of a flotilla heading toward Gaza has caused tensions in the region to spike even higher. I found it particularly interesting in the following article that a Vatican representative as well as Tony Blair have weighed in on the situation. War is probably on the horizon as we have already seen, and all the nations of the earth could soon be aligning against Israel.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.912e9a419395c35e47635378ed192ba2.471&show_article=1

"The summer of 2010 is pivotal. It could change the whole world."

The above quote is from a retired general in the U.S. army assessing the situation in the Mid-East. In the video linked below he outlines the preparations already underway for a major military conflict ready to break out in the region.

The nations discussed by the general are those mentioned in Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17. Various terrorist organizations are also mentioned which are located in lands mentioned in Psalm 83.

Often times those who views the news through the lens of Biblical prophecy talk about how the pieces are being put in place for prophecy to be fulfilled. With what is happening in the Mid-East we could be very close to actual fulfillment and not just piece setting.

As part of his breakdown of the situation in the region, the general discusses how important it is strategically for the U.S. to get involved on the side of Israel. I would say it is even more important than he realizes. To see God's continued blessing and protection on this country, we need to pray that our leaders do the right thing by Israel.

The video is approximately 12 minutes long. I would strongly encourage everyone to take the time to watch this video.

http://www.pjtv.com/v/3505

President Obama calls for an "international order"

In his commencement address to West Point graduates President Obama called for an "international order" that would help "resolve the challenges of our time."

This idea comes across as one more step toward a one-world-government.

We will continue to see a consolidation of the political and economic powers of the world as we near the end to time. Any news item dealing with the merging of political and economic systems of the world is one students of Bible prophecy should pay close attention to.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05/22/obama-at-west-point-long-hard-road-awaits-you-but-u-s-wont/?icid=mainclassicdl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2010%2F05%2F22%2Fobama-at-west-point-long-hard-road-awaits-you-but-u-s-wont%2F

This summer could be interesting prophetically speaking

There seems to be a lot of signs pointing toward the possibility of events occurring this summer that have prophetic ramifications. The likelihood of a war in the Mid-East appears to be very high.

We know that there will be a war involving Lebanon (along with others) and Israel according to Psalm 83. Read to following articles to see how a Israeli/Lebanese war could be on the horizon.

http://www.debka.com/article/8788/

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-preparing-for-mass-evacuations-in-case-of-hezbollah-missile-strike-1.291119?localLinksEnabled=false

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exclusive-former-us-general-warns-of-chemical-attacks-against-israel-92957454.html

http://www.newsmaxworld.com/global_talk/Israel_war_drill/2010/05/19/315344.html

Possible Israeli war with Lebanon - Psalm 83 implications

Psalm 83 tells of a war that will come involving a coalition of nations coming against Israel. (This is a different war than the Gog-Magog war prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39, and according to may scholars an earlier one.)

Lebanon is one of the nations listed in this coalition. Rumbles of war are continuing to be heard in the region.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137528

Strengthening of ties between Ezekiel 38-39 nations

The following articles demonstrate how we are seeing before our very eyes the alignment of nations that are prophesied to be aligned together in the last days in Ezekiel 38-39. The nations mentioned in the articles that coincide with Ezekiel 38-39 are Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

The third article linked discusses Russia's move to closer ties with radical Islam. The nations that join Russian in the Ezekiel 38-39 coalition are Muslim nations.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100513/ts_nm/us_russia_iran_us_1


http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=175432

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3888893,00.html

Are we one step closer to a one-world-government?

Watching the developments in Greece this past week has me wondering if we are now one step closer to a one-world-government. With several other European nations in severe financial trouble, it would not surprise me to read about increased talk of the European Union transforming from a financial arrangement into more of a political one.

Some Biblical scholars believe that a one-world-system of government will be in place prior to the arrival of the Antichrist. They believe this will be the vehicle he uses to come to world power.

Will we see the EU morph into a political as well as economic union? Only time will tell, however if it does it will definitely be a large step toward the centralizing of political power into one seat of authority that we will see in the last days.

Excellent read from Joel Rosenberg

If you are not familiar with the work of Joel Rosenberg, I would encourage you to become familiar with it. There are few people more educated on the current political climate in Israel and the political climate in the United States toward Israel.

Here is an excerpt from a recent email newsletter of his.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is doing everything he can this week to turn international attention away from Iran's nuclear weapons program and Iran's repeated threats to annihilate the U.S. and Israel by trying to get the world to focus on Israel's alleged nuclear weapons stockpile instead. His objective during his visit to New York City: to persuade the U.N. to force Israel to disclose and dismantle all of her defensive weapons even as Iran completes its own offensive weapons. John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., told the Israeli media that he believes the Obama administration is warming to the Iranian argument. "Egypt and the Obama administration are negotiating right now on an Egyptian proposal for a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East, which certainly sounds good," Bolton told Israeli Army Radio, according to the Jerusalem Post. "Except when you think about it, there is only one country that resolution is targeted at and that is Israel....The president is not happy with Israel's nuclear capabilities. I think he would be delighted if Israel gave up its nuclear weapons. The only unknown answer at this point is exactly how much pressure he would exert on Israel to do just that.

As you can see the pendulum is quickly swinging on U.S. foreign policy to a more anti-Israeli mode. This should be a serious matter of prayer for all Christians in the United States.

Check out the following link to learn more about Joel Rosenberg.

http://www.joelrosenberg.com/

Summer fulfillment of Psalm 83, Isaiah 17:1?

Summer 2010 is listed in the following article as a likely date for a potential war involving the nations who form a coalition against Israel in Psalm 83 and Syria (Damascus) mentioned in Isaiah 17:1.

http://www.debka.com/article/8745/

Beating a dead horse

The following article states the President Obama has promised Palestinian leaders an independent state within two years.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3882724,00.html

I know I repeat this theme here often, but it I believe with all my heart that it is extremely important. The United States does not want to put itself in the position of forcing Israel, through military means, political pressure, or other, to give up land promised to her by God. The consequences for the U.S. would be catastrophic.

Sounds like this is the kind of place a peace deal could be struck

There has been lots of talk of peace conferences and peace deals, but there is something about the conference discussed in this article that makes me feel queasy.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1166413.html

As discussed previously here in this blog, there will more than likely be a peace agreement involving Israel before the seven-year agreement brokered by the Antichrist. I think once this "peace before the peace" deal is reached, the pace will quicken of our progress down the prophetic timeline.

More bad news U.S. foreign policy front

Pressuring Israel to give up land is never a good idea.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=144077

This is the article that scares me the most. The fact that a U.S. admiral would consider shooting down an Israeli warplane gives me cold chills. The United States, in my estimation, would be risking the wrath of God to take military action in this way against Israel.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137145

Biblical perspective on what is best for America's interests

President Obama recently stated that the United States would have to balance its policy toward Israel against other interests. This is a statement that makes me shudder.

President Obama would do himself a favor by studying what the scripture has to say about a nation's support of Israel. God blesses those nations who bless Israel and curses those who curse Israel.

It would be America's best interest to make sure to be found by the Lord to be on the side of Israel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/world/middleeast/15mideast.html

Link to Psalm 83 commentary

Over the past few months I have been posting this blog, I have written numerous times on the rapid rate at which nations and events are lining up to bring about the fulfillment of the prophecies of Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17:1. I have posted here a commentary written on the topic of Psalm 83 that I feel is a good read.

http://prophecynewsstand.blogspot.com/2010/04/mideast-matters-may-meltdown-in-2010.html

Could this lead to the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39?

We know from scripture that Israel will be wealthy in the last days, and that something will draw the nations of Ezekiel 38-39 to attack. Could this be it?

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136960

The pattern continues

As I have shown repeatedly here in the blog, there is a pattern throughout history of catastrophic events befalling nations who in their foreign policy or rhetoric take a stand against Israel. This is in line with God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel.

Recently we have seen the pattern continue in Great Britain. On April 9, Britain's Advertising Standards Authority cancelled an Israeli ad promoting tourism citing as its reason that some lands claimed rightfully by Israel, as they were given to her by God, were actually disputed and not a part of Israel. Disputing Israel's right to this land advising against travel there has proved a mistake.

Days later a volcano in Iceland erupted that shut down air travel in Great Britain and cost the nation $200 million a day according to one report by Fox News Chanel. I find it ironic that a statement discouraging travel to Israel led to a disruption in travel in Britain.

Some would say this is just a coincidence, but the historical pattern is too great to deny God is acting in accordance with His word to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her.

http://www.asa.org.uk/Complaints-and-ASA-action/Adjudications/2008/4/Israel-Government-Tourist-Office/TF_ADJ_44249.aspx

The future of the United States

One of the common topics discussed among end-times prophecy buffs is the role, or lace thereof, of the United States in last days events. How is it that the wealthiest, most powerful nation the world has even known is not involved in the events surrounding the end of time?

A common theory is that some sort of catastrophic event will happen that will lead to a decline in the U.S.' influence. The following article hints at one such scenario.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/14/bernanke-expresses-confidence-economic-recovery/?test=latestnews

Escalation in the Middle-east

According to the following article, Hezbollah has been provided with scud missiles by Syria. These missiles now put strategic Israeli cities within range including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well as Israeli nuclear installments. Israel is referring to these missiles as a game changer.

This is one more threat, along with Iran, that Israel may be forced to deal with in the coming months. The involvement of Syria and Hezbollah could be setting the stage for the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/14/syria-gave-scuds-hezbollah-says/

Something to keep an eye on

An Israeli attack on Iran could happen by November. Much of this is predicated on what the United States does, or does not do. Click the link to read more.

http://newsmax.com/KenTimmerman/Timmerman-Israel-Iran-nuclear/2010/04/02/id/354614

wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes in diverse places

This article of a "rumored war" list nations mentioned in Psalm 83.

http://www.counterpunch.org/hallinan03302010.html

Has anyone else noticed all the big earthquakes that have happened lately? In Matthew 24:7 Jesus lists earthquakes in various places as one of the signs of the end. I believe this is just one more sign we are seeing fulfilled in our time. With that thought in mind, check out this article.

http://www.sandiego.com/featured-story/are-earthquakes-on-the-rise

RFID chip technology

The technology described in this article is what many people consider to be a forerunner to the mark of the beast. At the very least, this technology allows for greater surveillance by governments, which will eventually be controlled by the Antichrist. It is possible technology like this could play a part in his controlling of the buying and selling in the world's markets.


http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/rfid/

EU and Israel may be headed toward rocky relations

In line with the scripture that says all nations will come against Israel in the last days, this article states the the relationship between Israel and the European Union could be on the decline.

With the likes of Europe and the United States leaning toward more anti-Israeli foreign policy positions, Israel is finding herself with fewer and fewer friends in the international community.

As I have stated here many times before, we must pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for our leaders to employ a foreign policy friendly to Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159833.html

President Obama should be embarrassed

This is shameful.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7076431.ece

United States' foreign policy toward Israel continues its negative trend

The United States, foreign policy continues its negative trend toward a more anti-Israeli stance. According to the following article the U.S. administration is beginning the dangerous trend of ignoring and breaking previous commitments to Israel. Also of concern is the the move by the U.S. government to try to isolate Israel from her other allies.

From observing the news the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Israel is rapidly approaching a critical level. In response to this, we as the church must be diligent to lift up our leaders and the leaders and people of Israel.

Lining up against Israel policy wise will only have negative repercussions for our nation.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159863.html

Another interesting commentary

This one comes from a Jewish media outlet. I found it particularly interesting that United States General David Petraeus said that Israel was, "a strategic burden on the U.S." I wonder how widespread this opinion is throughout the current administration. For the U.S.'s sake I hope not too wide spread.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159300.html

Interesting commentary from the Washington Times

I found this to be a very interesting and well written commentary.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/26/can-israel-survive-friends-like-these/

Coincidence?

I don't think so.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/31/AR2010033101268.html

&

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23003500/detail.html

Remember John Kerry is a senator from Massachusetts.

U.S. policy becoming more openly belligerent toward Israel

The United States continues its march down the dark path to becoming a curse and not a blessing to Israel, as our leaders have begun to openly adopt a more belligerent attitude toward Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It appears Prime Minister Netanyahu was the recipient of a 43 minute "tongue lashing" from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It seems U.S.-Israeli relations are at an all time low.

Read this article for a synopsis of the situation.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7062807.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093

This link contains more information on the situation developing between the U.S. and Israeli governments along with some excellent commentary at the end by Bill Wilson.

http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=126195&rtn=/index.html&showsubj=1&mcat=1

This article gives you Prime Minister Netanyahu's response to American criticism.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/index.html

Interesting read

This is a very interesting article. Apparently secular news sources are beginning to pick up on the growing trend of anti-Israeli policy in the current administration.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3862914,00.html

Coming down on the wrong side of history

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_mideast

Our foreign policy is progressing down a dark path. Pray that the eyes of our leaders understanding be opened.

Vice President Biden condemns Israel for building on their land

This is really sad.

http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=125980&rtn=/index.html&showsubj=1&mcat=1

Genesis 12:3

The U.S. should tread carefully

Very soon indirect peace talks will begin between Israel and the Palestinians brokered by the United States. It is very important that Christians here in the United States pray for our leaders that God gives them the wisdom to stand with Israel and not push them into surrendering land for peace. We must pray we as a nation bless Israel and not curse Israel through our foreign policy.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=170484

It's not just us

I have posted here numerous times that bad foreign policy on the United States part involving Israel could have consequences for our nation. Well, the U.S. is not alone. I find the timing of the following interesting. I have posted two articles here. Read them in order to appreciate the timing.

From 3/7/10

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3858980,00.html

From 3/8/10

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_earthquake_23

Palestinian statehood without negotiations with Israel?

According to the following article, the Palestinian Authority is considering a plan to petition the United Nations to create an independent Palestinian state outside of negotiations with Israel. Sadly, according to this article, our government would be in favor of such a plan.

I say once again, we need to pray for our leaders to have wisdom in dealing with the nation of Israel. We do not want to be found as a nation standing against Israel.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=126045

Foundations of the New World Order

One of the things we know about the future of our world is that the day will come when the earth will come under the control of one man, the Antichrist, and under the control of a one-world government. While this is a future event, it is possible to see what could be the foundations of such a government being laid today.

The following article shows how the United Nations is working even now to bring about a global type government. However, the U.N. is not out and out promoting their plans as what they are. They are using the "issue" of global warming as a cover for their true intentions.

The science advisor to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher called the U.N.'s Copenhagen climate change conference a cover for their real agenda of laying the groundwork for a global government. Consider this quote form the linked article below in relation to this position, "But the major topics are a global system of governance and what amounts to the next stage of a radical transformation of the world economic and social order, in the name of saving the planet."

One more point before moving on to the linked article: For years the term New World Order has been used by believers and unbelievers alike to refer the the coming one world government. However, those in high positions have made the decision to now use the term "globalization" in place of New World Order. They have done this due to the reaction this term causes in believers. Keep this in mind when you hear the term "globalization" on the news.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587426,00.html

More pretext for war

As if a war involving Israel and Syria or Iran didn't already seem inevitable, the following article shows further cause that could bring it about.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=170225

The technology is in place, next the man

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23372564-britons-could-be-microchipped-like-dogs-in-a-decade.do

The United States and the "kings from the east"

One of the questions students of Bible prophecy often have is, "where does the United States fit into end-times prophecy?" Many theories exist on the topic, however the consensus is that the U.S. does not appear in Bible prophecy. For a thorough examination of the topic I would suggest reading The Late Great United States by Mark Hitchcock. I believe this book is a must read for all Christians in the United States.

If the United States does not appear in Bible prophecy than something must happen to the most powerful empire the world has ever known to render her unimportant in last days' events.

Another aspect to consider in studying the Biblical prophecies of the last days is that there will be a powerful nation come from the east, Revelation 16:12. Many Biblical scholars agree this is a reference to the area of Asia we would refer to as the far east, which includes Japan and China.

With these two ideas in mind, the eventual decline of the U.S. and the rise of the "kings from the east", I would like for you to read these articles.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022405168_pf.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/02/chinas-debt-to-us-treasury-more-than-indicated//print/

You do the math

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-02-24-clinton-mideast-talks_N.htm

http://www.accuweather.com/regional-news-story.asp?region=eastusnews

If you are new to my blog click on the following link to see the possible relationship between these two articles.

https://secure.watch.org/resources/display.php?cartid=201002250000843&zid=1&lid=1&psku=eye1&mode=sp

More than just war

It's easy in a blog like this to focus on the "wars and rumors of wars" aspect of end-time prophecy with all of the rumblings that are happening in the Middle-East at this time. However, to do so would not be giving the full picture of how the piece are being put in place and the foundation is being laid for the events of Biblical prophecy to be fulfilled.

In this posting I am including links to some articles pointing toward the fulfillment of Bible prophecy that deal in topics other than war and Israel.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE61I23320100219?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Reuters/UKBusinessNews+(News+/+UK+/+Business+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader

The above article relates to the coming one-world economic system. Prime Minister Brown's plan may never come to fruition, but as we near the end we will hear more rhetoric like his. Eventually there will be some sort of global economic policy.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,678508,00.html

How do you control the world? Control the information. When the Antichrist comes into his time, he will need some sort of infrastructure to control and monitor all forms of information including the Internet. If laws like the one proposed in France are passed (see above article) it would go a long way in putting the logistics in place the Antichrist would need.

U.S. counter-terroris advisor wants greater influence for terrorists in Lebanese government

John Brennan, counter-terrorist advisor to our president, believes the U.S. should encourage greater assimilation of the terrorist group Hezbollah into the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is an Iranian backed terrorist organization that has a long history of violence against not only Israel, but the United States as well. Recently their leader, Hassan Nasrallah, threatened Israel's international airport.

This is not the type of organization our government, or any government for that matter, should be supporting. They have bad intentions in their heart for the land of Israel and God's chosen covenant people.

Our leaders would be wise to avoid aligning ourselves with a group such as this that intends to do Israel harm. Who could blame God for removing His hand of protection and blessing off of our nation's borders, economy, etc. if we continue to show support to groups as anti-Israel as Hezbollah?

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=125376

Israeli military action in Gaza

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired on terrorist cells on the Gaza border Saturday morning. The IDF was able to foil an al-Qaida linked attack. Psalm 83 lists a group of nations that come to wipe Israel off of the map. Listed in coalition is a group of people found in Gaza. Gaza is home to various terrorist groups looking to destroy Israel.

Couple this with the other rumblings of war in the region involving Syria and Lebanon, and we could have reason to believe we are on the verge of a major war in the Middle-East that will fulfil Biblical prophecy from Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=169192

More war talk

The threat of war continues to hover over the Middle-East. It seems as the realization exists that the outbreak of fighting now would not be a minor skirmish, but in all likelihood a major war. If such a conflict rises to the level of being "ruinous" as Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otati states in the following article, we could be closing in on the day we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=169198

Israel accused of waging covert war

Israel has been accused by some of waging a covert war in the region by carrying out assassinations of terrorist leaders in countries throughout the Mid-East. If terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah believe Israel is doing this, and they probably are, then this may provoke them to launch terrorist attacks against Israel. With tensions as high in the Mid-East as they are now, that could be the spark to set the entire region ablaze.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7025821.ece

Another possible step toward a one-world-currency

It appears from the following article that there is a movement among some Asian nations to create a Asian currency similar to the Euro in Europe and the proposed Amero here in North America. As the currencies of the world look to unite into regional currencies as opposed to national currencies we move one step closer to a one-world-currency. Many Biblical scholars believe this one-world-currency is how the Antichrist will control the buying, selling, and economy of the world Revelation 13:16-17.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/02/123_60564.html

Mid-East seemingly continues to march toward war

The following articles follow up on the trend we have been watching toward a possibly eminent war in the Mid-East between Israel and Syria, Lebanon, and radical Islamic terrorist groups. Please refer to earlier entries to see the correlation between these current events and Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83 from scripture.

http://www.debka.com/article/8591/

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135904

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=124721

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3846910,00.html

It will only take a spark

The current situation in the Middle East remains tense as always. It seems as if the smallest spark could cause a massive fire in the region. It could be something like happened in this article that could be that spark.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=168671

The decline of the United States

One great mystery to students of end time prophecy has always been, where is the United States? Most Biblical scholars agree our nation is not mentioned in passages dealing with the last days. However, why would the richest, most powerful nation in history not be mentioned? Many scholars agree that something will happen to weaken the power of the U.S. prior to the events of the last days playing out, but what? No one knows for sure, but the following article could give us a clue.

If the Chinese ever were to call in the debt our nation owes them, we would be in serious trouble. This article shows the Chinese are well aware of the power they have over us, and that they would be willing to use it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6183KG20100209

Campaign against Israel

We know from scripture that the day will come when all the nations of the earth will come against Israel. Usually we think of this in a military sense however, the following article shows other ways nations can come against Israel. I believe the attempted delegitimization of Israel is a ploy by her enemies to prepare the world for an attack militarily.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1149274.html

Interesting read from a Jewish perspective

http://www.jpost.com/ChristianInIsrael/Blogs/Article.aspx?id=167570

Mark of the beast technology

My point is posting the following article is simply to show that the technology now exists which could be used in the mark of the beast.

http://www.aolnews.com/the-point/article/apocalyptic-talk-stokes-debate-over-microchip-implants-for-humans/19354099

Another Psalm 83 related article

Here is one more article that shows how coalitions are forming that line up with Psalm 83. I won't repeat everything I've already written at this time. Scroll down through the older posts for more details.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3846910,00.html

Lots to talk about part II.

In an earlier blog I mentioned the possibility of a war involving Israel against Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian terrorist groups after looking at passages in Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83. Recent news report are showing that conflict could be brewing between these nations. Here are some of the articles.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1148269.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3846298,00.html

Lots to talk about part I.

The full court press appears to be on from our government for the resumption of Mid-East peace talks. The most recent development comes in the form of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreeing to the U.S.'s plan for indirect negotiations with Israel. See the following article for details.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1148274.html

I find it very interesting that as our government is pressing so hard for a Mid-East peace agreement, one that will almost certainly negatively impact Israel, that our nation's capital is being hit by one of the worst snow storms it has ever seen. Many would say there is no connection between the two, and that anyone who would suggest that a connection exists is crazy. However, before making any such judgments I would recommend reading the following book by Bill Koenig.

https://secure.watch.org/resources/display.php?cartid=201002090002819&zid=1&lid=1&psku=eye1&mode=sp

There are few books outside of the Bible I would call a "must read" for Christians, but this is one. I will warn you it is a bit of a slow read, but the information is worth it.

I have copied from the link above and pasted below what is written on the back cover of the book.


Back Cover

What do these major-record setting events have in common?
The ten costliest insurance events in U.S. history
The twelve costliest hurricanes in U.S. history
Three of the four largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history
The two largest terrorism events in U.S. history
All of these major catastrophes and many others occurred or began on the very same day or within 24-hours of U.S. presidents Bush, Clinton and Bush applying pressure on Israel to trade her land for promises of peace and security, sponsoring major land for peace meetings, making major public statements pertaining to Israel's covenant land and /or calling for a Palestinian state.
Are each one of these major record-setting events just a coincidence or awe-inspiring signs that God is actively involved in the affairs of Israel? In this book, Bill Koenig provides undeniable facts and conclusive evidence showing that indeed the leaders of the United States and the world are on a collision course with God over Israel's covenant land.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem: Zechariah 12:9

Keep an eye on Iran in the coming days

Israeli preparations for a military strike on Iran appear to be escalating. According to the following article Israel is moving missile boats into the Persian Gulf. Two reasons seem logical for this action on Israel's part. First, they could be readying to launch a preemptive strike against Iran before that nation acquires a nuclear weapon. Second, with February 11 only days away, the day Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has promised to send a message to the world, they could be positioning themselves for a retaliatory strike against Iran if they are attacked.

With tensions so high in the region, the smallest spark could ignite a full scale war. Iran (known as Persia in scripture) will one day attack Israel as part of a Russian led coalition according to Ezekiel 38 &39. Any confrontation between the two nations bears watching to see how it could further set the table for this future invasion.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3845182,00.html

Here are a couple of more articles related to the Iranian nuclear program situation.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=168007

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1147872.html

I will once again state as I have here many times before, we as Christians must pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Also, we must pray for our nation's leaders to have wisdom in our country's role in this situation. I pray for our country's sake that we stand beside Israel in any future action they may take. We do not want to be found in the eyes of God as a nation that is cursing Israel and not blessing Israel (Genesis 12:3)

Non-military signs in the news

Looking over my previous posts, I realized all of them have related to military/government/political situations in regard to Israel. That is not surprising since Israel is, as we end-time prophecy geeks say, God's timepiece.

However there are other current event news items that have prophetic implications. I wanted to post a few links to some of those for a change. The links will be followed by a couple of comments from me.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=120363

We know from scripture that we are approaching a day when there will be a one-world government led by the Antichrist. The increasing globalization in the world's economic and political realms in preparing the way for this. For those of us in the United States this manifests in the gradual surrendering of our national sovereignty. The above article shows one more step our government has taken in this direction.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133801

http://www.smh.com.au/world/jews-raise-millions-to-be-ready-for-coming-of-the-messiah-20091113-ieqk.html

Scripture also tells us that the Temple in Jerusalem will one day be rebuilt. As the articles above show, preparations are well underway for this inevitability. I find one quote from the second article particularly interesting. Yehuda Glick, the executive director of the Temple Institute, claims he sees an openness to all monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) in the new temple's future. How convenient would that be for the Antichrist as he sets himself up as God in the temple (the abomination that makes desolate Daniel 9:27 & Matthew 24:15) and attempts to establish a one-world religion.?

Additional articles of interest

These articles follow up on the previous blog post.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=167745

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=167771


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1147556.html

Tensions continue to brew in Mid-East

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3844369,00.html

The article linked above is one of the most interesting I have read recently on the current situation in the Middle East.

According to the article Iran may be ready to encourage it satellites in the region to attack Israel in response to possible sanctions on Iran due to their nuclear program. One of those satellites is Syria.

It seems as if the tension filled Mid-East could be becoming even more tense in the days and weeks to come, if that is even possible. With the progression of Iran's nuclear program, tensions over a possible peace agreement for the region, and stories like the one above it almost seems as if an imminent military conflict in the region is inevitable.

Prophetically speaking, keep in mind Isaiah 17:1 which states Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed. This has never happened so this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.

Also, keep in mind Psalm 83. This Psalm tells of a confederation who has come to "cut them (Israel) off from being a nation" (Ps. 83:4). If my research is correct, this confederation includes Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip (the home of terrorist organizations hostile to Israel). None of these nations along with Syria are mentioned in the Russian led coalition of Ezekiel 38 & 39.

Obviously these nations are enemies of Israel. I have always wondered why these nations would not be a part of that group. Maybe, and I emphasize maybe, it is because their militaries will not be factors at that time due to being severely crippled in a previous war. Could a war be on the horizon that would fulfill Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83?

Resumption of peace talks might happen soon

The momentum for the resumption of peace talks in the mid-east seems to be growing. Will this be the time that there is a peace agreement involving Israel? We know from Ezekiel 38, Israel will be at peace when the coalition of nations led by Russia launch their attack. A peace agreement would put one more piece in place for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Also interesting to follow in this story is the role the United States will play in the peace negotiations. I have made no secret of the fact that I believe it is imperative for our government to take a stand for Israel and not exert pressure on them to surrender land. History has shown God blesses those nations that bless Israel, and He removes His blessing from those who do not. As believers we need to pray for our leaders to have wisdom in their dealings with Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=167716

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1147028.html

Coincidence?

Article posted here last week:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100129/pl_afp/usmideastirandiplomacy

Article from today:

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/hurricane-season-predictions-call-for-heavy-weather-in-2010/19336359

If you wonder why I posted these articles together like this, I would suggest clicking on the following link and purchasing the book Eye to Eye by Bill Koenig. In this book he documents how every time a nation has taken a foreign policy stand that is negative toward Israel, there has always been some sort of emergency immediately following in that nation. It is a bit of a slow read, but worth the effort.

https://secure.watch.org/resources/

Keep an eye on February 11

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has alluded to some sort of action his nation may be taking on February 11. In the following article he claims his nation will "deliver a harsh blow to the global arrogance'' on the anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad's rants in the past have been directed at two nations, Israel and the United States. When he refers to "global arrogance" it seems to me this would be more likely to refer to the U.S. It will be interesting to see if this threat holds any substance or if it is just more saber rattling from the Iranian president. I can not say that this applies directly to any specific end time prophecy, but we do know that Iran is one of the nations to move against Israel in Ezekiel 38& 39. Also, anything involving Israel is worth keeping an eye on from a prophetic perspective.

Here is the article:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/117545.htm?sectionid=351020101

In relation to the above article, you may want to read the following as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/31/iran-nuclear-us-missiles-gulf/print

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=167332

According to both articles the U.S. is bolstering its missile defenses in the region.

Israel could be ready to give up land

A report from ynetnews.com states a Palestinian source has told them that the American peace envoy to the Mid-east has received word from Israel that they are willing to turn control of more areas in the West Bank over to Palestinian control in order to restart peace talks.

I wonder why Israel is now willing to do this. This is land promised to them by God, and if they are freely willing of their own accord to trade it in the hope of achieving peace, then that is their decision to make. (It's important to note here that this transfer of land would only restart peace talks. It does not guarantee a peace agreement. If the talks do not produce peace, they would have given up land for nothing.) Personally, I think taking this action would be a mistake, but as I said it is their land and their decision.

My great concern is if they are doing this freely, or if this move is the result of external pressure. I hope and pray that if this article is true, and this decision has been made that it was not made due to pressure from our government on the Israeli government. Pressuring Israel into surrendering their God-given land would be a very dangerous move for our nation. Genesis 12:3 records that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Let's pray that our nation through its foreign policy does not place itself in the position of those who curse Israel.

Here is the article from ynetnews.com:

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3841945,00.html