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