Bible Prophecy Seminar Part 2

The Khorasan Group Does Not Exist: How We're Being Had Again By the Obama Administration

The Khorasan Group Does Not Exist: How We're Being Had Again By The Obama Administration

It’s a fictitious name the Obama administration invented to deceive us.

For six years, President Obama has endeavored to will the country into accepting two pillars of his alternative national-security reality. First, he claims to have dealt decisively with the terrorist threat, rendering it a disparate series of ragtag jayvees. Second, he asserts that the threat is unrelated to Islam, which is innately peaceful, moderate, and opposed to the wanton “violent extremists” who purport to act in its name. Now, the president has been compelled to act against a jihad that has neither ended nor been “decimated.” The jihad, in fact, has inevitably intensified under his counter-factual worldview, which holds that empowering Islamic supremacists is the path to security and stability.

Yet even as war intensifies in Iraq and Syria - even as jihadists continue advancing, continue killing and capturing hapless opposition forces on the ground despite Obama’s futile air raids - the president won’t let go of the charade. Hence, Obama gives us the Khorosan Group.

The who?

There's a reason no one had heard of such a group until a nanosecond ago, when the “Khorosan Group” suddenly went from anonymity to the “imminent threat” that became the rationale for an emergency air war there was supposedly no time to ask Congress to authorize. You haven’t heard of the Khorosan Group because there isn’t one. It is a name the administration came up with, calculating that Khorosan - the –Iranian–Afghan border region - had sufficient connection to jihadist lore that no one would call the president on it. The “Khorosan Group” is al-Qaeda. It is simply a faction within the global terror network’s Syrian franchise, “Jabhat al-Nusra.” Its leader, Mushin al-Fadhli (believed to have been killed in this week’s U.S.-led air strikes), was an intimate of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the emir of al-Qaeda who dispatched him to the jihad in Syria. Except that if you listen to administration officials long enough, you come away thinking that Zawahiri is not really al-Qaeda, either. Instead, he’s something the administration is at pains to call “core al-Qaeda.”

http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/09/29/khorasan-group-does-not-exist-how-were-being-had-again-obama-administration

The Khorasan Group Does Not Exist: How We're Being Had Again By the Obama Administration

For six years, President Obama has endeavored to will the country into accepting two pillars of his alternative national-security reality. First, he claims to have dealt...

NATION.FOXNEWS.COM

Bible Prophecy Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar's Image ISIS Islamic State Domina...

Israel Preparing for Very Violent War with Hezbollah

Israel Preparing for Very Violent War with Hezbollah by John J. Xenakis 7 Sep 2014, 3:47 PM PDT This morning's key headlines fromGenerationalDynamics.com Israel preparing for 'very violent' war with Hezbollah In a series of articles in the last week, we've been highlighting the Mideast realignment following the Gaza war and the effect of the rise of ISIS on Saudi Arabia as well as rise of ISIS on India. I used a Generational Dynamics analysis to outline how the Mideast is realigning itself around a growing fault line separating Israel plus Egypt plus Saudia Arabia versus the Palestinians plus Qatar plus Turkey, with vitriolicly anti-American Iran increasingly aligning itself with America and the West. The terror groups Hezbollah, which is funded and controlled by Iran, is not facing the same kind of schizophrenia that its puppetmaster Iran is experiencing. Iran's attitudes towards Israel are greatly split along generational lines, where the older generations talk about destroying Israel, and the younger generations like the West don't have anything particular against Israel. The same cannot be said for Lebanon's Hezbollah. I've seen no signs that there's any split at all in Hezbollah's attitude towards Israel, which is a desire for its destruction. The new story that, just a few days after the end of the Gaza war, Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for a "very violent" war with Hezbollah highlights the situation. In Israel's 2006 war, Hezbollah's rockets did not reach far into Israel, and they were poorly aimed. The same was true of Hamas's rockets in the Gaza war. But today Hezbollah has an estimated 100,000 rockets and missiles, many with precision guidance systems and large warheads, able to target all of Israel. In the 2006 war, Israel targeted Lebanon's infrastructure, in order to inhibit the transportation of weapons. In a new war, Israel would target homes in villages across Lebanon from which Hezbollah is launching rockets into Israel. Israel received a great deal of international condemnation for those actions in the Gaza war, and they would be stepped up in a new war with Hezbollah. In addition, it's believed that Hezbollah has build tunnels that travel from homes in Lebanon deep into Israel, and these tunnels would be targeted. There's a real question whether Hezbollah's puppetmaster, Iran, would hold Hezbollah back from this war. Despite anti-Zionist rhetoric, Iran has little to gain from a Hezbollah attack on Israel, and Israel could retaliate by carrying out its long-time threat to bomb Iran's nuclear installations. Times of Israel Could such a war and a decisive Israel victory be the very event the Four Blood Moons are a sign for?   Whether it is or not, what we know for sure is that Israel must be a land dwelling at peace with her neighbours before the final conflict of man takes place in the Middle East.  The current threat of Hezbollah in the North on the border with Israel must be removed for this to be the situation as the Bible Describes in Ezekiel 38.

ISIS Threatens Putin Trigger for Coming Russian Onslaught in Iraq

Perhaps a mistake !! Drunk on their success ISIS ( Islamic State ) has issued a video ' threatening Russia's Vladimir Putin over his support of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and vowed to liberate Chechen from Russian control. This threat drew an immediate and threatening response from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov who vowed to destroy the Islamic militants. After the bloody Chechen Wars of the 90's Kadyrov (a close-ally to Vladimir Putin) emerged as a brutal strongman with a fearsome reputation. Widely feared Kadyrov is well-known for his personal death-squads mass-killings torture and other gruesome atrocities. Interestingly Kadyrov's Chechens & ISIS militants are both adherents of the Sunni Islamic religion but this clearly will not curb their murderous intents.

In the face of US & Western nations reluctance to deal ISIS a death-blow could this vicious exchange be the catalyst for Russia's coming invasion of Iraq to (in Kadyrov's own words) rid the world of these scum. With Russia and Iran already having a substantial military presence in Iraq (including control of Baghdad Airport) and with Vladimir Putin more aggressively looking to extend Russia's international sphere of influence and power will the ISIS threat be the pretext Putin needs to fulfill 2,500 yr old Bible Prophecies ??

Jeremiah 50v41 - Behold a people shall come from the north (Russia ) & a great nation (Russia) and many kings (Iran, Euro nations) shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. They shall hold the bow and the lance : they are cruel and will not shew mercy : their voice shall roar like the sea and they shall ride upon horses every one put in array like a man to the battle against thee (Iraq) O daughter of Babylon (Iraq )

Welcome to the Bible Prophecy Channel  which we hope you will find an informative and stimulating source of information relating to Eschatology and Biblical Christianity

Islamic State The Beasts of Revelation

Chapter 8: The Beasts of Revelation

The beasts of Revelation are built upon the beasts of Daniel. The various beasts are perhaps pictures of various aspects of the final beast. The beast of Rev. 13:2 was "like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion". Here we see the elements of the various beasts of Dan. 7 and therefore the metals of the image of Dan. 2 all incorporated into this latter day beast. It is the equivalent of the image standing complete in the last days. It has "seven heads and ten horns" (Rev. 13:1)- which is the total number of heads and horns of the four beasts of Dan. 7. In harmony with this, Hos. 13:7 describes Israel’s latter day invader as a lion, bear, leopard and wild beast. All elements of the beasts are brought together in the final latter day invasion. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the first self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State, said that Muslims should unite to capture Rome in order to "own the world". The significance of this is that the ten horn entity, the Islamic State, is seeking to incorporate an element of the previous metals / beast systems, i.e. Rome. This is what we would expect if the image is to stand erect in the last days.  Source: McElory, Damien. "Rome will be conquered next, says leader of 'Islamic State'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 July 2014.

Revelation 13:2 is the key: "And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority". The beasts of Daniel represented empires, but this beastly empire in Revelation is a composite Leopard-Bear-Lion. It isn't just one of Daniel's three empires. It's all three empires rolled into one. In other words, this new empire is composed of the descendants of those earlier empires, in the same geographic location. Looking back at the history of the Middle East, we can now identify this new empire as the various powers that have
controlled the Holy Land whilst the Jews were established within it.

One feature of the presentation of the beasts is that both John and "the world" wonder at it and at the whore riding it (Rev. 13:3; 17:6,7). This matches with the stress in Daniel 7 that the fourth beast is strikingly different from all the other beasts. The world will be in shock and awe at the entity which will suddenly develop- and we see the beginnings of that with the awe and fear inspired by the IS. This speaks not only of the fear inspired by the entity in its enemies on the ground, but implies a watching world onlooking in awe and fear, unable to do anything against it: "Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to make war with him?" (Rev. 13:4). This in turn is based upon the prototype of Goliath the Philistine / Palestinian, who likewise had a mouth speaking great things against Israel and Israel's God. That similarity is continued by the description of the small, finally repentant remnant of Jews who overthrow the beast as being like David (Zech. 12:8). This is not to say that there will not initially be opposition to the beast- the horn recovers amazingly from a "deadly wound" which could likely refer to some form of Western operation against this entity (Rev. 13:3). Likewise the beast was, is not, and yet will be [Rev. 17:8- i.e. it will be revived after apparent destruction]. But the final picture is of the beast having free reign in the earth / land promised to Abraham. We must look, therefore, to Zion being forsaken of all her lovers, America particularly pulling out of supporting Israel. We already can see the beginnings of such a situation developing. The West will either collapse, perhaps financially, and become impotent; or will come to a policy position which refuses to support Israel nor get involved in on the ground operations within the land promised to Abraham. Their impotence is however described in terms of their 'worshipping' the beast and therefore fearing to make war with it (Rev. 13:4). The Greek for 'worship' can mean to cower or fawn before a person; the West may be forced to this position by Islamic elements within their own nations, by an oil and energy embargo, or something similar. Another option is that the 'world' spoken of in Rev. 13 is specifically the world around Israel; but in our days of a global village, that would still require that the West is left impotent to intervene. It has been their background support of Israel which has kept the current situation in balance so far. But Rev. 9:14 speaks of the hordes of enemies being bound at the Euphrates river, and then being released by Angelic action. This restraint which is released could well refer to an Angelically-orchestrated removal of the West's restraining power. With no such power broker in the region, the forces of Islamic jihad will without doubt burst forth over the Euphrates, the boundary of the land promised to Abraham, and surge towards Israel. Rev. 13:10 speaks of the final desolation of Israel by the beast in terms of 'leading into captivity', associated with the beast having power over "all kindreds, tongues and nations" in the earth / land promised to Abraham. The remaining Jews will be taken into captivity in those areas; and the attitude of the IS, ever seeking as they are to incarnate Israel's historical enemies, is such that this scenario is now quite imaginable.

Daniel 7 The 4th Beast Islamic State the Little Horn Caliph al Baghdadi

Chapter 7: The Beasts of Daniel 7

The four metals of the image of Daniel 2, followed as they were by the feet and ten toes part of iron and clay, are matched by the four beasts of Daniel 7, culminating in the beast with ten horns, which is also destroyed by the second coming of Christ. It is emphasized that Nebuchadnezzar 'saw' the image, or literally, he had a vision of it (Dan. 2:26,31,34,41,43,45). The same word is used in Daniel 7 of how now Daniel 'saw' or 'had a vision of' the four beasts (Dan. 7:1,2,4,6,7,9,11,13,21). The Daniel 7 vision or 'seeing' was perhaps from God's perspective, Heaven's view of the same realities which Nebuchadnezzar saw from an earthly perspective.
   

The empires of Daniel 2 dominate the earth. The Hebrew eretz can refer either to the entire planet, or to the land- the land promised to Abraham, the land of Israel, from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt. The dominion of the four beasts is therefore over the same area. Daniel saw the beasts arising out of the great sea. This could be a reference to the laver, which is also called a 'sea' (1 Kings 7:23-26,39). This was a huge circular bowl for washing which was set upon 12 bronze oxen, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. They were arranged in four groups of three, facing north, south, east and west, in imitation of the camp of Israel in the wilderness. The beasts therefore arise out of the territory promised to the twelve tribes of Israel.
 

Rev. 17:15 interprets waters or seas as "peoples". The beasts therefore arise out of the peoples who are to be found in the land of the 12 tribes of Israel. The interpretation is confirmed by the words of the Angel in Dan. 7:17, who says that the four beasts who arise out of the sea are four king[dom]s which "shall arise out of the earth / land".

Dan. 7:21,22 speak of how the "saints" will be persecuted by the beast, and then "the saints" will 'possess the Kingdom'. The "saints" are Israel, the same Hebrew word is used in Ex. 19:5 to describe them as a holy or saintly nation, a nation of saints, sanctified ones. If we understand the Kingdom as primarily the land promised to Abraham's seed for them to 'possess', then this makes sense. That land will be dominated and trodden down by the beast, and then the remnant of Abraham's seed will triumphantly possess it eternally; and that mountain, or Kingdom, will then grow to fill the whole planet.

The little horn devours, treads down and breaks in pieces "the earth" (Dan. 7:23); that has little meaning if applied to the whole planet. The context speaks of destruction and persecution of "the saints", God's people in His land. The reference is surely to the specific land of Israel.
The four beasts are "diverse from one another" (Dan. 7:3), just as the four metals of the image of Daniel 2 do not naturally bond with each other. The four beasts are controlled by four spirits in Heaven who 'strive' with each other (Dan. 7:2). God makes His Angels spirits (Ps. 104:4; Heb. 1:7). Each of those kings or empires had a representative Angel in Heaven. It's not that the Angels themselves strive with each other, they are all obedient to God (see my The Real Devil chapter 2) but they play out before the court of Heaven the situation on earth. Later in Daniel we find Angels likewise representative of kings and kingdoms (Dan. 10:13,20). The comfort is that God is aware of all that happens on earth, and in fact He orchestrates it. The situation on earth is therefore not ultimately spinning out of control. My point in this context is that the four beasts strive with each other and do not naturally bond with each other. This is the same situation as we find in the feet and toes made part of iron, part of clay, mixed with each other but not cleaving to each other. Just as the image stands erect in the last days in order for it to be destroyed, so the sequence of beasts which we have in Daniel 7 are not simply a historical outline of a sequence of empires. Each of them exists in some form in the last days, and are united together in their brief domination of the earth / land promised to Abraham. The first three beasts stand 'before' the fourth one, the original meaning 'in the presence of', rather than previously in chronological terms (Dan. 7:7). The fourth beast has its body destroyed, although the other beasts are also present there and have their lives prolonged "for a season" (Dan. 7:11,12). The historical interpretation of the beasts is not irrelevant, however. The final entity dominating Israel will incorporate aspects of all the previous systems which have dominated the land promised to Abraham.

The fourth beast with the ten horns equates with the legs or iron and ten toes of the image of Daniel 2. This entity will be in existence at the time of Christ's return, because it is to be destroyed by His coming. And we have that same picture in Revelation. Historically, the legs of iron represent Rome, but the beast is not a historical entity, it exists in the last days. So although there are parallels and outline similarities between the metals of the image and the beasts, this is not to say that they are all one and the same. The final beast has elements of all the previous beasts, it is a composite entity including all the elements of the previous systems which have dominated the land and people of Israel. Just as the image stands complete in the last days, so the final beast stands complete. The whore sits on many waters, representing various languages and peoples; and yet she sits upon the beast (Rev. 17:1,3,15). The latter day beast is therefore not one nation but an amalgum of peoples. As the entire image was "terrible" (Dan. 2:31), so the fourth beast system is described with the same word (Dan. 7:7). But Dan. 7:7 emphasizes that this final beast is altogether more aggressive than any previous beast / dominator of the land: "Dreadful, terrible, strong exceedingly... it was different from all the beasts that were before it". This speaks of an entity that is more aggressive and fear-inspiring than the aggressive Babylonians, Assyrians or abusive Nazis. The current IS appear to fit that bill- a reign of terror involving cutting off children's heads and parading their actions on videos, live crucifixion of any who don't agree with them... The same radical difference between this final beast and all previous ones is brought out by the way in which John, after all he had earlier seen, was in shock at the way the beast drunk the blood of the saints, i.e. the people of God, Israel in their land (Rev. 17:6). And the whole world likewise is in shock horror at this beast (Rev. 13:3; 17:8). The entity currently known as the IS hasn't yet struck so much fear into everyone, but the time is surely coming. Dan. 12:1 puts it this way: "There shall be a time of trouble such as never was" for God's people, and they will be saved from it by the standing up of Jesus for His people, the resurrection of the dead and the destruction of the "king of the north". The "time of Jacob's trouble" from which he shall be saved (Jer. 30:7) must be understood in the context of how the phrase "time of trouble" is used in the Bible to describe times of Israel's invasion and suffering at the hands of their neighbours (Is. 33:2; Jer. 2:27,28; 8:15; 11:12,14; 14:8,19; Ez. 7:7). "There shall be a time of trouble such as never was" therefore suggests a time of abuse of Israel such as has never been seen. And this includes the Nazi holocaust, the death camps of Europe, the Babylonian and Assyrian attrocities... It's purely wishful thinking to hope that the IDF and Israel's military technology will stave this off. It will not. Jerusalem is to be taken and the women raped (Zech. 14:2). The beast is to dominate the earth / land of Israel.

The "iron teeth" of the beast (Dan. 7:7) can be connected with the way that "Damascus" tore the Israelites with teeth of iron (Am. 1:3). Damascus is a key player in the future Islamic state which is to be established in the land promised to Abraham. There will be an element of the historical Syrians in the entity which finally dominates Israel. And we can clearly see that in the IS. The same figure of a beast with huge teeth closing in upon Israel is to be found in Joel 1:6, describing the Babylonian and / or Assyrian invasion of the land. Teeth like lions are also mentioned in the picture of men with long hair arising like aggressive locusts out of the earth / land to torture to death those who live there for five months (Rev. 9:4-8). This very much sounds like the long haired jihadist fighters of the IS briefly dominating the land at the end. But they are part of the beast system, which includes this element of teeth because it is a composite figure including all elements of Israel's persecutors.

The beast will "devour" the land (Dan. 7:7), just as the historical Babylon 'devoured' Jerusalem with fire (Jer. 30:16; Lam. 4:11; Ez. 15:5; 19:12; 23:25; Hos. 8:14; Am. 1:4; 2:5) and the Assyrians devoured the land (Jer. 50:17; Hos. 11:6; 13:8; Joel 1:4,19,20; 2:3,5,25). All these verses use the same word translated 'devour' in Dan. 7:7. Clearly enough, the 'devouring' of the fourth beast is a summation of all previous 'devourings' of God's land and people. Even in Old Testament times, this idea of a singular beast embodying all Israel's enemies was not unknown. For Ez. 34:28 looked forward to the day when "Neither shall the beast of the land devour them [any more]". Mal. 3:11 likewise speaks of how "the devourer" will be rebuked by God when finally Israel respond to the Elijah prophet (Mal. 3:1). This again suggests that the final devouring of Israel will be whilst the Elijah prophet is making an ongoing appeal for their repentance and acceptance of Jesus. Once they do so, the devourer is rebuked and Jesus returns to His desperately repentant people.

The beast stamps on others (Dan. 7:7); the same word is used for how Egypt did this to God's people and others within the land promised to Abraham (Ez. 32:2). Although Egypt doesn't figure in the sequence of metals in the image of Daniel 2, the beast incorporates aspects of all Israel's previous dominators- and they include Egypt. We can therefore expect the beast entity to include features of Nazi, Catholic and other historical persecutors of God's people, even though those entities weren't part of the Daniel 2 image. This is why the historical interpretations of 666 and the beast which apply them to Nero's Rome and various Catholic persecutions are not per se incorrect. They were true for their time. But the final persecuting entity will include them all within what it is and what it does.

The Remnant
It is specifically stated that the beast "stamped the remnant" after it had torn and destroyed the land. This may mean that as a result of all the persecution and destruction of the majority of Jews in the land, the surviving remnant is stamped underfoot, or subjected to despite. The very same metaphor is used of how the city of God will be "trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". Those "times" may well refer to the period of 1260 days, three and a half years, spoken of in the prophecies of the tribulation. This trodden down and abused remnant are those who will finally repent and accept Jesus. There are prophecies of how this "remnant" (same word translated "residue" in Dan. 7:7 AV) will finally repent (Is. 10:20-22; 28:5). Is. 11:11,16 speaks of the latter day gathering of this "remnant" from areas throughout the land promised to Abraham- as if there will be a literal taking captive of the surviving Jews left in the land, scattering them throughout the 'land' promised to Abraham. The chronlogy fits well- the beast briefly dominates the land, the majority of Jews living there are killed, a remnant remains, who are stamped underfoot whilst Jerusalem likewise is trodden underfoot, and this leads to their repentance and therefore the return of the Lord Jesus to save them from the IS. It's worth noting that the word "remnant" is used repeatedly of the remnant of Judah who were in captivity in Babylon at Daniel's time and the remnant of them who returned to the land. This would've been how his first audience naturally understood the term- referring to Jewish people who had been taken out of their land by their neighbours (Ezra 3:8; 4:3,7,9; 6:16; Neh. 10:28; 11:1,20; Esther 9:16 "the remnant of the Jews that were in the king's provinces"). 
Then shall come to pass the word of Zech. 12:8: "He that is feeble among them [s.w. Dan. 11:41 about how many in the land of Israel will be overthrown or made feeble] in that day shall be as David". The suggested allusion is to David overcoming the Palestinian Goliath, who all else feared to make war with as he spoke his blasphemy against God and Israel- exactly the language of Rev. 13:4-8.

The Revival of all the Beasts
On one hand, the metals of the image in Daniel 2, and the sequence of beasts which parallel them in Daniel 7, speak of a series of kingdoms in history which dominated Israel. And yet on the other hand, they must all exist in the last days, under the headship of a latter day Babylon. I suggest this will be fulfilled by the latter day entity which dominates Israel including elements of all the previous empires which dominated Israel. The other prophecies in Daniel contain more detail about these various empires in their historical fulfilment. Elements of those prophecies will therefore also have some application in a latter day sense; various characteristics of those empires will be seen in the final entity which dominates Israel. It will be not only Assyria redivivus  but also Persia, Greece and Rome redivivus. This kind of thing is seen elsewhere in the Scriptures- for often Israel’s enemies are described in terms of their previous oppressors, especially Egypt. Take Is. 52:4: “My people went down into Egypt to live there, and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause”. It was the Egyptians who oppressed Israel in Egypt, but they are here called the Assyrian- because at Isaiah’s time, the Assyrians were the threat to Judah, but they are cast by Isaiah in terms of the Egyptians of previous centuries.

Daniel 7 depicts the various metals of the image as various beasts. The final beast of the last days incorporates all the elements of the previous beasts. But her head will be Babylon, replete with a latter day Nebuchadnezzar. Note that the first three of the empires of Daniel’s image had Babylon as their capital. It is appropriate that the latter day revival of the image and beast has Babylon likewise as its capital. It surely cannot be accidental that in Babylon today, “the ancient temple of Ishtar has been rebricked, replastered and whitewashed… carved into the bricks are reliefs of oxen and a mythical beast called the mushrishu, with the head of a serpent, body of a fish, front legs of a lion, and back legs of an eagle” (Chattanooga New Free Press, April 5, 1987). Latter day Babylon chooses to identify itself as an amalgam of beasts!

The various beasts and metals must all be in existence at the time of Christ's return in order for him to destroy them by his coming. The little stone hits the image on its ten toes- corresponding to the ten horns of the fourth beast of Dan.7. The ten horns must in a sense be in existence at the time of Christ's coming. But so also is the fourth beast, corresponding to the legs of iron- because it is at the coming of Christ that “the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame” (Dan. 7:11). Likewise at this same time, “the rest of the beasts… had their dominion taken away” (Dan. 7:12). The other beasts, corresponding to the earlier metals in the image, are ‘alive’ at the coming of Christ. Just as the image stands complete, so all the beasts are alive in order to receive judgment. The horns are presented as part of the fourth beast; their destruction is part and parcel of the fourth beast’s destruction.

Daniel sees the four beasts (corresponding with the four metals of the image of Daniel 2) all come up together after the waves of the sea are troubled (Dan. 7:3), connecting with the Lord's description of the last day powers around Israel in the same way (Lk. 21:25). The fact they all come up together shows that he was not only seeing a continuous historic vision. The way he sees the beast representing Babylon come up when historical Babylon at the time of the vision had already 'come up' shows it was not a historical description of those powers. The beasts all exist again in the last day, just as all the metals of the image exist together in order to be destroyed together by the Lord’s return. Yet the 'traditional' interpretation of the beasts as depicting the various empires which dominated Israel in the past still holds true; the point is, the final beast incorporates elements of all those powers which once dominated Israel. It is in this sense that the whole image of Dan. 2 stands complete in the last days; the latter day Nebuchadnezzar has beneath him all the elements of Israel's previous persecutors.

Dan. 7:19 describes the fourth beast as having the iron and brass metals of the image of Dan. 2 in it. The fourth beast had feet and teeth, we are specifically told. The lion, representing the head of gold, had feet (Dan. 7:4); the bear, representing the breast of silver, had powerful teeth. The fourth beast has “claws of brass”, but brass referred to the third empire in the sequence of empires in the parallel Daniel 2. The point being, that the fourth beast has elements of the previous beasts in it. And likewise, the final entity which dominates Israel at the time of the Lord’s return in glory will have within it elements of all the previous dominators. Thus the fourth beast had all the characteristics of the other beasts. By it being destroyed through its ten horns being smitten by Christ's return, it is as if the image of Dan.2 is standing erect and complete in  the last days, being hit on the ten toes (cp. the ten horns of the beast) by Christ's return.

Storm Clouds Gathering Over Israel Apocalyptic War is Near

Bible Prophecy The West Scrambles to Contain Russia

Russian tanks and heavy armour move across the border into eastern Ukraine, accompanied by Putin's denials of involvement and what would clearly be considered as threats of nuclear war. In the last few days the rebels in control of areas of eastern Ukraine have made significant advances, as reported in the UK Telegraph, "...dramatically turning the tide in the four-month conflict." The article entitled, "Vladimir Putin: Don't mess with nuclear-armed Russia" continues:

Putin speaks to a group of Russian youngsters on August 29, where he said,
"it's best not to mess with us," adding "I want to remind you that Russia
is one of the leading nuclear powers".

"A major battle is expected in the port city of Mariupol in coming days, where Ukrainian forces are dug in in anticipation of a full-scale assault by rebels backed by the Kremlin's forces. The escalation in the conflict is the most serious since the pro-Russian uprising began, and has dashed Western hopes that the sanctions on the Kremlin had forced it to gradually abandon its support for the rebels."

NATO has told Russia to halt 'illegal' actions in Ukraine and European leaders are meeting today at an emergency summit to discuss more sanctions on Moscow. However it is doubtful that any of these measures will have an immediate effect. The northern hemisphere is heading towards fall and winter and Putin is looking forward to the cold temperatures. As reported by the Telegraph, Russia has said there is a 'high risk' for gas deliveries to Europe this winter.

The EU has always planned for Russia to be an essential part of the European project. Russia also sees itself as being part of Europe, but not on equal terms as a member state. The events in Ukraine are at the root of a greater struggle which will determine who will dominate Europe. What role and influence will Germany, France, the Vatican, Russia and the Russian Greek Orthodox Church have in the emerging European Empire? Putin's remarks about a nuclear-armed Russia, a day before the European leaders emergency summit are timed to send a very strong message. Europe has to deal with Russia. Locking the Russian bear in a cage and starving it, will not work.

In the Canadian National Post, Kelly McParland comments about Putin's czarist fantasies.

"Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is proving far more reckless than previously imagined in his determination to have his way in Ukraine, exhibiting a level of cynicism and contempt for international law that few could have anticipated."

As far as Putin is concerned his "czarist fantasies" are not fantasies at all and he intends to make sure of that. Returning to the article from the UK Telegraph.

"Vladimir Putin raised the spectre of nuclear war with the West on Friday as he defied international condemnation over his decision to send thousands of Russian troops and heavy armour into Ukraine.

"Accused by Europe and Nato of launching a full-scale invasion of eastern Ukraine, the Russian leader boasted to a group of Russian youngsters that "It's best not to mess with us."

"In language not seen since the height of the Cold War, he told his audience: "Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers."

"Mr Putin's comments, made during a visit to a pro-Kremlin youth camp on the banks of a lake outside Moscow, will horrify Western governments as they try to bring Russia into check. Even during the height of Cold War hostilities, few Kremlin leaders ever resorted to the direct mentions of Russia's nuclear arsenal.

"He made his remarks as European leaders prepare to gather tomorrow for an emergency summit to discuss further sanctions on Moscow over the appearance in the last few days of more than 1,000 regular Russian troops in eastern Ukraine."

The rising power and character of Russia and it's leader are not a surprise to students of Bible prophecy. When the "moderate" Russian leader Gorbachev was in power things seemed like they would be different. There were great changes in Russian policy, the Berlin wall came down and the Russian economy was in tatters. During this time, in the annual "Milestones to the Kingdom", booklet in 1989, in a consideration of Ezekiel 38, Graham Pearce wrote:

"Russia and her confederates have to be strong and virile - like the earlier Assyrian, of which they will be the latter-day equivalent in invading the land. They are not quite ready to do the work God has appointed for them. How appropriate therefore is the charge given to Gog by Scripture - prepare thyself, and those that are with thee - the Satellite nations. So a short period of 'peace' lies ahead for this preparation to be made...

"The RV and RSV change "turn thee back" to "turn thee about". 'Turn about' need not be limited to a geographical sense of withdrawal from foreign adventures, as the Soviet has recently been doing. It could also cover her national revival - a change about from the present depressed state.

"verse 4 "I will turn thee about"; "I will bring thee forth"; verse 8 "After many days thou shalt be visited (by angels?).

"Notice how the present 'preparing' situation is emphatically God's work. This means that God's work. This means that the work Gorbachev has in hand will not fail, he will not be swept aside or overcome, despite the tremendous problems and opposition.

"When he has done his appointed work, a greater military leader will be brought on the scene to carry forward God's plan."

A few pages on, while considering Isaiah 14, Graham wrote: "This chapter gives us a graphic picture of the coming dictator - a terrible despotic power who will follow after Gorbachev... Whatever 'peace' Mr. Gorbachev may establish, it will be short-lived. There will be a time of trouble of unprecedented magnitude. But for the saints - "The Just shall live by his faith" (v. 4)" of Habakkuk 2.

How things have moved on since 1989! America and the western world have suffered the financial crisis. It is now America that has pulled back militarily and is no longer the power it once was. Russia has been resurgent, returned to it's religious roots, become aggressive, and a greater military leader has been brought to the scene. Whether Putin will be that leader, who will invade Israel and meet his end at the hand of Zion's king, time will tell. Russia is now demanding an equal say - and seeking to dominate Europe - and we see prophecy fulfilling before our eyes. Putin's czarist fantasies are not fantasies at all, but predicted in the scriptures centuries ago.

It is good to remember that the "just shall live by his faith". Seeing prophecy fulfilling in such an incredible way, strengthens us to "overcome the world" by increasing and revitalizing our faith. Return again next week, God willing, as we continue to watch the Bible in the News.

The Coming Distress of Nations

Revelation 13 Mark number of the Beast 666 is the seal of Mohammad, jihad flag of Islamic State ISIS

Bible Prophecy The Haditha Dam the drying up of the Euphrates River

Standing up for Israel and the Judgement of Nations

Standing up for Israel and the Judgement of Nations

Make no mistake, nations have been and will be yet still be judged on their treatment of the Jewish people.

As we are on the edge of the coming of the Messiah son the David we must say the future of Israel is bright, very bright indeed.  That said, the question we ask is whether the future of the rest of the nations of the world is quite so rosy?

Genesis 12:3 reads as follows:

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Simply, people and nations are judged on how they treat God’s chosen people.  There may be other factors in God’s judgment of a people or a nation such as violence before the flood but the treatment of his people Israel is certainly something that God does not take lightly.  Read the following words from Deuteronomy 32 -

“For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

So the Lord alone did lead him…”

And similar words are mentioned in Zachariah 2:8 but with a little more caution for anyone who thinks to harm his people, it is written “for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”  Simple equasion, you touch Israel, you poke the almighty God in the eye.  Pharaoh in the Old Testament found this out as did many other nations of old some of which would be permanently destroyed for their treatment of Gods people, like Tyre and Zidon for example (Ezekiel 26 & Joel 3).
And what about in these last days?  God has clearly fulfilled his promise in bringing his people back to their land.  The question is, is there any indication of God’s thoughts about Israel’s treatment today?  Joel 3 is clearly speaking of today in the following words from verse 1 & 2:

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”

The New King James Version puts it this way, “And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel”
If that was not enough, these words are from Ezekiel 36:1-10

“Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord:

Thus saith the Lord God; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:

Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:

Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen: (“suffered the reproach of the nations” – RSV)

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame. (“shall themselves suffer reproach.” – RSV)

But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:

And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:”

So what are the nations around doing today?  Well that depends on the nation, but almost across the board they push Israel to give up territory to the boarders of 1967.  Further to that many including the UN today are pushing for Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza.  And have you heard of anything more ridiculous?  First off, Hamas is a recognized terror group, why is anyone pushing Israel to give into their demands? Even with the blockade Hamas managed to smuggle in rockets to target the whole of Israel’s population.  I’ve got an idea…. Lets lift the blockade and see what gets brought in. Even the fact that Israel is pushed into a cease fire is crazy.  No other nation would put up with what Israel does, since Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip over 11,000 rockets have been launched at her.  There is no such thing as land for peace with the so called “Palestinians.”  In fact in 2000 Israel offered 97% of the West Bank and 100% of the Gaza strip to Yasser Arafat, and for the 3% of the West Bank Israel would keep they would enlarge the Gaza Strip and join the two with a highway.  Israel was turned down because it is not peace that the “Palestinian” leadership wants, it’s the annihilation of Israel.
Now on this point of giving up land, it must be said that any land that Israel has gained since 1948 was won in defensive war.  This is very important because territory won defensively is much different than territory won offensively (not that it really matters because I believe that God has given them back their historic homeland and what the world says is tough.)   That said this does show the hypocrisy of the nations.
All Israel has ever wanted is peace, that is the truth.  Unfortunately Israel still finds herself surrounded by those that want her destruction, inside and outside her borders.  As a Haretz article headline read “Hamas: Heavy on the fire, light on the cease.”  I think the words of Psalm 120 are very fitting – “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.  I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.”  I don’t know if there is a better verse to describe the situation Israel finds herself in.
The Prime minister of Canada is unique in this and his governments support of Israel.  Concerning the current conflict in Gaza he released the following statement:

“The indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel are terrorist acts, for which there is no justification. It is evident that Hamas is deliberately using human shields to further terror in the region.

“Failure by the international community to condemn these reprehensible actions would encourage these terrorists to continue their appalling actions. Canada calls on its allies and partners to recognize that these terrorist acts are unacceptable and that solidarity with Israel is the best way of stopping the conflict.

“Canada is unequivocally behind Israel. We support its right to defend itself, by itself, against these terror attacks, and urge Hamas to immediately cease their indiscriminate attacks on innocent Israeli civilians.

“Canada reiterates its call for the Palestinian government to disarm Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups operating in Gaza, including the Iranian proxy, Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”

What we said at the beginning of this program was that simply, people and nations are judged on how they treat God’s chosen people.  What brought this question to a head is unlike the position of Canada most nations are criticizing Israel, and in some cases outright supporting Hamas.  These nations include Britain and even the US under Obama’s lead.  A very interesting opinion piece was written in the English paper the Daily Express by Leo McKinstry titled “We will pay a terrible price for supporting Hamas.”  The following is from that article:

“…all this populist anti-Israeli posturing is dangerous. It shows not the slightest grasp of the reality of Islamist aggression in the Middle East and the depth of the challenge that Israel faces.

In practice denouncing the Jewish state means siding with the malevolent, murderous forces of jihadism, a stance that not only represents a complete inversion of morality but a ­suicidal disdain for the interests of western civilisation.

With their habitual self- righteousness Miliband and Ashdown claim that Israel is losing the propaganda war.

“Israel has lost the support and sympathy of the world,” said Ashdown yesterday, speaking in his self-appointed role as spokesman for the planet’s citizenry.

However, Israel is fighting a real war, not a propaganda war.

It is up against a fanatical enemy – the Hamas ­terror network, dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state.

The idea, sedulously cultivated by western appeasers of radical Islam, that the Palestinian movement is innocent is absurd.

The present conflict was started by Hamas firing rockets at Israeli civilians and since the beginning of July more than 2,800 of these ­missiles have been launched.

Britain would not tolerate an ­aerial assault without striking back so why should Israel?

The fact that Hamas’s rockets have inflicted only a few casualties is a reflection of their poor technology, not of their users’ lethal intent.

Moreover Hamas has constructed a series of tunnels into Israel with the aim of inflicting more deadly attacks. Israel, like any other nation, has a duty to defend itself by destroying this terrorist infrastructure.

In this context the parrot cry for negotiations is fatuous. Hamas, an offshoot of the infamous Muslim Brotherhood, is not interested in a peace settlement, only in the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people. Its founding charter, drawn up in 1988, proclaims that “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.”

Last week an Imam in a Palestinian mosque declared: “Our doctrine in fighting you, the Jews, is that we will totally exterminate you. We will not leave a single one of you alive.”

So on what aspect of anti-Semitic genocide is Israel ­supposed to negotiate with Hamas?

Instead of traducing Israel western politicians and the media should face up to the terrifying global threat of fundamentalist Islam, of which Hamas is a key part.

…

Rather than ­carping from the sidelines ­western politicians should ­support that goal. Israel is a bulwark of ­civilisation against Islamism. Ultimately we will pay a terrible price if we betray this heroic nation.”

The Italian Foreign Affairs Commission President Fabrizio Cicchitto led a delegation to the Knesset and said he was “trying to convince the US and European community that we may be exposed to the threat of terror just like Israel.” This is something that nations should be considering in voicing against Israel, terrorists will not stop at Israel.  In fact as the United States has started bombing the terrorists in Iraq some are starting to worry if they will be able to strike back. Time ran an article on August 10^th entitled “Experts Warn of Terrorism Blowback From Iraq Air Strikes.”
In his book entitled The Islamic Tsunami David Rubin makes the following comment:

“The return to the Land of Israel is an ongoing process that is central in the redemption of the entire world.  Even if all Islamic terrorists united, they would be unable to stop this process.  They may cause death and wounds and great destruction, but in the end they will fail.  As I see it, the bigger question is where the rest of the free world will stand in this process – it, too, is threatened by the monster of Islamic terrorism.  Will the world stand strong with Israel in its noble battle and stop the Koranic terrorists from taking over the free world?”

As we said at the beginning Israel’s future is bright, very bright.  Nations that are hypocritically turning on the Jews however may find a rough road ahead.

Zachariah 8:23 - “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out ofall languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

Egypt and Israeli Alliance

Egypt and Israeli Alliance 06-08-2014

Gaza Tension Stoked by Unlikely Alliance Between Israel and Egypt Strategy of Squeezing Hamas Was Effective, but Helped Lead to Open Warfare, Officials Believe By Adam Entous in Jerusalem and Nicholas Casey in Gaza Aug. 6, 2014 10:38 p.m. ET The plan was simple: Israel and the new military-led government in Egypt would work together to ratchet up pressure on their shared enemy in the Gaza Strip - Hamas. But their miscalculations triggered a crisis. WSJ's Adam Entous joins the News Hub to discuss. Photo: Getty Israel and Egypt quietly agreed to work in concert to squeeze Hamas after Egypt's military coup in 2013, a strategy that proved effective but which some Israeli and U.S. officials now believe stoked tensions that helped spur open warfare in Gaza. When former military chief Abdel Fattah Al Sisi rose to power in Egypt after leading the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, Israel found the two countries had a common interest in suppressing the Islamist group that ruled Gaza. They worked to bring pressure on their shared enemy. Mr. Sisi followed Israel's lobbying effort closely and was appreciative, the Israeli official said. "It came at a very formative time for him" and helped cement a trusting relationship between friends who realized they were vital to each others' national security, he said. Cooperation with Israel is highly sensitive in Egypt and Egyptian officials declined to discuss in detail the partnership between the neighbors against Hamas. In Gaza, there was shock at the events unfolding in Cairo. A senior Israeli official said the two governments wanted to advance their shared interests and increase pressure on Hamas. But he insisted there was no master plan to squeeze it to the point that "something would explode." Yet when Mr. Sisi closed nearly all of the tunnels along Egypt's border with Gaza but didn't compensate for the loss of those avenues by allowing the passage above ground of needed supplies, some Israeli officials said they privately began to raise alarm bells about the severity of Cairo's decisions. "They actually were suffocating Gaza too much," one Israeli official said. In Gaza, the situation grew desperate. At the height of Hamas's distress, three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped in the West Bank in June and subsequently found dead. Israel quickly concluded that Hamas was responsible and rounded up its activists in the West Bank, infuriating the group's armed wing in Gaza. After the abduction, which U.S. officials believe was carried out by Hamas members without the approval of their leaders in Gaza, Israeli intelligence officials warned policy makers that "overly pressuring Hamas will lead to a conflagration," according to another senior Israeli official. Rocket fire from Gaza escalated, and Israel began to respond with airstrikes. U.S. officials, who tried to intervene in the initial days after the conflict broke out on July 8 to try to find a negotiated solution, soon realized that Mr. Netanyahu's office wanted to run the show with Egypt and to keep the Americans at a distance, according to U.S., European and Israeli officials. Reflecting Egypt's importance, Mr. Gilad and other officials took Mr. Sisi's "temperature" every day during the war to make sure he was comfortable with the military operation as it intensified. Israeli officials knew television pictures of dead Palestinians would at some point bring Cairo to urge Israel to stop. "We knew we could not do something that went beyond what they could digest," a senior Israeli official said of the Egyptians. Egypt's view mattered more than America's, Israeli officials said. When a tentative deal finally came together in Cairo to stop the fighting, Washington found itself outside looking in on the Israeli-Egyptian partnership once again. Egypt and Israel working together is not a surprise to Bible Students as it is fully expected based on Bible Prophecy.  According to Bible Prophecy the Biblical King of the South will see an alignment between Egypt with Israel along with the Arab Gulf States.  Despite how things looked in Egypt just a year ago, Egypt is now back on track with Israel and according to Bible Prophecy will remain so.  The King of the South will oppose aggression from Russia and the EU.  They will be supported by America and Britain.  This News Item shows that the Nations are continuing to align themselves according to Bible Prophecy. Yet again we see the latter day alignment of Nations as Prophesied by the Bible falling into place before our very eyes.  See this article to learn more about this and the latter day prophecies of the Bible.

Merkel and Putin discussed secret deal

Merkel and Putin discussed secret deal 03-08-2014

Land for gas Merkel and Putin discussed secret deal could end Ukraine crisis Merkel and Putin negotiate to trade Crimea’s sovereignty for guarantees on energy security and trade Thursday 31 July 2014 Germany and Russia have been working on a secret plan to broker a peaceful solution to end international tensions over the Ukraine. The Independent can reveal that the peace plan, being worked on by both Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin, hinges on two main ambitions: stabilising the borders of Ukraine and providing the financially troubled country with a strong economic boost, particularly a new energy agreement ensuring security of gas supplies. More controversially, if Ms Merkel’s deal were to be acceptable to the Russians, the international community would need to recognise Crimea’s independence and its annexation by Russia, a move that some members of the United Nations might find difficult to stomach. In Ezekiel 38 "Gog" (who points to Putin) is said to be of the "land of Magog" ie. Russia will have a very strong and close tie with Germany prior to the EU's and Russia's invasion of the Middle East.  Well right here we see how this has already developed and will continue to do so despite what other world leaders may think or want.

Israel vs Palestine - Why it is different this time?

Israel vs Palestine - Why it is different this time?

Israel vs Palestine Why it is different this time John McLaughlin, Ozy.com 10:18 a.m. EDT August 1, 2014 (Photo: MARCO BOTELLI/CORBIS) Israel-Palestine, erupting again. This feels like very old news. From a distance, the current fighting between Israel and Hamas — the Palestinian faction that rules the small and highly populated Gaza Strip — seems much like the hostility the region has known for decades. But this time, it's different — because this time, the two are at war just as the surrounding Middle East descends into total turmoil. And when everything abates, the two sides will end up even further from an agreement than they have been for years. This spate of fighting began three weeks ago. So far, upward of 1000 Palestinians have died in Gaza; Israel has lost over 50 soldiers. Who started it? Israel blames Hamas for breaking a 2012 ceasefire and abducting and murdering three Israeli teenagers. Hamas says Israel captured 50 or so Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank, some of whom had been released back to Palestine under a 2011 prisoner swap. The last time the two nations fought was before the Arab Spring in 2012, after instability had begun to escalate in the region — but before the crumbling of Iraq and the extremist surge in Syria, and well before the now-discredited Morsi government in Egypt had even come to power. In other words, Israel and Palestine have fought before, but never have they fought in a Middle East that looks quite like today's. Which means… THIS IS NO LONGER THE CONFLICT TO END ALL CONFLICTS …Because it's all going down in a region where, frankly, the neighbors have it worse. It's no longer possible to credibly argue, as the U.S. and others did for decades, that settling the Israeli-Palestinian dispute would be a "game changer" in the Middle East. America and Arab nations alike routinely claimed that resolving this conflict would help undermine the entire global terrorist narrative; that it would reduce hostility between Arab nations and Israel; and that it would dent the influence of extremist regimes like Iran. I heard this from Arab officials consistently over many years. But now, the entire region is so troubled that no one, not even the U.S., can give the Israeli-Palestine conflict the attention it once demanded. And American officials can no longer argue that a settlement would ripple positively across the Middle East. THIS ISN'T THE SAME PALESTINE ANYMORE Relations within the Palestinian community have become more complicated. During the last two wars, in 2009 and 2012, Palestinian governance was split between the extremist faction, Hamas, in Gaza, and the more moderate Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. But since June, the two factions have been uneasily allied in a power-sharing government. Which has pulled the Palestinian Authority more directly into the conflict, despite its minimal presence in Gaza. At the same time, the United States can't deal directly with the Palestinians because we've labeled Hamas a terrorist group. And we don't negotiate with terrorists. Moreover, the moderates among Palestinian factions now feel obliged to aid Hamas, rhetorically if not more directly, rather than treating them as errant brethren. This, in turn, makes it harder for the U.S. and others to succeed in negotiations to the degree we have when more moderate Palestinian Authority officials could distance themselves … or even contemplate compromise with Israel. THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S GOING TO THE DOGS The priorities and alliances of the surrounding region have also shifted. Most consequential: Egypt, at peace with Israel since the 1979 Camp David Accords, no longer has the same clout to negotiate with the Palestinians (especially with Hamas). Once upon a time, the U.S. could count on Egyptian help to engage the Palestinian side. In fact, deposed Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi was instrumental in negotiating the ceasefire in 2012, in part because Hamas is a branch of the Brotherhood (and therefore, part of the family). But new Egyptian President el-Sisi has outlawed the Brotherhood as a terrorist group. Which makes Egypt pretty much absent this time around. Meanwhile, Hamas' most significant support comes from Qatar, which shelters the group's leadership, and Turkey. Neither nation enjoys warm relations with Israel. And Iran, a long-time Hamas supporter, has reversed its position — not long ago, Iran's Shia leaders had removed support for Hamas because of Hamas's allegiance to Sunni Syrian rebels. But, apparently surmounting this internal Islamic Civil War, Iran has just called on the Muslim world to send arms to Gaza. All bets are off. This article highlights how quickly things can change and have changed in the Middle East, but despite this the Bible says that God is in overall control and that His Plan will be worked out on the earth despite what man thinks or does. Learn from the Bible about Israel and the Palestinian Issue and how the Bible has prophesied that Israel will dwell in PEACE with her neighbours. Click on the Article below:

Iraq's Yazidis Mountain of Death & Despair Is There Any Hope for Mankind?

IRAQ'S YAZIDIS ' MOUNTAIN OF DEATH & DESPAIR ' . . . IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR MAN ??

A catastrophic situation is unfolding upon Iraq's Sinjar Mountain. Atop the mountain , an estimated 40-50,000 Yazidi men , women & children have taken refuge having fled the violence & brutality engulfing the region. They are trapped , no food , no water & no shelter. At the base of the mountain , hordes of Islamic State Jihadists await. Having already taken 100's of Yazidi women captive , these murderous Islamic extremists issued the Yazidi people an ultimatum . . . " Convert to Islam or Be Killed ". The Yazidis' plight is desparate. With world leaders & nations ' unwilling ' to provide any meaningful help ( besides dropping food baskets ) this terrible humanitarian crisis will only get worse. It's a foretaste of the escalating violence & chaos that will soon overwhelm all mankind. But there is ' another ' mountain. A mountain of promise , of hope & joy , spoken of repeatedly in God's Word. It is God's Holy Mountainof Zion. It will be the ' Throne of the Lord ' & the centre of worship in God's coming Kingdom on earth. A mountain that both now & in the future will be a ' true source ' of refuge & comfort to those who seek to follow & trust in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 2v2-4 - It shall come to pass in the last days , that ' the mountain ' of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains & shall be exalted above the hills & all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go & say , Come ye & let us go up to the mountain of the LORD , to the house of the God of Jacob ( Israel ) & He will teach us of His ways & we will walk in His paths : forout of Zion shall go forth the law & the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge among the nations & shall rebuke many people & they shall beat their swords into plowshares & their spears into pruninghooks : nation shall not lift up sword against nation ,neither shall they learn war any more.