September 18, 2005

Gaps Sealed In Gaza-Egypt Border To End Chaos
Reuters via Yahoo! News Sun, 18 Sep 2005 8:31 AM PDT
Security forces plugged breaches in the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt on Sunday to end a chaotic flood of people in both directions that stirred worries in Israel over arms smuggling after its Gaza withdrawal.

We Need More Arms To Take On Militants: Palestinians
Khaleej Times Sun, 18 Sep 2005 2:56 AM PDT
GAZA CITY - Palestinian security forces are caught in the ultimate Catch 22. Expected to enforce law and order in the newly “liberated” Gaza Strip, they complain they are too weak to carry out the task.

Hamas Standing In Elections Inconceivable: Israel
AFP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News Sun, 18 Sep 2005 5:01 AM PDT
Israel said it was "inconceivable" for Hamas to be allowed to take part in January's Palestinian elections as it acknowledged that the radical Islamist movement could emerge victorious.

Avian Flu Could Kill One Billion People Worldwide
Sept. 15, 2005 � It could kill a billion people worldwide, make ghost towns out of parts of major cities, and there is not enough medicine to fight it. It is called the avian flu.

This week, the U.S. government agreed to stockpile $100 million worth of a still-experimental vaccine, while at the United Nations Summit in New York, both the head of the U.N. World Health Organization and President Bush warned of the virus' deadly potential. 

Comments
The vast majority of my readers come to this website because it focuses on prophetic events and where we might be on the timetable.  One thing should be remembered when reading anything on this website�I�m not a prophet and I don�t know the future.  What I do know is that if I spend time in the Word and prayer I can know what the Bible says about the future and have a keen understanding of what may happen�and so can you!  I certainly believe that we can know the day we are living in.  

So where are we at in God�s prophetic timeline?  Anytime we talk about end time prophecy we have to start with Israel.  Israel is and always will be the focal point of end time prophecy.  

When Israel became a nation back in 1948 that�s when the last generation began (Matthew 24:34-35).  How long a generation is has been greatly debated and I doubt that issue will be resolved before the Lord comes.  

Since that date, Israel has defeated enemy after enemy and has steadily increased in land due to these victories.  Certainly it is evident that God has planted them in their land never again to be removed. 

Some other notable events since the rebirth of Israel are (1) the rise of Europe (future kingdom of the antichrist), (2) creation of the U.N. and the World Bank, (3) the rise of Russia and China as world powers.  Both will play major military roles during the tribulation period. (4) I also believe that terrorism (9/11) will play a major role in the start of the war of Revelation, chapter six where one-quarter of the world�s population will perish. 

That brings us up to date in prophecy.  Here are some things I see for the future: 

Following Hurricane Katrina, Israel offered aid, supplies, and personnel to help the victims and this disaster.  When it came time to thank the world for their generous help all Arab nations were mentioned and Israel was left off the list completely.  This alarmed Israel and should have.  This is a blatant change in policy toward Israel and shows a U.S. swing toward the Arab world.  

As you know, the Bible predicts that Israel will be attacked sometime in the future by the Russian-Arab Alliance.  When this does happen  it is my belief that Israel will be left to fend for themselves (Ezekiel 38, 39).  

It should also be noted that the U.S. is very close to becoming oil dependent upon Russia in the coming months.  Obviously, we�re already oil dependent to the other half of the alliance (Arab�s).  This dependency will keep the U.S. from coming to the aid of Israel. 

If you haven�t heard, Israel has just given up the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians for a supposed homeland.  Next will be the West Bank and then half of Jerusalem.  I believe the West Bank will be given up with little problem much like Gaza, but look for Israel to put up a diplomatic fight over Jerusalem.  

After securing the West Bank, the Palestinians will demand that Israel give them Jerusalem to be their capital.  I believe that Israel will refuse and the world will demand that they do.  After all, Arab�s primarily populate East Jerusalem at this point anyway, but Israel will still refuse.  At this time Jerusalem will become the sticking point to peace and the focus of the entire world.  Certainly, we get our share of Middle East news but it will intensify in that day. 

At this point, I come to a fork in the road.  I believe one of two things could happen.  One, Israel will give into world pressure and just turn over to Palestine East Jerusalem. That is when the Russian-Arab Alliance will attack Israel.  If this happens, I suspect this attack to take place within a year after the agreement.  It will be a surprise attack and Israel will be at their mercy.  But as the Bible has predicted, the Lord will confound the plans of their enemies and miraculously destroy them.  The whole world will be in shock! 

Then at some future time, Israel will make a seven-year peace agreement (along with many other nations, Daniel 9:27) with the antichrist.  

Two, Israel will refuse to give them East Jerusalem despite world pressure until a great leader comes on the scene and convinces them to do so.  This world leader will be none other than the antichrist and he will be very persuasive. 

One thing that many today don�t seem to realize is the antichrist will be a very deceptive force to the world and will be defenseless against him.  When He comes on the scene this world will not have Holy Spirit protection (II Thessalonians 2:1-9).  This is extremely important to know.  For centuries The Holy Spirit has acted as a protecting shield holding satan back from performing his evil deeds upon mankind.  In that day, the Holy Spirit will step aside and satan will have his day.  He will be so persuasive that if not for the protection of God the very elect (tribulation saints) would be deceived (Matthew 24:22-24).  But everyone else will be easy prey. 

With this concession Israel will be awarded West Jerusalem to be their capital, a peace treaty with the antichrist that will bring world recognition and acceptance, and permission to rebuild their temple. 

Personally, I lean toward theory number two.  I think scripture points us in the direction of Israel needing the antichrist for protection and security.  He will provide that, and for a season, they will feel safe. 

When will these events take place?  Most Bible believing scholars, ministers, and teachers believe it will be soon.  My suggestion to all who read this is to keep watching and praying.  I can�t predict the future but I believe we will see these events take place sooner than any of us think. 

Are you ready to meet the Lord?  If not, your time is running out!