Israeli Poll: Forty-Four Percent Of Jewish Settlers Ready To Leave Occupied West Bank Peacefully...
JERUSALEM, May 31 (Reuters) - Forty-four percent of Jewish settlers would be ready to leave their homes in the occupied West Bank without resistance if Israel decided to remove them, a poll published on Wednesday by an Israeli newspaper showed.

The percentage of settlers said they would evacuate was up from 25 percent last June, the poll conducted by the Geocartografia Institute showed.

Palestinian Rockets Rain On Southern Israel...
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Islamic Jihad reportedly is claiming responsibility for Wednesday morning's rocket attack on the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

Israeli Forces To Intensify Their Aggression On The Gaza Strip...
Gaza, May 31 (Petra)--The Israeli army intends to step up its ground operations in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli official sources said.

Iran Ready To Talk With EU On Nuclear Standoff
Houston Chronicle Wed, 31 May 2006 3:15 AM PDT
Iran's foreign minister said today that Tehran is ready to restart negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear program, but he ruled out direct talks with the United States.

US Would Talk To Iran If Suspends Enrichment: Official
May 31 10:08 AM US/Eastern
"For the time being, we have suspended direct talks (with the United States). After a change of their behavior we may consider again," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

Iran's Military Plans For Invasion By U.S.
TEHRAN -- Iran, apparently anticipating an American invasion, has quietly been restructuring its military and testing a new military doctrine that calls for a decentralized, Iraqi-style guerrilla campaign against an invading force.

Iran's military planners are acutely aware that a military confrontation with technologically more advanced U.S. armed forces would be rapid and multifronted, unlike the static and slow-paced 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Java Earthquake Toll Passes 5,800
Indonesia has upped the death toll from the earthquake which hit the island of Java on Saturday to more than 5,800. 

Comments
According to a recent Israeli newspaper poll 44% of those residing in occupied areas of the West Bank are willing to leave peacefully.  Last year at this time only 25% would agree to leave peacefully.  Are the Israeli's breaking under the constant pressure?

In my last news update I ran an article that said Russia and Turkey had agreed to an economic trade partnership (Russia, Turkey on brink of new trade, partnership agreement).  Look for this to expand into a military partnership as well.  The Bible says, in the last days, Turkey will join the Russian-Arab Alliance as they converge on Israel to destroy them once and for all.  Look for this alliance to eventually draw Turkey away from future E.U. membership and toward a very powerful Russian led alliance.  They will finally come to the place of realizing that the E.U. never had any intention of letting them in.

The Lord has prompted me to write about the coming antichrist and what must come thereafter.  There has been much speculation throughout history as to who this man is ranging from Nero to Prince Charles.  Prospects have come and gone over the years without so much as a whimper.  Personally, I don’t think anyone will know until after the rapture takes place.   

Yes, the Bible does state in Revelation 13:18, “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”  This has led many to believe that we can know who the antichrist is if we possess this wisdom.    

I believe this is a message to those who will be left behind to go through the tribulation period.  I don’t believe anyone on this side of the rapture will ever know who the antichrist is.  We can guess and speculate but anyone who thinks that they have solved the mystery of the antichrist just doesn’t understand that things will change dramatically once Christians are taken out of this world.  It’s like trying to forecast what the greatest future gainer will be (possibly years down the road) in the stock market based on present information.   What many of these prognosticators don’t understand is their man could die tomorrow along with their ironclad prediction.  They could also come to Christ! Whoever the antichrist turns out to be the Bible has much to say about his character and his activities.    

The Timing Of The Day Of The Lord

First, I believe it is important to set the stage.  The Bible says that life will be fairly normal before the rapture takes place.  That doesn’t mean that day will not be self-serving and a very dangerous and evil time (II Timothy 3:1-5).   

It’s likely that the “Day of the Lord” will start at the beginning of the tribulation period but could begin as earlier as the rapture of the church.  Many believe it won’t start until the midway point of the tribulation period and others say it won’t happen until the end of the seven years when the Lord comes back.  Keeping this in mind, we can proceed with this timeline. 

The Timing Of Certain Events

This is how I see the sequence of events taking place.  There are two events that many overlook that I believe could happen before or after the rapture or during the tribulation period itself.  One, the rebuilding of the temple (Daniel 9:27), and two, the antichrist’s subduing of three nations (Daniel 7:24).  Of course, it is generally believed by most Bible scholars that these two events will take place during the first half of the tribulation period.  I have to agree but it’s certainly possible that it could happen before the tribulation period starts. 

As you may know, I also believe that there will be a period of time between the rapture and the start of the tribulation period.  How long that will be is anyone’s guess.  During this time period satan will select his man and reveal himself to this person.  At this time, I don’t believe the future antichrist knows who he is.  That’s not to say that satan isn’t positioning him (antichrist) and directing his path for the future.   

Does satan Know his Time Is Near

 I’m sure many are thinking, ”Doesn’t satan know his end is near?  He must read the Bible.”  satan does know the scriptures, but I don’t believe he knows all scripture nor has the ability to discern them.  The scripture is only completely understood by those who possess the Holy Spirit.  You can’t understand the Word unless God grants you to.  Take a look at I Peter 1:10-12: 

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 

Even the prophets only understood what God permitted them to understand.  They were not given full knowledge as today’s New Testament Christian’s are granted.  

In verse twelve it states that salvation was something angels didn’t fully understand and desired to look into.  This leads me to the conclusion that angels do not fully understand the Bible unless God allows them to have this knowledge even though they desire to.  If God has hidden some things from the heavenly angels how much more from those who have fallen! 

So how does satan know it’s time to ready his man to rise up and rule the world?  He doesn’t!  Certainly he knows that one day he will be judged (Matthew 8:29) but that day is a mystery to him.  

I believe that God, who knows everything, including the mind of every creature (satan), simply looked into the future and knew exactly when satan would try to stage a revolt.  He also set it up to be perfectly timed with the rapture of the church and the events of the tribulation period.  In short, satan is just a tool that God uses to do His will in His time.  I think it’s safe to say that God manipulates satan on a regular bases to come in line with his timetable.  

It is futile for any angel, man or beast to try and outsmart or plan anything without God knowing about it before the foundation of the world (Titus 1:2).  In my opinion, satan is oblivious to what day he is living in and what is about to happen.  He firmly believes that his rise to earthly power is all a part of his master plan and in his timing.  Little does he know that his plans were known from the foundation of the world. 

How Much Does satan Know

How much does satan know?  Whatever God has granted for him to know.  That will be something we probably won’t know until after we get to heaven.  

I highly doubt he knows about the rapture of the church.  Upon doing research for this article I tend to believe that he does not know when the rapture will take place.  He might not even know about the rapture or what it is.  It is conceivable that when the rapture takes place it will completely take satan by surprise.  It maybe a surprise but it won’t derail his plans.  Somehow, he will deceive the world into believing his lie and life will go on as if it never happened.  

There’s one thing many overlook, if not for God’s protection, this world would be putty in the hands of satan to be deceived and manipulated at every turn.  During the tribulation period and millennium this will prove true.

Getting Back To The Timeline

It’s possible that Israel could make some sort of deal in the near future that would allow them to rebuild their temple.  The only qualification is that the temple be built by the midway point of the tribulation period.  That will be when the antichrist will desecrate it (Daniel 9:27). 

Many believe that the antichrist will bring peace shortly after his revealing.  It's believed that this peace plan will start the tribulation clock rolling and bring a short time of peace and safety to Israel.  The rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple may or may not be a part of the plan.  Some believe that the Arab world would never agree to such an abomination of one of their holy sites.  Permitting Israel to build a pagan temple next to theirs would be a complete desecration of their temple and start World War III. 

This leads many to believe that the peace plan the antichrist will confirm will not include permission for Israel to rebuild their temple on the temple mount.  But peace will come and bring rest for Israel and they will dwell safely in their own land (Ezekiel 38:11) for a short time.

But after a very short time of peace war will break out. Russia and their Arab alliance will stage a surprise sneak attack on Israel.  Since there is no mention of the actual attack taking place (they will died in the hills of Israel) it is my belief that God will destroy them just before war begins.  They will probably be mobilized near Israel’s border planning their attack.  As they proceed in the beginning stages of their advance the Lord will destroy them.  In that day, God will cause a terrible shaking of the earth that will resound throughout the world:

"And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground." (Ezekiel 38:18-20)

The Bible says that not only Israel, but the whole world, will give glory to God (Ezekiel 38:23).  Yes, it will be that shocking!  It is my belief that this victory will start the beginning stages of a national revival in Israel (and possibly other nations) leading them to reclaim the temple mount and rebuild their temple.  The Ark Of The Covenant may even be brought out of hiding at this time.  And if the Mosque Of Omar is still standing (which I highly doubt) they will tear it down without Arab resistance.  

Then the tribulation period will continue.

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

Pastor Malone