Israel Says Hamas Has Declared War By Shooting Rockets into Israel

North Korea Launches Missiles, UN Council To Meet
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea test-fired a barrage of missiles on Wednesday, including a long-range weapon said to be capable of reaching Alaska, ratcheting up tensions in north Asia and drawing international condemnation.

Israeli Military To Expand Gaza Operation
AP via Yahoo! News Wed, 05 Jul 2006 3:52 AM PDT
Israeli leaders stepped up a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, authorizing troops Wednesday to move into residential areas and create a security zone to prevent militants from firing rockets into Israel.

Militants' Rocket Strikes Israeli City For The First Time
The Plain Dealer Wed, 05 Jul 2006 4:23 AM PDT
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants on Tuesday hit an Israeli city with a rocket from Gaza for the first time, causing no casualties but drawing a pledge of harsh retaliation from Israel while it was already in the midst of a military offensive.

Israeli Planes Bomb Gaza Ministry
BBC News Wed, 05 Jul 2006 1:46 AM PDT
Israeli warplanes carry out more raids in the Gaza Strip, injuring four people at a Palestinian ministry.

Declaration Of War - Qassam Attack On Ashkelon Is Part Of Overall Hamas Battleplan. Israel Must Drop The Gloves And Respond In Kind
The time has come to drop the gloves. The time has come to admit that Hamas has declared war on us. The State of Israel must begin to defend itself effectively. 

Comments
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has given the okay for the military to expand the Gaza operation to the residential sections after a rocket was fired into a populated area in Israel.  No casualties or injuries were reported but it was enough to finally come to the conclusion that Hamas has declared war on Israel.  Air strikes against Palestinian ministry buildings have also continued.

The truth is, Israel needs to hit this area hard and stop talking about it.  As I said in my last article, it's insane for Israel to setback and allow Palestinian militants to fire rockets into their territory without a very harsh response.  The only deterrent that has ever worked is a show of strength.  

I don't believe that this mini-war will detour Hamas' (or any other Arab nation) aggression since the Bible is clear that, in the end, they will come against Israel like a storm (Ezekiel 38 & 39).  But that day will not come until Israel is living in peace (Ezekiel 38:11).  

In God's perspective everything happens for a reason and this event is no different.  I don't foresee a long lasting war and it's certainly possible that this could escalate out of control.  It could even lead to what triggers the rapture and the entering in of the antichrist.

Another major development has taken place in the Far East.  North Korea has defied the world and fired off not just one test missile but seven.  Russia reported that ten missiles were fired.  All missiles essentially failed seconds after launch but it did send a message to the U.N. and especially the U.S. 

As I have said many times, I believe this is just a precursor to what is going to happen during the tribulation period.  There is no doubt in my mind that North Korea will play a major role in the next world war.  The antichrist will slow down the blood flow in both the Middle East and in North Korea but it will be temporary.

In doing some research regarding this update I ran across this old article I wrote back on February 7th, 2000.  It sheds some light on another possible scenario that could happen from this day forward.  It picks up right after Israel has defeated the Russian-Arab Alliance.  You may or may not agree with it but it is another perspective.

http://www.calvaryprophecy.com/q41.html

Once Israel defeats Russia and its Arab allies they will be seen and feared as a superpower. I'm not sure what land they will retain in the victory but I do believe that they will take back all land that is Biblically promised to them. I doubt that they will take any land in Russia or most of the Arab nations.

I do not believe that the tribulation period will begin immediately, but will begin some time in the future. It could be as soon as a few months or a few years. Personally, I feel that it will be a number of years before it begins. I do however believe that the rapture could take place before or during the Russian attack, or sometime during the period just before the antichrist comes on the scene to make a peace treaty with Israel.

During the time just after the stunning Israeli victory, there will be a time of strategic war. Many countries will be aligning themselves with each other and the balance of power will be centered in four main superpowers…Israel, the ten-kingdom empire of the antichrist, the United States, and China, including its newly acquired republics.

Of course, Israel will still be without any earthly help, especially after they were left on their own to deal with the Russian's. The antichrist, though not visible, will come on the scene following the Russian defeat and begin to build his kingdom one nation at a time. There will be much blood shed during his march and the Bible says that one-quarter of the world's population will die. The antichrist will be diplomatic with those who lend their power to him, but the others he will crush. Three nations will have to be put down. Some believe that the U.S. will be one of them. I do foresee that both sides of the rebellion will use nuclear weapons due to the massive death toll that will be inflicted (1.5 - 2 billion will die). I also see China and its allies forming a union. This also will be a combination of diplomacy and conquering of lands. 

North Korea will finally conquer South Korea, China will take back Taiwan and many of the smaller surrounding nations, and Japan will make a pact with the both of them. They will then begin their march across the East sometime during the second half of the tribulation period. Their army will number two hundred million strong. They will conquer lands and take possessions as they go.

What many do not know regarding the Chinese population is that the communist government many years ago set up strict population control laws to slow the growth of an out of control baby boom. Each family was granted the right to have one child and only one. If a woman were caught pregnant for a second time they would have to have an abortion. Since only one child per family was permitted, it was preferable that it be a boy baby. This would insure that the family name would live on. Many Chinese mothers were having multiple abortions before that baby boy would be born. 

Unfortunately, another problem will arise in the near future that the Chinese government did not foresee or just didn't care. This generation will find itself with an extraordinary population imbalance of men to women. There will be hundreds of millions of available men with absolutely no possible way of carrying on the family name due to no available women. Unless the government does something fast the Chinese population could literally be cut off and die. I believe that one reason for their conquering march across the East will be in part due to the need for available women to carry on the Chinese heritage. Of course, greed and other factors will account for a significant part also, but this may serve to be a motivator.

So what we have is a major shuffling of world power. Israel will build their temple during this time and will burn the weapons of the invaders for seven years. The antichrist and Chinese governments will form their kingdoms by peaceful means and by force. But during his crusade he will make a peace agreement with Israel for seven years. With Israel out of the way the antichrist will continue his conquering. It is my belief that during his sweep of nations, that the U.S. and its few remaining allies will oppose the antichrist, and will be destroyed. Israel will not get involved for the sake of the peace accord.

With three remaining superpowers left the antichrist will declare himself as god at the midway point of the tribulation period. Many may wonder why doesn't Israel oppose him? That is not readily known, but it may be that many will believe that he is the Messiah, especially after killing the two witnesses, being raised from the dead, performing miracles, and causing a statue to talk. They, along with most of the world, will be blinded.

In the end, the kingdom of the antichrist (most of the known world) and the Chinese empire will meet as allies at Armageddon to face off against Israel. This will be short lived and their armies crushed when Jesus comes back with His Saints. This will begin the Millennial Reign of Christ.

Pastor Malone