Rice: No Point In Temporary Ceasefire & U.S. Won't Take Part In Negotiations

Rice: No point in temporary ceasefire; U.S. will supply fuel for Israeli jets
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backs Israel's military operation in Lebanon; US government says it has agreed to supply Israel with jet fuel to feed its warplanes

ANALYSIS: Israel-Hezbollah fighting yet to reach its zenith...
The fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has still not reached its zenith. The Israel Defense Forces' operational plans against the Shi'ite organizations have not yet been carried out. The next two days are the most critical and a lot depends on whether Tehran decides to take a chance and authorize Hezbollah to launch long-range missiles with more powerful warheads. This is a capability Hezbollah still retains, despite the heavy blows it has suffered in the IDF air strikes.

'Fighting will stop when troops freed and attacks end'
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that the fighting in Lebanon would end when the two soldiers captured by Hizbullah were freed, rocket attacks on Israel stopped and the Lebanese army deployed along its border.

Delivering an impassioned speech to the Knesset after six-days of fighting with Lebanon, Olmert said Israel would have no mercy on terrorists who attack its cities with rockets, and he pledged to destroy terrorist infrastructure used to attack it.

Quake Triggers Indonesian Tsunami; 86+ Dead...
A powerful earthquake sent a 6-foot-high tsunami crashing into beach resorts on Indonesia's Java island Monday, killing at least 86 people, leaving scores missing and sending thousands fleeing to higher ground, officials and witnesses said.

Comments
Although, world leaders don't have a clue on how to resolve the Middle East crisis, most reluctantly admit that Israel does have a right to defend themselves.

I recently read an article from a visiting (liberal) professor who commented on Israel's right to defend policy.  Although, I'm sure he had to bite his lip several times, he did admit that Israel had the right to defend themselves, but concluded their response was disproportional.  That seems to be the sound bite for this military operation.   He then went on to essentially say that Israel's response to Hamas and Hizbullah's six shooter was comparable to an out of control Middle East cowboy with a machine gun.  He then further rip into them saying they have a right but don't have a right to overreact.  

It astonishes me that we're even talking about disproportional force and terrorists in the same sentence.  I applaud Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who has come out and boldly stated that the U.S. will stand behind Israel's response and supply fuel for their war machine against terrorism.  In fact, she went on to say the U.S. had no interested in taking part in negotiating a ceasefire.  In an earlier news briefing she further made these statements:

The US government will object the reaching of a cease-fire at the G-8 summit or at the United Nations."  http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3276803,00.html

Although I don't see Israel stamping out their enemies just yet their day is certainly coming.  Look for continued fighting in the near future and for Iran and Syria to look for a way out of this diversion.  Also, look for the U.S. to continue to apply pressure on the U.N. to make Iran accountable for their nuclear program.

It is my firm belief, according to scripture, that some degree of peace will have to be established before the war of Ezekiel 38 & 39 can come to pass (see Article# 556).  The Bible is not clear whether that temporary peace will come through the antichrist but I would assume that it will.  

One other thing that still stands out in my mind, even though the U.S. appears to be backing Israel, they seem to have no interest in solving this conflict or even proposing a resolution.  Is it possible the U.S. is looking to turn the Middle East lead role over to the someone else like the E.U.?

For more information on what the future could hold see Article# 547:What The Bible Says Must Happen From This Day Forward.

Israeli Prime Minister Olmert said that there will be no ceasefire until the rocket attacks end and the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers are freed.  But the Prime Minister did end by saying that he hoped that an "eternal covenant" could be reached with his neighbors.

"Israel didn't want these confrontations, on the contrary, we did our utmost to avoid them by withdrawing to borders recognized by the international community," said the prime minister.  http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886027611&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter

I look for that covenant to happen very soon.  I have to say that I find it a little eerie that Mr. Olmert would use the phrase "eternal covenant" in these last days.  If you remember, Iranian President Ahmadinejad made an equally astonishing prophetic statement back on April 14, 2006 by saying that Israel "will be eliminated by one storm" (Article# 527).  This very phrase is used in reference to the future Russian-Arab attack that is found in Ezekiel 38:8 & 9.  The Bible says that Iran will play a major roll in that attack.

As far as an international peacekeeping force being placed at the border in southern Lebanon, world leaders have been calling for international troops to by deploy in the region for some time.  Don't count out the placement of international troops in southern Lebanon or Gaza/West Bank.  It may be part of a broader future peace proposal.

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

Pastor Malone