No Solution In Sight; What Direction This War Could Take! 

Hezbollah Positions Pounded as Rockets Rain Down on Northern Israel
BEIRUT, Lebanon  — Israel expanded its air campaign against Hezbollah Friday, hitting bridges in the Christian heartland north of Beirut for the first time, as Katyusha rockets launched by the guerrilla group continued to rain down on northern Israel.

Gaza Strip strikes kill two
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fri, 04 Aug 2006 2:45 AM PDT
Two Palestinians have been killed and another wounded as Israel continues to strike what it says are terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. The three Palestinians have been hit when Israeli forces fired a tank shell near a house in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Israeli tanks advancing; eight killed
San Jose Mercury News Fri, 04 Aug 2006 3:51 AM PDT
Dozens of Israeli tanks pushed deep into the Gaza Strip and aircraft fired missiles at Palestinian militants Thursday, killing eight people in heavy fighting. Palestinian officials said an 8-year-old boy was among the dead.

No solution in sight 
Today, the world is scheduled to determine Lebanon's future at the United Nations Security Council meeting of potential contributors to an international force in the country. The main purpose of the force, according to the United States, is to strengthen the Lebanese government's political and military leverage to encompass southern Lebanon. Practically, that means curtailing Hizbullah's military and political influence.

Freeing Prisoners Key Goal in Fight Against Israel
New York Times Thu, 03 Aug 2006 8:01 PM PDT
The question of prisoners held by Israel is the subtext of the current crisis for both Hezbollah and the Palestinians.

'Scrap peace deal with Israel' - Egyptian judges ask government to cancel peace accord with Israel; Strike scheduled for Sunday
Judges in Egypt called upon the government to dissolve its peace agreement with Israel, on the grounds that it is inconceivable for Egypt to coexist peaceably with Israel while the IDF operates in Lebanon. The judges expressed support of popular resistance against Israeli advances, which, in their eyes, is the only way to protect the Arab ummah (greater nation).

Rice Signals Possible Lebanon Compromise
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed support Thursday for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon as the first phase in ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. It was the most concrete signal yet that the U.S. may be willing to compromise on the stalemate over how to end the fighting.

Hamas: Israel theoretically agrees to prisoner exchange
Muhammad Nazal, Hamas media consultant and a member of its political bureau, said that there has been contact between Israel and Egypt regarding the possibility of securing the return of kidnapped IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit , through a prisoner exchange. 

The factions that kidnapped the soldier are demanding the release of some thousand Palestinian prisoners, but the final number and the specific identity of those released still needs to be determined, stated Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar, Friday morning, reporting on an interview with Nazal.

Gillerman: Nasrallah's offer a sign of weakness
Israel's United Nations ambassador, Dan Gillerman, said that sheik Hassan Nasrallah's offer of a truce was "a sign of weakness ... and he may be looking for a way out."

Hundreds of thousands Iraqi Shiites Chant 'Death to Israel'...
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of Shiites chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" marched through the streets of Baghdad's biggest Shiite district Friday in a massive show of support for Hezbollah in its battle against Israel.

Comments
If you didn't catch this headline I inserted at the bottom of my last article here it is again.

This just in: Paris says that they will not commit troops to the peacekeeping force if Israel will not commit to a long-term peace deal.  Read below:

"The United States and France, diplomats said, are ironing out differences on an initial resolution calling for a truce, a buffer zone and the disarmament of Hizbollah.

But Paris has insisted it will not send troops without a truce and an agreement in principle on the framework for a long-term peace deal by Israel, Hizbollah and the Beirut government. Washington wants a force as soon as fighting stops." http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060803/ts_nm/mideast1_dc_27

Look for this to be one of the demands that the E.U. will make for both sides to adhere to before they will place a real military force in southern Lebanon and eventually Gaza and the West Bank.  Could this be the seven year agreement Christian's have been waiting for?

On the heels of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's threat, that Hezbollah long-range rockets would strike Tel Aviv if Israel continued its bombing of Beirut, Israeli warplanes pounded the Lebanese capital in response.  That was followed by over one hundred Hezbollah rockets being fired into northern Israel.

Leaders from all over the world are calling for a ceasefire.  Egyptian judges are calling for the government to cancel their peace treaty with Israel saying that they can't stand by idle while Israel war's against their Lebanese brother's.

Iraq is also weighing in on the war.  Thursday, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" marched through the streets of Baghdad in support of Hezbollah in its war against Israel.  Apparently, this was ok'd by the Iraqi government.  Despite U.S. influence, Iraq may turn out to play a part in the Gog and Magog war after all (Ezekiel 38 & 39).

If you have been a reader of mine for very long you know that virtually all the major players in the future Gog and Magog war against Israel have military pacts with each other.  The stage has already been set for this great army to march on Israel. 

As I mentioned yesterday, the Bible is unclear whether the above mentioned war or the appearing of the man of sin will come first.  It's possible that the man of sin could come as a result of this war.  I certainly wouldn't rule this possibility out.

Over the years of being on the internet, I have written a few articles that have included theories that pertain to this day.  I would like to share a couple of theories that I have presented:

January 30, 2000
I believe that just before this war (Gog and Magog) takes place that the rapture will occur. When God destroys all of Israel's enemies, they will again rebuild their temple. The tribulation period could start at anytime just after the attack, but I believe that there may be a period of time that could pass before it begins. It may be as little as a few days, months or even years. I lean toward the gap of several years mainly because I believe it will give the world a chance to get back to normal and forget about the rapture and the Russian-Israeli war. It also seems logical that this would be a good time to place the seven years that the Jews would burn the weapons as fuel of the invading Russian armies spoken of in Ezekiel 39:9-10.

After this battle, Israel will be seen as a major world power and a force to be reckoned with. With all of their enemies defeated, no one will oppose them. New alliances will be made and the balance of power will shift. This will change the world dramatically. One of these new powerful alliances will be headed up by the antichrist. He will go forth conquering and making alliances, and will form a ten nation confederacy. They to will be a very powerful group of nations. This is when the antichrist will make his seven-year peace plan with Israel. http://www.calvaryprophecy.com/q40.html

February 7, 2000
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. http://www.calvaryprophecy.com/q41.html

August 5, 2004
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 in 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.  

After this shocking defeat, 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 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 they will tear it down without resistance.

Then the tribulation period will continue. http://www.calvaryprophecy.com/q428.html

August 4, 2006
It's possible that this present Israeli-Lebanese war could end in a lengthy ceasefire and the deployment of a real international military force that is able to defeat a terrorist army.  If this happens that would certainly provide Israel with the security they are looking for and possibly bring about a time of safety (Ezekiel 38:14), but if the length of the ceasefire/peace plan is not seven years, it's not the peace plan that the antichrist will bring.  The question is could this ceasefire constitute a time when "Israel dwelleth safely" described in the Bible or will that happen after the antichrist brings peace?  

If this does turn out to be a time of rest for Israel without a permanent time span (seven years) the Russian-Arab attack may be coming in the very near future.  If this is the case, look for a permanent peace plan to follow between the nations involved.  Even though the Bible is clear that the Russian and Arab armies will be soundly and miraculously defeated these countries will not be wiped out.  They will go on and the antichrist's seven-year peace agreement may come to bring peace between these nations..

Either way, after the signing of the seven-year plan, that will start day one of the tribulation period. 

Above, there is an article titled No solution in sight.  Don't look for any of major players involved in the ceasefire to turn out to be the antichrist.  At present, they don't have a solution.  When the true antichrist comes on the scene, not only will he solve this problem, but a host of others as well.

I hope this has brought to mind some of the directions the future could take, but we should realize by now that God can change things and put people in power in a very short amount of time.

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

Want to know more about becoming a Christian click here.

Pastor Malone