06/01 update:
As though there isn't enough trouble in the region: Turkish tanks line up on Kurdistan border.

A boost for Assad’s drive to derail UN Hariri tribunal resolution: Iran’s foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrives in Damascus
"...the UN resolution is also expected to raise war tensions on Israel’s Lebanese and Syrian frontiers. Hizballah has been well primed with spanking new rockets and its contingents have advanced right up to the Israeli border.

This has been denied by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and defense minister Amir Peretz. However, transport minister Shaul Mofaz, a former defense minister, affirmed Wednesday, May 30, that Hizballah has returned to its old pre-war positions and its units are dug in deep close to the border. The damaged bunkers of last year's Lebanon War have, in other words, been repaired."

Here's my guess (and only a guess): Watch the Lebanese conflict with Fatah al-Islam/Syria/Iran spill over to Israel very soon.

Syria condemns Lebanon tribunal

Al-Qaeda warns of attacks 'worse than 9/11'

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"God is going to invade this earth in force. But what's the good of saying you're on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else, something it never entered your head to conceive comes crashing in. Something so beautiful to us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left. This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love, or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down, when it's become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realize it or not. Now, today, in this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever; we must take it or leave it." - C.S. Lewis

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT):
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Here's an excellent link that I highly recommend:

Behold the Beast

I know that many Christians who come to this site are adamant about their end time beliefs, but I challenge you to read and examine this website with your Bible on your lap. I too used to strongly believe in the traditional theory of a pre-7-year-tribulation rapture, where the anti-Christ will arise out of a revived Roman empire, 3.5 years into Daniel's 70th week, etc (btw: check out the countries that made up the Eastern half of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire), but I think this website makes a lot of sense: much end time prophesy has already been fulfilled in the religion of Islam, which the West is fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and covertly in Syria today. In my opinion, much prophesy isn't waiting to be fulfilled in a future Daniel's 70th week.

As long as you're a Christian, your end time beliefs won't affect your salvation. So consider this post as just a warning, that we could be closer to the Day of the Lord's wrath than 99.9% of Christians think. I don't write on my blog to endlessly/pointlessly argue with other Christians. I only want to encourage people to watch current events in the Middle East, with at least a fraction of one eye, looking for Christ's physical return:

Acts, chapter 1:

9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Paul Washer - Excellent Message (full length)

CopperScrl sent this video to me. I listened to it and loved the message. The Holy Spirit speaks through this man specifically to our lukewarm generation.

Reproduced from: Fishhouse Ministries. I reproduced this link here because of its importance, and simply because people need to hear this! Especially you traditional pre-tribbers! You need to come to terms with Daniel's days prophesies:
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Besides being given an everlasting land covenant by God Himself, is there any actual proof in scripture that the Jews belong in Israel today? Is it possible that God has unsealed the book of Daniel, clearly showing we are now in Daniel's "time of the end"? We know God sealed the book, in no uncertain terms:

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. God followed this up with a crystal clear statement of fact: Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Dan/Dan012.html#4

Most Christians are familiar with the following verse:2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2Pe/2Pe003.html#8

The word that is generally translated as "day", in this verse, is "hemera". But that's not the only translation of this word. From Strong's, New Testament Greek Definition:

2250 hemera {hay-mer'-ah}from (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit,akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle;TDNT - 2:943,309; n fAV - day 355, daily + 2596 15, time 3, not tr 2, misc 14; 389

What happens when we try this translation that each "time" is as a thousand years? Jews - both Messianic and non-Messianic - translation of the Hebrew idiom "time, times and half a time" is somewhat different than most of us Christians may have been taught.

Daniel 12:7: And I heard the man clad in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he raised his right hand and his left hand to the heavens, and he swore by the Life of the world, that in the time of [two] times and a half, and when they have ended shattering the strength of the holy people, all these will end. http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=16495

Now let's just consider for a moment, what if the Jews actually understand Hebrew idioms better than Christians do, and what if a "time" is equal to a thousand years? A couple of chapters earlier in this same prophecy we find a specific date pin in Daniel 10:1: In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar, and the word was true, and for a long time, and he understood the word and he understood it in the vision. You can Live Search an understanding of the third year of Cyrus to be 533 BC. Or first year of Cyrus as 536.

Now let's put it together: 2-1/2 "times" = 2500 - 533 = 1967. The "times of the Gentiles" in the holy city were fulfilled in 1967 when the Jews finally regained control. The end of the "shattering of the strength of the holy people".

Is this a mathematical accident that spans 2500 years? Does God offer proof that this isn't a one-trick pony? Daniel includes this same term in another verse. In Chapter 7 we see the successive lion, bear, leopard and 4th "terrible" kingdom beasts that would rule the holy land. Then in verse 25 we find: Daniel 7:25. And he will speak words against the Most High, and he will oppress the high holy ones, and he will think to change the times and the law, and they will be delivered into his hand until a time, two times, and half a time.

In the first verse of this chapter we are given another specific date pin: Daniel 7:1. In the first year of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and the visions of his mind [while asleep] on his bed; then he wrote the dream and said the beginnings of the matters.

You can Live Search the first year of Belshazzar to be 552 BC. 2500 - 552 = 1948 Israel came in from the wilderness of the nations declaring her independence. The end of the Gentile control of the holy land.

THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS. PROOF OF GOD. What a perfect seal God put on the book of Daniel!!! It wasn't until after the dates of 1948 and 1967 had passed, as we entered Daniel's "time of the end", that anybody (yes, including John Darby) could understand the simple math, and textual significance of these blessed verses. But then Daniel did promise that our knowledge would be increased in these times. Now wasn't that exercise more fun than some futurist fantasy? And particularly more fun than dead doctrinal formalism? And the above study regards FULFILLED PROPHECY, not futurist speculation or guesswork theology.

"The folly of interpreters has been to foretell times and things by this prophecy [Revelation], as if God designed to make them prophets. By this rashness they have not only exposed themselves, but brought the prophecy also into contempt. The design of God was much otherwise. He gave this and the prophecies of the Old Testament, not to gratify men's curiosities by enabling them to foreknow things, but that after they were fulfilled they might be interpreted by the event, and his own providence, not the interpreters', be then manifested thereby to the world. For the event of things predicted many ages before will then be a convincing argument that the world is governed by Providence." - Sir Isaac Newton

This can't be emphasized enough...

we're fighting the Lion-Bear-Leopard beast



What is the LBL beast of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13? read Ellis Skolfield's brief summary

excerpt: "First of all, we need to learn what some of the figurative words in Revelation, like "beast," actually mean. The definition for "beast" can be found in an Old Testament book of the prophet Daniel. In Daniel 7, the figurative word "beast" was defined as world empires that existed during and after Daniel's time.

1. The first beast in Daniel 7 was a Lion. History shows this Lion beast to be a figurative picture of the Babylonian empire. (Babylon controlled the Holy Land from 606 to 536 B.C.)

2. The next beast in his vision was a Bear. History shows this Bear to be a figurative picture of the Medo-Persian empire. (Medo-Persia controlled the Holy Land from 536 B.C. to 332 B.C.)

3. The third beast was a Leopard. History shows this Leopard to be a figurative picture of the Greek empire (Grecian rulers controlled the Holy Land from 332 B.C. to 65 B.C. when Rome took control).

So unless God changes the definition of "beast" later in Scripture, visionary beasts should always be understood as empires. Babylon the Lion, Medo-Persia the Bear and Greece the Leopard. Each of these empires controlled the whole known world, from India to Greece, the Holy Land, and even into North Africa. In other words, the whole Middle East." [continues...]

Highly recommended reading:
1)The False Prophet - extremely relevant to our time!
2)Behold the Beast (Very interesting site, note: I haven't read everything here, but I like what I read)

• DEBKAfile: Hizballah head warns Lebanon and Arab world not to tangle with al Qaeda on US behalf. BBC reporter’s kidnappers urge jihadists to help Fatah al-Islam in Lebanon
• The LBL Beast in action:Latest "Offerings" from the Religion of Peace(warning: some might find these pictures disturbing, but let the truth be told.)

Wake up fellow Christians! The Koran says:

"The Jews call 'Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ the Son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (In this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! Surah 9.30"

Founding verses of the Dome of the Rock sitting on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) of Israel:

"O you People of the Book, overstep not bounds in your religion, and of God speak only the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, and his Word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from him. Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not Three. It will be better for you. God is only one God. Far be it from His transcendent majesty that he should have a son."

The Bible says:

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Pray for all Muslims before the fulfillment of Revelation 19:

Revelation 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. 18 Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast [LBL beast glued together by Islam] and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet {Mohammed] who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast [666 is holy to Islam] and who worshiped his statue [Kaaba stone in Mecca?]. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

Tight race for Israel Labour party leadership
JERUSALEM (AFP) - "Opinion polls in Israel on Friday predicted a tight race in the Labour party leadership contest, with former prime minister Ehud Barak and former homeland security chief Ami Ayalon out in front...with 19 lawmakers in parliament, Labour is the senior partner with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's centrist Kadima party in a 78-member coalition. But the party is split on whether to withdraw from the coalition after the leadership election. A Labour pull-out would leave Olmert two seats short of the minimum required for a coalition in the 120-seat parliament."
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This ballot is crucial to the survival of the Olmert government. Barak has said in the past that if he wins, he would pull Labour out of the coalition with Olmert. This would bring about new elections, and in my opinion, an excellent, chaotic time for the Ishmaelites to gang up on Israel in Day of the Lord proportions (Ezekiel 38-39 and Zephaniah 2). Did you catch Ahmadinejad's threat yesterday?

Zephaniah 2 [my comments in brackets]

A Call to Repentance

1 Gather together—yes, gather together,
you shameless nation.
2 Gather before judgment begins,
before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls
and the terrible day of the Lord’s anger begins.
3 Seek the Lord, all who are humble,
and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you—
protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Judgment against Philistia

4 Gaza and Ashkelon will be abandoned,
Ashdod and Ekron torn down.
5 And what sorrow awaits you Philistines^[a]
who live along the coast and in the land of Canaan, [the "Gaza Strip"]
for this judgment is against you, too!
The Lord will destroy you
until not one of you is left.
6 The Philistine coast will become a wilderness pasture,
a place of shepherd camps
and enclosures for sheep and goats.
7 The remnant of the tribe of Judah will pasture there.
They will rest at night in the abandoned houses in Ashkelon.
For the Lord their God will visit his people in kindness
and restore their prosperity again.

Judgment against Moab and Ammon

8 “I have heard the taunts of the Moabites
and the insults of the Ammonites,
mocking my people
and invading their borders.[Jordan and the West Bank?]
9 Now, as surely as I live,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,
“Moab and Ammon will be destroyed —
destroyed as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah.
Their land will become a place of stinging nettles,
salt pits, and eternal desolation.
The remnant of my people will plunder them
and take their land.”

Prepare to see the supernatural.

We are getting close (know what I mean?)

Iranian leader warns Israel on Lebanon

"Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday warned Israel it would be uprooted if the Jewish state attacked Lebanon in the coming summer.

'If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will cut root of the Zionist regime from its stem,' added Ahmadinejad, speaking live on state television"

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Oh Mahmoud, how you desperately need to read Ezekiel 36-39! Everyone reading this needs to get ready! I believe we are about to see some amazing, terrifying (for some), supernatural things.

We're headed for a major war!

DEBKAfile: Nine US military ships enter Persian Gulf Wednesday, assembling off Iran’s coast in largest American naval move since 2003

May 23, 2007, 11:53 AM (GMT+02:00)

"They sailed through the Strait of Hormuz by day - according to US Navy officials for training exercises. The vessels carry around 17,000 combat and marine personnel. They include the two aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz and USS Stennis, as well as the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD 6 Group, the world’s biggest amphibious strike force..."

Iran could be able to build a nuclear bomb in less than a year, says UK opposition leader David Cameron "This confronts the world with one of its most urgent threats, he said..."


In defiance of UN Security Council demands, Iran expands its uranium enrichment program May 23, 2007, 5:46 PM (GMT+02:00)

Bush grants himself extraordinary powers.
Sets himself up as a sovereign king, allow me to add: "just before Iran war"

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While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. [1 Thessalonians 5:3; NIV]

Amo 9:9	"For I have commanded that Israel be persecuted by the other nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.
Amo 9:10	But all the sinners will die by the sword-all those who say, `Nothing bad will happen to us.'
Amo 9:11	"In that day I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. It is now like a house in ruins, but I will rebuild its walls and restore its former glory.
Amo 9:12	And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do these things.
Amo 9:13	"The time will come," says the Lord, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!
Amo 9:14	I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.
Amo 9:15	I will firmly plant them there in the land I have given them," says the Lord your God. "Then they will never be uprooted again."

Mat 24:32

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree [i.e. Israel]. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.[The word "summer" in Hebrew is the same root as the word for "end"]

Mat 24:33	Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.
Mat 24:34	I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. [New Living Translation]

I think we're about to see the supernatural workings of the God of Israel. Are you prepared? This is not "global warming." This is a global WARNING. We are living as in the days of Noah.

Luke 17:26-27 [NIV]
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

This is a message of absolute doom to the unrepentant, but to the followers of Christ it is a message of immense hope and incredible joy - I CAN'T WAIT! Prepare to meet your Maker. Be sure that it is on good terms. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can reconcile us to the Lord God Jehovah.

DEBKfile: Hamas is determined to wipe Israel off the map and replace it with the state of Palestine, says Nizhar Riyah after six days of missile attacks
The Hamas official declared Monday, May 21, that the fundamentalist terrorists would fight until the “last Jew was expelled” - not only from Sderot but also from Ashkelon and “all of Palestine.” [that won't happen Nizhar] To those who urge talks with Hamas, DEBKAfile’s analysts say: It is too late. Their leaders are no longer seeking acceptance but have got the bit between their teeth. Gaza is today the most powerful Islamist terror base in the world. The only agenda for talks with Hamas now would be terms for Israel’s capitulation prior to its demise.

Nizhar Riyah desperately needs to read the following:

Joel 3 (NIV):
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, O LORD!

12 "Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit
to judge all the nations on every side.

13 Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,
for the winepress is full
and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!"

14 Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.

16 The LORD will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the sky will tremble.
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Isaiah 45:9 (New Living Translation)

9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’

Isaiah 64:8 (New Living Translation)

8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.

The clay can't fight against the potter and expect to win.

This connection speaks to me

The vulture is a bird of prey. Its claws are not as strong as an eagles to seize and tear its food; consequently, it seldom attacks healthy animals. Vultures primarily feed on prey already dead, wounded, or sick. Vast numbers have been seen upon battlefields. They gorge themselves when prey is abundant.

I've been thinking about the connection of a Perry Stone video about Ezekiel 39:17-20, to Jesus' words in Matthew 24:28.

Ezekiel 39:17-20 [NLT]:
17 “And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild animals. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel, and there eat flesh and drink blood! 18 Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all fattened animals from Bashan! 19 Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. 20 Feast at my banquet table—feast on horses and charioteers, on mighty men and all kinds of valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.

Matthew 24:28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. [New Living Translation]

Matthew 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. [New International Version]

Watch Perry Stones video: "On Location From Israel Series Part 15- Birds of Prey "

I've always wondered why Jesus spoke about vultures in Matthew 24:28. That verse seemed out of place to me until I saw the connection to Ezekiel 39:17.

One million ravenous birds of prey migrate through the area of Bashan today, notably during the Jewish festival months. The Ishmaelites have in the past attacked Israel during the festival months (i.e. Yom Kippur War of 1973), thinking that it is when Israel is at its most vulnerable.

Can you see God working towards the prophesied feast of flesh mentioned in Ezekiel 39? The end is becoming clearer. Praise the Lord! What awesome things he has in store for those who love him.

How much time?

Obviously, the Word of God speaks infinitely more excellently and loudly than I ever could in my little commentaries. I think these words are extremely relevant to today. I read these verses again today: I continue to be awestruck by them:

Zechariah 1 [NIV]:

14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’

16 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’ ”

Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

18 Then I looked up—and there before me were four horns! 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”

He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”

He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

I like how the NLT version translates:

Zechariah 1: [New Living Translation]

14 Then the angel said to me, "Shout this message for all to hear: `This is what the Lord Almighty says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. 15 But I am very angry with the other nations that enjoy peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations punished them far beyond my intentions.

16 " `Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord Almighty, and plans will be made for the reconstruction of Jerusalem. [fn3] ' 17 Say this also: `This is what the Lord Almighty says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.' "

Four Horns and Four Blacksmiths

18 Then I looked up and saw four animal horns. 19 "What are these?" I asked the angel who was talking with me. He replied, "These horns represent the world powers that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."

20 Then the Lord showed me four blacksmiths. 21 "What are these men coming to do?" I asked.

The angel replied, "The blacksmiths have come to terrify the four horns that scattered and humbled Judah. They will throw them down and destroy them."

Pray for the salvation of the enemies of Israel, while there is still some time. God's wrath is coming.

That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.
Ezekiel 39:8

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas appealed to the UN Secretary, Condoleezza Rice and the German foreign minister to stop… Israeli attacks on Palestinians.

Hamas Traps Israel between Two Options: War or War of Attrition
"A senior Israeli officer commented Thursday: 'The fire burning in Sderot and Gaza could spread suddenly to Lebanon or Syria.'...Jabari and Abu Obeida have said out loud to Israel that their missile offensive will be intensified. And if Israeli ground forces enter the Gaza Strip, they will face full-scale combat and the unleashing of suicide bombers against civilian populations."

N Korea 'tests new missile in Iran'
North Korea may have used a launch-pad in Iran to test a new missile capable of hitting American bases in the Pacific island of Guam, according to reports from Japan and South Korea.

Analysis: war looms in Gaza
" Hard as it is to imagine, but Israel may again be preparing to go to war [from a Christian perspective, this isn't hard to believe at all. Actually I expected it]...Ordinarily the West would intervene to stop the situation unraveling. But Britain and France are now being run by two new and inexperienced leaders. President Bush is weak and distracted by his own problems in Iraq. All the diplomatic options look tired and unconvincing. The prospects for the region could not be bleaker."

The prospects for the region could not be bleaker? Oh yes, the prospects for Gaza could be and will be bleaker. Listen to what the God of Jacob says:

Isaiah 14:
29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,
that the rod that struck you is broken;
from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,
its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.

30 The poorest of the poor will find pasture,
and the needy will lie down in safety.
But your root I will destroy by famine;
it will slay your survivors.

31 Wail, O gate! Howl, O city!
Melt away, all you Philistines!
A cloud of smoke comes from the north,
and there is not a straggler in its ranks.

32 What answer shall be given
to the envoys of that nation?
"The LORD has established Zion,
and in her his afflicted people will find refuge."

[emphasis mine]

Things don't bode well for Assad's Damascus, either [Isaiah 17]. So we should watch for that too. Praise the Lord he is in control; it does feel somewhat surreal to be living in the time where Israel has been gathered back home, after 2,000 years of exile, and after the time of the Gentiles is complete (Luke 21:24). I personally believe we will witness some amazing, supernatural works of God in the time ahead. My prayer is that you would be ready for them through the only protection available from God's impending wrath: the blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing but the blood of Jesus, amen.

An alleged plot by Hamas militants to assassinate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was revealed on Thursday "Abu Mazen's (Abbas's) visit to Gaza was cancelled after the discovery of a tunnel under Salaheddine Road full of explosives placed by the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades to blow up (his) convoy," said a senior security official, referring to Hamas's military wing."

Israel air force bombs Hamas installation in Gaza City Thursday after 15-missile barrage hits Sderot and environs, injuring two Israelis. Six Hamas fighters killed, 10 injured in toppled building. Israeli tanks take up“look-out” positions near Sedjaiya

Kassam rockets continued to bombard Sderot on Thursday morning, after over 20 rockets hit the western Negev on Wednesday.

I like to keep a close eye on what is happening in the Gaza strip and in Lebanon. You might have noticed that I put Joel 3:4 in the right margin of my blog. I think we may be at this point in God's calendar - just prior to the Day of the Lord, as described in Joel 1-3. I can believe that God is asking today: What have you against me Gaza and Lebanon? Israel had the Lebanon war with Hezb'allah last summer; and this spring it looks like the main battlefield is against Gaza, or ancient Philistia. The second half of Joel 3:4 is what we need to pay close attention to: "...If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done." Israel is back in a portion of its God-given land; God is in the process of restoring Israel (Ezekiel 36-37; Matthew 24:32); right now Hamas and Fatah in Gaza and Hez'ballah in Lebanon are some of the most prominent enemies of the remnant of Israel. I think the only time we should be keeping our eyes SHUT is when we are praying for Israel and repentance of our unbelieving friends (OK, you can close your eyes when sleeping too - lol), but otherwise, I believe God is accomplishing amazing things in our day that we need to keep our eyes WIDE OPEN to. May our priorities be completely in line with God's will in these last days.

LEAVING COMMENTS: I'm having some technical difficulties with my blog with comments left by readers. I haven't been deleting them!! I'm not sure how to fix this problem (anyone have any ideas?), but please be aware that any comments you leave are forwarded to my email address, so I still read them all. Now my problem is getting my responses back to you. ?!?

Notable story from WND today: Sex, violence, cannibalism could get Bible sealed. Hundreds urge authorities to classify Good Book as 'indecent' material

Update: 19:32 ET Qassam from Gaza knocks out power in Sderot and environs Wednesday night after more than 30 missiles hit town. In 48 hours, Hamas fires close to 60 Qassams, injuring scores of Israelis, some seriously, as citizens flee beleaguered town

No let-up on second day of Hamas missile offensive against Sderot. More civilians injured, one woman seriously, as day's missiles from Gaza climbed past 20. Citizens flee the beleaguered town...

At least four killed as IAF pounds Hamas base in Rafah

At least four people were killed Wednesday when IAF helicopters fired three missiles at a Hamas military installation in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. The IDF said that the attack came in response to dozens of Kassam rockets fired on southern Israel since Tuesday, adding that it would continue to strike terror targets in Gaza...

Despite ongoing rocket barrage, Peretz won't authorize significant action
After an evening where at least 21 Qassam rockets fell, firing resumed Wednesday morning when Palestinian terror groups fired four rockets toward the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported. One of the Qassams landed near a kibbutz in the Ashkelon Coast regional council, while two others fell north of Sderot, Haaretz reported...

Israeli aircraft fires on Gaza

An Israeli helicopter fired at least three missiles into the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Wednesday, killing at least four people, Palestinian officials said. Hamas said the missiles struck one of its military buildings in the town. The Israeli army confirmed its aircraft fired on southern Gaza, but did not give details. Palestinian officials said the strike killed at least four people and injured 14 others, including one critically. Palestinian rescue officials said several people were buried under rubble after the strike...

Like I've said, our society is Sodom and Gomorrah...
Anti-Falwell venom flows on blogs
'Couldn't have happened to a more deserving fellow'

The same venom has spewed out of the mouths of the lost here in Canada, as well. I honestly pray for these peoples' souls. They have no idea what they're in for on the Day of God's Wrath. Dr. Falwell, in spite of ridicule and vicious opposition, cared enough for the lost to love, warn, and try and save his enemies from God's impending wrath. Praise the Lord, Dr. Falwell is now in a far better place than this decrepit earth.

Update @ 5:47am ET, Wednesday

Is this purely coincidence? The apple of God's eye, Israel, is under attack again, just as we're entering the 40th anniversary of the end of the 6-Day War. The 6-Day War where Israel's remnant (the Jews) conquered all of Jerusalem after living in exile for 2,000 years. For those of you who haven't read Ellis Skolfield's The False Prophet, I would highly recommend reading it to get an appreciation of the significance of 1967 and other prophetic dates. As I said in my last post, our society in North America and the rest of the world, for that matter, closely resembles Sodom and Gomorrah. The wicked and unrepentant of this world will meet the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah. Pray that you are able to escape all that is about to happen, and are able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). Take shelter from God's impending wrath by accepting Christ's free gift of salvation - he bled and died for you and me. He took our penalty. Christ has given us grace as a free gift because he loves us. I pray that you will repent and accept his free gift (if you haven't already done so) - before it is too late. Eventually it will be too late.

2 Peter 2:
4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

DEBKAfile reports: Wave after wave of Qassam missiles strike Sderot Tuesday night, injuring 19 people, two seriously. Hamas expanded blitz of more than 30 missiles from Gaza against Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Alumim, Beeri, Kfar Aza and Netivot. Strategic installation hit in Ashkelon

Hamas threatens to fire 'dozens more' Kassams (JPOST)
Less than an hour after at least 21 people, including four children, were lightly to moderately wounded when terrorists fired 17 Kassam rockets into Sderot, Hamas spokesmen warned Tuesday that they would fire dozens more into the country.

'Soviets engineered Six Day War'
In a new book that "totally contradicts everything that has been accepted to this day" about the Six Day War, two Israeli authors claim that the conflict was deliberately engineered by the Soviet Union to create the conditions in which Israel's nuclear program could be destroyed.

Update:

At least 10 killed in Hamas-Fatah fighting (brotherly love?)
GAZA (Reuters) - At least 10 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday -- eight in one incident -- in the deadliest fighting between Hamas and Fatah since the rivals formed a unity government to end bloodshed threatening to spill into civil war.

Palestinians mark 'catastrophe' of Israel creation
"Fifty-nine years have passed since the Palestinian and Arab Naqba [Catastrophe] in 1948," the Damascus-based Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a statement.

Syria schedules major military exercise for May to July, intensifying concerns of a summer war

Syria has advanced its military schedule in what could signal plans for war with Israel in 2007.

A big thanks to Joel Rosenberg for this headline: NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS IRAN ENRICHING URANIUM FASTER AND ON MUCH LARGER SCALE THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN: "Iran could have 3,000 centrifuges operating by June — enough to make one bomb’s worth of material every year. Tehran may...be able to build an additional 5,000 centrifuges by the end of the year, for a total of 8,000.

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Israel marks 40 year rule of Arab east Jerusalem

It's Jerusalem Liberation Day (according to the Levitical calendar) but nobody is coming to the party? How rude!

Hamas seizes U.S. weapons

Didn't I say 3 posts ago that U.S. weapons to the Palestinians eventually get used against the IDF? But this article says it was Hamas that seized the weapons not Fatah (as I stated), and we all know there's a "world of difference" between Hamas and Fatah, right? UPDATE: Looks like Fatah and Hamas are using the weapons primarily on each other...to fulfill the truce they made in Saudi Arabia, I guess?

Jordan's Palestinians don't want "right of return"

"The 3.5 million Palestinians of the Hashemite kingdom (more than half the total population of 6 million) suspect the plan to link Jordan to the West Bank is merely a device to get rid of them by relocating them in the future Palestinian state. Indeed the last thing Jordan’s Palestinians want is repatriation under the "right of return," although it is demanded as a central proviso of every Arab master plan for peace with Israel, including the Saudi blueprint of 2007."

All the fuss in the Arab Peace Plan about ensuring the right of return. It turns out more than half the Palestinians don't even want to return to the West Bank - hmm, interesting.

Brokeback Mountain shown in class

Just when I thought things couldn't get much worse, I'm startled with a new morality "low". I wonder how much patience God has left? I'm betting less than 5%. Prepare now for the Day of the Lord's wrath.

I apologize for the sarcastic tone I use in my 2-cent commentaries above (btw: the "Lord's wrath part was not sarcastic!). It's just that I get rather frustrated because I know the world will soon get hit by a proverbial freight train. But 98% of people are sound asleep. We're not headed for Middle East peace, folks, the Bible says we're headed for WWIII/Armageddon, and there's only one way to prepare for that.

Apostasy in the Church

Here is an excellent article on end times apostasy:

excerpt:

Englishman William Booth (1829 - 1912), who founded the Salvation Army, was a man with a great zeal for the Lord and a passion for lost souls. He was also a man of vision. On the eve of the 20^th Century when Christendom was caught up in euphoria about how the Church would soon take the world for Christ, Booth predicted that the Gospel would not fare well in the new century. Specifically, he prophesied that by the end of the 20^th Century, much of the Church would be preaching:²²

Christianity without Christ

Forgiveness without repentance

Salvation without regeneration

Heaven without Hell

That’s exactly where we are today.

What is God Saying About Israel in 2007?

Thanks to Jamie for introducing me to this very intriguing article: What is God Saying about Israel in 2007?

"Forty years ago, under a bright sunny sky, bullets and blood spilled upon the City of the Great King in an epic battle that would alter nations' destinies. On June 7, 1967, a brigade of Israeli paratroopers descended not far from the Mount of Olives. Dodging snipers, the soldiers forged their way through winding streets to the walls surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem, where they gained entrance through the Lion's Gate. Advancing eastward, they swiftly reached their target at the Western Wall, the only extant remains of Israel's Holy Temple compound..."

Come Lord Jesus. May we be good (fantastic! excellent!) servants until that day. amen.

How the US will be complicit in a war against Israel

DEBKAfile: Cheney in Riyadh to line up Arab allies ahead of US troop withdrawal from Iraq and finalize massive US upgrade of Saudi Air Force

...Talks led to a decision to make the Saudi air force the biggest in the Middle East, on a par with Israel’s air might, by an infusion of sophisticated aircraft equipped with the most advanced avionics, electronic warfare instruments and missiles. In a war contingency, the boosted Saudi air force will undertake the key function of immobilizing the antiquated Iranian air force, preventing it from posing a threat to the Gulf or providing air cover for sabotage squads or marines seeking to attack oil installations, disrupt oil tanker passage through the Gulf or seize territory in Gulf emirates.

Hello Mr. President!: 15 out of 19, 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Now the US is giving sophisticated weaponry that, in my humble, layman opinion, will undoubtedly be used against Israel in the future. Just like Abbas' Fatah uses M16's against the IDF. These planes won't be used on Ahmadinejad. They'll be used on the one common enemy in the Middle East: Israel.

Good thing the God of Jacob is on Israel's side, because the US isn't. It's not a good thing to set yourself up in opposition to the God of Jacob:

Zechariah 14:12
This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Fortunately Olmert and Peres aren't asleep at the switch..er, um...Correction: Thank God He is in control!
Watch the Video (in Hebrew)

Ezekiel 39:25-26 (New Living Translation)
Restoration for God’s People
25 “So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation! 26 They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them.

update:
05/10:Assad: Israel not ready for just peace
"The document said that the Syrian government would not tolerate the current situation, in which Israel continues to reject Syria's overtures towards peace, much longer. If Israel does not open negotiations with Syria, the document warned, a war could break out."

Is Assad saying he wants peace so much that he's willing to go to war to get it? Sorry Assad, but I don't think murdering Israelis is going to get you peace with Israel. I hope Syria is ready for a routing (again), because in a war between the God of Ishmael and the God of Isaac, past history says Isaac's God is going to squash the Syrians...and Iranians I guess, since Ahmadinejad's got a pact with Assad.

One hot spring/summer coming right up. Are you ready?

Next nuclear deadline for Iran is May 23
"The UN Security Council has imposed two sets of limited sanctions on Tehran in a bid to halt the enrichment work, but Iran has refused, insisting its programme is designed only to produce fuel for nuclear power generation as permitted under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty." The US is headed for a war with Iran. DEBKAfile also has the following headline which supports a US-Iran war: April saw attacks in Iraq by Iran-made armor-piercing EFPs peak to 69, causing 14 US military deaths, injuring 47. The US will not stand for many more deaths and injuries caused by Iranian weapons.

Former Israeli PM Barak threatens new elections
Former Israeli premier Ehud Barak said Tuesday that if elected as head of the Labour party at the end of the month, he would call for early elections unless Prime Minister Ehud Olmert steps down.

What an opportune time for the Ishmaelites to attack Israel. At the end of this month Israel could be in extreme leadership crisis (I say extreme because PM Olmert's leadership is already a disaster). Barak, the front runner for election as the Labour party's chairman, is now threatening to bring Olmert's coalition government down at the end of this month. At the beginning of June we are head into the 40th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem by the Israeli Defense Forces during the 6-Day War. Is this 40-year anniversary significant to God? Maybe.

Things are lining up beautifully for a Ezekiel 38-39 fulfillment. I think it could potentially be a Joel 2-3/Isaiah 13, etc. fulfillment as well - that is, of "The Day of the Lord" magnitude. Keep your eyes open! God has already restored the fortunes of "Judah and Jerusalem" (Joel 3); we just need to read the rest of chapter 3 to see what will sooner or later take place. Biblical prophesy does not disappoint. If you are not reconciled to God through Christ, I pray that the Holy Spirit would convict you to do so today. Do not delay (DO NOT DELAY!), the Lord has already gathered the nations around Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 12. It will soon be time for an earthquake resurrection of the living and the dead, but only of those who are reconciled through the Lord Jesus Christ.

(click on image to advance to video)

By DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writer Tue May 8, 8:17 PM ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas militants have enlisted a figure bearing a strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse to broadcast their message of Islamic domination and armed resistance to their most impressionable audience — children..."You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists," Farfour squeaked on a recent episode of the show, which is called "Tomorrow's Pioneers." [story continues...]

What have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon?

Hassan Nasr'allah, Leader of Hezb'allah in Lebanon

"Now what have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon [Lebanon] and all you regions of Philistia [Gaza]? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done"

Joel 3:4 [my comments in parenthesis]

Debkafile: Olmert Holds Army Back in Face of Imminent Hizballah, Hamas Threats and Buildup

"Military experts, some of them recently retired from combat duty, tirelessly warn in daily media interviews that the war build-up on three Israeli borders, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, has reached dangerous proportions. Not only is the army again unprepared for another conflict in the months to come, but it is held back by the Olmert government from destroying the plentifully rearmed enemy installations before they go on the offensive.

Confirming the generals’ worst fears, Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah laid out a plan Sunday, May 6, for attacking IDF positions on Mts. Hermon and Dov from the Shebaa Farms, and Israel Navy vessels with the new long-range missiles just delivered (smuggled) by Syria, while also turning the militia’s guns on the UN peacekeepers posted in south Lebanon. [continues...]

Analysis: Assessing Syria's true intentions a tricky task

"Syria, which is in negotiations to purchase advanced anti-aircraft systems from Russia, has moved up its annual military exercises in advance of a possible conflict over the summer. The IDF is conducting massive brigade-level exercises throughout the country aimed at preparing the military for war on all of its fronts - in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, in southern Lebanon against Hizbullah and against Syria. "

I'd say: Picture of the Millennium (and a half)!

update: In the words of Homer J. Simpson: "DOH!!"....Newspaper ties Iraqi PM al-Maliki to Revolutionary Guards

In Jihadist Haven, a Goal: To Kill and Die in Iraq

Iran's Mottaki denounces US occupation in Iraq
The US must accept responsibility arising from the occupation of Iraq and not point the finger at others. Mottaki called for the immediate release of the five Iranians US troops detained in northern Iraq in January.

US troops terrorists in Iraq says Iran
Mottaki described US troops as “terrorists” and lashed out at Washington over the continued detention of Iranian officials seized in January. “To create a safe haven for those terrorists who try to turn Iraqi territory into a base for attacking Iraq’s neighbors should be condemned,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

No US-Iran talks at Iraq Summit
"When the United States arrests five Iranian diplomats in Iraq, it is an act of terrorism."a spokesman for the Iranian delegation at the conference added.

Iraq attack dashes hopes of US-Iran talks
When the summit's Egyptian hosts carefully placed Miss Rice opposite the Iranian at an official dinner on Thursday night, Mr Mottaki simply walked out.

US-Iran "expert level" talks at Iraq conference after Iran’s FM Mottaki ducks dialogue with Condoleezza Rice
May 4, 2007, 2:40 PM (GMT+02:00)
Despite prodding by Iraq for a one-on-one encounter, the two only met once at a broad luncheon occasion Thursday at the two-day conference on Iraq’s future in Sharm el-Sheikh. The conference of more than 60 nations ends Friday after a discussion on security. Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki urged neighboring countries to stop the infiltration of terrorists into Iraq and withhold their funds.

If only Rice, Mottaki, Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah, Rantisi, and abu Mazen could form a Bible Study Group!
This may sound entirely crazy to many of you, but I just can't help paying closer attention to the Middle East whenever there is a multi-nation peace process going on. All the calls for "peace and safety" yell out to me 1 Thessalonians 5:3:

While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

And what's with Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki leaving the dinner table abruptly when he saw he was being seated directly opposite US Secretary of State Dr. Rice? I wonder: have the Arabs/Persians already plotted an evil scheme to try to annihilate Israel (Ezekiel 38:10)? It is the 40th anniversary of Israel's liberation of Jerusalem. I'm not guaranteeing that this year (2007) is "definitely" significant, but if you read Ellis Skolfield's The False Prophet you'd know that 1967 is very significant on God's calendar. And if you read the Bible, you'd know that 40 years is significant. Nothing may very well happen this year (other than an almost guaranteed battle between Israel and Hezb'allah and/or Hamas and/or Fatah and/or Iran and/or Syria...you get the point) , but I will definitely be doing more praying and fasting, and anticipating Christ's return.

If you're reading this and you do not have Christ as your savior and protector for what lies ahead, I pray that you will make a decision to give your life to him, and follow him starting today. Nothing you have planned for today is more important; and this earth may not have many tomorrows left for you to make a decision.

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36