Category Archives: Iran

Israel v. Iran – possibility of breakthrough?

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Someone has observed that when a nation is attacked then internal divisions disappear and its people act in unity against the aggressor. (If you know the reference source for this remark, please refresh my memory.)  By this principle unscrupulous leaders, eg. of  totalitarian regimes, have been known to provoke conflict with another nation in order to distract their public from severe internal issues that bring a great risk of internal unrest and rebellion.  Perhaps that’s now the case with Iran?

Last weekend brought Israel close to the brink of war as over 55 missiles and mortars were fired into Israel from Gaza and an Iranian unmanned surveillance helicopter flew over highly sensitive installations. The Israelis conducted cyber-warfare against it and it was shot down. Debka reported the barrage was the outcome of a new Hamas-Iran accord (see Is the Mid-East coming to the boil?) and in several reports that Israel has been highly embarrassed by the deliberate act of Iranian belligerence.  On top of that, Hezbollah was so confident of success that it published plans to attack Israel from the Golan and Lebanon. Then came speculation of an American and Israeli ‘surprise’ this month!

Amidst all this will be lots of disinformation, but Iranian leaders have promised to be taking action soon. But could all the above-related events be a distraction to provoke Israel into attacking Iran as a knee-jerk reaction and thereby uniting the Iranian public?

There have been reports of public protests and demonstrations in Tehran because of the severe economic downturn the country is suffering. It is on the verge of collapse, and nothing could definitely divert the people’s attention like a ‘jolly’, ‘holy’ war!  The people have experienced tough suppression a couple of years ago and if they riot this time would be determined not to lose again – maybe the mad–mullahs will be over-thrown?

Mike Evans has reported this week that these developments are being given serious consideration.  Dare we hope for a non-violent solution to this situation – one in which the hand of the Lord is seen?  Here’s food for thought from Mike’s valued insights (also see my postscript comment):

The Power of Prayer is Working
Dear Richard,
During my recent trip to Israel, I met with over 41 leaders in the nation. Afterwards, I flew to New York to defend Israel at the UN and confronted the Iranian leaders that were raging against the State of Israel.
Israel’s leaders were fully prepared to courageously attack Iran’s nuclear reactors. Some of the top leaders in the Jewish state told me that the attack was already scheduled between September 15th and October 15th . In the midst of this, the amazing has occurred: Iranian people are rising up, and the economy of Iran is on the verge of collapse due to international sanctions. Because of these events, Israel will not attack before the end of the year.
From my perspective, this has been a direct result of the power of prayer. An attack before the US elections would have resulted in Israel being blamed, and would have placed the nation squarely in the crosshairs of every legislator in the party that loses the election. It would also have created a global economic crisis because of oil flowing through the Persian Gulf. Liability would have fallen on Israel.
The key to understanding Israel’s actions can be found in II Samuel 11:1: “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel.”
If Iran experiences a “Persian Spring” much like the Arab Spring, and Admadinejad’s regime is overthrown, Israel will not attack. When Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke courageously at the UN concerning the “red line,” his team was negotiating with Great Britain, France, Germany, and the US, asking for new sanctions against Iran. The top European leaders agreed and will make proposals in the areas of finance, trade, energy, and transportation in Brussels on October 15th. I’ve been told by the highest level of officials in the Israeli government that Iran’s loss of income is between $40 and $50 billion.
The last time this occurred, the Shah of Iran was overthrown. That was confirmed when I interviewed all the top leaders of the country, including Empress Farah Pahlavi and Ambassador to the US, Ardeshir Zahedi. The Iranian rial has lost 80 percent of its value in twelve months. The bazaars in the nation are going on strike, and the people are demonstrating. I can tell you firsthand that not all the top Iranian leaders were given visas to enter the US in September. I am referring particularly to the mullahs who run the country. In addition, Iranian spies who have been meeting in the hotels for the past four years were not in attendance this year. I believe many have been arrested.
Perhaps one of the most telling examples are the Iranian women. In past years, they have gone to the top stores in New York City to shop. That did not happen this year. Instead, the men would return from pharmacies and hardware stores with purchases including boxes of over-the-counter drugs.

Is the Middle-East coming to the boil?

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Copy of email circulated yesterday and today about Israel, Iran and Jordan:

YESTERDAY (Monday)

Friends, to keep you in the frame, this update focuses [first] upon Israel and Iran.:

I was amazed this morning to learn that my merely passing thoughts at the foot of this thread, just after my quoting Mike Evans, could have been accurate! [See blog version of Thursday’s email for that reference.]  Btw, he’s said to be the only Christian to have confronted Iranian pres. Amadmanjihad last year in New York, where the Lord helped him get through high-security guards. He intends to do so again this week whilst the Iranian’s attending the UN General Assembly. [US House of Representatives passed motion requesting UN not allow him to speak on holy day of Yom Kippur!]

Breaking news today from New York quotes the Iranian president’s lying threat,

 “Iran has been around for the last seven, 10 thousand years. (Israelis) have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years, with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots there in history.

“We don’t even count them as any part of any equation for Iran…During a historical phase, (the Israelis) represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated.”  (Reuters’ 1st report; my emphases)

The weekend before last I’d been mulling over media quietness during Rosh Hashanah holy days as perhaps the ‘still before the storm’, and praying there would be no surprise attacks upon Israel.

Thus, my remarks at the close of previous email were merely meant as an observation about Israel ’obviously taking precautions against being caught napping’. Yet little did I know it was the very same afternoon when newly released papers revealed a massive intelligence failure at the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War of 1973, as Joel Rosenberg reports:

Thirty-nine years ago this month, Israel was surrounded by enemies threatening to annihilate her. But Israeli leaders did not take the threats seriously enough, and did not order a pre-emptive strike to neutralize the enemy’s military capabilities. [Read The Times of Israel article on this severe lesson.]

Last weekend’s news:

Yesterday [Sunday], Reuters reported a Brigadier-General in the Republican Guards as stating on Iranian TV that:

Iran could launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel if it was sure the Jewish state was preparing to attack it…we can not imagine the Zionist regime starting a war without America’s support. Therefore, in case of a war, we will get into a war with both of them and we will certainly get into a conflict with American bases.

Also, the station paraphrased him as saying:

“Iran will not start any war but it could launch a pre-emptive attack if it was sure that the enemies are putting the final touches to attack it.”

Furthermore, Rosenberg advises that, for the first time, Iran’s highest-ranking military official (minister of defence) has tied the forthcoming confrontation into ‘the era of The Coming’ of the Hidden 12th Imam, or Mahdi. Thus, Iran’s leaders are expecting a highly significant war to facilitate that event and thereby introduce a global Islamic caliphate.  (See Joel’s post here and my previous overview.)

BUT JUST AS OMINOUSLY, the general alluded to various means of response which would implicitly include last week’s ‘binding commitment’ by Hamas leaders in Gaza to join Iran, Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon in military action against Israel.

Debka’s exclusive military sources (here) disclose the agreement’s detailed and precise directives would make Palestinian Hamas defer to Tehran and not to Cairo’s Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is an offshoot, and instructs them to stop obstructing Iran’s proxy in the Gaza strip.

Thus, we can see Iran’s influence is extending westward like a demonic talon through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza around Israel, whose only trouble-free border is with Jordan. This development will doubtless affect the Egypt-Israel relationship and their counter-terror operations in Sinai, the border of which was breached during Friday’s shootout. Egypt’s new rulers are unable to control or contain Islamist terrorism in Sinai. Therefore, Israel’s latest massive exercise should be regarded in this light, and which left two battalions on the Syrian border!

America’s lack of influence/interest continues to be demonstrated by president Obama’s latest, and as some infer, unhelpful remarks towards Israel, as Debka reports here.

Thank the Lord what’s going in the world doesn’t hinder us from keeping our eyes on Him, and looking to His return – maranatha!

TODAY (Tuesday)


Further to yesterday’s update, this morning’s on-line headline corrects my reference to Israel’s only ‘trouble-free border’, viz :

Jordan on the brink: Muslim brothers mobilize for King Abdullah’s overthrow

Another ‘exclusive’ from Debka reports:

For Israel, an upheaval in Jordan bodes the tightening of the Islamist noose around its borders – Egypt and Libya to the south and Syria to the north, with unpredictable consequences with regard to Jordan’s Pales-tinian population.

Saudi Arabia, already threatened by Iranian aggression, fears the oil kingdom may be next in line if its northern neighbor is crushed under the marching feet of the “Arab Spring.”

The Debka report goes on to analyse the monarch’s plight and his three options, refers to the knock-on effect upon Saudi Arabia and succinctly surmises Obama’s quandary – will he stab yet another staunch ally in the back for the sake of the lynchpin to his outreach to the Muslim world, their Cairo-based brotherhood?

You may recall my reference in Jan 2011 (‘Talks leaks’ aka ‘Palestinian papers’) to:

calls for the overthrow of Jordan’s government (Egypt next?) …Perhaps, therefore, we may soon see whether or not Christian commentators upon the prophesied Psalm 83 Middle-Eastern war and fulfilment of Obadiah 15 are proved correct??’

Psalm 83 (click to read psalm)

In Bible Prophecy Blog of April 1st 2012, Bill Salus refers to the increasing interest in Psalm 83, which he describes as “a prophecy in progress”. His article notes and lists the six primary requirements stated in the psalm that need to be in place before all the nations surrounding Israel ‘wipe out its people…that the name of Israel be remembered no more’ (vv2-4). Six months ago he observed that ‘all six of these prerequisites are in place’ and foresaw with precise perspicuity that:

Apart from fragile peace treaties between Israel and Egypt, and Israel and Jordan, the Psalm prophecy essentially appears to be on the verge of fulfilment.

Many pundits believe that the new majority Islamic fundamentalist parliament of Egypt will soon abrogate the 33 year old peace agreement with Israel. Should Egypt break peace with Israel, there are few that believe Jordan will covet the lone-wolf position of being the only remaining Arab state that possesses a peace accord with Israel. The legitimate concern is reflected in the adage; “As goes Egypt, so goes the rest of the Middle East.”

What Bill describes has indeed started to happen, as is clearly evident from Egypt’s new, Muslim Brotherhood president Morsi’s attitude towards the peace treaty. With today’s exclusive news, we can now expect radical changes in Jordan this year…

To gain a good insight into the Biblical significance of what’s happening read Bill’s lucid, 4-page exposition Psalm 83 – A Prophecy in Progress. (His blog: prophecydepot.com)

The Lord bless you and keep you.

See also:

> John McTernan’s Daily Digest commentary of Sept 25th and his several news links.

> Nick Gray in The Commentator on the effect of Morsi’s attitude on the peace treaty. (He writes for Christian Middle-East Watch, a voice coming from the Church in Britain, aiming to bring balance and truth to debates and issues concerning the Middle-East.)

Update 14th Oct: Robert Spencer; Egyptian Copts overwhelmed by “anxiety and fear”, see Muslim Brotherhood government as “worst in memory”.

Post-script to Update 3 – Iranian threats widen in scope

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Further to the ‘latest’ news at the foot of yesterday’s post,  the Telegraph’s executive foreign editor and Middle-East expert Con Coughlin reports today that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has ordered the country’s Revolutionary Guards to intensify its campaign of terror attacks against the West and its allies.

Let’s not kid ourselves that Khamenei is just a ‘mad-mullah’ – he did give the ‘rationale’ behind this decision. Here it is: this is simply in retaliation for supporting the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria! See, there is a ‘reason’!  Coughlin reports that;

…he gave the order to the elite Quds Force unit following a recent emergency meeting of Iran’s National Security Council in Tehran held to discuss a specially-commissioned report into the implications for Iran of the Assad regime’s overthrow.  Damascus is Iran’s most important regional ally, and the survival of the Assad regime is regarded as vital to sustaining the Iranian-backed Hizbollah militia which controls southern Lebanon.

Apparently,

…he concluded that Iran’s national interests were being threatened by a combination of the U.N. sanctions imposed over Iran’s nuclear programme and the West’s continuing   support for Syrian opposition groups attempting to overthrow the Syrian government.

Intelligence officials say the report concludes that Iran “cannot be passive” to the new threats posed to its national security, and warns that Western support for Syrian opposition groups was placing Iran’s “resistance alliance” in jeopardy, and could seriously disrupt Iran’s access to Hizbollah in Lebanon.

……..

The extent of Iran’s support for the Assad regime was exposed earlier this month when 48 Iranians were captured and taken hostage by Syrian opposition fighters…(it’s said they) include senior Revolutionary Guard  officers (who) claimed they were conducting “reconnaissance missions”,  and their capture by Syrian opposition fighters was deeply embarrassing for Tehran,

For more details read Iran’s supreme leader orders fresh attacks on West.

Well at least this latest lunacy is not because of what Israel may or may not be up to. If the Iranians simply cannot remain passive in the face of provocation, why should one expect the Israelis to stay passive, especially when faced with explicit declarations of extirpation?

And I could add many more comments. Couldn’t you…?

Update 3 of 3 – the Middle-East

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Since the brief reference in the latter half of my earlier post on the BBC a great deal has been rolling on regarding Israel and Iran. So I will summarise below all I know, which means this will be a full posting. But first, this morning’s ‘hot off the press’ news:

Two Hamas spies arrested among PA chairman’s personal guards – Debka exclusive reports American, Israeli and Palestinian security services were deeply shocked with the realisation that they had been passing Mahmoud Abbas’s closest secrets to their Hamas controllers for many years. The fact that they had been planted under cover within the Palestinian leader’s 170-strong personal guard has compromised the security standing of his entire national security force of 6 battalions (4000 members).

That security force, Debka comments, “…may be riddled with Hamas undercover agents and an unknown number of sleeper cells awaiting orders to spring into action (also that) high-ranking officials consider all of Abbas’ most confidential political, intelligence and financial moves and private communications with Arab, Israeli and Western personal-ities must be accounted an open book to Hamas.” (The radical Hamas rules the Gaza Strip as a bitter rival of Abbas’ Fatah-led administration in Ramallah). The selection and screening of the whole Palestinian security force was the responsibility of American and British agencies!

In my opinion this will throw yet another spanner into the ‘peace process’ but is not at all surprising in view of two reasons:

  • my guess as to “a major shaking of the Palestinian leadership” at the start of the Arab Spring. Perhaps Hamas spies were responsible for the ‘talks leaks’?
  • the long-running political incompetence of Western leadership’s failure to grasp and understand Islamist terrorism.

Now, back to my post about ‘Bibi’s Secret War Plan’, or ‘Shock and Awe’ Israeli-style.  William Koenig also reported upon:

He also cited various voices in opposition to Israel acting against Iran, viz:

My Footnote referred to Iranian declarations of Nazi policy. Google reported 18 Aug:

Ahmadinejad’s diatribe against Israel in his Quds (Jerusalem) Day address was the latest in a long line to have drawn criticism from Western governments. “The Zionist regime and the Zionists are a cancerous tumour,” he said.

“The nations of the region will soon finish off the usurper Zionists in the Palestinian land…. A new Middle East will definitely be formed. With the grace of God and help of the nations, in the new Middle East there will be no trace of the Americans and Zionists,” he said. His declarations were followed within a couple of days by supreme leader Khameini’s unequivocal support.

Debka reported on 16 Aug that the White House had urgently contacted PM Netanyahu to arrange a meeting with President Obama at September’s UN General Assembly. See this exclusive report on strength of activity for and against proposed Israeli action, as well as calls for expulsion of Iran from UN and IMF.

18 Aug – US National Security Council, UN Secretary General and the EU’s foreign affairs High Representative Ashton all strongly condemned Iranian vitriol and hatred. Reuters reports ‘Catherine Ashton’s language was unusually forthright for the West’s chief negotiator over Iran’s nuclear program’. The agency quotes the statement issued by her spokesman that Ashton:

Strongly condemns the outrageous and hateful remarks threatening Israel’s existence by the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Israel’s right to exist must not be called into question.  (my emphasis)

18 Aug – “White House this week scrambles to reconnect with Jerusalem after Obama administration was persuaded that Israel is serious about conducting a Fall military operation against Iran’s nuclear program before the Nov 6 US presidential election”, ie. notwithstanding heavy opposition at home and in States. Proposed UN meeting now overtaken by events and Israel presents 4-point plan for delaying attack, all of which require formal action by Obama (see Exclusive Report). Debka’s sources report that Obama has not objected or rejected this plan. [Note: this is a major breakthrough for PM Netanyahu in view of the continual personal opposition he has been confronted with from Obama.]

19 Aug – Silverstein writes Israel Official refuses to deny authenticity of …document.

20 Aug  – US General Dempsey tells reporters, while on a flight to Afghanistan, that he understands Israel’s urgency in calling for action against Iran’s nuclear program. “They are living with an existential concern that we are not living with,” he said according to AFP.  Israel and the US see the Iranian threat differently, admitting that Washington and Jerusalem are on “different clocks” regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. [Note: Israel has always been far ahead of USA, which lacked on-the-ground intelligence.] In fact, USA had recognised Israel’s claim that Iran could produce its first nuclear device by October – this year!! (see Exclusive Report.)

LATEST 21 Aug – Western intelligence sources recognise that the likely way to avoid destruction of Israel (whether they attack Iran now, later or not) would be “to disable Iran’s nuclear program by going after its leaders”!!  Perhaps it’s a better option than full-scale war, and much less costly.  Iran’s goal is to eliminate Israel no matter what, so attack is the best form of defence – unless the Lord sovereignly steps in.

To understand the perilous nature of events we need to have a full appreciation of what is actually happening. You may, therefore wish to consider the latest news, in the form of a Debka special video presentation with textual copy – from those who can often have access to news prior to its breaking into mainstream media (if the BBC can handle it).

Further connected developments are reported in this Postscript.

Is the B.B.C. becoming a ‘Badly Biased Corporation’? Or…?

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Has the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) deliberately ignored the fastest man on earth’s God? Also, could its coverage of the Middle-East just be bellicose disinformation prior to an anticipated major regional conflict?

Cranmer’s posting of 10 August about this year’s thrice-Olympic gold medal Jamaican sprinter and world record buster opens as follows:

Usain Bolt – the fastest man on the planet – is a devout believer (of the Protestant Christian kind) in the One True God. And he makes absolutely no secret at all of the fact: he crosses himself to exalt the Trinity, and mouths a prayer to the heavens before every race. And after each victory, he publicly gives thanks to God, in word and physical supplication. Following yesterday’s triumph in the 200m, he said of his Lord and Saviour: “Nothing would have been possible without Him.”

Is this not worth just a passing mention by the BBC?

He continues:

While he was manifestly thanking God on his knees for yesterday’s victory, the BBC presenter spun this spontan-eous act of worship as Bolt having ‘a moment to himself’. This manifestly blurs the significance for the viewer. This is what Bolt tweeted:

Later, he closes:

The BBC have known for more than four years what Usain Bolt always does, before and after each race, without fail: …They have been briefed to bits by Bolt’s PR team and by members of his family: Usain Bolt is a Bible-believing, God-honouring, Jesus-worshipping Christian. But not a whisper from the BBC; not a word of explanation of the real significance of these ‘moments to himself’.

Could the once-honourable ‘Auntie’ have fallen into disrepute? I do hope its writers and directors are not making her jump onto “bigots’ bandwagon”. The following opinion in The Commentator could make one wonder whether ol’ Auntie is thinking of just that.

The Commentator questions BBC’s unquestioning acceptance of a well-known liberal Jewish blogger’s claims of receiving ‘secret’ information from Israeli military sources on a regular basis. In this particular instance, Richard Silverstein discloses details of Israeli plans for a strike against Iran. The Commentator observes:

The problem is, while Silverstein is quick to publish information he ‘receives’, the veracity of such information can of course never be verified. The BBC has not seen the so-called documents that Silverstein purports to have, nor has it double-sourced any information of the sort….

The BBC, despite being unable to verify any information beyond that of a blogpost, has run full pelt with the story, interviewing Silverstein on several occasions and quoting him widely. While their diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus states that it is impossible to know whether or not the document exists, one might question the need for any kind of story based on such a tenuous blog…

One wonders what it takes today to get the BBC to report a non-story. Was it the fact that as a self-proclaimed ‘progressive’ blogger, Silverstein is well connected within the BBC? Or could it be once again that anything showing Israel in an aggressive light is swarmed upon by BBC hacks looking for a quick bit of Israel bashing?

BUT, to be fair, Silverstein’s full article deserves to be read in its entirety, as well as the follow-up.  It was also covered in depth in last night’s Eye View from the White House    (subscription service) wherein William Koenig similarly reports upon several articles that quote well informed high-level sources in the USA and in Israel.  Of the alleged comprehensive text released to Silverstein, Koenig notes this outline shows a full ‘decapitation plan’ and comments that Israel cannot afford to go in half-cocked; so it is quite believable.

So could this ‘leak’ simply be part and parcel of the dozens of options for disinformation issued in the prelude to war? Alternatively, if it is the definitive game plan, its unofficial disclosure could be a way of spelling out very clearly to the mad-mullahs of Iran and their maniac-in-chief what, in fact, they’ll be up against when they act upon their oft-declared intent of ‘wiping Israel off the map’.

FOOTNOTE: Click here, and here for a special despatch from MEMRI, Middle-East Media Research Institute, for the latest Iranian madness on the elimination of Israel. See the recent reblog and my earlier references here and here to this diabolical attitude.

Iranian leader’s End-Times declaration

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[Publd 20 July 2012]  This serves to make my covering introduction to the previous reblogged post easier to read. The normal text format wasn’t available and this will also update the content.:

In that post Joel Rosenberg calls attention to a grave matter which many cannot grasp, especially politicians – the End-Times. Escalating events in the Middle-East are making Judeo-Christian prophetical scriptures increasingly apposite. Continue reading →

Iranian Leader: We must prepare for the “End Times”

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Best-selling author Joel is well known for organising Epicentre Conferences which focus upon the politics in the Middle-East, especially Israel, from a Biblical perspective (more here). In this post he calls attention to an important matter which many cannot yet grasp – the End-Times.

See my subsequent post Iranian leader’s End-Time declaration, and Joel’s Exclusive; Ahmadinejad’s End-Time speech to the UN in which the most detailed explanation of the Twelth Imam to date is given and UN leaders are told the Mahdi will “soon” reign over the world.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Jerusalem, Israel) — My friend Reza Kahlili published this fascinating and sobering article this week and I commend it to your attention. Reza used to be an officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Then he became a double agent for the CIA. Now he is an American citizen who is using his contacts and sources in Iran to gather information to expose the evil regime in Tehran and bring them down before they acquire nuclear weapons and try to usher in the reign of the Twelfth Imam. 

Excerpts:

  • Iran’s supreme leader, for the first time, is telling his nation that it must prepare for war and “the end of times” as it continues to develop nuclear weapons. State-owned media outlets, in a coordinated effort, all ran a similar story Friday highlighting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s message on the coming of the last Islamic messiah. 
  • Until now, the Iranian…

View original post 169 more words

Points to ponder: update 2

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‘Turkey Turns Around’ could be today’s headlines on the Middle East military build-up.

Apparently Ankara’s ‘blind eye’ has had the bandage removed and can now see the consequences of having tacitly allowed Iran to supply truckloads of weapons to Syria through Turkey.  It is claimed this is because Iran has failed to give the required assurances over its development of nuclear weapons:

In fact, as debkafile’s military and intelligence sources report exclusively, Ankara changed course against Iran after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Tehran on Jan. 5. His mission was to warn Iranian leaders including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whom he met that Turkey will not stand for Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb and would act to disrupt its program.

The full report makes intriging reading for those who follow developments.

I suspect this action may indicate PM Erdogan is indisposed on health grounds, as reported in the closing paragraphs of my posting We Are A Christian Country.

ALSO, for some more background see copy email here and here.

Points to ponder: update 1

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Developments are daily since last Thursday’s posting on Eric Hadik’s predictions regarding the Middle East and Iran.

Friday 6th Jan

The outcome of Thursday’s meeting in Washington between Philip Hammond, British Defence Secretary, Defence Minister Ehud Barak of Israel and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta revealed that Hammond affirmed the UK’s readiness for action in the event of closure of sea lanes. Thus, the Royal Navy will despatch its ‘state-of-the-art’ warship HMS Daring, a type 45 destroyer, to the Gulf.

DebkaFile exclusively reported upon the arrival this week of thousands of American troops in Israel as part of the US-IDF deployment in readiness for military engagement with Iran and its possible escalation into a regional conflict.

This online news service continued to bring more breaking news, as follows:

Sun 8th Jan

Their ‘exclusive’ was updated to include Tehran’s announcement that Iran’s deep underground uranium enrichment facility will go on-stream soon, thereby crossing another ‘red-line’ in its nuclear weapons programme.

Mon 9th Jan

Special report upon Eastern Mediterranean activities of arrival a Russian aircraft carrier, frigate and destroyer in Syria’s Tartus port. Also, France has sent air-defence destroyer to watch off Tartus, as well as an aircraft carrier to the Sea of Oman to arrive about the same time as HMS Daring. There, the US strike group have deployed a surveillance drone from their carrier to monitor Iranian activities.

Tues 10th Jan

Another special from ‘Iranian sources’ reports Tehran as preparing to test a 1-kiloton nuclear device this year.

Wed 11th Jan

Yesterday, “President Barack Obama received the Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal. Their conversation was shrouded in secrecy, although no one doubts it focused on the conflict with Iran and the urgency of keeping open the main export outlet for the world’s biggest oil suppliers, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, through the Strait of Hormuz. The crisis in Syria must also have featured in their talks….

“Debkafile’s Washington sources report that the White House is bending over backwards to convince the skeptical Saudis that the president is wiling to use military force to keep the vital waterway open, safeguard Gulf oil installations and exports and also prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon…” (for more see Special Report).

FOOTNOTE – for an informative historical analysis, read Con Coughlin’s Can Iran Close Down the Strait of Hormuz?

Welcome

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Hello, I’m Richard Barker.

Welcome to my musings about what’s going on in the world and I trust this blog may help you gain some insights. Indeed, what on earth is going to happen next?

You may find some of my ideas challenging, even outlandish!  For instance, come along on an imaginary trip in a ‘time machine’ and, later, receive unusual instructions on how to tell the time!

Some pertinent points from my past are given in my Bio Info, where you’ll learn some facts about a seminal work that was to serve as a fascinating foundation for a my appreciation of Bible prophecy.

Reading The Invisible Hand in the mid-1980s made me very aware of Middle Eastern and related events, all indicative of things not being as they may seem. I was amazed to learn they’re of major Biblical significance!  (More on the book in ‘Bio Info’.) Bemused, therefore, I began to watch…:

A Supernatural Rescue

A couple of years later, I was alarmed to be unexpectedly faced with my own immediate demise – but I was blessed that a real, invisible hand saved me. The Living God made me an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I gladly accepted His free gift of everlasting life, ie. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was for my personal benefit. Incredible!

As the Living God graciously and gently dealt with me I was completely turned around (ie. repentance) and cleansed of my involvement in yoga and the occult.  Some years later, I received training in and practised full gospel prayer ministry, as well as secular person-centred counselling.

Inner Eyes Descaled

As I got to grips with my new life in him, learned his ways and was introduced to his Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth – scales fell from my eyes!  Scriptures about what’s happening to the world became particularly clear.  For the last few years I’ve updated Christian friends upon possible connections between holy writ and current events.

You, dear reader, may be unaware of the exceptional relevance of a great chunk of the Old and New Testaments to today’s events.  Regrettably, many others are not only woefully uninformed but may also be quite biased against Christianity.  Therefore, I ask you to adopt an open mind as you mull over the themes and ideas expressed in this blog.

As not many people know of this, let’s seek expert advice next…(click on this ‘next’)

Is Netanyahu signalling a pre-emptive strike?

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Re below – developments in this serious saga with Iran warrant our closer observation. Therefore, I’m widening circulation beyond friends who watch out for Israel.
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Whether current developments are a psychological ploy or not, at long last this deeply critical issue has moved away from Israel’s’ go-it-alone option and into international involvement.
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For further details on yesterday’s news please see Joel’s subsequent fuller report here.  Of relevance on this side of the ‘pond’, I espied today’s Guardian headlines, UK military steps up plans for Iran attack, following last night’s special report from Debka’s inside sources.  These suggest that Israel’s role may be purely that of tactical readiness for self-protection rather than active involvement.
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Richard
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=================
From: Richard Barker
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 3:18 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Fw: [New post] SPECULATION GROWING ABOUT POSSIBLE ISRAELI FIRST STRIKE AGAINST IRAN:
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Friends – The following development has been expected for some time, but I’d draw your attention to Joel’s personal observation in 3rd para below.
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Also, this afternoon Debka reports the conclusion of an Israeli-Italian air exercise as well as testing a new nuclear-capable missile and extensive preparations in central Israeli for missile attacks.  The region’s getting hotter…
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Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 12:37 PM
Subject: [New post] SPECULATION GROWING ABOUT POSSIBLE ISRAELI FIRST STRIKE AGAINST IRAN: Netanyahu warns Israeli parliament about Iran nuclear threat, says “a security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone.”

SPECULATION GROWING ABOUT POSSIBLE ISRAELI FIRST STRIKE AGAINST IRAN: Netanyahu warns Israeli parliament about Iran nuclear threat, says “a security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone.”

by joelcrosenberg

Israeli PM Netanyahu speaking before the Knesset on Oct. 31, 2011.

Speculation in Washington and the Middle East continues to grow about a possible Israeli preemptive military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This is in part because Iran is getting closer to building nuclear warheads, in part because of remarks Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to the Knesset on Monday about the Iran threat, in part because former Vice President Dick Cheney recently speculated about an Israeli first strike, and in part because the Obama administration is publicly pressuring Israel not to hit first.

“If I had to summarize what will happen in our region, I would use two terms: instability and uncertainty,” Netanyahu told his parliamentary colleagues Monday. “The collapse of Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, the bloody incidents in Syria, the American forces leaving Iraq, the new government in Tunisia, the upcoming elections in Egypt and many other events – these are all expressions of the immense changes occurring around us. These changes can increase the instability within these countries, and the instability between countries….A nuclear Iran would pose a terrible threat on the Middle East and on the entire world. And of course, it poses a great, direct threat on us too….A security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone. It must also include offensive capabilities, which is the very foundation of deterrence. We operate and will continue to operate intensely and determinately against those who threaten the security of the State of Israel and its citizens. Our policy is guided by two main principles: the first is ‘if someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first,’ and the second is ‘if anyone harms us, his blood is on his own hands.'”

I’ve never heard Netanyahu discuss those two principles before (RB’s emphasis) — they certainly lay the moral and strategic framework for preemptive military action, both against the Hamas terrorists that are firing rockets and missiles at Israel from Gaza, and against state enemies such as Iran.

Such developments echo major plot points in my new political thriller, The Tehran Initiative, but this is not fiction. Could a major new war in the region be coming later this year, or early next? It’s too early to say, but there is little question that senior Israeli officials are now actively weighing such an option, or that the Obama administration is deeply opposed. What would a Republican president do differently that President Obama to neutralize the Iran threat? That remains to be seen as none of the GOP contenders has yet offered a major policy address focused on the Iran issue.

Touching Turkey

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Dear Friends,
“The Lord is really working in Turkey.  He’s on the verge of doing some-thing that’s quite big, we’re certain of it” – ”He’s giving us many signs of His Presence and we believe this is to prepare us for quickly gathering a huge harvest”.
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Thus reported ‘K’ and his church-planter friend at a Pastors & Leaders Conference in Toronto.  I happened to be watching this on GodTV during the same week I last wrote about Turkey.  Also at that time, ‘G’ was pleased to inform me of 5 baptisms at the church he’s associated with out there.
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So, Turkey has been catching my attention for a while in both a secular and spiritual way.  My own words cannot convey the fantastic news shared on that TV conference, but here’s a hint:
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First, church-planter gave a brief account of how the last couple of his 18 years missionary work in this large un-evangelised nation have radically changed following an ‘open heavens’ visitation at his church in 2008 accompanied with visions, healings, salvation and deliverance!  Praise You Lord!
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He explained that Muslims regard God as very distant and unapproachable, so the evangelists simply pray for each to be introduced to Him through Jesus.  Consequently, over 90% get affected one way or another, often gaining great peace and having a personal encounter from Jesus.
His associate then gave a few examples of a many wonderful encounters, here’s two:
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> one attendee, an atheist, did not respond but went away with some literature.  Whilst was mulling over matters he was alarmed to see a boy dashing out into heavy traffic. He then called out for help to the One he’d heard about – next he saw a large glowing hand appear and snatch the boy to safety!!  Wow!  It left the unsaved man profoundly moved for, after weeping all night, he came into the Kingdom the next day.
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> after prayer, another man lay under the Spirit’s power and made gestures with his hand as though drinking.  He reported that he saw Jesus come to him speaking in the three languages he knows, told him to read the Bible and gave him a chalice to drink from.
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The account of how the missionary’s work exploded is rather telling.  After it happened the denomination covering his mission investigated and told him to desist from working with the Holy Spirit!  Huh?  Even if the reason may have been out of due regard to the authorities and difficulties encountered in establishing a local church, there was no question of his obeying man over God.  Thus booted out of church fellowship without any funding he started a new church entirely from scratch, with many more Muslims coming into the Kingdom.
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That missionary had been asked on stage by the session’s speaker John Arnott, founding pastor of Catch The Fire, Toronto.  Last year, John had responded to the invitation to visit Turkey where, he said, “My eyes were opened”.  He saw first–hand what the Lord is doing as well as hearing direct about the tremendous harvest in Iran.  Therefore, John briefed conference delegates upon what Joel Rosenberg has reported in his book Inside The Revolution, which I’ve read and want to update you about later.
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>  continued in Not Many People Know

Breaking news on Ezekiel 38 alliance

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EXTRACT from two pre-blog emails (as in ‘About’):

FASCINATING how the Bible continues to be relevant for today!

If you’re familiar with Ezekiel 38 then maybe you’ve wondered if it relates to current events and what would come out of the melting pot – maybe the outcome would be different to what the holy prophet wrote? This could be inferred from the recent change in Turkey’s position regarding Israel, but there’s a good likelihood that’s only a temporary expedient in view of the existing close ties to Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s been secretly beavering away to produce nuclear weapons, as you may recall from William Hague’s announcement a fortnight ago. Here’s what DebkaFile wrote about Russian involvement, and gave our gov’t some credit:

Conspiracy Of Silence Over Four Iranian Nuclear-Capable Missile Tests

In early October 2010, Russian intelligence learned that Iran was about to begin test launches of missiles for carrying nuclear warheads. They reported this to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He then took three steps: He conveyed the information to US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and bound them to secrecy. With their pledges in hand, he used backdoor intelligence channels to persuade Tehran to refrain from bragging about its dramatic progress and keep the tests of the nuclear-capable missiles quiet in order to avert a world outcry against the violation of all their international commitments.

The Iranians bought the deal. In this way, the Russian leader raised a wall of silence around Iran’s advances towards ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and pre-empted condemnations, Security Council action, and other forms of American, European and Israeli action for keeping a nuclear bomb out of Iranian hands. This was the last straw – at least for the British government. Hague, in consultation with Prime Minister David Cameron, went public about what Iran was really up to with a statement to parliament.

[My emphases; 30 June report archived at http://www.debka.com/article/21076/ ]

Also, this morning’s on-line Jerusalem Post reports –

Russia Lays Out ‘Step-By-Step’ Approach On Iran – WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) – Russia on Wednesday laid out a “step-by-step” approach under which Iran could address questions about its nuclear program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions…The target is to hold the talks in Moscow the week of July 25, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Isn’t it fascinating that all four participants of the Ezekiel 38 alliance are intimately and concurrently involved in scripturally significant events?

Are the prophesied pieces of an ‘invisible jigsaw’ beginning to fall into place?

YET far better is the wonderful news of the Lord appearing to many in these areas, particularly in Turkey AND IRAN…more on this another time.

May He continue to bless you and keep you

Richard

Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:24 PM Subject: Re: Rewind re. Turkey

Hold on, back to square one? Well not quite…

Despite relatively welcome news in last weeks’ update, whilst tapping out its close I had reservations over the long-term likelihood of matters improving between Turkey and Israel. This is because the Ezekiel 38 alliance is not ancient but modern, as may be inferred from activities between Russia, Iran, Libya and Turkey. The last, with Syria, embraces the region of the ancient peoples of Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togmarah….

Now, Turkey’s PM Erdogan has stopped the reconciliation because the UN inquiry into those events has ruled favourably upon the legality of Israel’s blockade…Recriminations ensued but Western diplomats believe this won’t stop the two countries working together. Perhaps because Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama are hoping to pull off an Israeli-Palestinian summit in Paris for 2nd Sept? However, this important development depends upon concluding the Libyan war! (…archived report at http://www.debka.com/article/21091/) …

Rewind re. Turkey

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Friends – Hold on, are we back to square one?  Well not quite…
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Despite relatively welcome news in last weeks’ update, whilst tapping out its close I had reservations over the long-term likelihood of matters improving between Turkey and Israel.  This is because the Ezekiel 38 alliance is not ancient but modern, as may be inferred from activities between Russia, Iran, Libya and Turkey.  The last, with Syria, embraces the region of the ancient peoples of Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togmarah.
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For years Turkey and Israel had a good diplomatic relationship, even conducting joint military exercises.  Then last year Turkey’s government sponsored the ill-fated flotilla that tried breaking Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.  You may recall the fierce attacks by activists on board ‘Mavi Marmara’ upon abseiling, unarmed soldiers?  The media were badly biased against Israel (what’s new), even to the extent of Reuters cropping activists’ weapons out of published photos!
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Now, Turkey’s PM Erdogan has stopped the reconciliation because the UN inquiry into those events has ruled upon the legality of Israel’s blockade.  (For brief details see http://www.debka.com/article/21093/)  Recriminations ensued but Western diplomats believe this won’t stop the two countries working together.  Perhaps because Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama are hoping to pull off an Israeli-Palestinian summit in Paris for 2nd Sept?  However, this important development depends upon concluding the Libyan war! (Those who follow developments closely will find an interesting report at http://www.debka.com/article/21091/)
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STOP PRESS: (no wonder I’ve had such an unusual heavy feeling in my spirit whilst writing) just in from Mike Evans > In preparation for this summit the ‘Quartet’, comprising  USA, EU, Russia & UN, will meet next week in Washington with the probable purpose of stitching up Israel.  But we shall see sooner or later how the Lord is true to His Holy Word:
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“…I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples;
all who would heave it away will surely be cut to pieces, (even) though all the nations of the earth (UN etc) are gathered against it.”
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It’s so fascinating how an ancient collection of divinely inspired books applies to today’s news…
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Bless you
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=================
From: Richard Barker
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 5:05 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: TODAY’s NEWS – Peace Talks Shelved For Second Term
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…..At long last some sense seems to be starting to emerge in a couple of quarters:
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Secondly, their [Debkafile’s] sources disclose that after the sudden, unexpected rift in diplomatic and military relations a distinct rapprochement between Turkey and Israel has developed in order to facilitate discrete contact.
For details of both developments see brief, exclusive report > http://www.debka.com/article/21065/ and for a brief explanation of the UN aspect see this item by Elliott Abrams of the Council of Foreign Relations > http://blogs.cfr.org/abrams/2011/06/23/can-the-united-nations-make-palestine-a-state/ .
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The Lord bless you and keep you
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Comfort one another with these words

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Dear Friends,
Am catching up with weekend’s emails and you may be interested in how an Israeli unbeliever was introduced to Jesus’ prophetic words about recent events, as below. 

(‘Funnily’ only in this morning I’d highlighted Luke 21.28, to which Mike also refers, about lifting up our heads, because it connects right into the time Jesus rescued me from my life of sin. Perhaps I’ll re-issue my testimony one day – now published here.)

Below, Mike quotes Matthew 24 “…kingdom against kingdom..” but didn’t, I presume, know about this afternoon’s news hot from the Middle East !!!  Allow me to quote:

“Saudi and United Arab Emirates troops…from a special force within the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council…crossed into Bahrain to support king against escalating demonstrations and Kuwait soldiers are on the way…By this action both Arab kingdoms flouted…Obama’s policy of boosting  popular movements against autocratic Arab regimes…King Abdulla blames Obama’s policy for unseating Mubarak and has no intention of following the America line…
“Jordanian King Abdullah II is casting about for a protector…after finding the American shield full of holes…and (it’s rumoured) is desperate enough to seek help from  Israel…Damascus (has become) Qaddafi’s foremost armorer. Cairo remains the only Arab capital still keeping faith with Washington…(but) its army is crumbling from within and its affinity with Washington is loosening its control of the streets…” 
WOW, things are really wobbling all over and the American ‘empire’ losing more ground!   Mike’s encounter, as below, with Ahmadinejad is particularly interesting. (It was fascinating to read how the Lord got him through the top-level security lock-down at that hotel, and had a room reserved!)  Trust you will be blessed by his report.
Richard
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 12:52 AM
Subject: Comfort one another with these Words
Comfort one another with these Words
Dear Richard & Janina,
Beloved, I was recently in prayer for you, and the Lord clearly spoke to me to comfort you with these words. I know you have seen today’s news about the record-breaking earthquake and the ensuing tsunami in Japan. I know you are praying for those affected by this grave crisis.
I received a call from Israel from a high-level government official. He was describing to me the condition of the planet. I said, “My dear friend, let me read you the words of the most famous Jew that ever lived. From the Holy City of Jerusalem, He described the very day in which we are living.”

I turned to Matthew 24, and as I read the words to him, he kept saying, “I’ve never in my life heard that. I can’t believe that’s in the New Testament. It’s amazing.” You see, the earthquakes and catastrophic weather conditions that the planet is experiencing are totally predicted by the Lord Jesus Christ in that chapter. In verse 7 He talked about earthquakes in various places.
Jesus uses another word to describe the planet in chapter 24: groaning. It’s the word used by the Apostle Paul for birth pangs. Romans 8:22 says, “For we know the whole creation has been groaning as in the pangs of childbirth up until this present time.”
My diplomat-friend is not a believer, and when he described the condition of the planet he said, “All hell is breaking loose.” I responded, “No! There’s some good news on which you can focus: All heaven is breaking loose. The Apostle Paul describes this powerfully in I Thessalonians 4:15-18:

I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.”

Today, I want to encourage you with these words. Jesus is coming soon. What we are seeing in the Middle East right now is described in Matthew 24:

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places…”

The only place where “kingdoms” can be found is in the Middle East. Now, kingdoms are rising up against kingdoms. Late September I met with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York City when he came to the United Nations. I also met with more than a dozen of his cabinet ministers including his foreign minister. When we shook hands, I placed in President Ahmadinejad’s hand a page from my Bible with the fifth and sixth chapters of Daniel. I circled verses 24-28 of chapter five. Verse 28 says, “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting …” It was a prophecy from Daniel to Ahmadinejad’s predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.
Ahmadinejad showed up for the Fox interview which I had arranged surrounded by mullahs. All demanded chairs next to him so they could pray for him. Not only did they pray for him, he began to pray and call out to the Mahdi for power. That power never came.
The battle being fought on our planet is a battle between two books, two spirits, and two kingdoms. If you read the book, the Good News is: we win! Because Jesus lives, we shall live also.
Remember the prophecy of Jesus almost forty years before the destruction of the Temple. In the second verse of Matthew 24, He prophesied that it would be taken apart stone by stone, and it was. In verse 5, he declared one of the greatest signs of His coming would be deception. He said many would come in His Name—reputation, authority, and fame—saying, “I am anointed.” Many will be deceived.
The word in the Greek for “I” is “ego.” Christ said many strong egos claiming an anointing on their lives would deceive many before His return. We are seeing that today in all realms of society—and especially in the political arena.
I have the rare privilege as a journalist and confidant to leaders in the Middle East to see the signs of the times and correlate them with the scriptures. The Bible says, “When you see these things, look up, for your redemption draws nigh.” I like what the Psalmist David says in Psalm 27:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…”

Yes, it’s true; this old earth is groaning with birth pangs, but be encouraged, Jesus is coming soon! Many in the world are desperately trying to move in the direction of the Temple site, wanting to divide the Holy City of Jerusalem. Every devil in hell has tried to keep prophecy from being fulfilled. Hitler thought he had succeeded when he had six million of my people murdered; but he did not.
The prophecy in Ezekiel about the valley of dry bones and the spirit of God breathing on them (Ezekiel 37) was fulfilled. The prophecy of Isaiah proclaiming that a nation would be born in a day (Isaiah 66:8) was fulfilled. God has kept every promise to my people. He restored the Hebrew language. Jerusalem was reunited. He will keep every promise He has made to you. David, the shepherd boy, found it to be so. When God made a promise to him through the prophet Samuel, He kept it despite Goliath and a wicked King Saul. David saw the promise fulfilled and declared in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valleys, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (NLT)
Passover in Israel will be observed starting at sundown on Monday, April 18. In past years, we have been asked to provide Passover meals for elderly Holocaust victims…poor Jews…new refugees that came to Israel with nothing but the hope of praying in Jerusalem…and children who had been victims of terrorist attacks or left orphaned by this great evil. I have visited many of these people and have comforted them.

Ask for the Nations – Psalm 2 v 8

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

This is a more personal letter to you as I believe it’s time to tell about a revelation that amazed me, for it came only a couple or so years after my re-birth. (And only now am I glimpsing how it may connect with an open vision of fire shooting up E Africa to Egypt.) So I’d be interested if this may strike a chord, or you get a word from the Lord – or even a check in your spirit. Kindly bear with me as this needs be a bit lengthy.

As what I saw is directly relevant to the past month’s (Jan 2011) momentously historic events (which could affect our Western nations’ economies) I’ve been hesitant to relate this without the Lord’s go-ahead. Thus, early yesterday I sought the verses about His word not returning to Him void (Isa 55.11) but my eyes fell first on Isaiah 44.24-26, as though confirming the validity of the revelation and giving clearance to write:

“I am the LORD who has made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself, Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, Who overturns the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, Who carries out the words of His servants and fulfils the predictions of His messengers….”  (NIV)

First, some background. At the time I received this staggering ‘download’ my Baptist pastor and elders were unable to help, possibly because it came in a dream, and I was a ‘young’ Christian…It was, however, an excellent church for solid Biblical tuition and discipleship – thank you Lord.

W Mediterranean

Nonetheless, what I received proved helpful to a young missionary in France as well as to an evangelist off to Egypt. I’d put the full account in a letter, which he put on top of clothes in his suitcase. Thus, when Egyptian customs questioned him and checked inside his case he was reminded and encouraged in his mission. Here’s what I’d written:

The BBC late evening news on 6th January 1992 announced that leaders in the Muslim community wanted to establish a Muslim parliament in Britain…:

In a dream that night I saw Western Europe, mainly France and the Mediterranean, as if from the space shuttle and heard the popular worship chorus ‘All Hail The Lamb’ being sung, as if in the atmosphere!  This praise was repeated many times most melodiously, as though by angelic choir ,and seemed to spiral upwards. Then I heard a very loud, authoritative voice declare, “As Communism fell, so too will Islam fall”.

I understood this as the Almighty’s declaration that Islam’s demise would come when Muslims themselves want to be free and rise up en-masse. Clearly, by referring to the events that had rippled across the Eastern Bloc to end the Soviet empire, we could expect a similar, unanticipated wave to sweep across Africa, the Middle East and Asia to the Pacific. It, too, would be like dominoes falling. In fact, some commentators are likening what’s happening now to that effect – Telegraph and Foreign Policy reports.

As a prophetical impression the dream awaited proper weighing and confirmation by my leaders. Only a few years ago I read an article by the prophet Marc Dupont in which he referred to a very similar word at about the same period. EVEN SO, if you’re with me thus far, please do weigh and check all this. [Months after this email I discovered that Lance Lambert had later that year brought the same message about God shaking the nations.]

Later yesterday I got an email from leading analyst on Middle-East affairs, Daniel Pipes, supporting that concept of change, viz:

“Something remarkable, unpredictable and unprecedented took place in recent weeks on Egyptian streets. A leaderless mass movement galvanized large numbers of ordinary citizens, as in Tunisia days earlier. It did not rage against foreigners, scapegoat minority Egyptians, nor endorse a radical ideology; instead, it demanded accountability, liberty, and prosperity. Reports reaching me from Cairo suggest a historic turn toward patriotism, inclusion, secularism, and personal responsibility.” – Washington Post

Let’s remember the Lord’s ultimate redemptive plan for Egypt, as stated in Isaiah 19 especially verses 19-25.

19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border…24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance”.

Pertinent to these verses is this closing statement of an email just in: “..the Egyptian identity needs to be resurrected, thereby allowing all of the nation’s sons and daughters to work together for a better future—without the dead weight of foreign encumberments, namely Arabism or, worse, Islamism.” [Assoc. Dir ME Forum: Egypt’s Identity Crisis.]

Did you read in my email 10 Feb of Dutch Sheets’ word given 13 Jan about the Lord supernaturally visiting the Middle-East? Well, on Monday I bought his classic book Intercessory Prayer but didn’t dig in until last night. On fanning through I was drawn to a prophetic word about nations falling rapidly before Him (see large red asterisk in attached). I think the Lord is trying to get our serious attention, don’t you?

THEREFORE, I believe it’s a pivotal prayer-time to ask the Lord for those nations that are closed to Him to become fully open to the Gospel. The harvest fields are ripening.

For example, many Iranians realise that 30 years’ Islamic rule has utterly failed. They’re desperate for the real truth of God. Previously it took one missionary a life time to bring 10 to Christ. Yet last year just one phone call served to bring 30 to salvation! Multitudes are responding to dramatic personal visitations and miracles direct from the Lord, as well as through satellite/phone evangelism. (Dr Hormoz Shariat, Iran Alive Ministries.)

“…By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear (allegiance). They will say of Me, ‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength’.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But in the LORD the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.

[Isa 45.23-24 NIV’s ‘raged’ seems more appropriate than ‘incensed’ in NKJV & Amp]

I close as All Hail The Lamb starts playing on pc – WOW, what a coincidence, or rather God-incidence!!

“He’s the Lamb upon the throne…He IS the Lord”

UPDATES:

Update to…Change The World?

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

Friends – did a prophetic word pop into my previous mailing? (Also with some intriguing ‘synchronicity’, as below!)  Previously, after having written on a scripture, I didn’t know what to put and thought, “You know all about it Lord, so over to you”. Hence my wording below (now in red).

TODAY, scriptural confirmation has come via John McTernan, with full explanation! Please see today’s posting Elam/Iran in The Latter-Days – it’s engrossing reading, as is his second item Islam vs The Bible.

My previous was relatively brief to avoid taking up a lot of your time. That meant omitting many details, one of which is the reason for the pundits’ alarm. There had been talk of an imperative strike to take out the nuclear reactor. But that had to be executed before it went live to avoid woeful repercussions, as in the ‘Chernobyl incident’. [Over 600 fires in Russia have resurrected the radioactive perils arising from many nuclear incidents – see report.]

The reactor at Bushehr has become operational. On the previous day, Iran test-fired its latest missile (the words “Ya Mahdi” written on its side!), the US ‘reassured’ (!!) Israel that Iran is still a year away from making an atom bomb, and announced the resumption of Israel-Palestinian peace talks. (Debka, however, reported sources close to President Abbas quoted him as saying direct talks were not in the offering because a “big military surprise awaits the Middle East”!!  It’s known that all four armies in the region are on a full war-footing.) Furthermore, Israel’s hands were tied by a secret US-Russian deal!! [Debka report].

SO, presumably Obama thinks he must do something to earn that fatuous Noble Peace Prize endowed at the start of his office! BUT he’s thus tied USA into the Gog-Magog alliance of Russia, Iran, Turkey & Syria, (Ezekiel 38 refers) thereby fully confirming his own anti-Israel stance. (We can draw our own conclusions about the consequences for USA.)

AND HOW VERY INTERESTING that the question of Obama’s being a Moslem has blown up just in time for all these events! (You may recall my reservations on his professed Christianity in view of his Cairo speech and deliberate championing of ‘gay pride’?) The White House say his Christian belief is obvious – some pastors agree – BUT, whether Christian or Moslem, he ignores God’s holy word and His commands – YET, now his administration is turning America away from God and taking it back to ‘the days of Noah and Lot’, perhaps the Lord may be using Obama to bring about His purposes?

– – – – –

Do I sense pieces of the Lord’s biblical ‘jigsaw puzzle’ falling into place? (At this very moment, as I write, my PC radio plays ‘Dies Irae’ (Day of Wrath) from Verdi’s Requiem Mass!! Now is that just coincidence or God-incidence? I’d stopped writing to get a coffee and share my thoughts with Nina before resuming with fresh idea about jigsaw. Had that not happened there’d have been no synchonicity – so I’m awestruck!)

May He be with you and your dear ones in these most fascinating times.

Richard

Previously:…Scripture instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem – and that democracy’s leaders need the wisdom of the Lord.  Yet perhaps He may take alternative means of action to thwart the maniacs…?

Could This Weekend Change The World?

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

Stark events this weekend in the Middle East are very likely to mark a turning point in world history. Consider this from John McTernan:

“The Prophet Daniel said that, just before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, the wise would understand what was happening. Notice he also said the wicked would get worse right up until the end. There is no end to the wickedness of man. Homosexual marriage has to be near the top of list of wickedness. The world economy is melting down while war in the Middle East is very close. Those that are anchored in the Bible and believe the prophetic word, understand what is happening. Events seem to be accelerating towards the Day of LORD. Our hope is in the Blessed Hope, the Lord Jesus coming for His church.”
(15 Aug’10 – John McTernan’s Insights)

Also, this from Ryan Mauro

“The Israelis must also consider whether the (Iranian) regime actually wants them to strike their (nuclear) facilities. The regime may believe…such a strike would commence the final days when the Hidden Imam will arise during a final great war to bring victory for Islam. According to one cleric, Ayatollah Khamenei is telling his inner circle that he has met with the Hidden Imam and was promised that he’d appear before his time as Supreme Leader ends.” (17th Aug’10 – Israel’s Crunch Time)

[See links 1, 2 3 below]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said,

“You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs”, he said. “When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the world should start worrying, and that’s what is happening in Iran”. (Sept’10 The Atlantic – The Point of No Return, Jeffrey Goldberg) [See links 4,5 below]

Russian President Putin has caught the West off-balance by announcing that Iran’s first nuclear reactor at Bushehr will be loaded with fuel rods this Saturday, way ahead of the proposed schedule that’s part of UN discussions. [Debka report.]

Once that happens the balance of power in the region tilts completely as all Sunni Muslim States in Persian Gulf will have to turn away from a weak USA and kowtow to an extremist Shiite regime – ONE THAT HAS THREATENED TO ANNHILATE ISRAEL and will have the ability to carry out its intentions and achieve Hitler’s goal far more efficiently and effectively. Both Iran’s President and supreme spiritual leader anticipate an apocalyptic war heralding the appearance of their crescent-moon god’s Mahdi (accompanied by Jesus!) and bringing peace to a world that’s come into the ‘house of submission’.

The good thing about this is that all the rational Sunni Arab leaders are wanting America and/or Israel to take out the facilities (as they did with Iraq’s and Syria’s reactors). But Israel would have to go it alone as Obama wouldn’t commit to action. Debka’s sources report an Iranian phantom fighter and unidentified drones crashing nearby and into the reactor buildings.

Scripture instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem – and that democracy’s leaders need the wisdom of the Lord. Yet perhaps He may take alternative means of action to thwart the maniacs…?

Regarding all this, may I bounce the following off you?

I recall a speaker saying satan is attempting to bring forward End-Time events in order to nullify God’s schedule and thereby wrong-foot God. His logic, perhaps, is to avoid his demise in the Lake of Fire? The revelation Jesus received from God and which He gave to John states that will happen after He returns and defeats satan. Prophecy points to this being centred on Jerusalem and the Jews will at last recognise Jesus as their true messiah.

The obvious way out of this scenario is to ensure there are no Jews whatso-ever left alive for Jesus to come back for and, if Jerusalem is still standing, then it’s population should be followers of a false god. Indeed, Hasan Nasrallah, head of Hezbollah (Party of God!), wants all Jews to come to Israel because that makes it so much easier to despatch them in one fell swoop!! [Hezbollah in Lebanon serves as Iran’s proxy terrorists and is a large part of the Lebanese army.]

NOT IF, BUT WHEN, Iran goes nuclear then the world faces a completely different ballgame. AND with America’s leader…having outraged most Americans over a mosque planned close by the war-cemetry of Ground Zero, then Israel is on its own.

It’s so good to be on the winning side! May the Lord of the Harvest help us quickly bring in ‘the full number of gentiles’.

Richard

PS. If you’d like to get your ‘mind’s teeth’ into some really excellent commentary, see the attached transcript and these links, especially the Goldberg anaylsis:

1. http://frontpagemag.com/2010/08/17/decision-time-for-israel-on-bombing-iran/print/

2. http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/07/12/uh-oh-khamenei-telling-advisors-he-met-hidden-imam-will-appear-before-he-dies/print

3. http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/28451.htm

4. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/09/the-point-of-no-return/8186/2

5. http://www.newsmax.com/GeorgeWill/Will–Iran–nuclear–Netanyahu–Israel–war–strike/2010/08/16/id/367558

“This showdown…will mark the final countdown for Israel’s existence..”

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’):

A report just in quotes president “A-madman-jihad” as vowing to “teach the Israelis a lesson” by sending Iranian warships and submarines with Turkey’s next attempt to break the Gaza blockade (see details).

I can understand your not having time to visit links in previous messages – but I humbly submit that this one is instructive. How so? Simply because almost all our highly biased media will omit the necessary explanations and jump on ‘bigots’ bandwagon’.

Caroline Glick, ‘ne plus ultra’ of commentators on Israel & Middle-East according to our Christian analyst at The White House (ie. William Koenig), writes:

 “Our times are times of Jew hatred. Our times are times where hatred breeds strategic madness (my emphases). Our times are times when we need to recall basic truths about Israel and the Jewish people.” [see The Plain Truth About Israel]

One of our own lady journalists, Melanie Phillips, is well aware of the censorship imposed by ‘cultural totalitarianism’ – see Middle East Forum article.

Is the Telegraph our only paper that sees sense? Saturday’s editorial and Charles Moore’s op-ed are excellent:

S C R I P T U R A L   A S P E C T

CLEARLY, the time is almost upon us for us to see the Lord once again fight for his Jewish people, now they’re in the land He promised – especially now that the WHOLE WORLD including UK HAS GANGED UP AGAINST THEM – AND Israel’s military seems to have inexplicably become incompetent !

Let’s recall God’s promise:

“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling…On that day when all nations of the earth are gathered against her (as in the UN?) I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to (re)move it will injure themselves…” (Zach 12:2-3)

Perhaps He will do this by fulfilling the prophecy He gave against Gaza (ie Philistia) – Ezek 25:15-17 is well worth a personal perusal !!  Maybe that scripture’s fulfillment will also answer Psalm 83?

v1  O God do not keep silent, be not quiet, O God be not still.
v2  See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads.
v3  With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
v4  “Come” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more”.
v5  With one mind they plot an alliance against you – the tents of Edom (now ‘philistinian’ refugee camps) etc etc
…
v18 Let them know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Amen Lord, answer again.

May the Lord fully open our minds to His word

Richard

Israel’s PM points to New Testament – Obama does U-turn!

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COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’).:

Subject: Israel’s PM Points To New Testament — US President Does U-Turn on Israel

Dear Friends – I trust you will be able to read this update’s insightful links as and when time permits:

The above-headed events happened a week ago today, ie. on Wednesday 12th and the morrow, 13th May. Are they connected, can we detect the hand of God?

What happened? Separate newsagency headlines hint at a possible connection –

> NETANYAHU TURNS TO BIBLE IN TUSSLE OVER JERUSALEM (Reuters 12.5.10)

> OBAMA TURNS A NEW LEAF ON ISRAEL (DebkaFile 16.5.10)

Israel’s Prime Minister:

Reuters reported a special session of the Knesset wherein PM Netanyahu responded to a heckler by drawing attention to the New Testament’s many references to the Jewish city of Jerusalem –  is intriguing reading.

[NB. One main area of Palestinian Authority (PA) incitement against Israel is the vehement Palestinian denial of any historic Jewish connection to Jerusalem or the Temple Mount!  Such nonsense is apparent from the remarks of PA’s chief negotiator to
Netanyahu’s reply, and who’d committed been ‘unbridled and offensive assaults’ upon rudely abusive to him during the reconvened talks. Debka Special report indicates the
the sterling character of PM Netanyahu.]

Netanyahu offered a comparison between the three Middle-Eastern religions’ scriptures. Reuters writes it was a lesson in comparative religion, but just maybe it could be regarded as implicit official recognition by Israel of the New Testament’s historical accuracy?

Perhaps the Lord may be moving the Jewish nation closer to the prophesied recognition of their true Messiah? Maybe quite soon, “they will look on Me whom they have pierced..”?? (Zechariah 12:10 – and maybe chapter 2’s awesome Word will soon be applied? It’s well-worth reading.

WOW-WOW pls excuse excitement but was about to hit ‘send’ but added this Zech2 bit’ – THEN in comes email advising of rhema word recvd upon awakening this morning> ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ – why? “because SOON AND VERY SOON THE KING OF KINGS WILL COME…” SO, it IS time for the Bride to be sure she’s getting ready!

United States’ President:

DEBKAfile’s published an ‘exclusive’ headed ‘Obama Turns a New Leaf on Israel’, saying this dashes Palestinian hopes for the imposition of his own solution upon Israel –
see here. He sent his top advisors with a sort of apology to leading American rabbis. Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emmanuel admitted they’d ‘screwed up’ support for Israel and promised they’d work to undo the damage. But shouldn’t Barack Obama himself apologise to the Israeli leaders he insulted?

NB.> This news is so astonishing it must have surprised even Debka analysts because it is diametrically different to their previous strong censure of Netanyahu made only days earlier, as issued in above-mentioned special report!!

Perhaps the Lord is opening Obama up to adopt a fresh perspective? Perhaps even a revelation of His Holy Word? Maybe the sight of what’s massively brewing in M.East has at last shocked some sense into him before it all blows sky high! Even the PA’s Abbas had gone to China on 1st May seeking its help to stop Iran striking Israel through terrorist proxies in Syria-Lebanon because many Palestinians would be killed in the anticipated missile barrage. Reports today indicate Russia is secretly training Iranian Republican Guards to use interceptor missiles as part of major arms deal with Iran, notwithstanding their PM’s promise to President Obama not to sell them!

I recall that PA leader Mahmoud Abbas was the first head of state Barack Obama contacted after his inauguration. Subsequently, commentators began to notice Obama’s extreme anti-Israel bias and support of the PA as though its agent rather than neutral honest broker; eg. his unprecedented bargaining on behalf of PA and insisting Israel bend, concede and obey – velvet glove on one hand – iron fist in the other. (Correct me if I’m mistaken but the PA has never reciprocated, nay cannot guarantee any such on their part.)

Recently, many concluded Obama’s true intent was regime change in Israel. Now, cynics say his Democrats have woken up to the loss of the ‘G-d Vote’ (believing Jewish and Christian voters) and all its treasure chest of dollars! [See here.]

(PS: it transpires Saudi King Abdullah has exerted pressure upon Obama soon after inauguration and extracted his promise to pressurise Israel into returning to pre-’67 status-quo, among other points!!  No wonder America is suffering the application of Biblical ‘terms & conditions’!)

A rapprochement had indeed become evident in early May when a senior advisor to Obama offered detailed clarifications to policy at the Anti-Defamation (ie. of Jewish people) League’s annual conference. At www.watch.org White House accredited journalist Bill Koenig opens his covering weekly Koenig’s Eye View:

“Ironically, no one has done more to accelerate the final-day events than secular Jews in their positions in Washington think-tanks such as the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Brookings Institute and their influence on the State Department, the National Security Council and the White House.”

Bill then goes in-depth not only on details given to the ADL but also on those experts’ 2008 policy blueprint, itemising the failure of 5/6 of their key actions! His summary points out,
“In Genesis 12:3 (NKJV), the Lord says of Israel, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee.” It was not until the United States started agreeing with the Islamic world and aggressively insisting that the nation of Israel must bow to Islamic demands that terrorism began to take root against America.”

NB.> From his place at the ‘coalface’, our Christian analyst is of the firm opinion:

“Never before have we had so many biblically significant events evolving at such a rapid pace (my emphasis)…it requires a major effort and assistance in an attempt to stay up with them (my emphasis). Only a small percentage of people in the church and a very small percentage of people in the public know of the seriousness of the times…”
(That’s you and me he’s referring to!)

Modern Jerusalem:

Although familiar with the Bible you may like some background to events. These recent items give a brief, solid overview:
(Incidentally, in 1922 Winston Churchill proposed using river Jordan as the Jewish homeland’s boundary but was ignored.)

> by a Christian confidante of several Israeli leaders
http://myjwn.com/jwn-exclusives/who-owns-jerusalem

> a British Biblical author’s open letter to Israel’s PM
http://www.thefreepressonline.co.uk/news/1/1912.htm

> from an influential American business professor and political commentator
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/04/23/mort-zuckerman-on-israel-obama-playing-the-mideast-game-wrong.html

Hope this information may encourage and refresh you in the Word.

Richard