Leading publisher contradicts BBC HARDtalk on Obama, Mid-East & terrorism

Posted on Wednesday, 14 October, 2015 by Richard Barker

An extraordinary interview popped onto our TV screen last night after a dvd closed down. We rarely bother with ‘talking-heads’; however, we stopped in our tracks upon hearing a question on the persecution of Christians. Joining as the first question was asked, we remained ‘glued’ to the dialogue.

Lord Weidenfeld; credit, Independent

News-makers and personalities around the world are interviewed in-depth on BBC World Services’ and News channel’s HARDtalk by presenter Stephen Sackur. Last night he interviewed British peer Lord Weidenfeld, who made London his home for the past eight decades after escaping nazi Austria and the Holocaust just before World War II. He became one of Britain’s best known publishers of high quality, prize-winning fiction and non-fiction (see Weidenfeld&Nicolson).

The programme was billed: ‘Now 96 years old, his life says much about the modern history of Britain, Europe and the Jewish people. But as he reflects, is he filled with hope or something darker?’. It reflects Sakur’s stance, quite contrary to that of his guest! And he didn’t cave in to the presenter’s polite grilling…

The opening question was about why he’d set up Operation Safe Haven, as publicised last July (eg. see Daily Mail article). His answer is that it’s in gratitude for and repayment of his debt to Christians because they’d helped him and his family to escape Austria, as well as when problems arose in pre-war Britain.

As the Operations objective is being purely to assist Iraqi and Syrian Christians, Sackur objects by referring to USA’s reservations about helping and says such help should be humanitarian only: his work shouldn’t be religiously selective but include Muslims too because they’re also suffering.

Weidenfeld recognises it’s an important point and counters by referring to his inter-faith work in improving relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims. The presenter then pushes for the logical consequence of such cooperation by rescuing those of any faith.

But the guest is candid and forthright in saying Christians in those lands “get a raw deal, they don’t get sufficient support” and because of his personal experience wants to repay them.

“Let me put it bluntly” retorts Sackur and posits a position of his guest refusing to help those in the migrating masses who are not Christians.

Weidenfeld is forthright about this ‘academic question’, reminds him of the Communist and Nazi persecutions and that nothing is being done by the Western world to help the ancient Christian world. He contradicts Sackur’s typically BBC pro-Palestinian and anti-Christian moronic mind-set,

“A great deal is being done for the Muslims…logistically they’re in the situation and their safe havens are pretty close by and a huge amount of money is available for them – but the Christians get the raw deal: that’s what I’m saying!”

Not content, Sackur pushes his point by referring to Europe and problems here only for his guest to be equally blunt,

“The Western world is in a bad moral shape and, I’m afraid, I blame the leader of the Western world, President, Obama for a lot of what’s happening now”

“You can’t surely blame him for Europe’s failure to lead on this (migrant) crisis…?” blurts the Beeb’s man.

“I blame him for having created situations in the Middle-East and undulating, uncertain, weak foreign policy that has done a great deal to bring about this present situation. I could go into great detail on this…”

As regards Europe and jihadist attacks they discuss the safety of Jews, the call for their return to their original, ancient homeland (now the state of Israel), anti-Semitism and the roots of terrorism. In view of the peer’s connections and experience in Germany a good discussion develops. Regarding anti-Semitism he thinks,

“There are two roots of anti-Semitism: a religious root and an economical root….the first is no longer valid for people don’t say, “You killed the Saviour” – so that root died out in the 18th Century. The economic root is also not so valid because, if you look at the phone directories of most European capitals many (Jewish) bankers, lawyers and dentists no longer exist there because of Auschwitz.

“So it is Jihadism – the hatred of Jews brought about by radical Islam. There’s no question about that! It’s anti the Jewish state, it’s anti-Zionism – that’s what it is really.”

Sackur notices his disquiet over the Obama administration and asks what’s made him so angry. Having spent time in the States, Weidenfeld responds that,

“…he is someone who has no talent or knowledge about foreign affairs. He may be a good orator, possibly quite well equipped to deal with home affairs, but he hasn’t got a feeling for foreign affairs. He is naïve. He builds up Putin into a position of where he’s a mixture of Disraeli and Bismarck as arbiter in the Middle-East; in Syria he made him the man for opening the debate with Iran to his own disadvantage – and I think he has weakened, he has alienated, some of our allies to a point of great bitterness. So I make him responsible for a lot of what’s going on today in the Middle-East.”

The presenter offers, as though speaking for that administration, their objection based upon delivery of democratic mandate, getting out of the M-East and making a deal with Iran, which earns the peer’s gentle but forthright rebuke,

“With Iran it is a very dangerous situation now because – although there may be a way of curbing the atomic ambitions – you’re dealing with a theocratic government of extreme violence – and the present president just has a better table-manner than his predecessor – but I think that by filling their coffers now you make it possible for them to support Hezbollah, to support all kinds of extremists and you’re probably going to have another intifada or full-fledged war before long because the Iranians are again going to be on the warpath.”

Watch this interesting and stimulating interview in full by clicking here.

Why this September is special: Update 1- Judaism

Posted on Thursday, 24 September, 2015 by Richard Barker

THIS POST MUST BE IMPORTANT in view of today’s extremely ‘buggy’, tediously slow connections with WordPress blogging platform and my PC’s Internet Explorer and its own internal processes! (Chrome couldn’t connect at all.) I haven’t had such difficult a day blogging in years! I was going to have begun this morning after quickly adding a couple of paragraphs to the last post as it was already in draft.

In this tight time slotted in my birthday and our anniversary week this post, therefore, must needs be a potted summary of events. Now, I’m stopped from opening posts in other tabs as there’s no WP security certificate from Microsoft! Crazy! Something like this happened a couple of years ago in trying to blog about Iran. Then, my ISP got security conscious over content of some WP blogs. Maybe a new patch is the culprit? Seems to be working at last…And I don’t think it was simply to turn me outdoors into the welcome warmth and sunshine…

The first in this series of posts focusing upon this month has a schedule of events of which one reports: AND NOW IT HANGS!!! Although that post is open in a tab for me to read and select text, I go to it and find screen is blank. (I can usually work across many open tabs) Grabbing laptop to work on and praying the Blood I see 3 tabs open but critical one has gone! Try again…save…re-open tab…refusal…hang… All I see is new blank tab at the top which later read ‘Certificate error’ – then a couple more of them appear! I just do not have time for this so let’s try laptop (it too didn’t work on default Chrome browser this morning). Even restarting PC results in failure to connect to WP and ‘IE stopped working’, so over to Chrome on laptop – kindly bear with me:

Sat 12th Sept – Recently, a leading authority in mainstream ultra-orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, has been giving clear, unequivocal messages the coming of the Messiah is imminent. He is urging Jews to make aliyah as soon as possible (which refers to immigrating to Israel), which is seen as higher spiritual action that can help usher in the coming of the Messiah. When asked about the timing of the Messiah’s arrival, Rabbi Kanievsky answered, “At the end of the Sabbatical year”. Several people have asked the rabbi to verify this, and he has given the same answer each time. This year is the Sabbatical year and it will end on the 29th day of Elul—which in the Gregorian calendar falls on Saturday Sept 12 (sic), 2015.

To appreciate this week’s news, in the new Hebraic Year 5776, please be sure to read that linked article in Breaking Israel News. Also, recall Zecharaia 12:10

¹⁰“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (NIV, courtesy Bible Gateway.com)

Monday 21st – William Koenig’s World Watch Daily reports and links into an opinion piece in Jerusalem Post (which my security software now reports as being suspicious! It has not done that all week!). Chief Rabbis Besmirch Christian Embassy is an apologia about an establishment familiar to us: the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem and opens as follows:

‘It is regrettable that on Yom Kippur eve, our chief rabbis have again uttered offensive remarks, this time besmirching one of Israel’s most dedicated allies and ardent supporters.

‘Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and his Sephardi counterpart, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, have issued an extraordinary condemnation against the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), accusing it of missionary activities and calling on Jews to boycott its 36th annual global Succot gathering in Jerusalem. The pro-Israel ICEJ was established in 1980 and is an extension of the Evangelical branch of Christianity.

‘Over the past half century, we have witnessed an exponential intensification in the Evangelical movement’s attachment to the Jewish people and Israel. This has coincided with the dramatic erosion of support for Israel from the Left and liberal sources…’

Apparently those leaders of Jewry have been beguiled and misled, like the chief priest of Jesus’ day was shoe-horned by fanatical Pharisees and Suducees – and it’s said ‘Ha Mashiach’ is coming! Isi Leibler provides a concise, instructive account of the working relationship of ICEJ with the Jewish people in Israel along with detail of last year’s Feast of Tabernacles, which was addressed by no less than Israel’s President as well as its Prime Minister! Isi fittingly concludes,

‘It is disgraceful that the Chief Rabbinate failed to verify the false allegations made against the Christian Embassy and slandered those who represent Israel’s greatest friends in the world. The chief rabbis’ churlish action shames the Jewish people, and they should apologize and withdraw their scurrilous accusations.

‘In the meantime, I have every confidence that Israelis will continue to welcome our Christian friends and express appreciation for their support. Succot is traditionally recognized as the festival on which gentiles are invited to Jerusalem, and we should be gratified that during these difficult times, Christians from all over the world will gather here to express their solidarity.

‘Indeed, we should echo the sentiments expressed by then-chief rabbi Shlomo Goren who, in 1981, blessed the Christian Embassy Succot gathering with “Bruchim habaim b’shem Adonai” – “may all of you who have come here be blessed in the name of God”.’

Tuesday 22nd – Joel Rosenberg reveals the major story untold by mainstream media: Since last Yom Kippur, millions of Jews have begun searching for the Messiah, and for atonement of their sins!! His detailed post covers not only this news but also the meaning of Yom Kippur, as well as his personal testimony of discovering the true Messiah’s identity.

To give us a handle to grasp the enormity of this ‘sea-change’ Joel outlines some more personal history:

‘When my father, who was raised an Orthodox Jew in Brooklyn, discovered in 1973 — after a careful study of the Gospel According to Luke — that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, and received the Messiah by faith, my father thought he was one of the first Jews in history who believed this. He had never met a Jewish believer in Jesus. He had never heard of such a person. And in 1973, there were fewer than 2,000 Jewish people on the planet who were followers of Jesus.

‘But today, some 300,000 Jews around the world are followers of Jesus. And millions of Jews are searching for the Messiah and thus reading the Hebrew prophecies, and comparing them with the writings of the New Testament, and trying to decide whether Jesus really is the Messiah we have desperately longed for over so many centuries.

‘Today, on Yom Kippur, you can watch short videos of Jewish people explaining how they met the Messiah.’

Therefore, I trust my readers will dig into these stories to read the full facts. Also, let’s remind ourselves that perhaps the most revered rabbi of modern times, Yitzak Kaduri, is said to have met and provided the identity of the Messiah to his followers – see Who are the Jewish people expecting?

This has been the most extremely bedevilled post I’ve blogged and needed on-going prayer. So I trust and pray you will be able to receive, read and be blessed.

PS. I was able to complete this in IE11, saving with long delays. In trying to use Chrome the connection refuses to let me log in saying the completed ‘Field is empty’ CRAZY!!! But then, what am I blogging about but the sacred purpose of our heavenly Father: the recognition of His Son by His Jewish people. Amen – let it be so Lord.

NOW (Thursday) that it’s actually published I’ve been able to check and amend typos with normal ease and speed!! Is that not evidence of the existence of the evil ‘prince of the air’ and its stooges? (Friday: just a spot-check whilst out & about and everything’s running as normal – so why was everything playing up y’day just coincidental? What do you think?)

Related Reading: (Part 2 of 3) Devilish plot to pre-empt the Bible’s ‘end-game’ – also covers similar weird blockages and ‘coincidences’ when trying to blog about Iran.

Why this September is special – 2: Pope, POTUS & Messiah

Posted on Thursday, 3 September, 2015 by Richard Barker

Part 1 covered the first of at least three reasons why this month is highly significant:

international events of eschatological relevance. (Brief intro here about this.)
the current Shemitah Year 5775 closes on Elul 29, Sunday 13th September.
last of the current Blood Moon Tetrad occurs on Monday 28th September or Tishri 15, first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.

Please note I’m not a ‘doom and gloom’ merchant and not being alarmist in presenting the first item’s ‘September Schedule’. A couple of those events need a closer look to enable us to better understand what’s going on.

We’re living in exceptionally exciting times as Biblical prophecies move towards fulfilment. In August, Neville Johnson followed-up last year’s ‘Urgent words about a ‘cut-off time’ in God’s timeline’, . In his later session he taught in-depth upon the necessity of our being heavenly minded. Thus, we’d see ‘The BIGGER Picture’ God has for His children and for the new earth, now and in the near future – the Age to Come!

POPE and P.O.T.U.S.

In Part 1, the 23rd Sept entry quoted John Kilpatrick’s observation on Pope Francis’ official meeting with President Of The United States, Barack Obama: “He’s the 226th Pope visiting the president on the 226th day of the Gregorian calendar. Many wonder if something’s being birthed because that’s the gestation period of the human – it’s 226 days!”

In this connection, at the recent Lancaster Prophetic Conference’s first session, Neville taught about the false prophet and the false church (Revelation 13). He spoke about a very powerful encounter he had with the Lord a year ago:

“He said to me, “I want you to watch for something”. He said, “When the present pope will address the United Nations and Congress it will be the beginning of the rise of the false church”…(Neville then quoted Rev 13:11-14)

“This year, during the last phase of the Blood Moon, the pope, this present pope, will be addressing the United Nations (the day after) he will be addressing your Congress…that’s right after Yom Kippur – and just before Tabernacles.

“That speech will mark the first time ever a Roman Catholic pope has addressed Congress.

“This is a historic visit in a historic year when the United Nations marks its 70th anniversary.” (From 1:48:35 mark)

Neville went on to refer to many leaders thinking that unifying religions is the answer for bringing the nations peace, but

“The world church will include all of the world’s religions, except Judaism – and Christianity…This meeting will be the catalyst of that beginning.

“Our greatest problem isn’t going to be the Antichrist but the false church because legislation will be introduced that will forbid activities except for those who are of the false church…plus higher taxes to wipe out churches…

“The false church will have great political power and clout. It will strongly advocate the mark of the beast – that’s what scripture says!…

“This won’t affect the true church because it will arise in greater power, greater glory and strength to the dismay of the false church as millions of people come into the kingdom of God!”

Note: 1) 20th-26 Sept – the World Council of Churches is sponsoring the World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel: 2) 21st Sept – UN’s annual International Day of Peace: Bill Koenig asks, could this be the day the UN Security Council resolution establishing a Palestinian state is actually adopted?

JEWS LOOKING FOR MESSIAH

To my mind the most remarkable promise of this month is that Jewish rabbis are expecting Messiah. Those who took the link to an earlier post will have read the secret Rabbu Yitzak Kaduri kept about having met Yeshua and that the timing of PM Ariel Sharon’s death (11 January 2014) meant it would not be long before Ha’ Mashiach would come to Israel.

Thus, in seeing beyond Breaking Israel News’ report we could reasonably expect thousands more orthodox Jews will to be given dreams and visions of the Messiah and to learn his true identity. Is this not prophesied in Zecharia 12 and that it will happen when the status of Jerusalem is constantly under international threat?

^¹⁰“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn…

For example, in July David Hathaway reported in Jesus Is Coming! (emphases mine):

“Jesus will come when the Jews call upon His Name! In June 2013 what the taxi driver said on the way back to the airport was an amazing revelation. He knew who we were, and was a religious Jew wearing a kippah, yet from the moment we got in the car he began the conversation so animatedly that he kept taking the wrong road! He kept saying, ‘Why did we kill Yeshua? He was a good man, He did nothing wrong, He killed no one but healed all who came. Was He Messiah, if so why did we not recognise Him, were we blind? We thought many people in our history were Messiah, but they are not alive today. I search the Scriptures for Him; can you show me where to find Him? All our nation is looking for Messiah at this moment, no one else can save us, can you show me the way?’

“This is why it is so important that we preach the Gospel – suddenly Israel is opening. God, through the Holy Spirit, is opening their hearts and minds to search for Him. The Bible is so clear, Jesus said, ‘If you seek Me you will find Me’.”

In the next part we further consider the Shemitah Year and how the Blood Moon Tetrad may connect with Prophetic Prayer Points for 2015-2020 brought by Charles Shamp.

UPDATES: for more on this topic read Update 1 – Judaism and Update 2 – Islam

Why this September is special – 1: weather & schedule

Posted on Wednesday, 2 September, 2015 by Richard Barker

Readers having a birthday this month already know it’s special 🙂 A couple of weeks ago after reading Economic crises as Shemitah year draws to a close, Tony remarked, “September seems to be a month that things will be happening”.

So I quipped, “That’s why it’s my birthday month Tony! Although not into astrology I used to joke I get the better deal with a birthday on the cusp of two constellations – even better in 2017”.

Joking apart, this particular September is highly significant for at least three reasons.

international events of eschatological relevance. (If new to this topic see brief follow-up post upon launching this blog – Not many people know this…)
the current Shemitah Year 5775 closes on Elul 29, Sunday 13th September.
the last of the current Blood Moon Tetrad occurs as a ‘super-moon’ on Monday 28th September or Tishri 15, first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.

UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER

In keeping with the Orthodox Church, Pope Francis declared yesterday as ‘World day of Prayer’ for the environment “offering our contribution towards overcoming the ecological crisis which humanity is living through…” The pope said September 1st would give people “a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation”.

As John Kilpatrick remarked on that news in Could this be a September to remember?, “Wow, we really need that…What about the Creator?”

Stewardship is one thing but it would it have been better praying for global repentance from our increasing inclination towards evil. Why not emulate Anne Graham-Lotz’s Sept 1st call for Daniel 9 repentance and prayer for peace of Jerusalem and Middle East?

September started with an unprecedented occurrence of three Category 4 hurricanes in the Pacific ocean – a sign of things to come rather than ecologically caused? (Climate-warming science remains discredited.) US Weather Channel reports the hurricanes represent something of a leap: three concurrent Category 3 hurricanes have not yet been recorded. (Category 5 is highest.)

The Atlantic too has an unprecedented hurricane over the west African archipelago of Cape Verde. Monday’s Category 1 hurricane Fred was the first to hit Cape Verde since 1892 and the easternmost hurricane ever to have formed in the tropical Atlantic!

As for our Bank Holiday Monday washout, it’s nothing unusual but we don’t normally get persistent northerly winds. A fortnight’s rain fell that day and sunny Bournemouth on the south coast has had its wettest August on record. But three weeks earlier a forecaster – not Met Office – expected us to “bake in hottest August in years” – abysmally wrong!

[UPDATE 3rd Sept: UK Weather: ‘Polar plume’ = icy conditions this weekend – figures for August show Wales & SW England at 70% above average rainfall, SE and central S (here) almost double, with Sussex its wettest August since 1946. The UK had wettest summer ever despite predictions for a dry, hot season!! Met Office chief scientist Prof Dame Julia Slingo said, “Seasonal forecasts for this summer suggested temperatures and rainfall would be near normal. However, as the season progressed all the leading models around the world failed to capture the signal for unsettled weather over the UK. We all know that forecasting months and seasons ahead is still in its infancy and much more research needs to be done!” See Soggy Summer was impossible to predict, says Met Office.]

So who’s in control? Definitely not mankind – but ungodly folk think we’re to blame. In a way they’re right but not for the popular, mythical ‘climate change’ reasons.

A SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

For information, here are some forthcoming public events that may be of eschatological relevance. (Thank you to William Koenig [WK] accredited Christian journalist at the White House and editor of World Watch Daily and to Revd John Kilpatrick [JK] senior pastor of Church of His Presence.)

First, however, a doomsday prediction needs to be corrected:

Comet strike? – NASA says nothing will be remotely near earth. [The Guardian]

Wed 9th Sept – A re-established and self-declared Israeli Sanhedrin is calling U.S. President Barack Obama to trial for what it says are “criminal offenses” against the Jewish people following the passage of the Iran nuclear deal. [Breaking Israel News exclusive – The modern-day Jewish high court, made up of 71 Judaic scholars and rabbis, plans to bring the American president to trial on Mount Zion on Sept. 9, 2015, four days before Rosh Hashana, the beginning of heavenly judgment days for the Jewish nation – WK]

Wed/Thu 9/10th Sept – US Congress expected to vote on Obama’s Iran deal. A final vote could take place on Friday 11th Sept before the Rosh Hashanah holiday. [WK]

Fri 11th Sept – 14th anniversary of the World Trade Centre and Pentagon terror attacks and last day of trading on New York Stock Exchange before end of the Shemittah. In Could this be a September to remember? John Kilpatrick points out:

“The twin towers concept was proposed in the Shemitah of 1945, it was begun in the Shemitah of 1966, it took 7 years to build it, dedicated in the Shemitah of 1973 and destroyed in the Shemitah of 2001!

“What’s going to be called The Freedom Tower, now known as ‘One World Trade Centre’, is the new building there and on September 13th there’s going to be a partial solar eclipse.” [from 3:08:50 mark]

Sat 12th Sept – Recently, a leading authority in mainstream ultra-orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, has been giving clear, unequivocal messages the coming of the Messiah is imminent. He is urging Jews to make aliyah as soon as possible (which refers to immigrating to Israel), which is seen as higher spiritual action that can help usher in the coming of the Messiah. When asked about the timing of the Messiah’s arrival, Rabbi Kanievsky answered, “At the end of the Sabbatical year”. Several people have asked the rabbi to verify this, and he has given the same answer each time. This year is the Sabbatical year and it will end on the 29th day of Elul—which in the Gregorian calendar falls on Saturday Sept 12 (sic), 2015. [Breaking Israel News – WK]

NB: See my blog on Rabbi Kaduri’s secret, Who are the Jewish people expecting…?

Sun-Tue 13-15th Sept – Rosh Hashanah, Jewish civil new year begins at sundown 13th September. Partial solar eclipse.

Sun 13th Sept or Elul 29 – The last two Elul 29s at the end of Shemittah years produced two of the largest Dow Jones sell-offs in history. 2001: $1 trillion— est $1.4 trillion was wiped out in five days of trading. 2008: $1.2 trillion was wiped out. [WK]

Mon 14th Sept – First stock market trading day after end of Shemittah.

Tue 15th Sept – UN General Assembly convenes for 70th General Assembly. [WK, JK – who comments as follows:]

“It’s reported there may be a plan to introduce a resolution that will give formal UN approval, and formal UN Security (Council) recognition for a Palestinian state – recognising Palestine without Israel negotiating a Palestinian state at all – it will be done in spite of them (and to spite Israel RB). Will US veto this? My guess it’s doubtful.” [at 3:10:20 mark – emphasis added]

Wed 16th Sept – Congressional deadline to approve the Iran nuclear deal.[WK]

Sun 20th Sept – Sanhedrin to put Pope Francis on trial…he will be judged in absentia. In February 2013 the Vatican officially recognized the “State of Palestine” but, more significantly, the Vatican signed a treaty in June with “Palestine” in which the Holy See switched its diplomatic relations from the PLO to the “State of Palestine.” This treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and, as such, constitutes an official recognition. [Breaking Israel News – WK]

Mon 21st Sept – Hajj to Mecca begins and UN International Day of Peace [JK]

Tue 22nd sundown to sundown Wed 23rd Sept – Yom Kippur and the beginning of the final year of the Jubilee. [WK, JK: this Jubilee year’s calculation isn’t definitive.]

Tue 22nd Sept – Pope Frances arrives in Andrews Air Force base for ‘2015 Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis to the United States of America’. [Schedule – WK]

Wed 23rd Sept- Autumn/Fall equinox.

Wed 23rd – Pope Francis to visit the White House on Yom Kippur. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says the Pope and President Obama will discuss a broad range of issues including poverty, the environment, religious freedom and immigration. [WK, JK offers a fascinating observation based upon the scriptural notation of 360 days in a prophetic year:]

“360 days times 49 years is one Jubilee period = 17,640 days. From the date Israel got Jerusalem back on June 7 1967 to September 23, Day of Atonement, is exactly 17,640 days.

“That’s the day Pope Francis visits the White House. He’s the 226th Pope visiting the president on the 226th day of the Gregorian calendar.

“Many wonder if something’s being birthed because that’s the gestation period of the human – it’s 226 days.” [3:13:10]

Thu 24th Sept – Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress—the first time the head of the Roman Catholic Church will have done so. [WK]

Fri 25th Sept – Pope Francis is to speak to UN General Assembly and expected to discuss climate change encyclical, and speak on the Vatican’s support of a Palestinian state, the plight of the those in poverty, inequality, and more. [WK]

“Interesting to note that on May 14th 2014 French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius claimed, “We are, all of you know it, on the edge of climatic abyss. In fact, we have 500 days to avoid climate chaos”. It’s interesting that time frame of 500 days is up on September 25th, the very day the pope is to address the UN on climate change.” [JK 3:17:20 – emphasis added]

Fri-Sun 25/27th Sept – UN Summit for adoption of the post-2015 development agenda will be held in New York and convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. [WK]

Mon 28th Sept – UN General Assembly begins its annual debate until 3rd October. One of the main subjects usually is the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Arab countries use this as a time to bash Israel publicly. It is also a time where the leaders of Israel have recently pointed out dangers posed by Iran. [WK]

Mon 28th Sept – first day of Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacles) and super blood-red moon over Jerusalem and the Middle East. This will be the fourth one in the past two years. The first was on the first day of Passover 2014, the second on the first day of Sukkoth in 2014, the third on the first day of Passover 2015 and this will be the final one in the tetrad. [WK] (Note: Previous three were not fully visible in Israel.)

Steering clear of conspiracy theories John had already mentioned the idolatrous display upon the Empire State Building of the Hindu goddess Kali (black one, force of time and change and destruction). He went on to refer to the Large Hadron Collider at C.E.R.N. in Europe, the logo of which is made up of three sixes – 666. Its HQ’s exterior displays an image of the Hindu deity Shiva, or destroyer, and experiments searching for a ‘God particle’ are expected to start this month. It is posited by scientists that its operation could open up a gateway into another dimension and John refers to the Tower of Babel, which is reputedly supposed to have had such a portal.

John says that idol’s identity is the same as ‘Abaddon’ (Hebrew), or ‘Apollyon’ (Greek), in Revelation 9:11 and the ‘Son of Perdition’ (Grk ) in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. He doesn’t, however, refer to what I’d read in SIGNS by Neil Mackereth (as here) about the Tower of Babel being the inspiration behind the design of the European Parliament (click this image for full details):

Watch Could this be a September to remember? from 3:08:00 mark for fuller details of some of the above items. Better still, listen to the whole teaching which, at 2hours 10 minutes length, is quite thorough in briefly covering the Lord’s own feasts, evidence of past Shemittah and Jubilee years and the four deeply defiling, abominable national sins which the Lord has dramatically judged in the past, and thus is soon expected.

In part 2 we consider a couple of the above events from a prophetical perspective and a couple of updates cover Judaism and Islam.

My ‘take’ on Iran vs. Israel

Posted on Thursday, 27 August, 2015 by Richard Barker

In case you may be unaware of updates to my covering remarks on Joel Rosenberg’s Iran performing its own nuclear inspections, I will briefly relate what happened. Then we’ll get to the real heart of this issue, which I’ve kept an eye on for 30 years. Kindly bear with me…

“Sheer, utter folly!” was my reaction to the eventual news of the nuclear ‘fix’ or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of UN Security Council; USA, Russia, Britain, France, China plus Germany) and the EU. The strength of my reaction arose from knowing the Iranian regime’s freely admitted and never rescinded ultimate goal – the downfall and removal of the state of Israel. (See for example, Cranmer’s Iran Nuclear Deal: Obama is Fulfilling Shia ‘End Times’ Prophecy.)

Public’s Positive Attitude

The re-blog attracted informed contributions from a blogger who drew attention to an issue over the source behind the original Associated Press (AP) report. This revealed the fuss was over Iranians already cleaning up a well-known but long-disused site and journalists’ lack of expertise in appreciating technical complexities. (See AP’s controversial and badly flawed Iran inspection story explained.)

The informative comments on the thread are welcomed and I’d encourage you to take a couple of minutes to check them out, as well as to see the brief video summarising the deal.

Next, I introduced MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) reports on Critical Points to Consider in Understanding the Iranian Nuclear Deal as well as Senior Iran Officials Disclose Confidential Details…

My contributor pointed out MEMRI isn’t a neutral observer and suggested reading about ordinary Iranian’s perceptions of Westerners, as reported in his site The Other Iran. (For example, see Iran’s exceptional reaction to 9/11 attacks.)

Throughout all consideration and discussions we cannot overlook the fact that There’s a Higher Plan at Work…, as Elam Ministries remind us. Their mission is to strengthen and expand Christianity within and beyond Iran. Like Hormoz Shariat’s Iran Alive Ministry, a great deal of teaching and evangelism goes direct to Iranian homes by satellite.

Regime’s Negative Doctrine

1) Then came next day’s news from the semi-official Fars News Agency reporting senior Iranian aide Hossein Sheikholeslam (parliamentary speaker’s Advisor for International Affairs) as saying – “Our positions against the usurper Zionist regime have not changed at all; Israel should be annihilated and this is our ultimate slogan.” (Emphasis RB.)

This came in response to Foreign Secretary Hammond’s remarks upon re-opening the British embassy in Tehran on Sunday following years of strained relations between the two countries. FNA stated,

“Hammond claimed in an interview with the British media that the current Iranian government had displayed a more nuanced approach than its predecessor to a long-running conflict with Israel. Also, on Hammond’s remarks in a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran on Monday that the past hostilities should be forgotten, Sheikholeslam said Tehran will never forget the past and Britain’s colonialist moves.”

2) Last month Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published a new book called Palestine, a 416-page screed against the Jewish state. The back cover credits Khamenei as “The flag-bearer of Jihad to liberate Jerusalem”, writes Amir Taheri in Iran publishes book on how to outwit USA and destroy Israel. Rather than reach and keep a nuclear deal, “Iran’s religious leader has another issue on his mind: The destruction of Israel”.

In his forthright, well-argued Has Obama read the Khameini Palestine Book? Jonathan Tobin cites Teheri, claiming “latest evidence of the malevolence of the Islamist regime should be regarded as yet another inarguable reason for Congress to vote the deal down“.

Obama is on record as saying the anti-Semitism of the Iranian leadership doesn’t mean they were not also “interested in survival” or being “rational.” As far as the US president is concerned, the regime’s ideology isn’t something that would influence its decisions. I can only conclude POTUS lives in ‘cloud-cuckoo land’!

Both journalists are quoted in the introductory lead-in to the exclusive, first translation of Khameini’s book. Note especially Tobin’s:

‘The Khamenei Palestine book is important not in and of itself but because the regime’s obsession with Israel is a key to its foreign policy. Iran constitutes a grave threat to neighboring Arab countries that are at least as angry about the president’s embrace of Tehran as the Israelis since their nuclear status would undermine their security…it is the fixation on Israel and Zionism that really animates their expansionism and aid for terror groups. (Underline added.)

‘As Taheri notes in his article on the book, Khamenei distinguishes his idée fixe about destroying Israel from European anti-Semitism. Rather, he insists, that his policy derives from “well established Islamic principles”. Chief among them is the idea that any land that was once ruled by Muslims cannot be conceded to non-believers no matter who lives there now…(Israel’s) central location in the middle of the Muslim and Arab worlds and the fact that Jews, a despised minority people, now rule it makes its existence particularly objectionable to Islamists like Khamenei.’

3) We now go full circle back to 1980’s with last week’s The Algemeine’s report (source The Investigative Terrorism Project – since updated):

“A newly revealed video produced under the auspices of the Iranian regime in early August threatens and visualizes the destruction of Israel at the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian Middle East proxies.”

This is not entirely new. Its purpose echoes the stunt that stunned me 30 years ago as a non-Christian and made me realise the accuracy of Bible prophecy! Therefore, let me close by summarising personal events indicative of the significance of Iran’s official hostility toward the state of Israel.

Personal Perspective

This blog’s Welcome briefly recounts how I became aware of the huge role played by Iran in ‘The Last Days’. Now and again I refer to Iran in connection with the ‘Ezekiel 38 alliance’, otherwise known as ‘Gog and Magog’ and referred to in Revelation 20.

That role’s warning flags are:

Mid-1980’s joint-rehearsal of the storming of Jerusalem by Iranian-Iraqi elite units, despite fighting on opposite sides during the Iran-Iraq War! (Refer to Review 2 – Iran and Nuclear ‘Fix’).
Very early in his presidency Obama starts secretly appeasing Iran (email 18 May 2009).
July/Aug 2010 – Iran’s nuclear reactor goes live, Supreme Leader reports having been visited by the Hidden Imam about his violent return (email 19 August 2010).
Nov 2011 – referred to event 1 above in ‘Welcome’, introductory post launching this blog.
Nov 2013 – event 1 repeated by Iranian troops in drill ‘Towards Jerusalem’ two years to the date I blogged about the 1980s rehearsal in ‘Welcome’. (Invisible Hand Reappears).
Mar 2015 – The Lord asked, “How many months since that blog you wrote about Iran?”. Upon checking, I’m prompted to expect developments of nuclear deal four months later, ie this July (Review 2 – Iran and Nuclear ‘Fix’). The reference was to when I’d asked if my triple warning about Iran had disrupted my internet’s blogging connection in Nov ’13.
Aug 2015 – new video of IRGC & Iranian proxies ‘imagining’ taking Jerusalem, as related in above section.

Finally, there’s also my statement in March: What’s weird about blogging about Iran 🙂

A prophetic evening with John Kilpatrick, Friday 28th August

Posted on Wednesday, 26 August, 2015 by Richard Barker

Watch Revd John Kilpatrick live this Friday evening as he presents a topical message, Could this be a September to remember? at 7pm Central Daylight Time, USA.

Click that title for a link to Church of His Presence home page where you’ll see at the top of screen a countdown indicator for ‘Next Service’. This changes to ‘LIVE NOW’ and becomes your direct link to live streaming.

NB: UK VIEWERS – 7pm CDT on Friday is our 1am Saturday morning (BST). Check for global time differences using Time Zone Map.

I’m informed the service will be archived and available in ‘View Latest Messages’ on home page, or use this link to Recent Messages on their media page.

In introducing his message ‘Wanted: Handwriting Expert’ at last Sunday’s service John said that, on his return from a trip the day before, he went to his study and read chapter 5 of the book of Daniel and,

“Just as I was reading about ‘the handwriting on the wall’… as I was reading that scripture, rabbi Jonathan Cahn called me. My eyes were on that scripture where the finger wrote on the wall, and I said, “Rabbi – you won’t believe what I’m reading!” He said, “John, you won’t believe what I’m going to tell you…”.

As the expected ‘shaking’ has already started, next month may see its amplification as a prophetic, historic event. So, the evening promises to be most interesting.

May you be greatly blessed…

Prophetic word for USA: lost loved ones to return ‘home’ to the Lord

Posted on Monday, 17 August, 2015 by Richard Barker

‘ On the third day…’

Jesus at Door – credit Del Parson

A triplet of ‘coincidental’ prophetic words occurred on three successive days last week – on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I regard such events as unquestionably clear-cut actions by the Lord (ie. ‘God-incidents’; learn more here).

It’s as though He’s standing at the door knocking with a with rapid knock-knock-knock to get our attention.

1st knock, Thursday 13th – I read an email of words brought by Val Williams and Aliss Creswell but as I intended blogging a two-part item, I acknowledged and popped them into ‘pending’. BUT when finishing for the day I decided to copy and paste content and schedule for publication the next day.

AND that evening I called my son about visiting him and his family for the first time this year. Also, I wanted to ask about taking my 11 years old grandson out for a day. I was amazed at my son’s suggestion that he join us and we three go together – nothing like that has ever happened – praise the Lord!

(My wife and I didn’t get to see the inspiring video by Aliss until the weekend – if you haven’t seen it I recommend your arranging 20 minutes to do so.)

2nd knock, Friday 14th – the morning saw the auto-publication of those words, which inspired a couple of readers, of whom Lynne at Father’s House of Prayer I thank for:

3rd knock, Saturday 15th – prophet-psalmist Kim Clement emailed this to FHP:

“During my search for God’s will in my prayer garden this morning, the story of the prodigal son came to me by the Spirit. These words were impressed on my heart,

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

“As I heard this, the Spirit of God showed me multiple things that He intends to do, starting this weekend.

America-Israel Restoration:

“Regarding the backslidden state of our leaders in Washington, DC, I was led by the Holy Spirit to immediately act this weekend and get our team in Israel and in the USA to position themselves with YOU as we prophesy, proclaim, pray, and bless together. God showed me that something would begin to shift and He would release us from a certain judgment for the way our leadership has treated Israel. However, it would require a mass of people who have faith and prophetic perception to stand together. He chose us.

You and Your House:

“A deep compassion rose from within me and I began weeping as I heard the heart of God towards you and me, and our loved ones. An anointing has been released as a result of this revelation for many of your ‘dead’ and lost loved ones to return ‘home’ to God. “

Kim’s delivery of the last two paragraphs may be seen on this video link starting at 48 minutes of Prophetic Alert…August 15th 2015. Prior to sitting at the piano and after worship at his keyboard, he brought a word concerning Saudi Arabia’s new king, Iran and ‘spiritual leprosy’ coming out of America’s dealings, which only the Lord Jesus can change – and “He will…”!

Why is the Iran nuclear deal so dangerous? Joel Rosenberg’s detailed analysis of the agreement.

Posted on Thursday, 6 August, 2015 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Joel for saving me the time of summarising my researches today. My immediate reaction of “Sheer, utter folly” under ‘Nuclear Agreement’ in Review 2, is supported by his conclusion. Rather than wading through many reviews as I have, Joel directly consulted a number of experts. Yesterday, World Watch Daily reported Obama said, “Whole world has expressed support for Iran deal except for Israeli government” and upon meeting US Jews, “Rockets will fall on Tel Aviv if Congress kills Iran deal”! If the US president were a Bible-believing Christian he would know ALL nations of the world will be judged by the Almighty in relation to Israel (Joel 3). Also, my long-time readers will be aware of the prophecies about Netanyahu being prime minister. AND Obama’s claim about missile attacks upon Tel Aviv is irrelevant, as explained in this Debkafile analysis (emphasis added):

“Obama’s warning to the Jewish leaders does not stand up to the test of logic or reliable intelligence….It is therefore obvious that Israel faces an Iranian-Hizballah missile threat today, as it did yesterday, and probably also tomorrow, regardless of whether the US Congress endorses or throws out President Obama’s nuclear deal with Tehran. He might have made a difference to this grim reality if US negotiators had stipulated that the deal include the lifting of the Iranian missile peril hanging over Israel and that Tehran’s waive its standing threat to destroy the Jewish state. But as things stand now, this particular argument in support of his nuclear deal with Iran is an irrelevancy.”

(Joel’s address last night in Denver would have been illuminating – one of my readers was blessed in being there.)

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Denver, Colorado) — I have finished reading the 159-page Iran nuclear deal, known as the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (or JCPOA), as well as numerous analyses by various Middle East think tanks, and I’ve consulted with a number of Mideast experts, nuclear experts, and former senior U.S. government officials.

Here’s my conclusion: this deal is insane.

That may not be the most diplomatic way to put it, but I’m afraid that’s the truth.

The deal doesn’t live up to the very “red lines” that President Obama and his team set.
The deal doesn’t end Iran’s nuclear program — it legalizes, legitimizes, expands it.
The deal provides Iran not just one but two paths to The Bomb — in 10 to 15 years if Iran keeps the agreement, and much sooner if Iran cheats.
The details inside the deal are absolutely stunning — and catastrophically dangerous for the U.S., Israel and our Sunni Arab neighbors.

As former CIA Director…

View original post 384 more words

Prophetic, Historic Days – Part 2: ‘coincidence’ of Jewish calendar and Iranian nuclear ‘fix’

Posted on Friday, 24 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

Thank you to William Smith, teacher, itinerant preacher and author of Feasting on the Father for sending me an exceptionally illuminating article from Breaking Israel News a few days ago.

Cross-posted below, its perspective upon the JCPOA, or ‘fix’ as I term it, is upon the event’s timing in the ancient Hebrew calendar and offers prophetic opinions from a Jewish viewpoint.

I especially notice the first quotation’s remark on the USA’s “commitment to hedonism” because hedonism is an outcome of Humanism, the Fundamental flaw in Western society. Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘hedonism’ as ‘the pursuit of pleasure: sensual self-indulgence’. Of Greek origin it also has a philosophical meaning: ‘The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life‘. Thus, it matches the atheistic goal of Humanism which, according to Derek Prince, results in “a complete absence, in fact, of any binding moral code. This left man free to be his own god, and to establish his own moral code”. (See Humanism – Forerunner for Antichrist as quoted herein.)

Appeasement

At the close of his interview of Israeli PM Netanyahu about the ‘Nuclear Deal’, Steve Forbes asked, “Is this like the 1930s?” and received the PM’s response, “No, it’s worse, because we have the example of the 1930s, which wasn’t available then”.

‘Deal’ or ‘Document’?

It is important to note that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei does not refer to the JCPOA as a ‘Nuclear Deal or Agreement’, as bandied around by Barack Obama. He calls it simply ‘document’, which indicates he doesn’t regard it with any commitment on his part whatsoever! (See BBC Watch translations correcting BBC inaccuracies!) Now for the article from my friend, the original of which may be read by clicking the title. Note ‘coincidental’ calendar timing – especially re. Rosh Hashana and Shemitah year – and conclusion (my emphases added):

HEAVEN’S TIMING AND THE NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN

“Behold a people is coming from the north, and a great nation and great kings shall be aroused from the ends of the earth.” (Jeremiah 50:41)

Supreme Leader Kahmenei and President Rouhani after the announcement. (Photo: Twitter)

The Iran Nuclear Deal was signed on July 14, 2015 by the P5+1 – a group comprised of representatives of the governments of the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This date falls during a particularly significant time in the Jewish calendar known as The Three Weeks.

The Three Weeks are a mourning period that the Jewish people observe each year for the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem. The period starts on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz and ends on the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av and always falls in the summer. The 9th day of Av, which this year is July 26, is called Tisha B’Av and is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. It was the day that both Holy Temples were set on fire.

In comparing the deal with Iran to the Munich Agreement between British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Hitler in 1938, world-renowned lecturer Rabbi Lazer Brody wrote: “Now, 77 years later, during the notorious ‘Three Weeks’ between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’Av, the USA has reaffirmed its commitment to hedonism by appeasing Iran and signing a nuclear agreement that is not worth the skin of a garlic clove.” (Emphasis added)

In an email dated July 16, 2015 and sent to his “Letter from Jerusalem” subscribers, Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, Founder and Director of AZAMRA, an international organization that promotes Torah teachings to all nations, echoes Rabbi Brody’s thoughts about the timing.

He wrote, “The carefully choreographed timing of the announcement after so many delays could not have been more significant from the Jewish point of view, given that it fell on July 14 / 27 Tammuz, bang in the middle of the ‘Three Weeks’ period from the Fast of 17 Tammuz (4 July) until the Fast of Tisha B’Av (26 July), when we soul-searchingly contemplate our collective past, our present and our future destiny,”

Although the White House is attempting to push the agreement through the United Nations before Congress has had a chance to review the measure, there is another striking connection between the Iran nuclear deal and the Jewish calendar.

Regardless of what happens at the UN, the US Congress has 60 days to review and vote to either ratify or nix the nuclear deal. On the Jewish calendar, 60 days from the day the Iran nuclear deal was signed falls on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Thus, the final decision will likely be announced in the period between the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur known as the Ten Days of Repentance. [RB note: 60th day starting 14 July is 11th Sept; 60 day period ends 12th Sept which is also Nitzavim, commemorating when Moses instructed the Israelites to stand before God to enter the Covenant. Its sundown starts the year’s final day 29 Elul; Rosh Hashana 5776 starts sundown 13th, into 15th Sept; Yom Kippur is 23rd Sept – calendar source.]

These are days of judgement for the Jewish people.

Speaking to the confluence of this decision and the Jewish calendar, End of Times author Rabbi Pinchas Winston told Breaking Israel News, “The [Talmud says] that all punishment comes to the world because of the Jewish people. Sometimes it means the Jewish people are not up to snuff, but other times it means that we did not care enough to use our spiritual gifts, such as Torah learning and prayer, to save a situation. When important decisions ‘hang in the air’ for a time, it is Heaven’s way of giving the Jewish people a chance to use those gifts to get history back on track. The fact that the Iran deal was made during the Three Weeks and will be decided on by Rosh Hashanah should make it clear where our responsibility lies. We don’t want this ‘punishment’ to occur and we certainly don’t want to be responsible for it.”

When questioned further, Rabbi Winston affirmed, “Now we have a chance to interfere with it [the nuclear deal] by praying and doing mitzvos [God’s commandments].”

Rabbi Nachman Kahana, an orthodox rabbinic scholar, offers comfort to believers who sense a connection between the Iranian nuclear deal and the End of Days. He cites the Yalkut Shimoni, a 16th century rabbinic commentary on the Bible, which describes the current situation prophetically.

“The Yalkut states that Paras (Persia-Iran) will be the dread of humanity. The world’s leaders will be frustrated in their futile efforts to save what they can. The people of Yisrael will also be petrified by the impending danger,” he wrote. “And HaShem [God] will say to us, ‘Why are you afraid? All of this I have done in order to bring you the awaited redemption. And this redemption will not be like the redemption from Egypt, which was followed by suffering. This redemption will be absolute, followed with peace.’”

Notes:

compare conclusion with Ezekiel 38-39 and Persia’s part therein.
further reading RJ Dawson Tish’a B’Av: The Destruction of the Temple.

Parliamentarians plead for global freedom of religion and belief

Posted on Wednesday, 22 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

As ever Gillan Scott, deputy editor of Cranmer provides an excellent post on extremely detailed material and which I’ve copied in full from Archbishop Cranmer. However, I do have very strong reservations over the authority accorded to the BBC by Lord Alton’s quotation.

Factual evidence of the BBC’s gross ignorance on religion and deliberately political slant on the Middle-east is all too readily available: eg. its pure pig-ignorance in an appallingly arrogant and clueless rebuke made last week to an Israeli minister, “But you’re not under threat by Iran”! AND they censored Iranian leader’s remark on supporting terror!! (Details and petition to BBC available at Honest Reporting; in-depth analysis of BBC coverage of Iran at BBC Watch.)

Perhaps BBC should be changed to BCC – British ‘Cloud Cuckoo-land’ ?

Credit for photo of Asia Bibi belongs to British Pakistani Christians, from whence Wilson Chowdry emails today that she’s, “…been granted leave to appeal her death sentence by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. There is still some serious legal process to follow before she can be acquitted, but this action is a serious step in the. right direction. Asia is in a much more hopeful position now but the process will be long and drawn out. Please continue to pray for her. By accepting her appeal the Court has inferred that there is a possibility for grounds for Asia being exonerated.” (In full with petition here.)

Gillan’s post reads as follows (click title for link):

HOUSE OF LORDS PLEADS FOR THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF

With a Conservative majority government in place for the next five years we won’t need to worry about any potential reforms to House of Lords for the time being. And perhaps that is a good thing. When considering the role of the UK government in promoting freedom of religion, it is doubtful that an elected Upper House would have brought us the same level of passion and knowledge as peers did when the subject was debated last week. It came as a response to Lord Alton’s motion: ‘That this House takes note of worldwide violations of Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the case for greater priority to be given by the United Kingdom and the international community to upholding freedom of religion and belief.’

It goes without saying that human rights abuses relating to religious persecution are widespread throughout the world and on the increase. Even today, Asia Bibi, who has been beaten and raped during her six years on death row in Pakistan, will have one last opportunity to plead for her life to be spared (updated above). Her crime, as a Christian, was drinking water from the same bowl as her Muslim co-workers. During the ensuing argument she was accused of blasphemy against the prophet Mohammad, which led to her arrest and conviction. There is an overwhelming need for governments across the free and democratic world to take a stand and defend the basic human right that Eleanor Roosevelt, chair of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights drafting committee, described as one of the four essential freedoms of mankind.

The Lords’ debate has been helpfully summarised by Frank Cranmer at the ever informative ‘Law and Religion’ blog, but several utterances deserve further attention. Lord Alton argued that in order for governments to reclaim their patrimony of Article 18, it would need greater political and diplomatic priority, and the importance of religious literacy as a competence could not be neglected. He went on to quote the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, who said: “If you don’t understand religion — including the abuse of religion — it’s becoming ever harder to understand our world.” He then drew attention to the paucity of interest in the matter at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), with only one full-time desk officer dedicated to freedom of religion or belief.

Rabbi Lord Sacks described religious freedom as “perhaps the single greatest humanitarian issue of our time”. He was keen, though, to avoid rhetoric, preferring instead to look for pragmatic answers to avoid Article 18 being seen as little more than “a utopian ideal”. He proposed that the world needs:

“Under the auspices of the United Nations, a global gathering of religious leaders and thinkers to formulate an agreed set of principles that are sustainable theologically within their respective faiths and on which member nations can be called to account… We have not yet done the theological work for a global society in the information age, and not all religions in the world are yet fully part of that conversation. But if we neglect the theology, all else will fail… We must stand together – the people of all faiths and of none – for we are all at risk… Religious freedom is about our common humanity, and we must fight for it if we are not to lose it.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury was also keen to look for solutions:

“Religious freedom is threatened on a global scale, as we have heard, but also in a very complex way. Attacks on religious freedom are often linked to economic circumstances, to sociology, to history and to many other factors. Practically, if we are to defend religious liberty, we have to draw in these other factors. For example, if we want to defend religious freedom around the world – and again I say, the freedom to have no religion – do not sell guns to people who oppress religious freedom; do not launder their money; restrict trade with them; confine the way in which we deal with them; and, above, all, speak frankly and openly, naming them for what they are.”

After two and a half hours of speeches the motion was passed. Such a debate was significant in proving that Parliament has this issue on its mind and is making some positive noises. But without more substantive action from government, it will all count for very little. In their 2015 General Election manifestos, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats proposed the creation of a Global Ambassador for Religious Freedom to work within the FCO. It seemed a sensible proposal, but would that be the best way of ensuring that HM Government does not duck its responsibilities on the issue?

The newly created Centre on Religion and Global Affairs – a research and policy centre based in London, Beirut and Accra – has responded to the Lords’ debate. It believes that a special envoy that exclusively focuses on freedom of religious belief is not the way forward. Their view is that in other countries such appointments have yielded limited results. Instead, they propose the appointment a full-time Special Advisor to the government on Religion and Global Affairs. The advisor would be given a mandate to provide proactive policy proposals across Whitehall departments, in particular the FCO, Department for International Development, Home Office and the Prime Minister’s Office. Only a coordinated response across government departments will enable the UK to achieve the necessary understanding and enable a coherent and effective response to the issues. The role should not be seen as an interfaith outreach initiative, or a symbolic office for public diplomacy.

Alongside this Special Advisor, a group of external experts would be needed to provide additional support. A global portfolio in one of the most complicated topics in today’s world is not possible without adequate professional support. Given budgetary constraints, the role of the Special Advisor could be facilitated by the appointment of voluntary external experts with the requisite professional, academic and geo-political experience.

It is also important that any such position would be sufficiently funded if it is to be more than a symbolic gesture. Strategic research, diplomacy and local projects with stakeholders would need to be pursued with conviction and credible resources if any significant impact is to be made.

There is every reason to believe that the UK can contribute significantly to international moves to uphold freedom of religion – if it so chooses. During the Lords’ debate, Baroness Anelay, Minister of State in the FCO, admitted that although the Government is working with human rights and faith-based organisations across the world to promote dialogue, foster links and strengthen understanding, it is not doing enough.

As His Grace discussed yesterday, the Government needs to get a much better grip on its understanding of religion and religious freedoms. Religious persecution is a destructive cancer working its evil across the globe. How many more travesties of justice – such as that of Asia Bibi – do we have to endure before the British Government hears the appeal of those in the House of Lords (and elsewhere) that we must act as Justin Welby has prescribed: “..do not sell guns to people who oppress religious freedom; do not launder their money; restrict trade with them; confine the way in which we deal with them; and, above, all, speak frankly and openly, naming them for what they are.” Amen.

Update on Cameron’s speech – diplomatic/military component against IS

Posted on Monday, 20 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

At long last a politician has punched a ‘PC’ idol in the teeth! (PC = political correctness aka. political clap-trap)

Contributing Editor to The Commentator, Clare George-Hilley, has summarised David Cameron’s speech and the strap-line to her report reads,

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced new measures to crack down on Islamic extremism at home and abroad. For far too long, political correctness has allowed this wicked ideology to flourish. Cameron’s remarks may seem late in the day to some, but he’s on the right track at last.

She opens Cameron campaign against Islamic extremism is long overdue with,

‘Today, in front of British Muslims in Birmingham, David Cameron made his first major domestic speech on how to tackle Islamist extremism in our country. It is poignant that Cameron chose to give his speech in Birmingham, the place where the schools were infiltrated as part of the Trojan Horse plot, where extremists sought to indoctrinate the minds of innocent children…

‘For many years, I and many other commentators, political activists and counter-terrorism experts have been recommending and asking for measures that the government can tangibly apply to combat Islamic extremism in Britain and abroad. The warning signs have been clearly visible in our country for many years…’

After noting political tolerance of intolerance allowed extremists to exploit our freedom of speech laws to preach hatred on our streets, Clare covers her favourite part of the speech (emphases mine):

‘The best, and most important, part of his speech was when he finally came round to the notion that violent extremism exists at the apex of a broader Islamist narrative:

“It may begin with hearing about the so-called Jewish conspiracy, and then develop into hostility to the West and fundamental liberal values before finally becoming a cultish attachment to death. Put another way, the extremist worldview is the gateway, and then violence is the ultimate destination,” the prime minister said.

‘Not so many years ago, such (obviously correct and pertinent) remarks would have drawn charges of “Islamophobia” in some quarters. Cameron deserves praise for moving the debate in the right direction, however late in the day it may now be.’

Diplomatic Component

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conference at the latter’s office in Jerusalem – credit AFP

The timing and content of this major speech by David Cameron must surely be directly connected with action being taken against those who murder British citizens and others – and apparently with the outcome of last week’s nuclear power deal with Iran (aka. the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – JCPOA).

One of the signatories to the JCPOA, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, went to Israel to tell PM Netanyahu officially of the agreement’s full terms. But he went under a mistaken understanding. He presumed Israel doesn’t want any deal whatsoever with Iran, just a permanent stand-off or continuing conflict – and said as much in Parliament before leaving (as here). So Netanyahu took him to task during their public meeting in Jerusalem:

“Israelis know better than anyone else the cost of permanent conflict with Iran and it is wrong to suggest that Israel wants such an outcome. We seek a genuine and effective diplomatic solution,”

“The alternative to this deal is not war. The alternative is a better deal that would roll back Iran’s military nuclear program and tie the easing of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program to changes in Iran’s behaviour. That’s the kind of deal that would be welcomed in Tel Aviv and here in Israel’s capital Jerusalem.”

This morning another part of that meeting in Jerusalem emerged in connection with Isil – and how the nuclear deal means Iran will be taking more action against Isil, as reported exclusively by DebkaFile:

‘Although the Secretary’s formal mission was to elucidate the accord to Israel’s leaders, his real purpose was to hand him a letter from British Prime Minister David Cameron. In this letter, Cameron explained that his decision to extend RAF bombing missions from Iraq to Syria (depending on parliament’s approval in September) had nothing to do with Washington’s policies, but was solely motivated by the Islamist threat hanging over British national security.
‘Britain, he said, was not acting in support of the Syrian-Iranian-Hizballah lineup against the Islamist group; nor was it part of the Obama administration’s turnabout in favor of supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad. British bombers would target ISIS in the UK’s own interests.

Note the comment about yet another of Obama’s turnarounds – in favour of Syria! This is because of Iran’s close interest in supporting their puppet Assad. Please read that Debka report to appreciate what’s started, or already happening, on the ground.

Is Debka’s claim about British diplomatic/military action credible? They are the ones who broke the news of secret US-Iran back-channels communications being set up soon after Obama’s inauguration – and prior to his infamous Cairo speech to the Muslim word. (Read Today’s Importance in History, 18 May 2009 and note especially the Arab world’s alarm at Obama’s activity. They were vindicated by last week’s nuclear deal.) Therefore, there are reasonable grounds for regarding the Debka report as reliable.

So we now glimpse what’s happening behind closed doors and how determined David Cameron is to deal with and, if at all possible, remove Islamist extremism here.

World strikes final “historic” nuclear deal with Iran. Will it bring peace, or war? Some initial thoughts.

Posted on Saturday, 18 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

This is followed by Joel’s three reports on reactions from the Iranian, Israeli and Arab leaders. As with President Mubarak of Egypt, the Arabs feel deeply betrayed by Obama! (Those reports may be read on Joel’s home page).

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

Delegates from Iran and a group of six nations led by the United States in Vienna on Tuesday after reaching an accord.
Credit Carlos Barria/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images (NYT)

(Central Israel) — Lynn and I flew back home to Israel today, and arrived just as the news was breaking that the international community has struck a final nuclear deal with Iran.

Will it bring peace, or war? I am still reading through the 100-page agreement and will have more analysis later. But here are a few initial comments and observations.

President Obama and his team are convinced they have cut off Iran’s path to The Bomb and that the world will now enter a season of peace and stability. “Today after two years of negotiation the United States together with the international community has achieved something that decades of animosity has not: a comprehensive long-term deal with Iran that will prevent…

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Fundamental flaw in Western society – addendum

Posted on Wednesday, 15 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

In covering remarks to ‘A Tribute to Lance Lambert’ I stated:

‘One of Seven Prophetic Messages he brought featured in a series of four emails to my friends and church leaders about prophecies quickly being fulfilled in 2010. (A Serious Phase of Judgement and Shaking of Superpowers refers.) The last of these, More validations of the recent prophetic word, is a very good lead-in to what I’m about to publish on the Greece/Euro crisis!’

For ease of reference the text of the two main items follows below (emphases RB):

Lance’s prophetic message dated ‘Sunday 18 April 2010, Jerusalem, Israel’ (emphasis added):

‘Do not fear neither be dismayed for that which is coming upon the face of the earth, for I am with you, says The Lord. Nevertheless I have a serious controversy with the nations. They are seeking to divide My Land says The Lord, the land that I covenanted to give to Abraham and to his seed after him through Isaac and Jacob, as an everlasting inheritance. This I will not allow without devastating judgment upon those nations who pursue this plan. I have arisen with intense and furious anger and will not back down until I have destroyed their well-being. I will cause their economies to fail, and their financial system to break down, and even the climate to fail them! I will turn them upside down and inside out and they will not know what has hit them, whether they be super powers or not. For I am the only One, the Almighty God and besides me there is none to compare.

‘Do they believe that in their arrogance they can contradict and nullify covenants that I the Almighty have made? Do they believe that they can change what has gone forth from My mouth with impunity? It is My Word and My decree that has gone forth concerning the seed of Abraham. It will not be changed by man. I and I alone am Almighty. Do not fear!

‘For this reason a new and a far more serious phase of judgment is commencing. Do not fear, it is I who is shaking all things. Remember that in Me you have peace but in the world tribulation. Trust Me! I am shaking all things so that which cannot be shaken may remain. When all your circumstances become abnormal, discover in Me your peace, your rest and your fulfillment.

‘In this phase the old and powerful nations will become as if they are third world countries, super powers will no longer be super powers but countries such as India and China will arise to take their place. A great company of the redeemed will come out of these two countries. In all this change, do not fear.

I know your weakness and your tendency to fear, but do not be dismayed at these things. In the midst of all this shaking, this turmoil and strife, there are two peoples that lie at it’s heart, the true and living church and Israel. I will use these matters, these events, to purify one and to save the other! Do not fear, above the storms, the shaking, and the conflict, I am the Everlasting and Almighty One. In Me you cannot be shaken, you can only lose what is not worth holding!’

Email of 10th May 2010, More validations of the recent prophetic word:

Dear Reader – further to my previous, yet more events seem to indicate the prophetic word to Lance Lambert on 18 April as being from the Lord.

£/Euro/US Finances

Immersed in the deluge of Polling Day’s reports one’s attention could easily miss mention of a massive dip on US stock market, which ‘baffled Wall Street’, and the White House even suspected sabotage (see attached from in-house Christian correspondent Bill Koenig)! And last weekend all European leaders’ attention was firmly fixed upon our dire financial situation.

Interesting to note that Greece, the foundational state of western civilization, is being hammered – could this be connected to the European and American rejection of the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob? ALSO, seven weeks ago America’s foundational states in New England had exceptionally severe storms with parts of Rhode Island & Massachusetts declared as disaster areas whilst the latter’s senator was talking to Israel’s enemy, Syria. AND in Washington, president Obama had not only insulted PM Netanyahu during his visit but also refused to recognise Israel’s claim to Jerusalem as its capital – contrary to the Lord’s foundational choice!

Gulf of Mexico Oil-Spill

In his latest weekly report Bill Koenig makes most intriguing comments upon BP’s historic role…

Peace in Middle East?

‘Co-incidentally’ to Lance Lambert hearing from the Lord, on 18 April Iran’s president again voiced his implicit intentions of completing Hitler’s ‘final solution’: ….

Introducing ‘Prophecy Today UK’ – A tribute to Lance Lambert

Posted on Monday, 13 July, 2015 by Richard Barker

This blog has referred to and posted articles by Rev Dr Clifford Hill and I’m pleased to inform readers that Prophecy Today, the magazine published in the UK under his direction from 1985 to 2006, is now ‘reborn’ online.

Prophecy Today grew to the largest UK readership of any Christian magazine and became an iconic publication renowned for boldly declaring the word of God.

The purpose of Prophecy Today UK is to convey the unchanging word of God for our times to the people of God, and through them to the nations of the world. The magazine’s original logo appears to the right and I invite you to get to learn about the digital version by clicking on the logo. The link tells of the magazine’s origin in 1985 and of an unusual meeting in 1986 to seek insight from the Lord at a retreat on Mt Carmel. From there, with six other ministry leaders, Clifford attended an international gathering in Jerusalem of over forty ministries from around the world that the magazine had convened.

The word of the Lord received at Carmel and declared in Jerusalem was that God was about to begin a great shaking of the nations based upon the prophecies of Haggai 2 and Hebrews 12 (read these exceptional reports in full). The rest is history – and daily news!

I would encourage you not to browse but to dig deeply into this work undertaken by a small team of volunteers, one paid staff member and the prayers of many wonderful supporters! There is not subscription charge as they want to make Prophecy Today UK available to absolutely everyone. Therefore, they rely on kind donations to support the ministry.

A TRIBUTE TO LANCE LAMBERT, 1931-2015

In Memoriam – click to read

I’ve been privileged and greatly blessed to have heard Lance Lambert teach on several occasions. His biblical and historical erudition was immense and I was thus overawed to learn eventually that, later in the same year I’d been stunned by a revelation on the fall of Islam, he too referred to its eventual demise. (All Hail The Lamb refers.)

One of Seven Prophetic Messages he brought featured in a series of four emails to my friends and church leaders about prophecies quickly being fulfilled in 2010. (A Serious Phase of Judgement and Shaking of Superpowers refers.) The last of these, More validations of the recent prophetic word, is a very good lead-in to what I’m about to publish on the Greece/Euro crisis!

I am very pleasantly surprised, therefore, to learn through reading Prophecy Today UK of the close friendship between Lance Lambert and Clifford Hill, whose tribute cannot be recommended highly enough.

Clifford Hill’s A Tribute to Lance Lambert, 1931-2015 includes a fascinating account of a prophetic warning of a likely surprise attack upon Israel in 1984 – and of most unexpected protection!

Ms. Mogherini prophesies Second Signpost

Posted on Monday, 29 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

Have been lining up a short blog on the EU/Greece crisis with a point about this ‘High Representative’ and Europe’s political war with Israel. Very few know that the number of the document recommending creation of that office at the Western EU summit in Vienna in 1998 was ‘666’! (See this blog’s Not many people know – 2 and the late Herb Peters’ Overview and book Recommendation 666.)

THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS

Once in a while, someone in the secular world speaks a prophecy right out of the Signpost interpretation of God’s word. Iranian president Rouhani did it several months ago. It happened again today with the breaking of this story.

Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union, spoke these words while in the thick of the negotiations with Iran for a nuclear deal, about the deal itself:

“…[the] security of the world is at stake.”

How true are those words! Her university thesis was “Relationship between religion and politics in Islam” according to Wikipedia, so there is a good plausibility she understands who she is dealing with, though she likely could not know the full extent of the current situation. She likely meant her words to refer to a new nuclear threat from a fundamentalist Islamic nation. But her words can be taken differently, as a threat…

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Magna Carta’s 8th centenary: a better perspective

Posted on Thursday, 18 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

Rather than negating a conclusion built upon the meaning of number 8 in the last post, correcting a maths mistake gives some credence to my conjecture.

In On 800th anniversary of Magna Carta I made a mistake over the passage of time that had elapsed and thank RJ Dawson for correcting me. (He’s author of Real Christianity, the Nature of the Church.)

In fact, this adjustment points us towards a better perspective on man-made laws and the related application of biblical numbers.

[Note: I’m not considering or advocating any unscriptural notions on numbers. Having been deeply involved in New Age I’m well aware of the differences between the Bible’s use of numbers and the claims of numerology.]

That post stated last Monday starts the 8th century since Magna Carta’s declaration in 1215 AD, whereas we’re now in its 9th century. After referring to the Bible’s meaning of number 8 I considered how that may give significance to some recent events.

That count was an elementary error against which I’d quickly checked, yet nevertheless I made the sort of mistake I’ve known about since school. When blogging about cycles it’s often been at the back of my mind. So I’ve given myself a dressing down! Criticism that it’s simply ‘confirmation bias’ (ie. wanting to see a related result) is understandable. It’s plausible that desiring things to tie neatly together would lead to noticing this 800th anniversary falls at a time of perceived changes in the church and society.

However, it’s more likely the issue arose because this week’s been busily interspersed with three half days’ of travelling, replying to correspondence and some meetings – not conducive to continuity or clarity in lengthy posts. Even so, we learn something even more pertinent through that maths mistake.

Let me explain: the first year of life isn’t completed until 12 months have passed. On the anniversary of baby’s birth (or something’s start) the person/thing is one year old – 1st birthday. So every number has two main uses, as an ‘integer’ or whole number counted in its own right, or else as an ‘ordinal’ having a position in a series (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).

Thus, as regards the Magna Carta being 800 years old last Monday, its 800th year was from 16th June 2014 to 15th June 2015. Its first century was from 1215 to 1315 and so its 8×100 years or 8th century was 1915 to 2015. So we’re now in its 9th century. It’s the same reason for referring to 2015 as being in 21st and not 20th Century.

In correcting that post two points pop-up to bring a new perspective:

number 8’s meaning relating to centuries is more clearly demonstrated, and
the meaning of the newly started 9th 100-year cycle is even more significant!

The previous post has now been tidied and the two original short sections deleted. They are amended to read as follows:

The meaning of 9

Monday 15th June 2015 started the 9th century since the issue in 1215 of Magna Carta. Number ‘9’ appears 7×7 times in the Bible and, being symbolic of divine completeness, it conveys the meaning of finality and judgement.

During Jesus’ crucifixion ‘darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour’ (Luke 21:44). The Bible Study Site states He died at the 9th hour to make the way of salvation open to everybody. Also, Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement, in Sept-Oct) is the only one of God’s annual feast days of worship that requires believers to fast for one day. Considered by many Jews to be the holiest of the year, this special day begins at sunset on the 9th day of the seventh Hebrew month Tishri (Lev 23:32).

On the Hebrew Calendar, the total destruction of Jerusalem’s temple began on 9th Ab (July-August). Also on this day, the second temple (ie. Herod’s temple) was burned to the ground by the Romans in 70 AD. It continues to be regarded as a day of tragedy.

Also, according to Galatians 5:22 there are nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, which manifest as positive character traits.

9th cycle of centuries

Thus, the 9th cycle of 100 years is likely to be significant for finality and judgement. As for Britain, the following changes noted in this blog may be preparatory for drawing this Age to a close with the return of Jesus Christ:

improving spiritual atmosphere noted by visiting Christian leaders,
many prophetic words of promise delivered/declared over these lands,
increasing activity of the Holy Spirit within the British Isles.

If, as we believe, the Lord was acting behind the scenes at the general election, we can expect this to continue in the political realm and, hopefully, to bless this nation and its leaders with a real return to righteousness. This doesn’t negate the need to pray such change through to manifestation (Rev Dr Stone’s remarks at #4 of my post refer).

We’d expect this meaning of ‘9’ as ‘finality’ would incorporate the shaking and implicit, consequential exposure prophesied in Hebrews 12:26. As regards man-made laws it’s very pertinent to note that Britain’s judiciary and government offices have been accused of not having clean hands – ie. corruption!

Based upon findings reported by World Justice Project and Transparency International, The Commentator announced last Saturday in Shame and disgrace: UK 2nd tier nation on law, corruption:

We don’t even make the top 10, despite what we were all brought up to believe, in either the corruption or rule of law indices put out recently by the leading analytical organisations in the world. In some respects, the current reality is truly appalling.

By the close of that 8th century British law introduced a change to marriage contrary to the purpose defined by God. As the start of the 9th century since Magna Carta may be likened unto ‘as in the Days of Noah and Lot’, as foretold by Jesus, let’s look out for the consequential outcome of this legislative defiance.

According to the above biblical meaning of 9 we have additional grounds upon which to expect the Lord to bring about finality and judgement.

Further observations

The meaning of 8

Biblically ‘8’ signifies a new beginning, as in Genesis with the second week of creation continuing after the Almighty rested for a day, and in the new creation after the Flood with the survival of only 8 persons. There are not a few other significant references to that number – especially Jesus’ name in Greek – as in The Bible Study Site.

8th cycle of centuries: 1915 -2015

History shows how that symbolism of a refreshing, new beginning applies in respect of man-made law to the 8th cycle of 100 years since Magna Carta.

That ‘century’ began on 16th June 1915 at a time when women were not permitted to vote or to stand in elections for parliament in Britain even though our colonies of New Zealand and then Australia already had women’s suffrage since the turn of 19th/20th Century! Here, the Women’s Social and Political Union, or ‘Suffragettes’ as they were known, was founded in October 1903 by Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst and took a radical, militant approach to their gaining the right to vote because previous debate had failed.

The Great War, however, changed British perceptions of women when the government issued an urgent appeal for women to serve their country by signing up for vital work in agriculture, nursing, industry, especially in munitions factories, by setting up a Register of Women for War Service in March 1915.

This freed up more men for military service and was welcomed by the Suffragettes. Two years later the PM Lloyd George stated a bill to enfranchise women over the ago of 30 years would be introduced and in that June the House of Commons voted by a huge majority to give wives of that age the vote.

We should note that negotiations were also well under way for issuing the Balfour Declaration on 9th November 1917. This gave British support to the establishment of a permanent Jewish national homeland in Palestine after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Other Magna Carta centennials

The following centennials from my Pocket Book of Dates & Events by David Herman are noteworthy as regards the English crown and law:

1415 – Henry V revives English claim to French throne, invades France and defeats French at Agincourt.
(1517 Martin Luther issues his 95 Theses challenging Roman Church).
1715 – Jacobite rising in Scotland in support of son of James II.
1815 – Battle of Waterloo: French army under ex-Emperor Napoleon defeated by allied British, Prussian and Dutch armies. Also this year, Prussian and Austrian monarchies restored, German Confederation established and Kingdom of Netherlands unites Belgium and Holland.

Today marks 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo!

The second signpost – Iran – is getting closer

Posted on Saturday, 6 June, 2015 by Richard Barker

Dramatic events on this front continue and Bloomberg report what’s been known for many months – Israeli & Saudi secret talks to thwart Iran. (Have suspected for personal reasons that next month could be significant.) My quick re-blog of Mark Davidson’s update failed to connect but do read his original post at:

The Second Signpost Is Not Yet…But It Is Getting Closer

The Pope, Palestine and “an angel of peace”.

Posted on Tuesday, 19 May, 2015 by Richard Barker

This post serves to clarify, and hopefully answer, a most objectionable remark reputed to have been made by the Pope in describing the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as “An angel of peace”.

After a short holiday and ten days offline I caught up with events and noted one of many items in Koenig’s Eye-view from the White House. This was about the Vatican’s official recognition of the existence of the Palestinian state in a new treaty finalised last Wednesday. The Vatican has long had diplomatic relationships with what was previously the terrorist Palestinian Liberation Organization. According to The Independent, the PLO represents Palestine in countries that don’t yet recognise the non-existent state of Palestine.

The Vatican followed the UN General Assembly decision of 2012 to recognise that state and, in my opinion, joined the herd of lemmings heading for the cliffs to their doom!

The Times of Israel reports Jerusalem as stating this move isn’t conducive to advancing peace negotiations and criticised the Vatican announcement. Bill Koenig notes that very soon after Pope John Paul II held a peace conference in 2002 focusing on the Middle-East peace process, the Catholic Church became embroiled in huge sex scandals.

The Vatican’s endorsement of a state of Palestine on God’s covenant land of Judea and Samaria will probably lead to its endorsing East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital of Palestine, and have an enormous impact on the so-called peace process and with huge End-time repercussions internationally. Bill is of the opinion that the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches are likely to follow the Vatican with their own agreements. Only the God of Israel knows the full consequences of these grossly unwise actions.

True Intentions

Were The Holy See truly ‘holy’ it would have first insisted upon and ensured that Abbas repudiates and reverses his personal, public declarations of eradicating the state of Israel, as reported in my email of September 2011.

British author, Times columnist and broadcaster Melanie Philips doesn’t mince words, as on her Facebook:

“So it would appear that what the Pope has actually recognized and endorsed is the open intention to destroy Israel and replace it by Palestine.”

The entry links to her Jerusalem Post Opinion piece in which she provides evidence for her point:

“It puts the Vatican publicly behind the Palestinian strategy of waging war against Israel by diplomatic means.

“It is a lie first of all because there is no state of Palestine.

“However many countries proclaim recognition of this spurious state does not alter that fact. The Vatican’s “treaty” is no more than a crude propaganda stunt assisting a war of extermination.

“Recognition of a Palestine state is a ploy to bounce it into virtual existence by getting the world to agree it exists. The sole reason it does not in reality exist is that, resting on a wholesale denial of Jewish history in the land, the purpose of such a state is to create the platform for a devastating war on Israel.

“By supporting this Potemkin Palestine, the Vatican has lined up behind those who disdain international law. In supporting the recognition gambit which tears up the Palestinians’ own treaty obligations under the Oslo Accords, the pope has now openly made Catholics complicit with reneging on promises and shattering bonds of trust.

“And where exactly is this state of Palestine the pope has now recognized?”

Melanie then proceeds to cover the point I briefly referred to in 2011:

“For as PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement reiterated on its Facebook page this week (according to Palestinian Media Watch): “Palestine means the entire national land, from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea.”…And of course, the PA’s maps of Palestine include all of Israel.

“So it would appear that what the pope has actually recognized and endorsed is the open intention to destroy Israel and replace it by Palestine.”

Angel of Peace?

Working through my in-tray yesterday I came across Christian reports expressing strong objections to the terms by which Pope Francis is reported to have described President Abbas when they met over the weekend.

Associated Press (AP) had reported the Pope as calling him “an angel of peace”!! It was sloppy journalism but had been repeated unquestionably by mainstream media.

Later in the day I received news of the error from Honest Reporting, which you can read in Media, not Pope, dub Abbas an “Angel of Peace”. It opens:

The meeting between Pope Francis and PA President Mahmoud Abbas has become a classic illustration of how a lie gets halfway across the world while the truth is still putting it’s shoes on.

The report concludes,

In other words, the Pope did not call Abbas an “angel of peace” at all. Quite the opposite. He was urging him to become an angel of peace in the future.

AP has since issued a correction and I trust this clarifies a few things regarding the Pope and Palestine.

For further clarification read media watchdog’s PA Depicts a World Without Israel.

[Hand Pressing News Icon, credit Watcharakun at Freedigitalphotos.net]

Surprising endorsement of ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’

Posted on Thursday, 23 April, 2015 by Richard Barker

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV)

The recent post about my namesake’s e-book ‘The Fellowship of The Secret’ produced yet another amazing ‘God-incidence’! Thank you to Karolyn in southern California for being so sensitive and obedient to the prompting to act.

First, however, for newer readers and visitors let me clarify what may have given rise to some misunderstanding or difficulty:

The Word of God, the Holy Bible, gives the ‘Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth’ as revealed through the ancient seers and prophets, as well as apostles who personally knew the anointed Son, whom God sent to save us from our sins and reconcile us to Himself. It’s fantastic that we can be in a relationship with Him personally and blessed by the presence and gifts of His Holy Spirit.

Yet it’s far from easy to grasp the enormity of His work and plans throughout history, from creation to the new earth and heavens, as outlined in holy scripture.

Have you ever looked behind a tapestry? Have you done so without seeing any design? If so, did you try guessing what’s on the other side? Could you trace the threads and notice they disappear and reappear elsewhere. Could you figure out which threads make up a feature of the design? A variety of colours and directions of travel, yet all the threads work together to produce a clearly recognisable picture on the front of the material.

Metaphorically, our lives are on the underside of the canvas the Lord is crafting but we know the general design of what he’s sewing, or painting as a large picture, or even as a jigsaw He’s putting together.

I get excited when His needle pieces through and know His hand is in our lives and events, or when pieces of a jigsaw suddenly appear and fit together as though they relate to His plans and purposes for the world as stated in His Word.

Invisible Jigsaw

And it’s terrific when He works though others to bring those pieces together. Knowing our lives are in the Lord’s hands is good assurance for our inability to see things from His perspective. Can you, therefore, comprehend my difficulty in conveying what’s happening? One way I’ve found is to take note of coincidences relating to scripture or prophecy and especially when two or more follow in close sequence.

Also, there are times when I’ve observed actions and decisions taken by myself and others produce a chain and network of coincidences, as happened during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (here). I described it like an orchestra, where the conductor directs various instruments and singers to make wonderful music. Only weeks later I heard Ian Clayton use the same description for coincidences. He’s of the opinion it’s a way the Spirit of Wisdom helps and tutors us, as Mike Parsons writes in the in previous post.

Bridge Over ‘The Pond’

“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform”, so begins the old hymn by William Cowper. One of those ways could be ‘God-incidences’. I name one kind of these “Bridge Over The Pond”, and use it for identical prophetical words or teaching delivered on opposite sides of the Atlantic on the same day or weekend. (Eg., over Friday 10th to Sunday 12th April, as noted for The Battle For Inheritance.)

One such instance yesterday caused both parties to marvel…

Here’s what happened.:

Before arising on Wednesday I was mulling over that personal 40-year period covered in last Thursday’s blog. So, in a brief quiet-time I wanted to re-read about Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness and specifically about Joshua and Caleb’s return from spying out the land of Canaan. But for some reason I started to read about Moses selecting and sending out the spies, as in Numbers 13:1-20.

Moreover, I was specifically prompted to read and note where these men were from. In particular I noted Joshua and Caleb led the tribes of Ephraim and Judah respectively, which facts weren’t in my memory bank.

Now we had to be prompt in getting on with gardening and Spring cleaning before the sun got too strong – unusually for an English April. As soon as Nina finished in the bathroom I got up, booted up the pc in the office between there and our room and got washed/shaved. Afterwards I logged in and got dressed whilst emails downloaded. All this would save time and be done with as there’d be no time later.

Upon scanning unread mail I spotted one from my namesake and one from Karolyn Polo, in which she introduces herself as living south of Los Angeles, California. She has a good sense of humour and kindly permitted me to publish her news:

“I can’t quite remember how I came to follow your blog several months ago, but I enjoy reading about your journey and hearing about what God is saying and doing in the UK. I suppose I too am a watcher as the events of our time have my attention and the ways they are lining up with Scripture and prophecy.

“I believe we are at a pivotal time when the Body of Christ is finally waking up to the truth that we are to be One – unified, sanctified and becoming the whole House of Israel/the Kingdom of God.

“I have a brilliant acquaintance that writes an incredibly insightful blog about the coming together of Ephraim and Judah in the hand of God as in Ezekiel 37:15-28, Ephesians 2, and Romans 9-11 among others. I feel compelled to send you the link for this in light of the posting you have made from your namesake Richard Barker.

“Let me just add, I believe you are all “barking” up the right(eous) tree!!! 🙂

“Here’s the link: http://thebarkingfox.com/commonwealth-of-israel/

“Please read through the various articles. I think you will be blessed!”

OH WOT! – WOW!! What had I read about a few minutes ago?

Ephraim and Judah! I certainly am blessed – so too was Karolyn on learning about this.

So after jobs were out of the way, I replied to her explaining why she was ‘compelled’ to send me the link. Doubtless that’s why it dropped into my mind to check out Numbers 13 and especially note the tribes – “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform”.

And what Karolyn certainly didn’t know was that link has another to an article about the Shemitah and Yovel (day after Jubilee), about which I’d already noted in researching for my blog about rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s work. I recalled the latter’s importance when writing about 50/55 years, but didn’t explain as I didn’t want to further complicate my blog.

I can only conclude this is very important and the Lord wants me to note it AND got a lady on the other side of the world to email me about it HOURS BEFORE I WOULD READ AND LEARN ABOUT THE SAME THING!

That’s why I notice ‘God-incidences’ and refer to ‘Bridge over the Pond’.

ALSO, all this not only brings divine emphasis to but also endorsement of my namesake’s book, does it not?

Image Credits:

Illustrations are kindly supplied by Freedigitalphotos.net by courtesy of

Victor Habbick for ‘Hand Reaching for the Stars’
Thanunkorn for ‘Puzzle Globe and Book’
Jannoon028 for ‘Puzzle’
Evgeni Denev for ‘Endless Bridge’.

Israel celebrates 67 years after its dramatic, prophetic rebirth. A few thoughts to mark the occasion.

Posted on Thursday, 23 April, 2015 by Richard Barker

A most informative post and Joel presents background details on the birth of Israel that are relevant to the 70-years period I intend writing about

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Central Israel) — Today, Israelis are celebrating our Independence Day. On the Western calendar, we remember May 14th, 1948. But on the Jewish calendar, today marks 67 years since the dramatic, prophetic rebirth of the Jewish State.

A few thoughts to mark the occasion:

It’s a very special time for our family as it’s our first time celebrating as new Israeli citizens (“Olim Chadashim”) and actually living here full-time in the epicenter. Today, Lynn showed me this video about some of the things new Israelis love about this country. Take a look — I hope you’re as moved as we were.

It’s a great time to see the Land with family and friends. We would love for you to make plans to come visit Israel — and Jordan — with us and The Joshua Fund this Octoberso we can show you the Promised Land and the people who live and minister here and help you see…

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Category Archives: Israel

Leading publisher contradicts BBC HARDtalk on Obama, Mid-East & terrorism

Why this September is special: Update 1- Judaism

Why this September is special – 2: Pope, POTUS & Messiah

POPE and P.O.T.U.S.

JEWS LOOKING FOR MESSIAH

Why this September is special – 1: weather & schedule

UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER

A SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

My ‘take’ on Iran vs. Israel

A prophetic evening with John Kilpatrick, Friday 28th August

Prophetic word for USA: lost loved ones to return ‘home’ to the Lord

Why is the Iran nuclear deal so dangerous? Joel Rosenberg’s detailed analysis of the agreement.

Prophetic, Historic Days – Part 2: ‘coincidence’ of Jewish calendar and Iranian nuclear ‘fix’

Parliamentarians plead for global freedom of religion and belief

Update on Cameron’s speech – diplomatic/military component against IS

World strikes final “historic” nuclear deal with Iran. Will it bring peace, or war? Some initial thoughts.

Fundamental flaw in Western society – addendum

Introducing ‘Prophecy Today UK’ – A tribute to Lance Lambert

Ms. Mogherini prophesies Second Signpost

Magna Carta’s 8th centenary: a better perspective

The second signpost – Iran – is getting closer

The Pope, Palestine and “an angel of peace”.

Surprising endorsement of ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’

Israel celebrates 67 years after its dramatic, prophetic rebirth. A few thoughts to mark the occasion.

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