Israeli warplanes reportedly strike targets on Syria-Lebanon border; Israel on high alert over Syrian WMD

On watch... Joel reports developments after a week of escalating tensions on the Israeli-Syrian border, especially the weekend’s explosion in an Iranian-Hezbollah convoy in the Golan Heights. Debka reported this put Israeli, Jordanian and US special forces in the kingdom on high alert. Breaking news Wednesday afternoon:  the airforce attack prevented handover of sophisticated missiles to Hezbollah. Syria’s Assad has since responded in a detailed statement – visit Debka homepage for latest ‘pre-media’ news.  On Monday President Obama was reluctant to prevent Syrian (and ex-Iraqi) chemical weapons falling into the hands of terrorists – hardly surprising in view of the withdrawal of the US naval fleet. So he left matters entirely in the hands of Middle-East regional powers. The next day all Israel’s armed forces went into a higher state of readiness for conflict as a top Air Force commander described Syria as ‘falling apart’. In addition, Egypt’s Defense Minister said about Egypt, “The political strife is pushing the state to the brink of collapse”.  On top of all that, Joel covers reports on a mysterious explosion in Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. Perhaps a number of things are moving into place as regards the Psalm 83 confederacy and the Ezekiel alliance (as here)?

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

israel-lineoffighterjets“Israeli warplanes attacked a target on the Lebanese-Syrian border overnight Tuesday, foreign media reported on Wednesday,” according to a report in the Times of Israel. “While some reports said the purported strike was carried out on the Syrian side of the border, according to one source the target was a weapons convoy that had crossed from Syria into Lebanon. The reports come amid rising concern in Israel and the West regarding the sizable chemical weapons stockpile in the hands of an increasingly embattled Syrian regime. Lebanese officials said a dozen Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, flying close to the ground in several sorties over southern Lebanon. The Israeli military and the Prime Minister’s Office had no comment. A Lebanese army statement said the last of the sorties was at 2 a.m. Wednesday. It said four warplanes, which flew in over the southernmost coastal…

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Syria gets closer to fulfilment of Biblical prophecies

ANOTHER GAME-CHANGER?  Weekend catchup: Iran – game over covered the news of Iran’s advancement towards nuclear weapons and warning of a world war arising from missiles based on the Syrian-Turkish border that would affect Europe. Although I wrote about the withdrawal of two American fleets from Syrian waters I didn’t mention the Russian warships docking in Syria’s port of Tartus and the fleet heading for the Gulf. Interested readers have no doubt delved into DEBKAfile’s homepage for themselves.

Today we learn from DEBKA video report that those vessels delivered not only marines but also a ‘fearsome weapon…and a game changer in the Syrian conflict’  It is a deadly agenda for Assad of chemical weapons first, Iskander 9K720 next. To quote the video’s transcript.:

While NATO unpacked the Patriots in Turkey, a dozen mobile batteries, each carrying a pair of Iskander missiles, were fixed into position opposite Turkey, and another dozen, opposite Jordan and Israel.  At all their stations, the Russian missiles pointed at US military targets.

So while the West was gripped with alarm over Assad’s poison sarin gas shells and bombs and gearing up for missile attacks on Turkey, the Russians were injecting into the Syrian war field the most sophisticated weapon of death thus far. The West and Israel have no answer for the Iskander’s hypersonic speed (and range and nuclear capable warhead) which destroys targets with pinpoint accuracy.

The Prophetic Perspective – the ‘Ezekiel 38 Alliance’

During Advent we recall the account of learned men, or magi, watching for ancient signs that would announce an exceptionally important birth, as recorded in chapter 2 of the Gospel according to Matthew – read here.  Dr Chuck Missler’s Who were the Magi? is of interest in stating that these men were of the ancient school of the prophet Daniel based in Persia.

Nowadays, many believers are well-informed about not only Daniel’s prophecies but also those of the many other Old and New Testament prophets. Yet the public remains uninformed and does not appreciate why today’s events are of great significance. If you wish to find out why this is important please read Chuck’s brief explanation on this blog.

As reported previously, the prophet Ezekiel foresaw an alliance of nations consisting of Iran, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Turkey and led by Russia which would be hostile to the Jews when they have been regathered to their ancient homeland (modern Israel).  Ezekiel knew them by contemporary ethnic names of Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Cush, Put, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah. Persia was just coming to prominence in the prophet’s day. For the NKJV translation of the revelation from the Lord click Ezekiel 38.

In recent years this ‘Ezekiel’ alliance has been taking shape in one way or another. We may, however, object and say that although Iran supports Syria’s Assad, Russia has kept at arm’s length, and Turkey and Syria are almost at war.  Yet the above news shows that Russia is getting more deeply involved. What a surprise!

So is Turkey outside any such foreseen alliance? No. The Daily Star Lebanon reported on Monday that Turkey’s prime minister has discussed with the Russian president a plan for an orderly transition to peace in Syria! Thus the prophesied ‘Gog and Magog’ alliance will be rapidly developing and gaining strength during 2013.

So keep watching – and looking up!

Further reading:

Don’t miss the boat!

La NinaHave you ever missed a bus, or a boat? Can you imagine how annoyed people were at not getting on board Noah’s huge boat when mighty prolonged rains brought sweeping, widespread flooding?  But he’d been warning them a long time. All they wanted to do was their own thing and not change because ‘all the people had corrupted their ways’. In fact, ‘the earth was filled with violence because of them’ (Genesis 6).

The only ones to survive were Noah and his family because he had time for God and walking with him. Many moons later a number of his descendants were to again corrupt their ways and, again, only a righteous family escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot and his daughters got away but what was wrong with the lot Lot left behind?

In renouncing the abominable sins of Jerusalem the visionary prophet Ezekiel, or rather the Living Lord God, explained what was disagreeable about those ‘losers’:

Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. (Ezekiel 16:49-50 NKJV – emphases RB)

My previous post referred to Jesus’ prophecy that the attitudes of people everywhere will again be as in ‘the days of Lot’ – and then He will return in all His glory and power in the company of the heavenly host of angels and all saved souls.

PRIDE

The unsavoury aspect of this attitude within government has now been reported by my friend Gillan Scott. His blog publishes and comments upon an email from the previous Equalities Minister : ‘Lynne Featherstone proudly takes credit for railroading gay marriage legislation’.

On the face of it her remarks rightly convey a sense of relief in an objective achieved. But this post, which deserves to be read in its entirety, reveals how spiritually dead at worst, or clueless at best, our national leaders really are – and many commentaries lack an appreciation of the gravity of the situation. Our politicians urgently need to be raised to fullness of life in all its abundance because this email shows how this deathly attitude has sought to prevail throughout national life.

Therefore, I added the following to the debate on God and Politics in the UK:

‘The minister’s email conveys the woeful ignorance of the implications and price to be paid. I believe Rev Billy Graham’s late wife said something along the lines that if LGBT agenda becomes legally ‘right’ then God would need Sodom & Gomorrah’s forgiveness!

‘But Jesus said their inhabitants would have repented and lived had they witnessed His miraculous works, whereas His fellow Jews refused. Therefore, He decreed “…it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgement than for you” (Matt 11:20-24).  So, if not just pockets of ‘God’s Presence’ but the wider church starts doing ‘the greater works’ Jesus spoke of, then there will be hope for modern disbelievers awakening to spiritual – NOT religious – realities. (Bless them Lord out of their ignorance of the difference.)

‘The core of the issue is ‘LGBT Pride’, and this arrogant attitude is proudly displayed in the email. Those in Christ know God’s attitude to the proud. Pride was found in the king of Tyre and likened to that of Satan (Ezekiel 28) and is ruled by the Spirit of Leviathan.

‘What the Lord told Job about Leviathan is instructive in implying a link with ‘equality’ : “..Nothing on earth is his equal – a creature without fear. He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud”. (NKJV has ‘king over all the children of pride’) Job 41.34 NIV.’

Father, let Your Kingdom come!

The following email submitted details of a dream that had been weighed by the senior leaders of Winchester Vineyard Church and forwarded to Christen Forster, organiser of the Revival Alliance Gathering.

A number of elements in that dream, which happened concurrently with the event, are related not only to foundational scriptures for lead-in prophecies given in November 2010 but also to activities in the heavenlies at the time of the Gathering, as well as possibly indicating what may be about to happen soon in the UK.

Christen agreed to the dream being posted upon the Revival Alliance Gathering website as Feedback under Prophecies & Testimonials.  [2016 update: links no longer available but details may be read in the update below.]

Here’s the full email:

Email to Christen Forster,  Monday, September 19, 2011                                          Subject: Revival Alliance Gathering, Westminster, London 1-3 Sept 2011

YOUR KINGDOM COME
Nina and I had booked early for the Gathering but were unable to attend. Yet I’m grateful the Lord gave the following on Saturday before the day’s meetings started:

Sat 3 Sept:                                                                                                                     

We are in an open-plan, modern office environment overlooking a town centre. Upon glancing out of one side’s extensive windows I’m amazed to see a large white cube flying very low over nearby buildings! (It’s about the size of a Hercules transport plane.) Watching, I see a few more similar cubes follow and fan out in different directions.

Then I go to look from a different quarter’s aspect to see where they’re coming from and am surprised this view is from a much higher floor and looking over a different location! I notice a couple of cubes hover and discharge some cargo, which floats down to settle on the ground – rather as furniture vans deposit items outside a house.

However, I’m seeing into a room being set up, as though the building itself is invisible! A large wooden table and its several chairs are already there as white porcelain bathroom furnishings descend, but remain hanging in space!

In a flash I understand what’s happening and, without thinking, hear myself comment aloud, “They’re setting up The Kingdom!”

Someone else watching disparagingly quips, “Oh, that’s your perspective”.

Again I’m surprised by my immediate, unconscious retort, “I studied perception at Uni!” (ie. in physics and in psychology, and am thus making a well-informed comment.)

A sudden urgency comes upon me to dash home with this news. Jumping into a car I find my normal route out of the building diverted and a huge vehicle tries to collide with me. Dodging it I drive up a slip road onto a choked road but find this very basic car becomes seriously under-powered.

So I get out to walk yet find all hard paving has turned into lush green grass of wide-open meadows. The congested road’s gone and I’m sliding down a well-worn grass bank to then run, or move, much faster than I can really run across an extensive area. I head a few dozen feet above the land, as though in a glider, and some very large object or person rushes from the left to block my path. Totally unfazed, I deliberately collide into it and it smashes into oblivion without halting or affecting my movement.

On the nearby horizon an unusual low building looms into view but, as I approach this destination, the alarm clock goes off!!

An initial interpretation came with great excitement in view of several revival meetings this month. I believe the Lord gave the above heading for my note of this lucid dream.

All this needed weighing BUT I didn’t expect confirmation and more insights not only in connection with the Gathering itself but also with the prophetic word reported at the Gathering’s Inception Meeting in Nov 2010!

Sun 4 Sept:

At Winchester Vineyard Church’s briefing on Sunday evening one of the attendees described the repentance of leaders at the Gathering. My spirit leapt in knowing this connected into that dream’s bathroom furnishing! (It’s symbolic of cleansing through repentance and forgiveness.)

In the dream, the bathroom appeared after table and chairs were already in place, which may mean a meeting place with purpose and authority. Then came a personal insight spoken as though from Holy Spirit, indicating only those open to Him can perceive and understand the Kingdom. Also, whatever is being set up is not within an obvious structure but fully exposed to those with ‘eyes to see’. (Perhaps, church ‘outside the walls’?)

Only later did I realise why the dream is directly connected to the Gathering. That’s because the setting was in two offices in separate locations (Reading and Croydon) where I’d worked and which came under the authority of central Dept of Environment, then located in Marsham St, as is Emmanuel Church!  [The venue for the Gathering.]

Thus, I believe the dream’s meaning is relevant to the Revival Alliance Gathering being held in Emmanuel Church and to its proceeding out into the wider Church.

Incidentally, having noted the dream under the header ‘Your Kingdom Come’, I later learned that’s the same title of the following week’s healing service in Winchester led by the Gathering’s member absent in the Ukraine – Randy Clark!

Mon 5 Sept:                                                                                                        

Happened to ‘google’ Revival Alliance and discovered website about the Gathering and read its Inception Meeting’s Report and the associated prophetic word.  I was struck especially by the latter’s,

‘It is time to build a house for me to dwell in, God who even the heavens cannot contain, will dwell in a house whose walls are the Holy Spirit’.

That’s a near description of what was in the dream, for I could see as though through invisible walls into rooms. Even so, there was a definite sense of some kind of structure without my being able to ascertain its nature. Could this indicate the invisible power and work of Holy Spirit?

However, upon checking the quoted reference to Ezekiel 42:15-19 (details of the prophet’s vision of the temple) the translations to hand imply that the walls will be material, not immaterial. YET, the dream truly fits the scripture because, as Christen Forster explained to me: “ … in those verses you will see the word “side” (as in the King James), but the word is actually “ruach”, which is wind, spirit or breath. As the winds traditionally had four directions it has been made into “sides” in English. But more literally it says, “he measured the east wind” … hence Spirit.” [It is Strong’s number 7307, which cannot be construed as ‘wall’.]

A second item from the Report is suggestive of the dream’s closing half. It’s Tim Eldridge’s reference to Paul Revere’s preparation to alert an alliance and, hence, the urgency of spreading the news at top speed – his renowned Ride into American history

Thurs 8 Sept:                                                                                                              

Then came an intriguing connection to the 14 years break in revival activities in UK, and when re-starting work on the Temple in Jerusalem, as referred to in the Report and at the Gathering.

The Lord prompted me to dig into my library for a book, The Heart of The Temple.  Quickly, I spotted in the Foreword’s first page (by Jennifer Rees Larcombe):

“How did this passion for the Temple begin for you?”

“The seed was planted in my heart fourteen years ago”, she replied!!

PS: where else have we read about fourteen years? It was the period Apostle Paul spent in preparation before his missionary trips to the Gentiles (see Gal 1:11-2:2).

UPDATE 18 DEC 2017

In view of the original 2011 links’ non-functionality, I copied my papers onto this blog’s Prophecy Library, amending all entries accordingly. The Library summarises events as follows:

Sep’11 – RB dream: “They’re setting up the Kingdom!” and urgent release of its news, as recounted in ‘Father, Your Kingdom Come’.  See also October 2011 email Acceleration in Kingdom Activity. [A similar powerful dream of how mantles of anointing are becoming available from the Kingdom came to Revd Bob Mazeroski of New Life Church, Weirton, W Virginia in 2014, as reported here.  Full details in 5th Anniversary (2016) post follows resonant words and 2009’s “ALL about to be fulfilled” word in Pivotal Prophecies Now Coming Into Play. Dream confirmed in theme, location and timing.]

Bill J Credit BethelSep’11 – Bill Johnson: at the first Revival Alliance Gathering in the UK declared ,“We would look back at 1st Sept 2011 as the day things changed in the UK.” David Pike’s replete record in  Diebach-Welldigger’s Revival Alliance Meetings in Westminster  notes Bill then said it might take time for the impact of this day to be seen and felt across the nation, but gradually it would come. In his library of ‘Revival Prophecies for the British Isles’, Chris Welch noted him as saying, “There’s something about September 1st. I believe you can write it down…‘Everything changed September 1st 2011’….understand that a Kingdom perspective sees the oak tree as an acorn…I feel like it’s a prophetic word over this country: September 1st everything’s different.”

Sep’11 – Christen Forster: a Gathering organiser later reported Che Ahn had told him that, in all the time working with him, he’s rarely heard Bill make an apostolic pronouncement of such a kind. Christen wrote, ‘Bill’s prophetic word in September was a declaration of the start of the new day, the new wave, the new season. The wells don’t need unblocking any more, the water is flowing, we just need to carry their life and refreshment into the dry places. And every week I hear stories that confirm that word.’

RELATED READING:

Breaking news on Ezekiel 38 alliance

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

FASCINATING how the Bible continues to be relevant for today!

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

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

Conspiracy Of Silence Over Four Iranian Nuclear-Capable Missile Tests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May He continue to bless you and keep you

Richard

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

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

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

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

More on Turkey

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

Thank you Chris for asking about the missing scripture reference below (see previous).  My apologies, it’s oft-quoted verse 3 of Zecharia chapter 12, taken from NIV. 

By the way, having spent most of his life in the Holy City, Derek Prince wrote in one of his letters that the media used to make scant mention of Israel.  However, since about 1990, he noted an increasing international prominence given to Jerusalem.

In case, like ‘G’, you have personal connections with Turkey then you may like to read Joel Richard’s recent item on Turkey’s military build-up and imperial sabre-rattling at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=318757, 7/5/.11

This ties in well with Chuck Missler’s 3-part ‘Treacherous Trio’ historical overview of the Ezekiel 38 alliance:

– on Turkey at http://www.khouse.org/articles/2009/857/ 
– on Persia at http://www.khouse.org/articles/2009/864/
– on Russia at http://www.khouse.org/articles/2009/869/ .

Although published a couple of years ago, these briefings provide useful insights.

Incidentally, Chuck admitted earlier this year to having given prime attention to the Gog-Magog prophecies whereas Psalm 83 is more relevant to the current situation.  In fact, nine years ago at an Ellel seminar on the history of Israel, I heard David Noakes stress that its verses 2-5 accurately locate Israel’s enemies and describe their true intentions. Perhaps it’s worth checking out Psalm 83?

BREAKING NEWS: PEACE EFFORTS FAILED > “The intensive U.S. efforts to create an agreed outline for renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have failed, Israeli and Palestinian sources have told Haaretz. The sources said the Palestinian leadership is more determined than ever to pursue the recognition of an independent Palestinian state at the United Nations in September.  An Israeli source who was close to talks held by the U.S. administration with both Israeli and Palestinian officials told Haaretz the Americans was unable to find a formula that both parties could accept and take to the negotiating table…”

Let’s continue to keep alert

Rewind re. Turkey

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

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

Comfort one another with these words

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

S C R I P T U R A L   A S P E C T

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

Let’s recall God’s promise:

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

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

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

v18 Let them know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Amen Lord, answer again.

May the Lord fully open our minds to His word

Richard

Today’s importance in history

COPY of pre-blog email (as in ‘About’). The main points covered therein are.:

> warnings from Zecharia 12 and Ezekiel 38 and about ‘the Ezekiel Alliance’ [Gog-Magog].

> Arabs and Europeans against Israel; US presidents support terrorism within Israel

> Obama seeks cash from Arabs and courts Iranian terrorist masterminds!

> possible fulfillment of 1Tim4:3 prophecy in the UK: a Hebrews 12:23-27shaking’!

Dear Friends,

Buried beneath the daily dross of parliamentary piracy and ‘privilege-to-pilfer’ are momentous events concerning the Holy Land. I’ve kept close tabs with those who monitor Middle-Eastern machinations and watched a maelstrom gather momentum over the months.

Altho’ our gaze as believers is toward heavenly Jerusalem, it’s right not to overlook our God of Israel’s heart for actual Jerusalem and His covenant people. His intention and warning to the nations given through Zechariah (ch 12) still apply – and Ezekiel 38 opposition is moving into alliances. Hence, the world’s continual concern with Jerusalem and Israel.

Today, that storm comes to a climax as Prime Minister Netanyahu meets President Obama to discuss the latter’s 2-state solution for the Middle-East.

You may know that this involved attempts to turn the Arab world and Europe against Israel, and to appease Iran – even to ‘blackmailing’ Israel over its nuclear defence! (It’s reported Obama wanted to be able to use Iran’s territory for supplying US troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan.)

Also, there’s been dismay in Cairo and Riyadh over his courting the terrorist mentors in Teheran. No wonder Egypt and S.Arabia – both kept militarily informed by Israel – and five Gulf emirates turned a deaf ear to Pres. Obama’s secret (and 3rd) delegation seeking hundreds of billions dollars investment in US and global economic stimulus plans! It’s reported, however, that over the weekend a political furore gripped Washington and frayed Obama’s key policies.

The Bush and Obama administrations’ misguided intentions are to establish a terrorist-run nation within the ancient home-land of Judea/Israel. The consequences for USA in betraying its ally Israel could be severe, as when Bush wanted to trade land for peace (as collated by the accredited White House correspondent Wm Koenig). The Lord gave detailed warnings of judgement in Nov ’99 which included not only last year’s collapse of stocks but also the betrayal of Israel by Western allies!

Last week’s papal visit to the Holy Land may result in UN military units (ie. ‘armies of the nations’) in and around Jerusalem. Koenig has also noted that papal pronouncements contrary to God’s purposes for His Land have soon been followed by revelations of sexual scandal within the Roman hierarchy – so wait and watch.

United Kingdom

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter days…terrible times will come…” wrote Paul to disciple Timothy. The second letter gave many explicit details, all of which are now common-place – ie. the prophecy is fulfilled in its entirety today!

Could Paul’s reference to the prevention of marriage (at 1Tim4:3) be construed as also meaning any kind of alteration to this God-ordained covenant?

Hence, how entirely appropriate that those who’ve deliberately spurned His requirements and commands in making our laws are themselves now being turned upside down. And, as indicated in Hebrews 12:23-27 could we not expect lots more shaking? Could that visionary map I saw being ripped apart be the political map of England? I wonder…

Let’s remember Psalm 122 instruction, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you…”, that we may earnestly seek its welfare.