Obama's Coupe d'etat

By Joseph Farah

After yesterday's events, there can be only one conclusion about the goal of Barack Obama's administration – to destroy the U.S. economy, to transform it from one based on free enterprise to one directed by government.

In the last 48 hours, we've witnessed a presidential pretender fire the chief executive officer of General Motors and put a gun to the head of the Chrysler Corp., demanding that this U.S. business begin the process of selling out to a foreign automaker.

What do you call it when Obama makes moves to take over the auto industry? A coupe d'etat.

But it is hardly a joking matter.

Do you realize what just happened?

How does a president fire a CEO?

If Obama can fire the head of a troubled, but legendary corporation like GM and then order its business plan to be rewritten according to his wishes, presidential power has become unlimited. We no longer live in the United States of America that is guided by a Constitution based on the limited power of government. We live in a tyranny, and we're all subject to the whims of one man.

I have news for you, though: If Obama calls for my resignation as CEO of WND, he needs to know he can have my business when he pries it from my cold, dead fingers.

What's going on in this country? Has everyone gone mad? Are we all suffering from a new form of collective Alzheimer's disease? Have we forgotten our roots, our heritage of freedom, our constitutional foundations?

Obama said he has "no intention" of running General Motors. But he fired the CEO and demanded a "better business plan." Has he ever written a business plan? Has he ever seen one?

Of course, this is the trouble with bailouts. Would it not have been better to permit GM to die a dignified death than to be placed in the hands of community organizers?

Obama went on to say he doesn't want GM and Chrysler to become "wards of the state." When someone or something becomes a "ward of the state," by definition, the state gets custody. That's exactly where these automakers are now. They are in the custody of the state. Where exactly can they go from here? Does anyone really believe the government will ever let go and allow these businesses to operate as businesses?

There's a name for this kind of government direction of what have traditionally been private corporations. It's called "fascism." Look it up. This is what Mussolini did. It's what Hitler did with what had been a "private sector" in Germany. Just think Volkswagen. Hitler was the impetus behind what we call "the bug." Volkswagen literally means "people's car."

But what does the community organizer in chief know about the car business? What does he know about any kind of business, for that matter? The arrogance of these actions is mind-boggling.

He's even sending mixed signals – suggesting he does not even know or care about the ultimate outcome. For instance, he said the companies involved and the government might have to consider "using our bankruptcy code" to help in the restructuring he demands. At the same time, he says he will not require the companies to immediately repay government loan money that would force them into Chapter 11.

It's like directed chaos – which is why I say it is becoming more obvious all the time that the goal is to destroy rather than save or build a viable economy.

He's not a commander in chief. He's a destroyer in chief.

I really believe he wants to bring on a depression.

Remember what his chief of staff said: "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."

It seems like Obama is determined to make the most of the nation's serious crisis – perhaps by making it even more serious, thereby expanding the opportunity.

Related Links

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A primer on Obama's auto industry plan - Los Angeles Times
Sen. Corker: Obama's Auto Plan Sets "Dangerous Precedent" - CBS News
GM CEO ousted in 'change of direction' - Marketplace

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The Prophetic Road to Revelation - Part 2

By Sean Osborne

The Arab-Israeli War

In Part II we will look at the history of the Arab-Israeli military conflict from 1947 to the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

War in the British Mandate of Palestine

Most historical references to the war that commenced on 30 Nov 1947 between the Jews and Arabs in British Mandatory Palestine identify it as a “civil war.” In my view this is an incorrect naming convention. Civil wars occur between members of the same society and ethnic community such as has occurred in the American, French, Russian, and Spanish civil wars. The war of the Jews and Arabs is between two groups of distinct ethnic, societal and religious origins and whose long history has been, and quite literally will be, of Biblical proportions. These key items set this war distinctly apart from most other intra-national conflicts in history.

This first phase of the current Arab-Israel war was essentially a series of combat operations which effectively delineated Jewish and Arab controlled areas within British Mandatory Palestine prior to the termination of the Mandate on May 14 1948. In most areas the offensive operations of the Jewish forces closely matched the artificial lines drawn up by the United Nations partition plan. These artificial boundaries followed the precedent sent by the European re-drawing of the borders on former Ottoman territory between Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. “Palestine” has been proven to be no exception.

For all intents and purposes, the six month duration of this war constituted only the initial phase of the ongoing Arab-Israeli War. The Arab-Israeli War is the Psalm 83 War. The initial 1947-49 phase of this war was the bedrock basis of all future Arab-Israel wars through to the present. It is a war which will not be decisively concluded until the final phase as described by the prophet Asaph is fulfilled in the near future.

Primary Arab Forces 30 Nov 1947 to 14 May 1948

Army of the Jihad (Jaysh al-Jihad al-Muqaddas): This is the private militia of Abd al-Qadr al-Husayni family, and was the size of about normal battalion of 1,000 irregular Transjordanian militiamen. It was established by the Arab High Committee (AHC).

Arab Liberation Army (ALA) (Jaysh al-Inqadh al-Arabi): Was established on 5 February 1948 and was largely a Syrian creation. The ALA originally consisted of approximately 6,100 irregular volunteer troops recruited from Arab League nations via the Arab League Military Committee. Most secular histories state that the purpose behind the establishment of the ALA was as a counter-weight to the AHC’s Army of the Jihad. This is pretty much an irrelevancy due to the fact that the military objectives of both Arab armies were to seize territory and preempt the establishment of the State of Israel prior to the termination of the British Mandate.

The creation of this army was the direct result of the neighboring Arab governments consulting with each other and their plotting to ensure that no part of Palestine would become an independent Jewish state. The Syrian Prime Minister in November 1947, Jamil Mardam Bey, wrote of this plotting among the Arab leaders:

“So long as the position of the Kings and Amirs is one of caution and plots, this is the only sound policy.”

How does this square with the opening verses of Psalm 83:

1”Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”

Obviously, the ultimate policy objective of the Arabs nations has not changed one iota since the day they decided to enter into crafty counsel and consultations among one another.

Nationalities represented in this army were Syrians, Lebanese (including Lebanese Druze and Circassians) Iraqis, Transjordanian Arabs (includes “Palestinian” Arabs), Egyptians and several hundred Bosnian Muslims, Germans, Turks and British army deserters who were recruited to fight on the Arab side.

The organizational command center for this army was located in Damascus, Syria and major organizational offices were located within the Syrian Ministry of Defense. The Commander-In-Chief of the army was Iraqi General Ismail Safwat and his staff was composed of Iraqi, Syrian, Transjordanian and Lebanese military officers.

Finance of this army was borne by Egypt (42%), Syria and Lebanon (23%), Saudi Arabia (20%), and Iraq (15%). This army’s field commander was Fawzi al-Din al-Qawuqji, a former Captain in the army of the Ottoman Empire during WWI, later in the Iraqi Army in the 1930s and then an officer in the Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht during WWII.

There was virtually no planning or combat operations coordination between the Arab Liberation Army and the Army of the Jihad. Their total number is reported to have been about 50,000 irregulars throughout this period of warfare.

Primary Jewish Forces

Haganah (The Defense): was founded in 1920. This Jewish irregular paramilitary militia was a successor to the Jewish defense forces known as the Bar-Giora, founded in 1907 (named after the Idumean Simon Bar Giora, ruler of Jerusalem and General of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 69-70 AD), and the Hashomer founded in 1909 (The Guild of Watchmen). Haganah was succeeded on May 28, 1948 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when the provisional government of the nascent Israeli state created the new national army, navy and air force. Its strength on 14 May 1948 was 35,000 troops.

Pamlach (Strike Force): Was founded on 15 May 1941. The Pamlach was essentially three brigades (approximately 15,000 troops) of Jewish regular infantry soldiers of the Haganah, with components of Naval (Palyam), Air Force (Palavir), and Special Operations Commandos (Ha-Machlaka Ha-Germanit and Ha-Machlaka Ha-Aravit).

Intense offensive operations by the Jewish forces in the approximately six weeks from the beginning of April to 14 May 1948 crushed the opposing Arab Liberation Army and al-Muqaddas militia into military insignificance. By October 1948 the ALA had ceased to exist as a coherent fighting force, but remnants remain which continue operations after 14 May. The totality of this defeat became the vacuum, the impetus, for the next phase of the war which involved the regular military forces of all neighboring Arab states as well as some others within the region.

1948: Israel’s War of Independence

On 14 May 1948 Israel declared itself into existence gaining almost immediate international recognition. The Israel leadership made their declaration knowing full well that the surrounding Arab nations had mobilized their armies for a full-scale invasion, the military objective of which was to crush the nascent Jewish state and replace it with something the Arab League declared to the U.N. would be a “United State of Palestine.”

Tens of thousands of troops of the armed forces from Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq immediately invaded Israel. Once again the core of the Psalm 83 nations are present and at war with Israel.

Initially outnumbered the Israeli forces primary mission objective was to hold off the invading Arab armies until they could field a fighting force capable of driving the invaders out. This increase in Israel forces occurred rapidly and their approximately 30,000-strong military had mobilized and doubled in size by July, and had more than tripled by early 1949 and was ultimately twice the size of the Arab armies committed to the war. Complete and total victory by Israeli forces and the securing of Israeli borders was achieved by July 1949.

Subsequent to the war of 1947-1949 a series of short-duration wars have occurred, and include:

• A 100-hour war of 1956 which primarily was a demonstration of modern armored maneuver warfare tactics in the Sinai.
• The Six Day War of 1967 which began with a dogfight over Syria and quickly escalated to full-scale warfare for which Israel was completely mobilized to wage and resulted in another massive defeat over the same combined “inner circle” Arab enemy nations. Recent information indicates the former-Soviet Union had been deliberately feeding false military intelligence information to its Arab allies in Syria and Egypt. This bogus intelligence likely precipitated this war and only exacerbated the defeat the Arabs suffered. There’s a lesson here for the enemies of Israel to learn, yet consistent with Solomon’s wisdom it will ultimately be forgotten or ignored.
• The Yom Kippur War which began on October 6, 1973, the holiest day in the Jewish year, caught the IDF quite unprepared. Egypt had been threatening war since 1971, but those threats never materialized. Over those years the Arab threats of renewed war just 6 years after their defeat in the Six day War were not taken seriously. Egypt and Syria suddenly attacked with overwhelming military force. In the Sinai 80,000 Egyptian soldiers attacked less than 500 Israeli soldiers across a broad front. On the Golan 1,400 Syrian tanks crashed into less than 200 Israeli tanks and Israel immediately began to yeild territory to the Egyptian and Syrian invaders.
  
  Supporting the Arab effort was a substantial force from Iraq's military: a full-strength infantry division of 18,000 soldiers, hundreds of tanks and MiG fighter-bombers. Saudi' Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Sudan also sent troops, armor, fighter aircraft in support of Egypt and otherwise underwrote or financed the Arab war effort.
  
  Lebanon and Palestinians attacked Israel from Lebanese territory, and the Jordanians supported Syrian operations in the north. For a time it looked as if World War III had begun. The United States was sending in supplies by air and by sea as fast as the IDF could put them into combat; the Soviet Union was doing the same for the Arabs. Thermo-Nuclear war seemed a very real possibility if not the possibility of direct intervention by both Russian and American troops in the war.
  
  In sum, against a massive Arab military force which was as large as all of NATO forces in Europe at the time, Israel was miraculously able to recover from the initial onslaught, quick halt and then completely reverse the Arab advances, and then go fully into an offensive which took the IDF deep into both Egyptian and Syrian territory, and the entire Egyptian army was surrounded and nearly annihilated by the Israeli's.
  
  The IDF soldiers certainly bore the brunt of combat operations against incredible odds, but there is no question that YHWH God was the source and the true power behind Israeli amazing victory. As with the result of the Six Day War, the same lesson was taught once again.

[Coming in Part III: The Modern Era and the near-term future conclusion.]

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Tickle the Ear Doctrines or Gospel of Truth - You Decide

By Bill Wilson

The G-20 nations soon will meet in London with various proposals to fix the world economy. You can count on more globalization, more one world order drivel. The headlines will be talking about a worldwide redistribution of wealth-mainly from America-to fight the phantom of global warming; they will mention replacing the dollar as the standard reserve currency because it is to blame for the weakening world economy; they will point out that the nations believe more, not less government is needed to fix the worldwide recession; and more government intervention means more taxes and more nationalization of private enterprise. This crisis these leaders created will be used to advance the one world order.

Christians, in particular, will be distressed by the news coming from this summit. The global fixes that will be proposed by these so-called smartest men and women in the world will deny the existence of God, will call on man's own devices to remedy the problems their greed and elitist politics created, and their agenda will sprint away from the moral cultural issues. These countries will continue to promote homosexuality and abortion as well as separation of church and state. Spawning from this summit, whether it is reported or not, will be a new assault on individual liberty, on traditional family values, and most ardently and viciously, a stepped up attack on anyone who would oppose their genius.

The gathering of all these secular humanist-driven leaders could very well result in the unleashing of prejudice against Jews and Christians that hasn't been seen since the Crucifixion of Christ and the Roman persecution of Jews in the latter first century. IF you stand for God's brand of liberty, you will be faced with challenges that you have not seen in your generation. The body of Christ here on earth will soon be forced by events to decide what it is going to be. Those who stand on the doctrines of men will not be able to withstand the onslaught of what is about to occur. Kumbya Christianity, the emergent church, seeker sensitive, name it-claim it, personal prophetic indulgence all will be sorely put to the test.

God's kingdom people must understand that it is the Word of God, the gospel of truth, that must be spread. The "tickle the ear" doctrines of men must be laid aside in order to spread the gospel. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35,

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

He commanded us in Mark 16:15,

"Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

The disciples were under harsh Roman persecution, yet the church in Acts arose and through boldness of preaching the gospel - not doctrines of men - thousands came to Christ and the world was changed. Philippians 4:13,

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Do you believe it?

Related Links

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Financial crisis dominates G-20 agenda - CNN
Russia: Plan on cards to replace dollar - Business Report
Obama Calls for Strong Message of Unity Ahead of G20 Summit - VOA News

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Pets in Heaven? 3 Views: No

By Nathan Jones

Rolph, named for the "rolph!" sound he made when barking, was my boyhood pet dog. I found the stray puppy outside our home on a spaghetti night and skipped the meal to make a new best friend. He grew up to be a big, lovable part of the family.

With nearly half of the homes in the U.S. having pets according to a 2004 ABCNews/Beliefnet poll, this question is a bone chewed on by many pet lovers. Nearly 9 in 10 of those surveyed believe there is a Heaven. When the poll went on to ask if pets also go to Heaven, 43% responded yes, 40% responded no and 17% were undecided.

Many authors and theologians have also chased their tails over this topic. An entire book titled Will My Pet Go to Heaven? has been written, and even the famed Christian writer Randy Alcorn devoted a whole chapter to answering the question in his book Heaven.

Before continuing, let's shift the focus from pets to all animals. We should even include insects, amoebas, bacteria, plants and all other living things to be fair. Just because we make an animal a pet doesn't grant it an exclusive status over the rest of the animal kingdom. So, the question we should be really asking is not whether our pets go to Heaven, but whether every living creature ever created is going to Heaven.

So, what does the Bible say about non-human living creatures going to Heaven? Well, nothing outright.

Supporters of animals going to Heaven look to the picturesque Isaiah 11. "The wolf will live with the lamb... and a little child will lead them" (Isa. 11:6). A scene of peace and tranquility, taken in context, Isaiah is describing a state of harmony during Jesus' upcoming earthly reign. It is not a scene from the afterlife.

Supporters also go to Ecclesiastes 3:18-21. "Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other" (Ecc. 3:19a). Taken in context along with Ecclesiastes 3:11b, "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men," this chapter is describing physical death in a meaningless world and states that mankind alone lives forever past the grave.

If animals were to go to Heaven, that would also beg the question whether animals go to Hell. Would animals that had mauled people, stung babies and killed children go to Hell? What about viruses and diseases, as they are also part of the Creation? My wife has had some parakeets that I'm sure if there was a Hell for animals they'd be there!

The Bible makes these points very clear. Mankind is made special in God's image: "So God created man in his own image" (Gen. 1:27a). Animals are a food source (Gen. 9:3). When sin entered the world, all of creation fell under a death sentence (Gen. 3:14; 6:7; Rom. 8:20). The only reprieve to escape eternal death has been offered to mankind alone through Jesus Christ (Isa. 53:5; Tit. 2:11; Heb. 9:28). And, only the Church experiences the Rapture to become the Bride of Christ (Jn. 14:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 19:7-9).

The Bible clearly indicates that in the very end the Creation will be restored to the condition of the Garden of Eden. It will be filled with animals, possibly even ones based on extinct species or new ones mankind has never seen. Maybe God will even allow some of them to be cared for as pets. But, will Heaven and the New Earth be populated by all the creatures that ever existed, including pets? I don't think the Bible supports such a conclusion.

We do love our animals. But, before you spend another dime on a can of gourmet cat food, remember the third-world child eating dirt. Which does the Lord love more and want you showing His compassion with your time and money? "So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:31).

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Dealing with the Easter Dilemma

By Chuck Missler

The Easter Season is here, complete with baskets and cellophane grass and chocolate bunnies in every store. While we enjoy the chocolate bunnies and malted eggs, it's pretty obvious that cellophane grass has absolutely nothing to do with the Resurrection of our Lord. This time of year brings with it the annual uncomfortable question; what should we – as Christians – celebrate?

The term "Easter" itself alludes to the pagan roots of the holiday. The name comes from the Babylonian goddess, Ishtar (also, Astarte). It was the pagan preoccupation with fertility that linked rabbits' rapid breeding with the golden egg of Astarte. Passover, and therefore the Resurrection of Jesus, occur in the springtime. As Christianity spread, the celebration that Christ had conquered death came neatly at a time when the pagan world was celebrating the renewal of nature after the death of winter. And so, today we have Easter egg hunts at churches across America on Resurrection Sunday.

Is that good? Should we, as Christians, allow remnants of pagan celebrations into our celebration of Christ? For those who understand that Easter's fuzzy bunnies are really the residue of ancient Babylonian fertility religions, there seems to be two choices.

1. Reject Easter Traditions: Some Christians separate themselves from the remnants of those old fertility religions. They remember Christ's Resurrection and forgo all the chocolate and hard boiled eggs. They may even celebrate Passover, and Jesus as the Passover Lamb. They rejoice that he was raised again as the Firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18) on Sunday, the Feast of Firstfruits.

2: Make Use Of Easter Traditions: Some Christians, on the other hand, see the Easter traditions as another opportunity to spread the Gospel and use the eggs as teaching tools. Some take 12 plastic eggs, for example, and fill each one with one object from the story of Jesus' betrayal and death and his raising from the dead. The eggs contain things like coins, a sponge, nails, and a cross while the last one is empty, representing the empty tomb. Other people dye eggs, using each color to symbolize a different aspect of Christ's death and resurrection (red stands for his blood, etc). There are dozens of ways that Sunday School teachers and parents have incorporated the current Easter traditions into the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Which is the better way?

We do not face this issue only at Easter. Most Christian holidays have leftover pagan traditions mixed into their celebrations. Do we stop giving out Valentines because boys and girls paired up for the (loosely connected) Roman festival of Lupercalia? Do we stop hanging mistletoe because it was once a part of fertility rights – or throw out Christmas altogether because the Romans celebrated Saturnalia in late December? Are those things unholy because they were once connected to paganism? Or can we use them as opportunities to spread the Gospel to our secular culture? How do we deal with these things according to the Word of God?

To The Jews First

God gave Israel a law and a sacrificial system that would help them understand how the death of the Messiah could pay for sins. He gave them the Passover so they could understand that the blood of the Lamb would protect them from the wrath of God. God gave Israel feasts that stood as prophetic symbols, as types, of His plan for redemption. The Jews were primed to understand the purpose and mission of the Messiah, and while the eyes of many were blinded for a time, Jesus clearly stated that he came to the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matt. 15:24).

Yet, Jesus came to save the whole world. The Gospel was for the Jews first, but also for the Gentiles according to the Scriptures (Isaiah 49:6, Acts 10:45, Rom. 1:16). The purpose of Israel was to be a light that shined the truth of God to all peoples.

And Also to the Gentiles

When evangelists in the Early Church went out to preach to the world, though, the pagan nations did not have the same background that the Jews had. They had sacrificial systems as well, but without the precious subtleties provided by the Law. They did not have the same feasts and laws to give them a cultural understanding of the messages they were being given. The missionaries had to find ways within the existing pagan cultures to help the gentiles appreciate who Jesus was. St. Patrick in Ireland was not alone. Many early Church evangelists incorporated Christian teachings into existing celebrations, "Christianizing" those traditions.

Whether that was a good or bad thing has long been the subject of debate. Some argue that those celebrations are not in the Bible and that mixing Christian beliefs with pagan traditions is at best distracting and is at worst a form of bowing the knee to those false gods.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," (2 Cor. 6:17)

Others argue that Christianity has sanctified those celebrations, making the unholy holy.

"Unto the pure all things are pure" (Titus 1:15)

Paul and Plato

The Apostle Paul, sent by God to minister to the gentiles, believed in making the most of every opportunity (1 Cor. 9:18-23). Paul is famous for his use of Greek culture to get ideas across to his Greek audience. He constantly makes allusions to Plato with statements like, "…which are a shadow of things to come," (Col. 2:17) and "For now we see through a glass, darkly," (1 Cor. 13:10). Do Paul's frequent allusions to Plato indicate that Plato himself was inspired by God? No. Rather, Paul made use of Plato because his Greek audience understood Plato, and he could use Plato's ideas as tools to help gentile minds understand the truth about our lives in Jesus Christ.

Was he right to do this? Didn't he run the risk of making people think he was legitimizing the many unbiblical ideas Plato had? That's a good question.

Yet, Jesus appears to have done the exact same thing. Jesus makes a puzzling statement in Acts when he knocks Paul (still "Saul" at that time) off his donkey on the road to Damascus. He says,

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," (Acts 9:5).

"Kick against the pricks" is a phrase used multiple times in Greek plays, including in Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, and The Bacchae by Euripides. In both cases it has to do with a mortal's stubborn defiance. In The Bacchae, the mortal Pentheus has the god Dionysus bound, refusing to believe that he's a god. Dionysus tells Pentheus,

"Better to yield [me] prayer and sacrifice than kick against the pricks…"

Does this reference mean that Jesus himself was anything like the god Dionysus? Of course not. It also does not indicate that Paul would suffer Pentheus' fate of being torn apart by wild women. Yet, the idiom would have instant meaning for Saul of Tarsus with his education in Greek literature. It would also have had meaning to those in the Greek culture to whom Paul told his conversion story.

Tripping Our Brothers

What do we do today? Hunting Easter eggs hardly makes children think of Babylonian fertility goddesses, and there is nothing intrinsically evil in eggs or chocolate rabbits. At the same time, we do have knowledge of the Feasts of Israel, the original celebrations meant to point the way to Christ. How should we behave?

Here is what Paul says on the matter.

"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean," (Romans 14:14).

If you believe it is wrong to give your children Easter baskets, then it is wrong for you to do so. If, however, you are fully persuaded in your conscience that it's harmless fun, then rejoice in your liberty. Paul says about these sorts of things,

"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind," (Romans 14:5).

And yet, we have a responsibility to not cause our brothers to stumble.

"But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock…" (1 Cor. 8:9, 11).

We should do nothing that could harm our fellow Christians or cause them to do something against their own consciences. We need to do everything we do with the heart of Christ, with love, and not out of pride or selfishness or judgmentalism. After all, the whole point of any Christian celebration is to bring glory to God. Let's make sure every decision we make is focused on that goal. [And if we can enjoy some chocolate at the same time, then may God be glorified in that as well!]

Related Links

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Prometheus Bound: Important Quotations Explained - Spark Notes
Prometheus Bound - GreekMythology.com
The Bacchae E-Text - GradeSaver.com
Resurrection Egg List - Cullen's ABCs
Make Resurrection Eggs to Tell the Real Easter Story to Children - Associated Content
Prophetic Evidences: The Festive Spring - Koinonia House
The Feasts of Israel - MP3 Download - Koinonia House

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Where is Antichrist? Part I

By Terry James

The most frequently asked question at prophecy conferences and in Bible prophecy classes–at least in my experience—is: “Is America in Bible prophecy?” The second most asked is: “Do you think the Antichrist is alive on earth today?”

These questions are for the most part posed by people in the audiences or classes in general. However, more and more frequently I find these questions being asked by journalists, both print and broadcast. It is interesting to me that I rarely hear a skeptical or scoffing tone in the voices of the media representatives who interview me. There seems a sense, even among secular journalists, that perhaps there’s something to this Bible prophecy stuff after all.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not sensing a sudden turning to God, or to His Word. However, there is a halting uncertainty there. Like, “Well, maybe I had better be just a bit more serious about the subject, since there is such angst over these strange economic conditions.”

Economic Conditions

There is a sense that strange, unexplainable things are happening, and even secular newshounds seem to viscerally understand that Bible prophecy has something to do with the increasingly troubling issues and events of our time. U.S. leaders (I use that term loosely) have seemingly thrown caution to the wind. It’s like, as I heard one Bible prophecy broadcaster say the other day: "those who are supposed to be trying to fix the melting financial structure of America have placed the whole shebang on 17 black, and have given the roulette wheel a hope-filled turn." Actually, it is more like they have written trillions in IOUs and put them on 17 black, and have given the wheel a turn.

If the little ball ends up on any number other than 17 black, what then? That is the crux of the crucial nature of this insanity surrounding the American economy as the end of the age approaches. Craziness rules - like when the Federal Reserve reached in its right pocket and transferred more than a trillion dollar IOU to its left pocket to keep the American financial system afloat.

"Just last Wednesday the Fed said it would flood the teetering financial system with an additional $1.2 trillion. The money will be used, the Fed said, to buy government bonds and mortgage-related securities in hopes of lowering the borrowing costs for home mortgages and other types of loans, thereby stimulating economic activity. In other words, the central bank will print more money to pay for the purchases. What the Fed does not explain publicly is how those kinds of infusions of money out of thin air, with nothing to back it, reduce the purchasing power and assets of all Americans by devaluing the dollar. The $1.2 trillion is in addition to hundreds of billions already added to the system since the beginning of the year and dwarfs even the biggest government bailouts to date…” (“Fed's secrecy policy 3 years old,” WorldNetDaily MoneyNetDaily, March 22, 2009).

Keep in mind that the Federal Reserve is a non-government agency. Congress designated this monetary governing body to control the nation's money supply. The Fed’s actions directly impact the value of the dollar. This body, manned by the non-elected financial elite, holds sway over every investment held by Americans.

Actions like those taken by the Federal Reserve in the case of creating out of nothingness the trillion plus dollars, then putting that massive IOU into the system with a blind faith that that unbacked infusion will beat the odds of failure, will, if nothing else is done, put not only America’s economy, but the economies of the nation-states of the world into the final stages of collapse.

The following excerpt tells of just how surreptitious are the actions against the taxpayers and their offspring, who are expected to shoulder the burden of funding the globalist elite’s grandiose plans to build their new world order.

“WASHINGTON – As America's economy continues in freefall, tomorrow marks an auspicious three-year anniversary – the day the Federal Reserve announced, with little fanfare, its decision to stop reporting to the public the M3 money supply, the broadest measure of three standards of measurement…Since 2006, Americans have seen their investments plummet in value and witnessed the shrinking buying power of their earnings. Why did the Fed make that decision three years ago? What was its rationale? The justification for the secrecy by the organization that prints money was cost. By not producing those numbers for the public, the Fed would save about $1.5 million annually…” (ibid.).

The Craziness Proliferates!

It should be astonishing to think that the media, so obsessed with nefarious financial dealings by civilian monetary elite–e.g., the AIG executive bonuses, would let civilians with the power of the Fed go without being punished for perpetrating such surreptitiousness on American taxpayers. There seems to be, however, not the slightest notice.

The $1.5 million savings by the Fed in not reporting to the public the M3 money supply amounted to 0.00000699 percent of its annual net income of last year. This savings was highlighted as sufficient reason to keep vital information from the public. Just to point out the deceptive nature of this piddling savings being reported in order to justify keeping taxpayers in the dark, remember that the same media went all out in diverting the public's attention from the enormous bailouts by focusing on – by contrast to the prodigious bailout dollar amount — the infinitesimal bonuses paid to AIG executives. Remember, too, that the bonuses were given to the AIG executives through contractually mandated arrangements.

The sleight of hand by the Fed in transferring the massive IOU from one pocket to the other to keep the country’s economic ship afloat was done under the knowing eyes of the Obama Administration and Congress. An uninformed American public was, and is for the most part, kept in ignorance by news media not fully disclosing the scope of the thievery of the economic well-being of this and future generations.

What About Antichrist?

This essay’s title is “Where Is Antichrist?” So, where, if anywhere in this present hour, is this future evil Bible character in all of the foregoing? Can he be on the scene today?

Jesus forewarned that false christs will come on the scene in the latter times. The definition of antichrist is most often given as the one who will present himself in place of (imitate) Jesus Christ, and will at the same time oppose Jesus Christ. The “beast” is prophesied to be the world’s worst tyrant of human history. The prophet Daniel was given the following about this person who is called “son of perdition,” “man of sin,” and many other names.

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand “ (Dan. 8:24-25).

We will examine in next week’s Nearing Midnight commentary this man who is of legendary proportions, yet who transcends by far any legend. He is not an imaginary monster such as Dracula in the Stoker novel, or Darth Vader as in Spielberg’s fictional wars among the stars. Antichrist is a real monster, and a most treacherous one, because he will through supernatural deceit appear as a geopolitical and socioeconomic savior of mankind. Be sure, the beast of Revelation 13 is about to step into the spotlight of history’s final act.

Related Links

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UN backs new new global currency reserve - NEWS.com.au
Obama Top Recipient of AIG’s Hefty Campaign Contributions - Public Integrity
Obama heads overseas to tackle world economy - USA Today

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What Commandment Tells Us to Recycle?

By Jan Markell

From Sydney, Australia, to San Francisco, nearly 4,000 cities in 88 countries turned off their lights this past weekend for "Earth Hour." The campaign was designed to highlight the threat of climate change. If people want to spend their weekends this way that is fine; however, I have a real problem with the root of their thinking which would be that man is causing a climate catastrophe, and that man is at the root of global warming. So in light of my sentiment, I kept my lights on and chose not to dine by candlelight.

In spite of the attempts of Al Gore, I have yet to be shown absolute scientific proof that man is at the root of the global climate "catastrophe." I suspect the sun is somehow involved; however, visit my home state of Minnesota just about any January and you would actually wish that Gore's fake science would come true.

This rather secular cause has made its way into the heart of many Christians! What fuels it? First we have many churches that belong to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) who make it a primary issue. The NAE was birthed in the 1940s to be an instrument to counter the more liberal National and World Council of Churches that never met a social cause behind which they didn't rally. The NAE for decades focused like a laser beam on gospel preaching, missions, evangelism, Bible memorization, and more.

If you visit their Web site, http://www.nae.net/, you are hit with propaganda such as this: "What do you personally do to take care of God's creation?" "Evangelical" leaders and pastors respond by talking about recycling, picking up (garbage) after others, and purchasing used furniture. One person polled proudly stated that his goal was to fill just one garbage can a month! How about a call to win one lost soul to Jesus a month? But this is the new NAE!

Moving on to a similar example, now we have The Green Bible. This Bible is trying to make gardeners out of all of us. It is put out by Harper Collins, and it calls attention to more than 1,000 verses related to nature. It is printed in forest green and on soy paper. As much as I love the nature that surrounds my townhouse complex, if I am looking for a new Bible, it will be one that has 1,000 verses highlighted about winning lost souls.

The Green Bible furthers the cause of "creation care" by containing supplementary writings by Desmond Tutu, Emergent leader Brian McLaren, and others who are not sound in their theology. Some contributors to this Bible suggest that eco-neglect violates Jesus' call to care for the least among us. In other words, a tree is now the "least among us." How tragic things have gone this far off course.

Southern Baptist leader Richard Land says,

"Sure it is important (to take care of the earth), but when Jesus was asked what was the most important issue, He said, 'Love your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.' He didn't say a word about eco-neglect."

I wonder if churches, including so-called "evangelical churches" that are printing their Sunday bulletin on eco-friendly paper, have the same zeal for witnessing to the lost because the time is short?

The magazine Christianity Today, normally pretty friendly to left-leaning causes, is critical of The Green Bible because...

"its aim is to orient readers to the Bible's concern for the natural world along with its call for social justice and poverty relief."

Christianity Today goes on to point out that this Bible includes...

"tips for getting started in Christian environmentalism, which looks basically like secular environmentalism along with a list of secular organizations devoted to the environment."

Yes, we are commanded in the Bible to take care of the earth. It sickens me every time I hear of another species that has become extinct. The reckless targeting of whales and dolphins is deplorable. Man has a responsibility to the earth and the creatures and elements over which we have been given authority to rule. But fighting the pollution and global warming wars will lead to only one thing: One-world globalism. The source of our ecological problem is man's fallen nature. He has set himself at the center of the universe. In the absolute extreme, some of the eco-efforts going on, even in the church, can lead ultimately to "mother earth" worship.

The Bible says, "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs" (Romans 8:20-22) as it waits for earth's real liberation -- the return of Christ. The Green Bible and a form of Christianized Sierra Club activity are not what the church is called to today. Souls are eternal and plant life is not! Preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and using a Bible that most effectively aids in that should be our focus when selecting a Bible.

Please walk past the aisle, and keep moving, when you spot The Green Bible, and why don't you remind the NAE of its roots? They have nothing to do with recycling.

Related Links

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SPIRITUAL DECEPTION - Olive Tree Ministries
Global-warming skeptics discover that plants like carbon dioxide - Examiner.com
Obama Sets International Climate Forum - Washington Post

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Unity

By Jim Fletcher

With the agreement that Labor will join Likud in Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government, Israel will retain Ehud Barak as defense minister. He brings considerable experience to the post.

Many nations have defense ministers who have little or no military experience. If a nation is large and strong enough, that isn’t necessarily a hindrance. For tiny Israel, they need all the help they can get.

In the spring of 1973, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir gave the order for members of Sayaret Matkal — the elite commando unit — to hunt down and kill those who carried out the brutal murders of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

“Operation Spring of Youth” did exactly that, as Palestinian terrorists were hunted down and eliminated.

Among those who did the hunting was one Ehud Barak. Landing on beaches by night, the team made its way to Beirut, Lebanon. Strolling down a street as a couple in love was in fact two members of the Unit. Barak carried an Uzi under his dress.

The PLO never knew what hit them.

Barak is Israel’s most decorated soldier, no easy feat in a nation of heroes.

He also served as prime minister from 1999-2001; his term was sandwiched between two other decorated veterans — Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon.

Barak and Netanyahu are political rivals. They most likely don’t like each other. Politics is a nasty, nasty business in Israel. Netanyahu needs a unity government in order to be installed as prime minister for a second time. Although Labor and Likud are the equivalent of Democrats and Republicans, Israel’s government functions as a collection of parties that come together to govern. With the Kadima party choosing not to join the government (party leader and current Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has her own ambitious political plans), Likud has to reach out to others.

Netanyahu is also poised to name Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister. He is not well-liked by Leftists, since the charismatic Lieberman is a “hard-liner” when it comes to the Palestinians. Already, international diplomats are voicing displeasure over the ascension of Netanyahu and Lieberman. Watch for the Obama team to give the Israelis the cold shoulder.

When the PLO hijacked a Sabena airliner in 1972, in Tel Aviv, an Israeli commando team rescued the hostages; Netanyahu was wounded. Barak was part of his team, then, as well. At the time, Netanyahu’s team posed as airplane mechanics, dressed in white coveralls. They stormed the plane and eliminated the terrorist threat.

These are not men who shy away from danger. They will need all their courage to withstand the intense pressure that will come from their ostensible allies. Imagine what their enemies will do!

It is extraordinary to think what the Arabs could accomplish in the Middle East if they would work with the Israelis and turn away from a culture of death. Even in the desert south, the Israelis are reclaiming the land, with palm groves and innovative irrigation practices. From tourism to agriculture to hi-tech, the Israelis are light years ahead of their neighbors. All this done with at least one hand tied behind their backs!

In our flawed and fallen world, up is down and black is white. The Israelis are besieged, but are portrayed as aggressors. The intense pressure that their leaders are under is something most of us can’t imagine.

Israel’s new prime minister, defense minister, and foreign minister will have to gather all their energies to navigate the nightmare of secular political solutions, which are all doomed to fail.

Let us pray earnestly for them as we await the coming of Israel’s Redeemer.

Related Links

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Israel's Netanyahu readies to present cabinet - AFP
Netanyahu vows 'every effort to reach viable peace' - Haaretz
Israel's Netanyahu pledges to seek Middle East peace - Reuters

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Tyranny at the Doorstep of the House of Freedom

By Bill Wilson

The White House has forced out the Chief Executive Officer of General Motors as a condition for more government bailout money. While many across America may praise this move, it sets a dangerous precedent of government ownership and involvement in the affairs of our nation's private enterprise. Socialism and communism are failed one world order principles where government replaces God in the affairs of men. Americans allowing their government to even flirt with such political concepts of economy will result in certain disaster. This is tyranny in the making. It is the face of oppression rising above the horizon to shine its darkness upon the hearts of free men.

End time Biblical prophecies point toward a one world government controlled by the antichrist. Revelation 13:7-8 say,

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

Verses 16-17 say,

"And he caused all, both small and great, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Revelation is an example of prophecies of the world government. There are many more. America has been since its beginning a beacon of God's light to the world. This nation and its people have been blessed financially and have been instrumental in spreading the gospel to the outermost parts of earth. In recent years, however, we have allowed the tares to rise up stronger than the wheat. We have not protected the good soil the Lord provided. We have harvested, but we have not replenished. We have allowed the rich soil to be carried away by winds of doctrines of men. And the stony earth remaining is symbolic of the selfish hard hearts of unrepentant men who changed the truth of God into a lie.

The precipitous fall of our nation to the godless system of socialism is directly proportional to the decline of strong Biblical principles practiced by the people of our nation. Proverbs 14:34 says

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

We know that a world government controlled by evil is to come. The prophecies will be fulfilled. We cannot stop it. But God has given us free will, meaning we can determine our place in prophecy. America should remain free so long as God will allow it that we might continue to spread the gospel. But God chooses to work through His people. It is our choice whether to accept the tyranny before us or to stand against the principality of bondage.

Related Links

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U.S. Forces Out GM CEO Wagoner - Wall Street Journal
GM Chief to Resign at White House's Behest - Washington Post
GM’s Wagoner Steps Aside After Failing Obama Scrutiny - Bloomberg

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Pets in Heaven? 3 Views: Maybe

By Dr. David R. Reagan

Some are convinced that animals go to Heaven, and maybe they're right. The eternal fate of animals is a question the Bible does not directly answer.

God loves His creation, including the animals, and He is determined to restore all of creation — both the plant and animal kingdoms — to the original perfection they enjoyed before being corrupted by the sin of Man.

Jesus died not only to redeem Mankind, but to redeem the creation. This was emphasized prophetically in the Hebrew Scriptures in two ways. First, it was taught symbolically. When the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, the book of Leviticus tells us that he would take a step back and sprinkle some of the blood on the ground in front of the Ark (Lev. 16:15).

Why did he do this? The blood on the mercy seat was a prophecy that one day the blood of the Messiah would make it possible for the grace of God to cover the law of God (the tablets of law rested in the Ark under the lid called the mercy seat). The blood on the ground was a prophecy that the sacrifice of the Messiah would also make it possible for God to lift the curse that rests on creation and redeem all of it to its original perfection.

We know for certain that animals will exist on earth during the millennial reign of Jesus (Isa. 11:6-9), and we are told that all animals will become herbivorous once again. The wolf will lie down with the lamb. The lion will eat straw with the ox. A little child will play in the cobra's hole because the cobra will no longer be poisonous (Isa. 11:8). I have a picture of the "peaceable kingdom" hanging behind my desk. It shows a little boy in a white robe walking down a road with a lion on a leash. The lion will be a pet instead of a threat.

The Bible tells us very little about the eternal state that will follow our Lord's millennial reign. All we know is that the redeemed will live in new bodies on a new earth in the presence of Almighty God, serving Him and experiencing intimate fellowship with Him. The book of Revelation says we will "see his face" (Rev. 22:4). Animals are not mentioned in the eternal context.

But that does not mean they will be absent. I suspect that one of the many delightful surprises God will give to the redeemed will be the joyful companionship of the pets they knew and loved here on this earth. I hope so.

In the next of this "Pets in Heaven?" series, we'll look at the answer "No."

Related Links

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Pets in Heaven? 3 Views: Yes - The Christ in Prophecy Journal
Do Dogs Go to Heaven? - Eternal Perspective Ministries

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The End Times According to Isaiah - Part 12

By Jack Kelley

In this installment the focus is on the Holy City, and the changes the Lord will bring to Zion. Included among these are vast wealth, eternal light, and a new name.

Isaiah 60. The Glory of Zion

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

The word translated darkness in this passage is the same as in Genesis 1:2, before God said, “Let there be light.” It was also used to describe the darkness so thick it could be felt in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 10:21) It has spiritual as well as physical properties. The Lord Jesus spoke of this in the Olivet Discourse. He was actually quoting from Isaiah 13:10 in speaking of the time immediately after the end of the Great Tribulation. But as you can see, the language is almost identical.

“Immediately after the distress of those days” ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

(The word for “bodies” literally means “powers”. This is more than falling stars. Spiritual powers in the heavens will be shaken as He returns.)

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:29-30)

Isaiah prophesied that the 2nd Coming will bring the dawn of Israel’s greatest Age. The time of separation caused by their rejection of the Messiah will have ended with their acceptance. He is the Light that brings them life. The unbelieving world will mourn, realizing too late that they’ve been wrong about everything, and will remain in darkness forever. Although Isaiah directed this chapter to the Holy City, the blessings will accrue to Israel as a whole.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (Isaiah 60:3-5)

As we learned in a previous installment, the gentile world will pay homage to Israel. And it will be expressed in much more tangible ways than simply lending a helping hand to the returnees. As we’ll see the focal point will be the Holy City, now the City of Light in every respect.

Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD. (Isaiah 60:6)

Midian, Ephah, and Sheba were sons and grandsons of Abraham and Ketura, the wife he took after Sarah died. (Genesis 25:1-4) These names are all associated with the Arabian Peninsula. Like the Wise Men of old they’ll bring expensive gifts as they come to praise the Lord. Gold is a gift for a King and incense (KJV frankincense) evokes images of the priesthood. Notice there’s no myrrh mentioned here. Myrrh was an embalming spice and its absence indicates that God will never again have to die for man. His sacrifice was a once for all time event. (Hebrews 10:12)

All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple. (Isaiah 60:7)

Kedar was the 2nd son of Ishmael, and Nebaioth was Ishmael’s first born. Perhaps Kedar was mentioned first because of the greater prominence he would gain as the patriarch of the line of Mohamed. In addition to sacrificial animals for the temple offerings, some see the former followers of Mohamed symbolized here, giving homage to the God of Israel and serving Him.

“Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor. (Isaiah 60:8-9)

From all around the world the wealth of the nations will pour into the Holy City, in honor of the God of Israel. Men who were previously unaware will be awakened to their Jewish heritage. God’s people, once thought to be on the brink of extinction, will form a seemingly endless procession to their ancestral home in His Holy City, like flocks of migrating birds returning to their homes.

“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations — their kings led in triumphal procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.

“The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet. The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 60:10-14)

Upon arriving at the Millennial Temple at the beginning of the Kingdom Age, God will say,

”This is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7)

Israel will once again be pre-imminent among nations and the Holy City will not only be its capitol, it will be the everlasting home of the God of the Universe. The nations of the world will offer their services and bring their wealth. Those who have been Israel’s blood enemies for a hundred generations will come and bow down upon entering the Holy City.

“Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:15-18)

The Holy City will be the source of pride and joy for all generations of Earth’s people. Wealth and favor will be accompanied by peace and righteousness, with violence, ruin and destruction consigned forever to the past. Once again the Hebrew word translated Salvation is Yeshua, but in this case the word for praise actually means a hymn or song of praise. It’s absolutely fascinating to me that the walls and gates of the Holy city are modeled in the contemporary evangelical church. The emphasis is on Jesus, expressed in song after song of praise and worship.

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. (Isaiah 60:19-20)

The promises here are similar to those given the Church. Neither will require the light of the Sun or Moon. As the Lamb is the lamp of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:23), the Father is the everlasting light of Israel. And the Glory of God illuminates them both.

Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:21)

The full portion of the Promised Land will be Israel’s home forever, and they will spread out from there to found other nations. It’s a promise from the Lord.

You may have noticed that although the entire chapter was spoken to the Holy City, not once was the name Jerusalem mentioned. Two chapters later, Isaiah explained this.

Isaiah 62. Zion’s New Name

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.

The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:1-5)

Hephzibah means “my delight is in her” and Beulah means “married”. But these are not the official names of the Holy City either. For that we need to consult Ezekiel again.

“And the name of the city from that time on will be: The LORD is There .” (Ezekiel 48:35)

In Hebrew it’s JHVH (Jehovah) Shammah, and it means that out of the entire universe, God will have chosen to live among His people in the land He promised them, in the city they will have built for Him.

Back To The Present

In the coming days we will likely see the most intense efforts yet to divide the Promised Land. Indications are that the USA and Europe will exert almost unbearable pressure upon the new government of Israel to go along. Loyalties are shifting rapidly. It appears that very soon the US will publicly invite the Moslem world to help forge a global US-Moslem reconciliation that will leave Israel out in the cold. A Palestinian State will be their reward for peace in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, and Iran will be allowed to produce the remaining components for a nuclear weapon on the promise that they’ll stop short of actually assembling them. Israel will have no say in these matters.

I first heard the phrase “prophecy on fast-forward” from Hal Lindsey a few years back. He was talking about what would happen if the US ever abandoned Israel. More and more, commentators are using it in reference to the days just ahead. We’ve all heard the Lord’s command from Psalm 122:6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.” It’s more important to do this now than ever before.

We bring this installment to a close with Isaiah’s version of the Lord’s command:

You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isaiah 62:6-7)

In the most literal form of this commandment we’re being told not to be silent about this in our prayers, but to make it a constant plea, and to allow the Lord no peace and quiet until He achieves this. It’s easy to become sick at heart as we see the way things are going in the world today. Our defense against this is prayer. Constant, urgent, fervent prayer.

Related Posts

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Psalm 48
The End Times According To Isaiah, Part 6
The Feast Of Tabernacles … Feast of Booths … Sukkot
Psalm 103
Light Before The Sun?

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Sunday Satire

By Andy Borowitz

White House Replaces ‘War on Terror' With Symbol

The White House today announced today that it would no longer use the phrase "war on terror" and would instead replace it with a cryptic symbol once used by the funk rocker known as Prince.

The new symbol made its first appearance today at a White House press conference in which spokesman Robert Gibbs answered a question about the war on terror by holding up a picture of the newly acquired icon.

Mr. Gibbs said that the White House had decided to replace the phrase with the symbol after determining that its first-choice euphemism, "overseas contingency operations," was too much of a mouthful.

"In the years that Prince used the symbol, it was totally confusing and no one knew what it meant," he said. "It should work perfectly for us."

To acquire the rights to the symbol, however, the White House had to outbid an unlikely suitor, the insurance giant AIG.

The embattled company, which recently stripped its corporate headquarters of its logo in the hopes of throwing protesters off its scent, had intended to replace it with the mysterious icon coveted by the White House.

It was hoping to rebrand itself as "The Insurance Giant Formerly Known as AIG," a company spokesman said.

AIG Chairman Edward Liddy was philosophical about being outbid by the White House for Prince's symbol: "All of our efforts were a total and abject failure, but on the plus side, that means we're entitled to a bonus."

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Europe, We Hear You; Now You Hear the Word of God

By Stan Goodenough

This is a message to the foreign minister of the Czech Republic and to his counterparts in the European Union, over which his government currently presides:

Mr Karel Schwarzenberg,

Israel this weekend heard your clear and unequivocal message; your demand that its new government embrace and facilitate the division of Jewish lands for the creation of an Arab state; your warning that Israel will pay if it fails to acquiesce.

As the Jews went into their synagogues Friday evening to worship their God, you were loudly applauding the already-intensive efforts of the new Obama administration to oversee and direct the slicing and dicing of the Land He gave to them.

Once their Sabbath was over, observant Jews would have read about how your friend from Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, said:

“We must tell the Israelis that it is not allowed to walk away from the peace process…”

You both came hard and fast behind the arrogant and bullying diktat that erupted from Javier Solana earlier this month, when he looked directly into the cameras and spelled out his message to Israel:

“Let me say very clearly that the way the European Union will relate to an [Israeli] government that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different.”

Indeed, there was nothing at all unclear about that.

But gentlemen, even clearer than your threats are God’s words to Israel, and His warnings to you, concerning this land.

To Abraham, God repeatedly promises ownership forever of the land upon which you plot and plan to build a Palestinian state:

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:8)

And the LORD said to Abram, after lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. … Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” (Genesis 13:14,15,17)

Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “… And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:3,7,8)

In Isaac this promise was established, when God told Abraham that: “… in Isaac [not Ishmael] your seed shall be called.” (Genesis 21:12 c).

To Isaac the deed of the land was confirmed:

Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “… Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; (Genesis 26:2,3,4)

Isaac passed on the covenant to Jacob when he blessed him:

“May God Almighty bless you,And make you fruitful and multiply you,That you may be an assembly of peoples;

And give you the blessing of Abraham,To you and your descendants with you,That you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger,Which God gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:3,4)

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and confirmed that the covenant of the land was passed onto him and his descendants (and not to Ishmael, Esau or any of their descendants):

And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” (Genesis 35:10,11,12)

On his deathbed, Israel assured his son Joseph:

“Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.” (Genesis 48:21,22)

Joseph passed the promise onto his brothers:

And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:24)

God, citing His everlasting promise to the founding fathers of the nation of Israel, commissioned Moses to implement Joseph’s words:

Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ (Exodus 3:15-17)

And after the 12 Tribes of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, God passed the charge on to Joshua, saying:

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory…” (Joshua 1:2-4)

Israel conquered the Land – destroying and driving out its inhabitants in a way that doubtless would have appalled and enraged the EU, had you existed then, but in direct accordance with the instruction of the Creator of heaven and earth.

The nation took root and grew on this land. Here it was established and here, 3000 years ago, it made Jerusalem its capital. Because of the people’s unfaithfulness towards God, He sent them into exile, but He never ended His covenant with them; never revoked their ownership of the land, and repeatedly promised through prophet after prophet to one day bring them back and establish them again inside their borders.

“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. …” (Jeremiah 16:14,15)

God gave them this land, exclusively and forever. He is keeping His promise to restore them to this land and, scoff though you may; it is in His purpose to make little Israel chief among all the nations of the world.

The “great” and arrogant nations you represent have two choices ahead of them: They will either serve Israel, or they will perish.

You might not believe in God, Messrs Solana, Schwarzenberg, and Asselhorn. You might disregard His word, sneer at it and dismiss it out of hand, it matters not.

You will stand before Him one day to give account for your actions. Your nations will be brought into the valley and be judged according to their treatment of the Jewish people and your dealings with their land.

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of my people, my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up my land…” (Joel 3:1,2)

Note that God continues:

“They have cast lots for My people, …” (v.3)

If you know the Bible, then you know what happened to another man and nation that dared cast lots for the people of Israel.

Lot means Pur – and as they have every year for millennia – the Jewish people have just celebrated Purim, their deliverance from – and the destruction of – Haman and those who had volunteered to implement his planned genocide of the Jews of Persia.

But to Zion (you know, from which word and place comes the universally vilified movement called “Zionism”), God says:

“The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession. For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined. …” (Isaiah 60:10,11,12)

These are not my words.

This is the word of the LORD.

Related Links

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EU Pressure on Netanyahu to Accept Arab State Inside Israel - IsraelNN.com
New Israeli government can sidestep isolation - Reuters
Israel's Netanyahu readies to present cabinet - AFP

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