Russia Vows "Quick" Completion of Iranian Nuclear Facility

By Chris Schang

The YNetNews website is reporting that Russia has suddenly changed political course and vows to "quickly" complete Iran's first nuclear power plant at Bushehr. The Russians, who had been under pressured by the US and Israel to slowdown on construction in order to give diplomatic talks and the hope that Iran would abandon their nuclear program a chance to bear fruit, seem to have changed their mind and have set a March 2010 date for completion of the new Iranian nuclear power plant. It is noteworthy that Russia had just been in the news the other day for being legally "threatened" by Iran for not completing the nuclear facility on time. The Iranians remained defiant and upset that their nuclear program was not being built on time. The Iranians had increased their rhetoric and now we see the Russians getting "off the fence" to finish the nuclear program for Iran. The YNetNews article reported:

Russia's energy minister pledged on Sunday a quick completion of Iran's first nuclear power station, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported, weeks after Moscow announced the latest delay to the Bushehr plant.

The reported statement, which did not give a specific time for the launch of Bushehr, came as Iran's government announced plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants, in a major expansion of its disputed nuclear program.

It appears that another YNetNews article gave a March 2010 date that the Russians are supposedly aiming for in completing the Iranian Bushehr nuclear power plant. This article reported:

Russia plans to start up the nuclear reactor at Iran's Bushehr power plant in March 2010 to coincide with the Iranian New Year, two sources closely involved with the project told Reuters.

"We have been given the task of launching the plant by Iranian New Year," said one of the sources. "There is still a lot of work to do."

As many of you will recall, we have seen over the past few weeks an effort by Iran to pressure Russia into completing their nuclear facilities as well as pressure Russia into fulfilling their contractual obligations for delivering the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system. The Russians have either been persuaded to increase cooperation due to the Iranian "threats" or they have reached a "sweeter deal" with the Iranians as news surfaced recently that Iran has approved the construction of 10 additional uranium enrichment facilities. It is no doubt that Russia is eyeing this "business" opportunity and may have gotten off the fence and back to work for Iran in order to be awarded the contracts for the 10 additional facilities.

We are learning about the 10 additional nuclear enrichment facilities through a Jerusalem Post article that brought to light Iran's approved plans to build an additional 10 uranium enrichment facilities. The Jerusalem Post article reports:

The US ambassador to the United Nations on Monday called Iran's plans to build an additional 10 uranium enrichment plants "unacceptable," warning they could bring increased international pressure on Teheran.

Susan Rice comments came in reaction to comments from Iran's nuclear chief that UN criticism pushed his country to retaliate by announcing the more-ambitious uranium enrichment plans.

"We view the Iranian announcement, if it is in fact accurate and implemented, that they intend to build 10 additional facilities as completely inappropriate and further isolating Iran from the international community," Rice told reporters at UN headquarters.

As we can see from the comments above, Iran's announcement to build an additional 10 enrichment plants brought a swift condemnation from the US and the rest of the international community. This announcement was probably meant as a "slap in the face" to the international community who has so far not lifted a finger to stop the Iranians. The French for their part said:

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday in Paris on France's RTL radio that Iran "is playing an extremely dangerous game."

In other news, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said that the militant terrorist group would continue to fight Israel and it had determined that "armed resistance" was the only way to return land to the Arabs. The Jerusalem Post article reported:

Hizbullah will improve its weapons capabilities to face off any Israeli threat, the group's leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's said Monday, adding that armed struggle was the only way to regain "Arab lands" captured by Israel.

Nasrallah's remarks signaled the group has no intention of meeting a United Nations resolution requiring it to give up its weapons.

Nasrallah gave no details on the weapons plans, but Hizbullah has said it has tens of thousands of rockets.

For the Israeli's part, they have acknowledged that the Hizbollah terrorists have increased their arms supplies and can now hit virtually any location within the state of Israel, including Tel Aviv. This buildup and any conflict that arises afterwards will definitely result in an escalation of fatalities and damage within Israel. It is my guess that such destruction would be met with a "gloves off" response from the IDF. The Jerusalem Post article reported:

The IDF contends that since the Second Lebanon War, Hizbullah has tripled its prewar arsenal to more than 40,000 rockets, some of which can strike virtually anywhere in Israel - a dramatic improvement over the short-range missiles fired in the 2006 conflict.

Nasrallah said the buildup was necessary. "The continuation of Israeli threats against Lebanon...force the resistance to seek more power in order to improve its capabilities," Nasrallah told reporters via video link from a secret location.

His comments came during a news conference to announce the group's new political manifesto, the second such manifesto since Hizbullah was founded in 1982.

A Haaretz news article basically echoed the same sentiments from Nasrallah:

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted on Monday that the use of violence was the most effective way to end Israel's occupation of Arab lands, amid criticism in Lebanon of his militant organization's refusal to disarm.

"The history of the Arab-Israeli conflict proves that armed struggle and military resistance is the best way of ending the occupation," he told journalists in south Beirut via a video feed.

In one more piece of disturbing news, it is being reported that the IAEA has visited the suspected Syrian nuclear facility in the remote eastern Syrian city of Dir a-Zur. This is the same facility in which Israel destroyed at the end of 2007. The Jerusalem Post reports:

IAEA inspectors have visited the suspected nuclear facility in the remote eastern Syrian city of Dir a-Zur and retrieved samples from the site in order to determine the source of uranium traces found there, Qatari newspaper al-Watan reported on Monday.

In November, it was reported that inspectors who visited the site - in ruins since 2007 - found traces of highly processed plutonium, indicating that Syria's nuclear program was further along than was previously assessed.

Further:

The facility, named al-Kibar, was demolished in September 2007, allegedly by IAF fighter jets.

...According to the al-Watan report, it now claims the uranium found at al-Kibar was left there by Israel.

Syria's leadership "assessed that the source of the uranium is tactical nuclear bombs dropped by Israel during its attack on the facility," Al-Watan quoted two Syrian sources as saying.

"This is a clear example of international hypocrisy. After all, international bodies estimate that Israel possesses an arsenal of over 200 nuclear warheads," they said, expressing outrage over the lack of scrutiny of Israel's alleged nuclear facilities by the IAEA.

A report by the nuclear watchdog, however, refuted the Syrian claims, stating that the uranium found in Dir a-Zur was a significant discovery.

The sources further stated that Damascus "gave the delegation all the information it requested and answered all questions posed by its members."

Al-Watan reported that the inspectors also visited a nuclear site near Damascus, which was built in cooperation with the IAEA.

As we can see from these reports, the enemies of Israel continue to plot and plan the demise of the state of Israel. In Psalm 83 we are told by the Psalmist that:

Psa 83:1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
Psa 83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
Psa 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
Psa 83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

As we can see, this certainly sounds like the situation we are seeing played out in the Middle East today. While Israel continues to try to put forth a genuine and good faith effort to achieve peace with her neighbors, her enemies in fact continue to plot and plan her destruction. It is in times like this when it is apparent that there is only one person who can solve this Middle East problem. And that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

But in the meantime, we are very likely to see the playing out of the prophetic word as Israel's enemies will have to learn the hard way that the promises made by God to his chosen people will not be broken. And that all of those who come against Jerusalem (and Israel) here in these last days will be smashed to pieces. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that the Lord's Will be done in these last days. The deception and hatred is so great in the region, it has blinded many. Come soon Lord Jesus and put an end to this destruction and evil so that your Holy name is magnified and glorified among the world. Amen!!

Related Links

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Sanctions urged as anger grows over Iran nuclear expansion - Times Online
Iran, Russia to form joint energy venture - Tehran Times
Iran successfully tests Bushehr nuclear plant - PressTV
Hezbollah blames U.S. for all terrorism - CNN
Hezbollah to continue arming to fight Israel - AP
Isralestine: The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East - Bill Salus (Book)
Northern Storm Rising: Russia, Iran, and the Emerging End-Times Military Coalition Against Israel - Ron Rhodes (Book)

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Philippians 3 and the Rapture

By Ron J. Bigalke Jr.

According to Acts 16:11-40, the Apostle Paul visited Philippi on his second missionary journey. He traveled from the island of Samothrace to Neapolis (modern Kavalla), which was the seaport utilized by the Philippian residents. The city of Philippi was approximately nine miles northwest of the seaport. The city was named in honor of King Philip II of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great). Philippi became a Roman military colony in 42 BC, following the defeat of Brutus and Cassius in battle by the triumvirs (Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian). The citizens benefited from an autonomous government, immunity from taxation, and conduct as if living in Italy.¹ The first convert of the missionaries in Philippi was “a woman named Lydia,” whose heart was opened graciously and sovereignly by the Lord “to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14). The church at Philippi was founded through the faithful ministry of Luke, Paul, Silas, and Timothy (16:1, 10, 12, 19; 20:6).²

The Epistle to the Philippians was written during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment. Epaphroditus was sent from the church at Philippi to bring a monetary gift to the Apostle, which occasioned the writing of Philippians as an expanded letter of thanks (Phil 4:10-20; cf. 1:3, 5; 2:25, 30).³ Epaphroditus became “sick to the point of death” in Rome, which was cause for the Philippians’ expression of concern. Consequently, the Apostle informed the church with regard to Epaphroditus’ return to Philippi (2:25-28). Paul also reported the status of his trial before the Roman imperial court (1:7, 13-17), and even attempted to reconcile a church conflict (4:2). The theme of Philippians is “joy,” which is used 13 times. Christ is also mentioned 38 times, and therefore, “rejoicing in the Lord” is a prominent emphasis. The epistle contains significant revelation concerning Christ’s kenosis (2:7), which means His self-emptying of the prerogatives and powers that were His eternally by virtue of His divine attributes. The passage concerning His humiliation explains that by not asserting His divine prerogatives and powers, the Lord Jesus took the form of a servant (while never emptying Himself of His divinity) to become true humanity (2:5- 11). The epistle may be outlined quite basically as follows:

• Rejoicing in prison (1:1-30);
• Rejoicing in others (2:1-30);
• Rejoicing in the future (3:1- 21); and,
• Rejoicing in all things (4:1- 23).

The focus of this article will be upon section three (“rejoicing in the future”), especially Philippians 3:20-21.

The Context of Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:15-21 focuses upon an attitude of life that is pleasing to God. Paul urged his readers to know the truth of what had been written previously. Moreover, he promised that those who were not living as they ought (i.e. “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,” 3:13) would have this “different attitude” revealed to them by God. Christians should always live consistently with an understanding of the truth and not postpone a life of maturity. The immature, for instance, were not living maturely; rather, as the result of incomplete understanding of what God has revealed, they were postponing maturity as opposed to living in accord with the truth that they did understand. Therefore, the Apostle urged his readers to pursue maturity in Christ (3:15-16).⁴ The life that pleases God must always focus attention upon the Person and work of Jesus Christ, as the believer is transformed into His likeness.

Paul concluded his admonition by exhorting believers to watchfulness (3:17-19) and hopefulness (3:20-21). For a second time (cf. 3:15), Paul exhorted his readers to follow his example. Not only was it necessary to pursue maturity in Christ, but it was also crucial to be watchful because many live “as enemies of the cross of Christ,” whose “end is destruction” (3:18-19). These false teachers are described threefold:

1. Their “god is their appetite” (i.e. fleshly and sensual);
2. Their “glory is in their shame” (i.e. disgraceful living); and,
3. They “set their minds on earthly things” (i.e. the material and physical as opposed to the eternal and spiritual) (3:19).

Therefore, the believer is to be watchful (observant) of those who live according to the standard of Christlikeness and to imitate such behavior, in contrast to those whose lifestyle indicated them as enemies of God (cf. Gal 4:3, 9-11; Col 2:21-22).

The reason to pursue maturity in Christ and to be watchful is related to the hope of the believer (Phil 3:20-21). Christians do have citizenship on earth, but also have citizenship in heaven (3:20). Maturity in Christ is the goal of the Christian life because heavenly citizenship is eternal, as opposed to the earthly life that is but a vapor (Jas 4:14; cf. Gal 4:26; Heb 11:10). Paul’s exhortation is an obvious contrast to those whose minds are focused upon “earthly things” and whose destiny is destruction. One challenge of the Christian life is learning to live as “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb 11:13; cf. 1 Pet 2:11).⁵ Consequently, the believer is to “eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).

The Coming of the Savior in Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:20 first asserts that the believer’s “citizenship is in heaven.” Regarding the meaning of the Greek (to politeuma), The Expositor’s Greek Testament is noteworthy.

“This world has a characteristic spirit of its own. Worldliness is the common bond of citizenship in it. There is another commonwealth,⁶ not of the world (John xviii. 36), which inspires its members with a different tone of life. They ‘seek the things above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.’ . . . The stability and security of the pax Romana (one of the most favorable influences for Christianity) filled the thought of the time with high conceptions of citizenship and its value. This would specially appeal to the Philippians,” who would have greatly esteemed the right to possess all the privileges of Italian citizens (i.e. jus Italicum)⁷ (Acts 16:12, 21).

The believer eagerly waits for the Savior’s return from (ex ou) heaven. The believer’s citizenship is in heaven; therefore, the Christian may “have a claim on the Saviour, just as the Philippians might rightfully look for protection to Rome [as saviour].”⁸ The double compound (apekdechometha) translated “eagerly wait”⁹ indicates anticipation and eagerness for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ as the habitual perspective of the Christian, whose citizenship is in heaven. The normal attitude of the Christian is eager anticipation of the Lord’s return (and Paul, of course, included himself in that anticipation).

The longing for the coming of the Savior is also an incentive for holy living (cf. Tit 2:13; 1 John 2:28). It is noteworthy that no other events are mentioned that must precede the coming of the Lord.¹⁰ Indeed, if the rapture of the church were understood to occur at any time other than pretribulationally, it would be difficult to have such eager anticipation. For example, if Scripture revealed the rapture of the church as occurring midtribulationally or posttribulationally, then the eager anticipation would be for the commencement of the seven-year tribulation, for then and only then, could the believer “eagerly wait” for the Lord’s return. The expectation of the Lord’s return as imminent and personal is cause for great joy and hope to the early church and the church throughout the ages.

The Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven as Savior to “rescue” His saints “from this present evil age” (Gal 1:4) and take His church to His “Father’s house” (John 14:2). Coinciding with the Lord’s return, the body of the believer’s “humble state” will be transformed “into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil 3:21). The transformation of the believer’s body will be into a glorified body just like the Son of God (1 John 3:2). The distinction is between the “the body of our humble state” and “the body of His glory.” In this earthly life, the believer’s body is humbled by death, disease, persecution, and sin. The body is earthly, perishable, weak, natural, and mortal (1 Cor 15:35-58), so that believers “groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of the body” (Rom 8:23).

At the Lord’s return, the transformation will occur whether by resurrection of the dead or by the rapture of the living (cf. 1 Cor 15:50-58; 1 Thess 4:13-18; 5:9-10). The glorified and resurrected body will be just like the Son of God (“the body of His glory,” Phil 3:21), and the believer’s sanctification will be ultimate. The expectation of the Lord’s return should produce a purifying hope, as we are citizens of heaven while sojourning on earth (1 John 3:1-3). The transformation will occur “by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21). The same power that will ultimately subject all things in the universe to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ is what accomplishes the transformation.

Conclusion

Philippians 3 concludes with an exhortation to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14). The believer will demonstrate this persevering attitude by pursuing maturity in Christ (3:15-16); watching for those who imitate the biblical standard (and follow their example); being aware of those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (3:17- 19); and “eagerly” waiting for the “Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (3:20-21). The heavenly citizenship of the believer parallels Jesus’ words in John 14:1-3, and challenges every Christian to live with an eternal perspective. The hope of the Lord’s imminent and personal return has sustained the church throughout the present evil age. The expectation of the Lord’s return should stimulate the church to live holy and pure lives “so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28).

Endnotes

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1. F. J. Foakes Jackson and Kirsopp Lake, eds., The Acts of the Apostles, 5 vols. (Reprint,Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979) 4:187-90.
2. Although he is not mentioned specifically in Acts, the” we” sections in the narrative are understood as references to Luke, the” beloved physician” (cf. 16:10-17; 20:6—21:18; 27:1—28:16) (cf. Richard Belward Rackham, The Acts of the Apostles [London: Methuen & Co., 1901] xv-vii).
3. Peter T.O’Brien, The Epistle to the Philippians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991) 513.
4. Although the NASB translates teleios as “perfect” (3:15), it would be better rendered as “mature” (NIV).
5. John A.Witmer,“The Man with Two Countries,” Bibliotheca Sacra 133 (October 1976): 338-49.
6. The author noted Tertullian’s reading as “municipatus,” and “conversatio” in Cyprian and Irenaeus.
7. H.A.A. Kennedy,” The Epistle to the Philippians,” in The Expositor’s Greek Testament, 5 vols., ed.W. Robertson Nicoll (reprint, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979) 3:462.
8. Ibid.
9. For other usages of the Greek word, see Romans 8:19, 23, 25; 1 Corinthians 1:7;Galatians 5:5; and, Hebrews 9:28.
10. The various views regarding the timing of the rapture are primarily (sc. there are always exceptions) among those who affirm premillennialism as true, which means amillennialists and postmillennialists would respond to the doctrine of imminency in a manner different than premillennialists since they believe the second coming of Christ is a single event.

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America's Foundations Are Being Destroyed: What Can the Righteous Do?

By Jan Markell

A controversy has broken out between two sides over a serious issue. It concerns The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience, which has been in the works for months and released just prior to Thanksgiving. Allow me to present the case the signers are making for this Declaration and then share concerns that others have who will not sign it. If I may, allow me to report and you decide.

Bill Wilson, a Washington-based journalist and a part of Bill Koenig's Koenig's International News recently summed up the unstable tide of our times. He says,

"The Senate is poised to debate socialized health care and take a vote on it despite its unconstitutionality and opposition from the American people. This bill shreds the Constitution and the rights of Americans under the false pretense that it will provide health insurance to every American. This bill is the linchpin to legislating unprecedented and unconstitutional socialist humanism as the form of government in America. These usurpers in Congress must be stopped, and the American people must be heard from. From a Constitutional perspective this legislation, in effect, surrenders the power of the people to the power of the government."

Additionally, we have activist judges and other leftists who are attempting to ram down the throats of Christians some of the most radical, anti-biblical policies in the history of America. "Conscience issues" are facing doctors, nurses, pastors, ministries, radio personalities, and more.

As a result, 150 leaders representing Evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, and Orthodox Christianity, issued a joint statement called The Manhattan Declaration reaffirming their opposition to many of these conscience issues. In a nutshell they state,

"Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act. We also will not bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's."

Pretty gutsy! Again, these men and women are risking a lot! They have the courage to gamble with their convictions should a radical government decide to clamp down on them.

Indeed, socialist humanism is trying to take over America. Many of our leaders would love us to embrace government as our god. Someone once said that absolute evil is coming out of Washington.

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13).

They are waiting in the wings to take over all the freedoms Americans have known. It is the aim of many of these secular humanistic men and women to relegate the Christian worldview to the trash heap of history.

You can read the entire Manhattan Declaration here and view the signers here.

But some very prominent Evangelicals would not sign on to this declaration as they say the gospel is nowhere presented or explained. They suggest it is because of the contradictory views held by the broad range of signatories regarding what the Bible teaches and what it means to be a Christian. They suggest Evangelicals are uniting in an ecumenical way with what they call "various apostate traditions" and those who represent "a different gospel." These men and women are standing on their convictions as well.

John MacArthur will not sign on. Nor will my friend and radio colleague David Wheaton.

But Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, signed the Declaration stating,

"I believe we are facing an inevitable and culture-determining decision on the three issues centrally identified in this (Manhattan Declaration) statement. I also believe that we will experience a significant loss of Christian churches, denominations, and institutions in this process. There is every good reason to believe that the freedom to conduct Christian ministry according to Christian conviction is being subverted and denied before our eyes. I believe that the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage, and religious liberty are very much in danger at this very moment."

He continues,

"We are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions."

The Bible says, If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). Our foundations are being hammered like never before. Edmund Burke wasn't quoting the Bible but he spoke the truth when he said,

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing."

Signers pledge to each other, and to fellow believers, that...

"no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty."

Nor can I take issue with John MacArthur who states,

"It (The Manhattan Declaration) assumes from the start that all signatories are fellow Christians whose only differences have to do with the fact that they represent distinct 'communities.' Points of disagreement are tacitly acknowledged but are described as 'historic lines of ecclesial differences' rather than fundamental conflicts of doctrine and conviction with regard to the gospel and the question of which teachings are essential to authentic Christianity."

MacArthur concludes,

"In short, support for The Manhattan Declaration would not only contradict the stance I have taken since long before the original 'Evangelicals and Catholics Together' document was issued; it would also tacitly relegate the very essence of gospel truth to the level of a secondary issue. That is the wrong way - perhaps the very worst way - for Evangelicals to address the moral and political crises of our time. Anything that silences, sidelines, or relegates the gospel to secondary status is antithetical to the principles we affirm when we call ourselves Evangelicals."

We cannot slaughter babies, unplug the elderly, devalue the imperfect, glorify perversity, and devalue marriage without consequences. God cannot restore America until we make things right spiritually. Can a "declaration" do that? It would be far more appropriate if every church in America and the Western world got right with God, but let's be realistic. That global end-time harvest many speak of is just not going to happen other than in pockets here and there.

Pray about your involvement in this. If your conscience tells you not to align with the signers, so be it. You can sign on here. I believe judgment should be withheld on individual decisions regarding this issue. To be sure, tens of thousands of signers are risking their ministries and are courting punishment to stand for good and not evil.

So let's withhold the chastising of the signers. We are all aware of the Bible's warnings not to be unequally yoked. This is the biggest drawback to The Manhattan Declaration. And all ecumenical endeavors put us on the road to the one-world religion. The question is, could signing this be an exception in light of the tide of our times and the need for a unified effort to stop evil?

While there are troubling names heading up The Manhattan Declaration who are outside of the Evangelical camp and who represent that "different gospel," there are also some very sound leaders who have signed on. I would be honored to identify with the likes of Kay Arthur, Dr. Albert Mohler, Tony Perkins, Joni Eareckson Tada, Dr. Frank Wright from the National Religious Broadcasters, and others.

I probably land closer to radio Bible teacher and preacher Alister Begg on this issue. He states,

"In accord with others who have chosen not to sign, my reservation is not with the issues themselves, or in standing with others who share the same concerns, but it is in signing a declaration along with a group of leading churchmen, when I happen to believe that the teaching of some of their churches is in effect a denial of the biblical gospel. I wonder whether it might not have been more advantageous for Evangelicals to unite on this matter, rather than seeking cooperation with segments from Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy."

Perhaps it's not too late to do this in some other form or declaration.

Now you know both sides of the story. Ask God for guidance on just where you should stand and He will lead you. No one should press you to compromise your convictions.

Related Links

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Religious right launches fresh assault on US abortion rights - guardian.co.uk
Thousands Sign 'Declaration of Conscience' - Christian Broadcasting Network
Vatican daily reminds Obama that U.S. is increasingly pro-life - Catholic News Agency
Declaration reaffirms many truths - Bradenton Herald
Faithfully Angry - Town Hall (Bill O'Reilly )
What does the Bible say about abortion? - GotQuestions.org

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Politicians and Preachers Ignore Bad Science to Help Establish One World Order

By Bill Wilson

Many Christian leaders have bought into the hoax of global warming and climate control despite God's word in Genesis 8:22 that promises...

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

They bought the lie that man was killing the planet and that the only solution is a global initiative to control the climate. That initiative - controlled by socialists and communists - is to change the climate by redistributing the earth's wealth under a global government - a one world order. Many prominent Christian leaders signed the "Evangelical Climate Initiative" in February of 2006.

Leith Anderson, Richard Cizik, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, Brian McLaren, Jim Wallis and Rick Warren were among the 86 original signatories who believed...

"Now is the time for followers of Christ to help solve the global warming crisis. There is overwhelming evidence that human activity is a major cause, and we know that the impacts of climate change would be hardest on the poor and vulnerable, and on future generations."

Some are members of the ungodly emergent church movement, some are avowed socialists, some are part of the Kingdom Now movement and a handful were probably just misguided because they truly believed they should be good stewards of God's creation. But all bought the lie of man.

This deceitful agenda of men has been exposed. The London Times reported that the leading global warming scientists at the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit - the linchpin of global warming studies...

"have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based" meaning that "other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years."

The London Telegraph's Christopher Booker, who has written books about global warming, says,

"Our hopelessly compromised scientific establishment cannot be allowed to get away with the Climategate whitewash."

Nevertheless, world leaders are about to gather in Copenhagen for a climate summit, totally ignoring the flawed science. They wish to create a global government to combat climate change. The one world order. The newly appointed "president" of Europe, Belgium Prime Minister Herman van Rumpuy said on November 19th,

"The climate conference in Copenhagen is another step towards the global management of our planet."

The goal is not climate control, but rather people control. Yet America's leader is on his way to support this abrogation of US sovereignty. Indeed, neither he nor the aforementioned evangelical leaders have addressed the scientific lies of global warming. If only they believed God's word over man's.

Related Links

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How should a Christian view global warming? - GotQuestions.org
Copenhagen Summit - Canada Free Press
Rebooting the Debate - American Thinker
Climategate: An Inconvenient Truth - Family Security Matters
Balancing the Christian Life - Charles Caldwell Ryrie (Book)

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First EU President Ignites Speculation

By Terry James

My email lit up with the European Union's appointment of the first official EU president. It's as if the man given the job came on the scene with "666" stamped upon his forehead. One such email serves as a particularly interesting example of the declarations that Antichrist has arrived. Here are some excerpts:

...As you are more than likely aware, the Antichrist has arisen from a little-known position of Belgium Prime Minister (and from a position of almost total obscurity) to be appointed as the new president of the European Union. Herman Van Rompuy is the newly appointed EU president and will assume that role as from the 1st of December 2010...

Van Rompuy is a Bilderberger and attended one of their meetings before his appointment, where he met and was instructed by Henry Kissinger. Don’t be fooled by his quirky looks, as it seems to have been Satan’s deliberate intention for his son/representative here on the earth to have the appearance of a harmless old man. But we all know what he is, and what he is going to be capable of. With all due respect, it would now seem that because the Antichrist has now been revealed and appointed, the possibility of the pre-tribulation theory of the rapture as being correct is looking more and more remote. There may be some hope for the pre-tribulation theory of the rapture... as being correct but I am extremely doubtful...[If the Antichrist has come forth] then after having received his crown he will start WW [III] by attacking the U.S.

The U.S. and her citizens should really begin to prepare now for a time not too far away when the missiles of the Antichrist begin to [rain] down over your cities. See Revelation Chapter 18 describing the destruction of the U.S. That may be the reason your personal liberties are being deliberately eroded, so from out of the chaos that is sure to [be] a result of this assault, some semblance of order may be maintained...

Wild-eyed supposition abounds, and I guess surrounding issues and events feed the anxieties. One such peripheral matter certainly infuses the mix of such preposterous postulation with fuel for the fires of fear. It seems that President Barack Obama has decided, after all, that he will travel to Copenhagen to attend the UN Global Warming Summit on December 9. He will, the word is, push negotiations for a comprehensive climate accord one day before he accepts his Nobel Peace Prize at Oslo, Norway. Fear of many among Bible prophecy watchers - and even secularist world watchers like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and others - is that the upcoming Copenhagen meetings and others like them represent the global elitists' attempts to establish world government. The beast - Antichrist - and his false prophet will come out of a one-world order, according to the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. Development of the global warming crisis and the cry for global governance to make all nations of the world give up much of their sovereignty is front and center in current news headlines. So, it is not too far-fetched to see from whence the somewhat over-the-top declarations such as the one above comes.

Add to this the deceptive, conspiratorial nature of the globalists' contrived planetary warming rants, and it becomes more understandable that the warning systems of many are super sensitive when contemplating things to come. That much of what we've been told about the planet's heating up to dangerous levels, and the carnage that will spin off from such a catastrophe, is a hoax came to light this past week.

LONDON - A leading climate change scientist whose private e-mails are included in thousands of documents that were stolen by hackers and posted online said Sunday the leaks may have been aimed at undermining next month's global climate summit in Denmark... ("Scientists: Leak of Climate E-mails Appalling," AP, Newsmax.com, 11/23/09).

The emails of some of the leading scientist proponents of global warming were bared for all to see and study. Rather than put the spotlight of investigation on the conspirators, mainstream news media were corporately angry at the hacker who exposed the global warming hoax.

The ramifications of the revelations could yet be devastating to the attempts to tax all "guilty" nations in the supposed Co2 emissions footprint indictments. Such accusations and indictments are suspected as looming during the Copenhagen summit.

When you read some of those files–including 1079 emails and 72 documents - you realize just why the [buffoons] at CRU might have preferred to keep them confidential. As Andrew Bolt puts it, this scandal could well be “the greatest in modern science.” These alleged emails - supposedly exchanged by some of the most prominent scientists pushing AGW theory - suggest: Conspiracy, collusion in exaggerating warming data, possibly illegal destruction of embarrassing information, organized resistance to disclosure, manipulation of data, private admissions of flaws in their public claims and much more...(James Delingpole, "Climategate: The Final Nail in the Coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?")

The mainstream U.S. and world media are silent for the most part on the exposed deceit among the global warming scientists and other proponents. Perhaps this increases the thinking that Antichrist is upon us at this present hour. Certainly, the beast regime will have a sycophantic media that will deceive, delude, and obfuscate at every turn - so much so that most will believe the lie, according to the apostle Paul's prophecy as recorded in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.

But be assured that Antichrist is not in the final humanistic government's drivers seat - not just yet. For that same prophetic writing by Paul assures the following:

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition... (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

Such pretrib scholars as Dr. Thomas Ice are convinced that a "falling away" - the Greek word apostasia or "departure" - in this passage means the departure of the Church from planet earth. The theological argument for this meaning isn't undertaken lightly, but is arrived at through deep prayer and study by top pretrib prophecy experts.

Antichrist will first make himself known when he confirms the seven-year peace covenant of Daniel 9:27. Then, he will show his true colors as the man of sin and the son of perdition when he declares himself to be God at the midway point during the seven-year tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 24:15).

Bottom line is that we are still in the stage-setting process for the "prince that shall come" - Antichrist. It is time to be watchful (Mark 13: 37), but not to speculate wildly on matters where the Scripture plainly foretells otherwise.

Related Links

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New era for EU - Straits Times
Who is the antichrist? - GotQuestions.org
Cleaning out the climate science cesspool - Canada Free Press
Climategate: let the investigation begin - RenewAmerica
Climategate: The Fallout Continues from CRU Hacking - Wall Street Journal (Blog)
The American Apocalypse: Is the United States in Bible Prophecy? - Terry James (Book)

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Finally, Israel Gets It!

By Joseph Farah

For more than five years, I have been conspicuously alone in pointing out the racist, anti-Jewish nature of policies that require the evacuation of Israelis from Gaza, Judea and Samaria and, more lately, the halts on building and repairing homes and businesses owned by Jews in Jerusalem.

Finally, someone in Israel has figured this out and called the policies advocated by Barack Obama and the international elite what they are.

"Israeli law does not discriminate between Jews, Muslims and Christians or between eastern and western Jerusalem," said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. "The demand to halt construction by religion is not legal in the United States or in any other free place in the world. I do not presume that any government would demand to freeze construction in the United States based on race, religion or gender, and the attempt to demand it from Jerusalem is a double standard and inconceivable."

Barkat was responding to Obama's remarks on Fox News Channel about the approval of 900 new apartments in the southern Jerusalem community of Gilo as "settlement activity," suggesting, irrationally and irresponsibly, that it justified Palestinian violence. The Palestinian Authority quickly adopted Obama's line to rationalize future terrorist attacks.

However, even the most appeasing Israelis – people like Shimon Peres – see Gilo, with its existing population of 30,000 Jews right in the heart of the Israeli capital, as undisputedly Israeli territory, land that will never be negotiated away.

It's clear now Obama, like the Muslim world, doesn't believe any Israeli territory is beyond dispute.

This is what I have been saying and writing since 2004.

No more ethnic cleansing – not in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.

When the Palestinian Authority demanded that all Jews leave Gaza in anticipation of declaring it to be part of a future Palestinian state, the world did not notice the implications.

Why would Jews not be welcome living in a Palestinian state?

Because the Palestinian leadership is racist.

Why would blatant ethnic cleansing of this sort be embraced by the world when ethnic cleansing in other parts of the world is roundly denounced? Why is there an exception made for Jews? Why is it OK to remove Jews from their homes and businesses in the Middle East? Why is it acceptable to forbid Jews from building and repairing homes and businesses on the basis of their religion? How can this be tolerated, let alone condoned and championed as progressive policy by people like Obama?

I made the same point in 2005.

What would you say if I told you the United States is backing a plan to uproot forcibly people from their homes because they are Muslim?

You would probably be incredulous, I said.

You would probably be shocked, I said.

You would probably be outraged, I said.

And you would be right.

Well, rest assured there was no plan backed by the United States to uproot forcibly peaceful Muslims from their homes anywhere in the world.

There was, however, a plan to do just that to several thousand peaceful Jews, many of whom have lived for a generation in thriving communities – showcases of prosperity and freedom for their neighbors.

This anti-Semitic ethnic cleansing plan was known as the "disengagement" plan in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

There is only one reason these people were displaced – because they are Jews in a land where Jews are not welcome.

And the world condoned it.

Earlier this year, I pointed it out, again.

In May, Obama announced he would be taking what he and his administration referred to as "a more balanced approach to Middle East policy."

I explained what that meant.

"It means the U.S. government is now using its clout with Israel to insist Jews, not Israelis, mind you, but Jews, be disallowed from living in East Jerusalem and the historically Jewish lands of Judea and Samaria, often referred to as the West Bank," I wrote. "I want you to try to imagine the outrage, the horror, the outcry, the clamoring, the gnashing of teeth that would ensue if Arabs or Muslims were told they could no longer live in certain parts of Israel – let alone their own country."

I returned to this theme in September after what I called "Obama's Judenrein speech."

"The Nazis had a word for what Barack Obama declared in the United Nations General Assembly last week," I wrote. "When a city or a district or a nation was 'clean of Jews,' it was pronounced 'Judenrein.' The goal of the Nazis was, of course, for all of Europe to be cleansed of Jews – then the whole world."

Was I being harsh?

Not if you understand the nature of Obama's demand for an end to "Israeli settlements" in Judea, Samaria, East Jerusalem – and, now apparently, the entire city.

Since Obama took office in January, the U.S. government has greatly increased pressure on Israel to halt any and all of the following:

• Building of new homes and businesses by Jews in these areas.
• Building additions on existing homes and businesses by Jews in these areas.
• Repairing of existing homes and businesses by Jews in these areas.

Why would the U.S. government want to stop Jews from building homes and businesses in lands that have been under Israel's control for the last 42 years and a part of Israel's history for the last 3,000 years?

Because the U.S. government has predetermined that these lands are going to be part of a future Palestinian state – one that will be conspicuously Jew-free.

In other words, Barack Obama is in favor of an ethnic-cleansing operation – one that will eventually require the forcible removal of all Jews, no matter how long they have lived in these areas, no matter what they paid for their properties, no matter what.

I'm gratified to see an Israeli awakening to what has been the plan from the beginning.

Jews in the Middle East are starting to get the picture – if a little late.

Related Links

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Jordan: Settlement Freeze Must Include Jerusalem - International Middle East Media Center
U.S. Forces Training Possible Terrorists - The Bulletin
Oh my. NY Times scorches Obama foreign policy - American Thinker
Arab leaders say PM's 'insufficient' freeze will not pave path to peace - Ha'aretz
Taking America Back: A Radical Plan to Revive Freedom, Morality, and Justice - Joseph Farah (Book)

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Global Oligarchy: The Final Phase

By Sean Osborne

Every aspect of life in America remains under full-scale assault as the usurper Barack Hussein Obama continues to occupy the Oval Office. Back in May of this year I wrote The Surrender of American Sovereignty to the Global Oligarchy concerning the financial surrender of America's sovereignty.

Recent history has shown that Obama's surrender was executed prior to our financial defeat by the forces of world socialism within our own government. It should now be apparent, and is thanks to an article over on the Never Yet Melted blog, that the final phase of the plan is underway. It occurs to me that a good title for this final assault might be titled, "He Who Has The Gold Makes The Rules" because the objective is the total financial collapse of this Republic.

Here are some key details identified by the NYM blog entry:

"Barack Obama and the democrats in Congress did not turn the economy around with their massive spending stimulus package. Unemployment rates are high. They have not fixed the credit markets with bailouts. A new wave of foreclosures is underway. Home real estate prices are still in decline, nearly a quarter of American home owners are underwater on their mortgages, and the commercial real estate market is headed for complete disaster. Small businesses are experiencing a credit squeeze, which some economic authorities argue is attributable to government soaking up available credit for federal deficits.

As the US economy sinks, the democrats controlling Washington are attempting to hand it an anvil in the form of a staggering new health care entitlement. If a deficit burden reaching to the sky is not enough, we know that Congress has every intention of allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, and proposals for new forms of taxation, a V.A.T. and even a special wartime surtax, have been floated. Coming up as well are plans for even yet another massive federal tax scheme involving mandatory purchases of carbon credits (at least for business not favored by federal exemptions) and dollar transfers to international bodies and/or Third World countries.

Quite correctly NYM then highlights the American Thinker article from earlier this week by James Simpson: Cloward-Piven Government. And as Simpson notes, this story has recently been very well covered by many of the heavyweights on the right, such as Mark Levin and Glenn Beck as well as David Horowitz 'Discover The Networks' entry on the "Cloward-Piven Strategy."

The strategy of forcing political change through orchestrated crisis. The "Cloward Piven Strategy" seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse.

So what we see here are real people with a real agenda. I've have tagged these people as the "Global Oligarchy." Others refer to them as the Illuminati. Both names, and others not mentioned here, describe an elite which I believe is hell-bent on taking total control of the organs of total world governance.

And by total world governance I mean a one-world religious ethic we see manifest by political correctness in this country. It is a political correctness which demonizes Christianity and Judaism and elevates Islam as a co-equal of "Abrahamic" faiths. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is truth literally turned upon its head.

I also mean total world governance via a global economic and financial system, a legislative body and an international court. The vehicles for these controlling institutions have existed for some time, we know them as the UN, the IMF, the World Bank, and the International Criminal Court.

All of this constitutes the backbone of a Satanic One World system which was foretold to emerge during the years just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. This is the end of the age of mankind’s rule on earth. The one world system being constructed all around us is none other than the beast empire of the antichrist. Those human beings who are creating this global beast empire are nothing more than enablers of the greatest evil this world has ever or will ever experience. And they want you to be their slaves.

For those who are deceived, caught unaware or have failed to make a decision, the time of no turning back has arrived. It is decision time. It is time to decide to serve our Father in Heaven, the God in whom we say we Trust. And make no mistake, not to decide is to decide.

Related Links

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OUTRAGEOUS: OBAMA MAY ALLOW AMERICANS TO BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES AT THE HAGUE - The Cypress Times
Justice Department Says Acorn Can Be Paid for Pre-Ban Contracts - New York Times
Dems establishing scapegoat for economic failures, while pushing socialist agenda - Examiner.com
As Copenhagen summit nears, ‘Climategate’ dogs global warming debate - Christian Science Monitor
Dubai Jitters Infect Debt of Sovereign Spendthrifts - Wall Street Journal
Poll: Americans no longer believe in health 'crisis' - WorldNetDaily

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Who Are Daniel’s End Time’s Kings of the North and South?

By Bill Salus

A blogger recently stated - "Another person wrote in yesterday asking pretty much the same thing - if Syria's wiped out by Psalm 83 and "the king of the North" is always a reference from Daniel that has been historically corroborated as Syria, then how can Syria be bothering Israel and the Antichrist later in the Tribulation. Very good question! I don't know, though, and can only speculate that as a vassal of Israel the ruler of Syria rebels at some point."

The blogger alludes to Daniel 11:40, which foretells the coming of two kings that war against the Antichrist near the end of time. These kings are identified as the “king of the south” and the “king of the north”. Daniel chapter eleven references a “king of the south” eight times and a “king of the north” seven times. Most expositors believe that seven of the eight king of the south references, and six of the seven king of the north, have already found fulfillment in connection with Egypt (south) and Syria (north). Thus the common teaching is that the king of the south is an Egyptian, and the king of the north a Syrian.

Both Bloggers, questioner and responder, appear familiar with this traditional teaching. They also preclude the possibility that Israel defeats their Arab enemies, including Syria, in the Psalm 83 War prior to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40. Thus, the legitimate question is raised that if Syria is wiped out as per Psalm 83 how can the Daniel 11:40 king of the north be a Syrian.

Another school of thought regarding the Daniel 11:40 king of the north connects with the Ezekiel 38 Gog of Magog invasion. Some believe because this invasion is led by Russia in the latter years (Ez. 38:8) from the uttermost parts of the north as per (Ez. 38:15), that this king is a Russian rather than a Syrian.

However, it is possible that in addition to the prior fulfillment of Psalm 83 that the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 may also occur prior to the events described in Daniel 11:40. Many commentaries suggest that Daniel 11:40 occurs during the final three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation period and that the Ezekiel 38 invasion occurs prior. If so then the Daniel 11:40 king of the north may turn out to be neither Syrian nor Russian.

Furthermore, should Psalm 83, which could include the destruction of Damascus as per Isaiah 17:1, and Ezekiel 38 occur prior to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40, the geopolitical Mideast and world landscapes could be entirely different then, than today. Enormous portions of land, natural resources, fragile governments, and national wealth, will presumably be available for the taking at that time. This land grab may extend beyond the Middle East into territories currently possessed by the Ezekiel 38 invaders of Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey, etc.

World leaders left in place might seize the opportunity to seek sovereignty over the damaged lands, defeated peoples, and destroyed governments of the war torn nations. Thus, wide scale political debate and / or military debacle should be expected within the remaining members of the International Community in the aftermath of these powerful prophetic wars.

Additionally, the ten future Kings described in Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will probably be presiding over the world on or about the time of these territorial disputes. Some scholars suggest that the world is eventually rezoned into ten sizeable provinces one for each of these ten kings.

Amidst the backdrop of all the above, undoubtedly, Israel will attempt to annex more Promised Land. This is precisely what they did in the aftermath of the six day war in June of 1967. Israel nearly tripled its size back then and stands to quadruple its size after victories in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39. However, as is the case today, these future world leaders will probably contest Israel’s rightful claims. These ten kings will probably seek their say as to how the future land of Israel will be divided.

Joel 3:2 informs us of a time coming when “all nations” are guilty of dividing God’s Land. This suggests the entirety of the international community at some future time will, not may, reapportion the Promised Land. Many believe Joel’s prophecy is being fulfilled presently in the political attempts to craft land for peace. They could be partially correct; however, Joel’s prophecy seems to be very end times specific and alludes to the last of the last days. I believe the international community will be contesting Israel's greater land claims in the aftermath of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39. The future ten kings, like their political predecessors today, will probably be guilty of dividing the Promised Land at that critical time in Israel’s future.

It is entirely possible that a similar scenario could manifest in the Mideast then, like what occurred with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1917. The French and British obtained greater sovereignty over much of the Middle East. These were two kingdoms existing among many others at the time. They could be likened to a precursor of two future kings or kingdoms among ten total kings or kingdoms ruling in the last days. Ultimately, Arab and Persian agonizing eventually caused the French and British to relinquish their Mideast strongholds.

Daniel 11:40 declares At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him [the Antichrist]; and the king of the North shall come against him [the Antichrist] like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. (NKJV)

Many commentaries attempt to decipher the identities of these two of the future ten kings without considering all the geo-political possibilities listed above. We are told in Daniel 7:20-24 that the Antichrist will subdue three of the ten kings. The Hebrew word is, “shephel” and it is only used by Daniel in the Old Testament. (Dan. 4:37,5:19,22) It essentially means to humble them or to make them lower than he. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum believes, as do I, the Daniel 11:40 kings are among the three kings subdued by the Antichrist. (Footsteps of the Messiah chapter 11b “The Second Worldwide Conflict – Daniel 11:40-45)

Daniel 11:40 appears to tell us how at least two of three subdued kings meet with their humbling. The Antichrist overwhelms them and then makes his way into the Glorious Land according to Daniel 11:41. The Glorious Land probably includes a much GREATER ISRAEL at the time. This Greater Israel will likely possess parts of Jordan (Jeremiah 49:2), Southern Syria (Isaiah 17:1,9), and Northern Egypt (Isaiah 19:18) at the time. This future Greater Israel may be more representative of the Promised Land described in Genesis 15:18 and could be why Daniel labels it the “Glorious Land”.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, will likely already be destroyed by the time the Antichrist comes into the Glorious Land in Daniel 11:41 and thus any king of Syria then, will probably be of little to no threat to the Antichrist. Daniel 11:42 places the Antichrist in Egypt, seemingly, subsequent to his humbling of the King of the South in Daniel 11:40. This seemingly argues against the possibility that the King of the South is merely an Egyptian king as many commentaries suggest.

In conclusion, the verdict is far from rendered when it comes to the true origin and identity of these two kings. The traditional tendency to classify the king of the south as an Egyptian, and the king of the north a Syrian, is understandable. However, it is important for us to envision the geo-prophetic future of the Glorious Land when interpreting Daniel 11:40-45. The prophecies of Psalm 83, Isaiah 17:1, and Ezekiel 38 & 39 will probably have been fulfilled, and the ten kings of Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will likely be in place by then.

Thus when Daniel 11:40 identifies two kings, they are probably two of these ten end time’s kings. Therefore, it is quite possible that these two kings are sovereign over greater kingdoms than modern day Egypt and Syria, as was the case with Britain and France after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Furthermore, the potential political, economic, and military conditions of Egypt and Syria at that time make it feasible that these two kings are not, simply the kings of Egypt and Syria.

Related Links

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Footsteps of the Messiah - Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Book)
The Most High God: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel - Renald Showers (Book)
Isralestine: The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East - Bill Salus (Book)
The Prophecies of Daniel - Lehman Strauss (Book)

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