The End of Negotiations

By Jim Fletcher
Prophecy Matters

After it was announced by Hillary Clinton that Israel and the Palestinians would resume direct negotiations, the Arab threats commenced anew.

Saeb Erekat, from Jericho, head of the PLO’s negotiating team, threatened that if Israel did not extend its settlement freeze in Judea/Samaria, the negotiations would end.

We are seeing the broad outlines of this reality now, as the world grows increasingly impatient with Israel, who is accused of being the bully. When Erekat made his thuggish threat — his stock-in-trade — he made it from Ramallah. Not only did Western media outlets like Reuters pick this up, but so did Arab media (such as Al-Sharq al-Awsat). As if he needed to further inflame the Arabs.

Hana Amira, a member of the PLO’s executive committee, told Mahmoud Abbas that he was not hopeful about negotiations. What else is new? These things always have a predetermined outcome, anyway, and Amira claimed that the real test of Israel’s good intentions will come September 26, which is the end of the settlement freeze that Benjamin Netanyahu announced last year.

Look for all sorts of new and odd pressures to be placed on Israel; we haven’t seen anything yet.

For example, Israel has for the longest obviously rejected the Arab “right of return,” which means that Palestinians forced out of the Holy Land due to Arab-initiated wars could now come back. Of course, this would turn Israel into an Arab state.

Provocatively, Yasser Qashlaq, allied with the Maryam Institution (part of the notorious flotilla initiatives of late), said that he wanted to found a “committee for the right of return,” but he means the right of Jews to return to Arab lands they previously lived in. He then went on to say, to the Lebanese News Agency, that “our homeland is all of Palestine.”

This kind of nonsense still has a strategic effect on the wider world, which will now question why Qashlaq’s plan isn’t sensible. Do you see?

Israel is being set up for the end-times scenarios especially outlined in Zechariah. The world is hurtling toward its much-anticipated “Final Solution” to the Jewish question. How fascinating that the Lord planned for all this to unfold in the Holy Land.

Tellingly, on August 20, the European Union Council website carried an announcement by Secretary Clinton that the Quartet intended for all final status issues between Israel and the Palestinians to be resolved within one year, culminating in the establishment of Palestine.

You see, even the Americans have considered the ancient biblical homeland of the Jews to be “occupied” land since 1967, and the international community intends to right this historical “wrong.”

The real end of negotiations is coming soon, and in a cosmic way.


Related Links

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Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad signals make or break for two-state solution - The Guardian
Abbas Says Talks Will Collapse If Israel Expands Settlements in West Bank - Bloomberg
Sarkozy, Mubarak see role for Mediterranean Union in Mideast talks - Earthtimes
Israel Through The Eyes Of Scripture - SpiritandTruth.org (Tony Garland)
It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine): How to stop worrying and learn to love these End Times - Jim Fletcher (Book)

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An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck

By Eric Barger
Take A Stand! Ministries

Over the last few months there have been many questions and much conversation about the popular broadcaster Glenn Beck and his professed Mormon faith. This letter seeks to identify and clear up the confusion concerning both Beck’s stand and about the marked differences between Mormonism and historic, biblical Christianity. Please understand that we do not write these words in an effort to simply be “right” or to win an argument. The purpose of the letter is to determine the truth – something that Glenn Beck himself constantly lauds.

Let us begin by saying that we appreciate the stand Glenn Beck has made concerning our country, its foundation, and the great need for America to come back to God. Many of us have no doubt learned and gleaned information from Beck’s thorough research and many fine, conservative guests. In fact, as he has stated many times on his national television program on the Fox News Channel and on his much-listened to radio program, the only hope America, indeed any person or nation has is to return to and surrender to God. However, therein lies the problem. When Beck speaks of God, informed Christians must immediately question “which God?”

The unsuspecting or those less informed are given the perception that, when Beck mentions God, it must be the same deity that is spoken of as the Creator in the Holy Bible. To what extent Glenn Beck is grounded in Mormon doctrine or understanding may be debatable. However, he indeed presents himself in much the same manner as that of an “evangelical” Christian and also consistently states that he is indeed a Mormon. Let us be clear. Each person reading this must be warned that Glenn Beck’s spirituality – which he claims to be the only solution – is not orthodox, historical Christianity in doctrine, beliefs, or practice.

Put bluntly, the basis of Mormonism exists in the idea of godhood for mankind in a doctrine called “The Law of Eternal Progression.” This cultic belief states that God was a man as we are now and (through Mormonism and its erroneous teachings) we humans can become “gods” as well. Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith, wrote,

“… You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 348).

Though the modern Mormon Church has tried to appear to be “Christian,” this belief is the very core teaching of Mormonism. On the “Mormon Jesus,” Mormon apostle Bruce R. Hunter, a member of Mormonism’s “First Council of the Seventy,“ emphatically wrote,

“The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind” (The Gospel Through the Ages, Milton R. Hunter, p. 15).

Though the evidence that separates Mormonism from authentic Christianity is overwhelming, just these two examples should give one pause to question whether the Mormon god and Mormonism’s unbiblical Jesus could in any way be construed to be the same as that portrayed in God’s holy word, the Bible.

In Conclusion ...

No matter how good the fruit may appear, no matter how much we may agree with his stand on America or politics, no matter how sincere or passionate he may be, we feel it is incumbent on those in apologetics ministry to point out that, if indeed Glenn Beck is a Mormon, he is advocating a religion that is not Christianity in any fashion but instead a false religion responsible for damning the souls of all who follow it. Being close or just using similar terms or phrases do not constitute sound doctrine. These things matter and each of us – Glenn Beck included – need to examine whether we have placed our faith, hope, and trust in the real Jesus who is able to redeem and save a sinner or in one of the many worthless counterfeits such as the “Jesus” of the Mormon Church.


Related Links

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Following Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny or God's Word - WorldviewWeekend.com (Brannon S. Howse)
Glenn Beck Promotes a False Jesus - Christian News Wire
Mormonism - SaintsAlive.com
God, the gospel, and Glenn Beck - OneNewsNow (Russell Moore)
Are Christians selling their soul for patriotism? (Jan Markell, Brannon Howse, Eric Barger, and Ed Decker Discuss the Glenn Beck Issue) - Olive Tree Ministries (Radio/MP3)

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Economy Nucleus of Tribulation

By Terry James
Rapture Ready

One prophetic element stands out in considering the seven-year Tribulation era, with regard to the Antichrist regime. That is the economic platform prophesied to be at the heart of the beast system.

With so many signals in view that point to the brewing Tribulation tempest, we should expect - if we are reading the end-times signals correctly - that this heart of the Beast should be well along in its construction. We have covered all of the indicators found within current issues and events that we believe are signals like those given by Jesus and the prophets. National and world economies have been dealt with in our efforts to make prophetic sense of the dynamic rearrangements taking place in recent years, months, weeks, and days.

America’s staggering weight of debt and swift economic decline is front and center in pointing to the fact, we believe, that this is the generation that stands at the end of one dispensation – the Church Age - and upon the precipice of the next – the Tribulation. Each hour seems to bring additional confirmation that the Tribulation storm is about to break upon an uncomprehending world. Such confirmation is present in abundance in the realm of geopolitics and global economics.

Since Bible prophecy clearly foretells that the Antichrist government, thus the economic engine that will power that absolute dictatorship, will emerge from Europe, we need keep our prophetic antennae pointed in that direction - i.e., we must be especially alert to news involving movement within Europe to cause significant changes to global economic structure.

The following excerpt from the Wall Street Journal registers an interesting blip on my own end-times radar screen.

PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on the world's twenty largest economies to work together to reform global monetary order.

"We must define a new framework for discussing currency movements," Mr. Sarkozy said, adding that it is "nonsense" to talk about exchange rates without including China, which has accumulated huge foreign exchange reserves.

He said stabilizing erratic foreign exchange and commodities markets will feature high on France's agenda when it heads the Group of 20 [in] November. He added there is a need to reduce the U.S. dollar's dominance as the reserve currency of choice." (Nathalie Boschat and David Pearson, "Sarkozy Outlines G-20 Priorities," Wall Street Journal, 8/26/10)

Prophecy scholars and others have long pondered why the U.S. , the most powerful nation in history, isn’t mentioned by name – or even by significant reference — in God’s Word. We continue to flounder in attempts at finding an exact answer for that question. However, with the recent astonishing changes nationally and abroad, the answer seems to be in the process of forming.

Monetary manipulation is at the root of the change taking place. The American dollar must be removed as the currency standard so that a global currency not underwritten by any national monetary unit can be established. This is precisely the Beast economic order I’m convinced Bible prophecy describes as outlined in the following:

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (Rev. 13:16-18).

This speaks to me of a computer system – a hybrid Internet whereby all citizens of the global economic order will be absolutely controlled at every level of life. Probably, it will consist at its heart of electronic funds transfer (EFT)– a system of Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Anyone refusing to toe the mark of the Antichrist’s regime will face having his or her SDR account blocked or removed completely from the system. Fear of starvation is a mighty motivator to comply.

Pressures are mounting for a completely changed global economic order. Even the king of the kings of the East, China, is at the center of the dynamics driving the changes.

Most economists who are honest will admit that the current building economic heap of debt cannot continue to accumulate. They are amazed, in fact, that everything hasn’t already collapsed into total, worldwide depression. I again offer my belief that it will be the Rapture that causes the ultimate implosion and collapse.

The great world leader called in Revelation “the Beast” will be there to implement a satanically-inspired economic scheme that will at first offer hope – that will for a time “cause craft to prosper” (Dan. 8:25). But Antichrist’s plan will achieve what it will be designed to do: enslave most of the world in electronic bondage.

Jesus offers the opposite of what the counterfeit, Antichrist, will produce. Jesus promises:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

We must at every opportunity lift up the Holy name of Jesus before the eyes of a world headed into the terrors of the Tribulation.


Related Links

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Global Currency Around the Corner? - BPT (Henry Lamb)
A Global Currency on the Horizon - Is That What We Need? - Seeking Alpha (Blog)
Does the Bible prophesy a one-world government and a one-world currency in the end times? - GotQuestions.org
IMF's Lipsky: Need to Consider Increased Role for Special Drawing Rights - IMarketnews.com
The American Apocalypse: Is the United States in Bible Prophecy? - Terry James (Book)

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Israel Prepping for War with Iran?

By Jerome R. Corsi
WorldNetDaily

Increasing speculation it may be preparing for a military assault on Iran or a regional war involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, Israel has placed its largest order of military fuel with the United States on record.

The Jewish state, earlier this month, ordered 284 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel, 100 million gallons of diesel fuel and 60 million gallons of unleaded gasoline – all suitable for military uses – at an estimated cost of $2 billion.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment about what actions Israel may take or how they will use their fuel," Marine Corps Major Chris Perrine, a public affairs officer at the Department of Defense, told WND. "I would note, however, that it would take a lot more than fuel to attack a country or wage a regional war."

The sale was detailed in an Aug. 5 notification the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense posted on its website, in compliance with the requirement to give Congress advance notice of foreign military sales.

"The proposed sale of the JP-8 aviation fuel will enable Israel to maintain the operational capability of its aircraft inventory," the notification to Congress said. "The unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel will be used for ground forces' vehicles and other equipment used in keeping peace and security in the region. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this additional fuel into its armed forces."

By comparison, the last fuel order Israel placed with the U.S. was July 15, 2008, when Israel ordered 186 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel, 54 million gallons of diesel fuel and 28 million gallons of unleaded gasoline at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion.

Prior to that, Israel ordered 90 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel and 42 million gallons of diesel fuel Aug. 24, 2007, for an estimated cost of $308 million; and an unspecified amount of JP-8 aviation jet fuel July 14, 2006, for an estimated cost of $210 million.

Israel's last two military operations were the summer 2006 Lebanon War that last a little over one month and the Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza from Dec. 27, 2008, to Jan. 21, 2009.

Atomic Iran

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Iran made its nuclear power plant at Bushehr operational with the assistance of Russia earlier this month.

John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has warned repeatedly that Bushehr would be much more difficult for Israel to attack after it went operational, largely because any military strike would release radioactivity that could be harmful to the civilian population.

Israel's unwillingness to attack the Iranian nuclear power plant at Bushehr before it went operational has caused considerable controversy within Israel.

Writing in the Jerusalem Post, columnist Caroline Glick observed that from a military perspective, the longer Israel waits to attack, the harder it will be for Israel "to accomplish the mission."

Focusing much of the blame on Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barack, Glick commented, "Barak's strategic ineptitude is legendary."

Still, many signs point to continuing tensions in the Middle East that could easily escalate into war.

Olli Heinonen, the former head of U.N. nuclear inspections worldwide, claimed this week that Iran has stockpiled enough low-enriched uranium to make one to two nuclear bombs.

The Jerusalem Post reported Aug. 20 that reports are circulating in the region that Frederick Hoff, assistant to U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell, told Lebanese Army chief of staff Jean Kahwaji that Israel was ready to implement a plan to destroy within four hours all Lebanese military infrastructure, including army bases and offices, should another border-fire incident occur between Lebanese military and the Israel Defense Forces.

Meanwhile, Iran has maintained an aggressive posture after activating Bushehr, successfully test-firing a third-generation surface-to-surface solid-fuel Fateh 110 missile with a 150-mile range and unveiling an Iran-manufactured drone bomber with a flight range of 620 miles.

Nevertheless, the White House cautions that Iran is not on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

Last week, Gary Samone, President Obama's top adviser on nuclear issues, was quoted as saying it would take one year for Iran to make "a dash" to convert existing low-enriched uranium to weapons-grade and to develop the nuclear warhead required for a working weapon.

Moreover, tensions between Israel and the Palestinians appear to be easing on the eve of resumed peace negotiations.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed an interest in meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two weeks as the two enter into direct peace talks next week in Washington.


Related Links

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US to sell Israel massive military fuel stocks worth $2 bn - DEBKAfile
Iran offers military aid to Lebanon - Press TV
Israel 'planning strike on Hezbollah sites in Syria' - Ha'aretz
Obama's Iranian nuclear weapons policy a failure? - BorderFire Report
America for Sale: Fighting the New World Order, Surviving a Global Depression, and Preserving USA Sovereignty - Jerome R. Corsi (Book)

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Wealthy – a Relative Term

By Greg Laurie
Harvest Ministries

I have heard it said that if you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish somewhere else, you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy. When I think about this, I realize that, in a sense, I am wealthy.

Are there people who have more than me? Of course there are. Are there people who have less than me? Absolutely. Wealthy is a relative term. It all depends on whom we compare ourselves to. If you compare yourself to someone living in Beverly Hills, then you probably are not wealthy. But when compared to a mega-millionaire, perhaps someone in Beverly Hills would think she is not all that wealthy. And a mega-millionaire may not perceive himself as wealthy when compared to Bill Gates.

There is always someone with more. And there is always someone with less. But it is my belief the lowest American on the rung of our economic ladder would be considered rich in comparison to a good portion of humanity living in the rest of the world, especially in developing nations.

So whether we have more or whether we have less, how should we be living? What does the Bible have to say on the subject? We are told in 1 Timothy 6:17–18:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (NIV)

Three instructions are given in these verses for the person who has resources.

First, don't be arrogant or put your ultimate hope in that wealth, because it is uncertain. Not only that, you can't take it with you. I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. That which is valuable on earth has no value in heaven, and often that which is undervalued on earth has maximum value in heaven.

Second, enjoy what God has given you. Notice we are not told to feel guilty about what we have. Sometimes people will suggest there is virtue in poverty, but the Bible doesn't teach that. One story that is often cited is that of the rich young ruler. After an exchange with Jesus about what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21 NIV). Sometimes people will refer to this story as though it were a prerequisite for being a Christian. But Jesus said this to only one man, only one time. And the reason he said it to that man in particular was that he was ruled by his possessions. This was proven by the fact that he was unwilling to give them up when Jesus told him to.

I am surprised at how often I hear the misquote, "Money is the root of all evil." The Bible does not say this. What it does say is, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV, emphasis mine).

There is a difference. You can have a lot of money and not necessarily love it. Or, you can have very little money and love it a lot. It is not even how much you have; it is your attitude toward it. Money is neutral. It is not moral or immoral; it is amoral. The problem with wealth is not in having it. It is when it has you. It is how we get it, how we guard it and how we give it. It can be used for good or for bad.

The Bible tells us that God can and will bless a person, and that can include monetary blessing. However, I don't subscribe to the teaching of some who say that God wants every Christian to be healthy, wealthy and have unlimited resources. Nor do I subscribe to the idea that God wants every believer to be impoverished. I know that God can bless a person materially. The pages of the Bible include believers who had resources in varying degrees, such as Abraham, David, Joseph of Arimathea and Barnabas, to name a few. God can bless Christians in this way. So if God has blessed you with things, go ahead and enjoy them.

Third, use your money to do good. You can tell a lot about a person's spirituality by his or her giving – or lack thereof. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21 NIV). It has been said that we should give until it hurts, but Jesus taught that it should hurt when we cease to give. It is a real test of our faithfulness to God.

I find it interesting that the Bible tells us Jesus paid attention to what people did with their money. Mark 12:41 tells us, "Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. ..." (NIV) He watched as wealthy people put in large amounts, and then he saw a widow drop in two small coins. He called his disciples over and told them, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on" (verses 43–44 NIV). Jesus didn't condemn the others, but he reserved his praise for this woman. It wasn't a performance on her part; she simply carried out the act of giving. Jesus saw her give, and he sees when we give as well.

God will not be your debtor. Whatever you have given up for him has been duly noted by God himself. It is a blessing to give. Yet a lot of people have not yet discovered this blessing in their lives.


Related Links

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How should a Christian respond to beggars? - GotQuestions.org
Does God Promise Health and Wealth? (Part 1) - Grace to You (John MacArthur)
Biblical Stewardship - AllAboutGOD.com
Exposing Word of Faith Prosperity Gospel: Justin Peters
Signs of the Times What the Bible says about The Rapture, Antichrist, Armagedon, Heaven and Hell - Greg Laurie (Book)

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“Words Matter!”

By Dr. David R. Reagan
Lamb & Lion Ministries

During the last presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton decided to make the point that Barack Obama was all smooth talk with no substance. In her attack on him she said that “talk is cheap” and that words were nothing without action.

Her attack really riled Obama, and he fired back with these memorable words (which he plagiarized word for word from a speech by Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts):¹

Don’t tell me words don’t matter. “I have a dream” — just words? “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” — just words? Just words? “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” — just words? Just speeches

Obama was right, words do matter. They matter a lot. The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is a lie. Words can hurt, and hurt deeply. They can even destroy. Just tell a child repeatedly that he or she is “dumb” and watch how it impacts their life.

Euphemisms

Euphemisms have always been a part of language, as people have used substitute words or phrases to soften the impact of something they want to say. So, instead of calling a person a liar, one might say, “I think you may have your facts wrong.” Or, instead of describing a person as being fat, you might say the person is “plump” or “heavy set.”

Euphemisms are motivated by politeness. Instead of referring to a friend’s occupation as a “garbage man,” you might call him a “sanitation worker.” Instead of describing a family member as “retarded,” you might call him “mentally challenged.” Rather than ask how to find a “toilet,” you will probably ask directions to a restroom.

An interesting example of a euphemism can be found in the Bible. Since the name of God — Yahweh — was considered sacred by the Jews, they refused to pronounce it out loud. So, when reading the Scriptures orally, they developed a tradition of substituting the word, Adonai (Lord), for Yahweh. When the translators were preparing the King James Version, they decided to follow this tradition by injecting a translation code. When Yahweh appeared in a verse, they indicated its presence with the word, LORD (all in caps). When the word Adonai appeared, it was rendered as Lord.

Euphemisms constantly change. What was accepted as proper yesterday might be considered highly improper today. “Negro” became “Colored” and then was followed by “Black” and “Afro-American.” Today, the only acceptable term is “African-American,” a term I personally don’t like and refuse to use because I consider it divisive for us to think of each other in hyphenated terms. I am reminded of a t-shirt I saw on a teenage Black boy at a mall. On the back of the shirt, it read:

I’m not Black.
I’m not Colored.
I’m not African-American.
I’m a born-again Child of God!

Political Correctness

In modern times the use of euphemisms has been elevated to a fine art through the development of political correctness, often referred to as “PC.” Despite its many negatives, there are some positive aspects to this movement. For example, it has been effective in subduing the use of ethnic slurs like Nigger, Gringo, Kike, Dago, Kraut, Mick, and Camel Jockey.

Even so, it can result in some crazy situations. Consider what happened at a City Council meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1999. While discussing the city’s budget for the next year, an aide to the mayor said he thought the budget was “niggardly.” That is a word that means “stingy” or “miserly.” Despite the fact that it was a legitimate word, all hell broke loose, and the aide was fired for speaking a “racial slur.” (He was later rehired.)²

Another positive aspect of PC is that it has motivated the change in a lot of job titles that were once male-dominated and reflected that fact in the name. Mailman has become “Mail Carrier.” Fireman is now “Fire Fighter.” A policeman has become a “Public Safety Officer.” Chairmen are now referred to as “Chair Persons.” But some of these make-overs have gotten out of hand, as when a gas station attendant is referred to as “a petroleum transfer technician” and a car wash worker is called “a vehicle-appearance specialist.”

This kind of nonsense prompted the comedian, Henny Youngman, to claim that his brother-in-law was a “diamond cutter.” His actual job was mowing the field at Yankee Stadium!

Negative Aspects of PC

Unfortunately, most political correctness is not positive in nature. That’s because it is used by Liberals to promote their political agendas. They also use it as a powerful form of censorship. On most university campuses today, students have to be very careful what they say or else they can get in trouble with the thought police and even be required to attend sensitivity-training.

Liberals use political correctness to disguise sin and thus make it more palatable. A sexual pervert becomes a “sexually dysfunctional person.” A prostitute is referred to as a “sex worker.” Homosexuals are “gay people.” Gambling is “gaming.”

As you can see from these examples, Liberals use PC to soften the image of behavior they are sympathetic to but which the general public finds unacceptable, usually because the behavior violates Judeo-Christian principles which the Liberals hold in contempt.

Abuses of PC

PC becomes a form of censorship when it is used to force people into conformity. For example, a person could get into trouble today on the job or in school for making reference to an “American Indian.” The politically correct terminology is “Native American.” I personally refuse to use that term because I consider it to be nonsensical. I was born and raised in the United States. If I am not a Native American, then what am I? Some sort of alien?

Another example of PC being used as a form of censorship can be found in the fact that more and more academic journals will not publish papers that use the terms B.C. or A.D. because these terms reference time to the birth of Jesus. Authors must instead use the terms B.C.E. and C.E. which stand for “Before the Common Era” and the “Common Era.”³

PC can also become very tedious, to the point of being downright silly. “Lame” became “crippled,” which was then renamed “handicapped,” which was subsequently replaced with “disabled.” But that was not good enough. Next came “physically challenged.” And now, believe it or not, the politically correct term is “differently abled.” Or consider the fact that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People now considers the term “colored people” to be a racial slur!

PC can really become dangerous when it is used to advance a political agenda. And this is where the Obama Administration excels. Illegal aliens have suddenly become “undocumented immigrants.” Terms like “Islamic terrorism,” “Islamic radicalism,” and “Muslim extremism” have been banned. The Global War on Terrorism has become “The Overseas Contingency Operation.” (The what?) The words, “crusade” and “jihad” have also become taboo.⁴

Think of it — our government officials can no longer even identify our enemy by name! It would be like FDR issuing an order during World War II that no one in the government could identify our enemies as Japanese Imperialists or German Nazis.

An Ominous Shift in Vocabulary

Realizing how important words are to Liberals in general and to the Obama Administration in particular, you can understand the widespread concern among Christian leaders that has sprung up recently concerning a very subtle but monumental shift in vocabulary within the Obama Administration regarding religious freedom in our nation. It all began in November of 2009 when President Obama spoke in Texas at the memorial service for the victims of the Fort Hood massacre. A few days later he did it again in speeches both in Japan and China. What he did was to substitute the expression “freedom of worship” for “freedom of religion.”⁵

This is an exceedingly important change in terminology. So important, in fact, that in May of this year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report expressing grave concern about it.⁶

Here’s the point: freedom of religion includes freedom of worship, but freedom of worship does not include freedom of religion. Freedom of worship gives me the right to pray or read the Bible in the privacy of my home or church, but nothing beyond that. It does not include the freedom to share my faith with others. No freedom to hand out materials on the street or preach in a park. No freedom even to wear a cross around my neck or on my lapel.

Some commentators believe that one of Obama’s motives is to throw a sop to China and the Muslim world where freedom of religion is denied but private worship is allowed in some areas. They believe Obama is giving a signal to these nations that we are not going to do anything about their denial of freedom of religion. Others fear he is signaling to the secular leaders in this country that he plans to aide and abet them in their demands for a crackdown on public expressions of religion in our nation.⁷

Whatever the motives may be, the shift in vocabulary is monumental and must be monitored carefully. Already, it has spread to other Obama Administration officials. In December of 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used the same terminology three times in a speech at Georgetown University. Here is an example:⁸

To fulfill their potential, people must be free to choose laws and leaders; to share and access information, to speak, criticize, and debate. They must be free to worship, associate, and to love in the way that they choose.

Notice how she referred to “freedom of worship,” not freedom of religion. And in passing, I might ask, “Since when has the right ‘to love in the way you choose’ become one of our basic human or constitutional rights?” Does this guarantee the rights of pedophiles and prostitutes and those engaged in polygamy and bestiality?

Where is the Obama Administration headed with this change in words? Remember, it was Obama himself who said, “Words matter!”


Endnotes

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1. Rachel Sklar, “Yes, You Can Borrow My Speech: Why Obama’s Lifted
Words Matter,” Huffington Post, February 19, 2008, www.Huffingtonpost.com.
2. Wikipedia, “Controversies about the word ‘niggardly,’” http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki.
3. Wikipedia, “Common Era,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ Era.
4. Fox News.com, “Obama Bans Islam, Jihad From National Security Strategy
Document,” www.fox.news.com.
5. Paul Cooper, “Why is Obama changing ‘freedom of religion’ to ‘freedom of
worship’?” www.rightsidenews.com.
6. USCIRF Annual Report, www.uscirf.gov.
7. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, “‘Freedom of Worship’ Worries,” Christianity Today,
June 22, 2010, www.christianitytoday.com.
8. Hillary Rodham Clinton, “Remarks on the Human Rights Agenda for the 21st
Century,” www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/12/133544.htm.

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This Week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

By Hal Lindsey
The Hal Lindsey Report

A few weeks ago, I began reporting in earnest about the choking effects of 'political correctness' and pre-emptive thought control on our society. At the time, I didn't anticipate that we would see it played out so quickly and in such graphic detail as we're witnessing in each day's newscasts.

All my life I've heard the story about the old preacher who challenged his congregation with these words: "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I'll take this a step further. What if you claimed to be a Christian and nobody believed you? Two recent polls have discovered that as many as one-quarter of all Americans believe that President Obama is actually a Muslim. This is despite the fact that during his campaign he put enormous effort into convincing the voters that he was a Christian.

I remember thinking at the time, "Why is no one on the Left howling about Senator Obama's claims of faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ?" When George W. Bush, early in his campaign, told reporters that the person who had most profoundly affected his life was Jesus Christ, it almost derailed his campaign! Even during his presidency, I don't remember White House spokespersons having to reassure reporters that President Bush was really a Christian. The press took his faith at face value and constantly threw it back at him.

And remember how the Left ridiculed him for appointing John Ashcroft, a devout and open evangelical Christian, as his Attorney-General? When it was discovered that Mr. Ashcroft held personal Bible studies in his DOJ office, the Left and the press demanded his resignation. Yet, when Mr. Obama's deputy press secretary insisted to reporters aboard Air Force One last week that, indeed, the President is "obviously a Christian [because] he prays every day," every member of the Mainstream Media was as quiet as a church mouse!

As Mister Rogers might have put it, "Can you say 'double standard'?" But, then, that's the modus operandi for practitioners of political correctness, social Marxism, and thought-control.

But trust our old friend, Reality, to break up the party. Because of all the controversy over the Ground Zero Mosque (Formerly called "Cordoba House," then "Park 51 Mosque", and now we learn it's not really a mosque, but a community center with a small prayer space!), 'Happy Ramadan' dinners at the White House, and the growing suspicion that our President may be a 'closet' Muslim, we've recently heard a lot of folks give Islam some wonderful reviews. Unfortunately, the truth about Islam doesn't quite measure up to the good press that Islam has been getting lately. On this week's program, I'll examine some of the gaps between 'reality' and the politically correct view of Islam.

Also, if you're a fan of that time-honored literary tradition known as "irony," you'll be in high clover this week. A group of 'interfaith' leaders gave a press conference in Washington recently in support of The Cordoba Initiative. You will never believe the examples and parallels they cited in their efforts to shame us into going along with the idea. Either these guys are ignorant of Islamic history, they're blatantly duplicitous (which is my bet), or they're just plain stupid. Frankly, I wouldn't want to have to claim any of these options to describe myself, but they're spoiled for choice.

Finally, I fear that we Americans may be experiencing a kind of national "Stockholm Syndrome." The more our national self-image is battered and abused, the more we cozy up to our abusers. But all we have to do is take a look at the growing threat presented by the burgeoning Muslim populations in Europe to realize that we need to confront our own internal dangers before they get too big to handle.

[Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com.]


Related Links

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Obama Administration halts prosecution of alleged USS Cole bomber - Washington Post
Now, why would 20% of Americans think Obama is a Muslim? - American Thinker
Gallup poll shows Obama losing ground among all faiths - Hot Air
The Ground Zero Mosque & The War of Ideas - Family Security Matters
The Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad - Hal Lindsey (Book)

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7 Signs of the End Times

By Britt Gillette
End Times Bible Prophecy

What are the signs of the end times?

It's important to know so we can explain to others why Christians believe what we believe.

As Peter says:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Unfortunately, too many Christians are unable to explain why they believe we're in the last days when the opportunity presents itself.

One argument in particular seems to catch today's Christians off guard.

Peter forewarned us of this argument:

"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.'" 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

The particular version I hear most often is, "Sure, you think Jesus is coming, but so have previous generations."

The implication is that our generation will pass without the Second Coming just as those previous generations passed without His Coming.

Aside from being illogical, this assertion flies in the face of plain observation as well as mountains of irrefutable evidence.

A Sign of the End?

Is the prevalence of Peter's end time skeptic argument in-and-of itself a sign of the end times?

No.

But let's take a second look at what he said:

"They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.'" 2 Peter 3:4 (NLT)

Sound familiar?

How many times have you heard someone say, "It's the same now as it's always been" or at least something along those lines?

Probably a lot.

But is it?

Is it really the same?

When non-believers tell you there are no signs of the end times which are unique to our time, you need to be prepared to set the record straight.

Below are at least seven signs of the end times.

Commit them to memory, and as Peter says, "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

Clear Signs of the End Times

Below is a list of seven clear signs of the end times, which highlight the nearness of Christ's return. In fact, He's so close He's knocking on the door:

1) The Holocaust and the Re-Emergence of Israel

One of the preeminent signs of the end times is the Jewish survival of the Holocaust and the re-emergence of the nation of Israel as a Jewish state.

Over 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold these events:

"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones - all hope is gone.' Now give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 37:11-13 (NLT)

As God says, the bones in Ezekiel 37 represent the people of Israel - otherwise known as the Jews.

Following the first century Roman conquest of the Holy Land, the Jews were banished from the land of Israel. The Romans renamed the area Palestine, and exiled its people to the farthest corners of the Roman Empire.

Yet, in Ezekiel 37, God promised to bring the Jews out of exile. He promised to bring them back into the land of Israel.

Not only did He promise to restore their nation, but God promised to do so by opening their "graves" at a time when the Jews feel that "all hope is gone."

The aftermath of Hitler's Holocaust of the Jewish people created these very conditions, nearly destroying an entire race of people and draining the hope of countless survivors.

But out of the Holocaust, God brought the Jewish people back into the land of Israel, just as He had promised.

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel reappeared in fulfillment of not just Ezekiel 37:11-13, but countless Old Testament prophecies.

Of all the signs of the end times, the re-establishment of Israel as an independent nation is the clearest and most unmistakable sign that we are in the last of the last days.

2) Jerusalem Is a Burden to the World

Another visible sign of the end times is the world diplomatic struggle over Jerusalem.

The prophet Zechariah foresaw this event centuries ago:

"I will make Jerusalem and Judah like an intoxicating drink to all the nearby nations that send their armies to besiege Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone, a burden for the world. None of the nations who try to lift it will escape unscathed." Zechariah 12:2-3 (NLT)

Since 1967 when the Israelis retook Jerusalem in the Six Day War, the division of Jerusalem and ownership of the Temple Mount in particular, have been a source of countless U.N. resolutions, diplomatic crises, and calls for war.

The struggle over the "Peace Process" in the Middle East is the stated number one priority of world diplomats, and Jerusalem resides at the center of discussions about "land for peace."

With the threat of World War III casting a shadow over every decision to rebuild Jewish settlements or expand Israeli society, the City of Jerusalem is no doubt "a burden for the world."

Is this "the way it's always been?"

No.

Until this generation, Jerusalem was not "a burden for the world." In fact, prior to 1948, world diplomatic leaders rarely mentioned it.

3) The Dramatic Increase in Travel and Knowledge

One of the signs of the end times that anyone can easily recognize is the recent explosive increase in travel and knowledge.

In a vision, God revealed to Daniel that in "the time of the end," travel and knowledge will increase:

"But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." Daniel 12:4 (NLT)

According to the book of Daniel, two things will increase in "the time of the end" - travel and knowledge.

Is this the case now?

Yes.

At the time the Book of Daniel was written, horses were the world's the fastest mode of transportation.

In fact, horses remained the world's fastest mode of transportation for over 2,000 years until the Industrial Revolution spawned such innovations as the steam boat, the locomotive, and the horseless carriage.

Prior to the 20th Century, most people rarely traveled more than 30 miles from where they were born. Today, people routinely travel from one continent to another within the same day.

Today's world is definitely not "the way it's always been."

Frequency and speed of travel have markedly increased!

What about knowledge?

In Daniel's time, few people received a formal education. In fact, basic literacy was a foreign concept to all but an elite minority of the world until the past 100 to 150 years.

Yet, in the past century alone, human knowledge of science, biology, technology, and countless fields of endeavor has exploded. And the advent of the Internet has created a worldwide archive of human knowledge that far exceeds even the wildest dreams of the great ancient civilizations.

Is humanity's knowledge base today "the same as previous generations?"

Absolutely not. Human knowledge has also markedly increased.

Given that all this can be ascertained from mere observation, how can anyone say with a straight face that "things today are the same as they've always been?"

4) Exponential Growth Marks the Times

If a marked increase in travel and knowledge constitute one of the most clearly observable signs of the end times, then the two are merely components of a much larger sign of the end times - exponential growth.

Jesus pointed to exponential growth as a sign of His Coming:

"Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, 'When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?' Jesus told them, 'Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.'" Matthew 24:3-8 (NLT)

This translation fails to communicate an important revelation from Jesus - that the end times will be analogous to the birthing process.

According to Strong's Concordance, the word "horrors" as translated above comes from the word "odin" which is best translated as "the pain of childbirth" or "birth pangs."

This means that, much like birth pangs, signs of the end times will appear with greater frequency and intensity as Christ's return draws near. This is why Jesus mentioned this sign first when answering his disciples' questions "When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?"

According to Jesus, three things in particular will increase in frequency and intensity as the world draws closer to His return:

1. Wars
2. Famines
3. Earthquakes

Have we seen these three things increase in frequency and intensity in the recent past?

Yes.

Let's take a brief look at wars, famines, and earthquakes over the past 500 years.

Wars - A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of wars, the past 500 years have witnessed an increase in the frequency of wars:

• 15th Century - 29 wars
• 16th Century - 59 wars
• 17th Century - 75 wars
• 18th Century - 69 wars
• 19th Century - 294 wars
• 20th Century - 278 wars

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 55 wars, putting humanity on course for 550 wars over the next one hundred year period.

Have these wars increased in intensity?

Yes.

For most of human history, wars were fought through individual hand-to-hand combat. But the past few hundred years have witnessed the ascension of more accurate guns, machine guns, and aerial bombing. Today, a single weapon of mass destruction can kill hundreds of thousands of people.

Famines - A Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of famines, the past 500 years have also witnessed an increase in the frequency of famines:

• 15th Century - 6 famines
• 16th Century - 10 famines
• 17th Century - 24 famines
• 18th Century - 28 famines
• 19th Century - 30 famines
• 20th Century - 44 famines

The first decade of the 21st Century alone has already witnessed 12 famines, putting humanity on course for 120 famines over the next one hundred year period.

Have these famines increased in intensity and severity?

Yes.

As the population of the world has grown, famines have caused more and more death and destruction in their wake.

In fact, while the Roman Empire's entire population at the time of Jesus is estimated to have been approximately 55 million people, the first half of the 20th Century alone witnessed these famines:

• The 1921 famine in Russia (5 million+ dead)
• The 1928-1929 famine in China (3 million+ dead)
• The 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine (2.6 and 10 million+ dead)
• The 1932-1933 famine in Kazakhstan (1.2 and 1.5 million+ dead)
• The 1936 famine in China (5 million+ dead)
• The 1942-1943 famine in China (1 million+ dead)
• The 1946-1947 famine in the Soviet Union (1 million+ dead)

That's an estimated 18.8 to 26.5 million who perished from famine just from these seven famines alone!

And from 1959 to 1961, the Great Chinese Famine is estimated to have killed more than 36 million people.

Famines have dramatically increased in both frequency and intensity since Jesus first answered His disciples' questions.

Earthquakes - Another Sign of the End Times

According to a Wikipedia list of earthquakes, the past 500 years have witnessed the following number of earthquakes described as a magnitude 7.0 or greater:

• 15th Century - 2 earthquakes
• 16th Century - 3 earthquakes
• 17th Century - 7 earthquakes
• 18th Century - 13 earthquakes
• 19th Century - 29 earthquakes
• 20th Century - 123 earthquakes

The first decade of the 21st Century has already witnessed 144 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater, putting humanity on course for 1,440 such earthquakes over the next one hundred year period!

The dramatic increase in devastating wars, famines, and earthquakes from the time of Jesus until today is one of clearest signs of the end times.

5) Rise of the Gog/Magog Alliance

Yet another sign of the end times is the current rise of the Gog/Magog Alliance.

The details of this future military alliance against Israel are found in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39:

"This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 'Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others.'" Ezekiel 38:1-6 (NLT)

The nations cited in the verses above are associated with their Old Testament predecessors, but they all represent nations that exist today.

Below is a list of those nations, each followed by its modern day equivalent:

• Magog, Meshech, and Tubal = Russia
• Persia = Iran
• Cush = Ethiopia
• Put = Libya
• Gomer = Turkey
• Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, and the Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor

According to God, Russia will mobilize a coalition that includes these nations in the last days.

Throughout human history, there's never been a cooperative military alliance between the nations of Russia and Iran - at least until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Since then, a cooperative diplomatic and military alliance between Iran and Russia has formed and slowly expanded, ultimately leading to Russia's assistance in providing Iran with the necessary support to make the Bushehr nuclear power plant operational in 2010.

So when does the Bible tell us this alliance will form?

It definitely says, "in the last days":

"Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies - a vast and awesome horde - will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud." Ezekiel 38:7-9 (NLT)

According to Strong's Concordance, "in the distant future" is better translated as "achariyth shaneh" which means "end years."

6) The Rise of Global Government

Another sign of the end times is the current trend toward globalization.

According to the Book of Revelation, globalization involves more than just multinational corporations and global commerce. One day, a single man will rule all the people and nations on the earth:

"And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation." Revelation 13:7 (NLT)

With each passing day more and more nations are ceding their sovereignty to larger institutions such as the European Union, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Court.

Given the current global financial crisis and the potential catastrophe of a global war, more and more diplomatic leaders and world politicians are calling for global government.

And as human technology continues to advance and mature, we're quickly reaching a point where global totalitarian rule will be possible.

7) The Good News Preached Throughout the World

Jesus revealed the following sign of the end times to His disciples in response to their questions about the end of the age and the sign of His coming:

"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 (NLT)

According to Christ, His Coming is preceded by the preaching of the Gospel "throughout the whole world."

This idea is reiterated in the Book of Revelation.

"And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 'Fear God,' he shouted. 'Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.'" Revelation 14:6-7 (NLT)

In the time of Jesus, the Gospel was confined to a relatively small number of people in and around Israel. And much of the earth's land mass was completely unknown to the disciples of Jesus, so the odds of the disciples preaching the Gospel of Christ "throughout the whole world" in their own time was quite remote.

Yet, 2,000 years later, the Gospel is preached in every nation, the Bible is translated in hundreds of languages, and the Gospel of Christ is delivered through thousands of ministries via radio, cable TV, satellite, and the Internet.

Is this "the way it's always been?"

Nope.

The truth is our generation is closer to preaching the Gospel "throughout the whole world" than any preceding generation.

Signs of the End Times

These are just seven signs of the end times, but they aren't the only signs.

The Bible has much to say about the last days and the time of the end, and as followers of Christ, we are warned to recognize the signs of the times.

"Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near." Matthew 24:28 (NLT)

Why?

Because if we acknowledge the signs of the end times as well as our Lord's command to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live Godly lives. Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:

"Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11 (NLT)

Remember, all prophecy exists to give a clear witness for Christ:

"For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:10 (NLT)

And prophecy is telling us that Christ is coming.

"In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door." Matthew 24:33 (NLT)

Related Links

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2nd Peter - SpiritandTruth.org (Andy Woods)
What signs indicate that the end times are approaching? - GotQuestions.org
Turkey removes Russia and Iran from its Red Book - Voice of Russia
Southern California Warned to Prepare Now for Major Earthquake - Eco Factory
EU commissioner fears famine in far-flung flood affected areas - Online - International News Network
Seven Signs of the End Times - Mark Hitchcock (Book)

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Peace Push Will Yield Violence

By David Dolan
DDolan.com

History is, sadly, repeating itself. Eleven years ago, Bill Clinton twisted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arm in a successful attempt to get him to withdraw Israeli soldiers from most sections of the ancient Jewish holy city of Hebron. The pullback was supposedly designed to strengthen the crumbling Oslo peace accord signed on the White House lawn in 1993 by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.

Instead, the unpopular evacuation caused Islamic terror attacks to mushroom and Netanyahu's coalition government to collapse, forcing early elections won by Ehud Barak. The new leader's subsequent offer at Camp David to hand over even more territory to the PLO chief was answered a few months later with the violent Palestinian Al Aksa uprising.

Another Democratic Party president is now wrestling with Netanyahu while pushing down hard on the explosive "peace" button. Barack Obama's action is likely, once again, to ignite violent confrontations in the Promised Land.

Adding to the historic repetition chill, it was Bill Clinton's violated wife who delivered the State Department announcement that direct peace talks will begin again next week in Washington after a 20-month hiatus.

While opinion polls showed that a majority of Israelis viewed Bill Clinton as a true friend, the same cannot be said for President Obama. In fact many see him as – ta da – a closet Muslim. Living around millions of Arab Muslims all of their lives, Israelis recognize the chief characteristics of many of Muhammad's followers. Told by their parents and imams from birth that they are the unique Chosen People of Allah – not the rejected Jews or idolatrous Christians – pride is one of those recurring traits among Muslims. Many would cite its cousin, arrogance, as another.

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean sees these same traits oozing out of the White House, even if he pinned them on Obama's advisers instead of the president himself. After all, what does his recent statement on CNN that "the people around him … really misjudged what goes on elsewhere in the country other than Washington, D.C." mean if not that they are insolent in handling presidential power? They couldn't care less what the peons out there think They alone know the correct way forward.

This is exactly how Iranian President AhMADinejad speaks all the time. He does not care what anyone thinks. He will enrich uranium, he will destroy Israel, he will conquer the world.

It is absurd to maintain that the current intelligent and eloquent American leader does not set the arrogant tone that "the people around him" display to U.S. citizens and folks all over the globe. And that is why most Israelis I talk to feel that, at least in his attitudes if not most of his actions, Obama seems more like a proud Muslim than the meek Christian he purports to be. Terrorist victims and their families and friends be damned! Muslims have a right to build a grand mosque and pray at the hallowed site where a band of their brothers slaughtered area innocents en masse.

And yes, Israelis have noted that the president's middle name is Hussein – quite popular in the Islamic world since it was the moniker of Muhammad's grandson.

Another point made by some Israelis is that if the man's father (who apparently named him) and all of his paternal relatives were Muslims, as nobody disputes even if they do wonder exactly where he was born, then the commander in chief is considered a Muslim by his co-religionists, albeit a backslidden one.

No doubt Obama's mother came from a European Christian heritage. But her son chose to marry an African-American woman and have children of color. In other words, he ultimately identified more with his father, from African Muslim stock, than he did with his white Christian mother from Kansas. Psychologists point out this is a natural process for most male and female children. The main role model as they mature into adulthood is the parent of their own sex.

But back to the reignited peace process. Bill Clinton knew full well that Bibi Netanyahu could not remain long in power without the support of his right-wing coalition partners, not to mention the more hawkish members of his own Likud Party. The very same thing applies today. So forcing the "peace" door back open at this time is likely to cause the current government coalition to at least wobble, if not collapse.

Obama and company understand that the Israeli cabinet only froze home building in Judea and Samaria until this coming Sept. 26. Netanyahu's partners, and many in his party, insist he keep his promise to resume construction after that date. PA leaders have already announced they will quit the new U.S.-mediated negotiations if the freeze is not maintained. In fact, many think they are only attending so they can blame the anticipated quick breakdown on "intransigent" Israel.

And there we have a recipe for a potential third act of the Palestinian uprising story, or at least for a new wave of Hamas terror attacks. This is especially the case since one-third of the local Palestinian population is not even under PA rule today, but governed in the Gaza Strip by the radical Islamic group. Its main outside backer, Iran, is hardly working for Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, nor is the Shiite regime's heavily armed puppet Lebanese force, Hezbollah.

So the Obama peace push, like Bill Clinton's before it, is likely to help spark fresh violence and death instead of bringing lasting calm to the land. The apparent White House failure to understand that reality is truly arrogant. Worse yet, some Israelis suspect it may be deliberate.


Related Links

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Palestinians Clash with Police in East Jerusalem - Voice of America
For Israelis and Palestinians, History Repeats Itself - NewsMax.com (George Will)
Peace talks that will make war more likely - Ha'aretz
Israeli-Palestinian preview: Who’s coming to dinner at the White House? - JTA
Holy War for the Promised Land: Israel at the Crossroads - David Dolan (Book)

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