Friday, April 30, 2010

Confirming the Covenant

We know from Daniel 9:27 that the antichrist will make himself known (to the biblical-prophecy reader anyway) by confirming the covenant between Israel and "the many", presumably Israel's surrounding enemies. To "confirm", could mean to strengthen an existing covenant or it could also refer to a mandatory covenant being forced upon Israel. In either case, I have felt for years, that the confirmation process of this scripture will involve sending in "peace-keeping troops" to Israel, most likely under the direction of the EU/Med Union (aka "revived Roman Empire").

Recently, over the past several months, one of these scenarios appears to be gaining momentum, and certainly the rhetoric on the topic has increased. This topic involves the issue of creating a mandate for a "Palestinian State", without Israel's agreement.

Just this idea alone seems preposterous in its premise. Just try and imagine, for instance, a UN mandate that New Mexico and Arizona will be given back to Mexico - and having international "peace-keeping" troops sent to those areas to ensure the states buckle under to the mandate. Its unthinkable, yet this idea is gaining significant momentum in the world.

This concept could very well be the "confirming" process that we see in Daniel 9:27.

Current news seems to support the fact that we are inching closer and closer to such a mandate imposed upon Israel:

"Jerusalem fears PA may ask UN to recognize state on 1967 lines"

While Israel and the Palestinian Authority are finally expected to begin US-mediated indirect “proximity” talks in the very near future, concern is growing among some in the Israeli government that the PA is planning to marginalize the diplomatic process and instead unilaterally seek UN recognition for a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines.



Within the Netanyahu government, the Post understands, there is a growing awareness of the rising level of international support for Palestinian statehood, and of the reduced international empathy for Israeli concerns and reservations.


We also see more of the same in the following article:

"Israeli officials: Obama to call world summit if Mideast peace talks fail"




"We want our state to be declared under an international agreement," Abbas told the agency while visiting the Jordanian capital of Amman Thursday. "If this could not happen, the Arabs will go to the UN Security Council to get recognition of Palestinian statehood."

At the same time, while we see the wheels in motion which would impose a "Palestinian State" against the will of Israel - we see more threats against Israel (an "interesting" way to attempt "peace"):

"Syrian-Turkish Joint Army drill intensifies Threat to Israel"





Right on schedule, everything is falling into place. We inch closer and closer to the covenant from Daniel 9:27. We see the region destabilized by the build-up to war and the rhetoric which seems to become more and more inflammatory by the day. We watch as the "nations" attempt to divide Israel and Jerusalem - two actions strictly forbidden by God Himself, yet the world blindly rushes in to control the region, while lustfully ignoring God's strong warnings against such actions.

It is all happening for a reason - it had to. God's prophecy is 100% and it tells us where this is all heading. Events are lining up perfectly for the world to witness the complete destruction of Damascus, as revealed in Isaiah 17, the epic battle of Gog-MaGog from Ezekiel 38-39, and then, of course, the beginning of Tribulation, once the covenant is confirmed.

It all seems so close. But God is in complete control, and the events will roll out exactly according to plan. Our job is to watch, and to warn others of this approaching storm. Time is growing short, but there is still an opportunity to reach our family and friends before it is too late.

At the same time, we can "look up" and anticipate what is in store for us:


and, of course, this scenario comes into play - a scenario referred to as the Rapture of the Church - a scenario which tells us that we will not be here to experience the Tribulation:


"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to test those who live on earth" (Revelation 3:10)

"...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath" (1 Thess. 1:10)

Maranatha! He is coming soon!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

In the news...

There are several interesting news stories circulating today:

"Hizballah has become major military force"

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Tuesday acknowledged that Lebanese terrorist militia Hizballah has been the recipient of a massive amount of short, medium and long-range rockets and missiles in recent months.

Also this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Hizballah has increasingly been permitted to mingle with the Lebanese army, making it increasingly difficult to differentiate between the two should another war break out along Israel's northern border.

Many in Israel and Lebanon expect another war to erupt as a result of the international community's inability or unwillingness to reign in Hizballah.

Below, we see even more written about Turkey's alliances in the region:

"Turkey's Anti-Israel Alignment Becoming Increasingly Defined"

...the joint military exercise taking place between Turkey and Syria is cause for concern and intelligence officials are monitoring events as the war of words between Israel and her Arab neighbors intensifies, including Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Hizbullah.

For a second time in a number of months, Turkish forces earlier this week have begun joint exercises with Syrian troops, sending a worrisome message to Israel. Turkey has been openly shifting its alliance to radical nations such as Syria and Iran, openly speaking out against Israel in the international political arena, formerly a staunch ally.

Continuing his threats against Yerushalayim, Assad told Kuwaiti media that if Israel launches an attack against Hizbullah in southern Lebanon, his armed forces will improve a naval blockade against Israel.

Efforts to release messages of calm from Jerusalem have had a limited impact at best as Arab leaders seem determined to escalate the war of words against Israel.

"Iran, Syria, Hizbullah gear up to provoke summer war"

Gates went on to accuse Syria and Iran of "providing Hizballah with rockets of ever-increasing capability," adding, "This is obviously destabilizing for the whole region and we're watching it very carefully.

As DEBKAfile's military sources reported last week, Syrian instructors have trained two Hizballah brigades in the use of mobile Scud missiles which carry one-ton warheads. It does not matter if those missiles are moved physically across the border to Lebanon, because those brigades can operate them against Israel at short notice from either side of the border.

And further into this article, we see what I believe is the bottom line on this situation:

"Careful watch" - without corresponding action to interrupt the massive flow of weapons shipments constantly smuggled in from Syria to Hizballah - is a repeat of the misplaced self-restraint which invited the Hizballah to launch the last Lebanon conflict in the summer of 2006. Dragging Israeli and its homeland into war in the summer of 2010 would serve the political and military interests of Iran, Syria and Hizballah well. It would generate a Middle East crisis overwhelming enough to focus international efforts on calming the situation, so distracting the world's attention Iran's arrival at the critical stages of its nuclear bomb program and its drive for sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Its hard to find any articles now, relating to Syria, Hezbollah and Lebanon which do not point to war in the coming summer months.

"Iran hopes to shift focus to Israel at U.N. nuclear conference"




I suppose this last article would come under the heading "If you can't beat them - disarm them". Israel, completely surrounded by rabid enemies who are sworn to destroy them and "push them into the sea" as commonly stated in the region, is now being asked to disarm. If it weren't so sad and symbolic of the times we are living in, it would be almost be funny. It would be like intruders getting ready to enter a home, to kill the family and take their belongings after the murder - but before entering the home - calling for the people inside the home to voluntarily give up any weapons that they may own - prior to the assault.

In a final article today (there have been a lot today) we see the continuing rise of "The Kings of the East":

"Chinese military seeks to extend its naval power"






As mentioned - we can easily see how all signs are marching, in step, towards the inevitable conclusion - a conclusion which begins with the Tribulation.

In just one week, we see the continual consolidation of the "Gog-MaGog" alliance, with Turkey now on board - arguably the last piece of that puzzle.

We watch as the alliance between Syria, Hezbollah and Lebanon gains strength - with probable war to break out this summer.

We watch China's continual growth as a world economic and military power, as the book of Revelation informed us.

We watch Iran continue their nuclear development and growing influence on Israel's enemies.

We watch as the anti-Israeli rhetoric grows daily throughout the nations.

We watch the increase in major earthquakes - almost on a daily basis.

And we watch Israeli's previous ally - the U.S. aligning with the terrorist groups in the region while publicly condemning Israel at almost every opportunity, creating fulfillment of the prophecy that every nation would be aligned against Israel.

All I can think of - in order to encapsulate this entire scenario - is found in one simple word:


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Middle East and prophetic fulfillment

Once again, Mike Mickey has written a timely and revealing commentary on the current situation in the Middle East, and it is shown below in its entirety (link here):

Middle East Moving Toward Prophetic Fulfillment

by Michael G. Mickey

The news of late has been replete with stories of interest to those of us awaiting the fulfillment of bible prophecy, particularly where end times conflicts scheduled to occur in the Middle East are concerned. Here are a few examples:

Jordan's King Abdullah is saying war in the Middle East is possible unless Israel and the Palestinian Authority have entered into "serious" peace negotiations by July. (Source)

The Prime Minister of Turkey recently branded Israel as the "principal threat to peace" in the Middle East. (Source)

Turkey's military has traditionally stood guard over the nation's secular democracy, but seems to be losing control amid rumors that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan wants to turn Turkey into an Islamic state. (Source)

Israel has reportedly delivered a secret warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad that it will respond to missile attacks from Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese-based Islamist group, by launching immediate retaliation against Syria itself. (Source)

Syria is tightening its military alliance with Turkey, reinforcing a recent threat made to send Israel back to “the Stone Age” if it attacks Hizbullah. Syrian President Bashar Assad recently told a Kuwaiti newspaper Syria has “surprises" in store for Israel. (Source)

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called on President Barack Obama to impose a Middle East peace deal. (Source)

Examining the above through the lens of bible prophecy, it is clear as crystal that God is alive, on His throne and in control where the wicked world we're living in today is concerned. Just as He said, He has made known to us the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and the end of man governing the earth? It is scheduled to occur at Armageddon as foretold in Revelation 16:16, the culmination of a series of end times conflicts set to occur in the Middle East, some of which may be within view now as the news stories above highlight.

In Isaiah 17:1, we're told that the city of Damascus, Syria is going to be "taken away from being a city" and will be left a "ruinous heap". Recently, there has been a lot of discussion concerning Syria supplying Hezbollah with Scud missiles which, in a worst case scenario for Syria if ever there was one, could be armed with chemical munitions. Already it has been reported, as shown above, that Israel plans to attack Syria directly if those weapons are used against the Jewish nation. Israeli PM Netanyahu has downplayed that possibility of late, saying Israel isn't planning a move against Damascus, but let's not kid ourselves. If Hezbollah launches chemical weapons-tipped Scuds at Israel, it won't take long for the obvious conclusion to be reached, namely that the same nation which provided Hezbollah Scuds from its inventory of weapons likely provided the terrorist faction with chemical weapons from its inventory as well, an arsenal which reportedly consists of Sarin, tabun, mustard gas and, possibly, VX.

Given how high tensions in the Middle East presently are, as highlighted by Jordan's King Abdullah's prediction that war could erupt by summer, anything could happen. Sooner or later, as we see in bible prophecy, something horrific is going to happen. Syria, based on all of the above, seems committed to that end along with Iran which we know is going to be involved in the battle of Gog-Magog described in the book of Ezekiel (chapters 38 and 39) at the very least.

And then there is all of the above concerning Turkey, a nation which has been on my radar for a long time. For years I've been telling my readers to watch for it to turn from being a pro-Western nation aligned with NATO toward becoming a future member of the Gog-Magog confederacy alongside Iran and Russia. Month by month, year by year we've been seeing this dramatic movement taking place before our very eyes, perhaps never as clearly as the following excerpt from an Israel National News article demonstrates:

Lastly, not only do we see the potential of Isaiah 17:1 and Ezekiel 38-39 being fulfilled in the not-too-distant future, mankind is being pointed down the precise pathway to Armageddon itself by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas asking President Obama to impose a Middle East peace agreement is the equivalent of asking for the advent of the Antichrist to occur.

Before I get into the meat of Mahmoud Abbas' request and how it applies directly to the end times scenario, no, I am not suggesting President Obama is the prophesied Antichrist. I can not state emphatically enough that I don't know the identity of the prophesied Antichrist to come nor do I care to know as I'm a firm believer in a pre-trib rapture of the Church. The only interest I have in discussing events I believe are leading us toward the advent of the Antichrist is to draw attention to the fact our world is teetering closer and closer to outright asking for him to appear, albeit unknowingly, and how close that may be telling us we are to the Tribulation Period to come which will be preceded by the Rapture of the Church, the blessed hope of every believer in Christ.

Having completed my Antichrist speculation disclaimer, let's return to the issue of Mahmoud Abbas' request for President Obama to impose a Middle East peace covenant and why it is significant to end times bible prophecy and Middle East conflict. Let's look at how the prophet Daniel describes the advent of the Antichrist.

Daniel 9:26-27:
The people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary in AD 70, in fulfillment of Daniel 9:26, was the Romans. The prince (or leader) that shall come, the Antichrist, will, therefore, be of Roman descent. He will confirm (or make strong) a covenant of peace in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies seven precise years in length. He will do so "with many" in support of him.

When we couple Mahmoud Abbas' request of President Obama with Daniel's prophecy, it is compelling evidence that the mindset which will lead to the advent of the Antichrist already exists in the Middle East and, in case you've missed it, this isn't the first time I've documented a desire being expressed, both from sources inside and outside the Middle East, for someone to somehow intervene in the ongoing conflict between Israel and its enemies in the Middle East. With the naive idea floating around in diplomatic circles that Israel and the Palestinians being at peace with one another could be beneficial to the West's efforts to deter Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, it is likely, particularly if we see warfare of any significant magnitude break out in the Middle East, discussion of someone other than an Israeli or Palestinian sorting their conflict out and bringing it to an end is likely to increase exponentially.

Keep looking up

Everything where the troubled Middle East is concerned is proceeding according to God's prophetic plan. Could it be more obvious than it presently is? I'm always tempted to say no, but I dare not. A few years ago if someone had told me I'd today be seeing Turkey and Syria partnering up for military drills and Turkey literally "in line with most of the Arab world’s anti-Israel campaign" I probably would've struggled to imagine how things could've changed so drastically so fast.

If the Lord delays His coming, we can thoroughly expect to see bible prophecy coming alive like never before in the news headlines of our world and increasingly so as time moves forward. While seeing what we assuredly will may be disturbing at times because we know what lies ahead for unrepentant mankind is going to be far worse, may we also be comforted by what we see, bearing in mind that these things coming to pass are not occurring outside of God's knowledge but completely within His plan, the end result of which is going to be nothing short of glorious for those of us who love the Lord.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

"The World" vs Israel

Just another day of more public, formal condemning of Israel, this time around by French President Sarkozy:

"France joins US in blaming Israel for lack of peace"

French President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly told Israeli President Shimon Peres when the two met in Paris two weeks ago that the current failure of the Middle East peace process is almost entirely the fault of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Senior Israeli officials were briefed on the meeting recently, and told Ha'aretz under condition of anonymity that it was a "very difficult" encounter for Peres.

Sarkozy reportedly spent the first 15 minutes of the meeting railing against Netanyahu.

"I'm disappointed with him," the French president reportedly said.. "With the friendship, sympathy and commitment we have toward Israel, we still can't accept this foot-dragging. I don't understand where Netanyahu is going or what he wants."

Sarkozy's increasingly hostile position mirrors that of the Obama Administration, which has made clear that it sees Netanyahu and the right-wing elements in his government as the reason the peace process is not moving forward.

That despite the fact that Netanyahu has already gone against his election platform by publicly accepting the idea of a Palestinian state, has frozen Jewish building in Judea and Samaria and has repeatedly stated that he is ready to immediately restart direct bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians.

That Palestinian leaders outright refuse to sit with Netanyahu and discuss these issues has been almost completely ignored in Western capitals.

More of the same. It is fascinating to watch the entire world align itself against Israel, just as biblical prophecy foretold.

Having said that - how about some refreshing truths? Below is an article from "The Golden Report" (link here) and states some key facts about the land that we discuss daily:

Netanyahu at his best

British Television during the retaliation against Hamas' shelling of Israel .



Interviewer: (Falling into the trap) Why not?



"Crash Course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict."






did not come to visit.









Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.


18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem
synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.

Jewish destiny, an opportunity to make a difference?

"Whole lotta shakin' goin' on"

This is the title of a recent article as found on the "American Thinker" site; its nice to see someone other than prophecy watchers are noticing. As found at this link, we see the following commentary which remarks on the earthquake situation that we see daily:

Whole lotta shakin' goin' on
David Fuhs


The following graph shows the total amount of "shaking" caused by all earthquakes of 7.0 magnitude or greater from 1973 to 2009. I assigned each 7.0 quake a value of one(1), each 8.0 quake a value of ten(10), and other magnitudes an appropriate Linear value.

The proper measure of the total amount of seismic activity each year should be the Total of the Linear value of each quake times the number of quakes of each magnitude. This is because the Richter Scale is Logarithmic. So, if you had three 6.0 earthquakes, two 7.0, and one 8.0 in "Year One", and in "Year Two" had three 6.0, two 7.0, and one 8.0 quake and one quake of 8.1; your graph would indicate an increase of 1 earthquake greater than 6.0 -- but in reality you would have experienced more than DOUBLE the amount of seismic activity ("shaking").


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hezbollah: More Rockets Than Most Governments

Hezbollah has been arming up over the past two years, and now the rest of the nations, including the U.S., are finally starting to realize this:

"Gates: Hezbollah has more rockets than most governments"

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday that Hezbollah has more missiles than most governments in the world, during a joint press conference with Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Washington.

"Syria and Iran are providing Hezbollah with so many rockets that they are at a point where they have more missiles than most governments in the world," said Gates.

Barak told reporters that Syria was transferring weapons systems to Hezbollah and that Israel is closely watching the developments...

And, in a related article we see the following:

"Gates, Barak: Syria providing Hezbollah with missiles"

The two officials did not elaborate on the types of missiles, but the comments followed claims made in recent days that Hezbollah had received Scud missiles, which are capable of hitting wide areas within the State of Israel.

Barak said that Syria was providing Hezbollah with weapon systems which could change the delicate balance in Lebanon. He noted that Israel was closely watching the developments.

Barak and Gates avoided answering questions on the joint military exercise held by Turkey and Syria.

One final article gives a perfect description of current events:

"Does Israel stand alone against Iran?"

Based on the declarations coming out of Washington recently, as well as American actions (or lack thereof) on the matter of Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, reasonable suspicions are being raised that Israel could be left to face the Iranian problem alone.

...concern is rising that the U.S. government has accepted that Iran will either get the atomic bomb, or at least develop the capability but agree to stop just before actually building one.

The question is whether differences of opinion on the peace process and Iran could lead Israel to independently attack Iran's nuclear sites.

On this question, there are two opposite potential answers. On one hand, the crisis with Obama could push Netanyahu into taking dangerous steps. On the other hand, given the divisions with Washington, Netanyahu could be fearful of acting independently. The murky situation will probably be clarified in the coming months, after the sanctions are tested, assuming that they are not again delayed.

There are two main scenarios that seem to be shaping up right now - with both potentially leading into the events desribed in Ezekiel 38-39, or, also known as the invasion of "Gog-MaGog".

The first scenario involves the immediate threat to Israel, as imposed by Syria, Hezbollah and Lebanon. Because they have broken a line that was drawn in the sand, by Israel - with that line being the shipment of more missiles into Lebanon (intended for Hezbollah) from Syria - including the long-range scud missiles. Israel has declared that such an act would trigger an Israeli military response. By the rhetoric coming from Israel, it's clear that Israeli authorities believe that Hezbollah has received such weapons - weapons that can reach almost anywhere in Israel. If this conflict leads into the destructin of Damascus, one can easily see how such events in the region could precipitate battle of Gog-MaGog.

The second scenario involves Israel attempting to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. In this scenario, Israel would "attack" Iran's nuclear facilities and in response, Iran would form the coalition seen in Ezekiel 38-39 - as the neighboring Islamic community would be highly inflamed after such an "Israeli attack".

So which scenario will lead into the battle of Gog-MaGog so vividly described in Ezekiel 38-39?

No one knows.

But given the rate of progress of each scenario, it seems that we'll have our answers soon. Perhaps very soon.

Turkey making their predicted moves: Prophecy in focus

Turkey has been fascinating to watch in terms of the last days scenario. Only a few years ago, it was difficult to determine which direction Turkey would go - would they make moves towards the EU and away from radical Islam, or would they move in the direction of biblical prophecy and align with Russia and Iran, as predicted in Ezekiel 38-39?

Over the last couple of years, Turkey, in a predictable manner has moved more and more in the direction of radical Islam, and into the waiting arms of Russia and Iran. Coupled with that, has been their strong anti-Israeli stance and rhetoric over the last several months. There is no question where their loyalties are at this point in history.

Before the articles that are out today, which serve to support this view, a timely commentary was written by Terry James of Rapture Ready (see a few quotes below; the article is well worth reading): "End-Times Stage-Setting in View"

Togarmah is the name for the ancient territory now primarily occupied by Turkey. The people of Togarmah are prophesied to join the Persian (primarily present-day Iran) in the Gog-Magog attack of Ezekiel chapters 38-39. Recently, the government of Turkey has changed dramatically from an administration friendly to the West and Israel to one openly hostile in its rhetoric to the Jewish state.

This is partially true because Turkey is dependent upon Iran to supply much of its natural gas for energy. However, the Islamic ties are an increasingly powerful influence that binds together these prophetically intertwined peoples.

The rapid movement of Turkey as of late from the Western sphere of influence into the Eastern--particularly into the radical Islamic camp--calls for increased watchfulness.

We are now seeing further and strengthening alliances between Turkey and Israel's enemies (in addition to Iran and Russia) in the region:

"Turkish-Syrian drill raises concerns in Israel"

Joint military exercise, similar to one held a year ago, signals tightening of ties between Ankara, Damascus. Israeli state officials fear Turkey may transfer Israeli technology to Syria

The joint military drill is aimed at tightening cooperation between Turkish and Syrian land forces defending the shared border. At the core of the exercise is the establishment of procedures which would enable the border protection forces to communicate and coordinate operations...

The tightening of Turkish-Syrian ties raises concerns in Israel, mainly due to their political significance and the possibility that the relations will expand to full out military cooperation. Such cooperation may include the transfer of technology Turkey received from Israel into Syrian hands.

Then the following article appeared this morning as well:

"Syrian-Turkish Joint Army drill Intensifies"






As stated before, only a couple of years ago it appeared that Turkey was one of the last pieces of the prophetic puzzle yet to fall into place (and that includes ALL "end times" prophecy, not just prophecy centered around Ezekiel 38-39). There was really no way back then to know which way Turkey would move (other than biblical prophecy, that is) - and now, over the last months, Turkey has become a vocal critic of Israel, while strengthening their alliances with Russia and Iran.

Right on schedule.

Monday, April 26, 2010

In the news...

There are several interesting stories in the news today, following a relatively slow weekend:

"Egyptian FM calls Israel 'enemy'"

Slip of the tongue? Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit referred to Israel as an "enemy" during a press conference in Beirut on Saturday.




"Iran Guards test missiles, warn enemies"

Iran's Revolutionary Guards test-fired five missiles during war games in a waterway crucial for global oil supplies on Sunday, and a commander warned the Islamic Republic's enemies they would regret any attack.

Iran, which is locked in a dispute with the West over its nuclear program, often announces advances in its military capabilities and tests weaponry in an apparent bid to show its readiness for any strikes by Israel or the United States.





"Tens of thousands attend pro-Israel rallies in Europe, N.Y."

As protesters the world over stage demonstrations against Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip, thousands across Europe and in the United States turned out Sunday for rallies in support of the Israel Defense Forces' operations.

Over 10,000 people gathered on 42nd Street in New York, outside the Israeli consulate, to show their support for the offensive. Meanwhile, thousands more pro-Israel demonstrators rallied across Europe, including Prague, Dublin, Antwerp, Berlin, London and Manchester.

British organizers estimated that as many as 20,000 people participated in the London demonstration, which took place in Trafalgar Square. A parallel rally was held in Manchester's Albert Square.

"Strong earthquake hits east Taiwan"

A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck east Taiwan Monday, according to the island's seismological agency.

The quake struck at 10:59 a.m. Monday morning and it was felt in most parts of the island

Of note, also over the weekend, a 4.9 at the Peru-Brazil border, a 4.8 in Chile, a 4.7 at the coast near Peru, a 4.8 in the Aleutian Islands, a 5.2 in Crete, a 4.3 in Mexico, a 5.6 in Samoa, a 5.0 in the Tonga Islands, and a 4.7 in Indonesia, just to name a few.

And to add a final point to yesterday's post regarding Jerusalem as the focus of Middle East "problems":

"Netanyahu must stop East Jerusalem construction"

As was to be expected, the Palestinians have once again rejected the idea of declaring a state within temporary borders in exchange for postponing the issue of Jerusalem to the later stages of the negotiations.

The importance of ending the dispute and ensuring Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state makes it necessary to restrain the politicians and real estate developers who are eyeing building sites in East Jerusalem.

Once again, we see a commentary, coming from the Middle East, which declares that Jerusalem is pivotal for the entire peace process in the region.

Who would have guessed?

Sunday, April 25, 2010

News you can't find

That's an old category that we need to bring back to this forum. On a slow news day, it is worth reporting on this story, under the category of "News you can't find" (easily):

"Israel saves life of top Hamas official's daughter"

Israel at the weekend saved the life of the three-year-old daughter of a top Gaza-based Hamas leader, though the act of kindness was completely ignored by the terrorist group and regional Arab media.

The girl, daughter of Hamas Interior Minister Elham Fathi Hammad, was the victim of a unsuccessful heart operation in Gaza. She was in critical condition when Jordan's King Abdullah II requested that Israel allow her immediate transport to Amman for emergency surgery.

Israel agreed to the transfer, but the girl was in no condition to travel such a distance, so was first rushed to Barzilai Hospital in the nearby Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, where doctors worked for hours to repair the damage of her earlier surgery and stabilize her.

A Jordanian helicopter was later escorted through Israeli airspace to pick up the girl and move her to Amman.

Jordanian media later reported on the incident, but completely cut out the portion where the girl's life was saved by Israeli doctors or that Israel has not hesitated to allow the unfettered transport through its territory of a family member of one of its most dedicated enemies.

Hammad later issued a public statement thanking Jordan and King Abdullah. He did not mention Israel at all.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Jerusalem: The Focus of all Middle East "Peace Plans"

Watching the fulfillment of biblical prophecy - as it occurs right before my very eyes is one of the most amazing things that can be imagined. When I see people dismiss biblical prophecy without giving it a passing glance, it is frustrating because they are missing so much. They are missing one of the many "proofs" of God and His very existence, as there is absolutely no other way to explain the vast array of biblical prophecies which have been fulfilled throughout the generations. Only God is capable of this. They are also missing the comfort that biblical prophecy affords, as we watch a world that is on the brink of violence, financial collapse, a police state forming, a world government forming, our freedoms eroding at a rapid pace, volcanos, earthquakes, famine, war, terrorists gaining nuclear capability, and on and on it goes.

The specificity and accuracy of biblical prophecy is a never-ending source of amazement, and it undeniably comes from God - just as the apostle Peter informed us throughout 2 Peter.

As mentioned before, one of the more amazing prophecies comes from Zechariah - the first several scriptures in the book of Zechariah, as quoted so many times on this blog. The scriptures which inform us - that in the latter days, just before the end of this age - Jerusalem would be the focus of the world's attention, and the entire world would be opposed to Israel, while attempting to "move" or divide Jerusalem.

Just ponder that for a moment. Over 2,500 years ago (thats a really long time ago, isn't it?) - the prophet Zechariah - with information obtained directly from God (again as stated in 2 Peter) - let us know that this small city in the middle of a Middle-East desert - a city, that, at the time of his writing, didn't even exist (it had been destroyed by the Babylonians), would become the focus of the entire world.

To put this in perspective, imagine attempting to predict the following scenario which would occur 25 centuries from now:
1) there will be some city in the world that would somehow, for some reason, become the focus of the entire world, 2) that city would be a source of conflict, with the "world" attempting to divide it, and 3) that small city would survive such attempts, as protected by a tiny nation (a nation which would be dispersed throughout the world for ~ 2,000 years and regathered miraculously - another amazing prophetic fulfillment, but I digress), who would gain world status/power in a mere 60 years.

Good luck with that.

With this as a backdrop, we see the following stories in the news today:

"Israeli-Palestinian peace isn't the Mideast's magic cure"

In this commentary, the focus is the "Jerusalem Syndrome". The comments below could have come straight out of biblical prophecy:

Andrew Exum, a brilliant young American researcher recently posted a quite justifiably critical post concerning our blog , saying we were focusing too much on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while disregarding broader Middle East strategic issues. Problem is, that it isn't only us doing it, with the whole of the American administration seemingly coming down with Jerusalem Syndrome. At times it appears that the administration's sole focus in the Middle East is the freeze of 1,600 housing units planned to be built in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, the location of which even veteran Jerusalemites are hard pressed to pinpoint.

Instead of demanding both sides to "sit and talk," the U.S. administration is obsessed, working in every possible way to force a construction freeze in the East Jerusalem's Jewish neighborhoods on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu had already clarified that that was not going to happen. But, if only to appease U.S. President Barack Obama, the PM pulsed out the new/old idea published today in Haaretz of recognizing a Palestinian state within temporary borders while postponing the discussion over Jerusalem's future status.

It's understandable why the Palestinians would reject a Palestinian state within temporary borders. They have witnessed the Jewish population in East Jerusalem and the West Bank triple itself since 1993, despite signing the Oslo Accords

Then we see this:

"Netanyahu firm on Jerusalem"

But Netanyahu has rebuffed U.S. and Palestinian calls to halt the construction of homes for Jews on occupied land in and near Jerusalem, referring to those areas as Israeli neighborhoods no different than those in Tel Aviv.

"Our policy in Jerusalem will not change. It's not just my policy, it's the policy of all my predecessors since 1967," he told Israel's Channel Two television in an interview.

"There won't be a freeze in Jerusalem ... Why do I need to give up on Jerusalem?"

The fate of Jerusalem lies at the heart of the conflict.

The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state and fear a proliferation of Israeli settlements will strip them of land needed to achieve that.

Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognized internationally. The United States has urged Israel not to take steps that could predetermine the city's future.

We also see this - even though the article is about a pro-Israeli rally in New York - we find the focus around Jerusalem:

"Massive Anti-Obama Rally Set for Sunday in New York"



Again, even with a planned demonstration, to be held in the United States - far, far away from Israel - the focus of the event, according to sponsor, is none other than Jerusalem.

As foretold 2,500 years ago. It is beyond amazing. What are the odds that this scenario could have been predicted so long ago? Well, for man, approximately 0 %. For God, 100 %.

It's just one more proof of God. Perhaps this is one reason "the world" refuses to take a serious look at biblical prophecy. It may just offer absolute, undeniable proof of God and His existence. That is a thought that many simply refuse to accept. Denial
is a far better scenario for many folks because any serious study of the prophetic scriptures - as aligned with world events - would point to one undeniable fact: God is alive and well, and He will soon directly intervene (again) on this earth in an epic manner.

It's just a matter of time. Unfortunately, most of the world continues to deny this obvious fact. "The world" would rather take the easier approach, which is "move along - nothing to see here" and either deny prophetic fulfillment or actually "scoff" at prophecy, again, something foretold by the apostle Peter.

That approach may work temporarily, now, as we watch the build-up leading into the Tribulation and as the world remains relatively normal. But soon, those who continue deny God will witness the most dramatic, terrifying events ever recorded in human history. Denial won't be an option at that point.

We can only hope that they find their way to God, through Christ Jesus at that point - once the Tribulation has started. At that time, there will only be two choices - to worship Christ or to worship the antichrist. Many will come to Christ during the Tribulation, but they will have to endure enormous persecution and hardship.

There is still time remaining - we need to reach as many people as possible before this time of Tribulation comes - with the good news of the true Messiah - Jesus Christ.

It's the only good news as the shadow of the Tribulation looms larger and larger by the day.

Friday, April 23, 2010

"Washington Think Tank Predicts War in Middle East"


War in the Middle-East




A new development












(Mark 13:32-37)

Thursday, April 22, 2010


At this critical time, with tension in the Middle East reaching the boiling point, Iran is conducting highly inflammatory "War Games" in the region:

"Iran begins war games in Strait of Hormuz"

This year's war games, however, could heighten tension at a time when the West is at a deepening standoff with Iran over its nuclear program. The West suspects the program conceals a nuclear arm production drive, a charge that Iran denies.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad extolled Iran's military might during an annual army parade on Sunday, saying the country is so powerful today that no one would dare attack it.

The parade in Tehran showcased Iran's surface-to-surface Ghadr, Sajjil and Shahab-3 missiles, which have a range of up to 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers), putting Israel and US bases in the region within Iran's reach.

"Iran begins war games in Gulf"

Revolutionary Guard shows off military maneuvers, tests new weapons.

The war games have routinely heightened tension in the region, but they have more recently taken added significance as the standoff between the West and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program grows deeper.

Iran has in the past signaled that it would close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked by the West, something that makes holding war games there a particularly sensitive move. Some 40 percent of the world's oil and energy supplies pass through the narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

The television said naval, air and ground units from the Guard were participating in the three-day games codenamed "The Great Prophet." It said the war games will witness the commissioning of what it described as an "ultra-speed" vessel called "Ya Mahdi" and a total of 313 speedboats with the capability of firing rockets and missiles also would participate.

In a related article; an article that causes great concern for any prophecy watcher who takes a literal view of the Bible - notably Genesis 12 and Zechariah 12 - we see the following:

"Adm. Mullen Evades Answer on Shooting Down IAF Jet"

The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, evaded a question Tuesday regarding the theoretical possibility that the US would shoot down IAF jets en route to attack Iran.

The Weekly Standard reported that in a town hall meeting on the campus of the University of West Virginia, a US Air Force ROTC cadet asked Mullen to respond to a hypothetical situation: if Israel decided to attack Iran, he said, its jets would need to fly through Iraqi airspace, which is considered a “no-fly” zone by the American military. Would US troops shoot down the Israeli jets, the airman asked, if they entered that zone?

Mullen evaded the question.


The cadet insisted: “Would an airman like me ever be ordered to fire on an Israeli aircraft or personnel?”

Mullen still would not answer directly. “Again, I wouldn’t move out into the future very far from here,” he said

Brzezinski: 'confront them'
In September, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, known for anti Israel views, urged the US to fire on Israeli jets if they try to reach Iran. “They have to fly over our airspace in Iraq. Are we just going to sit there and watch? We have to be serious about denying them that right,” he said. “If they fly over, you go up and confront them. They have the choice of turning back or not.”

This last article represents a very ominous development. The evasiveness in "answering" this question by the Chairman of the U.S. Joints Chiefs of Staff is disturbing to say the least. Would the U.S. really consider shooting down the planes of what should be our strongest ally in the region - an "ally" who is in a desperate struggle for their survival as a nation? Is this possible?

If so, such actions by the U.S. would be analogous to giving God "the finger". Shooting down Israeli planes would be viewed by Israel, appropriately, as an act of war by the U.S.

Shooting down Israeli planes would be viewed by God as a direct violation of the law He declared in Genesis 12, where He declared that He would bless those who bless Israel and He would curse those who curse Israel - and shooting down Israeli planes, in an ultimate act of survival - would serve as an outrageous public declaration of where the U.S. stands on Israeli.

We are currently witnessing a U.S. administration who displays its amazing arrogance on a daily basis. But it is one thing to reveal this arrogance against U.S. citizens. This time, however, should the U.S. attempt to shoot down Israel planes - planes that would be engaged in a last ditch effort to maintain Israel's existence and viability - against a regime intending to destroy them - then this arrogance would be pointed directly against God Himself.

Good luck with that.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Update: Mark of the Beast

I always check on what Mike Mickey has to say and his commentaries are always interesting and worth reading. This week he provides an excellent update on what we are watching with regard to the "Mark of the Beast".

Here it is in its entirety (Link here):

Advancements Made Toward The Mark

by Michael G. Mickey


Bible prophecy makes it clear that the prophetic future is going to be reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984 - a time when the government of the Antichrist to come will be so powerful that everyone will be required to swear allegiance to him as their very god through the taking of a 'mark' in their right hand or forehead. Those who refuse to do so will be branded enemies of the Antichrist's global regime and will suffer the consequences of same. Not only will they become the hunted of the Tribulation Period, they will possess no means to buy or sell, greatly complicating their efforts to survive. What a frightening thought!

Is the mark of the beast really going to exist in the future?

The simple answer is yes, but how can we know today that bible prophecy has correctly foretold what the future holds? Simply by reading the news, in my humble opinion, and drawing simple conclusions based on same.

One of the largest concerns in law enforcement today is the volume of identity theft taking place around the globe, closely followed by the need of government to know more about people, both citizens residing inside our borders and foreigners visiting or schooling here from abroad, than ever before. Why? Presumably to prevent terrorist acts on the scale of the Oklahoma City bombing, September 11th - or worse.

On face value, government poking around more than it ever has before doesn't bother most law-abiding citizens, but the question is how far is the government willing to go to know what it perceives it needs to in order to keep us and our nation safe? Beyond that, what will be the consequences when someone evil enough to use well-intentioned technologies initially designed to protect humanity chooses to instead utilize it to enslave humanity? Bible prophecy seems to connect the dots where that issue is concerned, the end result being the mark of the beast described in scripture above.

Let's look at some news stories of interest where potential mark of the beast technologies are concerned and see how close we may be to the fulfillment of bible prophecy on this front of the end times scenario.

Does the technology exist to track our every movement through RFID microchips?

We are often told the answer to that question is no, but there is information out there suggestive that this is anything but true.

It is common knowledge that tracking microchips are now being placed in cellular telephones. These are primarily being marketed as useful to parents who are interested in keeping tabs on their teenage children, but could the same technology be used by the government to track you? It's a valid question in an age when court battles are being waged between the government and popular online services like Yahoo because the government wants to read your e-mail whenever it likes - without a search warrant no less.

Let's consider the ramifications of the use of microchips for tracking people a step further than parents keeping an eye on their children and imagine how we would feel if our government, indicating it wants to look over our well-being, much as a parent watches after their child, required us all to have a microchip implanted in us to store our medical records or be a form of positive identification for us? Would we be okay with that? What if a tracking microchip was a component of such a device - one the government told us it would never use unless our life was in danger, for example?

No one can track us using those little chips, Mike! You're fearmongering!

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to have someone write me and say something along those lines. After all, we've been given no cause to think anyone is looking to track us or even that the technology needed to do so exists, right? Wrong!

PositiveID Corporation, maker of the implantable RFID microchip their company calls the VeriChip, has stated numerous times that its implantable RFID chips can only be read from a short distance. Then again, on the other hand, the company's CEO, Scott Silverman, has appeared on The Sean Hannity Show, going so far as to hold a tiny chip up the size of a grain of rice in his hand and say the company is developing a PLD (Personal Locating Device) that will be capable of being implanted under the clavicle of a child, for example, allowing for the tracking of human beings by satellite and other means.

Personally, I think evidence exists that RFID microchip tracking technology capable of implantation into humans already exists. How else would a group of young girls, for example, be able to track the migratory paths of Monarch butterflies from Toronto, Canada to the Mexican border as described in a article about a recent event sponsored by IBM?
Tracking Monarch butterflies on their route from Toronto to the Mexican border might be just what a 12-year-old girl needs to spark daydreams about growing up to design her own micro RFID chip.

Twenty five girls between the ages of 12 and 13 released a group of microchipped butterflies last week, one of several activities on the roster this year at IBM Canada Inc.'s 3-day E.X.I.T.E. camp.Putting the microchip and the hand together
At the police department I worked at prior to retiring, employees were issued RFID microchip-implanted cards which could be swiped over scanners placed strategically to gain access to certain areas within our facilities for security purposes. Practically every time I used one of them I thought of how we were being conditioned, ever so subtly, to use our hands as keys through the use of these devices. The practice of connecting RFID technology to the hand (or human body for that matter) is progressing, taking what I see as the next logical step in normalizing use of the technology.

A article entitled "RFID Wristbands designed for, integrated into various applications" tells us of "comfortable, waterproof silicon, smart wristbands" that are "ideal for access control" in the fields of amusement park, correctional facilities, swimming pools, hospitals, etc.

Just slip your RFID wristband on and off you go! No digging around for a pass card or key necessary! Just wave your wrist over a scanner! It's so simple, resolving what I saw as a downside to their use from a user's perspective. The cards could be a hassle to dig out of your pocket, especially if your hands were full. Not only that, they could be lost which was a pain. Without your card you couldn't even get into the building, much less make a run to the copier, restroom, or anyplace else. This is why, I suspect, we're beginning to see RFID wristbands and the like becoming more commonplace. Even so, while using RFID wristbands lessens the likelihood of the loss of a chip, it doesn't solve the problem completely which is one reason why I suspect, as use of biometric and RFID technologies become more commonplace in society, logic is going to dictate that connecting the technology to people permanently is the solution to the problem.

Once again, as I believe the story linked above highlights nicely, we are quietly being led down the path to fulfillment of bible prophecy and the mark of the beast, even the potential placement of the mark into or on the skin of the hand (or forehead) as described in Revelation 13:16.

Chips are so convenient!

Convenience can't be overlooked as we consider how mankind is being prepared to accept the mark of the beast in the prophetic future.

The following is from an article:
Those never-ending lines at store checkouts could soon be history, thanks to radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags printed through a new roll-to-roll process that could replace bar codes and make checking out of a store a snap.
Guess what would make the process of leaving the grocery store even faster? Paying for your goods via RFID microchip technology, of course! And who couldn't use a little more free time in a busy world like ours?

Make no mistake about it, the snare is being set.

The role scare stories play

As I alluded to earlier, identity theft is one of the largest concerns in law enforcement today, but PositiveID Corporation which makes the implantable RFID microchip known as the VeriChip? Its CEO, Scott Silverman, is touting medical identity theft as a growing problem - one his company's implantable RFID microchip is likely going to be billed as the endgame solution to. The following is an excerpt from a PositiveID Corporation press release dated 4-1-10:
What role is biometric, RFID technology going to play in the near future?

Presently, it is being questioned by TIME Magazine whether a biometric identity card is the key to resolving one of the next items on the agenda of the Obama administration, immigration reform. Not only that, many are wondering if the language of the healthcare reform package recently signed into law by the Obama administration has language in it which may have opened a doorway to the future microchipping of humans for healthcare purposes.


Advancements are being made toward the prophesied mark of the beast becoming a reality on a host of fronts and dramatically so it appears.

Keep looking up, Church! Our redemption draweth nigh!


There are several interesting headlines today:

"Iran to hold large-scale war games"

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps will begin large scale military maneuvers in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the country's state TV said Wednesday, a move likely to heighten tension at a time when the West is at a deepening standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.

"Lieberman: Jerusalem not negotiable"



"Waiving the rules on the Syrian-Lebanese border"

Hizbullah and its allies simply made clear that any attempt to interfere with their military arrangements would be met with blunt force, and no further attempt was made.

The result has been that over the past three-and-a-half years, under the indifferent eyes of the world, the roads between Syria and Lebanon have hummed to the sound of arms trucks and suppliers bringing Syrian and Iranian weaponry to Lebanon.

The response of Israel has been to observe the situation, and to make clear that the crossing of certain red lines in terms of the type and caliber of the weaponry being made available to Hizbullah would constitute a casus belli.

The recent heightening of tensions has come because of emerging evidence that these red lines are being flouted with impunity.

"Hizbullah arms real danger to Israel"


"I believe there is a likelihood that there are Scuds that Hizbullah has in Lebanon. A high likelihood," Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, told AFP."The rockets and missiles in Lebanon are substantially increased and better technologically than they were and this is a real point of danger for Israel."

Hizbullah sources confirmed last week that the group had received a shipment of Scud missiles from Syria, but Damascus denied the reports, saying Israel was trying to stoke tensions in the region.

"Obama Admin angered by Jerusalem commercials"




Tuesday, April 20, 2010

In the news...

First, an update by Joel Rosenberg:

"U.S. lacks strategy to stop Iran"

Israeli leaders marked the occassion by warning Iran not to mess with them. Admiral Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon is actively planning for a possible war with Iran, though he accurately noted that this is a last resort option and would have to be approved by President Obama. At the same time, the New York Times reports that a secret memo by Defense Secretary Robert Gates indicates that the U.S. does not have a clear, coherent, decisive strategy to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

That certainly seems to be the case, and I have seen no indication that this President would ever use force to stop Iran. Indeed, many in the U.S. government don’t seem to understand the End Times theology that is driving Iranian leaders to feel they need to launch a nuclear war against the U.S. and Israel to accelerate the return of their so-called Islamic messiah known as the Twelfth Imam. The modern Jewish State of Israel, which was reborn in 1948 in accordance with Bible prophecy, turned 62 on Sunday. (On the Western calendar, Israel’s birthday is May 14th. But Israelis live by a the lunar calendar, rather than the solar calendar, so Israel’s birthday doesn’t always fall on our May 14th.)

This is going to be a very challenging year for Israel . As the U.S. administration continues to purposefully denegrate Israel and distance itself from Jerusalem, rumors of a coming major regional war are growing. Jordan’s King Abdullah warns a war could break out by this summer. The Russians are planning to turn on Iran’s nuclear reactor at Bushehr (near the Persian Gulf), which means Israel would have to strike sooner than August if it plans to hit the reactor before it goes hot.

And we see a similar story from Jerry Golden:

"Israel in a really tight spot"






If you are anything like this Messenger you will know who wins in the end. God will gather again the second time His people to the land God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by an everlasting covenanthe hands of Hamas and Hezbollah, Syria and Iran will present a totally different scenario.

And then we see this:

"Iranian missiles may reach US by 2015"

and this...

"U.S. summons Syrian diplomat over arms transfer to Hezbollah"

The United States State Department released a statement on Monday saying that Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism was directly related to its support for groups like Hezbolla

The statement was released as the State Department summoned Syria's most senior diplomat present in Washington, Deputy Chief of Mission to the U.S., Zouheir Jabbour, to discuss the recent reports that Syria was transferring scud missiles to the Lebanon based Iranian- and Syrian-backed Islamist group Hezbollah.

U.S. State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid released a statement on Monday condemning "in the strongest terms" any transfer of arms to Hezbollah and calling for an immediate cessation of any arms transfer of this kind.


Just when you think tensions in the region cannot possibly increase, thats exactly what we are seeing now. The war rhetoric is at an all time high right now, and as many of these articles state - this time around will not be like previous skirmishes in the region. The weapons are too powerful and the new missiles can reach too far into Israel and Israeli cities.

No - this one will be different. And as stated so many times before, the next one will most likely lead into the prophetic events including Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39.

And it doesn't get any "bigger" than that.

Stay tuned. Its coming and its coming fast.


Watching for the approaching Tribulation: The rise of the antichrist

Our prophecy watching involves several dimensions. First, we can watch for the various signs that Jesus gave, as found in the Olivet Discourse. These signs were "global" in nature, and signs that anyone in the world can watch. And they are obvious. We also watch the signs given by Ezekiel and Daniel (revival of the Roman Empire and its growth, the opening of the prophetic scrolls, the last generation being a time of travel and knowledge, the regathering of Israel, the restoration of Israel's land, the gathering coalition of countries aligned against Israel, etc.).

And we also watch for signs of the coming Tribulation, here including such things as the efforts to rebuild the Jewish Temple, on the Temple Mount (as this must occur at least before the 1/2 way point in the Tribulation); we watch the progress being made for the Mark of the Beast and we watch for the world government's early stages.

In addition to all of this, many folks watch for figures who could emerge, figures who would be candidates for the antichrist.

According to Biblical prophecy, the antichrist will not be definitively identified until he "confirms the covenant" (a covenant between Israel and "the many" - presumed to be a peace plan in the region). This covenant confirmation officially begins the 7 year Tribulation according to Daniel 9:27. Before that epic event, its all a matter of speculation as to the identity of the antichrist. And, to add to that - given that the Church will have been raptured prior to this event, so we, "The Church" will not know the identity of the antichrist.

Many have asked if Obama is a candidate for the title. I do not believe so, because we know that the antichrist will come from the revived Roman Empire.

Many prophecy watchers, including myself, often speculate as to whether we will see the early phases of the rise of the antichrist. The answer is "I don't know". One would think, that if the Rapture takes place immediately before the beginning of the Tribulation, then we would probably have a good idea. If the Rapture takes place years before the beginning of the Tribulation, then the odds are lower that we'd see the early rise to power of the antichrist - in my opinion.

Having said that, there are several elements that I look for in this "watch". Much of this isn't necessarily "scriptural" but more of a process of looking at the big picture and putting together elements of various prophecies that are written:

- Someone who ascends rapidly, seemingly from "nowhere" like Obama. (this is my opinion)
- Someone who is very "Pro-EU", and fosters a larger more potent EU.
- Someone highly charismatic, who gains big, widespread popularity.
- Someone who is deceptive and very clever.
- In fact, you could say - someone who has a rise to power very much like Obama - only he will have increasing popularity which continues unabated.

In this context (and I am not attempting to identify the antichrist - but the following scenario is exactly what I would expect to see when he does gain power), I find the following story-line definitely worth watching, not just for me, but for any prophecy watcher:

"The American Obama?"

It seems that Britain is about to make the same mistake America made in 2008.

...a coalition would give the Liberal Democrats the sort of power they have never seen before.

Because the Liberal Democrats would determine the coalition, they have not been challenged by the two main parties, who both want this third party to side with them. This has set up a situation where the young, unknown Lib-Dem leader -- Nick Clegg -- has not had his party's policies challenged and was able to present himself in last week's debate as the centrist who is something different from the establishment.

Clegg was able to promise the world, and neither Cameron nor Brown dared to challenge him
. Clegg claimed that he would increase funding to our health service, make sure our troops had the best equipment and higher wages, put more police on the street, expand the welfare state, make Britain environmentally friendly, increase numbers of doctors and nurses, "fix" immigration and the prison system, provide care for the elderly, cut the national deficit, and cut taxes for all except the very rich. He offered to fix everything, with almost no cost whatsoever. The British Obama, anyone?

With Nick Clegg's claims unchallenged, the public have bought into his offer of a "different type of politics," and Lib-Dem popularity has skyrocketed. Clegg's personal popularity is in the 70% bracket, and a new poll has the perpetual third-place party now incredibly ahead of both Conservative and Labour by at least six points. Although a Lib-Dem majority seems unlikely, if they can keep this momentum going for just a few weeks, then they could be the dominant party in any coalition, which would make Clegg the natural choice for Prime Minister.

Their economic policies[i] are a plethora of mansion taxes, aviation taxes, capital gains taxes, bank taxes, business taxes, etc., as well as regulating banks out of business -- all reminiscent of the rich-hating mentality that brought Britain to its knees in the 1970s. Lib-Dem environmental policy includes rejecting both coal and nuclear power, attacking the aviation industry, and banning or taxing to death anything that isn't environmentally friendly. More tax increases would follow in order to fund the many U.N. and EU projects on "climate change action" they support, and Lib-Dem "green targets" are so high, even by Europeans' standards (who don't think they go far enough for Clegg), that Britain would collapse.

As for Europe, the Lib-Dems would drag Britain into the Euro currency without a vote, give up even more power to Brussels, and force taxpayers to fund yet more liberal dream projects such as "the global fund for social protection" (paying for other countries' welfare states), funds for green jobs in other countries, subsidies for European farmers, and funding for useless European agencies such as Eurojust.

It is defense where Clegg's Lib-Dems get really scary. Clegg would surrender British sovereignty in favour of an EU-led "European foreign policy", rule out military action against Iran, hold inquiries into "allegations" of torture made against British soldiers, and most shockingly, scrap the Trident nuclear defence, as there is "no need" for a nuclear deterrent according to Mr Clegg.

and this:

"Nick Clegg nearly as popular as Winston Churchill"

NICK CLEGG, the Liberal Democrat leader who until a few days ago was little known to voters, is now the most popular party leader since Winston Churchill, a new Sunday Times poll reveals.

Following his decisive victory in last week’s television debate, Clegg has surged to a higher approval rating than Tony Blair at the peak of new Labour’s popularity.

Clegg himself has an almost unprecedented approval rating of 72%, ahead of Cameron on 19% and Brown on minus 18%.

There has also been an eight-fold increase in visits to the party’s website, with Lib Dem strategists plotting how to capitalise on the new interest in their leader

and this...

"Cleggmania spreads across Britain"

This eye-catching challenge from an outsider to the "old politics" of Gordon Brown and David Cameron, Labour and Tory, put Mr Clegg ahead among the 9.4 million-strong audience – many of whom were watching the Lib Dem leader for the first time – where he remained until the end.

The ComRes/ITV poll on the night gave him a jaw-dropping victory

This may end up as a big "nothing"...He could lose the elections and fade into obscurity. Who knows.
On the other hand, as mentioned, this is the kind of thing worth watching. A new leader emerges and gains almost immediate popularity. He wants to expand the EU and fold his country up into the EU full scale. he is charismatic, but still, a virtual "unknown". He is for massive taxation and he makes outrageous promises, but the population (much like the Obama election) only listens to his promises - without much basis in fact. But it doesn't matter - because he is attractive and spins a good story - one that convinces people, despite all logic and facts in the opposite direction.

Who knows where this will go, but this amazing story represents a figure - at least the type of figure - who is most definitely worth watching. His rise is exactly what we would expect from the "Tribulation Leader".

In 25 years of prophecy watching, I have yet to see a European/UK figure who is this interesting.

We shall see...Or perhaps not; it all depends on how much longer before the "gathering up" of the Church.