‘LIGHTNING’ STRIKES ISRAEL

 

In what is termed a “landslide victory,” Ehud Barak toppled the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

What can Israelis and the world expect from the new leader?

The Jewish press made a play on words by comparing the way Barak blitzed his opponent to “lightning” - the Hebrew meaning of Barak’s name. Could the meaning even have prophetic significance?

The prophet Zechariah likened Messiah’s advent with the flash of lightning and with the sounding of the trumpet.

“And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet...” (Zech. 9:14).

Jesus made a similar comparison concerning His return to earth.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:27).

Is Barak’s name prophetic? Could it signal that the “sound of the last trumpet” and of Messiah’s return is on the horizon? It behooves sincere Christians to watch!

 

PEACE AND SECURITY

 

Barak immediately pledged to the Israeli people that his role is to lead Israel to “peace and security.” This reminds one of the words of Paul concerning the return of Messiah.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY; THEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMETH UPON THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (I Thes. 4:16; 5:1,2,3).

Will Barak be the one to lead Israel into a superficial peace that is suddenly aborted by an all-out military assault by its Arab neighbors? Christians – watch!

What is Baraks’ plans for Israel? An AP press release (The Charlotte Observer, May 20) may shed some light on Barak’s proposed foreign policy. It is titled, “PALESTINIANS PRESS FOR QUICK SIGNAL FROM BARAK”.

JERUSALEM – Increasing pressure on Israel’s Prime Minister elect Ehud Barak, Palestinians hinted Wednesday they might declare statehood by year’s end and demanded a halt to the building of Jewish settlements in disputed areas.

As Barak pressed ahead Wednesday with a round of diplomatic activity, Arab neighbors expressed optimism about easing regional tensions.

Syria – which Israel is technically still at war with – was encouraged by Barak’s victory, European Union envoy Miguel Moratinos said after a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister. Jordan’s king said that by picking Barak, Israelis showed they want peace.

But Barak, a career soldier who crushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the polls Monday, wasn’t having much of a honeymoon with the Palestinians.

As Yasser Arafat looked on and smiled, a top Palestinian suggested that Palestinians might declare statehood by the end of the year. Previously, the Palestinians had tacitly accepted an unofficial target date of May 2000 for independence.

“GOD WILLING, WE WILL HAVE OUR

 STATE WITH JERUSALEM AS ITS

CAPITAL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR,”

said Tayyeb Abdel-Rahim, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Authority, at the opening ceremony for a religious school in the Gaza Strip.

Barak has not ruled out Palestinian statehood, but a unilateral declaration of independence before its terms were agreed with Israel would pose enormous problems for him.

Palestinians, who want traditionally Arab east Jerusalem as their capital, also sharply criticized Barak’s stance that Jerusalem should remain undivided and under Israeli sovereignty.

“It was a negative message and a bad start,” said Nabil Amr, the Palestinian minister of parliamentary affairs.

In his victory speech early Tuesday, Barak pledged that:

JERUSALEM WOULD REMAIN “UNITED UNDER

OUR SOVEREIGNTY FOR ETERNITY – PERIOD.”

(End quote).

 

PALESTINE & JERUSALEM

 

Two facets of Barak’s suggested foreign policy should be observed closely by the watchful Christian.

 

1. Barak has not ruled out Palestinian statehood.

           

2. Barak pledged that Jerusalem would remain united under our sovereignty for eternity – period.

           

What does the Bible have to say about these critical issues?

That the Palestinians will gain statehood is not only possible but also even probable.

           

TEN HORNS

 

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having...ten horns” (Rev. 13:1).

What is meant by ten horns?            

The Bible answer:

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet: but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (Rev. 17:12, cf. Dan. 7:24).

Who are the ten kings?

Their personal names aren’t given, but the ten kingdoms over which they will rule are listed in Psalm 83.

When this chapter is ultimately fulfilled, the Psalmist indicates that “mankind will know that Jehovah is the most high over all the earth” (Psa. 83:18). This must refer to the future because the vast majority of mankind has yet to acknowledge Jehovah! Thus, Psalm 83 has never been totally fulfilled!

           

THE TEN KINGDOMS

 

1 – Edom (southern Jordan)

2 – Ishmaelites (Persian Gulf Arabs)

3 – Moab (central Jordan)

4 – Hagarenes (descendants of Hagar, the Egyptian)

5 – Gebal (northern Sinai)

6 – Ammon (northern Sinai)

7 – Amalek (northern Sinai)

8 – Philistines (Gaza Strip)

9 – Tyre (southern Lebanon)

10 – Assur (Assyria)

 

The ten will boast, “Let us cut them (the Jews) off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psa. 83:4).

They will firmly pledge their allegiance to the beast, the enemy of Israel.

“These (the 10 kings) have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:12-13).

Each of these kingdoms, with the exception of one, is located within Arab/Moslem territory! No power has tried harder to obliterate Israel from the face of the earth than has this bloc of kingdoms!

Interestingly, only one of the ten doesn’t have independent status and that is Philistia, the home of many Palestinians. The Jews during the Six-Day-War of 1967 occupied the Gaza Strip.

In an amazing fulfillment of prophecy the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel signed accords on Palestinian self-rule in Gaza in 1993 that granted the Palestinians limited autonomy. The last Israeli forces withdrew from Palestinian Arab areas in the Gaza Strip on May 18, 1994.

It seems that the new Prime Minister is teetering towards statehood and complete independence for the Palestinians. If approved, this will effectively complete the prophesied ten kingdoms! Should war break out in the mid-east, the Palestinians will soon (after recognized statehood?) be able to act independently of Israel and in alliance with the other nine kingdoms. Their philosophy has not changed. It is still to drive Israel into the Mediterranean Sea.

Presently there are two to four million people who call themselves Palestinians and are living in various countries – over one million of these in Libya (actually trained terrorists). One of the demands of Yasser Arafat is that Israel will permit all Palestinians to come and live under his Palestinian Authority.

Can you imagine what a military threat this would be to the Jews if Israel allows this to happen? Several million so-called Palestinians would be relocated in the new Palestine. Being that the PLO is now bringing thousands of tons of military supplies into the Gaza Strip, Israel itself would become a powder keg. To facilitate this influx of weapons, the Palestinians have built a new airport that has received such dignitaries as President Clinton.

Not only will Israel be surrounded (even on her Western border) with hostile neighbors but also with the creation of a new state of Palestine, a bitter enemy to the Jews will be directly at her back and within a few miles of the Jewish population. Truly, Israel will for the first time since statehood, be surrounded with enemies (Zech. 12:2; Luke 19:43; 21:20).

As a matter of fact, Gaddafi of Libya has already sent a number of “Palestinian” units from his armed forces to help Arafat form his army!

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has blended Arab nationalism, revolutionary socialism, and Islamic orthodoxy into a stridently anti-western and anti-Israeli dictatorship, financed by Libya’s vast oil resources. The discovery of oil in 1958 has transformed Libya from a poor agricultural country into a world petroleum producer, with vast sums to spend on military development. Libya’s association with terrorism has led to extreme international criticism. For Libya to align itself with the Palestinians spells trouble!

 

JERUSALEM – ETERNAL CAPITAL?

 

It seems likely that Barak is willing to concede the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians which, would certainly help fulfill Psalm 83. Since it is God alone who sets up kings and tears down kings, then has Barak, quite similar to Queen Esther (Esther 4:14), come to the forefront for such a time as this?

Now for facet two of Barak’s victory pledge.

Barak pledged that Jerusalem “WOULD REMAIN UNITED UNDER OUR SOVEREIGNTY FOR ETERNITY – PERIOD!”

Even so, the secretary general of the PA commented immediately after the election that: “God willing, we will have our state with Jerusalem as its capital by the end of this year.” 

Both statements cannot be true. Something must give. Will Jerusalem remain the capital of Israel or will the Jews concede east Jerusalem to the Palestinians?

You are quite familiar with the words of the prophets concerning this matter. Zechariah predicts that near the end of this present age Jerusalem will become the trouble spot of the globe.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people...For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken” (Zech. 12:2,3; 14:2).

John adds: “for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Rev. 11:2).

Thus, according to the prophets, Jerusalem will be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles (Moslems in this case) for a 42-month period. Barak was certainly elated with his victory but I do not envy him. He has some serious headaches ahead.

Jesus gave as one of the startling proofs of His return: “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation is nigh” (Luke 21:20).

Saints, the time is drawing near. Look for Jerusalem to become the focal point of the world’s politics in the days just ahead. Prime Minister Barak will not have to wait long before the issue surfaces. A resolve will not be simple. In fact, according to the prophets, it will end in war! I personally think this will probably be the war that begins the era of “great tribulation” upon Israel.

This is the only century since the first century that Jerusalem is in the possession of the Jews and it (possibly shortly after Palestine is granted statehood) is next up on the negotiating agenda. Christians awake!

 

NATO FAILS TO OBSERVE EASTER

 

The following is from The Charlotte Observer, April 26, ’99.

Virtually the entire Orthodox Christian world is unanimous in its opposition to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

NATO bombed Serbia during Orthodox Christian Easter, the holiest day of the year. Such bellicose resolve on the part of the Western powers stood in sharp contrast to the extreme sensitivity the United States had shown, not long before, toward terrorist-harboring Islamic countries, who were spared bombs during Ramadan.

For Orthodox Christians, the Kosovo conflict is the latest chapter in a long and troubled encounter with the Islamic world, beginning with the Arab wars with Christian Byzantium in the 7^th century. Since the fall of Orthodox Christian Constantinople in 1453, Eastern Europe’s Orthodox Christian populations have spent centuries under Islamic dominion, particularly under the Ottomans.

To the people caught in the middle, the conflict pitting Islam against Orthodox Christendom does not divide easily into pure moral categories. The Orthodox are aware of ethnic cleansing and other atrocities committed by Serb forces; but they know that Serb Christians have also been victims of ethnic cleansing and violence since the disintegration of Yugoslavia and are taken aback by the one-sidedness of the West’s effort to resolve the Kosovo crisis.

Part of the complicated logic of Kosovo, after all, is a Serbian fear that the majority Muslim population there will persecute the Orthodox Christian minority, a fear exacerbated by the Kosovo Liberation Army’s terrorism. (End quote).

It seems quite ironic that America ceased bombing in Iraq during the Moslem Holy Day (Ramadan), for fear that they might antagonize the Moslem world, yet continued to bomb Yugoslavia (a country that is 65% Christian Orthodox) during Easter. This is even more ironic considering the fact that America has been overwhelmingly traditional Christian in religion. Yet, weak was the cry from the Christian community when NATO blatantly abused a Christian holiday in an Orthodox Christian nation. It seems beyond logic that America is fighting against the Christians in Yugoslavia and on the side of the Moslems. Nevertheless, such is the way things go when God’s word has decreed a matter. It seems that truly God is aligning the geographic borders of the empire of the future beast. (See May ’99 newsletter). 

           

2000

 

The following is from The Bull & Bear Financial Report, P.O. Box 4267, Winter Park, Fla. 32793. Eric S. Hadik.

Why is the year 2000 AD so significant? Is it like any other transition number in our base-10 mathematics that receives extra emphasis for psychological reasons? Is it like so many round numbers that are assumed to be watersheds? Is it only the emphasis that a computer program gives to this number that makes all the difference? Or, is there more to it than this?

I am convinced there is more to it than any of the aforementioned considerations. Yes, the turn of a new millennium and century gives psychological cause for anxiety. According to some records, the year 1000 AD received similar attention and a call for the end of the world. Even the turn from 1899 to 1900 was not without great anxiety. But, far more than that is at work here. Let’s examine the evidence and see how this can help in arranging portfolios, and disturbing investments.

First there is the Y2K computer problem, which would be just as devastating if it did not recognize the digits 99 or 98 as valid, concurrent numbers. In this case, it is a physical (the computer programs) problem at work.

Second, there is the psychological aspect (turn of a century & millennium) of this date. Just as a 40^th birthday, as opposed to the 39^th or 41^st, brings anxiety and attention to many, so too does this rollover in our numeric system.

Third is concerning Israel. This nation has been at the core of events in the 1990’s including the freeing of Jerusalem, the establishment of a Jewish homeland after WWII, and right up to the Persian Gulf War that was quickly redirected towards Israel. The year 2000 is one of the most numerically important and prophetically profound years based on the Jewish Calendar.

The Year 5760, which begins in September 1999, is of monumental importance. It is the culmination of a sequence of 360 year cycles that encompass Abraham’s birth, the exodus of Egypt, Daniel’s vision of 70-7s for Israel and the foundation being laid for the second temple, the desecration of the temple and recapturing by Judas Maccabee, the Crusades against Jews (commencing at a 180 degree interval) and much more. I repeat a brief excerpt below:

“We have already noted that one of the largest ‘cycles of time’ is a period of 360 years...a complete ‘circle of time’. This has to do with the principle that time is geometric and unfolds in cycles of time. 360 is the most important of these since it represents a full-circle or full-cycle of time. 180 degrees, 90 degrees, 45 degrees and other breakdowns of a circle also hold importance when applied to time periods.

“This brings us to the 7^th and ‘final’ repetition of this cycle of cycles initiated with Daniel’s vision and the point of this discussion.

“7 times 360, or 2520 years, from 521 BC projects a decisive time period in 1999/2000. Since there is no ‘0’ years between 1 BC and 1 AD, the exact date to watch is 2000 AD...the equivalent Jewish year encompasses either September 30^th 1998 – October 1999 or October 1999 – September 2000, depending on when the precise date of the vision took place.

‘Is it any coincidence that the Jewish Year from October 1999 – October 2000 is the year 5760?

“Guess what number divides perfectly into 5760? “360”!

“This means that Daniel’s vision fell perfectly on the Jewish Year of 3240, the 9^th cycle of 360 since the start of the Jewish calendar. So, whether or not the aforementioned events on a 360-year timetable are significant, the fact remains that the years are both perfect 360 revolutions within the Jewish world. And all of this is coincidence?

“5760 = 360 x 16 or 4 periods (seasons) of 1440 years each. Within these ‘seasons’ each sub-division breaks down into 4 periods/seasons of 360 years.

“Looking at it another way, 5760 = 40 (the number of testing) X 12 (Old Testament leaders)...or 40 x 144. Anyway you look at it, the factors of this number are critical from a Biblical, Gann, Fibonaccii/Elliot, natural perspective.”

So is it any coincidence that each constellation in the Zodiac moves one space in the elliptic in about 2000 years? By many, this is considered to be the length of ‘an age’. 2000 years is one of God’s measurements of time displayed in the heavens. (This is not an advocacy of extreme astrology. It is recognition that the heavens are like a giant calendar, marking off the ages of time.)

It was approximately 2000 years from the Biblical account of Adam until the judgment of Noah, two watershed events of judgment and mercy. It was another 2000 years from the judgment of Noah until the birth of Jesus. And it has been 2000 years since the death of Christ until now.

There is another celestial reason for anxiety, of which most earth-dwellers are not even aware...the current solar cycle is expected to be one of the worst in history. More specifically, one of the worst individual solar storms is forecasted for the month of January 2000. Leading into this time frame, three major meteor storms are also expected.

So, should the year 2000 AD be given disproportionate emphasis or should it just be considered as any other year? I think the answer is obvious.

What makes this period noteworthy is the unique alignment of cycles that applies to astronomers and astrologers, geologists, students of Biblical prophecy, ancient rabbis, computer programmers, etc. It is the synergy that should cause traders to stand up and take notice. (End quote).

 

FAR EAST TROUBLE

 

At press time a heated skirmish has broken out between India and Pakistan. Hindus make up 80% of India’s religious background whereas Pakistan consists of 97% Moslem people. Pakistan will become a part of the future “kingdom of the beast” because it was a part of the Persian Empire (the bear – Rev. 13:2) whereas India is destined to align with the future “kings of the east.”

Pakistan is destined to join the military venture of the beast which will occur at the beginning of the “great tribulation era” (Rev. 13), whereas India will wait until 3-½ years later to meet her destiny at Armageddon (Rev. 16:1). God is in control!