IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Israel, Egypt, the US & the Approaching Apocalypse - By Michael Hile - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/05/09/israel-egypt-the-us-the-approaching-apocalypse-by-michael-hile/
The Story of Joseph The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis occupies a significant part of the first book in the Bible and provides the foundation for the birth of the nation of Israel some 430 years after Jacob and his family entered Egypt (Gen. chapters 37-50, Ex. 12:40-41). After being thrown into a pit by Joseph’s ten brothers and later sold to some Ishmaelites (also Midianites) going to Egypt, Joseph was sold again to “Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard” (Gen. 37:18-36, 39:1). While Joseph was enslaved in Egypt, the Lord prospered him, and Potiphar made him “overseer over his house, and all that he had, he put into his hand” (Gen. 39:2-6). For Joseph’s sake, the Lord greatly blessed Potiphar and his house and all that he had in the field. Through no fault of his own, Joseph was thrown into prison due to false accusations from Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:7-20). While Joseph was in prison, the Lord blessed him and helped him interpret the dreams of the chief butler and the chief baker, who had been thrown into the king’s prison after they had offended Pharaoh (Gen. 39:21-23, 40:1-23). From Prospering in Prison to Divine Providence with Pharaoh Two years passed after Joseph’s interpretation of the chief butler’s dream, and one night after going to bed, Pharaoh experienced two vivid dreams that greatly troubled his spirit. So Pharaoh called for his magicians and wise men to see if they could interpret them, but after listening to Pharaoh’s dreams, no one was able to explain their meaning. The chief butler then remembered when Joseph, the Hebrew, had interpreted his dream after he and the chief baker were thrown in prison. Since Joseph’s interpretation of the chief butler’s dream came true, just as Joseph had predicted, the chief butler decided to tell Pharaoh about his dream while in prison with Joseph. After Pharaoh heard from the chief butler that there was a Hebrew slave who had the ability to interpret dreams, Pharaoh sent for Joseph (Gen. 41:1-13). Pharaoh’s servants then went to the prison where Joseph was held and brought him out of the dungeon. Joseph cleaned himself up and changed his clothes. Then Joseph was brought before Pharaoh to see if he could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams (Gen. 41:14). Pharaoh then told Joseph that the magicians and wise men were not able to interpret his dreams, but he had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Gen. 41:15-16). After Pharaoh had told Joseph the two dreams (Gen. 41:17-24), Joseph gave God the glory for the interpretation, and then he told their meaning to Pharaoh (Gen. 41:25-32). Both dreams referred to the same event, and having two dreams meant that the dreams were certain and would happen soon. The seven fat cows and the seven good ears of corn represented seven good years where Egypt would have an abundance of crops. The seven good years would then be followed by seven bad years of famine where no food would be grown in the land (Gen. 41:26-32). Joseph’s Advice to Pharaoh Joseph told Pharaoh to find a prudent and wise man and put him in charge of gathering an abundant supply of food for the next seven years that would help them get through the seven years of famine (Gen. 41:33-36). Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams and his advice to Pharaoh “was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants,” and Pharaoh said: “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Gen. 41:37-38). Pharaoh then told Joseph: “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you” (Gen. 41:39-41). Then Pharaoh took off his ring and put it upon Joseph’s hand, had him arrayed in fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. Joseph then rode in the second chariot behind Pharaoh and was made “ruler over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:42-46). Joseph was put in charge of setting up a program to store up food for the next seven years so the land of Egypt would be prepared when the seven years of famine arrived (Gen. 41:46-49). After Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second in command in Egypt and gave him authority over the agricultural crops, in order to prepare for the seven years of famine that was coming in the future, Joseph put in place a program that required all farmers to give one fifth (20%) of their crops to Pharaoh (Gen. 41:33-46). With God’s blessings, the crops were overly productive, and the Egyptians had a substantial amount of food grown during the seven years of plenty (Gen. 41:47-49). Are Pharaoh’s Dreams a Picture of the Coming 70th Week of Daniel? Are the seven years of plenty that the Egyptians enjoyed, before the seven years of famine decimated their crops, a harbinger of the time that will precede the future seven-year tribulation period (Daniel’s 70th week)? Are we in transition between “the sevens” like Egypt experienced? To put it another way, will the world enjoy a time of wealth and prosperity just before the future seven-year tribulation that will be comparable in some ways to the abundance experienced by the Egyptians before the seven years of famine overtook their land? Although we are not currently experiencing a seven-year time cycle like God revealed to Joseph through Pharaoh’s dreams, the world has enjoyed increasing prosperity for over seventy years, since Israel became a nation in 1948 and Jerusalem was seized from Jordan in 1967. Perhaps the “peace” and “prosperity” of the United States, which greatly affects the whole world, has been a direct result of heeding the Psalmist: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces'” (Psalm 122:6-7). After coming out of the Great Depression during the decade of the 1930s, the United States rebounded and had a strong economy during World War II (1939-1945), which saw three years of double-digit growth. Following three years of recession at the end of WWII (1945-1947), the United States began to recover economically in 1948 with over 4% GDP (Gross Domestic Product) that year. Today, the world economy consists of 193 national economies, with the United States being the largest (GDP: $21.43 trillion). [1] The total world GDP for the year 2019 was nearly $88 trillion ($87.80). The United States and China alone control over one-third (40.75%) of the total world GDP ($35.77 trillion). [2] Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many small businesses, local governments, churches, institutions and organizations were coerced by governors, mayors and other governmental leaders to close or greatly limit their operation. With all of the many closings and restrictions adversely affecting the global economy (GDP), what long-term effects will these economic, religious, educational and social disruptions have on society? Before Covid-19, the global economy was at $88 trillion. The projected global growth from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook was -4.9% for 2020, with many of the world’s biggest economies in recession. “In 2021, global growth is projected at 5.4 percent. Overall, this would leave 2021 GDP some 6½ percentage points lower than in the pre-COVID-19 projections of January 2020.” [3] The economic damage from Covid-19 for businesses and their employees will have serious repercussions for years to come. Will a Time of Prosperity Precede Daniel’s 70th week? Is the world beginning to transition from the “good times,” relatively speaking — where we experienced a record-breaking period of growth and prosperity in the United States, Israel and throughout the world — to the “bad times,” which will usher in a global, totalitarian government with a surveillance society and a closely monitored digital currency? Are the prophetic scriptures in the Bible aligning as the prophets predicted? (Dan. 12:4, 9-10). For some time, international bureaucrats have been positioning themselves (The Great Reset) to install a “one-world government” with open borders, restrictions on buying and selling (trade), limitations on travel, curbs on free speech and religious liberty, restrictions on the right to own and bear arms, future quantum dot vaccinations, and other nefarious activities. How close are we to some of the apocalyptic events described in the books of Daniel and Revelation that will one day catch the world off guard, like a trap that closes quickly on its unsuspecting prey? (Luke 21:28-36, Rev. 3:3, 10-11). What does today’s prosperity have to do with the future, seven-year tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week)? How do the seven years of prosperity experienced in Egypt over 3,500 years ago, during the days of Joseph and Pharaoh, relate to the seventy-plus years of prosperity we have enjoyed since the end of World War II? Just as God prospered Egypt because of Joseph, Jacob (Israel) and the children of Israel and for “blessing” the future descendants of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), the Lord has prospered the United States because of her “blessings” to Israel (Gen. 12:1-3). The many “blessings” bestowed upon the nation of Israel in recent years by the United States, including recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, has not been forgotten by the Creator of the universe Who watches over Israel (Psalm 121:1-8). “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth… Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:1-4). The prosperity of the world’s major superpower, the United States (like Egypt during Joseph’s days), combined with the economic prosperity of the rest of the world from the middle of the last century up through recent years, reveals that the world has experienced (and is still experiencing) a time of wealth and prosperity that greatly exceeds the seven good years that came before the seven bad years during the days of Joseph’s reign in Egypt. As the prosperity of the world today is much greater than the prosperity the Egyptians experienced, the future seven-year tribulation period will be worldwide and much greater in scope and severity than the seven-year famine the Egyptians suffered through. The “great tribulation” (last half) will be a time such as the world has never experienced “since the beginning of the world,” with “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…” (Matt. 24:21-22, Luke 21:25-26, 35-36, Rev. 3:10, 6:1-19:21). The Generation of His Coming The Lord told His apostles, as recorded in Acts 1:6-7, that it was not for them “…to know the times or the seasons…” for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. The mystery of “the times and seasons” of the kingdom’s restoration to Israel was not for the apostles to know, but it was to be concealed and later revealed to a future generation that Jesus described in “the parable of the fig tree” (Matt. 24:32-34, Mark 13: 28-30, Luke 21:29-32). The official return to life of the fig tree (the nation of Israel) took place when Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel’s Independence “on May 14, 1948, in Tel Aviv on behalf of the Provisional Government of Israel.” [4] Israel’s rebirth as a nation (Isaiah 66:8-10) is linked directly with the generation (Luke 21:28-36) that will witness the second coming of Christ back to earth. The specific generation Christ was talking about, that “will not pass away” until after the kingdom of God is established on earth, is alive today and is currently between 70 and 80 years of age. Since the rapture of the saints, the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel’s 70th Week) and Christ’s physical return back to earth must all take place before the generation Christ was talking about dies off, we must be getting close to the inception (beginning) of these three events. That is because the generation that began (was born) when Israel became a nation over 70 years ago is rapidly approaching the final years of its existence and will soon “pass away” (Matt. 24:33-34). The Times and Seasons of His Coming The “Day of the Lord” will begin when the words “peace and security” and “peace and safety” are commonplace among the global elite (1 Thess. 5:1-3). Use of the specific words “peace, security and safety,” both oral and written, in speeches, treaties and negotiations by world leaders and the global media in reference to the Middle East peace process has increased in recent years with “many” new participants seeking peace (Dan. 9:27). “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:1-3, ESV). This “last days” prophecy about “peace and security,” given by the Apostle Paul nearly 2000 years ago, uniquely fits today’s scenario that has been slowly unfolding with the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The “times and seasons” of the rapture (catching up) of the “bride of Christ” is a mystery (1 Cor. 15:51-52) that is linked with the scriptures about “peace and security” and the “day of the Lord,” almost as if they are contiguous or will occur at approximately the same time. “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18, ESV). The timing of the rapture, also called the “blessed hope” in Titus 2:13, will be as “a thief in the night” to those not watching, but “the times and seasons” of the rapture will not be a surprise to those who are looking for His return (1 Thess. 5:4-6, Matt. 25:1-13, Luke 21:34-36, Rev. 3:3). Are you watching the many “signs” heralding Christ’s soon return as we begin to “see the day approaching?” (Heb. 10:25, Eph. 4:30, Luke 21:28). Prepare for Lift Off With many prophecies that will be fulfilled during the future seven-year tribulation period (Day of the Lord) beginning to converge on the world stage and cast their shadows backward into today’s headlines, are we beginning to transition from a time of unparalleled prosperity to a time of declining affluence where fresh food and water will become scarce (dearth) and the events of Daniel’s 70th week begin to unfold? (Dan. 9:27, Rev. 6:1-8). When Jesus Christ returns “in the air” for His saints “at his appearing,” make sure you have already made your reservation to go to Heaven and are following the Lord’s plan for your life (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Titus 2:11-13; Heb. 9:28). Before His wrath is poured out on this wicked and God-rejecting world (John 1:11), make “your calling and election sure” (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:4-11, 2 Peter 1:10-11, 1 Cor. 15:51-58). “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36). Whatever your priorities in this life may be, reevaluate them now and make sure God is at the top of your priority list. The things of this world will not matter one minute after the “trumpet” blows and the bride of Christ is removed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” to meet the Lord in the air (1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thess. 4:16-17, James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-18). The “Day of the Lord” will be a time when literally, “all hell breaks loose” on the earth (Rev. 9:1-21). Don’t be one of the many unfortunate souls who ignore the “signs” and will be left behind! “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). ——————– Endnotes [1] GDP (current US$), World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files, Year 2019, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true [2] Ibid. [3] World Economic Outlook Update, January 2021: Policy Support and Vaccines Expected to Lift Activity, https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO, January 20, 2021 [4] Israel’s Declaration of Independence — May 14, 1948, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-declaration-of-independence-may-14-1948/ (Unless otherwise noted, scriptures are from the New King James Version (NKJV). All Eyes on Israel As Jerusalem Becomes A Cup of Trembling – Sharon Wrobel - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4716 Israel's annual Jerusalem Day was overshadowed Monday by rocket sirens and explosions as Hamas claimed responsibility for striking the country's capital and targets across the south, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it bombed a number of the terrorist group's positions in the Gaza Strip in response. By Monday night over 150 rockets had been launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, at least dozens of which have been intercepted by Israel, according to the IDF. The rocket barrage towards Jerusalem and surrounding areas started just a few minutes following the expiration of an "ultimatum" by Hamas, which called for the withdrawal by the Israeli police from several areas in eastern Jerusalem and for freeing Palestinian prisoners. Marchers who participated in the Jerusalem Day flag parade were forced to run for cover and continued the celebration shortly after. According to the IDF, a barrage of rockets was also being fired toward southern Israel. The IDF said that it had detected seven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip at the Jerusalem area, at least one of which was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. In response, the IDF said it attacked a number of Hamas targets, including two rocket launchers, two military positions and eight of the terrorist group's operatives. The Magen David Adom rescue service said Monday night it had treated 10 people for injuries resulting from missile attacks, in most cases for shock, and another 15 people for light injuries resulting from stone-throwing attacks. Speaking at at the Jerusalem Day ceremony held at Ammunition Hill, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We are in a struggle that is spreading across several fronts: in Jerusalem, in Gaza and elsewhere in the country. The terrorist organizations in Gaza crossed a red line on Jerusalem Day evening and attacked us with missiles at the entrances to Jerusalem." "Israel will respond forcefully. We will not tolerate attacks on our territory, our capital, our citizens and our soldiers. Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price," Netanyahu continued. "The current conflict may continue for some time." Also at the ceremony, President Reuven Rivlin said that the "wail of the sirens in Jerusalem a short time ago is still with us. Repeated code red alarms that disrupt normal daily lives in the south, right now too, are putting our dear ones in the south of the country, the Gaza envelope that envelopes our whole country, into their safe rooms." "We will not be bowed in the face of any threat. Let nobody challenge the lethal might of our forces. Do not put them to the test," Rivlin added. Hamas said it fired rockets towards Jerusalem in response to Israeli "crimes and aggression in the Holy City, and its harassment of our people in Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Aqsa Mosque." According to reports, a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in the Judean hills. The IDF reported that an anti-tank missile was fired from Gaza toward Israel. As a result, an Israeli civilian in a nearby vehicle was lightly injured and evacuated to a hospital for further medical treatment. According to Walla News, Israel's security cabinet gave the IDF a green light to hit targets throughout the Gaza Strip following the attacks. "In the next few days, Hamas will feel the long arm of the [Israeli] army. It won't take a few minutes, it will take a few days," IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman said. "In Palestinian terrorism, an iron fist must be fought. Anyone who puts Israeli residents in shelters should know that he will regret it," said Israel's Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday. "The Israeli government will take determined action." "No country can allow its citizens to live under the threat of terrorism," said leader of the Israeli opposition Yair Lapid. "Israel must act resolutely and forcefully and restore deterrence in the war against the enemies of Israel." Jerusalem has been the site of a number of days of violence as Palestinians clashed with Israeli police forces across the capital and around the Temple Mount ahead of the annual Jerusalem Day to celebrate the reunification of the city after the 1967 Six-Day War. This year the march coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Violence had also erupted in recent days in response to the tension around the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, where a number of Palestinian families are set to be evicted in an ongoing court case. The White House on Monday expressed "serious concerns" about the clashes in eastern Jerusalem, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters during a press briefing, "We are continuing to closely monitor the violence in Israel. We have serious concerns about the situation, including violent confrontations that we've seen over the last few days." Before a Monday meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on "all sides" to "de-escalate, reduce tension and take practical steps to calm things down." "We are very deeply concerned about the rocket attacks that we are seeing now that need to stop and need to stop immediately," he said." Could the Wildly Out of Control Violence in Jerusalem Spark a Major Regional War In The Middle East? - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/could-the-wildly-out-of-control-violence-in-jerusalem-spark-a-major-regional-war-in-the-middle-east/ Things have been getting more tense in Jerusalem for weeks, and Monday was the day when tensions really started to boil over. The violence that we witnessed in the streets of Jerusalem shocked the entire globe, and it threatens to spark a major regional conflict. At one point, a tree that had been set on fire on the Temple Mount was burning wildly out of control, and that was a perfect metaphor for the emotions that we witnessed on both sides. As a result of multiple violent clashes, over 300 Palestinians and an undisclosed number of Israelis ended up with injuries… Though the past week has seen hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli police officers and civilians injured, the defense establishment still thought that the situation could have returned to normal. But that was wishful thinking. More than 300 Palestinians and several Israelis were injured in clashes with police officers on Monday in violence that the city has not seen in years. In response to the chaos in Jerusalem, Hamas fired more than 160 rockets into Israel, and the IDF responded by striking several targets in the Gaza strip. The following comes from the Jerusalem Post… The IDF warned Hamas that all options, including a ground operation, were on the table after over 160 rockets were fired towards Jerusalem and southern Israel as thousands of Israelis were parading through downtown to celebrate Jerusalem Day. Following the rocket fire, the Israel Air Force carried out several strikes in Gaza, killing at least 8 Hamas militants and targeting rocket launchers and two military positions. Palestinian media reported that 20 people had been killed including nine children and another 95 wounded. We haven’t seen hostilities in the region reach this level in a long, long time. Politicians around the globe are crying out for peace to be restored, but the leader of Hamas is indicating that more violence may be coming… Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday night that “Jerusalem has called and Gaza has responded. We will continue as long as Israel does not stop the aggression and terrorism in Jerusalem and at the al-Aqsa Mosque.” And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is publicly warning that “the current conflict could continue for some time”… “We are in a fight on several fronts: Jerusalem, Gaza and elsewhere in the country. This evening, on Jerusalem Day, the terrorist organizations in Gaza have crossed a red line and attacked us with missiles in the outskirts of Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said at a ceremony at Ammunition Hill to mark Jerusalem Day. Netanyahu also said that while Israel does not seek an intensification of hostilities, “the current conflict could continue for some time.” So what does that mean? Could Netanyahu actually send troops into Gaza? If that happens, that could spark a full-blown regional war. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are no match for the IDF, but they would fight with everything that they have got and they are certainly capable of launching thousands of rockets toward Israel. However, if Hezbollah decided to jump in and attack from the north, that would take the conflict to an entirely different level. Right now, Hezbollah has 150,000 missiles pointed at Israel, and those missiles could do some very serious damage. At this point, Beirut is absolutely teeming with Fateh 110 rockets that have the range to hit Tel Aviv… Further north, in Beirut, is Hezbollah’s central headquarters, and the city area is packed with Iranian and Syrian-made Fateh 110 rockets that can reach greater Tel Aviv. It is here that Hezbollah is trying to turn some of those rockets into precision-guided missiles. Precision-guided missiles are not like the unsophisticated rockets that Hamas lobs toward Israel. It is being reported that such missiles “can strike targets within an accuracy of a 5-meter diameter”. And of course if Hezbollah goes to war with Israel, there is always a possibility that Iran may decide to take more direct action against Israel as well. The Iranians typically don’t like to attack anyone directly, but they could certainly use proxies other than Hezbollah to hit Israel with conventional or unconventional weapons. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail, and the Biden administration is currently attempting to “de-escalate” the situation… US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Hamas must end the rocket attacks “immediately”, adding: “All sides need to de-escalate.” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki echoed those calls, saying US President Joe Biden was seriously concerned about the violence. Unfortunately, at this point Biden’s words don’t exactly carry too much weight in the region. And I think that it is an ominous sign that cities all over Israel began to open their bomb shelters late on Monday night… The Tel Aviv Municipality sent an urgent message to all residents late Monday night that all citywide bomb shelters will be reopened. The cities of Givatayim, Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak have made similar announcements. By the time you read this article, events may have escalated even more. Things are moving very rapidly in the region, and there is a very real danger that a “point of no return” may soon be crossed. Unfortunately, whether it happens now or later, a major war in the Middle East is inevitably coming. Israel, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Iran have all been preparing for such a war for decades, and when it finally arrives the death and destruction it will cause will stun the entire planet. So let us hope that it can be put off for as long as possible. But right now the anger on both sides has reached a boiling point, and missiles are already flying. In the age of social media, a major event that happens on one side of the globe can go viral on the other side of the globe just moments later. This free flow of information can be a very good thing, but it can also inflame tensions when millions (or billions) of people around the world are focusing on a single crisis point all at once. Over the next few days, the eyes of the world will be on Jerusalem, and one false move could spark a major war. Let us pray that it does not happen right now, but at some point all of the sand will finally run out of the hourglass. Palestinians: Our True Goal is to Destroy Israel - by Bassam Tawil - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17361/palestinian-goal-destroy-israel When former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel in 1991, many Palestinians took to the streets to celebrate the attacks. Many demonstrations took place in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem even while Palestinians were being issued gas masks by the Israeli authorities to protect them against a possible chemical attack by Iraq against Israel. The Los Angeles Times reported back then that "several Palestinians expressed joy at last week's [Iraqi] missile assault on Tel Aviv and Haifa." When the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group launched rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon in 2015, Palestinians took to the streets to celebrate, holding Hezbollah flags and handing out sweets to drivers and passersby. For the Palestinians, anyone who attacks Israel or threatens to destroy it is a real "hero." In the past few days, the Palestinians have been cheering another "hero": Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas. Deif has been Israel's most wanted terrorist for the last 25 years because of his involvement in several terror attacks, including the killing of Israeli soldiers, suicide bombings and kidnappings. In 2015, the US State Department added Deif to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Because of his direct involvement in terrorism against Israel, Deif has always been regarded by many Palestinians as a "hero." Now, after Deif warned Israel of retaliation if it does not change its policies in east Jerusalem, he seems to be even more popular among the Palestinians. In a rare public statement, the arch-terrorist, who is based in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, said that Israel will pay a "heavy price" if it does not stop the eviction of Palestinian families living in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. "This is a clear and final warning," Deif threatened, hinting that Hamas would resume its rocket attacks and other forms of terrorism against Israel. The threat came after a Jerusalem court approved the eviction of a number of Arab families in Sheikh Jarrah from homes that had belonged to Jews before the establishment of Israel in 1948. During mass demonstrations in Jerusalem and some parts of the West Bank over the past few days, thousands of Palestinians chanted slogans in praise of Deif and urged him to carry out his threat to fire rockets at Israel. The Palestinians also chanted slogans in support of Hamas's military wing, Izaddin al-Qassam, which is responsible for thousands of terrorist attacks against Israel during the past three decades. "We are the men of Mohammed Deif," thousands of Palestinians chanted during a demonstration at the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. They also called on him to "strike" Tel Aviv with rockets, thereby echoing the 1991 call to Saddam Hussein: "O' beloved Saddam, strike, strike Tel Aviv!" The demonstrations in Jerusalem began on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, when scores of youths attacked police officers and Jewish residents with rocks, firebombs and other objects. The protesters initially justified the attacks by arguing that the Israel Police had set up barricades at one of the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem, thus preventing them from gathering at night to celebrate Ramadan. The riots, however, continued even after the police removed the barricades. The rioters said that they were protesting the possible eviction of the families from Sheikh Jarrah and attempts by Jews to "storm" the al-Aqsa Mosque, a reference to routine visits by Jews to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. So how does Deif, the chief Hamas terrorist, fit into the clashes between Palestinians and the Israel Police in Jerusalem? By invoking the name of Deif and calling on him to bomb Tel Aviv, the protesters exposed the truth: that their protests were less about the al-Aqsa Mosque or the controversy surrounding the Sheikh Jarrah houses or the police barriers at the Old City than about the elimination of Israel. It is worth noting that Israel has not taken any new measures to "alter the historical or legal status" of the al-Aqsa Mosque, as the Palestinians and other Arabs have claimed. The Palestinians are upset because Jews are being permitted to tour the Temple Mount. The Palestinians do not want to see Jews visiting their holy site; they do not want to see Jews in Jerusalem, and they do not want to see any Jew at all in the land that stretches from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. How does the bombing of Tel Aviv help the cases of the Arab families in Sheikh Jarrah, who are challenging the eviction order in Israeli courts? How does calling on Hamas to launch terrorist attacks against Israel assist the Palestinians in their campaign to stop Jews from touring the Temple Mount? By raising Hamas flags and chanting slogans in support of an arch-terrorist at the al-Aqsa Mosque, the demonstrators desecrated the holy site, not the Jews. Those who used the mosque compound to throw rocks and other objects at police officers are the ones who defiled the holy site. You cannot attack police officers and then complain that Israel sent police to "raid" and "desecrate" the al-Aqsa Mosque -- unless your mind has been twisted by terrorist logic. No one is disputing the Palestinians' right to protest Israeli policies. Yet when the protests turn into large pro-Hamas demonstrations, with calls for bombing Tel Aviv and killing Jews, they expose the true deadly intention of the protesters. When thousands of Palestinians chant "We are all Mohammed Deif," they are saying that they see themselves as terrorists ready to attack and destroy Israel. They are also saying that Deif is their role model because he managed to murder many Jews and remains at large, despite Israeli attempts to apprehend or kill him. The violence that erupted in Jerusalem over the past few days shows that Hamas has a large following among Palestinians, including residents of east Jerusalem who hold Israeli-issued ID cards but are not Israeli citizens. After Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1968, it gave the Palestinians living there the right to apply for Israeli citizenship. Most of them, however, chose not to ask for Israeli citizenship out of fear of being branded traitors. As permanent residents of Israel, the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem enjoy all the rights bestowed on Israeli citizens with one exception: the right to vote for the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. At the same time, these residents are entitled to apply for Israeli citizenship any time they wish and several thousand have already done so. Hamas's popularity is on the rise not only in east Jerusalem, but also in the West Bank, where some Palestinians also heaped praise on Deif and urged him to unleash a new wave of terror against Israel. Hamas owes its growing popularity to the anti-Israel inflammatory campaign waged in the Palestinian media, especially social media platforms, the mosques and public rhetoric of Palestinian leaders. Hamas also owes its popularity to the ongoing corruption and incompetence of the Palestinian Authority and its autocratic president, Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas had good reason to delay until further notice the parliamentary and presidential elections he was planning to hold on May 22 and July 31. He knew very well that his rivals in Hamas were headed toward a victory similar to the one they scored in the last parliamentary election in 2006. Yet Abbas did not have the courage to admit that this was the real reason why he called off the elections. Instead, he chose to blame Israel by falsely accusing it of preventing the Palestinians in Jerusalem from participating in the elections. As he sits in his living room and watched thousands of Palestinians in Jerusalem denouncing him as a traitor and hailing Hamas and Deif, Abbas must have heaved a sigh of relief that the elections were indefinitely postponed. The pro-Hamas demonstrations in Jerusalem should worry not only Israel, but Abbas and his Palestinian Authority as well. The demonstrations in favor of Hamas should also sound alarm bells with the Biden administration and serve as an accurate indicator as to Palestinian priorities. The Biden administration is talking about reviving the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of the "two-state solution." Hamas and the thousands of Palestinians who chanted slogans in support of Hamas and Deif, however, have a different solution in mind: the annihilation of Israel and the deaths of Jews -- the more the merrier. Daily Jot: Tic Tok the Prophetic Clock – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com God’s prophetic time piece, Israel, is a mess. Reeling from COVID, failure to form a government, and violence from terrorist-inspired “Palestinians,” Israel’s turmoil could be a sign that the prophecy clock is accelerated. Each year around this time, the “Palestinians” start attacking Israel, and then when Israel defends itself with superior force, the “Palestinians” cry that Israel is racist, that it is attacking the poor, underserved “Palestinian” community. The news media rarely mentions the billions of dollars that pours into the Palestinian Authority every year from various countries, and how that money funds terrorism against Israel. President Trump shut down America’s contribution. Joe Biden is reversing that policy. Biden is opening up the American cash faucet once again for the Palestinians. Breitbart reports that the Biden Administration gave “the Palestinians commitments of hundreds of millions of US taxpayer dollars–likely in violation of the Taylor Force Act, which prevents US funding of the Palestinian Authority until it stops paying terrorists and their families. Biden did not seek any concessions from the Palestinians in return for that funding–no new negotiations with Israel, no end to inciting hatred. Now the Biden administration is rewarding the Palestinians for the violence by calling on Israel to stop the clashes–as if Israel wanted any of this to happen.” This, at the same time Turkey is fanning the flames of violence. The Jerusalem Post Sunday reported, “Accusing Israel of being a “cruel” and “terrorist” state is part of Ankara’s desire to use the tensions in Jerusalem to boost Turkey’s image. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday [May 8] called Israel a cruel “terrorist” state, as Turkish media called to “free al-Aqsa” in Jerusalem, just like he reconsecrated the historic Church of Hagia Sophia as a mosque last year. Writing in Turkish, Erdogan said he “invite[s] the whole world, especially the Islamic countries, to take effective action against Israel’s attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and Palestinian homes.” It is no secret that the terrorist organization Hamas is an object of diplomatic favor with Turkey, which allows Hamas to plan terrorist attacks from the Turkey capitol of Ankara. The significance of these recent events is underscored by several end time prophecies, but none more specific than the description of a colossal end of days battle found in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In Ezekiel 38:3-8, the Lord says, “Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army…Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them…against the mountains of Israel…” These areas mentioned in the verses of Ezekiel 38 coincide with modern Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and parts of Iraq, even Saudi Arabia. Biden and Erdogan are moving the prophecy clock forward. Keep an eye on Turkey. Watch and discern. Daily Devotion: Marriage in Two Words - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. —Ephesians 5:31 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/marriage-in-two-words/ - Listen There are two operative words in a marriage: leave and cleave. We find this principle in Genesis 2:24, which says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (NKJV). Jesus also quoted this passage in Matthew, where He said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (19:4–5 NKJV). The apostle Paul quoted this text as well (see Ephesians 5:31). First there’s leaving. When you get married, your number one relationship (other than your relationship with Christ), becomes the relationship with your spouse. You’re still a child to your parents, of course. But your number one relationship is with your husband or wife. He or she should be your best friend and the person that you’re closest to. Next, there’s cleaving. This word means “being held together.” It doesn’t mean that you’re stuck together; rather, you’re held together. In verb form, it speaks of something that’s active. For instance, if you’re climbing the face of a mountain, you’re hanging on for dear life. That’s the idea of cleaving. You’re holding on to each other, and you’re not allowing other relationships to weaken your marriage relationship. Early in a marriage, you feel a lot of love, but then it ebbs and flows. You change, your spouse changes, and life changes. Your emotions will catch up with your commitment in time. The point is that you keep your commitment throughout your life. So leave and cleave. God called you together, and He will give you the strength to be the husband or wife that He has called you to be. FROM THE HEART Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left, Count for ALL of Eternity! IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT? One of the most reliable ways to determine if a ministry is worthy of your financial support is to examine its fruits. If Prophecy Update is keeping you informed, and if that information inspires you, and causes you to draw closer to the Lord, if Prophecy Update equips you with valuable information and knowledge to share with and encourage other believers, and open the eyes of non-believers, and if Prophecy Update keeps you connected to current events relating to Bible Prophecy, then you are partaking of the fruit produced through this ministry. None of this would be possible without the Lords blessings and your support. I believe where the Lord guides, the Lord provides, and most of the time He provides through the willing and generous hearts of believers just like you and me. Humbly Seek Your Support Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 We are very pleased to offer all our readers this FREE download on Bible Prophecy from the Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia - Just download and enjoy and be blessed! Feel free to share it with all your friends and family members. Click below to download! "AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING" If You Died Today, Would You Go To Heaven? Find out, visit: www.thegoodtest.net www.gotquestions.org www.wayofthemaster.com How to know God DID YOU KNOW? You can submit an article, leave a comment or praise report at email: [email protected] Maranatha! (Lord Come Quickly) "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All other ground is sinking sand." "Let Us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!" YBIC-Randy
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