Friday, June 22, 2012

Daily Headlines:

Syria's "Vast Quantities" Of Chemical Weapons

The Syrian Army is by regional standards a highly-capable military force and its air force is one of the largest in the Middle East.

In addition to that, Western experts believe Syria has a large chemical weapons arsenal including mustard gas, the more modern sarin and even VX - the most toxic of all chemical agents.

“Unlike Moammar Gadhafi, who had basically dismantled his chemical weapons,” said John Pike, head of Globalsecurity.com, “the Syrians have a very active poison gas program.” Pike says they have “the medium-range ballistic missiles that would enable them to deliver it to the neighborhood - certainly to Israel and Turkey, but not farther afield, certainly not to western European countries.”

Experts say there is little hard data on Syria’s chemical weapons program because the country has not signed the Chemical Weapons Convention that outlaws the production, possession and use of such weapons. Most of the estimates come from intelligence agencies and analysts.

Experts believe the chemical weapons - known as "the poor man’s nuclear weapon" - are produced in four or five facilities in Syria and stored in dozens of places throughout the country.

Charles Blair is skeptical about such an endeavor, saying “the only way that you could envision really securing the Syrian stockpile is with a large force.” He says the Department of Defense estimates that “it would take 75,000 U.S. forces to properly secure it. And there is no large standing Western army anywhere near Syria. “I don’t think there is any way that the West can secure the stockpiles," he said.

Analysts also believe it is essential to make sure that those chemical weapons don’t fall into the hands of groups like Hezbollah or al-Qaida. Experts also fear that the rebels fighting the Syrian government might obtain those arms



In the CIA's defense, you use the networks that are in place rather than trying to create your own conduits for arms. It's cheaper, and more reliable to tap into the Muslim Brotherhood's arms smuggling operation than starting from scratch.

The civilian opposition - the Syrian National Council - is about 70% Muslim Brotherhood, which is why a lot of secular-oriented Syrians have either refused to join, or resigned in disgust. There's no need to wonder where these arms are going to end up; one way or another, the Brotherhood will probably control any post-Assad Syria and thus, any arms given to rebel forces will likely end up in their hands.







Members of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s inner circle are covertly planing to defect and join the opposition should the Syrian regime become critically threatened by the rebellion, according to unnamed US sources in a report by The DailyTelegraph on Friday. The report could not be verified.

According to the report, senior Syrian military commanders have outlined “exit strategies” and are making direct contact with rebel forces to ensure that they will be welcomed and not persecuted.

Syrian opposition groups confirmed that they were actively courting American help to encourage more defections. One senior opposition source told the Telegraph that, “I know for sure there are some high-ranking officers who are waiting for the right chance to defect.



Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose support for Syrian President Bashar Assad is straining his ties with the West, is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday for a short trip one diplomatic official said is designed to send a clear message to the world: Russia is a key player in the region that needs to be taken into account.

...talks between Putin and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will center on Russia’s policy of propping up Assad in Syria and on the talks with Iran. Russia is a member of the P5+1 group – which also includes the US, China, France, Britain and Germany – negotiating with Tehran.

Following the dedication ceremony, Putin will go to Jerusalem for meetings with Netanyahu. There will be a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, followed by statements to the press and a working luncheon with staff.

Liberman will attend that meeting, as well as a meeting in the evening between Putin and President Shimon Peres.



Italy’s technocratic leader Mario Monti is warning of dramatic consequences should leaders at next week’s EU summit fail to find concrete solutions to save the euro and prevent contagion.

Monti is also calling for a fuller banking union, a European deposit guarantee, and “new market-friendly policy mechanisms” to help struggling countries.

Spain, reports Reuters, may also use the occasion to formally request for a €100 billion following revelations on Thursday that its banking sector needs €62 billion in extra capital.

Over a dozen European banks have also been hit by another downgrade by credit rating agency Moodys. Some 15 banks and financial institutions, including Germany’s Deutsche Bank, had their ratings cut on Thursday.

The downgrades come on the heels of a Europe that is progressively sliding into a recession.


Judging from New York Times coverage of the sharp escalation of rocket attacks on Israel by Gaza terrorists, it really wasn't a big deal at all -- and besides Hamas has accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that was bound to end the onslaught ("Hamas Military Wing Accepts a Cease-Fire - Deal Ends 3 Days of Violence With Israel" by Isabel Kershner, June 21, page 11).

Reality is starkly different from Kershner's roseate account. For one thing, the headline is flat wrong -- the so-called cease-fire didn't end. Gaza terrorists kept firing rockets.


Kershner, in her dispatch, bends over backwards to depict the incessant rocket barrages -- well over 100 -- as benign and inconsequential as possible.

Here's how she puts it:

"The confrontation remained relatively contained, with the Gaza groups firing mostly short-range rockets that did not reach southern Israel's major cities."

This sentence tells worlds about Kershner's determination to sanitize the terror war unleashed from Gaza. For one thing, why the benchmark that rocket fire from Gaza is OK as long as it spares major cities? What about smaller Israel towns and communities hit by rocket fire? Don't their residents matter?

But even by Kershner's dubious criterion that only attacks on major cities matter, she's wrong again. Rocket fire hit the Be'er Sheva and Ashkelon areas. The attack on Be'er Sheva, the largest city in the Negev, came as kids were going to school. Numerous residents showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Kershner overlooks all that.

Nor does she report that the mayor of Ashkelon, another big southern Israeli city, at the behest of fearful parents, on Wednesday when Kershner was writing her piece, ordered schools closed the next day. Several rockets took aim at the Ashkelon area. Since Monday, four Israeli border patrol officers were injured by rocket fire.

At the same time, Kershner's coverage sets impossibly high standards for Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. Never mind that the IDF goes to great lengths to minimize collateral casualties, implicit in her writing is that even a single Palestinian civilian casualty puts Israel in the wrong.

In sum, Kershner is quick to critique Israeli counter-strikes against rocket-firing terrorists, but at the same time sanitizes these terrorists as merely "militants" belonging to the "military wing of Hamas."

Such is her moral compass.






23 comments:

Mrs.C said...

WOW! Just amazing to see His Word unfold before out eyes! What a profound Blessing for those of us who see! Yet there are so many, that continue to be so blind as to the days we are living in :(
Highly likely that Hezbollah already has chem weapons complements of Iraq with the assistance of Russia. Bekaa Valley is the place where Hezbollah is said to have them stashed. It has not yet been penetrated by Israel (a failed attempt was made in the 2006 war), and Hezbollah guards that valley ferociously.
Putin…amazing that he (most likely Gog himself) is coming to Bibi, not Bibi running to Moscow as in recent years. Wouldn’t you want to be a fly on the wall in that “private meeting”! Whew! Just a wild guess, but Putin is probably probing to see what knowledge/information Bibi has acquired through years of the Flame virus collecting from them. Also testing Bibi to see what hes made of. Bibi has the obvious advantage here, with the fact that Putin to be going to him. Russia has billions in Iran and Syria, and will retaliate when Damascus is destroyed. Little does Bibi know who he’s facing…then again…maybe Bibi already knows…

Helen said...

Mrs. C, thank you for your perspective on Putin. I found this very interesting also.

Plus he is going to Jordan too. Why do you think he is going there? For some reason Jordan has always been of interest to me.

Again thank you,

Helen

Mrs.C said...

Hi Sister Helen, :)
Your welcome Sis, but all credit is always to the Holy Spirit.  Isnt is amazing what Gods Word says, and what we are so privileged to be witnessing? WOW!
From the article, I understand that Putin is going to the make-believe paly's first, whom Russia also supports, then on to Jordan. Fascinating indeed. :) Could be several reasons, the paly issue in Jordan (paly’s are Jordans perpetual problem), or probing to see where Jordan stands should things dissolve in Syria. One thing that is for sure, is that Gods Word says that Jordan is going down in the Isaiah 17 war right after Damascus is destroyed. (Verse 2). Also Gods Word suggests that the remnant Jewish Believers will flee to His safety in Jordan at the mid Trib. These are just amazing and astounding times we are so Blessed to be living in! Look up, look up dear Brothers and Sisters, our redemption draweth nye!

God Bless!

Mrs.C said...

Oh my goodness…Im sure this isn’t going over very well with Turkey…

"Syrian Air Defenses Shoot Down Turkish Fighter Jet"
By REUTERS 06/22/2012 18:27


http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=274847

Ally said...

Good morning! Not sure what will haopen between Bibi and Putin. But I do know, despite the war rhetoric, those two men are very bright, politically savvy individuals who both LOVE their countries very much and are trying to raise their nations up, not collapse them, unlike some other current world leaders. Frankly, these two men RESPECT each other and recognize whats a stake here.
I think part of the reason Putin has been moving in in the m.e. Is because of the absolutely horrible mess that has been created over there. Russia has been dealing with radical muslims for a long time and recognize what that actually means! Chechnya and Afghanistan is what brought the soviet union to its knees! Who was the bright idea guy that thought we would fare better? Oh, doesn't matter, all part of the plan to dismantle the U.S.A.
I got a funny feeling that Putin may play with, and utilize some of the illuminate eeeees, he is not under their control. I actually find Putin quite interesting, an enigma. An assasin, who now runs one of the strongest nations on earth, but he has a tender sweet side too. if you are ever bored google putin and animals or something like that. Thete are hundreds of pictures of him with animals and he looks like a 5 year old boy who just got a puppy in each of rhem. Whats up with that? Sorry, I digress.
I cant believe our guy in d.c. Is foolish enough to continue to mess with Syria. oh, I forgot, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
What if Putun is there to make Bibi an offer he can't refuse? One involving peace n security? And te plot thinkens! Someone should write a book about this! Oh wait, someone did.
Now to end on a very uplifting note! Did anyone else watch Wallenda cross over Niagra Falls? Did you hear him lifting up the name of Jesus? In rhe most daunting part of the crossing, how he praised the name of the savior? How wonderful!
Mrs. C, I too would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting. Maybe Putin will attend Bible study with Bibi? That would make my day!

Mrs.C said...

Hi Sister Ally, :)
Yes, I have seen the pictures of Putin with pet animals, a tiger as I recall, I think was a gift? While it may appear to be nice, remember, there were alot of pictures of Hitler with animals also, and we know how evil he was.
Yes the Chechnian "rebels" aka muslim terrorists, are a thorn in Putin's side for sure! Its been interesting to watch, how when Russia would slap Irans hand, an attack by the Chechnians would occur. Iran is one of their sponsors, along with many other muslim terrorists groups around the world. Thats what happens to Russia, when they have such evil as customers in the ME. You bet that Putin respects Bibi, but despises the imposter – in – chief of this nation for sure. Have to respectfully disagree with you Sis about Putin being there to make some kind of peace agreement, as His Word says just the opposite. It will be interesting to see what happens on Monday when this meeting takes place. One thing is for sure, IF Putin is “Gog” (which he certainly fits the bill), his future is death on the mountains surrounding Israel…struck down by the fury of the Hand Of God Almighty Himself!

God Bless!

Helen said...

Oh yes Mrs. C,
I have read about Petra and it is a fascinating place to read about.

Years ago Howard Estep did a video on Petra showing how the Jews would someday hide there.

We are sure living in exciting days!

Helen

James N Nashville said...

Mrs. C.:

Interested in hearing your take on how God will seal off the area around Petra keeping the Jews safe.

James N Nashville

James N Nashville said...

Mrs. C.:

Interested in hearing your take on how God will seal off the area around Petra keeping the Jews safe.

James N Nashville

Waterer said...

A question:
I have mentioned here before that the linear layout evades me. I start to get it and then other verses sound to me like a different direction.
For example, In the last part of Is 17,
In the evening, sudden terror!
Before the morning, they are gone!
This is the portion of those who loot us,
the lot of those who plunder us.

It sounds to me like Syria has come in and looted Israel and that their punishment is this great destructive judgment.
Do you think that this is going to happen soon?
I guess when many here are saying soon very soon, they mean the rapture because we won't be here for judgment in the time of Jacob's trouble. Because soon sounds relative to me in terms of all that must still happen in Egypt, In the Gog Magog war and it's cleanup.
The latter chapters of Ezekial sound like the return again of an exiled Israel and that the temple is the milennial temple.Yet the temple that is desecrated by the AC hasn't been built yet. I am confused as to why there will be blood sacrifices during the millenium when Christ is our sacrifice, our righteousness and our peace..
So another question is this. Has some of this been fulfilled already and when are they finally fulfilled?
Also, Jordan has been a friend to Israel through Hussiens pact made with Sadat. But the judgment against them sounds like something from the OT actions.
I believe Jesus is coming. I believe it will be preceded by signs but I thought we were to be focused on the Matt and Luke signs.
These others feel imminent but in some ways i feel like there could still be quite sometime before they are fulfilled.
Please don't be mad at me for voicing these questions. WHERE ELSE CAN I ASK THEM?
Respecting your viewpoints,
kr

Scott said...

As far as those last two sentences in Isaiah 17 (loot and plunder) - my understanding from the various commentaries that I have read, indicates that these are more general statements in reference to the long standing abuse of Israel by their surrounding enemies (in this case, including Syria) - not meant as a specific reference to this incident. In other words, they got he fate that they deserved after long years of 'looting/plundering".

I do believe Isaiah 17's fulfillment will come very soon. (months not years)

I don't see that much more as having to happen.

For instance, I could see this scenario playing out instantly:

Syria sends chemical weapons into Israel, making "the glory of Jacob fade" (v4), and somehow in the ensueing battle, which could easily and instantly include Egypt et al - and in the process - Damascus gets destroyed. This would inflame Iran and Russia, and set the stage for Gog-MaGog which could come in a matter of a few brief months.

I believe the above scenario could play out at almost any time.

Ezekiel does write about the Mill Temple, but he also occasionally looks back, and makes reference to the Temple in exstance during the Tribulation (Ezek 43:7-9)

As far as Jordan, they will somehow be protected during the Tribulation. There are many theories on why this will be - I personally have no clue.

The Second Coming will be predeeded by a "sign" but not the Rapture --

We are now in the generation which preceeds the Tribulation and the Second Coming. The signs were for that generation - not for the Rapture. There are no signs for the Rapture.

The fact that the Rapture hasn't happened yet tells us that it wll be soon simply because we are at the last phase of this generation - the generation that will witness the signs preceeding the Tribulation/Second Coming, and we know that we will be gathered up before the Tribulation.

Anonymous said...

And yet, stocks are UP again. it
appears that the big drop on THUR
was a dud, a fake.

Bulls refuse to quit. Current EWI
wave counts show possible BULLING
all the way back to 13,000 or higher.

IF THAT should occur, and then
stocks PROCEED to advance beyond
13, 339......I would say the "end"
is a LONG WAYS OFF.

One should be prepared for that.
Just cos everyone wants the rapture
like in 48 hours DOES NOT MEAN it
will happen.

In fact, if bulls get control
here and really push up, it could
be A VERY LONG TIME before the end.

Reality is reality, I do NOT make
the market, i only follow it.

Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mrs.C said...

Hi Dear Brother James! :)
It is so good to see you Brother! I hope all is well with your work, and family! Forgive me for the delay, but I had to feed squirrels, turn off the computer for a thunder storm, and get dinner ready which isn’t an easy or quick process for me these days! Whew! When we together look at Gods Word, we can see it wont be pretty for the ac trying to attack the fleeing Jewish Believers.
In the war of Isaiah 17 Verse 2, we see that Israel recovers at least a portion of Jordan. In Daniel Daniel 11:41 Jordan will be one of the only places that elude the Anti-Christ’s control during the Trib.
Daniel 11:41
41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

The geography of Petra, lends itself to be easily defended It has narrow passageways, that can only be accessed by foot or horseback. Revelation 12, is Gods brief narrative of the history of His People. The “woman” who represents the Remnant of the Jewish Believers flee to the desert where God Himself has prepared a place for them. Jesus in Matthew 24:15-22, is speaking to those Tribulation Jewish Believers, indicating it is the beginning of the “Great Tribulation” that occurs at Mid Trib.
The ac having just revealed himself in the Temple will be in hot pursuit of these fleeing Jewish Believers. Gods Word then tells us what happens next in Revelation 12. Just as Pharaoh was stopped, the ac will be stopped. He will then be forced to give up, and turns back to release his fury on those Jewish People that did not escape. That is why in Matthew 24, Jesus says such a dire warning to those who will not escape.

Revelation 12
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Hope this helps…

God Bless You & Yours Brother!

Waterer said...

Thank you Scott. That was very helpful. Particularly saying we are the last generation before the one who reads the signs.
Does this make a difference in what Jesus meant in His strong command to Watch, Saying again, Watch!
Sometimes , in personal practice,I follow this command alot like I watch and number my days in not knowing if I will be alive tomorrow. The Ecclesiastes kind of reasoning that keeps the Kingdom in first place rather than accomplishment.Perseverance and love. Dut often I hear us shake our heads at those who seem asleep to the growing evils. I don't think Jesus is as concerned with that kind of ignorance IF their hearts are fixed on Him and His kingdom. That's why we aren't the Judge. He alone is.

Also on Mrs. C's answer to James, it was really helpful to see the fleeing to Petra as fitting with the Matt portion. Another thought to add to this is the verse where the earth swallows up the flood that the Ac sent . At the mouth of the entrance to Petra is an enormous stone called the Moses Wadi. It is fabled as the rock which Moss struck. It has a huge gap where it broke away from itself.
In the Spring they have flash flooding and the ground swallows the water instead of flooding the very contained area of Petra. We have a book on this that we bought while in Jordan. The rock is amazing.This may be why , even though Petra is not named, it is thought to be this hiding place.

Mrs.C said...

Hi Brother Scott, :)
Just to elaborate a wee bit on your wonderful post :) We know that all of Isaiah 17 has not been fulfilled.
Isaiah 17, Verse 3 is very important.
3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.

It is Israel that destroys Damascus, and then takes captive the “remnant of Syria”. After Damascus is destroyed, there will be refugees from Syria a “remnant” that will be “as the glory of the children of Israel” – or “sons of Israel” they the remnant is under Israeli control.
Pay back is not pleasant, and Isaiah knew and witnessed the ravaging of the Israelis by the Assyrians. Isaiah tells us by this Verse, that Syria will suffer the same, as they did to the Israelis. In Verse 14, God concludes so as to speak, returning to the primary topic, Damascus. He tells us they will be destroyed, gone within less than a day. He also tells us that this is what happens to those, the Syrians, that had plundered “rob” and “spoil” His People. He is referring to what the ancient Assyrians had done to His People. Just as He will answer the Psalm 83 Prayer, with the Isaiah 17 war...all these centuries later...WOW!

Isaiah 17:14
14 And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

God Bless You Brother!

Scott said...

Waterer - just one point though (and I used to feel that way as well) - I do think that Jesus has high expectations that we'll be watching for the signs of His return. He not only mentioned it ~ 9 times in Olivet (combining Matt 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13) - but ponder this for a minute:

- In Luke 24, just after the resurrection - when speaking to the two men leaving Jerusalem for Emmaus - Jesus called them "Foolish" and "Slow of heart" not to have understood the prophecies of His death and resurrection.
- Later, in Luke 24, Jesus felt compelled to explain to the apostles "everything" about the prophecies ("Law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms).

But what speaks even louder to me is found in Luke 12, starting at verse 35...Here Jesus said we should be watching for His coming

"like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when He comes...they can immediately open the door...."

Then, in verse 37 and 38 he reminded them that it would be "good" for those servants whose master finds them ready.....But more importantly - and I think this is highly germane, is found in verse 53, where He called those followers "Hypocrites" for not understanding the signs of His first coming.

That was a VERY strong rebuke for not taking the time to understand the prophecies (after explaining that they DID take the time to understand weather signs, as such signs were important to their farming etc)

Jesus was basically saying that they cared enough about the weather signs to understand them, but they didn't even care enough about Jesus' coming to read and understand those signs...

I believe the same would apply to the coming in this generation (rapture and second coming) - as there are a LOT more prophetic scriptures reharding the Second Coming and this generation than there were for the first coming

I say this, because this has been a fairly recent epiphany in my prophecy studies - just in the last couple of years have I really understood Jesus' passion that we know and understand the prophetic scriptures

Mrs.C said...

Sister Waterer,
Thank you for that tid bit of information! That deserves a triple “WOW” factor there! Just another confirmation of Gods Word! From what I understand, Petra is in Southwest Jordan, and in the Old Testament that area is referred to as Bozrah where Petra was built.
We see our Lord, our Hero, in Isaiah 63:1, coming from Bozrah. This is a quote from someone (don’t remember who lol) from along time ago that I saved.

“Isaiah 63:1 where the Lord is shown coming from Bozrah, the region where Petra is located, having defeated His enemies there. Many scholars believe that He will do this just prior to arriving in Jerusalem at the 2nd Coming, to protect the believing remnant. “

Isaiah 63:1-6
Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—
“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.
For I have trodden them in My anger,
And trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,
And I have stained all My robes.
4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
And the year of My redeemed has come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I wondered
That there was no one to uphold;
Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me;
And My own fury, it sustained Me.
6 I have trodden down the peoples in My anger,
Made them drunk in My fury,
And brought down their strength to the earth.”

Anonymous said...

I just looked up this "MOSES" stone thing, there is a town of 26,100
there, very interesting.

And it is ALSO interesting to learn
about the future and what it brings.

BUT THEN reality must be faced.

The problem with scripture is that
it DOES NOT say when all this will
happen. I must admit, it is getting
close, but how close ??

1/2 year, 2 years ??

the word "close" can be DEFINED
in different ways of context.

and that is where EWI comes into
play. That is WHY I use it.
And as I JUST stated in my last
post, stocks are in a wave count
possible here that COULD TAKE us
way up again.

We will know next week for sure.

BUT IF BULLS do take the reigns
of the horse back, it could be
QUITE a while until the end.

sad but true.

Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Scott said...

Fascinating information here - thanks to waterer and Mrs C - seeing all of this coming together right now is beyond amazing. To be living in a 'biblical age'...wow....

One more thought to add to the above too.

The older I get the more in tune I get with our role as the bride of Christ. And I think anticipation and expectation of being in the presence of Jesus is so special. I believe the "specialness" of this is revealed in 2 Timothy 4, where those who have "longed for His appearing" will be rewarded with the Crown of Righteousness.

But the point here, in my belief, is that as the Bride, we should have the expectation and desire of being in His presence enough to know the signs....

If someone was going to have a winning lottery check delivered to their house, they'd be watching out the window for that Fed Ex truck to pull up (or whatever!) - and they would be looking for every sign that he would be pulling in the driveway (time of day for that route, day of the week, information rec'd from the lottery admins, etc...ALL of that would be familiar to the winner of the ticket.

It would seem that a Bride would have a constant and ongoing awareness of the approaching wedding date (in the case of the Jewish Bride, something that could have happened at almost any time, but particularly ~ the 1 year mark)...

I was telling someone last night at dinner that I would rather be wrong and face Jesus - saying "I looked for your return and I was incorrect about the season....But I wanted it so bad, I hoped what I saw were signs".....As opposed to

"I wasn't interested enough to watch the signs based on the scriptures that were provided"....I never noticed that we were in the season...etc...

In other words, I'd rather err in the first scenario.

Now

I'm not at ALL being critical of those who aren't paying attention. It mystifies me that people can be unaware of the signs, because they are so abundant and dramatic...

Also, I believe there are many roles for church leaders - there are many churches that are winning souls to Christ in big numbers, and to me, that is primary. I personally can't be critical of churches that are preaching the gospel and winning people to Christ - even when ignoring prophecy. (its still too bad though)

The older I get, the more my focus has been shifting to....

Scott said...

wanting to inform people because I want my brothers and sisters in Christ to share in the excitement and hope of what is coming soon....Lately, its been more of a personal thing with individuals, rather than a "teaching" exercise to groups of people, if that makes sense. I'm more compelled to have people share in watching this incredible scenario unfold and amazing hope (fulfilled) that is about to happen.

But the last thing I desire to do, to pastors and church leaders is come across to them as "this is what you should know" or "This is what you should be preaching"....In fact, I'm not even sure that would be main goal anymore. (I still wish they would preach on prophecy at least with a reasonable frequency) - but I want these individual pastors to know and understand the nearness of the hour so THEY can personally share in this excitement.

I want to tell them - "Its everything you already have in your relationship with Christ and all of the joys etc...PLUS THIS (prophetic fulfillment) - Think about your current faith on steroids!!" Because that's what awareness of the season does - its makes your relationship with Christ very centered and constant. I believe thats one of the many many reasons He wants us watching so diligently.

Waterer said...

Oh Wow to both your last posts, Scott and Mrs.C.,

Scott, I totally think He values our watching in specific too. I think what is complicating it for me is the tension between , fixing our eyes on HIM and fixing our minds above, and on thinking on what is lovely, noble of good repute. In another place Paul warns against even speaking of what the evil do it secret.And yet there are these indicators that the hour is late. The fact that Israel exists today is the biggest one for me.
Also, it has been confusing at times in studying certain portions of Scripture to read commentaries and find out historical things that without the notes would be unknown to the masses. On Damascus for instance, it was once destryed, though only a small part of what was then it's city. The commentater thought this was what the Is 17 refered to.
I am also feeling very small and inadequate for teaching Revelation this coming year. He always comes through right when I need Him, with wisdom for the moment but unlike the commands of Jesus, the things He says about Himself, the sermon on the mOunt, I have a hard time retaining prophecy. It is like Math to me. But I love HIS coming. Added to this is the frustration of never hearing teaching on this except from you. ( Such a gift and a wonderful encouragement to so many).
I too think He was disappointed and irritated with the brothers on the road to Emmaus. Partly because they tell Him that their women are now saying He is risen and it makes them look downtrodden, depressed!
WOuldn't it have made more sense if they had been hopeful, excited and wondering if what their wives said was true?They were over the DRAMA bigtime and had no idea it was just beginning!
I think I also have difficulty understanding judgment on nations for what their ancestors did when He has passed over our sins which abound! Of course for believers in Syria and Russia, the judgment has been put on Jesus. I have to remember this.
Thank you both for your comments.
We are due for a weekend retreat with Scott!!

GG said...

Thank you Dear Brothers and Sisters for kindly sharing your wisdom in these last days, hours and minutes. This part truly excites me as this time last year I was praying we all would join together as things got rough so together we can learn and grow from what is transpiring. Thank you all for filling in those gaps above :) the Isaiah 17 scenerio really is on my heart.

As a side note I would humbly like to share a recent revelation I received while we were recently on vacation. I too was one of those who wondered how others could not see what is coming. We went to a place with much diversity. The feeling I always have with the prescence of the HS was almost zapped out, like a dim flicker. We were among many but many were embedded in the spirit of self and it was a great feeling of people being herded without any regard for what was around them. We where in a very popular place known for fun and even there it seemed many were withdrawn, irritable and lacking patience with the children. This showed me this is clearly a sign of the times.

This also showed me how important God's word is about being in the body of Christ. Church offers so much and is a home I no longer will take for granted. United in the body of Christ truly does stengthen us. I was ready to get home. I love that the Lord has blessed us so but we need to be the light to the others. If our light can be heavily dimmed by the wrong types of energies in people, can you imagine the level in those who don't know of this precious gift we have received? I can see things are coming to a close and I pray I can keep making a difference to the lost before the light goes out that we are used to.

God Bless!,

GG

Caver said...

Wow!

I so seldom get the opportunity to get on here anymore...and what an interesting and enlightening set of comments to return to.

Miss Waterer, that was fascinating! Thank you. I have envisioned many times in my mind how the earth would swallow up that wall of water.

To find out that the basic geological structure is already there.....from the foundations, designed in....just blows my simpleton mind.

Just Wow! What an awesome God we serve.