Wednesday, September 15, 2010

In the news...

Today the news seems focused in two main elements of end-time prophecy, namely violence amid rumors of war, and persecution which is growing stronger by the day:

"War on Peace: Rocket Attack Near Ashdod"

Terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza escalated rocket fire Wednesday morning and fired what apparently was a Grad missile that flew over Ashkelon and exploded near Ashdod.A Kassam rocket and at least three more mortars exploded in the Eshkol region south of Ashkelon in the second round of attacks in several hours.

The attacks have brought back the era of trauma and anger that reigned over southern Israel two years ago, shortly before Israel launched the Operation Cast Lead campaign against the terrorist infrastructure in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Despite a ceasefire agreement in January 2009, Hamas and allied terrorist have attacked Israel with more than 350 rockets and mortars.


"Rocket and mortar fire from Gaza continue amidst talks"

Two mortar shells and two rockets were fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday morning in what would appear to be Hamas's attempts to fulfill threats made by the group on Tuesday promising a wave of violence meant to derail Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Two rockets were fired from Gaza several hours before the mortar attacks. A Kassam-type rocket exploded south of Ashkelon, causing no injuries or damage. Israeli security forces were searching for the location of the second rocket.

Ahmed Jaabari, leader of Hamas’ military wing, issued a rare statement threatening a wave of violence intended to derail the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on Tuesday.



PERSECUTION:

"Egyptian Christian Burned Alive; Father Murdered Also"

A young Christian man was suddenly set on fire by a Muslim man in Egypt after a rumor circulated that the Christian man had a relationship with the Muslim man’s sister.

Yasser Ahmed Qasim approached 25-year-old Sabri Shihata and poured gasoline on the Coptic Christian and then set him on fire, reported the Voice of the Copts on Friday. The young Copt tried to put out the fire by throwing himself into a nearby canal, but the burns were too severe and he later died.

His 60-year-old father, Sabri Shihata, later arrived at a village rally where a group of Muslims stabbed him to death. One stab reportedly entered his back and came out of his abdomen below the rib cage, according to Voice of the Copts. The elder Shihata was taken to the hospital but nevertheless died from the attacks.

The Muslim group also attacked the Coptic man’s younger brother, 22-year-old Rami Sabri Shihata, causing a deep injury to his head.

A media blackout has been put in place as the prosecution and the State Security Services continue investigation.

In Egypt recently, sectarian violence has been on the rise as Christian-Muslim relations have been strained by conversions to Christianity and government opposition to recognizing the conversions.


"The Exodus of Jews from Europe"

Desecration of Jewish graves, violence against Hasidic Jews on city streets and intimidation of worshippers walking home from synagogue are all on the rise in Europe causing Jews to once again flee persecution for safe haven in Israel and the United States.

Much of the increase in European anti-Semitism can be linked to the rise in Muslim population, currently at 20 million and projected to double by 2020. Since 1945, millions of Muslims have sought asylum in Europe to escape social and economic oppression in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

However, rather than learning from the dangers of intolerance that led many to make the migration in the first place, far too many Muslims have brought their hatred of Western values and the Jewish people with them to the new world.

It’s not just Muslims who are fueling the flames. While left-wing European politicians demand Jews and Christians bend over backwards to accommodate Muslim sensibilities, they remain silent regarding the virulent anti-Semitism spilling over from Islamic communities.

The same Europeans who insist the average Muslim cannot be expected to bear responsibility for the murderous campaigns carried out by Islamic extremists, openly support the notion that Muslim hatred for the Jews is perfectly understandable because of Israel and its supposed mistreatment of the Palestinians.

This same dynamic is being played throughout Europe where traditional anti-Semitism is being repackaged as “understandable” Muslim hatred for the Jewish people because of the “criminal” treatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis.


And it continues to worsen throughout Europe. The stark reality of the situation in Europe is summed up in the closing paragraph:

European Jews are waking up to the cold reality that there is no future for them in Europe, so they are leaving by the thousands. While Europeans may not be shedding any tears for the loss, they will soon wake up to the reality that like the canary in the coalmine, hatred towards the Jewish people is only the beginning. Turning a blind eye and making excuses for Muslim tyranny only serves to legitimize bigotry and violence towards others and when the Islamists run out of Jews to persecute, they will come after everyone else.


The article below represents just one small example of what is happening throughout the world, including the U.S.:

"Swastikas painted on Moldova synagogue"

Anti-Semitism in Moldova: Worshippers who arrived at the Great Synagogue in Kishinev Tuesday were stunned to discover swastikas and anti-Semitic slurs spray-painted on its walls.

This isn't the first time anti-Semitism rears its ugly head in Moldova. In Hanukkah last year, dozens of protestors led by an Orthodox minister used hammers and metal rods to shatter a Menorah placed in Kishinev over the holiday. The demonstrators chanted anti-Semitic slurs and said they "will not allow the Jews to rule Moldova," removing the Menorah and posting a cross in its place.

The incident stirred great interest in the local media, with numerous public figures expressing their shock over the anti-Semitic display.


This wave of persecution against both Christians and Jews is spreading rapidly throughout the world. As mentioned before, it is all part of the process of leading into the Tribulation. It is all part of the conditioning process. After all, one wouldn't think a switch could magically be turned on during the Tribulation - creating an environment in which people would immediately embrace the concept that anyone not taking the "Mark of the Beast" (mainly Christians and Jews) could be beheaded. That doesn't happen overnight. Sadly, this process will continue to increase as we quietly observe our brothers and sisters being put to death, imprisoned, beaten, ridiculed, marginalized, and scorned.

This is just the beginning,

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