Big Crisis = Big Change. Syria?

We've been looking at the news in terms of how big changes in direction, whether discussing a country, a union, a government or whatever - usually result from a crisis, whether real or perceived.

We have been watching the EU and its recent developments through the lens of "big crisis". The same can be said for the world's financial situation, as we watch for the evolution of a single monetary system, a single currency and a single governance.

Similarly, Syria is in the "big crisis" stage, and we may be able to anticipate some big changes coming. This is interesting prophetically, because we know that Syria will engage in significant battles/war against Israel, resulting in the destruction of Damascus (however it may happen).

Previously, we have seen articles expressing concern that Syria's Assad could attack Israel in order to shift the focus to a common enemy. Now we see the articles below:

(Thanks to James, who researched these articles and brought them to my attention)

The crisis aspect of this scenario is something that we have all been following for weeks now. This article presents a brief update:

Syrian Opposition Calls For An Armed Uprising

Leader of Revolutionary Council tell London-based As-Sharq al-Awsat that the only solution to regime's violence is armed uprising.

The leader of the Revolutionary Council of the Syrian Coordination Committees, Mohammad Rahhal, said in remarks published Sunday that the council took the decision to arm the Syrian revolution.

That is a significant escalation from an already rapidly deteriorating situation. Crisis indeed.

Also see this:

Assad Threatens 'Surprises' if Foreign Forces Attack

Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Qaddafi have fallen, but Syrian President Bashar Assad not only holds onto power but also warns he has “surprises” in store if foreign forces intervene. He did not offer detail, but Assad is suspected of stockpiling chemical weapons.

"Any action against Syria will have greater consequences, greater than they can tolerate,” said Assad in an interview.

He explained, "First, because of Syria's geopolitical location and second [because of] Syrian capabilities. They know part of it but they do not know the other parts and they will not be able to afford the results.”

And this:

US going easy on Syria out of fear it will attack Israel?

While Assad is already believed to be trying to divert attention from his lethal crackdown on protesters by encouraging Palestinians to raid the Israeli border, as occurred this past Sunday, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what Syria can do.

One intelligence assessment speaks of the possibility that, under extreme pressure – caused politically or militarily – Assad might decide to attack Israel

Instead, he would have available the thousands of ballistic missiles Syria has manufactured over the years, as well as an extensive chemical arsenal, bolstered as a replacement for the nuclear reactor Israel destroyed in 2007.

Syria is reaching a crisis very rapidly and Israel seems to be a very inviting target for their regime.

More on Syria:

Dangerously Close To War With Syria


This is yet another evolving situation that we'll be watching closely.

Sarkozy Wants EU Consensus on PA Statehood

This is very interesting for a number of reasons:

Sarkozy Wants EU Consensus on PA Statehood

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday he wants a united European Union voice on the issue of the Palestinian Authority statehood bid at the United Nations in September.

Sarkozy added that the world could not continue to leave the Israeli-PA peace process frozen while the "Arab Spring" causes change elsewhere in the region.

Up until now most EU countries have refrained from committing on how they would vote on the resolution, saying it would depend on the text of the resolution itself. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to convene an informal meeting of the EU’s 27 foreign ministers to discuss the issue on September 2.

This is a fascinating development for many of us who have been waiting for the EU to take a lead role in this entire "peace process" involving a PA State and new (indefensible) borders.

Sooner or later, the "covenant" will come from the revived Roman Empire (via the antichrist), after morphing into the 10 Kings stage. It would make sense to see this process begin - even prior to the formalization of the 10 Kings stage. We may be witnessing the beginnings of the EU assuming leadership in this process.

It is also interesting to see Mr Sarkozy taking the lead role within the EU.

Sarkozy's comments have been criticized by some commentators as being driven by a desire for Arab trade - and to silence nations who dissent from his views - rather than principle, amid fears that France's triple-A credit rating could come under threat if the European sovereign debt crisis worsens.

An even more interesting development. So now we see that there are trade benefits as well.

"This deal is enormously important. It gives more power to the Palestinians to trade directly with the EU. And it's a signal of good will from the international community that comes at an important time," said Maria Eleni Koppa, a Greek socialist lawmaker who led the committee's discussion on the issue.

We need to keep an eye on this. It wouldn't be surprising to see the world looking more towards Europe for a solution to the Middle East rather than the U.S. That would represent a big but necessary change - as stated, sooner or later the revived Roman Empire will finalize this deal through their leader. It won't be the U.S.

We may be seeing the beginnings of this necessary change.

In the news:

The search for a new global monetary system

Columbia University’s Robert Mundell, whose thinking contributed to the intellectual foundation of the euro zone, is in high demand here at the Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences for obvious reasons. He’s taking advantage of the attention to propose a new international monetary system.

Big financial crises are a prewar and a contemporary phenomenon: they were relatively common before the Second World War, and they are a regular feature of the global economy of the last few decades.

However, Prof. Mundell is equating the treasury secretary’s intellectual curiosity with a willingness to upend U.S. currency policy. The G20 will discuss reform of the monetary system at its summit in Cannes, France in November

Wall Street, September 17: 'Beginning of the Global Revolution?

The “Anonymous” anarchists are joining the planned occupation of Wall Street, beginning September 17.
It says, “flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months … Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices.”

The September 17 protest is not confined to Wall Street. It is part of an international coordinated attack on the planet’s major financial centers. These people, if they can, want to shut down all major Western financial trading.

Double-dip fears across the West as confidence crumbles

The Western world is at mounting risk of a double-dip recession after key measures of confidence collapsed in both the United States and Europe, with Germany suffering the steepest one-month fall since records began in the 1970s.

The US Conference Board's index of consumer sentiment in August plunged to the lowest level since the depths of the slump in 2009, falling to 44.5 from 59.2 in July. Future expectations fell even harder.
The drop was far steeper than expected and follows grim warnings over the weekend from Christine Lagarde, new chief of the International Monetary Fund, that the global crisis is entering "a dangerous new phase" .

Stephen Jen from SLJ Macro Partners said the next phases of the eurozone crisis is likely to come when the debtor states conclude that it is no longer worth putting up with the pain of EU-imposed austerity. "I think this will happen in weeks rather than months."

25 Signs That The Financial World Is About To Hit The Big Red Panic Button

Most of the worst financial panics in history have happened in the fall. Just recall what happened in 1929, 1987 and 2008. Well, September 2011 is about to begin and there are all kinds of signs that the financial world is about to hit the big red panic button. Wave after wave of bad economic news has come out of the United States recently, and Europe is embroiled in an absolutely unprecedented debt crisis.

Will Katia Be A Threat for the East Coast?

Katia (pronounced KAH-tyah according to the National Hurricane Center) became a tropical storm early Tuesday morning after first forming as a tropical depression south of the Cape Verde Islands Monday morning.
The storm is moving over very warm sea surface temperatures and into an area with weaker winds aloft. These factors have allowed Katia to strengthen into a strong tropical storm as of early this morning.

Fukushima Is Continually Blasting...High Levels of Cesium, Strontium And Plutonium

Fukushima is now far and away the worst nuclear disaster in all of human history. Chernobyl was a Sunday picnic compared to Fukushima and the amount of cesium-137 released at Fukushima this year so far is equivalent to 168 Hiroshima bombs. The crisis at Fukushima is far, far worse than you have been told. We are talking about multiple self-sustaining nuclear meltdowns that will not be fully contained for years. In an attempt to keep people calm, authorities in Japan (and around the rest of the world as well) have lied and lied and lied.

Iran Inches Closer to Nuclear Weapons

Iran has acknowledged that it possesses new technologies that could bring it closer to developing nuclear weapons and more advanced missiles. The international community is finding it more and more difficult to restrain Tehran, and increasing the country's political and technological isolation could have dire consequences.

Iran is now capable of producing carbon-plastic composite materials in violation of UN sanctions. Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Wahidi said his country is among ten nations in the world that can manufacture them. Associated Press quoted Wahidi as saying that this new capability will eliminate a bottleneck in Iran's production of modern military systems.

Earthquake aftershocks roll on

August is ending. Hurricane Irene has left the Washington area. The big earthquake was eight days ago. But its aftershocks linger on.

So far, it appears, there have been 19 of them. The most recent, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, came at 9:27 a.m. Tuesday. Its magnitude was 2.1, far less than the 5.8 quake on Aug. 23 that has set off the repeated shaking.

Comet Elenin Breaking Apart?

A new report is in at TheWeatherSpace.com and the report states that Comet Elenin is dimming and falling apart.

"I can confirm with many other astronomers that Elenin will not make perihelion this Fall," Art Powell from Florida says. "Elenin's coma is becoming elongated and this means it is falling apart."

Comets are fragile ice rocks that can; and do break apart.

Did Massive Explosion Disintegrate Comet Elenin?

This video is fascinating. I have no idea what it means.

IDF beefing up defenses in south after intelligence warnings of terror attack

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz ordered the reinforcement of forces all along the border, from the Gaza Strip to the Gulf of Eilat, on Sunday night, following concrete intelligence that a number of cells of militants had entered Sinai through tunnels in Rafah, aiming to carry out attacks on Israeli territory.

PA UN state bid more dangerous than threats from Hamas

Finance minister says Israel is unquestionably opposed to Palestinian move, no one can stop Abbas from petitioning the UN; Steinitz: Palestinians want to get state without giving anything to Israel.

New fighting in Libya as Gaddafi loyalists refuse to surrender

Loyal followers of Muammar Gaddafi are refusing to surrender to those who have forced him into hiding, raising the prospect of new fighting in Libya when an ultimatum expires after this week's Eid holiday.

Nato warplanes have been bombing Gaddafi forces near Sirte, and the alliance has assured its Libyan allies that it will keep up its military drive from the air for an end to the conflict - something the council leadership says will only be secured once Gaddafi is found, "dead or alive".

Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who as Gaddafi's justice minister until turning against him this year has had ample opportunity to observe the survival instincts of one of the world's longest ruling autocrats, warned again on Tuesday:

"Muammar Gaddafi is not finished yet."

"He still poses a threat to Libyans and the revolution. He still has pockets of support in Libya and supporters outside Libya, both individuals and countries," Abdel Jalil said in the council's eastern stronghold of Benghazi.

Warships to the Red Sea

Today we see yet another interesting development in the region:

'Iran deploys submarine, warship to the Red Sea'

Iran is planning to send its 15th fleet, comprised of a submarine and a warship, to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, semi-official news agency Press TV quoted Iranian naval commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying on Tuesday.

The announcement came after the IDF modified the operational doctrine of the Navy Command Center in Eilat which is responsible for protecting southern Israel from threats originating in the Red Sea. On Monday, two large Navy corvettes were seen docked in Eilat, likely for anti-terror and smuggling operations in the Red Sea.

Sayari stated that the purpose of the Iranian deployment is to patrol in the high seas and display the great capabilities of the Islamic Republic.

Iran to dispatch submarine, warship to Red Sea

Tehran's Russian-provided submarines have caused concern in the United States, which considers them a threat to the strategic balance in the volatile Persian Gulf region.

Report: Israel sends 2 warships to Egyptian border

The Israeli Navy (INF) has decided to boost its presence and patrols near Israel's maritime border with Egypt due to a viable terror threat in the area.

Israeli security sources told the Associated Press on Tuesday that two additional warships have been dispatched to Israel's Red Sea border with Egypt.

On Monday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz ordered that deployment across the entire southern sector be bolstered, especially in the area near the Israel-Egypt border, following intelligence indicating an imminent threat.

The area adjacent to the border has become the scene of military deployment described by one security source as "unprecedented." The IDF has also deployed advanced technology in the area in order to thwart terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Iran's Press TV reported Tuesday that Tehran has decided to dispatch the 15th fleet to the Red Sea once more.

This Middle East continues to march towards war, as every day now we are reading similar stories of - not only the arms build-up, but the posturing and rhetoric has definitely taken a downward turn as well.

This power-keg will blow, its just a matter of time. From the looks of things it won't be long.

News for a Day

Today we have the kind of news day in which you want to take a step back and see the "big picture", as the variety of news hits so many different prophetic themes that we follow:

'Iranian anti-tank missile may fall into terrorists' hands'

Israel is concerned that a new anti-tank missile that Iran has begun manufacturing will be transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, defense officials said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi inaugurated a new production line of the 73 millimeter missile, which he said has a range of over 1,000 meters and can penetrate 300 mm. of reinforced steel, according to Iranian news reports.

Ahmadinejad Calls Holocaust a "Big Lie" Amid Public Rallies

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that the Holocaust was a “big lie” used to justify establishing the state of Israel.

“The Zionist regime’s establishment was based on numerous deceptions and lies and one of the biggest lies was the Holocaust,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech after an anti-Israeli Qods day rally in Tehran and other Iranian cities.

The crowd at the university greeted the president’s remarks with cries of Allahu Akbar, meanting God is great, and by chanting anti-Israel slogans.

'Ten Terrorists About to Attack from Sinai'

A terror cell with more than 10 members is in the Sinai desert and will soon attempt to infiltrate into Israel, according to the Minister for Homeland Defense, Matan Vilnai.

Large security forces have spread out along Israel's border with Egypt and highways 10 and 12 have been sealed off for civilian traffic.

IDF training Israeli settlers ahead of 'mass disorder' expected in September

The IDF is currently in the process of finalizing its preparations for Operation Summer Seeds, whose purpose is to ready the army for September and the possibility of confrontations with Palestinians following the expected vote in favor of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly.

U.N. Agency Warns of Possible Bird Flu Resurgence

The United Nations warned of a possible major resurgence of bird flu and said a mutant strain of the H5N1 virus was spreading in Asia and elsewhere.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday urged increased surveillance and preparation for a potential outbreak of the virus, which it says has infected 565 people since it first appeared in 2003, killing 331 of them.

He said the appearance of a variant strain of the virus in China and Vietnam was a concern, because it appeared to be able to sidestep the defenses of existing vaccines.

UN warns new strain of bird flu is spreading in Asia

Tropical depression forms in the far eastern Atlantic, may threaten the Caribbean

Tropical Depression Twelve formed in the far eastern Atlantic on early Monday morning, forecasters said. The depression is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later this week, after which it may threaten the Caribbean.

New Storm Track: Not Again?!

Euro bail-out in doubt as 'hysteria' sweeps Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel no longer has enough coalition votes in the Bundestag to secure backing for Europe's revamped rescue machinery, threatening a consitutional crisis in Germany and a fresh eruption of the euro debt saga.

If the court rules that the €440bn rescue fund (EFSF) breaches Treaty law or undermines German fiscal sovereignty, it risks setting off an instant brushfire across monetary union.

Mrs Merkel's aides say she is facing "war on every front". The next month will decide her future, Germany's destiny, and the fate of monetary union.

Al-Qaeda Army Seizes Control of Tripoli

Senior Al-Qaeda commander Abd Al-Hakim Belhadj and his 1000-strong Islamist fighting group have seized control of key Gaddafi strongholds in Tripoli and are refusing to transfer power over to the western-backed National Transitional Council, prompting accusations that the NATO-led act of regime change in Libya has resulted in the creation of a new home base for the terrorist group.

Belhadj is a committed jihadist who fought against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
DebkaFile, the intelligence-gathering outlet that successfully predicted the precise time frame of last weekend’s assault on Tripoli, reports that Belhadj and his army of terrorist fighters have seized control of Gaddafi strongholds.

'Exterminate Christians, close Pyramids, Sphinx'

A rising leader in the radical Islamic movement in Egypt that has become a major political player since the demise of Hosni Mubarak's regime says Christian churches may need to be blown up and Christians exterminated to allow the advance of Islamic law, or Shariah.

The comments come from Sheik 'Adel Shehato, a senior leader with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. The sheik was jailed in 1991 because of his positions but was released earlier this year in the revolution that removed Mubarak from power.

"The Christian is free to worship his God in his church, but if the Christians make problems for the Muslims, I will exterminate them. I am guided by the Shariah, and it stipulates that they must pay the jizya tax while in a state of humiliation."

"We say to the Christians, convert to Islam or pay the jizya, otherwise we will fight you. The Shariah is not based on logic but on divine law. That is why we oppose universal, manmade constitutions."

Who Is Behind The 'US Day Of Rage' Against Wall Street?

What, exactly, is a “US Day of Rage?” Well, on September 17th we may find out for certain, but until then, The Blaze is revealing what information does exist about this very nefarious-sounding campaign.

A US Day of Rage is the title given to a day of ostensibly “non-violent” civil disobedience orchestrated by a group of radicals — that reportedly include SEIU’s Stephen Lerner and ACORN founder Wade Rathke (who, coincidentally, formerly served as president of SEIU’s local New Orleans branch) — targeting Wall Street and U.S. capitalism. It’s worth noting that the title of the movement — if its intentions are indeed non-violent in nature — appears to contradict itself slightly

Now, the US Day of Rage protests, staged by a collective of activist groups allegedly in conjunction with Lerner and Rathke, are planning the actual “occupation” of Wall Street September 17, complete with a tent city set smack-dab in the middle of Manhattan’s financial district.

But if a group of enraged activists — endorsed by the likes of Stephen Lerner — occupying Wall Street with tent cities were not enough — it actually gets worse. The term “Day of Rage” finds origin in “Days of Rage,“ a violent set of riots waged in Chicago in 1969 by the Weathermen’s Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.

As We Enter September

Hal Lindsey's weekly video update provides a very interesting summary of recent events in the Middle East - this is a good one and well worth a look:

Weekly Update

More War Preparations in the Middle East

Its amazing how fast the news is coming in right now. At least we have a little break from earthquake news, but the focus shifts to the Middle East. Just notice how much is in the news regarding war preparations, coupled with terrorists getting more and more threatening weapons:

'Gaza gets anti-aircraft, anti-tank rockets from Libya'

Palestinians in Gaza have acquired anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets from Libya during its six-month civil war, enlarging but not significantly improving their arsenal, Israeli officials said on Monday.

Israeli officials have detected an inflow of SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), said one official, describing an overland supply route that opened up between eastern Libya -- after it fell to the rebels -- and the Gaza Strip via Egypt.

Worries grow over fate of Syrian chemical weapons

Assad regime may have world's largest stockpile of chemical warheads, which experts say could fall into terrorists' hands.

The Washington Post reported Monday some weapons experts believe Syria to have the world’s largest chemical stockpile, much of it acquired from the Soviet Union starting in the 1970s.

The newspaper cited CIA estimates that Damascus has a large store of mustard-gas and sarin-based warheads (sarin is a lethal nerve agent, even in minute quantities) and is developing VX, an even deadlier chemical that resists breaking down in the environment.

A 2009 CIA report found Syria has had a chemical weapons program “for many years and already has a stockpile of CW agents, which can be delivered by aircraft, ballistic missiles and artillery rockets.”

“We are very concerned about the status of Syria’s WMD, including chemical weapons,” Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, told The Wall Street Journal this week. “Together with the US administration, we are watching this situation very carefully.”

Is it possible that Damascus 'ceases to exist' as a city due to a chemical weapon accident? Just food for thought.

Gaza Terror Groups Acquire Weapons from Libya

Terror groups based in Gaza have acquired anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets from Libya during its six-month civil war, Israeli officials told Reuters on Monday.

They noted, however, that an inflow of SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) has been detected as entering Gaza. One official described an overland supply route that opened up between eastern Libya, after it fell to the rebels, and the Gaza Strip via Egypt.

IDF remains on high alert in south

IDF forces stationed in the southern sector and on the Israel-Egypt border remained on high alert Monday night, as military intelligence indicated a viable terror threat in the area.

The southern sector, and especially the area adjacent to the border, has been virtually flooded with military forces, deployed in a manner defined by one security source as "unprecedented."

Rocket fire on southern Israel continues

Rocket explodes near Eshkol Regional Council despite Gaza group's proclaimed ceasefire. Radical Islamist terror group Tawhid al-Jihad claims act

Also Sunday, a Grad missile landed in the Bnei Shimon Regional Council not far from Beersheba.

And we are seeing more and more regarding upcoming demonstrations in September after the UN vote:

Palestinian rallies may follow statehood bid

Mass Palestinian demonstrations, with the potential to devolve into violence, are a likely result of the UN vote on Palestinian statehood, Kadima MK Yohanan Plesner said on Monday.

The entire situation around the epicenter continues to escalate. In fact, it has been a long time since we've seen such a prolonged escalation in violence and the "arab spring' seems to have created a lot more instability in the region, in addition to even more of an anti-Israeli sentiment.

September is almost here. It promises to be very interesting.

Rumors of War

It seems that the rumors of war are in the news daily in and around Israel, as the terror attacks continue - while Israel braces for more:

South Tel Aviv: 8 hurt in terror attack outside nightclub

Eight people were injured in south Tel Aviv early Monday morning, when a terrorist from the West Bank carjacked a taxi and rammed it into a police road block protecting a Tel Aviv nightclub, before going on a stabbing spree.

Police said the terrorist, a 20-year-old Nablus resident, entered a taxi near the beginning of Salameh Street, and hijacked the vehicle, stabbing the driver in the hand. He then drove for approximately a kilometer down Salameh Street towards the Haoman 17 nightclub, which was filled with high school children at an end-of-summer party. At the time of the attack, almost all of the teenagers were inside the club.

"He then got out of the car, screamed Allah Akbar [God is Great], and went on a knife attack," a police spokeswoman said.

Also see:

PA Terror Attack in Tel Aviv Was Aimed At 2,000 Teens

Terror Alert in South, IDF Beefs up Forces

The IDF has beefed up its presence in the south amid a report that Islamic Jihad terrorists from Gaza are planning to attack from the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and bordering Israel.

The Sinai always has been an area which Bedouin tribes and terrorists – some of them Bedouin and some of them Arab terrorists from Egypt and Gaza – have tried to control. They have staked out more claims of sovereignty since the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The latest terror alert comes almost two weeks after the murder of eight Israelis in multiple terrorist attacks near the Ovdat Airport on Highway 12, approximately half an hour northwest of Eilat.

A Terror Attack Every Two Days

In the 10 days after Palestinian raiders killed eight Israelis on the Eilat highway on Aug. 18, Israel has suffered five terrorist attacks, the latest in Tel Aviv Sunday night which targeted a big teenagers' back-to- school party.

Since then, Israel has received a specific warning that another attack is building up fast: A Jihad Islami team has departed the Gaza Strip for Sinai where it has set up another multiple attack from the Egyptian border on southern Israel.

Sunday night, dire security concerns closed two national highways, 12 and 10, to traffic, suspending the road links between northern Israel and the South – causing major disruptions in the entire affective region.

Since last week, Jerusalem has been on high terror alert level. Various signs of preparation for several attacks in the capital were spotted by security forces at sensitive locations.

Barak: We won't tolerate terror attacks in our daily lives

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday assessed the current security situation following a terror attack in Tel Aviv and the threat of another attack near Gaza and said "we won't tolerate terror attacks that affect daily life in Tel Aviv or the country as a whole."

"We are on high alert in the South with the potential of a further terror attack similar to the one that took place ten days ago," Barak said during a visit to Ashkelon.

In other news around the world:

The Mystery of Comet Elenin

Astronomers and other outer space experts are speaking out on a comet expected to make a close call with colliding into Earth later this year. The consequences could be dire, so why are so many people unaware of it?

“I think it’s worth a raised eyebrow” says author Brooks Agnew. He’s done a lot of research on Elenin and tells RT that there are some rather strange coincidences regarding the comet that people should take into consideration.

Agnew says that NASA calls the comet just “a harmless little fuzzball of ice” that won’t come within more than 20 million miles from Earth. Others, he says, are claiming that this comet should raise concern since it doesn’t look like a comet, doesn’t act like a comet and is coming from outside of the area where most comets are accustomed to originate out of.

“There are a lot of things about this comet that don’t make sense,” Agnew says.

Another thing raising concern for the author is that another large asteroid is expected to come close to Earth around the same time. Coincidentally, he says, a new emergency alert system has been announced to debut the same day that asteroid will rock right by our planet.

Nationwide EAS Test to Last About 3 Minutes

More technical details about the upcoming national EAS test are trickling out of the FCC.

For one thing, the commission is confirming that the test on Nov. 9 will last for about three minutes, something of an eternity in modern-day radio.

The FCC says that during the test, FEMA will originate a “live” Emergency Action Notification code to all EAS participants, including radio and TV stations, cable systems, Sirius XM, satellite TV providers and wireline video service providers.

As part of the test, the public will be told the EAS has been activated for a national emergency, along with an audible notice that “this is a test.”

It looks like another asteroid will pass by earth just after Elenin passes by:

Huge Asteroid to Pass Near Earth in November

Mark your calendars for an impressive and upcoming flyby of an asteroid that’s one of the larger potentially perilous space rocks in the heavens – in terms of smacking the Earth in the future.

It’s the case of asteroid 2005 YU55, a round mini-world that is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) in diameter. In early November, this asteroid will approach Earth within a scant 0.85 lunar distances. [Photo of Asteroid 2005 YU55]

“The close Earth approach of 2005 YU55 on Nov. 8, is unusual since it is close and big. On average, one wouldn’t expect an object this big to pass this close but every 30 years,” said Don Yeomans, manager of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Massive asteroid hurtling towards Earth

A massive asteroid will fly within the moon's orbit narrowly missing Earth later this year.

The space rock, called YU55, will hurtle past our planet at a distance of just 201,700 miles during its closest approach on November 8.

That is closer to Earth than the moon, which orbits 238,857miles away on average.
With a width of some 400metres and weighing 55million tons, YU55 will be the largest object to ever approach Earth so close.

And lets not forget Europe:

Polish finance minister says Europe at risk of "collapse"

Polish finance minister Jacek Rostowski has said the EU could "collapse" if leading countries such as Germany mishandle the financial crisis.

Speaking in Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza on Monday (29 August), the minister said: "European elites, including German elites, must decide if they want the euro to survive - even at a high price - or not. If not, we should prepare for a controlled dismantling of the currency zone."

He added: "We have a simple choice: Solidarity or the collapse of Europe."

In the news:

Just a few interesting articles today:

Once again, we see an article which describes what is really going on in terms of Israel and the so-called 'peace deal":

How can the MSM continue to ignore these obvious truths?

Palestinian leader: No to a 'Jewish state'

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday delivered a fiery speech to Islamic clerics in Ramallah during which he warned the international community not to demand that he recognize Israel as the "Jewish state."

The international community "cannot force us to recognize the nature of the Israeli state," declared Abbas. "Do not force us to recognize a Jewish state. We will not accept it."

One of Israel's chief demands since the peace process started in 1993 has been that the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Most Israelis would argue that only by doing so can they feel confident that the Arabs have relinquished their quest to destroy Israel.

Uh, really?

Almost the entire world, as influenced by the MSM, considers that Israel represents the obstruction to peace in the Middle East. Yet - the very groups with whom Israel is expected to "negotiate" - refuses to accept that Israel has a right to exist.

And almost no one in the MSM EVER recognizes this inconvenient fact.

How bizarre and frankly, supernatural. The whole premise is so absurd, its almost laughable - yet, we continue to see day to day, minute to minute - the pundits telling us that Israel obstructs peace while ignoring the fact that the same people continue to call for the complete destruction of Israel. It has to be something 'supernatural' as there is no other explanation.

Abbas also stated once again that he will not accept absorbing millions of so-called "Palestinian refugees" into a new Palestinian state. Despite being labeled a "moderate," Abbas has been a champion of the hard-line position that Israel must open its borders to these millions of Arabs, thus demographically destroying the Jewish state.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Abbas' defiant speech was just further proof of the true nature of the Palestinian statehood bid scheduled for the UN in September.

"Countries around the world must make it clear to Abbas that the only way the Palestinians will be able to have a state is by stopping their attempt to destroy the only Jewish state in the world," Lieberman told reporters.

Of course, you will never see the article below in the MSM:

Israel saves Palestinians from Palestinian rockets

As Palestinian rockets and mortar shells continued to be fired at southern Israel over the weekend - despite reports of an internationally-brokered ceasefire - Israeli soldiers found themselves not only needing to protect their own, but Palestinian civilians as well.

Late Thursday night, Gaza-based terrorists opened up a fresh mortar attack on the Erez Crossing border terminal between Gaza and southern Israel. Three Palestinian women and two infants were passing through the terminal as the shells began to fall. They had been in southern Israel for medical treatment at an Israeli hospital.

Did you notice that little footnote there?

"They had been in southern Israel for medical treatment at an Israeli hospital"...

There is more:

The attack caused a power outage that meant the electronic gates at the terminal could not open. This after two of the women had already passed through, but leaving one woman and her baby trapped between two gates.
Israeli soldiers stationed at the crossing acted quickly to free the trapped woman and her child before more shells hit the building. All three women and their infants were then rushed to an adjacent bomb shelter, where they were provided with a meal for the end of their daily Ramadan fast.

The entire incident belies the typical portrayal of Israel and its soldiers as bloodthirsty and desirous of nothing more than to see Palestinian Arabs suffer.

Scan the main MSM publications and see if you can find the article above...Good luck.

Meanwhile, Israel is still under siege:

Ceasefire? Two More Rockets Explode in Southern Israel

Despite the ceasefire that was announced by the Gaza-based terrorist groups on Thursday, terrorists fired two rockets at the southern Israel on Friday evening.

Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the other terror groups in the Gaza Strip declared another ceasefire with Israel late Thursday night. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Egypt and the UN, and according to it, rocket fire from Gaza at Israel was to have stopped at 1:00 p.m. local time on Friday. Both the attacks on Ashkelon and on Sha’ar Hanegev happened long after that deadline passed.

As stated yesterday, the intent seems to be to bomb Israel - declare ceasefire - and hope that Israel counter-attacks so that the headlines can read "Israel attacks Palestinians during ceasefire". What an inviting headline for the MSM and the terrorists. We'll see.

Below, we see further consolidation of the Gog-MaGog coalition:

Pro-Al Qaeda brigades control Qaddafi Tripoli strongholds seized by rebels

Certainly Qaddafi was no choir boy - we know that. But he did have a relatively stable government. Now we have a radical Islamic group taking control (just as seen in Egypt) - which is the perfect set-up for the ultimate goal of attacking Israel. That will come a little later.

Members of the Al Qaeda-linked Libyan Islamic Fighting Group – LIFG, are in control of the former strongholds of Muammar Qaddafi captured by Libyan rebels last Sunday

The LIFG chief now styles himself "Commander of the Tripoli Military Council." Asked by our sources whether they plan to hand control of the Libyan capital to the National Transitional Council, which has been recognized in the West, the jihadi fighters made a gesture of dismissal without answering.

No Western or Libyan military force can conceive of dislodging the Islamists from the Libyan capital in the foreseeable future.
Libya has thus created a new model which can only hearten the Islamist extremists eyeing further gains from the Arab Revolt. They may justly conclude that NATO will come to their aid for a rebellion to topple any autocratic Arab ruler.

Perhaps more importantly, we see the following statement which should be bolded and separated:

For the first time, therefore, the armies of Western members of NATO took part directly in a bid by extremist Islamic forces to capture an Arab capital and overthrow its ruler.

Its amazing how all of this is coming together, just as a prophecy scholar would anticipate. The radical (anti-Israeli) Islamic elements are gaining control of northern Africa - as we see the overall plans to destroy Israel coming together. The prophet Ezekiel revealed this coalition in Ezekiel 38-39.

We also see "the nations" supporting these efforts - whether by intent or not - it doesn't matter, because the end result remains the same: A more and more powerful and devout anti-Israel coalition is rapidly forming.

When we watch these events - whether in northern Africa or regions immediately surrounding Israel - we cannot forget that Israel is ultimately the centerpiece of everything we see. That is what the Bible tells us.

After all, Israel is the epicenter of the world in these last days, exactly as the prophets foretold.

"Responsibility to Protect" and America's Fall

Its nice to see that I'm not the only one focused on this new U.S. doctrine which has been labeled "Responsibility to Protect". This was the entire basis for illegally entering into war with Libya. As stated before, this seems the perfect excuse for external forces to come into Israel and mandate whatever new borders are ultimately determined - quite possibly at the time of "confirming the covenant" of Daniel 9:27.

Panetta and R2P to Usher in the American Fall

Leon Panetta wasted no time once he became the US Defense Secretary advancing the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine and simultaneously moving forward with massive defense cuts meant to neuter our military defenses and leave America weak and vulnerable on the international battle field.

He shares a vision with Barack Obama of our military morphing from a true defense force into more of an international police force under the United Nations through R2P. Our nuclear capabilities will be massively cut back in favor of stronger ground, air and naval forces.

Below, we can see that the doctrine has survived its first test run:

From The US Department of Defense:

MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 23, 2011 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today called U.S. support for the NATO mission that’s helping opposition forces make progress against Moammar Gadhafi’s regime Libya an example of the international cooperation that will be critical in the future.

“It is a good indication of the kind of partnership and alliances that we need to have for the future if we are going to deal with the threats that we confront in today’s world,” Panetta told students during addresses at both the Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

And more ominously, we see this quote:

The Arab Spring, the name given to recent revolutions for democracy throughout the Middle East, is bringing change and in many cases, turmoil to the region, Panetta said. But it also offers “a chance to make that part of the world a better region, one that enjoys some of the values and some of the reforms and some of the political opportunities that we have in this country,” he said.

Savor that last paragraph for a minute. The Arab Spring was something this administration wanted. It was meant to begin a worldwide leveling of the political playing field so that a global government could assume the reins of power, with a chosen few at the helm.

That makes one wonder - was it envisioned that the most radical Islamic groups would assume power in these regions?

Attacking Libya was unconstitutional, period. We attacked a country with no provocation, whose brutal reign pales in comparison with Iran’s evil empire and others in the Middle East. Libya was a military R2P testing ground and Obama and Panetta have found it very good indeed for their purposes.

Although the MSM is blacking out news on Yemen, we are getting involved there as well:

But wait, there’s more! Yep, we are embroiled in another conflict in Yemen. What’s that you say? You hadn’t heard? What’s the media good for? Absolutely nothing!

From The Daily Bell:

The US is now involved in almost innumerable wars in the Middle East, but most have been reported in one way or another. This one has not been fully vetted as it continues to expand. Unconstitutional, secretive and expanding in scope and violence, it includes the massive, violent projection of US naval, air and Special Forces into parts of Yemen.

It is no skirmish but a coordinated, daily attack against hostile forces that supposedly include a number of “al Qaeda” (whatever they are) protected by local tribesman in the south of Yemen who have rebelled against President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime. It involves considerable military effort and expenditure of what must be a US task force that includes sea, air and land power.

So, now you can add Yemen to the list of conflicts the US is up to its eyeballs in, along with Libya, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Syria. Just how long do you think we can do this?

Now we turn back to Israel:

And for dessert this Fall, Israel. If the UN gives Palestine its own state, and I believe they will, Obama will stand with the UN, for the good of the planet don’tcha know. Americans will not stand with their government on this. It’s obvious to me that Obama will use R2P to try and eradicate Israel. Israel will fight back – every American needs to decide, and now, where they stand on this. I stand with Israel.

The breadth and depth of Obama’s lawlessness is not only the height of arrogance, it is staggering in its evil scope. No one is stopping him. No voice is rising above his. If we don’t stop this soon, we will lose to a totalitarian regime and a new world order. Congress is toothless and the Constitution is being bypassed. As evil grows in America and around the globe, I keep wondering when will Americans stand up and say this must stop?

Responsibility to Protect. This sounds exactly like a mantra that we will hear more and more in the coming months - and when it involves Israel, it can be referred to as something that "works", based on the Libya experience.

When you start hearing our political leaders using this terminology when discussing the situation in Israel - then we will know that we have reached a stage of prophetic developments in which the beginning of the Tribulation is very close. But not as close as the gathering of the Church Saints.

As they say "When you begin to see Christmas decorations being put up, you'll know that Thanksgiving is near".

So be it. When we see the Tribulation approaching, we know that the Rapture of the Church is near.

Maranatha!

A Dose of Reality II

Three very interesting articles are seen today and they are all related as we seek a dose of reality.

FINALLY we can see "the bottom line" regarding the "PA Statehood" bid to the UN that we have been following. It really boils down to a simple extortion scheme:

Abbas: 1967 lines, settlements freeze could stop UN bid

In other words, the message to Israel is this:

- Concede indefensible borders which would allow for our "real' goal - the complete destruction of Israel - or we will get it done directly through the UN, and THEN we will destroy Israel.

From the article:

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday set two conditions for abandoning his plan to ask the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state in September: acceptance of the 1967 lines as the basis for a two-state solution and a cessation of settlement construction.

"We want to fulfill our dream of achieving official recognition of our Palestinian state with full sovereignty over the territories occupied in 1967 and a full membership in the UN."

He said that the Palestinians were going to the UN after having conducted "thorough" consultations with experts and politicians, as well as Arab countries.

At least they are finally coming out and essentially admitting their extortion plans, are just that - extortion plans. In so many words.

Then, we see this article:

Iran Plans to Include Egypt in Terror Axis

Egypt is an interesting story. It has always been assumed that Egypt would be an important player, covertly or overtly, in the Psalm 83-Isaiah 17 scenario, but it seemed hard to believe up until the "Arab Spring" gave rise to the political changes seen in Egypt - with a Muslim Brotherhood takeover (almost complete now) and the most toxic anti-Israeli sentiment we have seen in Egypt in years.

Iran was working behind the scenes to ensure they had yet another partner in the quest to destroy Israel and those plans are now under completion:

Iran has announced it will renew relations with the new Egyptian regime by sending an ambassador to Cairo in several months.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the move will come as soon as the new provisional military regime in Egypt says it is ready to renew diplomatic ties that were severed in 1979 after Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

Cairo’s Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi said last April that the new regime is ready to "open a new page" in relations with Iran.

“We are certain that [bilateral] relations will improve in future,” Salehi said on Saturday, according to the government’s Press TV.

Well, of course. This is exactly the scenario that we would expect based upon our knowledge of biblical prophecy.

Almost every element of the coming wars has come together now:

A northern axis of Iran, Hizbullah-dominated Lebanon and Syria already threatens Israel from the north. Adding Egypt, which is under growing influence by the Muslim Brotherhood, to the terror axis would be a bonanza for Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Precisely what we would expect.

Isn't it amazing how every single element of biblical prophecy - without exception - is coming together as biblical propkecy would dictate?

In addition to the above, Caroline Glick has another timely piece and it is well worth reading. It is tempting to post multiple quotes, but her following closing paragraphs are best and worth repeating as often as possible:

Column One: Glenn Beck's revealing visit

Israel’s media didn’t come to their hatred of Beck on their own. Most of it is fueled by American Jewish leftists. Beck ran afoul of the liberal American Jewish establishment through his outspoken attacks on George Soros. In January, Beck ran several shows on Soros, the extremist leftist anti-American and anti-Zionist global financier who has given more than $100 million to radical leftist groups.

Among other things, Beck ran a 1998 interview that Soros gave to CBS News’s Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes. During the course of the interview, Soros admitted that as a boy in Nazi occupied Hungary he collaborated with the Nazis in confiscating Jewish property. Beck dwelled on Soros’s statement and his stated lack of guilt for his actions. Beck considered its impact on the shaping of Soros’s personality.

But in truth the media’s embrace of Israel’s enemies, their rejection of Beck, and most important Beck’s refusal to bow to their conventional wisdom that Israel’s enemies should be praised and its friends should be condemned all reveal the reason that Christian Zionists can be trusted and embraced by Israelis.

And this one should be bolded and framed:

Christian Zionists – like Jewish religious Zionists – are unmoved by the media’s intimidation because of their faith in God, and their reliance on scripture. Their faith provides them with a means of judging reality that is independent of the largely post-religious intellectual commissariat that runs the media and the cultural elite in the Western world. They don’t seek or care about receiving the accolades of the New York Times or other post-religious totems for their actions. And Beck’s message to Israelis is that we shouldn’t care either.

Amen, amen, amen.

With faith in God - the only thing that matters is how God Himself judges us and our actions - and as a result, the media, the 'pundits', the professors, the 'culteral elite', the aggressive political hacks down the street, etc., simply don't matter to we Christians.

We serve only one God and we concern ourselves only with His view of the world.

And that terrifies the MSM.

Therefore we must be destroyed - and the use of ridicule, mockery, sarcasm, and efforts to paint us as stupid and unenlightened are then employed.

Their usual manipulations, application of pressure points, intimidation, use of 'political correctness' as a form of coersion, and all the other methods so commonly used simpy don't work with true, God-fearing Christians.

That is precisely why we see them continue to demonize honest, strong Christian women such as Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann (just to name two).

One more idea seems obvious.

As long as "we" are around this planet, it would be almost impossible for their delusional utopia to come to completion - a world government led by a world dictator - a world which would, theoretically, bring complete utopia to the entire planet, since government is the answer in a Godless society.

That is yet another reason we know we'll be gone before this plan is completed, and it is found in the prophetic scriptures:

"And now you know what is holding him (the antichrist)* back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then, the lawless one will be revealed..."
(2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) (*=my insertion).

According to John Walvoord (and many others), in "The Rapture Question", as quoted in "Signs of the Coming Christ" (pg 160):

"The restrainer clearly refers to the Holy Spirit's presence in the Church, as this interpretation represents the best answer to the grammatical, contextural, and theological questions in 2 Thessalonians. Other possibilities as to the identification of the restrainer, such as human government or some powerful human figure seem highly unlikely.

Understanding the role of the restrainer further confirms that it must be the Holy Spirit residing within the Church: first, this restraint must represent a worldwide influence which suggests omnipresence; second, the restrainer must have supernatural power in order to be able to restrain such potent forces such as worldwide apostasy and the emergence of the Antichrist; third, the restrainer must have some logical reason for ending the restraint of lawlessness and the ability of the Antichrist to seize absolute power."

"There is simply no other likely choice than the Church including the presence of the Holy Spirit as representing this Restrainer.

In addition, the scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit as the One who restrains evil, both in the world (Genesis 6:3) and in the heart of the believer (Galatians 5:16-17)."

We must be removed before this plan can reach completion. It is that simple.

Those who are left behind will be glad to see our removal.

That feeling will be very mutual - although, even from New Jerusalem, we will continue to pray for the salvation of those left behind.

Its just a dose of reality.

News From The World: WMDs Spreading Throughout Terrorist Groups

First of all, the hurricane is giving us some strong winds and a lot of rain, but at this point we still have power (keeping fingers crossed on that - as power outage will probably be the most significant aspect of this in central NC).

THE EPICENTER:

It looks like the rhetoric is continuing to increase, particularly from Iran. This alone is interesting, but an overall look at the Middle East right now reveals a region that is continuing to prepare for war:

Ahmainejad: Holocaust 'big lie' used to justify establishment of Israel

Millions of people attend state-run anti-Israel rallies throughout Iran to voice support for Palestinians and its liberation from what they call Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that the Holocaust was a "big lie" used to justify establishment of the state of Israel.

"The Zionist regime's establishment was based on numerous deceptions and lies and one of the biggest lies was the Holocaust," Ahmadinejad said in a speech after an anti-Israeli rally in Tehran and other Iranian cities.

The late supreme leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, declared the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan to be Qods, or Jerusalem, Day and called for annual mass rallies against Israel and in support of the Palestinians.

The crowd at the university greeted the president's remarks with cries of Allah Akbar, meaning God is great, and by chanting anti-Israel slogans.

According to state television, millions of people attended the state-run anti-Israel rallies throughout the country to voice their support for Palestinians and its liberation from what they called Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Ahmadinejad on Wednesday called for the eradication of Israel, saying that Iran would "never ever withdraw from this standpoint and policy."

'Not a grain of Palestinian sand should be conceded'

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah calls on Islamic world to "rise up and support the Palestinian people" during Quds Day speech.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday spoke out against concessions to Israel, saying not "one grain of sand" should be given up "at Palestine's expense."

Nasrallah was speaking via video link to a mass rally organized by Hezbollah at Maroun al-Ras on the Lebanon-Israel border. The rally was held in commemoration of Quds (Jerusaelm) Day, an annual show of support for the Palestinian cause.

“The Palestinians have the right to negotiate over the 1967 borders,” Nasrallah was quoted by Naharnet as saying, “but talks should not take place at the expense of the rest of Palestine,” he added.

The Hezbollah leader called on the Islamic world to "rise up and support the Palestinian people," praising what he referred to as a "new phase in Egypt."

Meanwhile:

Two Gaza rockets hit south after reported cease-fire

Grad Rocket Hits Near Ashkelon

Despite ceasefire: Rockets hit western Negev

OK...I think I'm seeing a trend here:

The terrorists launch a barrage of missiles into Israel and then declare a ceasefire. After approximately 12-24 hours nothing happens, then we see another barrage of missiles and immediately we see another call for a ceasefire. This pattern has repeated itself more times than one can count.

So what is going on?

This requires some degree of speculation, but only one idea seems obvious:

The terrorist groups know that Israel will launch a counter-attack sooner or later.

What better way to get "international condemnation" directed towards Israel than headlines that read "Israel attacks ____ during ceasefire"...(fill in the blanks with "Gaza", Lebanon", "Golan Heights" or wherever the hot spot is. Right now it is Gaza).

I believe this is the game that is being played - as nothing else makes sense. We shall see. But as soon as Israel counters these attacks, I fully expect to see such headlines, and of course the MSM would buy it, hook, line and sinker.

Also from around the world:

The truth about Libyan 'rebels'

Here are three things Americans need to know about the Libyan "rebels" the U.S. government isn't telling us.

One: The inspiration of the Libyan war is as much anti-Western as it is anti-Gadhafi.

Two: The anti-Gadhafi, anti-Western forces that NATO power has brought to apparent victory through an air war and not-so-secret deployment of special forces (so far costing U.S. taxpayers $1 billion) include jihadist forces the U.S. and NATO allies have been fighting for the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This Libyan surge, the report explains, may have been due to the "increasingly cooperative relationship" with al-Qaida of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG). What is the LIFG? Designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2004, the LIFG is a prominent faction among anti-Gadhafi forces today.

Three: The draft constitution of the anti-Gadhafi forces cites "Shariah" as the "principal source of legislation."

Shariah is Islamic law, the basis of conquest or control of non-Muslims, conscience, speech and other Western-style liberties. Not too surprisingly, rebel spokesman Mustafa Abdul Jalil, former Libyan justice minister, sports a "zabibah," the forehead bruise of fanatical adherence to Islamic law. He also has animus toward Israel on the brain.

Such is the man touted as one of the powers-to-be in post-Gadhafi Libya, which U.S. government officials, such as Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, promise will be "moderate," "modern" and "secular." But don't laugh too hard. The joke is on us.

Gadhafi's Loose Weapons Could Number a 'Thousand Times' Saddam's

Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi spent decades piling up a huge stash of weapons like a crazy old lady hoarding cats. Ironically, rebel forces looted his arms depots to turn Gadhafi’s missiles and guns on their old master. But the ease with which the rebels were able to arm themselves points to their next massive problem: securing those weapons before they fuel a lethal insurgency or flood the global arms bazaar.

Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, has spent time on the ground in Libya during the uprising. He tells Danger Room that “weapon proliferation out of Libya is potentially one of the largest we have ever documented — 2003 Iraq pales in comparison — and so the risks are equally much more significant.”

Libya is still home to the remnants of its weapons-of-mass-destruction programs, though Gadhafi officially abandoned his efforts along those lines in 2003. Western officials are now worried about the security of a remaining 11 metric tons [12 U.S. tons] of mustard agent and 500 to 900 metric tons [550 to 990 U.S. tons] of uranium yellowcake still located in the country near Tripoli, according to the Associated Press’ Kimberly Dozier and Douglas Birch.

Below we see even more worries about terrorists and arms build-up:

Israel, U.S. worried over Syria's WMDs

Israel, US are closely monitoring Syria's suspected caches of chemical arms for fear that the weapons could fall into terror groups' hands as uprising against President Bashar Assad rages on, Wall Street Journal reports

Israel and the United States are closely monitoring Syria's suspected weapons of mass destruction due to concerns that terror groups could take advantage of the unrest in the country to seize chemical arms and long-range missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

According to the report, US intelligence services estimate that Syria's nonconventional weapons arsenal includes stockpiles of mustard gas, VX and Sarin gas, as well as the the missile and artillery systems to deliver them.

"We are very concerned about the status of Syria's WMD, including chemical weapons," Israel's Ambassador to the US Michael Oren told the newspaper. "Together with the US administration, we are watching this situation very carefully." A senior US official added that Syria's suspected chemical weapon program "is of great importance and...under intense study.

Also see this:

Ambassador Oren: Israel is very concerned about Syrian WMDs

Israel is worried about the possibility that the Syrian military may transfer chemical weapons to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah or Hamas due to instability within Syria, said Israeli Ambassador the United States Michael Oren.

Don't forget, Israel has stated repeatedly that any use of such weapons would be met with an overwhelming Israeli response, as any chemical or bio-weapons would be viewed the same as a nuclear weapon. And don't forget that such Israeli rhetoric is specifically directed towards "Damascus".

Speaking of arms build-up, lets take a look at the Kings of the East:

China seeking to bolster nuclear force

China's military is seeking to improve its nuclear arsenal by acquiring more mobile ballistic missiles that could survive a possible attack, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

"China is modernizing its nuclear forces by adding more survivable delivery systems" and may be developing a new "road-mobile" ballistic missile, an annual report to Congress on Chinese military power said.

State media have reported that China's Second Artillery Corps has carried out training exercises that emphasized camouflage and maneuver tactics, which the report said would be designed to "increase survivability" of the country's atomic arsenal.

China expanding its nuclear stockpile

China is expanding its nuclear forces with a new multiwarhead mobile missile and keeps its strategic stockpiles in deep underground bunkers, the Pentagon disclosed in its annual report to Congress on the Chinese military.

The report states for the first time that China appears to be developing a third road-mobile ICBM, possibly capable of carrying a multiple, independently targetable re-entry vehicle.

Additionally, the report provides new details on China’s efforts to develop missile defenses and says China conducted a warhead-intercept test as part of the system.

Personally, I have always believed that China will launch their nukes during the Tribulation, based upon Revelation 9 and a few passages there.

The location is revealed first:

"Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind." (v15)

"The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that came out of their mouths." (v17-18)

Did the apostle John witness nuclear missiles being launched, in the best terms that he had available 2,000 years ago?

What else involving "fire, smoke and sulfur" (which sounds a lot like witnessing missiles being launched, as one would indeed see "fire", "smoke" and "sulfur" as missiles are initially launched). Food for thought anyway.

Also see:

Pentagon warns India of Chinese build-up

Wars and rumors of war. We can't go a day now without reading at least one article on the rapid and alarming build-up of WMDs, whether nuclear, chemical, gas or biological.

Jesus certainly had it right when He gave us this warning.

Most of mankind will perish during the Tribulation and over that seven year period we would expect to see these weapons finally unleashed, so what we are seeing now should come as no surprise. It was all foretold by the ancient Prophets.

Iran: Ready for War - Ahmadinejad's Rhetoric Escalates

Ahmadinejad just won't stop. His rhetoric almost sounds like a call for war at this point. One has to wonder what he has in mind as his proxies continue to pound Israel:

Ahmadinejad: Palestinian statehood only 'first step'

Of course we prophecy watchers knew this anyway, but for Ahmadinejad to publicly announce this represents a huge escalation beyond the usual inflammatory rhetoric. Is he making a public call for war?

The creation of a universally-recognized Palestinian state would be just a first step towards wiping out Israel, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday.

He spoke weeks ahead of a UN General Assembly in New York where the Arab League plans to seek full UN membership for a Palestinian state.

Didn't he get the memo? This is supposed to be a covert operation until it happens. But he is announcing it to the world. What will this do for the Palestinian "apologists" who have denied that this was the overall plan?

Ahmadinejad is confirming what prophecy watchers have said for years and years: The 'real' goal is the complete destruction of Israel. "PA Statehood" is simply a means to that end.

"Recognizing the Palestinian state is not the last goal. It is only one step forward towards liberating the whole of Palestine," Ahmadinejad told worshippers at Friday prayers on international Qods Day -- an annual show of support for the Palestinian cause.

"The Zionist regime is a center of microbes, a cancer cell and if it exists in one iota of Palestine it will mobilize again and hurt everyone."

"It is not enough for them to have a weak, powerless state in a very small piece of Palestine. They should unite to establish a state but the ultimate goal is the liberation of the whole of Palestine," he said.

Ahmadinejad: Israel is greatest threat in Mideast

Israel poses the greatest threat in the Middle East and regional states should take the necessary steps to contain it, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said late Monday as he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Fars news agency reported.

Ahmadinejad called on neighboring countries to remain vigilant against foreign plotters and to prevent external meddling, according to the report.

He warned that "any move in line with the Zionist regime's goals and objectives means committing suicide."

More evidence that Iran is on the move:

Iran stirs up new conflict: Its Iraqi terrorist arm shoots Scuds at Kuwait

Three Scud missiles flying from Iraq to Kuwait early Friday, Aug. 26 were launched by the Iran-backed Ketaeb Hizballah of Iraq, the first such attacks since the US invaded Iraq in 2003. It was also the first time any Middle East terrorist group had used Scud missiles.

DEBKA-Net- Weekly's military and intelligence sources reported on Aug. 12: A threat from the Iraqi Shiite radical Ketaeb Hizballah, an arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Al-Qods Brigades, trained by the Lebanese Hizballah, to strike the new port with Scud missiles, a threat they started carrying out this Friday.

Until Friday, there was no confirmation of the group's claim to have recovered most of the inventory of 250 Scuds held by Saddam Hussein before the US invasion of 2003. But now, is clear to Kuwaiti and Western intelligence officials in the Gulf that the Scud cache has indeed fallen into the hands of the Ketaeb Hizballah of Iraq and that there is a real danger of Tehran using Iraqi Shiite extremists to sabotage the Boubiyan Island project.

And don't forget, Iran has tremendous influence on the recent events in Egypt, as they are backing the radical groups within the country in order to cause conflict with Israel - and that is exactly what we have been seeing:

Egyptian Parliament Want Eilat

Egypt has insisted it has a claim to the city of Eilat since it lost the city to the nascent state of Israel in the wake of the Egyptian army's defeat in Israel's 1948 War of Independence, but after the 1979 Camp David Accords the claim was officially dropped. Or so it seemed.

The control of trade routes has been a principle source of conflict in human history. The 1967 Six-Day War broke out after Egypt closed the straits of Tiran and strangled the trade from Israel's southern port city of Eliat.

In exploring the 'claim,' which has been hotly debated in Egypt's parliament this week, Abed el-Aziz Sayef a-Nasser, an aide to the Egyptian foreign minister, was called as an expert witness. A-Nasser is the director of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's legal department.

"Eilat, or by its former name Umm Rashrash, belongs to the Palestinians," he said on behalf of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

His predecessor, Dr. Nabil el-Arabi, was the head of the Foreign Ministry's legal department and headed the delegation for negotiations at Taba. He also emphatically maintained: "Eilat belongs to the Palestinians."

So this much is clear (and there is much more in the article): Egypt wants Eilat and considers it theirs. What will they do to get it?

Despite Israel's 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, the Arab League's 1948 declaration of war to liquidate the state of Israel remains in force.

We have to always keep in mind the influence of Iran in the region, which has grown in leaps and bounds with the Muslim Brotherhood's evolving takeover. And below we see a stark reminder:

Egypt's 2001 revolution has brought a wave of radical anti-Israel sentiment to the country. Egypt has already sought to re-militarize the Sinai with tacit Israeli approval and the masses are demanding Israel's ambassador in Cairo be ejected from the country - a qualitative first step to the cessation of peaceful relations. The once touted Camp David Accords seem to have been cast into Cairo's dustbin

In terms of relations between Jerusalem and Cairo its increasingly looking like a return to the strategic reality of October 5, 1973.

In other words - we have another "pre-war" set-up in the region - a region that is just on the brink.

Also see:

Egypt Concerned Over Terror Threats to Suez Canal

The latest tensions in the Sinai Peninsula and the concerns over the growing presence of terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda are having an effect on Egyptian operations in the Suez Canal, it was reported Thursday.

Reportedly, the Egyptians’ main concern is that Al-Qaeda terrorists will try to attack a Western ship as it is crossing the Suez Canal.

...the Sinai Peninsula has been in a state of anarchy with terrorists, some of them affiliated with Al-Qaeda, having infiltrated the region.

Iran seems ready for war, as they have been rapidly ramping up the rhetoric and as their proxies continue to send a barrage of missiles into Israel. At the same time. they continue to stir unrest in and around Egypt, which is predictably directed against Israel.

Don't forget this important fact: Ahmadinejad sees himself as someone who has an important role to play in the world - as he feels it is his sole job on earth to precipitate the coming of the Islamic Mahdi. The only problem is this: the Mahdi will only show up when war is raging in the Middle East with Israel at the center of attention. Ahmadinejad knows that his time as Iranian president could be short so his window of opportunity may be closing.

It seems that he has been baiting Israel for years to attack Iran - which could be then be followed by Iran playing the victim and subsequently calling upon the arab states to gather to collectively and attack Israel.

With that plan not working, we should watch him closely. It seems that now he is using his proxies from Egypt and Gaza to provoke Israel.

Sooner or later, he will take more drastic measures - that is a guarantee.

Is The Number Of Earthquakes Increasing?

This was the title of an article today and represents yet another writing that looks like it came directly from the pages of biblical prophecy.

Keep in mind, it was only around 10 years ago that the total number of earthquakes recorded worldwide was close to 20,000/year. Now we are having over 30,000/year. That is a 10 year period. And this is not to mention the fact that earthquakes are very much part of the news. Back around 1980 the number was in the neighborhood of 10,000/year.

Most of us have already forgotten the epic quake and tsunami of just a few years ago, as the last couple of years have brought headline quakes in Haiti, Chile, and Japan just to name a few.

This generation, which we assume began in the WWI era has seen more quakes than any other generation - by far. It isn't even close.

That takes us to this article:

Is The Number Of Earthquakes Increasing? Why The 5.8 Virginia Earthquake Might Just Be A Preview of Things To Come

Is the number of earthquakes increasing? Are major earthquakes becoming more frequent? In the aftermath of the magnitude-5.8 earthquake in Virginia, a whole lot of people are asking those questions.

The truth is that this year we are on pace to have more than twice the number of major earthquakes than we did just 10 years ago.

Our planet is becoming increasingly unstable, and the magnitude-5.8 Virginia earthquake that we just witnessed might just be a preview of things to come.

The Virginia earthquake is already being called a "once a century" earthquake for the east coast. The earthquake was felt from Georgia all the way up to Ottawa, Canada.

But that was not the only major seismic event in the U.S. that day. A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled the area along the Colorado/New Mexico border. That was the largest earthquake that region had seen in more than 40 years.

If these were isolated incidents, that would be one thing. Unfortunately, major earthquakes are popping up all over the globe with alarming frequency. In fact, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake just struck northern Peru.

But what about the overall numbers?

Back in 2001, the world had 1361 earthquakes of magnitude-5.0 or greater. This year, we are on pace to have over 2800. In fact, the number of major earthquakes this year is going to be the highest number we have seen during this past decade by far.

Take a look at the chart (in the article) - with this preface below:

The following chart shows the number of earthquakes having a magnitude of 6.0 or greater since 1973. This chart comes from dlindquist.com, and it includes data for this year. As you can see, the number of magnitude-6.0 earthquakes for this year is "off the charts" because we are on pace for well over 200....

So after viewing these charts, how can anyone still deny that the number of major earthquakes is increasing?

But that is exactly what all of the "experts" on the mainstream news are going to keep on doing.

In the end, do your own research and find out for yourself. Don't let the television do your thinking for you.

Good advice. Just look at the numbers, they will tell the story.

There are all sorts of theories about why the planet seems to be becoming more unstable, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that this is not a good trend and that we should all be preparing for the worst.

So the next time an "expert" appears on television assuring you that earthquakes are not becoming more frequent and that you don't have anything to be concerned about, don't be so quick to believe that person.

The cold, hard reality of the matter is that the number of earthquakes is increasing and our planet is becoming increasingly unstable.

The funny thing is, Jesus didn't really emphasize the raw numbers of quakes (although there is a story regarding the increasing numbers). Like the other signs - these events would be noteworthy.

We are living in a generation in which earthquakes have become part of the narrative - and we are most definitely seeing an increase in frequency (total number of earthquakes per year) and in severity (frequency of 'strong' quakes).

Exactly as we would expect in this generation.

Israel: On the Brink of War?

If you have been keeping up with the news you know that we are now seeing a dramatic escalation of violence against Israel. More and more rockets are pouring into Israeli cities and rural areas, Egypt appears to be involved and is continuing to increase their rhetoric against Israel as their citizens call for more Israeli blood, Syria is a ticking time bomb and Ahmadinejad is sabre-rattling more than usual.

War seems to be in the air.

One also has to wonder if the terrorist groups and nations realize that their time may be short - with upcoming U.S. elections possibly ending the current anti-Israeli administration of the U.S. - especially considering Obama's continual sinking in the polls. At the risk of stating the obvious, it would be far more preferable to attack Israel now - while the current administration is in office, as compared to waiting until a conservative, pro-Israel administration is in office.

Ahmadinejad: Iran is determined to eradicate Israel

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was determined to eradicate Israel, ISNA news agency reported Thursday.

Wow. Even for Ahmadinejad, who usually has at least a tiny amount of political correctness, this is a shocking statement and he has now completely taken off the gloves towards Israel. I cannot recall such a dramatic, bold, unequivocal statement directed towards Israel.

"Iran believes that whoever is for humanity should also be for eradicating the Zionist regime (Israel) as symbol of suppression and discrimination," Ahmadinejad said in an interview with a Lebanese television network, carried by ISNA.

"Iran follows this issue (the eradication of Israel) with determination and decisiveness and will never ever withdraw from this standpoint and policy," the Iranian president added in the interview with the Al-Manar network.

Why is he coming out now and making such bold statements?

Take a look at these other recent updates (below) revealing just how much things are escalating in Israel - and connect the dots with Ahmadinejad's statements.

At Least 17 Rockets, Mortars Fired From Gaza

Rocket fire from Gaza resumed as expected Thursday evening in an onslaught that started with last week’s deadly bus-attack that left 8 Israelis dead.

At lest seventeen Qassam rockets and mortar shells were fired from Gaza on Thursday evening exploding in open fields in Eshkol, the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, and south of Ashkelon. The "Color Red" warning siren was sounded in the areas under attack.

Shortly after 7pm another rocket was fired that struck near the Erez crossing. The IAF reported that warplanes struck a separate terror cell preparing a launch just before the Erez attack and scored a "precise hit."

The attacks come as Israelis braced for more attacks after at least 20 rockets fired into Israel Wednesday night. These were in addition to a shooting attack that wounded two and the par for the course rock-throwings.

And see this - we're only at the beginning of what is to come:

Islamic Jihad vows to send rockets deeper into Israel

Terror group says it will extend rocket range; More than 15 rockets fired into Israel; Erez-border crossing damaged; 2 Islamic Jihad members killed in IAF strike, Palestinian report says.

Hours after Palestinian sources reported that the IAF killed to Islamic Jihad operatives in the Gaza Strip, the terrorist group vowed to extend the range of their rocket capabilities, sending projectiles deeper into Israeli territory, Israel Radio reported Thursday.

According to Islamic Jihad, a small terrorist group with roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, it would triple the number of Israelis affected by rocket attacks.

The Code Red siren was heard throughout the Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Councils and in Ashkelon as 15 rockets and mortar shells fell throughout those areas, the IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement.

Take a look at Egypt becoming more and more involved:

Egypt: Forbade an Israeli Gaza Operation

Yasser Othman, the Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, said Wednesday that there Egyptian-Israeli relations are still tense after the killing of five Egyptian soldiers last week, in the aftermath of a murderous terror attack on Israel.

Egypt had "forbidden" Israel from launching a large-scale operation in Gaza, he added.
“We want a clear, strong apology and a pledge to not to repeat such acts in the future,” he told Bethlehem-based Maan News.

We are very very close to all-out war in the region. Period.

Not only that, but the overall situation in the region is more volatile and more unpredictable than it has ever been - the rapid changes in Egypt and their deteriorating relations with Israel - the uprisings and instability in Syria - the Hezbollah takeover of Lebanon - the rapid infusion of arms into Gaza (via Egypt) - and even Jordan, who is having more and more demonstrations - and more importantly, the increasing number of rockets coming into Israel, which is almost at wartime levels right now.

And on top of that - one of the leading nations in the Gog-MaGog conflict, Iran - is making unprecedented threats to Israel - clearly stating that they are "determined to eradicate Israel" with "determination and decisiveness".

We're close. So close.

Once the warfare begins, I believe the dominoes will topple rapidly - including the Isaiah 17 scenario rapidly followed by the Gog-MaGog conflict detailed in Ezekiel 38-39.

This all means that the gathering up of the Bride of Christ is coming soon as well.

The time to prepare - at peak levels - is now.

UPDATE: A href="http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=235472">South pounded by rockets, prepares for more violence