Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Updates And A Reminder

This is a time of unprecedented movements towards the final stretch into the Tribulation. There are dozens of prophecy related stories that have come in just since this morning and the stories are pouring in by the hour.

While it is tempting to get completely immersed and consumed by the various news stories, it may be easy to forget why we are here and why we are watching.

We have to keep our eyes on the ultimate goal: To be in the very presence of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. I fully believe that is the reason that we are told to "look up" when we see this escalation in the signs - because our redemption is drawing near - very very near.

This is a time of deep prayer and deep reflection on the mercy and grace provided by Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

Having said that, there are so many pertinent news stories, only a brief intro can be provided for each. Some of the stories coming in are conflicting and we may not have the full picture until the end of the week.

Palestinians to Delay Call for Fast UN Vote

The Palestinian Authority, while determined to seek full membership in the United Nations, won’t push for an immediate vote in the Security Council, where it doesn’t yet have enough support for its statehood bid.

Allowing the UN’s administrative process to slow down a Palestinian application to the Security Council would give diplomats time to look for an alternative that restarts peace talks. The U.S. is using the time to lean on council members to abstain from voting in favor of the Palestinians, who are fighting to retain supporters.


In UN, PA Maps Erase All of Israel

Palestinian Authority representatives in the United Nations are handing out maps of "Palestine" that show it in place of all of Israel, including Tel Aviv, reports David Bedein of the Israel Resource Review
Bedein, who is currently in the United States, told Arutz Sheva: "They do not want a Palestinian state, but all of Palestine. The maps they hand out in their offices include all of 'Palestine.' They erase Israel completely in their maps."

Mahmoud Abbas is being disingenuous about his future plans, opined Bedein. "He wants the Palestinians to supplant Israel. He disseminates lies


Hamas: We may back Palestinian state that does not recognize Israel's existence

Gaza strongman Ismail Haniyeh reiterates criticism of Abbas-led statehood bid at UN, saying no Palestinian leader has the mandate to forfeit 'one inch' of historic Palestine.

Hamas supports the formation of an independent Palestinian state that does not recognize Israel's existence and which does not concede "one inch" of historical Palestine, Hamas' Gaza leader said on Sunday.


Palestinians need just two more Security Council votes in bid for statehood

Palestinian officials have so far enlisted the support of at least six or seven members of the 15-member Security Council in their bid to gain United Nations recognition as a sovereign state, a senior official said Tuesday.

"They are trying to convince two or three more Security Council members to vote in favor of accepting Palestine as a UN member state," Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki said.


Syria, Israel in harsh exchange at UN nuclear meet

Syria accused Israel on Wednesday of posing a threat to the world with its "huge military nuclear arsenal", a day after the Jewish state criticized Damascus for stonewalling a UN watchdog investigation into its atomic activities.

The exchange between the two adversaries, at an annual member state meeting of the UN nuclear agency, underlined deep divisions between Arab states and Israel ahead of rare talks later this year on efforts to rid the world of atomic bombs.


PA Arab Riots Begin to Escalate in Judea, Samaria

Hundreds of Palestinian Authority Arabs held a violent demonstration Wednesday afternoon near the Zif Junction in Judea, south of Hevron.

The protesters hurled sharp-edged rocks at IDF soldiers, who responded with crowd-control measures to disperse the demonstration.

Dozens of PA Arabs also clashed with IDF forces near the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem. The rioters ignited tires ablaze, and hurled rocks at the security forces, who used crowd control


Libya To Have A New Government Within 7-10 Days

Interim Libyan Prime Minister Mahmud Jibril announced on Wednesday that the country will have a new government inplace within the next 7 to 10 days.

Obama, who addressed a UN meeting on Libya, thanked the international community for the courage and collective will to act on the problem of Libya. He reassured Libyans that they could count on more international support in the future. Obama added the U.S. embassy in Tripoli will reopen this week.


Which leads to this story (which deserves more than a paragraph or two):

Obama Warmly Welcomes Al Qaeda At UN

President Obama yesterday led the warm welcome to the al qaeda linked Libyan rebels that have been officially recognized as the country’s new leaders and handed a seat at the UN General Assembly. More diligent observers found the spectacle rather unsettling, to say the least.

“Libya is a lesson in what the international community can achieve when we stand together as one,” said Obama after formally meeting the Libyan Rebels leader Mustafa Abdel-Jalil at the UN.

“Today the world is saying, in one unmistakable voice, ‘We will stand with you as you seize this moment of promise; as you reach for the freedom, the dignity and the opportunity you deserve,’ ” Obama stated, with many noting that the same ‘reach for freedom’ has been deemed to be unhelpful by US officials at the UN where the Palestinian people are concerned.

NATO today agreed to extend the Libyan mission by an extra three months. This will be the second three month extension and will ensure that a mission that Obama declared US forces would be engaged in for only days will now run at least nine months.

The resolution to hand the Libyan Rebels a UN seat was approved Friday by a vote of 114-17 with 15 abstentions.

The vote essentially means that al-Qaeda linked individuals are speaking for Libya at this week’s ministerial meeting of the General Assembly.


Baby girl injured during violent clashes in W. Bank

Clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the West Bank on Wednesday amidst celebrations in support of the Palestinian Authority's UN statehood bid.

Demonstrators burn tires, throw stones at security forces; IDF uses new non-lethal sonic crowd dispersal weapon; injured man treated on scene.

An Israeli baby girl was lightly injured when Palestinians threw rocks at the car she was riding in, Israel Radio reported. Her family was driving near the Migdalim settlement in the West Bank.

The IDF, in order to disperse several dozen Palestinians who were burning tires and throwing stones at security forces, used "The Scream," a non-lethal sonic weapon that emits a deafening sound people cannot stand.


There are many more stories, but suffice it to say, things are rapidly coming to a head in the epicenter.

We are seeing an abundance of signs pointing to the final acts of this age. The stage is set for the final battles to begin - which we believe leads quickly to the Tribulation - and we all know that a much deeper and more profound meaning lies under these facts and signs: The gathering up of the Church also known as the Bride of Christ.

The signs are fascinating in the context of their significance and we are supposed to know and understand these signs. That is why we watch so diligently. Jesus made that fact abundantly clear in His various messages throughout His time on earth.

One only has to glance at Luke 12:35-56, Matthew 24-25, Luke 24:13-49 and Mark 13 (just to name a few), in order to understand the importance that Jesus placed on understanding these signs.

Well, they are here in an undeniable and unprecedented way at this very moment. There has never been a time in history like this - when all of the signs are not only increasing, but increasing at an epic rate.

Israel, and even more specifically, Jerusalem, is becoming more and more of a focus in terms of the world's attention. Just as the prophet Zechariah informed us.

The world is closing in around Israel and there appears to be no way out.

There will be a time in the near future where only God can protect Israel - a time that is rapidly approaching.

War is on the horizon and the alignments of those nations is now complete. Additionally, these nations are fully armed and ready to attack.

Israel's historic allies are abandoning them in favor of political correctness and their isolation grows by the day.

The mission and purpose of the Church on planet earth is almost finished.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, Scott!

C.B.

Anonymous said...

Stocks are starting to FALL again
world wide. This needs to be WATCHED closely......since any
future selling could lead to bid
pulling AND a FULL BLOWN crash.

That is VERY serious, since the EURO will also collapse....

and THAT will bring in the AC to
the rescue, whoever he is.

there will be a DEMAND for a strong
SAVIOUR if the EURO collapses...
you can be sure of it !!!!

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

gearedup2go said...

It seems very likely that it will only escalate at this point and continue until it's all out war.

In 1922 Jordan was created essentially for the Palestinians and today 80% of the population is Palestinian. But for the PLO, it's not about the land of Isarel. It's about the complete annihilation of the Jewish population.

As you enter the throne room with your prayers and petitions, please pray for Benjamin Netanyahu, that he would receive divine wisdom, direction, and guidance from our heavenly Father. Pray also that His people will soften their hearts and turn to Yeshua for the redemption of their sins before the terrible day of the Lord.

May we continue to lift each other up in prayer and fellowship during these trecherous days.

Scott said...

Geared - Good points, I agree 100%

gearedup2go said...

While we wait for the trumpet to sound, here's a video of shofar flash mobs. : )

Alice said...

Yes, gearedup, keeping them in my prayers...

Some things I've wondered for a while now...

I've read that Netanyahu and his family are students of their bible. Do you think Bibi sees Israel's persecution as spiritual? Does he (and others practicing the Jewish faith there) draw the connection back to Jacob and Esau? And how many do you suppose are "closet Messianics?"

Scott said...

Alice - Yes, absolutely...I have read a number of articles to that effect. He doesn't come out publicly with this, but I have no doubt that Netanyahu is acutely aware of the prophecies in play, particularly the ones we discuss daily around here - from the OT.

Caver said...

Hi Alice....great questions. One thing for sure, Bibi knows prophecy. He and his sons have won the Israel national bible knowledge competition. Joel Rosenberg used to work on Bibi's staff, Bibi was a guest and friend of Zola Levitt, and he's met with any number of modern Christian prophecy teachers and lecturers.

Many of us have wondered about his beliefs.....and awareness. If he is not a Christian, he is aware of New Testament prophecy and has to be drawing a few conclusions....the man is many things. Dumb ain't one of them.

WVBORN56 said...

Thanks guys for the good info..I'm continuing to lift Israel and Bibi up in prayer gearedup...Interesting Caver about his Bible knowledge...what a blessing it will be to walk the streets of gold with folks we have prayed for...hoping he is one...

Seth said...

Thank you for the reminder, Scott. Also I want to remind everyone that because time is so short, we need to remember the Great Commission. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of going home and to forget about telling others about Jesus. I was talking to a co-worker today who isn't a believer, and even he knows that something is happening around the world. Some of the things he said were: "It's coming to a point where we won't even need cash. They'll just implant something in your hand to pay for things." and "I know something's up. Just look at all the natural disasters happening. I don't know what's going on, but it won't end well." So even the lost recognize that "something's up". What an opportunity to share the gospel.

We can't save everyone, but Jesus didn't commission us to do that. He just told us to preach the gospel. That's what I pray He gives us the boldness to do.

ally said...

Seth, that is the only thing left...before that day...is to preach it to all the nations! Amen

gearedup2go said...

Alice, I believe Netanyahu is VERY familiar with the bible--as is his son Avnir who has placed in the national bible quiz. Netanyahu draws on the wisdom of his father who is a bible scholar. : )

Alice said...

Yes, I remember all the news stories about his son winning the national bible quiz, but this bible would not be the same as ours, correct? (no New Testament) I remember being confused by their secular media's use of the word "bible" at the time, but apparently they use it to refer to the Tanakh.

Also, the book of Daniel is excluded from the Tanakh, isn't it? Interesting that our OT is nearly identical with the exception of THAT book and the important prophecies in it...

Mrs. C said...

Hal Lindsey, has known Bibi for quite some time. Also Zola Levitt who was Jewish, but Born Again also knew Bibi for years.
Based on Bibi's knowing these and other Believers, I would say that he has been Witnessed to. Especially with his relationship with Zola. Bibi spent a good amount of time living here in the U.S. Here is a little bit about him :)
Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, born 21 October 1949

Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv, to Cela (Tsilah) (née Segal) and Benzion Netanyahu (original name Mileikowsky). His mother was born in 1912 in Petah Tikva, part of the future British Mandate of Palestine that would eventually become Israel. Though all his grandparents were born in Lithuania, his mother's parents emigrated to Minneapolis in the United States. Netanyahu's father is a professor of Jewish history, currently listed as a professor emeritus at Cornell University (although the elder Netanyahu has remained active into his 90s in research and writing), a former editor of the Hebrew Encyclopedia, and a former senior aide to Zeev Jabotinsky. When he was 14 years old, Benjamin's family moved to the United States and settled in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he graduated from Cheltenham High School.

Netanyahu's older brother, Yonatan, was killed in Uganda during Operation Entebbe in 1976. His younger brother, Iddo, is a radiologist and writer. All three brothers served in the elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit of the Israeli Defense Force - Benjamin from 1967 to 1972as a captain. He took part in a number of military operations, including the rescue of hostages in a high-jacked Sabena airplane in 1972. In the same year, he was cited for outstanding operational leadership by the late Major General Motta Gur. Discharged from the IDF in 1972, Mr. Netanyahu participated in the Yom Kippur War and reached the rank of captain.
He earned a B.S. degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975, an M.S. degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1977, and studied political science at Harvard and MIT. After graduate school, Netanyahu worked at the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts and eventually returned to Israel.

Scott said...

Mrs C - you obviously don't know anything. Trying to 'impress" with MIT degree, BCG employment, etc ? Don't you know that he is conservative, therefore he is dumb?
Haven't you read the talking points? Sheeeesh.

Seriously - Thanks for that update. I knew most of that but I didn't realize that his brother was killed.

Have been missing you around here - but I know you have been up to your ears in work.....Make sure MrC is cooking you some good meals out on the grill AND cleaning up afterwards :)

Mrs. C said...

Thank you Brother, I miss y'all too
Big Hug! I feel like Im almost at the top of whats been a very,very loonngg hill! Mr C is a fabulous BBQ KING! Wow, really good! BUT, I nicely try to keep him away from my valued cookware (try to protect it lol):) As for "cleaning up", I read that and thought your lovely wife, the love of your life...has...lets say guided you, yeah thats it, guided you in the right direction! Perhaps she can share her book of training...OH! did I say "training"? I meant "guidance" regarding husbands cleaning up LOL !
God Bless You Brother!
Your In Our Prayers!

Caver said...

Scott, Bibi's brother was indeed killed saving civilians. Yonatan was, I believe, the Israeli officer in charge of the Entebbe raid and the only soldier killed in that most visible and successful operation.

I know Mrs C is fighting a smoking keyboard while chuckling and hiding her screen as I type this. I shall refrain from comments as to the cooking until I see what pops up.

Caver trots out to get the fire extinguisher just in case she lasts longer than that poor keyboard. Its being beaten into submission and crying for mercy as I hit the "post" button.

Scott said...

Actually, I learned to help out from my mother (she may be reading this.....ahem.....) - who made us "help out" with everything around the house....At 5' 100 lbs NO ONE messed with her :) ----> Same today...I value my life a great deal and make every effort to stay out of trouble :)....So yea, I know how to stay in line :)

Mrs.C said...

LOL Thanks for the giggle at the end of the day Scott! Isnt it amazing how Moms( or for our Brits & Canadians Mums ) keep us in line still. Till this day if someone calls me by my full name, I get a little twinge that Im in trouble for something...who knows what...but just something lol And if the middle name is said in conjunction with the full first name...then look out...that was serious lol God Bless all our Moms & Mums. Your Mom did a great job raising such a fine Gentleman as yourself Scott :) We appreciate all that you do, and are honored to call you Brother and Friend...

God Bless You!

Scott said...

Thanks Mrs C - it was just a simple matter of her putting the fear of God in me (literally and figuratively :)

I learned that its those little feisty ones to fear the most:)