News and Trends 14/08/2013

Nuclear Strike on Syria

 

The fight against Assad’s brutal regime has taken an unexpected turn late Thursday afternoon when a large weapons cache belonging to the so-called national protection force in Homs city, an arm of Assad’s Shabeeha, was destroyed.

War in the Middle East

With the Middle East spinning around at present faster than a Hanukkah dreidel, some have been writing to seek my opinion on the possible prophetic implications of the escalating warfare in Syria and the dramatic Muslim Brotherhood advance in Egypt. Although I am a journalist by profession, having reported the news from Israel and the region since the early 1980s, I also have a longtime personal interest in eschatological biblical prophecy. This is evidenced by my authorship of two prophetic novels, THE END OF DAYS and MILLENNIUM: THE LORD REIGNS. I also touched upon some prophetic themes in my 2001 book, ISRAEL IN CRISIS: WHAT LIES AHEAD? Plus there is the fact that the essence of all biblical prophecy is nothing less than news that has not yet transpired. It is history (His story) revealed before it has actually unraveled on the world stage. In other words, it is hardly divorced from the news.

High Alert as Syria's Assad Goes Missing

The following is an excerpt from an Arutz Sheva news report (emphasis added mine):

The IDF raised its alert level and canceled weekend leaves in some units on Thursday as the situation in Syria continues to destabilize.

A bomb in Damascus on Wednesday killed several members of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle, including Defense Minister Daoud Rajha, General Hassan Turkmani, and Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawka, who was Syria’s Interior Minister.

Several other key officials were seriously wounded in the attack, and Assad's whereabouts are presently unknown.

For Israel, this raises several potentially dangerous scenarios, not the least of which involves the security of Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles. Jerusalem is concerned they could end up in the hands of the Hizbullah terror organization.

Syria Moving Scuds to Israel, Turkey Borders

A recent report by a Jordanian news site indicates that Syria is currently in the process of moving hundreds of SCUD missiles to the border with Turkey and Israel. Turkey has been a sore point for Syrian President Bashar Assad as the Turks have insisted that the nearly 14 month old civil war stop immediately. Turkey has in the past moved military assets to their own border with Syria to help fleeing refugees from Assad's reign of death. The Israel National News website is reporting:

The Dual Prophecies of Iran – Part Two

 

Welcome to part two of this study regarding Iran in Bible prophecy. Part one, called "Why Iran's Absent from Psalm 83," lodged logical explanations as to why Iran is not part of the Psalm 83 Arab – Israeli war. Part two provides logistical reasons by demonstrating that Iran seemingly faces a double jeopardy in the days to come. This entire study is taken from the commentary of Revelation Road, Hope Beyond the Horizon.

Even though Iran appears to be absent from the climactic, concluding Arab-Israeli War, they are not excluded from two other significant end-time's events. The one most widely taught among eschatologists today is described in Ezekiel 38, and is commonly called the Gog of Magog invasion of Israel. In Ezekiel's prophecy modern day Iran is represented by ancient Persia, and is clearly identified militarily "with a shield and a helmet," in Russia's coalition.

Why Iran's Absent From Psalm 83 – Part One

As the Psalm 83 confederates image depicts, Syrians and Iraqis find association through Assyria, Hezbollah via Tyre in Lebanon, and Hamas hailing from Gaza connects with Philistia. However, there is no mention of Iranians by their three primary historical names, Elamites, Medes, or Persians. This is puzzling, considering Iran reportedly formed bona fide war-pacts in December, 2009, with Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Because Iran is presently providing weapons to Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas, some suggest Iran may be included in Psalm 83 as part of the Assyrians. The Assyrians seem to be among the stronger members in the psalm, because they support the Jordanian army referred to as the children of Lot (Moab and Ammon) in Psalm 83:3

Psalm 83 – A Prophecy In Process

A Google search of "The Psalm 83 prophecy" on March 31, 2012 displayed 1,380,000 results. Another Google search on the same day under "The Psalm 83 war," uncovered 2,460,000 results. These numbers reflect approximately fifty-times as many results than there were in the same month 4 years prior. I recall, because in 2008 my book, Isralestine the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, was published and I had attempted to find research over the Internet on these two subjects.

The Global March to Jerusalem

Once again, Israel is confronted by a major threat to its existence, namely, the so-called Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) scheduled for March 30th. It is organized by the usual suspects-the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, the swelling tribe of Ayatollah lovers, the devil's spawn of radical Leftists-whose intention is to mobilize a million people to breach Israel's borders and converge on Jerusalem. They are convinced that Israel will either find itself helpless before a "peaceful" onslaught of this magnitude or be forced to take action that would lead to a PR disaster. From their perspective, it's a win-win situation. One way or another, Israel would be gravely weakened and, according to an unlettered exchange between some of the event's organizers, "This will undermine the Israeli state…& the Zionist edifice which is unraveling as we speak, will soon fall."

Gog Enters the Middle East

Russian anti-terror troops are now on the ground in Syria. Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged that the navy's Iman oil tanker arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus. Their official mission is to assist Russian navy ships on anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and “for demonstrating the Russian presence in the turbulent region and possible evacuation of Russian citizens."

Russia has supported many of Israel's enemies with weapons, but it has never directly involved its soldiers on the ground. "This is the first time in modern history that Russia directly intervenes on the ground in the Middle East,” said Abdul Rahman, manager of the Al-Arabiya news channel. “With its forces, Russia truly threatens security and stability in the region. This could be the start of a Russian invasion."

An Iron Dome

There was an interesting event this past week in Israel that points to the Bible’s promises being true.

Despite a flimsy agreement that Palestinian terrorists would halt rocket attacks against Israeli targets, of course more came over. Nine rockets, including the long-range Grad rockets and four mortar shells, hit Israeli territory. This is more “fallout” from the ill-advised pullout from Gaza seven years ago.

Russian Troops Arrive in Syria to help Assad

In a move that is making waves across the international news outlets, it is being reported that Russia "anti-terror" troops have arrived in Syria to help Syrian President Assad with his internal crackdown on the opposition. While this is not really a surprising move, for watchers of Bible prophecy this event could be a watershed moment as "Magog" begins to make it's present felt in the region. The prophet Ezekiel predicted thousands of years ago that in the latter day or end times that there would be a surprise invasion of Israel led by none other than "Magog" or Russia.

Viability of Iranian attack

It's late in Iran on a dark night, moonless or with heavy clouds. Suddenly the silence is broken by sonic booms, followed by the sound of jets roaring overhead.

Flying in tight formation, Israeli fighter planes drop bunker-busting bombs on a nuclear enrichment plant built into the side of a mountain.

Iranian pilots race for their own jets to fight back, but by the time they take to the sky, it's too late. The Israeli jets streak away.

That, at least, is what Israel would like to happen if it decides to attack Iran in an effort to prevent it from acquiring the ability to make nuclear weapons.

But would it be as easy for Israel to destroy Iran's nuclear sites as it was for the Jewish state to strike an Iraqi reactor in 1981 or a suspected one in Syria five years ago?

The Struggle for Jerusalem

Israel's missile shield aces first serious test

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's Iron Dome rocket shield has aced its first serious test. Gaza's Hamas rulers have been careful to stay on the sidelines. And Islamic Jihad — now closer to Iran than is its larger rival Hamas — is taking the lead in this round against Israel.

These are some of the trends emerging from four days of fighting between Israel's air force and Gaza rocket squads, triggered by Israel's killing of a militant leader last week. Twenty-four Palestinians have been killed, including seven on Monday, and about 1 million Israelis in rocket range have seen their lives disrupted by the threat of rocket attacks, with frequent sirens warning them to run for cover.

Iran and Israel’s fate

                               BY REUTERS

US President Barack Obama has made it clear on numerous occasions that with regard to stopping Iran, “all options are on the table.” In recent days his message has become more emphatic.

Last week, he told The Atlantic that “when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say.” In a speech on Sunday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he declared that his policy was not to contain Iran, it was “to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu noted in his speech to AIPAC on Monday, “Israel has the same policy. “We are determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. We leave all options on the table. And containment is definitely not an option.”

Israel cannot wait any longer

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday called on the international community to acknowledge the fact that Iran was developing nuclear weapons. His comments came as he winds up a high-profile U.S. visit focused on Iran’s perceived nuclear threat after warning that his country would not live in the “shadow of annihilation.”

Iran, Syria, Hezbollah threaten military attack

If Syria is attacked by outside forces as it cracks down on its own people, Iran, Syria and the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon will attack Israeli and American targets with missiles, sources within all three reveal.

According to Mashregh News, an Iranian media outlet run by the Revolutionary Guards, sources in Syria report that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last Thursday issued a secret directive that should the country be attacked by America, its military will counterattack.

The Russian bear's growling is one of fear

Moscow's steely support of Assad is intended to allow it to stand strong and face the West as a world power in its own right. And there is nothing like an election campaign for standing up to the whole world and bringing back some good old-fashioned imperialism.SOCHI, Russia - Dozens of decision-makers and shapers of public opinion from Russia and the Middle East met here earlier this month under the auspices of the Kremlin. They came to discuss the "Transformation in the Arab World and Russia's Interests," as the Valdai Discussion Club, established by the Russian news and information agency RIA Novosti, called its conference.

Don’t Bet Against Israel on Iran

Israeli officials are pushing back against what appears to be a growing perception among experts and analysts that its military lacks the capability to deal a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear installations, warning skeptics not to underestimate the Jewish state.

The officials, including currently serving political figures and retired military officers, pointed out in interviews with The Daily Beast that Israel has a history of surprising its enemies and surpassing expectations, from the lightning assault of the 1967 war to the daring rescue operation for hostages at Entebbe in 1976.

You Don’t Mess With Israel!

Geesh! Some so-called Christians these days get on my last nerve. I made the mistake of reading the excellent article, So Jesus Lived in Occupied Territory, by Jan Markell, on the Rapture Ready website and got so disgusted I wanted to stick a pencil in somebody! Up until that point, I was blissfully unaware that an international conference called, Christ at the Checkpoint even existed. Blech!

Apparently this symposium, held in Bethlehem of all places, features some of the ‘intellectually elite Christian thinkers of our time.’ This yearly conference started in 2010 and its overall theme is, (hold your nose!) “Hope in the Midst of Conflict.”

Iranian Threat Heats Up

Iran announced Sunday that it was cutting off crude oil sales to France and England, a mostly symbolic act given that Iran provides England less than 1% of its crude, and France claims that it "practically stopped importing Iranian oil," according to the head of the Union of Petroleum Industries. A few days later, the head of Iran's armed forces threatened to attack Israel preemptively through its terrorist proxies in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iranians are once again using bluster to counter the E.U. ban on Iranian oil slated to begin on July 1, and the threat of Belgium-based SWIFT to ban Iran from its system for facilitating transfers of payments among nations through its international network of banks. As a further provocation, the Iranians sent two warships through the Suez Canal in a show of support for global pariah Syria. This follows the Iranian-engineered terrorist attacks on Israeli targets in India, Georgia, and Thailand.