It is a tragedy that as the whole panoply of Biblical prophecy spreads out before us in the last days and is increasingly fulfilled in an accelerating way even many Christians seem unable to relate what is happening to their Bibles.
Tragically the Bible is not taken literally and thus there is little understanding of the lateness of the hour.
Without an understanding of God’s word how can we possibly interpret what is happening in the Arab world? Whilst we cannot fill in all the details we can at least see that the scriptures have much to say about these nations in the last days.
Egypt is a case in point. Israel is taking some comfort in the Egyptian military ruler’s decision to rewrite the country’s constitution, a move that will strip much of the power of the Egyptian presidency. This decision tends to confirm the view of many sceptics that the deposing of Hosni Mubarak was more a military coup than a revolution! It was the Egyptian army that played a key roll in the uprising, siding with the people against the regime. It was again the army who intervened in the middle of a presidential election this week an election that would have delivered control to the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi. The military dissolved parliament and declared one third of its MPs were elected illegally.
The crux of this is that with the likelihood of a Muslim Brotherhood president the military were not prepared to accept a democratically elected government with the existing presidential powers and thus stripped the incoming president of much of his authority. Their fears are now realised as Mohammed Morsi, the Brotherhood candidate, has been declared the winner!
Israel was struck by dozens of rockets last Friday and Israeli sources said this was at the incitement of the Brotherhood.
Ever since the end of the Mubarak era there have been threats against Israel; to tear up the peace treaty, cancel gas contracts (the pipeline has been blown up 14 times since the revolution), there have also been cross-border attacks and the Sinai has been used as a staging ground for terrorism.
It’s not yet clear whether the military have fended off the Muslim Brotherhood or whether the Brotherhood will challenge the army.
One worry is that if Egypt opened its border with Gaza Hamas would be able to get hold of state-of-the art weaponry!
Thus Israel takes comfort in the partial military takeover if it reins in the Muslims, but this is an unfolding situation. Watch this space and read Isaiah 19 and Isaiah 27v12-13 with Psalm 83.
Needless to say the Brotherhood victory has been warmly welcomed by President Obama and William Hague – par for the course!
Syria The fulfilment of Isaiah 17v1-3 could happen at any moment. There seems no end to the problems there and the increasing involvement of the Russians who have sent elite paratroopers to the area is a serious threat. They purport to be there to defend the Russian technicians who are at present in Tartus, now a significant Russian naval base, but their presence may be more sinister. Are they there to discourage NATO involvement? A ship carrying attack helicopters has returned to Russia from Scottish waters after protests but Russia has announced it will dock at Murmansk and be reflagged before sailing to Syria.
What will happen if NATO does send troops?
Russia, Turkey, Iran and Libya Could this presage Ezekiel Chapters 38/39? Russia, Turkey, Iran and Libya are all mentioned here and a study of all the ancient names in these chapters in relation to their current territories is illuminating. The only conclusion from a study of these two chapters is that the battle described will take place at the beginning of the tribulation; hence the rapture of the church must be imminent if these future events are casting their shadow before.
Saudi Arabia Is becoming heavily involved in Syria, supplying arms to the rebels via Turkey and a study of Isaiah 21v13-17 may be relevant.
Iraq Babylon has been rebuilt by Sadam Hussein but is now reported to be being used by America as a huge communications centre from where it is possible to direct America’s Middle East activities and more importantly control oil! The writer was invited to visit there just prior to the Gulf war but was glad he declined as many visitors were captured for use as human shields! Read Jeremiah 50v35 & 39 but note Revelation 18v2-5 remembering that Northern Iraq, which was part of Assyria has a very different future. Isaiah 19v24-25.
Lebanon The Syrian problems have spilled into Lebanon but it is interesting to consider Zechariah 10v9-10 and also note that Israel will one day have all the land from ‘the river of Egypt to the Euphrates’ Genesis 15v18.
Be good Bereans, study your Bible, one day all these things will be clear in the light of revelation. We fill in too much detail of the overall prophetic map at our peril!
Sudan Israel has a serious problem with refugees who have slipped over its southern border with Egypt. 60,000 from Sudan and Eritrea have currently entered Israel. Some are now returning home after being threatened with arrest. Israel has produced a voluntary resettlement form and those who sign are returned to their countries with a resettlement grant of 1,000 Euros. The burden on the economy caused by the influx is causing alarm and is threatening Israel’s Jewish character.
Germany Only three members of the German football team agreed to visit Auschwitz recently. Their manager described the visit as a ‘fireside talk’! The German word he used ‘Kemin’ can also mean chimney and thus the term suggested the burning of Jews! The German captain said the whole team should have been present. The head of Germany’s Central Council for Jews said the visit was a ‘mockery of the holocaust’!
Gaza President Abbas said ‘The peace process is clinically dead’. Saab Erekat the Palestinian Chief Negotiator is currently in Washington seeking to revive the peace process.
50 rockets struck Israel from Gaza this week, Israel hit back with air strikes. Not surprisingly both BBC and Sky TV mentioned the air strikes but not he rockets! No wonder there is anti Semitism.
Scotland The Church of Scotland continues its hate campaign against Israel. It was asked by a delegate to its assembly to reverse its one sided approach to Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. Rev. Ian Galloway said, ‘There can never be a balanced view between Israel and Palestine’. The Assembly voted overwhelmingly that they were balanced! Anti Semitism is alive and well in the Church of Scotland and we now know that they will not even make pretence of balance. They are blinded by unchristian prejudice.
Settlements Israel has turned a deaf ear to condemnation of settlement building, notably 851 new buildings in existing west Bank settlements. The UN view is that all Judea and Samaria is occupied territory. What else would one expect from this biased organisation controlled by Islamic votes?
There is still time to book on our Israel tour in October. Send today for a brochure. Telephone: David Hoyle 01423 881803
WHY I AM NOT A DISPENSATIONALIST; John Nelson Darby is recognized as the father of dispensationalism later made popular in the United States by Cyrus Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible. Charles Henry Mackintosh, 1820–1896, with his popular style spread Darby's teachings to humbler elements in society and may be regarded as the journalist of the Brethren Movement. CHM popularised Darby more than any other Brethren author. As there was no Christian teaching of a “rapture” before Darby began preaching about it in the 1830s, he is sometimes credited with originating the "secret rapture" theory wherein Christ will suddenly remove His bride, the Church, from this world before the judgments of the tribulation. Dispensationalist beliefs about the fate of the Jews and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Israel put dispensationalists at the forefront of Christian Zionism, because "God is able to graft them in again," and they believe that in His grace he will do so according to their understanding of Old Testament prophecy. They believe that, while the methodologies of God may change, His purposes to bless Israel will never be forgotten, just as He has shown unmerited favour to the Church, He will do so to a remnant of Israel to fulfill all the promises made to the genetic seed of Abraham. I am not a dispensationalist; it is unbiblical.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
GROWING EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY SHAKES CANARY ISLANDS
Spanish scientists have mapped the seabed; this digital terrain model shows the emerging underwater volcano.
CANARY ISLANDS - Following days of almost continual earthquakes, residents of the small Canary island of El Hierro are once again living in fear of a volcanic eruption as their island begins to lift.
According to the National Geographic Institute of Spain, increases in seismic activity on the island has seen literally hundreds of earthquakes, known as a swarm, shaking the island and gradually increasing in strength since June 25.
Around 750 earthquakes have been recorded although few have been strong enough to be felt by the residents until the last two days. The island has been placed on yellow alert by the security committee in charge of operations as the earthquakes increase.
The largest so far was registered at 4.0 on the Richter scale on Wednesday June 27. More frightening for the approximately 10,000 residents is the fact that a bulge has developed in the island, lifting it five centimeters in four days.
Whereas the volcanic activity of 2011 was based out at sea, this time the magma appears to be forming right underneath the island and the pressure is building.
Scientists on the island are using the position of the earthquake epicenters to try and work out where the magma from the volcano will come to the surface.
The longer it takes to find a vent, the more the pressure from the magma will grow and the larger any possible eruption is likely to be. Earthquake Report says that PEVOLCA (Civil Protection from Volcanic Risk) has said that there is acceleration in the flow of magma, with a “clear process of inflation.” –Digital Journal
WHY I AM NOT A DISPENSATIONALIST; John Nelson Darby is recognized as the father of dispensationalism later made popular in the United States by Cyrus Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible. Charles Henry Mackintosh, 1820–1896, with his popular style spread Darby's teachings to humbler elements in society and may be regarded as the journalist of the Brethren Movement. CHM popularised Darby more than any other Brethren author. As there was no Christian teaching of a “rapture” before Darby began preaching about it in the 1830s, he is sometimes credited with originating the "secret rapture" theory wherein Christ will suddenly remove His bride, the Church, from this world before the judgments of the tribulation. Dispensationalist beliefs about the fate of the Jews and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Israel put dispensationalists at the forefront of Christian Zionism, because "God is able to graft them in again," and they believe that in His grace he will do so according to their understanding of Old Testament prophecy. They believe that, while the methodologies of God may change, His purposes to bless Israel will never be forgotten, just as He has shown unmerited favour to the Church, He will do so to a remnant of Israel to fulfill all the promises made to the genetic seed of Abraham. I am not a dispensationalist; it is unbiblical.
Israel, US joint military drill set for autumn
Missile defense exercise had been planned for AprilIDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, right, at a welcoming ceremony for his visiting US counterpart Martin Dempsey, at a military base in Tel Aviv on January 20.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. military officer says the U.S. and Israel will hold a major missile defense exercise in October.
The exercise Austere Challenge ’12 was scheduled originally for April but was postponed amid growing talk of Israel preparing to attack Iran over its nuclear program. The odds of an Israeli attack in the near term appear to have lessened.
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Army Gen. Martin Dempsey told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday that he is unfamiliar with exact details but that the postponed exercise is expected to take place in October.
The exercise is designed to test multiple Israeli and U.S. air defense systems against incoming missiles and rockets from places as far away as Iran.
News of the drill comes amid ongoing violence in Syria, and with Israel and the US closely discussing the means to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive. The commander of the 3rd Air Force, Lt.-Gen.Craig A. Franklin, on a recent visit to Israel, established a planning committee with representatives of the IDF to coordinate the details of the exercise. Some 3,000 US soldiers are to participate, alongside thousands of Israeli troops.
The drill will simulate missiles being fired at Israel from Iran and Syria simultaneously, with potentially tens, if not hundreds, of rockets mid-air at the same time. Israel will test its upgraded Arrow 2 defense system, while the US will deploy the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and PAC-3 Patriot air defense platforms.
According to Maariv, some military analysts have nicknamed the exercise a “dress rehearsal” for a potential military conflict, noting that it will send a clear message to Iran at a time during which the impact of international sanctions, or lack thereof, will be clearer.
The drill’s announcement comes shortly after talks between world powers and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program broke up without progress in Moscow.
WHY I AM NOT A DISPENSATIONALIST; John Nelson Darby is recognized as the father of dispensationalism later made popular in the United States by Cyrus Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible. Charles Henry Mackintosh, 1820–1896, with his popular style spread Darby's teachings to humbler elements in society and may be regarded as the journalist of the Brethren Movement. CHM popularised Darby more than any other Brethren author. As there was no Christian teaching of a “rapture” before Darby began preaching about it in the 1830s, he is sometimes credited with originating the "secret rapture" theory wherein Christ will suddenly remove His bride, the Church, from this world before the judgments of the tribulation. Dispensationalist beliefs about the fate of the Jews and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Israel put dispensationalists at the forefront of Christian Zionism, because "God is able to graft them in again," and they believe that in His grace he will do so according to their understanding of Old Testament prophecy. They believe that, while the methodologies of God may change, His purposes to bless Israel will never be forgotten, just as He has shown unmerited favour to the Church, He will do so to a remnant of Israel to fulfill all the promises made to the genetic seed of Abraham. I am not a dispensationalist; it is unbiblical.
Russian Military is to Hold Over 1,000 Drills in June-October
MOSCOW, June 1 (RIA Novosti)The summer training will focus on improving interoperability of all branches of the Armed Forces and efficient use of automated battlefield management systems, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The training will be carried out on average 2-3 times a week with the emphasis on weapons proficiency and driving skills.
The training period will culminate with the Kavkaz-2012 large-scale strategic exercises in southern Russia and North Caucasus, which would also involve Abkhaz and South Ossetian military units.
In addition, Russia will hold about 50 joint military exercises with foreign countries, including the Slavic Commonwealth – 2012 with Ukraine and Belarus, the INDRA-2012 with India and the Selenga with Mongolia.
The Russian Navy will traditionally take part in RIMPAC, FRUKUS, Northern Eagle and Blacksea for international naval drills.
WHY I AM NOT A DISPENSATIONALIST; John Nelson Darby is recognized as the father of dispensationalism later made popular in the United States by Cyrus Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible. Charles Henry Mackintosh, 1820–1896, with his popular style spread Darby's teachings to humbler elements in society and may be regarded as the journalist of the Brethren Movement. CHM popularised Darby more than any other Brethren author. As there was no Christian teaching of a “rapture” before Darby began preaching about it in the 1830s, he is sometimes credited with originating the "secret rapture" theory wherein Christ will suddenly remove His bride, the Church, from this world before the judgments of the tribulation. Dispensationalist beliefs about the fate of the Jews and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Israel put dispensationalists at the forefront of Christian Zionism, because "God is able to graft them in again," and they believe that in His grace he will do so according to their understanding of Old Testament prophecy. They believe that, while the methodologies of God may change, His purposes to bless Israel will never be forgotten, just as He has shown unmerited favour to the Church, He will do so to a remnant of Israel to fulfill all the promises made to the genetic seed of Abraham. I am not a dispensationalist; it is unbiblical.
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