News from Israel - David Hoyle

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.

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 April

IDF 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 Russian Armed Forces will conduct over 1,000 command-and-staff and tactical exercises during the summer training period from June to November this year, the Defense Ministry said.

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.

The "attack of the Killer 'C's" -- the Casual Christian, Cultural Christian, Compromising Christian, Corruptive Christian, Counterfeit Christian - Pastor Billy Crone.

The "attack of the Killer 'C's 1- 5

In today's society, these types of "Christians" are literally opening the door to Antichrist.

This disaster is of such magnitude that it makes the Titanic look like "chump change"!

The cosmic battle in which we are engaged and exposes the seductive weapons Satan uses to keep us from being the mighty army of God. We are under attack!

Rise up, oh men of God, to battle for the millions of souls deceived and in risk of Hell.

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.

Egypt's new leader Mohamed Morsy vows to bring unity and peace

Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood sets about building a civilian administration for Egypt on Monday that can heal a divisive history of oppression and coax a mistrustful army into relaxing its grip on power.

Behind the scenes, talks were already under way between the Islamists and generals to resolve disputes that blew up this month over steps by the ruling military council to hem in the powers of the first freely elected president Egypt has known.

Cairo's Tahrir Square, theatre of the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak, exploded in joy - and relief - on Sunday as Morsy was declared the narrow but convincing winner of last weekend's presidential run-off against Ahmed Shafik, another scion of the military establishment that has ruled Egypt for 60 years.

The celebrations continued through an unforgettable night after Morsy won by 3.5 percentage points or some 880,000 votes.

Those in Egypt and beyond who feared a win for Shafik might have spelled the end of the Arab Spring acknowledged a triumph for the popular will, and for the army that accepted it. From Syria's opposition came word that Cairo was again a "source of hope" for a people "facing a repressive war of annihilation."

However, beyond the vast throng who waved their flags and chanted praises to God for hours on end on Tahrir Square, millions of Egyptians, and the Western powers, looked on with unease at the prospect of the long-suppressed Brotherhood making good on its dream of an Islamic state for the Arab world's biggest nation.

Among the most anxious were the young, urban revolutionaries who launched last year's uprising but saw their representatives knocked out in last month's first round vote, as well as diehard supporters of the old regime who fear for their privileges. Some Shafik admirers wept in fury that the army had "betrayed" them.

CONCILIATORY TALK
Morsy, a 60-year-old engineer who studied in California and was jailed for his politics by Mubarak's secret police, took his first steps in public to quell some fears: "I am today a president for all Egyptians," he said in an address after what he called "this historic moment, this luminous moment."

He repeated his respect for international treaties - a gesture to Israel, which has fretted about its 1979 peace deal, and to Egypt's army, whose big US subsidy depends on it.

Barack Obama called him. "The president underscored that the United States will continue to support Egypt's transition to democracy and stand by the Egyptian people as they fulfill the promise of their revolution," the White House said.

The bearded Morsy, smiling occasionally, echoed that in his televised speech, saying he would work with others to see the democratic revolution through: "There is no room now for the language of confrontation," he said.

Morsy, an obscure party official before being catapulted to prominence by the disqualification of the movement's preferred candidate, has little choice but to compromise, and sources in the Brotherhood said a package of agreements, already discussed with senior generals last week, could soon be announced.

At daggers drawn for most of Egypt's modern history, the Brotherhood, an international model for many Islamist parties, and the army were drawn into a wary symbiosis once the military council pushed out Mubarak to appease the protesters and found in its long-banned enemy the most organized political force.

The Brotherhood, conscious of playing a long game, was ready to play its part in a transition. But cooperation frayed when the Islamists made a push for more control. They secured the lion's share in a parliament elected in January and, with the influence that offered over drafting a constitution, plus the presidency, would have been very much in the driving seat.

That was clearly too much for Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and his Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. With the help of a Mubarak-era judiciary, SCAF dissolved parliament on the eve of the presidential election and then gave itself the legislative power, adding also a potential role in forming a panel to write the constitution. It also revived some powers for martial law.

Critics at home and in the West called it a "soft coup."

NEGOTIATIONS
Senior Brotherhood officials say they have been negotiating in the past week to change some of that. Though both sides deny that any deal was struck over the result of the presidential vote itself, Morsy's election now sets a key reference point around which a power-sharing compromise can be built while the process of constructing a constitutional democracy goes on.

"President Morsy and his team have been in talks with the military council to bring back the democratically elected parliament and other issues," Essam Haddad, a senior Brotherhood official, told Reuters on Monday.

Brotherhood sources told Reuters they hoped the army might allow a partial recall of parliament and other concessions in return for Morsy exercising his powers to name a government and presidential administration in ways the army approves of - notably by extending appointments across the political spectrum.

Military officials have confirmed discussions in the past few days but had no immediate comment on the latest talks.

The Brotherhood has, movement officials said, approached secular reformist politician Mohamed ElBaradei, a former UN diplomat and Nobel peace laureate, to take a senior post, possibly as prime minister. ElBaradei has not commented.

Brotherhood officials have said they will press on with street protests to pressure the army but this, along with a number of other contentious issues including to whom and where Morsy swears his oath of office, could be settled soon.

The army wants Morsy sworn in on June 30, meeting a deadline it set itself for handing over Egypt to "civilian rule."

"Nobody should doubt there is going to be deal-making," said analyst Shadi Hamid, director of the Brookings Doha Centre. "The (SCAF) still has the tanks and guns and the Brotherhood still understands that. There has to be some temporary power-sharing agreement. There has to be give and take."

RELIGIOUS IDEALS
Morsy, who evaded questions during his campaign on such fraught issues as dress codes on Egypt's profitable tourist beaches, peppered his address with religious language as he spoke from a lectern blazoned with the presidential seal - a jarring mix of sights and sounds for the vast majority Egypt's 82 million people who can remember no president but Mubarak.

He has promised a moderate "Islamic renaissance" for an Egypt mired in economic crisis. Supporters cite the example of Turkey, where the party now led by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan slowly eroded the army's resistance to pious politicians and the Muslim country has emerged as a political and economic force.

But Morsy, and the party grandees behind him, are aware that without cooperation from both the army, and the wider "deep state" of business and institutional vested interests built up under military rule, the Brotherhood risks accepting a poisoned chalice, enjoying the outward trappings of power but taking all the blame when life does not improve as fast as people hope.

Describing the election as "a true example of democracy to the world" a military council source said the pressure was on Morsy: "The onus now is on the new president to unite the nation and create a true coalition of political and revolutionary forces to rebuild the country economically and politically.

"The world is now watching the new president."

WESTERN CONCERNS
Calling it a "milestone in their transition to democracy," the United States, the army's key sponsor and also long wary of the rise of political Islam, joined other Western powers in congratulating Morsy and calling on him to form a government of national unity that would respect all Egyptians' civil rights, notably those of women and the 10-percent Christian minority.

The White House said: "It is important for President-elect Morsy to take steps at this historic time to advance national unity by reaching out to all parties and constituencies in consultations about the formation of a new government."

The British and French governments echoed that sentiment.

Israel is at war with the Brotherhood's Palestinian offshoot Hamas, which celebrated Morsy's win in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he "respected" the result and expected to continue cooperation under the peace treaty.

Half of those who voted in last month's first round of the election backed neither Morsy nor Shafik and many who voted in the run-off voted negatively - either against Morsy's religious agenda or against Shafik as a symbol of military rule.

"We voted for Morsy reluctantly to prevent Shafik from getting in because if he were president, we would all be hanged," said Mohamed Abdel Latif, 28, a youth activist in the second city of Alexandria. "From today, we will oppose Morsy.

"The Brotherhood must remember that they won because of us and they shouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past."

Shafik, a former air force commander and Mubarak's last prime minister, offered his congratulations and said he was willing to serve in Morsy's administration if asked.

He had the support of many Christians, who reacted gloomily to his defeat. Ehab Aziz of the Coptic American Friendship League said they were worried they would face special taxes, as some interpretations of Islamic law suggest for non-believers.

Joe Fahim, 29, a Christian in Cairo, said he was personally uncertain but added: "For most Copts though, it's doomsday."

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.

Turkey Locates the Jet Shot Down by Syria

The wreckage of a Turkish jet shot down by Syria has been located in Syrian waters, but the search continues for two pilots.

It comes as Nato agreed to a request from Turkey for an emergency meeting of member states on Tuesday to discuss its response to the incident.

The jet was shot down over the Mediterranean on Friday, about eight miles from the Syrian coast.

Turkey's foreign minister has claimed the plane was hit without warning in international airspace. Ahmet Davutoglu said the F4 Phantom jet momentarily strayed into Syrian airspace - but was not on a spying mission. He said the plane was unarmed and had no "covert mission related to Syria," and was on a training flight to test Turkey's radar capabilities. Syria has said its action was "not an attack", but took down the plane because it violated its airspace.

While Mr Davutoglu admitted the plane had entered Syrian airspace by mistake, he asserted it was shot down in "international airspace" several minutes after it left, and without warning. Mr Davutoglu told state TV: "According to our conclusions, our plane was shot down in international airspace, 13 nautical miles from Syria. "The plane did not show any sign of hostility toward Syria and was shot down about 15 minutes after having momentarily violated Syrian airspace."

The minister said there was no warning from Syria before it shot down the plane, adding: "The Syrians knew full well that it was a Turkish military plane and the nature of its mission."

Tensions have been growing between the neighbouring countries since the incident on Friday, with the international community urging both nations to exercise restraint. Mr Davutoglu said he would present the incident formally to the Nato military alliance under article four of its founding treaty. The article provides for states to "consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened".

It stops short of the explicit mention of possible armed responses cited in article five.

Turkey has taken in more than 30,000 refugees who have fled the violence in Syria and the year-long uprising against President Bashar al Assad. British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned Syria's shooting down of the plane as "an outrageous act".

"This deplorable incident underlines the urgent need to find a solution to the current crisis in Syria in order to bring an end to the violence and to achieve a genuine political transition," he said.

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.

'Close to death, his wife by his side': Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak taken off life support but still critical after being declared 'clinically dead' by his doctors

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived for his trial in Cairo, Egypt, lying in a hospital bed earlier this month because of his poor health

Ousted: Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison on June 2 for failing to stop the killing of civilians during last year's protest against his 30 year rule

Protest: Egyptians gathered to demonstrate in Tahrir Square last week in the run up to the election

Results of Egypt's presidential election were delayed last night, stoking fresh tensions in the country.

It appears two candidates claim to have been victorious in last weekend's poll.

Egyptians went to the polls to choose a replacement for Hosni Mubarak, who was said to be fighting for his life in hospital. He was ousted in an Arab Spring uprising last year.

Mubarak, who is said to have suffered a series of strokes, was jailed for life on June 2 for his role in the deaths of protesters during the demonstrations which swept him from power.

The leading election candidates were the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsy and Ahmed Shafik, a former air force commander who was Mubarak's last prime minister.

'We cannot say when the election results will be announced because we are listening to the representatives,' said presidential elections committee judge Hatem Bagato.

The review involved 'looking at records and logs related to the electoral process'.
A delay to the results risks prolonging uncertainty and stoking tensions when it is unclear how big a role the military will play in leading Egypt.

Omar Salama, a legal adviser and member of the election committee's secretariat, said Morsy had filed more than 150 complaints against Shafik.

The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Shafik had submitted 221 complaints about the results.

Reports had suggested 84-year-old Mubarak was on life support and might even be clinically dead. But yesterday he was said officially to be critical but conscious and stable.

He was transferred to a military hospital from the Cairo prison hospital where he has been kept since his June 2 conviction and sentencing for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the uprising.

The state news agency Mena said Mubarak was ‘clinically dead’ when he arrived at the hospital and that doctors used a defibrillator on him several times. It initially said the efforts were not successful.

His wife Suzanne was by his side in the Nile-side hospital in Maadi, a suburb just south of Cairo.

Security officials said a team of 15 doctors, including heart, blood and brain specialists, was supervising the condition of Mubarak, who needed help with his breathing.

Mubarak was convicted of failing to prevent the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising that forced him out of office on February 11, 2011.

He and his two sons, onetime heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa, were acquitted of corruption charges.

But the two sons are held in Torah awaiting trial on charges of insider trading.

The two were by their father's side at the Torah prison hospital, but the officials said prison authorities refused their request to accompany him to the Maadi military hospital.

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.

The Muslim Brotherhood Victory: A Seismic Shift in the Middle East

By Chris Mitchell

The victory today by Mohammed Mursi represents a seismic shift in the Middle East. Now a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic organization that has spawned most of the terror groups in the world—including Hamas—is the leader of the largest and most influential Arab nation in the Middle East.


While Mursi said he would govern with "moderate Islamic references," it's important to remember the creed of the Muslim Brotherhood:

"Allah is our objective; the Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations."

During Mursi's campaign, he also attended a rally at which Sheik Safawat Higzazi rallied the crowd in a chant to liberate Gaza and make Jerusalem the capital of Egypt. Here's an excerpt from a MEMRI translation:

"Brandish your weapons... Say your prayers... And pray to the Lord. From the eyes of all Jews... Come on, you lovers of martyrdom... Banish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews. Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas. Indeed, all the lovers of martyrdom are Hamas. I say from this podium, from al-Mahalla, from the heart of the Delta, the heart of Egypt, so that the whole world may hear. We say it loud and clear: Yes, Jerusalem is our goal. We shall pray in Jerusalem, or else we shall die as martyrs on its threshold.”

A number of huge questions remain following Mursi's victory:

What will the consequences be for Israel? Is the more than 30 year peace treaty in jeopardy?

Will the Muslim Brotherhood confront the military, the current de facto power in Egypt?

What will be the fate of the millions of Coptic and evangelical Christians in Egypt?

Will women's and minorities rights be tolerated?

These questions remain and for now the scenes of jubilation from the Muslim Brotherhood crowd in Tahrir Square have gone around the world. But many, many Egyptians are deeply troubled. Here's how one Egyptian now living in the West expressed his feelings:

“Muhammad Mursi of Muslin Brotherhood won the election in Egypt. Today the true democracy dies in Egypt, may the Lord have mercy over the minority in Egypt, today human rights dies in the Middle East, I lost my country twice, the day that I left and today.”

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.

The president of the EU, Herman Van Rompuy, is to unveil a Banking Union Plan

European Union president, Herman Van Rompuy, hopes to unveil a proposal for a banking union at this week crunch EU leaders' summit.

Herman Van Rompuy sees banking union as key to breaking the link between bank risk and sovereign debt

A banking union would be the first step in a long-term roadmap to political union that he will outline to EU leaders, with dates and institutional problems such as treaty change set out by year's end.

"Banking union is a fundamental element," he told German paper Welt am Sonntag, in an interview published on Sunday. "I think we can move forward there more quickly than in other areas."

The success of his plan depends on whether EU leaders can overcome opposition to increasing the role of the European Central Bank. The ECB and Germany are opposed to increasing the role of the central bank to allow it become a lender of

last resort and underwrite the sovereign debt of eurozone countries.
Pressure for a banking union has increased in recent week after a rise in Spanish borrowing costs threatened the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and forced the country to seek help from its euro partners to prop up its ailing banks.

Spain is expected to make a formal request for €100bn of aid for its banks on Monday.

Christine Lagarde, the head of the IMF, warned last week that the eurozone is under "acute stress" and at risk of a downward spiral. She urged the eurozone to channel aid directly to struggling banks rather than via governments.

Mr Van Rompuy, who said recently the eurozone stood "at the edge of a cliff" with "a knife at its throat", told German paper Welt am Sonntag on Sunday: "Banking union is a fundamental element. I think we can move forward there more quickly than in other areas."

Proposals for a 'banking union' are expected to include a joint deposit guarantee scheme and a fund to wind down failing banks.

On Friday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel doused hopes of a break-through on proposals by Italy, France, and Spain to deploy the EU rescue funds to cap the bond yields of countries vulnerable to contagion, or to recapitalize banks directly to take the strain off sovereign states.

"Each country wants to help but if I am going to call on taxpayers in Germany, I must have guarantees that all is under control. Responsibility and control go hand in hand," she said after a crucial summit of the eurozone's Big Four powers in Rome.

"If I give moneystriaght to Spanish banks, I can't control what they do. That is how the treaties are written," she said.

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.

Turkey goes to NATO over plane it says Syria downed in international airspace

Foreign minister says Ankara will take incident to NATO and dismisses Syria's claim it did not know plane was Turkish.

Ahmet Davutoglu says the Turkish jet entered Syrian airspace but quickly left, and was then shot down without warning by Syrian forces.

NATO is to meet on Tuesday at Turkey's request following the shooting down of one of its warplanes by Syria in what it says was international airspace.

Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said Ankara would formally present the incident to its Nato allies to prepare a response under article four of the organisation's founding treaty.

The article provides for states to "consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened". It stops short of the explicit mention of possible armed responses cited in article five.

Turkish media reported on Sunday that the wreckage of the downed plane was found in the Mediterranean sea at a 1,000-metre depth. Turkey has filed an official protest to Syria about shooting down.

Davutoglu told the state broadcaster TRT on Sunday that the plane had entered Syrian airspace but quickly left when warned by Turkey and was shot down in international airspace several minutes later.

He said the plane was clearly marked as Turkish, dismissing Syria's earlier statement that it had not known the plane belonged to Turkey, and that it was shot down over Syrian airspace. He said it was on a training flight to test Tur

key's radar capabilities and had no "covert mission related to Syria".

Turkey's president, Abdullah Gül, said on Saturday that it was "routine" for jets flying at high speeds to violate other countries' air spaces for short periods of time.

A statement by the Syrian military said the Turkish plane was flying low 1km off the Syrian coast when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The plane fell in Syrian waters seven miles west of the village of Um al-Touyour.

In a telephone interview with Turkish TV news channel A Haber on Saturday, Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the incident was "not an attack".

"An unidentified object entered our airspace and unfortunately as a result it was brought down. It was understood only later that it was a Turkish plane," A Haber quoted Makdissi in a translation of the interview. "There was no hostile act against

Turkey whatsoever. It was just an act of defence for our sovereignty."

The Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, urged Turkey and Syria late on Saturday to show restraint over the incident, his ministry said.

In a telephone conversation with Davutoglu, Salehi said he hoped the two sides would "settle the issue peacefully to maintain regional stability", said a statement on the Iranian foreign ministry's website.

The foreign secretary, William Hague, said the "outrageous" act underlined the need for Assad's regime to go. "My thoughts and sympathies are with the families and friends of the missing Turkish pilots. I have made clear to Foreign Minister Davutoglu the UK's strong support for the Turkish government at this difficult time," he said in a statement.

"The Assad regime should not make the mistake of believing that it can act with impunity. It will be held to account for its behaviour. The UK stands ready to pursue robust action at the United Nations security council."

Turkey has been one of the Syrian regime's most ardent critics over its brutal domestic crackdown and the incident threatens to add a new international dimension to the internal revolt against the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.

With the second biggest army in Nato, and 30 years of experience fighting Kurdish rebels, Turkey would be a formidable foe for the Syrian army, which is already struggling to contain the 16-month-old revolt.

Ankara, which had drawn close to Syria before the uprising against Assad, turned against the Syrian leader when he responded violently to pro-democracy protests inspired by popular upheavals elsewhere in the Arab world. Turkey now gives refuge to the rebel Free Syrian Army on its frontier with Syria.

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.

ITALIAN PM WARNS EUROPE FACES APOCALYPTIC CONSEQUENCES: “We have a week to save the euro”

"Italy's prime minister, Mario Monti, has warned of the apocalyptic consequences of failure at next week's summit of EU leaders, outlining a potential death spiral that could threaten the political and economic future of Europe," reports the UK Guardian. "The Italian leader is to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the French president, François Hollande, and Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, in the hope that the single currency's big four countries can pave the way for a breakthrough at next week's meeting. Speaking to the Guardian and a group of leading European newspapers, Monti said that, without a successful outcome at the summit, 'there would be progressively greater speculative attacks on individual countries, with harassment of the weaker countries.' The attacks would be focused not only on those who had failed to respect EU guidelines, but also on those like Italy, which he said had abided by the rules 'but which carry with them from the past a high debt.' Monti warned: 'A large part of Europe would find itself having to continue to put up with very high interest rates that would then impact on the states and also indirectly on firms. This is the direct opposite of what is needed for economic growth.' Outlining the result of a failure at the talks, Monti said that, faced with creeping economic paralysis, 'the frustration of the public towards Europe would grow,' creating a vicious circle."

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.

RUSSIA, IRAN, SYRIA, CHINA TO HOLD MASSIVE WAR GAME: Echoes of Bible prophecy?

By Joel Rosenberg

"Iran, Russia, China and Syria will hold the Middle East's largest ever war game, Iranian news outlets reported quoting unnamed sources," reports the Jerusalem Post. "According to the report, 90,000 troops, 400 warplanes and 1,000 tanks from the four countries will take part in land and sea exercises. The war games will feature Russian atomic submarines, according to Iranian media, as well as warships, aircraft carriers and mine-clearing destroyers. Semi-official Iranian FARS news agency stated that the exercise was being planned in coordination with Egypt, which recently acceded to grant the passage of 12 Chinese warships through the Suez Canal. The report stated that the Chinese naval convoy is due to dock in Syrian harbors within the next two weeks. Regarding the timing of the planned exercise, FARS quoted unnamed Syrian officials as saying the war game would be held 'soon'...."

The story is particularly intriguing -- and disturbing -- in light of Bible prophecies in Ezekiel 38-39 that indicate a Russian-Iranian military alliance will develop in the "last days" to attack the nation of Israel. While it remains too early to know for certain if the "War of Gog and Magog" prophecies are going to be fulfilled in the near future, geopolitical trends in recent years and even in recent months have been curiously consistent with the ancient Biblical text. A militaristic Czar -- Vladimir Putin -- has risen to power in Russia. Putin is the only Russian leader in history to visit Israel (7 years ago), and is preparing to visit again on June 25, trying to make the Israelis feel comfortable with him. Yet Russia has been selling billions of dollars in arms to Iran and other nations described in the prophecies. Russia is currently sending naval ships and forces to Syria. Israelis are living more securely in the land, and are more prosperous, than ever in their modern history also consistent with the prophecies.

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.