Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced this evening that he intends to step down from his post following the election of a new chairman for Kadima in September. The Prime Minister has come under increasing pressure to resign after it was revealed that he received bribes from a New York businessman. He is also under investigation for submitting duplicate claims of travel expenses when he was mayor of Jerusalem. Olmert came to power in January 2006 following the lapse of then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon into a coma. He presided over a caretaker government until the former Prime Minister was officially declared unfit to govern, after his one-hundredth day in the coma. Two and a half years later, Ariel Sharon remains in a stable condition in a Tel Aviv rehabilitation centre, but still in a comatose state. Last January Ehud Olmert paid tribute to his ailing predecessor. It was widely perceived that Sharon's illness was a result of his Gaza disengagement policy, which was effected just a few months before his debilitating stroke. The Gaza disengagement itself was also seen as a judgement upon Israel, for it began on Tisha B'Av, the exact date on which the First and Second Temples were destroyed by the Babylonian and Roman armies. So it was seen as a double tragedy for the Jewish people. During his tenure, Olmert lead Israel into the 33 day war with Hizbullah, which was widely perceived as a strategic failure. Although Israel didn't lose the war, Hizbullah continued to rain down over 120 missiles on Israel on a daily basis, until Western nations allowed the UN to intervene. Israel's free reign against Hizbullah resulted in US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's famous declaration, that the world was now witnessing the "birth pangs" of the new Middle East. Unfortunately the UN ceasefire has allowed Hizbullah to regroup and rearm, and the organization is now in possession of more rockets than they were at the start of the Second Lebanon War. And of course Olmert official recommenced peace negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the Annapolis peace conference last year. His premiership was unique. He was the first Prime Minister to admit that Israel possessed nuclear weapons, in a dreadful gaffe during an interview with a German reporter about Iran. He was also the first Israeli Prime Minister to consider dividing the city of Jerusalem. Olmert's departure will be seen as a hindrance to peace by the international community. Even the Palestinian Arabs said they would be reluctant to lose him. But the United States government has declared that they will continue to press on for a peace agreement by 2009.

Quote: ""We will continue to work on a deal before the end of the year," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said when asked how Olmert's departure would affect the fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace process. US officials had played down the potential fallout from Olmert's departure, saying he is not the only Israeli leader committed to peacemaking. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice launched a round of talks in Washington on Wednesday with former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is considered a possible successor to Olmert. Meanwhile senior Palestinian Authority official Saeb Erekat said the PA "decided today that we are going to continue pursuing to reach an agreement before the end of the year." 

As we have seen, end time prophecy is being fulfilled. The Israeli government is actively pursuing peace with their enemies, something which they were commanded by God never to do (Deuteronomy 23:6). And they are handing God's land (Leviticus 25:23) over to their enemies, land which is being used as a terrorist base from which to destroy them. Whoever wins the upcoming elections, there is no doubt they will be railroaded by the international community into making peace with their Muslim neighbours, who are bent on the annihilation of the Jewish state. The international community thinks, if only Israel can give up enough land, maybe the Arabs will be happy. But this conflict is not about land. It is about the Jewish people. Satan has sought to destroy God's chosen people throughout history. Hitler was responsible for wiping out some 6-8 million of them, even when there was no nation of Israel. Satan is bent on destroying God's people, for He knows God's promises to this world are wrapped up in them. For Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) is to return to Jerusalem to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Micah 4:2). And Satan is bent on doing his utmost to prevent that from happening. Peace will only come for Israel when they are willing to recognize Yeshua as their Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). And you will only have true peace in your heart when you invite Jesus Christ into your life. He died so that you might know peace with God (Colossians 1:20). Confess to God that you are a sinner. Turn away from your sins. And turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source YNet News, Aish, YNet News

Palestinian sources have revealed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is pushing for a document to be drafted by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that will show what progress has been made on the Middle East peace process to date. Rice is hoping to present the document, which will outline progress made since the Annapolis peace conference last November, to the United Nations General Assembly in September. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had originally committed themselves to the establishment of a Palestinian state before US President Bush's term ends in January. There has been some notable progress made towards achieving that goal. There have been several international gatherings over the past year aimed at financing the establishment of a Palestinian state, building the Palestinian economy and strengthening Palestinian institutions and security. And thanks to Quartet Special Envoy Tony Blair, the Palestinian Authority has been handed security control of several West Bank towns, namely Jenin and Shechem. The creation of the first union of Mediterranean countries since the fall of the Roman Empire has brought the prospect of Middle East peace ever closer. But the main sticking points of borders and the status of Jerusalem have prevented major progress being made on the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of the year.

Quote: "The sources said Rice wants to be able to present the document during the General Assembly to show progress in the talks. The document would include agreed-on points particularly on borders, an issue where, according to an American diplomat, the gap is not significant. According to Palestinian sources, the gap regarding a right of return for Palestinian refugees has also narrowed. The United States is pressing for an agreement by which Palestinian refugees will have the right of return to what were the Palestinian territories before 1967, except for a yet-unclear small number of family reunifications. The PA says the U.S. will not take a dramatic step of a "Camp David" nature before the end of President George W. Bush's term in office.

It was originally hoped that a Palestinian state would be established by November 2008. That goal was later revised to reaching an agreement by the end of US President Bush's term. Now the Israeli government says even that aim is over-ambitious, and they are hoping instead to announce the commencement of yet more talks at the upcoming Moscow conference. So where are we now in Bible prophecy? Despite the seeming delay in the establishment of a Palestinian state, I would say we are still on course for the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week. What year that will begin, I don't know. But we are still on course. For the Scriptures state that it will be the Antichrist who will divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39), and that Judea and east Jerusalem are to fall into the hands of the Gentiles for a period of three and a half years (Zechariah 12:2, Revelation 11:2). So we should not be expecting a Palestinian state to be established by the end of this year, but we should be expecting some sort of agreement to be made. If not by the end of this year, then perhaps in the not too distant future.

One of my favourite songs is sung by Mary McKee and the Genesis, and it is called "Signs of the Times". The lyrics are as follows.

Signs of the times are showing very clear
We haven't, and Jesus will be here
Now's the time to wake up, now's the time to sing
When the Lord will come, He'll come for you and me

That day is coming closer, time's moving on
The prophets have predicted when the Lord will come
We all shall confess Him, we will bow the knee
For Jesus Who's Lord, through all... eternity...

I think that song has a lot of truth to it. The signs of the times are showing very clear, and my witness as a Christian has not been very clear. I need to get my life in order. If Jesus Christ came today, would I have anything in my life that I would be ashamed of? Am I expecting His coming at any moment? Am I living in the light of it? I should be. I hope and pray that you will be ready also. If you are not a Christian, now is the time to get right with God. Jesus Christ is coming back, to take His waiting people home, and to judge this world for its wickedness. Forget about trying to live a good life, you will never meet God's requirements (Romans 3:23). And forget about God letting you into heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad ones. Jesus Christ has already declared that if we die in our sins, we can never be in heaven (John 8:21). You need to have your sins forgiven. Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross (Isaiah 53:6). All who believe on Him for salvation can have their sins forgiven and have eternal life in heaven. Why wait until tomorrow? You may not have another opportunity to be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Source Haaretz, Jerusalem Post

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has said that now is the time for decision making in regards to the Middle East peace process, if an agreement is to be reached by the end of this year. He made the remarks in a speech at the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv University. Erekat was joined by MK Yossi Beilin of Meretz and former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dr. Alon Liel, to discuss Israel's negotiations with Syria and how it will affect the peace process with the Palestinians. Erekat said that there was only viable option for peace and that was the two state solution. He remarked that Israeli and Palestinian leaders who reach an agreement "will be more important to the region's history than Jesus".

Quote: ""Our goal is to reach an agreement. Regarding the core issues: Jerusalem, the refugees and the borders – all these have solutions. This is the time for decisiveness. We will not go back to talks over temporary arrangements or temporary border, we intend to reach an agreement and this is possible for all the core issues. We need to make decisions, and (Prime Minister) Olmert and (Palestinian President) Abbas are capable of making them. "The 'Israeli and Palestinian leaders who reach an agreement will be more important to the region's history than Jesus," said Erekat.

'Famous last words', you might say. John Lennon of the pop group, the Beatles, once said that they had become "more popular than Jesus". In an interview for the London Evening Standard, John remarked that "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me". Praise God that Christianity has not gone, vanished or shrunk. The Beatles have, but Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to day, and forever", Hebrews 13:8. And praise God that His disciples were "thick and ordinary", because this shows us that Jesus Christ is a "friend of publicans and sinners", Matthew 11:19, and thus a friend of mine. A few weeks ago I commented on Dr Paul-Henri Spaak's speech, calling for a man - god or devil - to lift mankind out of the economic morass into which this world is sinking. I believe those words were prophetic, in that Satan will provide mankind such a man, who will be none other than the Antichrist himself (Revelation 13:2). And I believe that Saeb Erekat's words are also prophetic. For this Antichrist, who will strengthen a peace agreement between Israel and the nations for a period of seven years, will claim to be more important that Jesus Christ. For he shall "exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods", Daniel 11:36. And he will blaspheme the true God, and persecute those who follow Him (Revelation 13:6). This is the man that the world is now looking for. He will demand all the world worship him as God (2nd Thessalonians 2:4), and those that refuse will be executed (Revelation 13:15). He will bring carnage and destruction to this world. And when mankind is finally brought to an end of themselves, then Jesus Christ will return to set up His eternal state (Isaiah 9:6-7). And the Stone which was rejected by the builders of the nation of Israel will become the head of the corner (Mark 12:10). This world has a long way to go before they will honour Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It doesn't have to be that way for you. You can do it right now as you read this message. Just pray to God and tell him that you are sinner and you are sorry for your sins. Thank Him for providing salvation for you, in sending His Son Jesus Christ to bear the punishment for your sins upon the cross. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Don't think that you can't get God's salvation because you aren't worthy of receiving it. None of us are worthy. But Jesus Christ has already shown us His good will towards us, in that He has died for us (Romans 5:8). Why would Jesus Christ go to all the trouble of dying on the cross, if He wasn't prepared to receive sinners? His death on the cross shows us that He is ready and willing to receive us. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Source YNet News, Beatles Number 9

Members of the Quartet (EU, US, UN, Russia) have agreed to hold a summit in November to review progress made since the Annapolis peace conference at the end of last year. Israeli and Palestinian leaders committed themselves at that meeting to work towards the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. So far progress has been slow, with the Palestinian negotiating teams rejecting several Israeli proposals on the borders of a Palestinian state, and Israel pressing ahead with construction work in east Jerusalem. There have been several international gatherings since Annapolis to further the establishment of a Palestinian state. World powers gathered in Paris in December of last year to pledge money towards the funding the project, there was an economic investment conference in London in May, and there was a conference in Berlin last Tuesday to discuss the strengthening of Palestinian institutions and security bodies. Russia has long sought to increase its influence in the Middle East by getting involved in the peace process, and it looks like they have finally gotten their way. The follow up summit to the Annapolis peace conference is to be held in Moscow.

Quote: "The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers decided this week pursue the organization of a regional conference in Moscow in November. The Quartet - comprised of Russia, the United States, the UN and the European Union - reached the decision at a conference in Berlin on Tuesday meant to raise money for the Palestinian Authority. A Jerusalem source said Wednesday that the conference is to provide the stage either for the signing of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement or, in a much more likely scenario, a joint statement on the course of negotiations planned for 2009.

It will be interesting to see what emerges from this Russian peace summit. The prophecy of Ezekiel seems to indicate that the nation of Russia (Ezekiel 38:2), or at least former Soviet satellite states, will be drawn into a full-scale war with the nation of Israel. It is easy to see how this could come about in the not too distant future. As we have seen recently, Israel is making preparations for a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Russia stands to lose much from such a strike, having constructed Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility, provided them with anti-aircraft missiles to protect it, and recently entered into a massive billion dollar defence contract with the nation. If Iran gets hit, Russia could lose a lot of money. The Bible states that during a time of relative peace, the surrounding Arab nations will mount a surprise attack on the Jewish state. It seems that at first, Gog will move his forces to protect the Arab nations coming against Israel (Ezekiel 38:7). But as the Arab attack ensues, an evil thought enters into Gog's mind. Instead of acting to protect the Arab armies, he moves his armies against Israel to take a spoil for himself (Ezekiel 38:10-12). Perhaps the evil thought could be retribution for Iran, or more likely the idea of expanding his empire throughout the Middle East. 

The Bible predicted these things would happen, over 2500 years ago. The Bible also predicted that this same Jesus, Who was crucified on a cross, laid in a garden tomb and raised again from the dead, would come back one day. Not as a suffering Servant, although He was that. But as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do you know the Saviour? Have your sins been forgiven by the Man of Calvary? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Isaiah 52:13-15
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Source Haaretz